bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring success for a future vision: Defining impact in science gateways/virtual research environments
Authors: Calyam Prasad , Wilkins‐Diehr Nancy , Miller Mark , Brookes Emre H. , Arora Ritu , Chourasia Amit , Jennewein Douglas M. , Nandigam Viswanath , Drew LaMar M. , Cleveland Sean B. , Newman Greg , Wang Shaowen , Zaslavsky Ilya , Cianfrocco Michael A. , Ellett Kevin , Tarboton David , Jeffery Keith G. , Zhao Zhiming , González‐Aranda Juan , Perri Mark J. , Tucker Greg , Candela Leonardo , Kiss Tamas , Gesing Sandra
Published: December 2020

Scholars worldwide leverage science gateways/virtual research environments (VREs) for a wide variety of research and education endeavors spanning diverse scientific fields. Evaluating the value of a given science gateway/VRE to its constituent community is critical in obtaining the financial and human resources necessary to sustain operations and increase adoption in the user community. In this article, we feature a variety of exemplar science gateways/VREs and detail how they define impact in terms of, for example, their purpose, operation principles, and size of user base. Further, the exemplars recognize that their science gateways/VREs will continuously evolve with technological advancements and standards in cloud computing platforms, web service architectures, data management tools and cybersecurity. Correspondingly, we present a number of technology advances that could be incorporated in next‐generation science gateways/VREs to enhance their scope and scale of their operations for greater success/impact. The exemplars are selected from owners of science gateways in the Science Gateways Community Institute (SGCI) clientele in the United States, and from the owners of VREs in the International Virtual Research Environment Interest Group (VRE‐IG) of the Research Data Alliance. Thus, community‐driven best practices and technology advances are compiled from diverse expert groups with an international perspective to envisage futuristic science gateway/VRE innovations.
Two different sources of Perlecan cooperate for its function in the basement membrane of the Drosophila wing imaginal disc
Authors: Bonche Raphaël , Chessel Aline , Boisivon Séverine , Smolen Prune , Thérond Pascal , Pizette Sandrine
Published: December 2020

Background

The basement membrane (BM) provides mechanical shaping of tissues during morphogenesis. The Drosophila BM proteoglycan Perlecan is vital for this process in the wing imaginal disc. This function is thought to be fostered by the heparan sulfate chains attached to the domain I of vertebrate Perlecan. However, this domain is not present in Drosophila, and the source of Perlecan for the wing imaginal disc BM remains unclear. Here, we tackle these two issues.

Results

In silico analysis shows that Drosophila Perlecan holds a domain I. Moreover, by combining in situ hybridization of Perlecan mRNA and protein staining, together with tissue‐specific Perlecan depletion, we find that there is an autonomous and a non‐autonomous source for Perlecan deposition in the wing imaginal disc BM. We further show that both sources cooperate for correct distribution of Perlecan in the wing imaginal disc and morphogenesis of this tissue.

Conclusions

These results show that Perlecan is fully conserved in Drosophila, providing a valuable in vivo model system to study its role in BM function. The existence of two different sources for Perlecan incorporation in the wing imaginal disc BM raises the possibility that inter‐organ communication mediated at the level of the BM is involved in organogenesis.
Eating disorder symptoms among adolescent boys and girls in Iran
Authors: Sahlan Reza N. , Saunders Jessica F. , Mond Jonathan M. , Fitzsimmons‐Craft Ellen E.
Published: December 2020

Objective

Few studies of eating disorder (ED) symptoms among young people in Iran have been conducted. This cross‐sectional study examined ED symptoms, assessed by the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE‐Q).

Method

Adolescent boys (n = 498) and girls (n = 607) aged 12–19 years, recruited from schools in four different regions of Iran, completed a survey that included the EDE‐Q. ED symptoms, namely, EDE‐Q global scores and the occurrence of specific ED behaviors, were compared between boys and girls.

Results

Girls had higher global scores and were more likely to report regular extreme dietary restriction than boys (16.6 vs. 12.0%). The effect sizes for these differences were small. The regular occurrence of other behaviors (girls vs. boys—binge eating: 21.1 vs. 18.8%; self‐induced vomiting: 3.3 vs. 5.4%; laxative misuse: 6.1 vs. 7.6%; excessive exercise: 5.3 vs. 4.4%) did not significantly differ by gender. Twelve percent of boys and 12.9% of girls met criteria for an operational definition of “probable ED case.”

Conclusion

ED symptoms appear to be relatively common among Iranian adolescent boys and girls. Programs designed to reduce the occurrence and adverse impact of these symptoms may therefore be increasingly important.
The Development of a Content Assessment of Basic Electronics Knowledge
Authors: Steinberg Jonathan , Andrews‐Todd Jessica , Forsyth Carolyn , Chamberlain John , Horwitz Paul , Koon Al , Rupp Andre , McCulla Laura
Published: December 2020

This study discusses the development of a basic electronics knowledge (BEK) assessment as a pretest activity for undergraduate students in engineering and related fields. The 28 BEK items represent 12 key concepts, including properties of serial circuits, knowledge of electrical laws (e.g., Kirchhoff's and Ohm's laws), and properties of digital multimeters. This paper first discusses a psychometric evaluation of the BEK assessment to understand its basic measurement properties and to examine various group‐level differences based on demographic, institutional, and instructor characteristics. Subsequently, the relationship between BEK scores on the 23 retained items and performance on an existing complex collaborative simulation‐based electronics task is discussed. Results demonstrated that basic content knowledge alone may not be sufficient for students to demonstrate knowledge of electronics skills on more complex tasks. The research also carries great importance given ongoing concerns about improving the overall state and diversity of the engineering workforce and its associated pipeline to meet the demands of the national economy.
Recent advances in genusMentha: Phytochemistry, antimicrobial effects, and food applications
Authors: Mamadalieva Nilufar Z. , Hussain Hidayat , Xiao Jianbo
Published: December 2020

The genusMentha(mint) belongs to the Lamiaceae family, which includes 25 to 30 species. The species of this genus have been known for their medicinal and aromatherapeutic properties since ancient times and possess a significant economical and commercial reputation. Several species ofMenthaare widely used in culinary and traditional medicines in many parts of the world. Essential oils fromMenthaspecies have been commonly used as flavoring substance in beverages, providing a “fresh‐like” aroma and taste. Chemical analyses ofMenthaspecies have yielded a number of important phytocompounds belonging to different classes, such as organic acids, flavonoids, sterols, alkaloids, lignans, hydrocarbons, fatty acids, tocopherols, proteins, free sugars, etc. Moreover, the main compounds in mints are essential oils, phenolics, and flavonoids. This review reports the available information on the present status (literature up to early 2020) of theMenthaspecies and summarizes the chemical constituents, traditional and culinary uses, cultivation, and biological properties. In addition, comprehensive analysis of the antibacterial studies conducted onMenthaspecies is represented. In effect,Menthaspecies have been presented here as a viable alternative source of many biological and chemically active compounds which are already known to be of great economic, pharmaceutical, and nutritional importance.
Rationality and anchoring of inflation expectations: An assessment from survey‐based and market‐based measures
Authors: de Mendonça Helder Ferreira , Garcia Pedro Mendes , Vicente José Valentim Machado
Published: December 2020

The aim of this paper is twofold. Firstly, we test the rationality of survey‐based and market‐based inflation expectations. Secondly, we investigate whether they indicate a different performance of the central bank in anchoring inflation expectations. Briefly, this paper verifies if inflation expectations' proxies display the same features regarding rationality and anchoring. Using data from the Brazilian market, we present robust evidence that both survey‐based and market‐based inflation expectations have useful content to explain realized inflation. Moreover, we find that these proxies of inflation expectations provide different assessments of the central bank's ability to anchor inflation expectations. The findings point out that central banks must monitor both survey‐based and market‐based inflation expectations to improve their monetary policy conduct.
Effects of different food ingredients on the color and absorption spectrum of carminic acid and carminic aluminum lake
Authors: Liu Qian , He Zhiyong , Zeng Maomao , Qin Fang , Wang Zhaojun , Liu Guoping , Chen Jie
Published: December 2020

In this study, three foodstuffs (surimi, minced meat, and milk) were dyed with carminic acid and carminic aluminum lake. The effects of protein, metal ions, and food additives on the color of carminic acid and carminic aluminum lake were investigated. After being dyed by carminic acid, the colors of surimi, minced meat, and milk were light purple, red, and gray‐green, respectively. When using carminic aluminum lake, surimi and milk were magenta, and minced meat was red. Regarding the carminic acid solution, the presence of myofibrillar protein (MFP), whey protein isolate (WPI), and soy protein isolate (SPI) turned it red by changing the pH, while the presence of casein made it orange. The carminic aluminum lake solution turned magenta in all four cases, which were not affected by protein. The color of carminic acid and carminic aluminum lake was significantly affected by 0.001–0.1 mol/L Fe3+, 0.001–0.1 mol/L Fe2+, 0.001–0.1 mol/L Cu2+, and 0.1 mol/L Ca2+, limiting their application in iron‐, copper‐, and high‐calcium foods. The color of carminic acid was changed to yellow by 0.01%‐1% sodium nitrite, but 0.01%–1% ascorbic acid and 0.01%–0.1% monascus color did not significantly affect the color of either carminic acid or carminic aluminum lake. This paper provides a reference for the application of carminic acid and carminic aluminum lake in food science.
Differential spatial patterns of structural connectivity of amygdala nuclei with orbitofrontal cortex
Authors: Matyi Melanie A. , Spielberg Jeffrey M.
Published: December 2020

The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)‐amygdala circuit is critical to goal‐directed behavior, learning, and valuation. However, our understanding of the OFC‐amygdala connections that support these emergent processes is hampered by our reliance on the primate literature and insufficient knowledge regarding the connectivity patterns between regions of OFC and amygdala nuclei, each of which is differentially involved in these processes in humans. Thus, we examined structural connectivity between different OFC regions and four amygdala nuclei in healthy adults (n = 1,053) using diffusion‐based anatomical networks and probabilistic tractography in four conceptually distinct ways. First, we identified the OFC regions that connect with each nucleus. Second, we identified the OFC regions that were more likely to connect with a given nucleus than the others. Finally, we developed probabilistic and rank‐order maps of OFC (one for each nucleus) based upon the likelihood of each OFC voxel exhibiting preferential connectivity with each nucleus and the relative density of connectivity between each OFC voxel and each nucleus, respectively. The first analyses revealed that the connections of each nucleus spanned all of OFC, reflecting widespread overall amygdala linkage with OFC. Analysis of preferential connectivity and probabilistic and rank‐order maps of OFC converged to reveal differential patterns of connectivity between OFC and each nucleus. Present findings illustrate the importance of accounting for spatial specificity when examining links between OFC and amygdala. This fine‐grained examination of OFC‐amygdala connectivity can be applied to understand how such connectivity patterns support a range of emergent functions including affective and motivational processes.
Silenced SOX2‐OT alleviates ventricular arrhythmia associated with heart failure by inhibiting NLRP3 expression via regulating miR‐2355‐3p
Authors: Liang Yuming , Wang Boqun , Huang Huijuan , Wang Maoyun , Wu Qianwen , Zhao Yaxin , He Yan
Published: December 2020

Background

Nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain‐like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes are the most important factors in ventricular arrhythmia associated with heart failure (VA‐HF). However, how the relationship between lncRNA and NLRP3 inflammasomes is regulated in VA‐HF has not been investigated in detail. Thus, we aimed to determine the effects of SOX2‐overlapping transcripts (SOX2‐OT) by targeting NLRP3 in rats with VA‐HF.

Methods

We established rats (SPF, male, weight: 240 ± 10 g) with VA‐HF by aortic coarctation and constant‐current stimulation, then injected them with small interfering SOX2‐OT and anti‐miR‐2355‐3p. Six weeks later, SOX2‐OT and miR‐2355‐3p expression was measured using the quantitative reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction and NLRP3, ASC, caspase‐1, IL‐1β, and TGF‐β1 expression were measured by Western blot analysis; the ventricular chambers were histopathologically analyzed by staining with hematoxylin and eosin, Masson trichrome, and Picro Sirius Red and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were assessed by flow cytometry. The targeting relationship between miR‐2355‐3p and SOX2‐OT or NLRP3 was verified using dual‐luciferase reporter gene assays.

Results

The expression of SOX2‐OT and levels of NLRP3 inflammasomes gradually increased in normal rats, and in those with heart failure and with VA‐HF. Silencing SOX2‐OT expression inhibited NLRP3, ASC, caspase‐1, IL‐1β, and TGF‐β1 expression and ROS production, reduced the degrees of cardiomyocyte necrosis and fibrosis and alleviated cardiac dysfunction in rats with VA‐HF. MicroR‐2355‐3p can bind the SOX2‐OT and the 3′‐untranslated region of NLRP3. Inhibiting miR‐2355‐3p reversed the effect of SOX2‐OT in rats with VA‐HF.

Conclusions

Silencing SOX2‐OT alleviated cardiac dysfunction in rats by reducing the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes via regulating miR‐2355‐3p.
Geometric Frustration in Molecular Crystals
Authors: Efrati Efi
Published: December 2020

Unlike Lego bricks that perfectly assemble next to one another, solid assemblies of organic compounds often include some inevitable misfit between constituents, giving rise to geometric frustration. In order to fit into the assembly the molecular building blocks must distort, at some finite energetic cost. In cases where this distortion at the ground state is uniform across all the units in the assembly, the associated geometric frustration is said to be locally resolved. Such locally resolved frustration carries little implications on the morphology and response properties of the assembled structure. However, in many cases, for small enough assemblies there are non‐local compromises that are more energetically favorable. These conformations are associated with non‐uniform distortions and highly cooperative response between the molecular constituents. The cooperative nature of frustrated assemblies may result in growth arrest, tendency to form filaments, exotic response properties and large morphological variations during the growth of the assembly.

Almost a century ago German mineralogist Ferdinand Bernauer discovered that a large fraction of small organic compounds could form twisted molecular crystals. These are straight and narrow needle‐like structures with mesoscopic pitch, a crystalographically impossible structure. Recent revived interest in twisted molecular crystals discovered even more compounds that form these exotic assemblies and led to their study by modern means. Electron microscopy revealed straight faceted structures with sharp diffraction peaks in selected area electron diffraction, much like regular crystals. Moreover, the pitch of the molecular crystals varied with size, with thicker crystals exhibiting less twist.

In this work we review twisted molecular crystals as frustrated assemblies. In this approach twist emerges from the preferred morphology at the constituent scale, and gets attenuated with size by the incompatibility of twist and large‐scale crystalline order. We discuss two distinct mechanisms that produce twisted molecular crystals, and provide a prediction for the twist decay as a function of the crystals’ spatial dimensions.
Near‐infrared emission Cu, N‐doped carbon dots for human umbilical vein endothelial cell labeling and their biocompatibility in vitro
Authors: Zhu Peide , Zhang Ting , Li Jianxiong , Ma Junfei , Ouyang Xiangcheng , Zhao Xuelin , Xu Meng , Wang Deqing , Xu Quan
Published: December 2020

Quantum dots (QDs) are luminescent semiconductor nanomaterials (NMs) with various biomedical applications, but the high toxicity associated with traditional QDs, such as Cd‐based QDs, limits their uses in biomedicine. As such, the development of biocompatible metal‐free QDs has gained extensive research interests. In this study, we synthesized near‐infrared emission Cu, N‐doped carbon dots (CDs) with optimal emission at 640 nm and a fluorescence quantum yield of 27.1% (in N,N‐dimethylformamide [DMF]) by solvothermal method using o‐phenylenediamine and copper acetate monohydrate. We thoroughly characterized the CDs and showed that they were highly fluorescent and stable under different conditions, although in highly acidic (pH = 1–2) or alkaline (pH = 12–13) solutions, a redshift or blueshift of fluorescence emission peak of Cu, N‐doped CDs was also observed. When exposed to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), Cu, N‐doped CDs only significantly induced cytotoxicity at very high concentrations (100 or 200 μg/ml), but their cytotoxicity appeared to be comparable with carbon black (CB) nanoparticles (NPs) at the same mass concentrations. As the mechanisms, 200 μg/ml Cu, N‐doped CDs and CB NPs promoted endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress proteins IRE1α and chop, leading to increased cleaved caspase 3/pro‐caspase 3 ratio, but CB NPs were more effective. At noncytotoxic concentration (50 μg/ml), Cu, N‐doped CDs successfully labeled HUVECs. In summary, we successfully prepared highly fluorescent and relatively biocompatible CDs to label HUVECs in vitro.
Biodistribution, cardiac and neurobehavioral assessments, and neurotransmitter quantification in juvenile rats following oral administration of aluminum oxide nanoparticles
Authors: Mortensen Ninell P. , Moreno Caffaro Maria , Patel Purvi R. , Snyder Rodney W. , Watson Scott L. , Aravamudhan Shyam , Montgomery Stephanie A. , Lefever Timothy , Sumner Susan J. , Fennell Timothy R.
Published: December 2020

Little is known about the uptake, biodistribution, and biological responses of nanoparticles (NPs) and their toxicity in developing animals. Here, male and female juvenile Sprague–Dawley rats received four consecutive daily doses of 10 mg/kg Al2O3NP (diameter: 24 nm [transmission electron microscope], hydrodynamic diameter: 148 nm) or vehicle control (water) by gavage between postnatal days (PNDs) 17–20. Basic neurobehavioral and cardiac assessments were performed on PND 20. Animals were sacrificed on PND 21, and selected tissues were collected, weighed, and processed for histopathology or neurotransmitter analysis. The biodistribution of Al2O3NP in tissue sections of the intestine, liver, spleen, kidney, and lymph nodes were evaluated using enhanced dark‐field microscopy (EDM) and hyperspectral imaging (HSI). Liver‐to‐body weight ratio was significantly increased for male pups administered Al2O3NP compared with control. HSI suggested that Al2O3NP was more abundant in the duodenum and ileum tissue of the female pups compared with the male pups, whereas the abundance of NP was similar for males and females in the other tissues. The abundance of NP was higher in the liver compared with spleen, lymph nodes, and kidney. Homovanillic acid and norepinephrine concentrations in brain were significantly decreased following Al2O3NP administration in female and male pups, whereas 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid was significantly increased in male pups. EDM/HSI indicates intestinal uptake of Al2O3NP following oral administration. Al2O3NP altered neurotransmitter/metabolite concentrations in juvenile rats' brain tissues. Together, these data suggest that orally administered Al2O3NP interferes with the brain biochemistry in both female and male pups.
Osteocalcin and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Lessons From Two Population-Based Cohorts and Animal Models
Authors: Xia Mingfeng , Rong Shunxing , Zhu Xiaopeng , Yan Hongmei , Chang Xinxia , Sun Xiaoyang , Zeng Hailuan , Li Xiaoming , Zhang Linshan , Chen Lingyan , Wu Li , Ma Hui , Hu Yu , He Wanyuan , Gao Jian , Pan Baishen , Hu Xiqi , Lin Huandong , Bian Hua , Gao Xin
Published: December 2020

Osteocalcin regulates energy metabolism in an active undercarboxylated/uncarboxylated form. However, its role on the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is still controversial. In the current study, we investigated the causal relationship of circulating osteocalcin with NAFLD in two human cohorts and studied the effect of uncarboxylated osteocalcin on liver lipid metabolism through animal models. We analyzed the correlations of serum total/uncarboxylated osteocalcin with liver steatosis/fibrosis in a liver biopsy cohort of 196 participants, and the causal relationship between serum osteocalcin and the incidence/remission of NAFLD in a prospective community cohort of 2055 subjects from Shanghai Changfeng Study. Serum total osteocalcin was positively correlated with uncarboxylated osteocalcin (r = 0.528, p < .001). Total and uncarboxylated osteocalcin quartiles were inversely associated with liver steatosis, inflammation, ballooning, and fibrosis grades in both male and female participants (all p for trend <.05). After adjustment for confounding glucose, lipid, and bone metabolism parameters, the male and female participants with lowest quartile of osteocalcin still had more severe liver steatosis, with multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of 7.25 (1.07–49.30) and 4.44 (1.01–19.41), respectively. In the prospective community cohort, after a median of 4.2-year follow-up, the female but not male participants with lowest quartile of osteocalcin at baseline had higher risk to develop NAFLD (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.90; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14–3.16) and lower chance to achieve NAFLD remission (HR = 0.56; 95% CI 0.31–1.00). In wild-type mice fed a Western diet, osteocalcin treatment alleviated hepatic steatosis and reduced hepatic SREBP-1 and its downstream proteins expression. In mice treated with osteocalcin for a short term, hepatic SREBP-1 expression was decreased without changes of glucose level or insulin sensitivity. When SREBP-1c was stably expressed in a human SREBP-1c transgenic rat model, the reduction of lipogenesis induced by osteocalcin treatment was abolished. In conclusion, circulating osteocalcin was inversely associated with NAFLD. Osteocalcin reduces liver lipogenesis via decreasing SREBP-1c expression. © 2020 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Overcoming multi‐resistant leishmania treatment by nanoencapsulation of potent antimicrobials
Authors: Oliveira Simone SC , Ferreira Carine S , Branquinha Marta H , Santos André LS , Chaud Marco V , Jain Sona , Cardoso Juliana C , Kovačević Anđelka B , Souto Eliana B , Severino Patrícia
Published: December 2020

Leishmaniasis corresponds to a group of neglected tropical diseases caused by flagellated protozoa belonging to the Leishmania genus. This widely spread illness is found in over 90 countries in tropical and sub‐tropical regions and also in southern Europe. As parasites exclusively infect highly phagocytic cells (macrophages), this aspect can be exploited for targeted delivery making use of nanoparticles. Drug‐loaded nanoparticles have been proposed for improving the bioavailability of classical drugs commonly in use as standard leishmania therapy, to overcome parasitic resistance and side effects and to improve treatment efficacy. Infected macrophages are expected to recognize drug‐loaded nanoparticles, which undergo phagocytosis releasing the drug inside the macrophages. This approach can further be exploited for the development of nanovaccines. This paper provides an overview of the current disease status worldwide, its classical pharmacological treatments and how these can be improved by the use of featured nanoparticles specifically tailored for such a complex disease. Several types of nanoparticles have been proposed while others have already reached clinical trials. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Controllable biotransformation of naringin to prunin by naringinase immobilized on functionalized silica
Authors: Li Qian , Zhang Nan , Sun Xitong , Zhan Honglei , Tian Jing , Fei Xu , Liu Xiangli , Chen Gaojun , Wang Ye
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND

Mesoporous silica materials, with high specific surface area, tailorable pore size and excellent chemical stability, have wide prospects for application in catalyst carriers. In this work, aldehyde‐modified silica materials were first prepared through silanization reaction of N‐[3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ethylenediamine and then Schiff base reaction of glutaraldehyde. Subsequently, the resulting materials were used for immobilization of naringinase.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that the activity of immobilized naringinase was optimized as 352.83 U g−1 support. The optimal immobilization conditions were determined as follows: immobilization temperature of 30 °C, immobilization time of 3 h, pH of 3.5 and initial naringinase activity of 200.75 U mL−1. In addition, at the optimal reaction temperature of 50 °C and pH of 8.0, the percentage of immobilization, naringinase activity recovery and naringinase activity of the immobilized naringinase reached 56.41%, 93.42% and 423.22 U g−1 support, respectively. Besides, comparing with free naringinase, in the process of naringin hydrolysis, the immobilized naringinase exhibited wide pH application range and good thermal stability, and still maintained 71.13% residual naringinase activity after 1 month of storage. Even more important, the immobilized naringinase could controllably transform naringin to prunin as the only hydrolysis product, and no naringenin was detected, which represents a new route for controllable preparation of prunin.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides an ideal carrier material and some basic data for naringinase immobilization technology, which will greatly promote the application of naringinase and the development of the pharmaceutical industry. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
In search of sulfate‐reducing consortia able to degrade acetate under acidic conditions
Authors: Campos‐Quevedo Nohemi G , Sánchez‐Andrea Irene , López‐Lozano Nguyen E , Stams Alfons JM , Celis Lourdes B
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND

Sulfate‐reducing microorganisms (SRM) can help to remediate acidic effluents containing metals. One drawback of sulfate reduction is that some SRM do not completely oxidize the substrate to CO2 and acetic acid may remain as a byproduct, affecting the process efficiency. Acidic environments are a potential source of sulfate‐reducers able to thrive in acidic conditions. This work aimed to develop cultivable consortia of sulfate‐reducing microorganisms able to consume acetate at acidic pHs and analyze their community composition.

RESULTS

Starting from sediment enrichments from a natural acidic source, by successive transfers and combinations of electron donors and pHs we obtained seven sulfate‐reducing consortia. All of the consortia consumed the acetate produced from the incomplete oxidation of the substrate (lactate or glycerol) and used 53–75% of the reducing equivalents for sulfate reduction. The sulfide production rate of the consortia was between 0.22 and 0.26 mmol L−1 day–1 in the pH range 3–6, being slightly higher at acidic conditions (pH 4–5). The microbial diversity of the consortia was dominated by 21 operational taxonomic units, including taxa of acetotrophic sulfate reducers (i.e. Desulfotomaculum and Desulfatirhabdium) and fermenting bacteria.

CONCLUSION

The consortia reported here have the potential to serve as inoculum for sulfate‐reducing bioreactors and could help to overcome acetate accumulation at low pHs. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Integrating Genetic Data and Demographic Modeling to Facilitate Conservation of Small, Isolated Mountain Goat Populations
Authors: White Kevin S. , Levi Taal , Breen Jessica , Britt Meghan , Meröndun Justin , Martchenko Daria , Shakeri Yasaman N. , Porter Boyd , Shafer Aaron B. A.
Published: December 2020

Acquisition of field data and analytical methods needed for conservation and management of wildlife populations represent significant challenges, particularly for species that inhabit landscapes that are difficult to access or species that persist in small, isolated populations. In such instances, integrating diverse and complementary data streams, such as genetic and non‐genetic data, can advance our understanding of population dynamics and associated management implications. We examined how genetic and morphologic data can be used to articulate population structure of a low‐density, peninsular population of mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) on the Cleveland Peninsula, Alaska, USA, and surrounding areas, 2005–2018. We then use a population demographic modeling approach to examine how the use of population structure information influences sustainable harvest quotas, as compared to a panmictic, null model. Specifically, we conducted extensive field sampling of genetic (n = 446) and morphologic (i.e., horn length, n = 371) data to characterize population structure. We conducted demographic analyses and examined harvest modeling scenarios using a sex‐ and age‐specific matrix population modeling approach. Genetic and morphologic data analyses suggested peninsular subpopulations were demographically isolated, relative to surrounding mainland populations. Specifically, genetic structuring was evident and followed an isolation‐by‐distance, stepping‐stone pattern indicating limited interchange, low effective population sizes, and reduced genetic diversity along a peninsular extremity to mainland gradient. Harvest modeling indicated that overharvest would likely occur if the panmictic, null model was used to guide harvest because the smallest genetically defined population at the peninsular extremity was too small to permit any level of sustainable harvest. Our analyses illustrate the importance of using genetic and morphologic data, in combination with demographic modeling, to quantitatively delineate population boundaries and dynamics for ensuring viability of small, isolated populations. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.
Subelliptic Gevrey spaces
Authors: Fischer Véronique , Ruzhansky Michael , Taranto Chiara Alba
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we define and study Gevrey spaces associated with a Hörmander family of (globally defined) vector fields and its corresponding sub‐Laplacian. We show some natural relations between the various Gevrey spaces in this setting on general manifolds, and more particular properties on Lie groups with polynomial growth of the volume. In the case of the Heisenberg group and of , we show that all our descriptions coincide.
Polymer‐Based Mechanochromic Composite Material Using Encapsulated Systems
Authors: Calvino Céline
Published: December 2020

The development of mechanochromic or self‐reporting polymers that can indicate damage or fatigue of materials with an optical signal has become of paramount interest to ensure the reliability of the materials and prevent catastrophic failure. This technology can potentially find usefulness for various applications, including in situ monitoring of mechanical events and structural health monitoring systems. An emerging and versatile approach to achieve mechanochromic properties relies on the encapsulation of dye solutions that can be released and activated (chemically or physically) when the walls of the capsules are mechanically damaged. While the mechanochromic effect can be achieved with different types of dyes and operating principles, this framework can also be designed with encapsulating‐containers of different shapes and shell materials, such as microcapsules, hollow glass fibers, vascular networks, and micelles, making this concept applicable to a broad range of polymer matrices. An overview of the different encapsulation approaches that have been employed to prepare mechanochromic polymers is given, with a focus on the containers used for this purpose. A brief description of the containers’ preparation is provided, and their associated chromic operating principles and progress in their designs are reviewed.
Reactions of Zirconium (IV) n‐Propoxide with SiH‐Functional Polysiloxanes as a Route to Siloxane–Zirconium Hybrid Materials with Enhanced Refractive Index
Authors: Rubinsztajn Slawomir , Chojnowski Julian , Mizerska Urszula , Basko Malgorzata , Uznanski Pawel , Walkiewicz‐Pietrzykowska Agnieszka , Cypryk Marek
Published: December 2020

The reaction of poly(hydromethylsiloxane‐co‐methylphenylsiloxane) with zirconium (IV) n‐propoxide in dry toluene leads to extensive scission of the siloxane chain and conversion of Si‐H groups. These processes produce oligomeric siloxanes and organosilanes containing moisture sensitive propoxy and siloxy‐zirconate groups. The obtained post‐reaction solution of zirconium containing heterosiloxane oligomers is stable under anhydrous conditions for several weeks. However, its exposure to moisture initiates the hydrolytic condensation of the reactive groups leading to cross‐linking and the formation of a siloxane–zirconium composite. Spin coating of the siloxane–zirconium prepolymer followed by exposure to moisture produces thin films with excellent light transparency and increased refractive index. The final coatings are characterized by ellipsometry, UV–Vis, IR, and 29Si MAS NMR spectroscopies.
The association of MOV10 polymorphism and expression levels with preeclampsia in the Chinese Han population
Authors: Tang Qian , Wang Ling , Cai Renmei , Zhang Lu , Zhang Xiaoxiao , Liu Xuemei , Liu Shiguo
Published: December 2020

Background

To assess the relationship between MOV10 rs2932538 polymorphism and susceptibility to preeclampsia (PE) in the Chinese Han population and to investigate whether the placental expression of MOV10 have association with PE.

Methods

We enrolled 1021 pregnant women with PE and 1594 normotensive pregnant women to analyze genotyping of MOV10 rs2932538. Clinical data and related test results of all subjects were collected and analyzed. For volunteers providing placentas, real‐time PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry were applied to assess the expression level of MOV10.

Results

There was significant statistical difference between preeclamptic patients and healthy subjects in genotype distributions and alleles. The frequencies of genotypes TT+CT were significantly associated with the increased risk of preeclampsia. Besides, T alleles were found to be related to a higher risk of PE. Significant statistical difference was also observed on distributions of genotype in PE without/with severe features group compared or early onset/late onset versus controls. The placental expression of MOV10 was lower in preeclamptic women, however, no relationship was found between MOV10 expression level and MOV10 rs2932538 genotypes.

Conclusion

This study suggests that MOV10 rs2932538 polymorphism may be associated with PE susceptibility in the Chinese Han population. The placental expression of MOV10 decrease in PE but have no relationship with rs2932538 polymorphism.
Fast evaluation of lightning electromagnetic fields based on matrix pencil method in time domain
Authors: Zhang Yin , Liao Cheng , Shang Yuping
Published: December 2020

The time domain expression of the lightning electromagnetic fields (LEMF) contains multiple integration processes, and the direct solution tends to take up a lot of calculation time. In this paper, the structure of the time domain expression of the LEMF is analyzed, the idea that using the matrix pencil method to realize the fast evaluation of the LEMF is proposed, and the feasibility of this method for calculating the LEMF is discussed. Besides, several numerical examples are given to prove the efficiency and correctness of the proposed method when the parameters of the observation point and ground are varied.
Leptin and Adiponectin Concentrations Independently Predict Future Accumulation of Visceral Fat in Nondiabetic Japanese Americans
Authors: Song Sun Ok , Han Seung Jin , Kahn Steven E. , Leonetti Donna L. , Fujimoto Wilfred Y. , Boyko Edward J.
Published: December 2020

Objective

Whether leptin and adiponectin are independently associated with regional body fat distribution was investigated in a prospective study of Japanese Americans.

Methods

Nondiabetic participants 39 to 79 years of age were followed for 5 years to assess change in body composition. Leptin and adiponectin concentrations were evaluated at baseline and by single‐slice computed tomography measurements of intra‐abdominal fat (IAF), abdominal subcutaneous fat (SCF), and thigh SCF cross‐sectional areas at baseline and at 5 years.

Results

Ninety‐six men and ninety‐five women without diabetes had the following baseline mean (SD) values: age 45.7 (3.5) years and 46.4 (3.9) years, IAF 78.7 (38.6) cm2 and 62.1 (39.0) cm2, leptin concentration 4.5 (2.3) μg/L and 10.2 (5.2) μg/L, and adiponectin concentration 7.4 (3.2) μg/mL and 10.8 (4.7) μg/mL, respectively. Baseline leptin (β = 1.7722, P = 0.014) and adiponectin concentrations (β = −0.4162, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with IAF change over 5 years in multivariable models adjusting for age, sex, diabetes family history, weight change over 5 years, and baseline measurements of BMI, IAF, abdominal SCF, waist circumference, thigh fat, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance.

Conclusions

In nondiabetic Japanese Americans, a higher concentration of leptin was associated with greater accumulation of IAF and a higher concentration of adiponectin with lesser accumulation of IAF over 5 years.
Promoting healing progress in polymer composites based on Diels‐Alder reaction by constructing silver bridges
Authors: Ding Shanjun , Zhang Jun , Zhou Lin , Luo Yunjun
Published: December 2020

Polymer composites with self‐healing ability are highly desired for applications in advanced modern devices. Here, we report on self‐healing polymer composites consisting of silver deposited‐carbon nanotubes hybrid nanoparticles (CNT‐Ag) as fillers and self‐healable polyurethane (DAPU) as a matrix based on thermally reversible Diels‐Alder reaction. The results indicated that as the hybrid filler loading is 1 wt%, the composites not only obtained a high‐strength (~15.97 MPa) and high healing efficiency (~90.1%) by increasing filler loading after healing, but also enhance thermal conductivity (~1.65 Wm−1 K−1) and obviously shorten its healing progress in comparison with other composites in the case of the same healing time. Given that Ag_NPs deposited on the surfaces of the CNTs act as bridges to link the adjacent CNTs and reduce interfacial thermal resistance, which can effectively explain the reasons for the obtained high mechanical strength and healing efficiency and promoting healing progress in the polymer composites. This work may offer a novel strategy for balancing relation between mechanical property, healing ability and healing progress in the field of self‐healing materials application.
Nanocrystalline‐silicon hole contact layers enabling efficiency improvement of silicon heterojunction solar cells: Impact of nanostructure evolution on solar cell performance
Authors: Umishio Hiroshi , Sai Hitoshi , Koida Takashi , Matsui Takuya
Published: December 2020

Hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a‐Si:H) is a key enabler in high‐efficiency crystalline silicon solar cells known as the silicon heterojunction technology. Although efforts have been devoted to replacing doped a‐Si:H contact layer by hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon (nc‐Si:H) to take advantage of its superior optoelectrical properties, it is still unclear whether the nc‐Si:H outperforms the a‐Si:H at the high efficiency level. Here, we show that boron‐doped (p)nc‐Si:H prepared by plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) acts as an efficient hole contact layer, providing not only a mitigation of the parasitic absorption loss but also improvements in passivation and electrical contact properties. This results in an efficiency increase by 0.3%–0.6% absolute compared to the reference cell with the (p)a‐Si:H, and a best cell efficiency of 23.54%. We find that the critical thickness of the (p)nc‐Si:H layers required for gaining high efficiency (tc ~ 15–30 nm) is a factor of 3–6 greater than that of the (p)a‐Si:H. UV Raman spectroscopy and electrical conductivity measurements reveal that the tc of the (p)nc‐Si:H is associated with the layer growth needing for the surface coalescence of nanocrystals, determining the hole selectivity and the contact resistivity at the electrode/(p)nc‐Si:H interface. Our results suggest that such nanostructure evolution can be hastened by using a very‐high‐frequency PECVD process.
Effect of temperature and incident ion energy on nanostructure formation on silicon exposed to helium plasma
Authors: Thompson Matt , Shi Quan , Kajita Shin , Ohno Noriyasu , Corr Cormac
Published: December 2020

Helium plasma can be used to deliver low‐energy (<100 eV) helium ions to stimulate the growth of nanostructures on silicon surfaces. This can produce a wide range of surface features including nanoscale roughening, nanowires and porous structures. In this study, nanostructure sizes varied from ∼10 to over 100 nm in diameter. The effect of these structures on surface reflectivity for photovoltaic and photocatalytic applications is also investigated. Broadband suppression of photoreflectivity is achieved across the 300–1,200 nm wavelength range studied for silicon exposed to helium plasma at 600°C, with an average reflectivity of 3.2% and 2.9% for incident helium ion energies of 42 and 62 eV, respectively.
Short and long‐term outcomes of chronic pulmonary hypertension in preterm infants managed using a standardized algorithm
Authors: Baczynski Michelle , Kelly Edmond , McNamara Patrick J. , Shah Prakesh S. , Jain Amish
Published: December 2020

Background

There is limited data on management strategies for chronic pulmonary hypertension (cPH) in chronic lung disease (CLD) of prematurity. Our objective was to evaluate clinical outcomes following a standardized policy, wherein only cPH with right‐ventricular (RV) dilatation was treated and diuretics were employed as first‐line therapy; cPH without RV‐dilatation was managed expectantly.

Method

In this retrospective cohort study, all infants with CLD were categorized as “CLD‐only” or “CLD–cPH,” using echocardiography at ≥36 weeks postmenstrual age. Intergroup comparison was performed. Regression analysis examined the association between cPH and primary outcome of death or disability at 18–24 months.

Results

Of 128 CLD infants, 48 (38%) had cPH, of which 29 (60%) received diuretics. Symptomatic improvement within 1‐week was recorded in 90%. Although CLD–cPH had worse in‐hospital respiratory course than CLD‐only, all post‐discharge respiratory and neurodevelopmental outcomes were similar. cPH was not associated with death or disability (adjusted odds ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 0.32–3.27). Disease progression treated with sildenafil occurred in 2 (4%) cases. There was no death from respiratory or RV failure.

Conclusion

Primary treatment of CLD–cPH with diuretics using RV‐dilatation as therapeutic threshold, may result in symptomatic improvement, disease stabilization and post‐discharge outcomes comparable to infants without cPH.
On the Chemical Bonding of Amorphous Sb2Te3
Authors: Mocanu Felix C. , Konstantinou Konstantinos , Mavračić Juraj , Elliott Stephen R.
Published: December 2020

An analysis of the electronic structure and chemical bonding in glassy Sb2Te3 is carried out by means of density functional theory calculations, on a computer model generated by ab initio molecular dynamics. A significant antibonding character of electronic states below the Fermi level is observed, which is the characteristic feature of phase‐change memory materials. Near‐linear chains, with alternating long and short bonds, are found to be an important geometric structural pattern related to this antibonding signature. The electronic structure and chemical bonding analysis, herein, reveals an emergent character of hypervalent interactions in the amorphous phase of Sb2Te3. The intimate link between these near‐linear chains, hypervalent interactions, and the fast‐switching properties of this technologically important material provides valuable information for the future development of phase‐change memory materials.
Mepolizumab use in cystic fibrosis‐associated allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
Authors: Boyle Maeve , Mulrennan Siobhain , Morey Sue , Vekaria Sona , Popowicz Natalia , Tai Anna
Published: December 2020

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is common in cystic fibrosis (CF). Treatment is challenging and the relapse rate is high. Standard therapy is oral steroids and antifungals. However, long‐term systemic steroid often results in adverse effects and drug interactions between azoles and CFTR modulators are a potential concern. Mepolizumab, an anti‐interleukin (IL)‐5 monoclonal antibody, can benefit patients with severe eosinophilic asthma and there are reports of mepolizumab use in ABPA but not in ABPA complicating CF. We present the case of an adult with CF who had recurrent ABPA and intolerable treatment side effects with steroid, azole, and omalizumab. Mepolizumab was well tolerated and led to significantly improved clinical stability and symptomatic improvement. To our knowledge, this is the first report of successful mepolizumab treatment for ABPA in CF. Mepolizumab may be an important adjunctive treatment for difficult to control ABPA in CF.
Dynamic output feedback control of delayed linear parameter varying systems with piecewise constant parameters: A clock‐dependent L–K approach
Authors: Zakwan Muhammad , Ahmed Saeed , Bajcinca Naim
Published: December 2020

This article proposes a new clock‐dependent gain‐scheduled dynamic output feedback controller for delayed linear parameter varying systems with piecewise constant parameters. The proposed controller guarantees ‐performance. By employing a clock‐dependent Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional, a sufficient condition for the existence of the controller is provided in terms of clock‐ and parameter‐dependent linear matrix inequalities. A case study on output feedback control of delayed switched systems is also provided. To illustrate the efficacy of the result, it is applied to a practical VTOL helicopter model.
The Politics of Affect in Literacy Research
Authors: Patel Leigh
Published: December 2020

This commentary draws from the long‐standing history of affect in textual practices, particularly those from and within Black, Indigenous, and transnational feminist traditions to read across three empirical articles for this special issue of Reading Research Quarterly: Jocson and Dixon‐Román; Lee, Falter, and Schoonover; and Perry.