bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Food availability alters expression profiles of genes in relation to reproduction and nutrition in the females of tropical damselfish (Chrysiptera cyanea)
Authors: Mahardini Angka , Rizky Dinda , Byun Jun‐Hwan , Yamauchi Chihiro , Takeuchi Yuki , Takemura Akihiro
Published: September 2020

This study evaluated the effects of food availability on the transcript levels of genes related to reproduction and growth in the sapphire devil (Chrysiptera cyanea), a tropical damselfish. Nonbreeding fish were reared at high‐food (HF) and low‐food (LF) levels for 4 weeks under long‐days. Vitellogenic oocytes could be observed in the ovaries of the HF group. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that lhβ and cyp19b in the brains, vtg and igf1 in the livers and cyp19a in the ovaries of HF fish were significantly higher than that of LF fish, suggesting that estradiol‐17β (E2) synthesis in the ovary and brain is activated when suitable permissive factors are available to fish. Food limitation lowered hepatic igf1 and dio2, suggesting that the TH‐IGF1 signaling system functions in the liver, and that food availability altered hepatic deiodination activities related to intercellular levels of thyroid hormones. Hepatic dio2 significantly decreased when fish were immersed for 3 days in E2‐containing seawater; this suggests that E2 impedes the conversion of T4 to T3 in the liver. Our study shows that igf1 was upregulated in accordance with HF‐induced vitellogenesis but downregulated by E2 treatment, suggesting that igf1 is bidirectional and altered by maturational status. Once vitellogenesis begins under a suitable range of proximal factors, fish need to maintain their nutritional status because food availability is a permissive factor for their reproduction.
Body size impacts critical thermal maximum measurements in lizards
Authors: Claunch Natalie M. , Nix Emmeleia , Royal Averil E. , Burgos Luis P. , Corn Megan , DuBois P. Mason , Ivey Kathleen N. , King Elina C. , Rucker Kiley A. , Shea Tanner K. , Stepanek John , Vansdadia Sunny , Taylor Emily N.
Published: September 2020

Understanding the mechanisms behind critical thermal maxima (CTmax; the high body temperature at which neuromuscular coordination is lost) of organisms is central to understanding ectotherm thermal tolerance. Body size is an often overlooked variable that may affect interpretation of CTmax, and consequently, how CTmax is used to evaluate mechanistic hypotheses of thermal tolerance. We tested the hypothesis that body size affects CTmax and its interpretation in two experimental contexts. First, in four Sceloporus species, we examined how inter‐ and intraspecific variation in body size affected CTmax at normoxic and experimentally induced hypoxic conditions, and cloacal heating rate under normoxic conditions. Negative relationships between body size and CTmax were exaggerated in larger species, and hypoxia‐related reductions in CTmax were unaffected by body size. Smaller individuals had faster cloacal heating rates and higher CTmax, and variation in cloacal heating rate affected CTmax in the largest species. Second, we examined how body size interacted with the location of body temperature measurements (i.e., cloaca vs. brain) in Sceloporus occidentalis, then compared this in living and deceased lizards. Brain temperatures were consistently lower than cloacal temperatures. Smaller lizards had larger brain‐cloacal temperature differences than larger lizards, due to a slower cloacal heating rate in large lizards. Both live and dead lizards had lower brain than cloacal temperatures, suggesting living lizards do not actively maintain lower brain temperatures when they cannot pant. Thermal inertia influences CTmax data in complex ways, and body size should therefore be considered in studies involving CTmax data on species with variable sizes.
Structural integrity with functional plasticity: what type I IFN receptor polymorphisms reveal
Authors: de Weerd Nicole A , Vivian Julian P , Lim San S , Huang Stephanie U-Shane , Hertzog Paul J
Published: September 2020

The type I IFNs activate an array of signaling pathways, which are initiated after IFNs bind their cognate receptors, IFNα/β receptor (IFNAR)1 and IFNAR2. These signals contribute to many aspects of human health including defense against pathogens, cancer immunosurveillance, and regulation of inflammation. How these cytokines interact with their receptors influences the quality of these signals. As such, the integrity of receptor structure is pivotal to maintaining human health and the response to immune stimuli.

This review brings together genome wide association studies and clinical reports describing the association of nonsynonymous IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 polymorphisms with clinical disease, including altered susceptibility to viral and bacterial pathogens, autoimmune diseases, cancer, and adverse reactions to live-attenuated vaccines. We describe the amino acid substitutions or truncations induced by these polymorphisms and, using the knowledge of IFNAR conformational changes, IFNAR-IFN interfaces and overall structure-function relationship of the signaling complexes, we hypothesize the effect of these polymorphisms on receptor structure. That these predicted changes to IFNAR structure are associated with clinical manifestations of human disease, highlights the importance of IFNAR structural integrity to maintaining functional quality of these receptor-mediated responses.

Type I IFNs are pivotal to innate immune responses and ultimately, to human health. Understanding the consequences of altered structure on the actions of these clinically significant cell receptors provides important information on the roles of IFNARs in health and disease.
Using Augmented Reality to Reduce Fear and Promote Cooperation During Pediatric Otolaryngologic Procedures
Authors: Caruso Thomas J. , Madill Martine , Sidell Douglas , Meister Kara , Wang Ellen , Menendez Maria , Kist Madison N. , Rodriguez Samuel
Published: September 2020

This case series examines interactive AR during minor otolaryngologic procedures. Although VR has been successfully used for pediatric vascular access, removing children from comforting people in the real world has resulted in patient anxiety. AR offers a potential advantage, utilizing distracting holographic images when patients maintain eye contact with parents. The primary objective was to determine the effect of AR on fear during pediatric otolaryngologic procedures. Secondary objectives included evaluating pain; procedure compliance; and patient, parent and physician attitudes toward AR, as well as assessing the feasibility of adding AR to a busy outpatient otolaryngologic clinic. Laryngoscope, 131:E1342–E1344, 2021
Skin and brain implantable inset‐fed antenna at ISM band for wireless biotelemetry applications
Authors: Singh Gurprince , Kaur Jaswinder
Published: September 2020

A compact implantable microstrip patch antenna is proposed with small patch size for biotelemetry applications, which works on Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) (2400.0‐2483.5 MHz) band. Rogers RO Duroid 3010 is used as a substrate as well as superstrate layer of dielectric constant 10.2 and thickness 0.64 mm. The dimensions of antenna are 13.3 × 14.6 mm2. The frequency range covered by the antenna is 2.26 to 2.71 GHz with appreciable bandwidth of 18.10% and its resonating frequency is 2.45 GHz at which its return loss is −20.7 dB inside skin. For validation of results, the antenna performance is checked inside in‐vitro solution of skin mimicking liquid. Thus, a miniaturized skin implantable antenna for biotelemetry applications is proposed.
A miniaturized high gain dipole array antenna for 2.4/5 GHz wireless local area network applications
Authors: Liu Ying , Liu Shuang , Jia Yongtao , Chen Zhixing , Zhang Yutao
Published: September 2020

A miniaturized high gain dipole array antenna for 2.4/5 GHz wireless local area network (WLAN) applications (2.4‐2.5/5.15‐5.85 GHz) is proposed in this paper. The proposed antenna is composed of a 1 × 3 dipole array, a U‐shaped branch, and a double‐layer feedline. Dual‐band operation is realized by using a double‐branch dipole. The peak gain of the proposed dipole array antenna is improved due to the in‐phase current distributions on dipole elements. A U‐shaped branch is added to further enhance the peak gain in the lower band. For miniaturization, the half‐cutting method is applied. One prototype of the proposed miniaturized antenna with a size of 168 × 10.5 × 0.6 mm3 is manufactured and measured. As a result, the proposed antenna provides the operating bands of 2.30 to 2.59 GHz and 5.10 to 6.73 GHz (voltage standing wave ratio ≤ 2), fully covering 2.4/5 GHz WLAN band. Over the lower/higher band, the peak gain and efficiency are higher than 4.2/5 dBi and 58%/49%, respectively. Furthermore, good omnidirectional radiation characteristic in the horizontal plane is achieved.
Prospective correction of patient‐specific respiratory motion in myocardial T1 and T2 mapping
Authors: Bush Michael A. , Pan Yue , Jin Ning , Liu Yingmin , Varghese Juliet , Ahmad Rizwan , Simonetti Orlando P.
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Respiratory motion in cardiovascular MRI presents a challenging problem with many potential solutions. Current approaches require breath‐holds, apply retrospective image registration, or significantly increase scan time by respiratory gating. Myocardial T1 and T2 mapping techniques are particularly sensitive to motion as they require multiple source images to be accurately aligned prior to the estimation of tissue relaxation. We propose a patient‐specific prospective motion correction (PROCO) strategy that corrects respiratory motion on the fly with the goal of reducing the spatial variation of myocardial parametric mapping techniques.

Methods

A rapid, patient‐specific training scan was performed to characterize respiration‐induced motion of the heart relative to a diaphragmatic navigator, and a parametric mapping pulse sequence utilized the resulting motion model to prospectively update the scan plane in real‐time. Midventricular short‐axis T1 and T2 maps were acquired under breath‐hold or free‐breathing conditions with and without PROCO in 7 healthy volunteers and 3 patients. T1 and T2 were measured in 6 segments and compared to reference standard breath‐hold measurements using Bland‐Altman analysis.

Results

PROCO significantly reduced the spatial variation of parametric maps acquired during free‐breathing, producing limits of agreement of −47.16 to 30.98 ms (T1) and −1.35 to 4.02 ms (T2), compared to −67.77 to 74.34 ms (T1) and −2.21 to 5.62 ms (T2) for free‐breathing acquisition without PROCO.

Conclusion

Patient‐specific respiratory PROCO method significantly reduced the spatial variation of myocardial T1 and T2 mapping, while allowing for 100% efficient free‐breathing acquisitions.
Rapid three‐dimensional steady‐state chemical exchange saturation transfer magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Lee Hoonjae , Choi Seung Hong , Sohn Chul‐Ho , Kim Seong‐Gi , Lee Joonyeol , Park Jaeseok
Published: September 2020

Purpose

To make clinically feasible whole‐brain chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by enhancing imaging efficiency.

Methods

A novel, whole‐brain three‐dimensional (3D) steady‐state CEST MRI method was introduced by utilizing a time‐efficient, fat‐suppressed excitation followed by rapid, segmented 3D echo‐planar‐imaging with incoherent undersampling in k‐ω space. Missing signals and CEST‐specific spectral images were then jointly estimated directly from incomplete measurements using model‐based reconstruction and robust spectral analysis. In vivo studies were performed at 3T both retrospectively (using a fully sampled reference) and prospectively to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method in patients with brain cancer.

Results

In retrospective studies, the proposed method exhibits superior accuracies to existing methods in estimating images, z‐spectra, and APTw relative to the reference. In prospective patient studies, compared with existing methods, the proposed method is statistically significantly different in contrast‐to‐noise ratio of the APTw contrast between tumor and normal appearing white matter (NAWM) and amide proton transfer weighted contrast (p < 0.05) while not being significantly different in signal‐to‐noise ratio in an NAWM region.

Conclusions

We successfully demonstrated that it is feasible to perform whole‐brain CEST MRI roughly within 4 minutes for patients with brain cancer. It is expected that the proposed method widens clinical utilities of CEST MRI.
Spectroscopic Properties, Conformation and Structure of Difluorothiophosphoryl Isocyanate in the Gaseous and Solid Phase
Authors: Schwabedissen Jan , Trapp Pia C. , Stammler Hans‐Georg , Mitzel Norbert W. , Wu Zhuang , Chu Xianxu , Zeng Xiaoqing
Published: September 2020

Difluorothiophosphoryl isocyanate, F2P(S)NCO was characterized with UV/vis, NMR, IR (gas and Ar‐matrix), and Raman (liquid) spectroscopy. Its molecular structure was also established by means of gas electron diffraction (GED) and single crystal X‐ray diffraction (XRD) in the gas phase and solid state, respectively. The analysis of the spectroscopic data and molecular structures is complemented by extensive quantum‐chemical calculations. Theoretically, the Cs symmetric syn‐conformer is predicted to be the most stable conformation. Rotation about the P−N bond requires about 9 kJ mol−1 and the predicted existence of an anti‐conformer is dependent on the quantum‐chemical method used. This syn‐orientation of the isocyanate group is the only one found in the gas phase and contained likewise in the crystal. The overall molecular structure is very similar in gas and solid, despite in the solid state the molecules arrange through intramolecular O⋅⋅⋅F contacts into layers, which are further interconnected by S⋅⋅⋅N, S⋅⋅⋅C and C⋅⋅⋅F contacts. Additionally, the photodecomposition of F2P(S)NCO to form CO, F2P(S)N, and F2PNCO is observed in the solid Ar‐matrix.
The effect of knowledge management practices on organizational innovation: Moderating role of management support
Authors: Khan Mohammad Nasar , Zaman Umer
Published: September 2020

Drawing on the resource‐based and knowledge‐based view, this study attempts to empirically test the relationship between knowledge management practices (KMP) and organizational innovation (OI) in the context of a developing country. The study also investigates the moderating effect of management support (MS) in facilitating the way for KMP to lead OI. Six practices of KM including creation, capture storage, organization, dissemination and application of knowledge were identified from the literature and tested for their combined positive effect on OI which was measured through its three dimensions namely, product, process, and culture innovation. The contextual relevance of the study was assessed with the help of a focus‐group involving representatives from multiple industries while the instruments were validated with the help of face validity and reliability analysis. Regression analysis confirmed a positive relationship between KMP and OI. Moderation analysis also validated that to strengthen the above relationship MS role is significant. The study aids to the scarce body of literature on KM and OI in the context of emerging markets as well as provide practitioners a good starting point to initiate KM practices to boost innovations.
Emerging phenomenon of corporate sustainability reporting: Evidence from top 100 NSE listed companies in India
Authors: Kumar Kishore
Published: September 2020

The purpose of the study is to investigate the nature and extent of sustainability reporting practices of top 100 National Stock Exchange (NSE) listed companies in India. Further, this paper also analyses the difference in sustainability reporting practices of companies based on the Global Reporting Initiatives (GRI) reporting, ownership structure and industry type. Data were collected from the sustainability report (SR), business responsibility report, CSR report and annual report of the companies for the year ended 2017–2018 and 2018–2019. Content analysis of the reports, Independent sample t test and Cohen's d research techniques were used for data analysis. Notwithstanding the uniform disclosure norm, the results suggest an inconsistency in sustainability reporting practices of the companies. It was found that GRI reporting companies have significantly higher sustainability disclosure than non‐GRI reporting companies in India. Contrary to prior studies, the result indicates the absence of a statistically significant difference in sustainability reporting practices of government‐owned corporations and private companies. The results provide several practical implications for regulators, government, policymakers and companies. Findings suggest companies should move beyond compliance of regulatory norms and adopt sustainability code of conduct (i.e., GRI, UNGC principles, SDGs Mapping) to improve sustainability reporting practices. Policymakers and regulators should broaden the scope of existing disclosure norms (National Voluntary Guidelines) to further improve sustainability reporting in India. The present study is one of the first of its kind to investigate the nature and extent of sustainability reporting practices of NSE listed companies’ post‐disclosure reforms in India.
Mechanistic and kinetic study on the reaction of the·Cl‐initiated atmospheric degradation of CFCl2O2
Authors: Zhang Yunju , Bing He , Song Ruojing
Published: September 2020

The gas‐phase reaction between CFCl2O2 and Cl was researched by means of quantum chemical methods. B3LYP method with the 6‐311++G(d,p) basis set were employed to obtain the geometrical parameters of all stationary points including in the reaction. The singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces (PESs) were characterized at the Multicoefficient Correlation Method (BMC‐CCSD)//B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) level. Addition/elimination and SN2 displacement reaction mechanisms were identified on the singlet PES, and only SN2 displacement reaction mechanism was located on the triplet PES. The dominant reaction takes place on the singlet PES, and the primary pathways are CFCl2O2 + Cl → IM1 (CFCl2OOCl) → P1 (ClClO + CFClO) and CFCl2O2 + Cl → IM1 (CFCl2OOCl) → IM3 (CFCl (OCl)2) → P2 (ClOCl + CFClO). Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus (RRKM) theory was used to calculate rate constants, which is consistent with the experimental data. The atmospheric lifetime of CFCl2O2 in Cl is about 4.9 h in the marine boundary layer. Time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) computations imply that IM1 (CFCl2OOCl), IM2 (CFCl2OClO), IM3 (CFCl (OCl)2), IM4 (FOCCl2OCl) will photolyze under the sunlight.
Hydrophobicity and self‐association (micellization) of bile salts with a lactone or lactam group in a steroid skeleton
Authors: Poša Mihalj , Tepavčević Vesna , Grbović Ljubica , Mikulić Mira , Pavlović Ksenija
Published: September 2020

Bile acid salts are amphiphiles that have planar polarity: the convex surface (the β side) of their steroid skeleton is hydrophobic, whereas the concave surface (the α side) is hydrophilic. Lactone and lactam derivatives of bile acid salts have reduced hydrophobicity on the convex surface (β side) of the steroid skeleton, but they are still able to build micelles. In the vicinity of their critical micellar concentration (CMC), they probably form Small's primary micelles. In this work, it is shown that retention capacities (reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography) are linearly dependent on temperature, for each tested bile acid. The parameters of this linear dependence (intercept and slope) can be used to describe the hydrophobicity of the analyzed bile acid salts. The first and the second principal components, derived from the covariance matrix of temperature dependence of retention capacity, can also be used as hydrophobicity parameters of the analyzed bile acid salts. There is a strong correlation between the CMC values and the values of the hydrophobicity parameters of the convex surface (the β side) of the steroid skeleton: the CMC values decrease as the hydrophobicity of the β side of the steroid skeleton decreases.
Hydrothermally Treated TiO2 Nanorods as Electron Transport Layer in Planar Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Bhoomanee Chawalit , Sanglao Jongrak , Kumnorkaew Pisist , Wang Tao , Lohawet Khathawut , Ruankham Pipat , Gardchareon Atcharawon , Wongratanaphisan Duangmanee
Published: September 2020

The development of metal oxide‐based electron transport layers in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has received intensive research interest for achieving high‐efficiency PSCs. Herein, TiO2 nanorods (TiO2 NRs) are grown onTiO2 seed layers coated on fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrate by using a hydrothermal method and then are utilized as the electronic transport layer in PSCs. The main concern, after hydrothermal growth of TiO2 NRs, is that their crystallinity can be improved by a sequential high‐temperature treatment at 450 °C. In addition to high‐temperature annealing, a low‐temperature treatment with boiling water, which is expected to clean the surface of the TiO2 NRs, is developed. In this contribution, the champion PSCs are those based on TiO2 NRs where boiling water treatment achieves a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.50%, whereas a PCE of 12.91% is obtained from PSCs based on TiO2 NRs with high‐temperature annealing. The remarkable ease of using a water‐assisted process offers an efficient approach to the removal of residuals adsorbed on the surface and circumvents the disadvantage of a thermal annealing method resulting in high‐production costs. This low‐temperature treatment can be used to improve TiO2 films in flexible PSCs.
Numerical Simulation and Structural Optimization of Multi‐Stage Planar Thermoelectric Coolers
Authors: Nie Xiaolei , Jiang Haolan , Sang Xiahan , Wei Ping , Zhu Wanting , Zhao Wenyu , Zhang Qingjie
Published: September 2020

How to efficiently dissipate the heat of a large‐area hot source is an urgent problem to be solved in the thermal management field of electronic devices. Herein, multi‐stage planar thermoelectric coolers (TECs) oriented to the efficient planar heat dissipation for large‐area hot source are designed, and a comprehensive numerical analysis focusing on the cooling performance of the coolers for a heat source is performed by the finite‐element methods. The effect of input current, thickness of thermoelectric legs, stage numbers in heat transfer area, numbers of p–n pair in each stage, heat resistance between each stage, and contact status between heat sources and coolers are studied. The results show that high cooling performance of the coolers relies on an optimized input current, large thickness of thermoelectric legs, optimized stage number and number of p–n pair, and low heat resistance between each stage and between heat sources and coolers. The optimized multi‐stage planar TEC can realize a maximum cooling temperature difference of 8.2 K. This work indicates that the multi‐stage planar TECs can have potential application in thermal management of electronic devices.
Interleukin‐6 in Covid‐19: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Coomes Eric A. , Haghbayan Hourmazd
Published: September 2020

Coronaviruses may activate dysregulated host immune responses. As exploratory studies have suggested that interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) levels are elevated in cases of complicated Covid‐19, we undertook a systematic review and meta‐analysis to assess the evidence in this field. We systematically searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for studies investigating the immunological response in Covid‐19; additional grey literature searches were undertaken. Study selection and data abstraction was undertaken independently by two authors. Meta‐analysis was undertaken using random effects models to compute ratios of means with 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs). Eight published studies and two preprints (n = 1798) were eligible for inclusion. Meta‐analysis of mean IL‐6 concentrations demonstrated 2.9‐fold higher levels in patients with complicated Covid‐19 compared with patients with noncomplicated disease (six studies; n = 1302; 95%CI, 1.17‐7.19; I2 = 100%). Consistent results were found in sensitivity analyses exclusively restricted to studies comparing patients requiring ICU admission vs no ICU admission (two studies; n = 540; ratio of means = 3.24; 95%CI, 2.54‐4.14; P < .001; I2 = 87%). Nine of ten studies were assessed to have at least moderate risk of bias. In patients with Covid‐19, IL‐6 levels are significantly elevated and associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Inhibition of IL‐6 may be a novel target for therapeutics for the management of dysregulated host responses in patients with Covid‐19 and high‐quality studies of intervention in this field are urgently required.
A Robust Intrinsically Green Fluorescent Poly(Amidoamine) Dendrimer for Imaging and Traceable Central Nervous System Delivery in Zebrafish
Authors: Wang Guoying , Zhao Xiaowei , Wu Haigang , Lovejoy David B. , Zheng Meng , Lee Albert , Fu Libing , Miao Kaiting , An Yi , Sayyadi Nima , Ding Kunjie , Chung Roger S. , Lu Yiqing , Li Jia , Morsch Marco , Shi Bingyang
Published: September 2020

Intrinsically fluorescent poly(amidoamine) dendrimers (IF‐PAMAM) are an emerging class of versatile nanoplatforms for in vitro tracking and bio‐imaging. However, limited tissue penetration of their fluorescence and interference due to auto‐fluorescence arising from biological tissues limit its application in vivo. Herein, a green IF‐PAMAM (FGP) dendrimer is reported and its biocompatibility, circulation, biodistribution and potential role for traceable central nervous system (CNS)‐targeted delivery in zebrafish is evaluated, exploring various routes of administration. Key features of FGP include visible light excitation (488 nm), high fluorescence signal intensity, superior photostability and low interference from tissue auto‐fluorescence. After intravenous injection, FGP shows excellent imaging and tracking performance in zebrafish. Further conjugating FGP with transferrin (FGP‐Tf) significantly increases its penetration through the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and prolongs its circulation in the blood stream. When administering through local intratissue microinjection, including intracranial and intrathecal injection in zebrafish, both FGP and FGP‐Tf exhibit excellent tissue diffusion and effective cellular uptake in the brain and spinal cord, respectively. This makes FGP/FGP‐Tf attractive for in vivo tracing when transporting to the CNS is desired. The work addresses some of the major shortcomings in IF‐PAMAM and provides a promising application of these probes in the development of drug delivery in the CNS.
Cancer Cell Membrane Camouflaged Semi‐Yolk@Spiky‐Shell Nanomotor for Enhanced Cell Adhesion and Synergistic Therapy
Authors: Zhou Mengyun , Xing Yi , Li Xiaoyu , Du Xin , Xu Tailin , Zhang Xueji
Published: September 2020

Cell adhesion of nanosystems is significant for efficient cellular uptake and drug delivery in cancer therapy. Herein, a near‐infrared (NIR) light‐driven biomimetic nanomotor is reported to achieve the improved cell adhesion and cellular uptake for synergistic photothermal and chemotherapy of breast cancer. The nanomotor is composed of carbon@silica (C@SiO2) with semi‐yolk@spiky‐shell structure, loaded with the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) and camouflaged with MCF‐7 breast cancer cell membrane (i.e., mC@SiO2@DOX). Such biomimetic mC@SiO2@DOX nanomotors display efficient self‐thermophoretic propulsion due to a thermal gradient generated by asymmetrically spatial distribution. Moreover, the MCF‐7 cancer cell membrane coating can remarkably reduce the bioadhesion of nanomotors in biological medium and exhibit highly specific self‐recognition of the source cell line. The combination of effective propulsion and homologous targeting dramatically improves cell adhesion and the resultant cellular uptake efficiency in vitro from 26.2% to 67.5%. Therefore, the biomimetic mC@SiO2@DOX displays excellent synergistic photothermal and chemotherapy with over 91% MCF‐7 cell growth inhibition rate. Such smart design of the fuel‐free, NIR light‐powered biomimetic nanomotor may pave the way for the application of self‐propelled nanomotors in biomedicine.
Deep Mining of Human Antibody Repertoires: Concepts, Methodologies, and Applications
Authors: Tian Xiaolong , Li Cheng , Wu Yanling , Ying Tianlei
Published: September 2020

The ability of the human adaptive immune system to respond to antigens relies upon the tremendous diversity of T cell receptors (TCR) and B cell receptors (BCR). The entirety of an individual's BCRs, often referred to as an antibody repertoire, shapes the humoral immune system. Therefore, technologies to identify and characterize antibody repertoires are critical for understanding fundamental aspects of the development and maintenance of the humoral immune system. Recently, innovative methodologies and technologies devoted to high‐throughput sequencing of antibody repertoires (Ig‐Seq) have broadened the understanding of humoral immunity. This review provides an overview of the Ig‐Seq pipeline from sample collection, library preparation, and sequencing, to data cleaning, sequence alignment, and high‐level processing. Conventional and current strategies used in Ig‐Seq are introduced in detail, including bulk BCR sequencing, heavy and light chain paired sequencing combined with proteomic or single B cell sequencing approaches, antigen‐specific single B cell sequencing, and single‐molecule sequencing. Applications of Ig‐Seq are also discussed, including antibody diversity measurement, signatures associated with different populations, novel findings involved in the antibody repertoire development, and strategies of functional antibody discovery from antibody repertoires. Finally, the pitfalls and opportunities in the deep mining of antibody repertoires are discussed.
Detection Method for Liquid Metal Embrittlement Cracks Inside the Intermediate Sheet Zone of Dissimilar Resistance Spot Welds
Authors: Lindner Stefan , Deike Rüdiger
Published: September 2020

Liquid metal embrittlement (LME) is a phenomenon where a liquid metal damages a solid bulk metal. Notwithstanding previous investigations, LME remains an actual as well as a still not fully understood topic. A so far not yet investigated area can be defined with ultra‐high strength austenitic stainless steels for passenger cars. The most commonly used joining procedure in car body engineering is still resistance spot welding. During this vehicle assembly step, the uncoated surface of an austenitic stainless steel is because of the process‐related lap joint configuration in direct contact with zinc‐coated surface‐finished steels as a dissimilar material combination. During welding, liquid zinc could penetrate inside the intermediate sheet zone in the grain boundaries of the austenitic steel and is therefore able to initiate cracks in the heat‐affected welding zone. Herein, the radiographic inspection is introduced, which is a process‐reliable, nondestructive detection method for the inaccessible intermediate sheet zone area, which is usable in automotive big‐industrial scale. With the implemented detection method, liquid metal‐induced cracks can be detected in the intermediate sheet zone down to a crack length of 50 μm. Subsequently, the radiographic inspection helps to analyze the crack characteristic depending on surrounding conditions and welding parameters.
Recent Advances in Lithium–Carbon Dioxide Batteries
Authors: Yu Xingwen , Manthiram Arumugam
Published: September 2020

Toward global sustainable development, lithium–carbon dioxide (Li–CO2) batteries not only serve as an energy‐storage technology but also represent a CO2 capture system. Since the beginning of their research in this decade, Li–CO2 batteries have attracted growing attention. However, Li–CO2 batteries are still in their infancy and are facing many scientific and technological challenges. From a fundamental perspective, the reaction mechanism of CO2 cathode is not yet clear enough. Technologically, the high overpotential, low power density, poor rate capability, and limited cycle life impede the development of Li–CO2 batteries for practical applications. Herein, the recent research progress in Li–CO2 batteries in terms of reaction mechanisms, cathode catalyst design, electrolyte management, and anode protection are first summarized. In light of the state‐of‐the‐art research advances, future perspectives and research directions are then put forward, aiming to provide insightful information for the development of practical Li–CO2 batteries.
Arranging Small Molecules with Subnanometer Precision on DNA Origami Substrates for the Single‐Molecule Investigation of Protein–Ligand Interactions
Authors: Huang Jingyuan , Suma Antonio , Cui Meiying , Grundmeier Guido , Carnevale Vincenzo , Zhang Yixin , Kielar Charlotte , Keller Adrian
Published: September 2020

DNA origami nanostructures are versatile substrates for the single‐molecule investigation of biomolecular interactions as they enable the display of molecular species in complex arrangements. Herein, the fundamental limitations of this approach are explored by displaying pairs of small‐molecule ligands of the protein trypsin on DNA origami substrates and adjusting their ligand–ligand spacing with subnanometer precision. Bidentate binding of trypsin to the ligand pairs is investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM), microscale thermophoresis (MST), and molecular dynamics simulations. Bidentate trypsin binding is strongly affected by the distance of the ligand pairs and the accessibility of the protein's binding pockets. MST cannot resolve the differences in bidentate trypsin binding because of the nonspecific binding of trypsin to the DNA origami substrates, rendering the AFM‐based single‐molecule detection of binding events superior to ensemble measurements. Finally, even monodentate binding to a single ligand may be affected by subnanometer variations in its position, highlighting the importance of local microenvironments that vary even over molecular distances. While this single‐molecule approach can provide viable information on the effects of ligand arrangements on bidentate protein binding, in‐depth investigations into the nature of local microenvironments will be required to exploit its full potential.
Smart city and resilient city: Differences and connections
Authors: Zhu Shiyao , Li Dezhi , Feng Haibo , Gu Tiantian , Hewage Kasun , Sadiq Rehan
Published: September 2020

Smart city (SC) and resilient city (RC) have been studied and practiced over the years in terms of the increasing urban problems and disasters. However, there is a large overlap between their meanings and relationships. With an increasing concern for both SC and RC in urban development and hazard mitigation, a review was conducted to explore the differences and connections between SC and RC with scientometric analysis. There are far more literatures about SC than RC, and very few papers discuss SC and RC together. The research trend, category, and hotspots from research clusters are illustrated and compared. Major differences are discussed from their objectives, driving force, current research focus, and criticism. The literatures both related to SC and RC are used to explore their connections, which are very limited. The results revealed that the RC's impact on SC are positive from physical, social, and environmental aspects, while SC's impacts on RC could be both positive and negative from the above three aspects. It is indicated that SC and RC are both important for urban planning and can be complementary to each other through proper design and governance, which implies the need for building a resilient smart city (RSC).

This article is categorized under:

Technologies > Structure Discovery and Clustering

Technologies > Visualization
Small State, Big Impact: Delaware's COVID‐19 Response
Authors: Patterson Donna A.
Published: September 2020

Despite its size and moderate resources, Delaware's response to COVID‐19 has been immense. The state has leveraged its early test preparation, regional multistate coordination, and strict social distancing to work to bend the curve and limit the spread of COVID‐19 in the state.
Entanglement wedge reconstruction and the information paradox
Authors: Penington Geoffrey
Published: September 2020

Abstract

When absorbing boundary conditions are used to evaporate a black hole in AdS/CFT, we show that there is a phase transition in the location of the quantum Ryu-Takayanagi surface, at precisely the Page time. The new RT surface lies slightly inside the event horizon, at an infalling time approximately the scrambling time β/2πlogSBH into the past. We can immediately derive the Page curve, using the Ryu-Takayanagi formula, and the Hayden-Preskill decoding criterion, using entanglement wedge reconstruction. Because part of the interior is now encoded in the early Hawking radiation, the decreasing entanglement entropy of the black hole is exactly consistent with the semiclassical bulk entanglement of the late-time Hawking modes, despite the absence of a firewall.

By studying the entanglement wedge of highly mixed states, we can understand the state dependence of the interior reconstructions. A crucial role is played by the existence of tiny, non-perturbative errors in entanglement wedge reconstruction. Directly after the Page time, interior operators can only be reconstructed from the Hawking radiation if the initial state of the black hole is known. As the black hole continues to evaporate, reconstructions become possible that simultaneously work for a large class of initial states. Using similar techniques, we generalise Hayden-Preskill to show how the amount of Hawking radiation required to reconstruct a large diary, thrown into the black hole, depends on both the energy and the entropy of the diary. Finally we argue that, before the evaporation begins, a single, state-independent interior reconstruction exists for any code space of microstates with entropy strictly less than the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy, and show that this is sufficient state dependence to avoid the AMPSS typical-state firewall paradox.
Notes on lattice observables for parton distributions: nongauge theories
Authors: Del Debbio Luigi , Giani Tommaso , Monahan Christopher J.
Published: September 2020

Abstract

We review recent theoretical developments concerning the definition and the renormalization of equal-time correlators that can be computed on the lattice and related to Parton Distribution Functions (PDFs) through a factorization formula. We show how these objects can be studied and analyzed within the framework of a nongauge theory, gaining insight through a one-loop computation. We use scalar field theory as a playground to revise, analyze and present the main features of these ideas, to explore their potential, and to understand their limitations for extracting PDFs. We then propose a framework that would allow to include the available lattice QCD data in a global analysis to extract PDFs.
Management transmodiolärer und transmakulärer Vestibularis- und Cochlearisschwannome mit und ohne Cochleaimplantation
Authors: Plontke S. K. , Caye-Thomasen P. , Strauss C. , Kösling S. , Götze G. , Siebolts U. , Vordermark D. , Wagner L. , Fröhlich L. , Rahne T.
Published: September 2020

Einführung

Die Hörrehabilitation mittels Cochleaimplantat (CI) ist auch für Patienten mit cochleovestibulären Schwannomen von zunehmendem Interesse. Berichtet wird über Erfahrungen bezüglich des chirurgischen Managements von Tumoren mit einer seltenen transmodiolären oder transmakulären Ausdehnung und über die Ergebnisse bei Hörrehabilitation mit CI.

Methode

In die retrospektive Fallserie wurden 9 Patienten mit primären intralabyrinthären Schwannomen oder mit sekundärer Invasion des Tumors vom inneren Gehörgang in das Innenohr eingeschlossen. Primärer Zielparameter bei CI-Patienten war das Sprachverstehen bei 65 dB SPL („sound pressure level“), sekundäre Zielparameter waren intra- und postoperative elektrophysiologische Parameter: elektrisch ausgelöste Summenaktionspotenziale eCAP, Impedanzmessungen, das Vorhandensein einer Welle V in den elektrisch (über das CI) evozierten Hirnstammpotenzialen (eBERA), Besonderheiten bei der postoperativen CI-Programmierung und unerwünschte Ereignisse.

Ergebnisse

Alle 6 implantierten Patienten erreichten ein gutes Sprachverstehen für Zahlwörter in Ruhe (80–100 % bei 65 dB SPL, spätestens 12 Monate nach Erstanpassung). Im Zeitraum von einem bis 36 Monaten erreichten 4 der 6 Patienten mit CI gute bis sehr gute Ergebnisse im Freiburger Einsilbertest in Ruhe (65–85 % bei 65 dB SPL), 2 erreichten 6 Monate nach Erstanpassung nur geringe Werte (25 und 15 % bei 65 dB SPL) mit im weiteren Verlauf abnehmendem Zahlen- und Einsilberverstehen.

Schlussfolgerungen

Cochleovestibuläre Schwannome mit transmodiolärer und transmakulärer Ausdehnung stellen eine sehr seltene und bezüglich des Managements besondere Entität dar. Das therapeutische Vorgehen erfordert eine differenzierte Abwägung. Auch bei diesen Tumoren stellt die Cochleaimplantation prinzipiell eine Option zur Hörrehabilitation dar.
Detection of Mycobacterium kansasii using a combination of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and lateral flow biosensors
Authors: Chen Chuang , Lu Jia , Long Bo , Rao Zhengyuan , Gao Yuan , Wang Weina , Gao Wenfeng , Yang Jun , Zhang Shu
Published: September 2020

Mycobacterium kansasii is an opportunistic pathogen that causes both intrapulmonary and extrapulmonary infections. The symptoms of the pulmonary diseases caused by M. kansasii closely resemble Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Rapid and accurate differentiation of M. kansasii from M. tuberculosis, as well as other mycobacteria, is crucial for developing effective therapeutics and disease treatment. In this study, we combined loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) with lateral flow biosensors (LFB) to detect M. kansasii, by targeting the species-specific sequence of rpoB, a gene which encodes the β subunit of bacterial RNA polymerase. The assay was validated to ensure that it was highly selective by testing M. kansasii, M. tuberculosis, other species of respiratory bacteria, and other nontuberculous mycobacteria. The detection limit of the assay was 1 fg/μL of DNA and 50 CFU of bacilli in sputum. The M. kansasii-LAMP-LFB assay is a fast, cheap, and accurate method for detecting M. kansasii by constant temperature amplification and simple interpretation.
Trade-off between mate choice speed and decision accuracy under mating competition in female sand gobies
Authors: Diaz Pauli Beatriz , Lindström Kai
Published: September 2020

Variation in female mating performance can affect the direction and rate of evolution through sexual selection. The social environment determines the availability of mates and the competitive situation, and hence can influence mating strategies. However, these effects have to be considered within time constraints. Here we show that female sand gobies exposed to same-sex competitors (female-biased adult sex ratio, ASR) for a week before having physical access to males (i.e., a delayed male access; referred as prior exposure treatment) were more actively associated with the preferred male and took faster spawning decisions. However, these females mated more frequently with males with traits that did not ensure high egg survival. On the other extreme, females exposed to low same sex competition (male-biased ASR) simultaneously to the mate choice (i.e., an immediate access to males; referred as simultaneous exposure treatment) took more time to make their spawning decision. They also associated and spawned more often with males with good parental skills (i.e., males exhibiting more egg fanning behaviour). These male traits are associated with higher survival and better development of eggs. Our results provide experimental support for a trade-off between mate choice accuracy and speed, which depended on mating competition.
Motivation theory in the school context: differences in preservice and practicing teachers’ experience, opinion, and knowledge
Authors: Schürmann Linda , Gaschler Robert , Quaiser-Pohl Claudia
Published: September 2020

Preservice teachers should learn about motivation theory during their university studies in order to be able to motivate their students in their future job. Thus, this study had two objectives. First, it explored whether experience in education sciences and a motivation theory seminar were related to preservice teachers’ perceived experience with motivation theory, their perceived and actual knowledge about it, and the relevance they assigned to it. Second, it investigated whether there were differences to practicing teachers. We administered a questionnaire on three motivational theories toN= 322 to preservice and practicing teachers. We asked for the participants’ experience with the topics, the relevance they assigned to them in the school context, and their perceived knowledge about them. Overall, preservice teachers rated motivation theory as relevant but displayed low experience with and knowledge about it. Visiting a seminar on motivation theory was connected to the highest values for all variables. Practicing teachers appeared more critical of motivation theory than preservice teachers. They assigned less relevance to it, although they displayed higher levels in perceived knowledge than preservice teachers without a motivation theory seminar background. Results suggest that there is a difference between the preservice and the practicing phase of teaching regarding motivation theory. Preservice teachers viewed the topic differently than practicing teachers. However, preservice teachers should know and be able to use motivation theory once they finish their university studies. Therefore, integrating motivation theory more into both preservice and practicing teacher training appears to be important.
Modeling, simulation, and optimization of geothermal energy production from hot sedimentary aquifers
Authors: Blank Laura , Meneses Rioseco Ernesto , Caiazzo Alfonso , Wilbrandt Ulrich
Published: September 2020

Geothermal district heating development has been gaining momentum in Europe with numerous deep geothermal installations and projects currently under development. With the increasing density of geothermal wells, questions related to the optimal and sustainable reservoir exploitation become more and more important. A quantitative understanding of the complex thermo-hydraulic interaction between tightly deployed geothermal wells in heterogeneous temperature and permeability fields is key for a maximum sustainable use of geothermal resources. Motivated by the geological settings of the Upper Jurassic aquifer in the Greater Munich region, we develop a computational model based on finite element analysis and gradient-free optimization to simulate groundwater flow and heat transport in hot sedimentary aquifers, and numerically investigate the optimal positioning and spacing of multi-well systems. Based on our numerical simulations, net energy production from deep geothermal reservoirs in sedimentary basins by smart geothermal multi-well arrangements provides significant amounts of energy to meet heat demand in highly urbanized regions. Our results show that taking into account heterogeneous permeability structures and a variable reservoir temperature may drastically affect the results in the optimal configuration. We demonstrate that the proposed numerical framework is able to efficiently handle generic geometrical and geological configurations, and can be thus flexibly used in the context of multi-variable optimization problems. Hence, this numerical framework can be used to assess the extractable geothermal energy from heterogeneous deep geothermal reservoirs by the optimized deployment of smart multi-well systems.