bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Overexpression of miR-365a-3p relieves sepsis-induced acute myocardial injury by targeting MyD88/NF-κB pathway
Authors: Lv Hong , Tian Meng , Hu Ping , Wang Bin , Yang Lin
Published: April 2021

Sepsis often leads to systemic multiple organ dysfunction, with the majority of deaths attributable to acute myocardial injury (AMI). In this study, we aimed to explore the functional role of miR-365a-3p in sepsis-induced AMI. The sepsis myocardial injury model was constructed using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) both in vitro and in vivo with selective regulation of miR-365a-3p expression. Real-time PCR or Western blot was employed to detect the expressions of miR-365a-3p, inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6), and inflammation-related proteins (nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), I-κB, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)) in myocardial tissues and cells. Also, cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) and flow cytometry assays were used to measure cardiomyocyte proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. Furthermore, the targeting relationship between miR-365a-3p and MyD88 was verified with the dual luciferase activity assay. miR-365a-3p was downregulated in LPS-induced myocardial injury model. miR-365a-3p overexpression attenuated cardiomyocyte apoptosis and suppressed the expressions of inflammatory cytokines and proteins. Inhibiting miR-365a-3p, however, produced the opposite effects. Mechanistically, miR-365a-3p targeted the 3′-untranslated region of MyD88, thereby inactivating MyD88-mediated NF-κB pathway. miR-365a-3p overexpression mitigated sepsis-mediated myocardial injury by inhibiting MyD88-mediated NF-κB activation.
Inhibition of YAP activation attenuates renal injury and fibrosis in angiotensin II hypertensive mice
Authors: Zhang Junjie , Xu Qian , Ren Fu , Liu Yueyang , Cai Ruiping , Yao Yang , Zhou Ming-Sheng
Published: April 2021

The Hippo/YAP (yes-associated protein) pathway is an important signaling pathway to control organ development and tissue homeostasis. YAP is a downstream effector of the Hippo pathway and a critical mediator of mechanic stress. Hypertensive nephropathy is characterized with glomerular sclerosis stiffness and renal fibrosis. The present study investigated the role of YAP pathway in angiotensin (Ang) II hypertensive renal injury by using YAP activation inhibitor verteporfin. Ang II increased the protein expression of YAP in renal nucleus fraction, decreased phospho-YAP, and phospho-LATS1/2 (large tumor suppressors 1 and 2) expressions in renal cytoplasmic fraction, suggesting Ang II activation of renal YAP. Ang II significantly increased systolic blood pressure (SBP), proteinuria, glomerular sclerosis, and fibrosis; treatment with verteporfin attenuated Ang II–induced proteinuria and renal injury with a mild reduction in SBP. Moreover, Ang II increased the protein expressions of inflammatory factors including tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 1β, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and profibrotic factors including transforming growth factor β, phospho-Smad3 and fibronectin. Verteporfin reversed abovementioned Ang II–induced molecule expressions. Our results for the first time demonstrate that the activation of the YAP pathway promotes hypertensive renal inflammation and fibrosis, which may promote hypertensive renal injury. YAP may be a new target for prevention and treatment of hypertensive renal diseases.
Estimating rill erosion and sediment transport processes along a saturated purple soil slope
Authors: Han Zhen , Chen Xiaoyan , Li Yanhai , Chen Shiqi , Gu Xiaojie , Wei Chaofu
Published: April 2021

A plough pan with reduced permeability accumulates inﬁltrated water along slopes then saturates the cultivated layer under continuous rain. Topsoil saturation is a frequent phenomenon and an important process of the special soil slopes. A methodology and device system was used in this study to keep cultivated purple soil saturated. Strands of scouring tests were developed to quantify the rill erosion and sediment transport processes along a saturated purple soil slope at four experiment slopes (5°, 10°, 15°, and 20°) and three flow discharges (2, 4, and 8 L·min−1). The experimental results indicated that the sediment transport capacity on a saturated purple soil slope ranged from 0.03 to 1.56 kg·s−1·m−1 with the increasing trend along the slope gradient and flow discharge, and the increasing trend could be well matched by a nonlinear multivariable equation. The sediment concentration of the saturated purple soil slope exponentially increased with rill length and decreased with the increment rate, and the maximum sediment concentrations observed in this study in different hydraulic events ranged from 108.13 to 1174.20 kg·m−3. Saturated and non-saturated purple soil slopes erode differently with the maximum sediment concentration of saturated purple soil slope recorded at approximately 1.42–2.10 times the values for non-saturated purple soil slope. The findings of this research help illustrate the sediment transportation and erosion behaviors of a saturated purple soil slope and serve as the basis for determining the parameters in the erosion models of the purple soil slope.
A complement to DNA barcoding reference library for identification of fish from the Northeast Pacific
Authors: Turanov Sergei V. , Kartavtsev Yuri Ph.
Published: April 2021

The seas of the North Pacific Ocean are characterized by a large variety of fish fauna, including endemic species. Molecular genetic methods, often based on DNA barcoding approaches, have been recently used to determine species boundaries and identify cryptic diversity within these species. This study complements the DNA barcode library of fish from the Northeast Pacific area. A library based on 154 sequences of the mitochondrial COI gene from 44 species was assembled and analyzed. It was found that 39 species (89%) can be unambiguously identified by the clear thresholds forming a barcoding gap. Deviations from the standard 2% threshold value resulted in detection of the species Enophrys lucasi in the sample, which is not typical for the eastern part of the Bering Sea. This barcoding gap also made it possible to identify naturally occurring low values of interspecific divergence of eulittoral taxa Aspidophoroides and the deep-sea genus Coryphaenoides. Synonymy of the genus Albatrossia in favor of the genus Coryphaenoides is suggested based on both the original and previously published data.
Feature Transformation for Corporate Tax Default Prediction: Application of Machine Learning Approaches
Authors: Abedin Mohammad Zoynul , Hassan M. Kabir , Khan Imran , Julio Ivan F.
Published: April 2021

Applications of machine learning (ML) and data science have extended significantly into contemporary accounting and finance. Yet, the prediction and analysis of taxpayers’ status are relatively untapped to date. Moreover, this paper focuses on the combination of feature transformation as a novel domain of research for corporate firms’ tax status prediction with the applicability of ML approaches. The paper also applies a tax payment dataset of Finish limited liability firms with failed and non-failed tax information. Seven different ML approaches train across four datasets, transformed to non-transformed, that effectively discriminate the non-default tax firms from their default counterparts. The findings advocate tax administration to choose the single best ML approach and feature transformation method for the execution purpose.
Cooperative Decision Making of Supply Chain Members of Shipping Logistics Services Under the Background of Blockchain
Authors: Chen Yujing , Yang Bin
Published: April 2021

The supply chain of shipping logistics services is an important branch of logistics service supply chain. To ensure the effective operation of the supply chain and to solve problems such as asymmetric information, difficult data quality assurance, and uncontrollable transportation in shipping logistics services, blockchain technology are proposed to reduce information interaction problems. In view of the factors of information sharing and customers’ sensitivity to information quality, a tripartite evolutionary game model with the shipping company, the port and the freight forwarder as the research objects was established, and the cooperative decision making of node companies was discussed before and after the application of blockchain technology. Theoretical derivation and data analysis show that ports and freight forwarder in the supply chain of shipping logistics services dominated by shipping companies are less affected by information sharing and customers’ sensitivity to information quality. With the increase in the application of blockchain technology, when customers have lower expectations for information quality, shipping companies are more willing to cooperate actively. The willingness to cooperate actively between ports and shipping companies is increasing faster than when blockchain technology is not used. Therefore, shipping companies should encourage the active use of blockchain technology to reduce the degree of information sharing between ports and freight forwarder and the influences of customer expectations on shipping companies.
Conserved charges in general relativity
Authors: Aoki Sinya , Onogi Tetsuya , Yokoyama Shuichi
Published: April 2021

We present a precise definition of a conserved quantity from an arbitrary covariantly conserved current available in a general curved space–time with Killing vectors. This definition enables us to define energy and momentum for matter by the volume integral. As a result we can compute charges of Schwarzschild and BTZ black holes by the volume integration of a delta function singularity. Employing the definition we also compute the total energy of a static compact star. It contains both the gravitational mass known as the Misner–Sharp mass in the Oppenheimer–Volkoff equation and the gravitational binding energy. We show that the gravitational binding energy has the negative contribution at maximum by 68% of the gravitational mass in the case of a constant density. We finally comment on a definition of generators associated with a vector field on a general curved manifold.
Comparative Study of Evolutionary Computation Based PI, FOPI and NN Controllers for DSTATCOM
Authors: Srivastava Smriti , Wu Qiming , Gupta Monika , Chaudhary Gopal , Hua Qiaozhi , Li Jianbin
Published: April 2021

In this paper, nature inspired search algorithms, namely particle swarm optimization (PSO) and genetic algorithm (GA) are used to design fractional order proportional and integral (FOPI) and artificial neural network (ANN) controller based distribution static compensator (DSTATCOM) and electronic load controller (ELC) for power quality improvement. Improvement in power quality is achieved using DSTATCOM and an ELC. DSTATCOM is designed using FOPI and ANN based controllers, as opposed to conventional PI controllers which are comparatively less efficient. PSO and GA techniques are employed to determine the optimal parameters for the controllers. The improvement in the performance of the ANN and FOPI as compared to PI controller for the DSTATCOM and ELC is validated using MATLAB based modeling and simulations. Linear consumer loads were used to perform a comparative study in terms of maximum percentage error. Further, we analyzed the system for a nonlinear load and demonstrated decrease in the harmonic distortion.
EFFECT OF EXTERNAL MAGNETIC FIELD ON STRUCTURAL AND MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF ELECTRODEPOSITED Co–Fe NANOWIRES
Authors: SHAMAILA S. , HASSAN M. , SHARIF R. , SALMAN A.
Published: April 2021

CoFe nanowires were successfully synthesized in nanoporous anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) template by employing DC electrodeposition process. These nanowires have been electrodeposited in the presence of external magnetic field applied parallel ([Formula: see text] to the axis of nanowires. The effects of externally applied magnetic field on magnetic and structural properties of CoFe nanowires were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to identify crystal structure of the samples. The XRD pattern indicates polycrystalline nature of Cobalt iron nanowires with Body Centered Cubic (BCC) crystal structure. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images revealed the uniform growth of nanowires inside the template. To explore the magnetic properties of Cobalt iron nanowires, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) was employed. It was revealed that for nanowires electrodeposited with external magnetic field, easy axis of magnetization is found parallel ([Formula: see text] to the nanowire axis with large variation in anisotropic magnetization. Whereas for nanowires electrodeposited without external magnetic, easy axis of magnetization is perpendicular ([Formula: see text] to nanowires axis with small variation in anisotropic magnetization.
Detecting genetic associations with brain imaging phenotypes in Alzheimer’s disease via a novel structured KCCA approach
Authors: Wang Lei , Kong Wei , Wang Shuaiqun
Published: April 2021

Neuroimaging genetics has become an important research topic since it can reveal complex associations between genetic variants (i.e. single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the structures or functions of the human brain. However, existing kernel mapping is difficult to directly use the sparse representation method in the kernel feature space, which makes it difficult for most existing sparse canonical correlation analysis (SCCA) methods to be directly promoted in the kernel feature space. To bridge this gap, we adopt a novel alternating projected gradient approach, gradient KCCA (gradKCCA) model to develop a powerful model for exploring the intrinsic associations among genetic markers, imaging quantitative traits (QTs) of interest. Specifically, this model solves kernel canonical correlation (KCCA) with an additional constraint that projection directions have pre-images in the original data space, a sparsity-inducing variant of the model is achieved through controlling the [Formula: see text]-norm of the preimages of the projection directions. We evaluate this model using Alzheimer’s disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) cohort to discover the relationships among SNPs from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk gene APOE, imaging QTs extracted from structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Our results show that the algorithm not only outperforms the traditional KCCA method in terms of Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Correlation Coefficient (CC) but also identify the meaningful and relevant biomarkers of SNPs (e.g. rs157594 and rs405697), which are positively related to right Postcentral and right SupraMarginal brain regions in this study. Empirical results indicate its promising capability in revealing biologically meaningful neuroimaging genetics associations and improving the disease-related mechanistic understanding of AD.
Contact Analysis Based on a Linear Strain Node-Based Smoothed Finite Element Method with Linear Complementarity Formulations
Authors: Li Yan , Yue Junhong
Published: April 2021

This paper presents the node-based smoothed finite element method with linear strain functions (NS-FEM-L) for solving contact problems using triangular elements. The smoothed strains are formulated by a complete order of polynomial functions and normalized with reference to the central points of smoothing domains. They are one order higher than those adopted in the finite element method (FEM) and the standard smoothed finite element method with the same triangular mesh. When using linear functions to describe strains in smoothing domains, the solutions are more accurate and stable. The contact interfaces are discretized by contact point pairs using a modified Coulomb frictional contact model. The contact problems are solved via converting into linear complementarity problems (LCPs) which can be tackled by using the Lemke method. Numerical implementations are conducted to simulate the contact behavior, including the bonding–debonding, contacting–departing and sticking–slipping. The effects of various parameters related to friction and adhesion are intensively investigated. The comparison of numerical results produced by different methods demonstrates the validity and efficiency of the NS-FEM-L for contact problems.
Compatibility of φ(Ric)-vector fields on almost pseudo-Ricci symmetric manifolds
Authors: Baḡdatlı Yılmaz Hülya , Uysal S. Aynur
Published: April 2021

The object of the paper is to study the compatibility of [Formula: see text]-vector fields on almost pseudo-Ricci symmetric manifolds, briefly [Formula: see text]. First, we show the existence of an [Formula: see text] whose basic vector field [Formula: see text] is a [Formula: see text]-vector field by constructing a non-trivial example. Then, we investigate the properties of the Riemann and Weyl compatibility of [Formula: see text] under certain conditions. We consider an [Formula: see text] space-time whose basic vector fields [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is [Formula: see text]-vector fields of constant length. Moreover, we show that an [Formula: see text] space-time whose Ricci tensor is of Codazzi type and basic vector field [Formula: see text] is [Formula: see text]-vector field is purely electric space-time.
A new topological perspective of expanding space-times with applications to cosmology
Authors: Ahmed Nasr , Pradhan Anirudh , Salama F.
Published: April 2021

We discuss the possible role of the Tietze extension theorem in providing a rigorous topological base to the expanding space-time in cosmology. A simple toy model has been introduced to show the analogy between the topological extension from a circle [Formula: see text] to the whole space [Formula: see text] and the cosmic expansion from a non-zero volume to the whole space-time in non-singular cosmological models. A topological analogy to the cosmic scale factor function has been suggested, the paper refers to the possible applications of the topological extension in mathematical physics.
On the kth root partition function
Authors: Li Ya-Li , Wu Jie
Published: April 2021

For any positive integer [Formula: see text], let [Formula: see text] be the number of solutions of the equation [Formula: see text] with integers [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the integral part of real number [Formula: see text]. Recently, Luca and Ralaivaosaona gave an asymptotic formula for [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we give an asymptotic development of [Formula: see text] for all [Formula: see text]. Moreover, we prove that the number of such partitions is even (respectively, odd) infinitely often.
On the two-sided perplectic singular value decomposition and perplectically diagonalizable matrices
Authors: de la Cruz Ralph John
Published: April 2021

Necessary and sufficient conditions for a square matrix [Formula: see text] to be written as [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is a diagonal matrix, and [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are isometries of either the Minkowski indefinite inner product or the Symplectic scalar product, are known. We give the analogue of the preceding decomposition to the perplectic scalar product [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the backward identity matrix. We also give a perplectic analogue of the Takagi factorization for symmetric matrices. As a related result, we give necessary and sufficient conditions for a perplectic matrix to be diagonalizable by a perplectic matrix, and we show that every perplectic matrix is a product of perplectic matrices which are diagonalizable by a perplectic matrix.
A numerical range characterization of unitary matrices over a finite field
Authors: Ballico E.
Published: April 2021

Let [Formula: see text] be a prime power, [Formula: see text], and let [Formula: see text] be an [Formula: see text] matrix over [Formula: see text]. We prove that the numerical range of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is the same for every rank [Formula: see text] matrix [Formula: see text] if and only if [Formula: see text] is a multiple of a unitary matrix. The corresponding result for complex matrices was proved by Chien, Gau, Li, Tsai and Wang [Products of operators and numerical range, Linear Multilinear Algebra 64(1) (2016) 58–67].
Multiple solutions for Δγ-Laplace problems without the Ambrosetti–Rabinowitz condition
Authors: Luyen Duong Trong
Published: April 2021

In this paper, we study the existence of multiple solutions for the boundary value problem [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] is a bounded domain with smooth boundary in [Formula: see text], nonlinearity [Formula: see text] is subcritical growth and does not satisfy the Ambrosetti–Rabinowitz (AR) condition and [Formula: see text] is the subelliptic operator of the type [Formula: see text] We use variational methods (Mountain pass theorem and Ekeland variational principle).
Upscaling of outcrop information for improved reservoir modelling – exemplified by a case study on chalk
Authors: Qu Dongfang , Frykman Peter , Stemmerik Lars , Mosegaard Klaus , Nielsen Lars
Published: April 2021

Outcrops are valuable for analogous subsurface reservoirs in supplying knowledge of fine-scale spatial heterogeneity pattern and stratification types, which are difficult to obtain from subsurface reservoir cores, well logs or seismic data. For petrophysical properties in a domain where the variations are relatively continuous and not dominated by abrupt contrasts, the spatial heterogeneity pattern can be characterized by a semivariogram model. The outcrop information therefore has the potential to constrain the semivariogram for subsurface reservoir modelling, even though it represents different locations and depths, and the petrophysical properties may differ in magnitude or variance. However, the use of outcrop-derived spatial correlation information for petrophysical property modelling in practice has been challenged by the scale difference between the small support volume of the property measurements from outcrops and the typically much larger grid cells used in reservoir models. With an example of modelling the porosity of an outcrop chalk unit in eastern Denmark, this paper illustrates how the fine-scale spatial correlation information obtained from the sampling of outcrops can be transferred to coarser-scale models of analogue rocks. The workflow can be applied to subsurface reservoirs and ultimately improves the representation of geological patterns in reservoir models.
Definitions and Security of Quantum Electronic Voting
Authors: Arapinis Myrto , Lamprou Nikolaos , Kashefi Elham , Pappa Anna
Published: April 2021

Recent advances indicate that quantum computers will soon be reality. Motivated by this ever more realistic threat for existing classical cryptographic protocols, researchers have developed several schemes to resist “quantum attacks.” In particular, for electronic voting (e-voting), several schemes relying on properties of quantum mechanics have been proposed. However, each of these proposals comes with a different and often not well-articulated corruption model, has different objectives, and is accompanied by security claims that are never formalized and are at best justified only against specific attacks. To address this, we propose the first formal security definitions for quantum e-voting protocols. With these at hand, we systematize and evaluate the security of previously proposed quantum e-voting protocols; we examine the claims of these works concerning privacy, correctness, and verifiability, and if they are correctly attributed to the proposed protocols. In all non-trivial cases, we identify specific quantum attacks that violate these properties. We argue that the cause of these failures lies in the absence of formal security models and references to the existing cryptographic literature.
Sociability in Virtual Reality
Authors: Holopainen Jani , Mattila Osmo , Parvinen Petri , Pöyry Essi , Tuunanen Tuure
Published: April 2021

This study investigates sociability in the context of immersive Virtual Reality (VR). A Design Science Research process was applied, and three iterative development versions of a VR application were studied. Sociability around the technology was investigated with two theoretical perspectives: social presence and social interactions. The results of qualitative interviews and observations as well as a quantitative experiment are combined to make a proposal for four design principles enhancing the beneficial sociability of VR systems. These principles address the importance of ease-of-use and personalization in the activation of a customer, customer empowerment and emancipation through familiarization, creating real-world connections and surprising content, as well as adding informative elements and streamlining the customer encounter and service process. The proposed design principles are empirically linked through social behaviors and emotions to cognitive outcomes representing beneficial sociability, e.g., improved customer motivation, willingness-to-share, value communications, co-creation, and co-innovation.
Thermoplastic Electrodes for Detection of Escherichia coli
Authors: Ozer Tugba , McCord Cynthia , Geiss Brian J. , Dandy David , Henry Charles S.
Published: April 2021

A new amine functionalized electrochemical immunosensor for label-free detection of Escherichia coli using modified thermoplastic electrodes is reported for the first time. The E. coli-specific antibody was immobilized on diazonium-modified TPEs. The modification process was monitored using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy using the hexacyanoferrate redox couple as the electrochemical probe. The linear range was from 1 × 103 to 1 × 105 CFU ml–1 with a linear correlation of 0.9823 and limit of detection of 27 CFU ml–1 for E. coli (DH5α strain) in phosphate buffered saline solution as a model system. The specificity of the proposed immunosensor was demonstrated by showing selective detection in the presence of different bacteria. The biosensor was successfully applied to urine samples spiked with 0.5 × 105 CFU ml–1 and 1 × 105 CFU ml–1
E. coli and obtained good recoveries 99% and 110%, respectively. The proposed system should be well suited for selective and sensitive detection of different pathogenic bacteria.
Insights into Proton Recombination in Ceramic Proton Conducting Electrodes
Authors: Chang Jian , Lehman Colin , Vohs John M. , Gorte Raymond J. , Vojvodic Aleksandra , Yang Kunli , McIntosh Steven
Published: April 2021

The effect of catalyst addition on H2 evolution from composite electrodes of La0.7Sr0.3TiO3 (LST) and BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3−δ
(BZCYYb) was studied. Starting with symmetric cells (LST∣∣BZCYYb∣∣LST), Pt was added to one or both electrodes, after which i–V polarization measurements were performed in humidified H2 at 723 and 773 K. The base cells showed very high impedances but these decreased dramatically upon addition of Pt to both electrodes. When Pt was added to only one electrode, the cells performed as diodes, showing that Pt was necessary for H2 dissociation but not for H recombination. The effects of adding Ru, W, Re and Fe were also studied. DFT calculations helped confirm that H recombination on BaZrO3 is expected to be barrierless. The implications of these results for potential application to electrochemical synthesis of ammonia are discussed.
Insight into the Effect of Ionic Liquid-Based Additives at the Solid Electrolyte Interphase for Lithium Metal Batteries
Authors: Joraleechanchai Nattanon , Duangdangchote Salatan , Sawangphruk Montree
Published: April 2021

We have investigated the effect of ionic liquids (ILs) additives in 1 M LiTFSI in 1,3-dioxolane (DOL)/dimethyl ether (DME) (1:1, v/v) on the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) using a combined theoretical and experimental method for next-generation Li metal batteries. Among all investigated cations of ILs including imidazolium (IMI+), pyrrolidinium (PYR+), and piperidinium (PIP+) cations, we have observed that the presence of IMI+ provides relatively larger decomposed products of the TFSI anion on the Li metal surface when compared with saturated-ring type cation ILs including PYR+- and PIP+-ILs due to its high electron affinity (EA). Furthermore, the reactive molecular dynamics results show that the SEI layer of the system using the ILs with saturated rings is significantly thin when compared to that of the ILs with aromatic-ring, which is desired for fast Li-ion diffusivity through the SEI. This finding may lead to an ideal design of electrolyte system for future Li-metal batteries.
Methods—Design Guidelines for Tubular Flow-through Electrodes for Use in Electroanalytical Studies of Redox Reaction Kinetics
Authors: Gong Yukun , Clemens Auston L. , Davis Jonathan T. , Orme Christine , Dudukovic Nikola A. , Ivanovskaya Anna N. , Akolkar Rohan
Published: April 2021

The tubular flow-through electrode (FTE) is a facile electroanalytical tool for investigating electrochemical reaction kinetics; however, its suitability for this purpose requires careful design and operation under conditions that guarantee uniform current distribution. In this perspective article, we provide a scaling analysis of the transport and reaction processes within a tubular FTE leading to quantitative guidelines for the FTE design and operation. Two dimensionless parameters (classical Wagner number WaI and modified Wagner number incorporating the effect of mass transport WaII) are utilized to compare the magnitudes of the ohmic, activation and transport resistances of the tubular FTE, and to quantify its current distribution uniformity. With the aid of analytical modeling of the current distribution, optimal ranges for these two dimensionless parameters are defined so as to ascertain uniform current distribution. Application of these guidelines to a graphite tubular FTE is shown to enable the precise determination of the charge-transfer kinetics of the ferri/ferrocyanide redox reaction.
Pennington Corner: Advancing the Science
Authors: Calvo Roque
Published: April 2021

Later this year ECS is going to introduce a new system that will complete the “electronic workflow” of the scientific manuscripts published in the ECS journals. The software is called Peer-X-Press or PXP, and it is a completely integrated system for online manuscript submission and online peer review.
Pennington Corner: “Get Up Early, Work Hard, Find Oil”
Authors: Calvo Roque J.
Published: April 2021

J. Paul Getty, the great American oil tycoon, instructed his petroleum engineers to, “Get up early, work hard, find oil.” It was a clear, direct and achievable mission statement that defined the purpose and exploited the distinctive competence of his company.
From the President: The First ECS European Tour
Authors: Scrosati Bruno
Published: April 2021

I recently made my first trip as ECS President. This was also The Electrochemical Society’s first official “tour” of Europe and this combination made the event particularly unique and pleasurable for me.
Nanowatch Europe: Surface Science in Nanotechnology
Authors: Baraton Marie-Isabelle
Published: April 2021

Nanotechnology originates from the ability of researchers to manipulate matter at the nanometer scale and has resulted in materials with novel and significantly improved physical, chemical, and biological properties. Nanotechnology implies the control of matter at the atomic and molecular level and is requiring researchers to work across boundaries of classical disciplines, including social sciences and education.
Centennial Campaign: Enabling Participation
Authors: Miller Troy M.
Published: April 2021

The Electrochemical Society was established as an international society over 100 years ago. Its list of charter members included representatives from nine different countries—an astonishing reach for a fledgling organization in 1902. To achieve the Society’s mission of disseminating the technical information with which it is concerned, it has had to reach as wide an audience as possible.
Techwatch: Iontophoresis – Application of Electrochemical Materials and Methods for Therapeutics and Diagnostics
Authors: Subramony J. Anand
Published: April 2021

Iontophoresis is a method of transporting substances into and across biological tissues by the application of an electric current. More specifically, it is a transdermal method of transporting substances such as drugs into the body noninvasively, by applying an electrical potential. The flux of molecules by iontophoresis is higher than passive diffusion of molecules from medicated patches.
Nanowatch Europe: What Will Nanoscience Contribute in the Next Few Years?
Authors: Pileni M. P.
Published: April 2021

In the next few years we have to solve several outstanding problems in nanoscience. In this short note, I will try to give my opinion on the perspective in this area.
Electrochemistry in Medical Applications
Authors: Schlesinger Mordechay
Published: April 2021

This issue of Interface is devoted to the subject matter of electrochemistry in the service of, and how it relates to, medicine. It is indeed timely for such a topic to be discussed by our Society. Medicine is the second oldest profession and as such deserves our closer attention. Further, in the ongoing process of “globalization,” we are witnessing not only the tendency of commercial unification of the globe but the rapidly emerging interdependency of different scientific and technical disciplines, as well.
Electrochemical Imaging of Molecular Transport in Skin
Authors: White Henry S.
Published: April 2021

The delivery of drugs into the body, for therapeutic treatment, at a continuously controlled rate, is a general goal of the medical community. One means of achieving controlled release is by molecular transport across the skin, commonly referred to as transdermal drug delivery.
Engineering a Membrane Electrode Assembly
Authors: Weidner John W. , Sethuraman Vijay A. , Van Zee John W.
Published: April 2021

One quickly realizes that a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) unit powered by hydrogen or methanol is more than just a stack of cells. Rather, it is a tightly integrated system of pumps, valves, flow meters, sensors, and heat exchangers that must work reliably for thousands of hours. This requires the expertise of a wide range of scientists and engineers to design, fabricate, and test an efficient, low cost unit that can compete in the marketplace with other energy producing devices.
Perspectives on Electrochemical Engineering
Authors: Alkire Richard C. , Chapman Thomas W.
Published: April 2021

The need for electrochemical engineering arises in society because of technological applications that involve electrochemical phenomena such as synthesis of chemicals, electrowinning and refining of metals, power sources, sensors, surface modification by electrodeposition and etching, separations, and corrosion, to mention a few. Each of these involves components (electrode, electrolyte, separator, etc.) that are tuned in response to prevailing economic variables (such as cost of investment, power, raw materials, product quality) by skillful manipulation of engineering design variables (such as cell materials, cell reactions, current, electrode area, cell voltage, conversion, product quality).
Applications of DIACHEM® Electrodes in Electrolytic Water Treatment
Authors: Fryda M. , Matthee Th. , Mulachy S. , Hofer M. , Schafer L. , Troster I.
Published: April 2021

Diamond coated electrodes have been investigated worldwide over the past number of years with notable results. It is possible to vary electrical properties of diamond from semiconductor (very wide band gap) to close to metallically conductive by varying the boron doping level (1019-1021 cm−3). The most important electrochemical properties are the very high corrosion stability in electrochemical applications and the extremely high overvoltage for water electrolysis.
Organic Light Emitting Devices: From Displays to Lighting
Authors: Parthasarathy Gautam , Liu Jie , Duggal Anil R.
Published: April 2021

Recently there has been significant interest in electroluminescence from organic materials. Driven by the potential to significantly impact the information display market, research and development on organic light emitting devices has advanced at a remarkable pace over the past decade or so.
Structural Characterization of Dot-Core GaN Substrates with Annealing Under Growth-Like Conditions Using Synchrotron Monochromatic X-ray Topography
Authors: Wang Y. , Liao M. E. , Huynh K. , Allerman A. A. , Goorsky M. S.
Published: April 2021

In this work, synchrotron monochromatic X-ray topography was employed to study the structural characteristics of as-received c-plane dot-core GaN substrates and then to investigate the structural evolution with annealing under growth-like conditions at 1050 °C for 10 h. Single exposure X-ray topography images were obtained using the (1124) GaN asymmetric reflection. These images were superimposed to quantify the lattice distortions in regions near the dot-cores and in the regions between these defects. The results show that different dot-core substrates from the same vendor exhibit different defect distribution, lattice distortions around the cores, and different radii of lattice curvature, ranging from 7 m to 25 m. Annealing under growth-like conditions reduces both the global and local lattice distortions. Globally, the radius of curvature across the wafer increased from 17 m to 27 m after annealing. The local radius of curvature across the highly distorted core regions also increased from 0.47 ± 0.04 m to 0.9 ± 0.2 m after annealing. An increase in the radius of curvature is an indication of stress reduction. The lattice tilt around the cores varies from 0.01°−0.02°. The lattice planes around the centers of cores are highly distorted, and the magnitude of the tilt generally decreases radially away from the core center. After annealing, these local distortions decreased as well. A general core model was built based on these experimental results, providing a fundamental structural picture of dot-core regions, which has been lacking in the current literature.
Updating anatomy and physiology lab delivery: shifting from a paper-based to an online lab instruction platform, just in time for a global pandemic
Authors: Stokes Jennifer A. , Silverthorn Dee U.
Published: April 2021

This paper describes how an anatomy and physiology laboratory class transitioned from a paper-based lab to an online learning platform that updated the curriculum to rely more on face-to-face small group collaboration and peer teaching. Student perceptions of the new format were positive, but halfway through the transition a global pandemic challenged the new instruction method. The face-to-face curriculum had to be adjusted to a virtual format that lacked in-person interaction between the instructor and the students. This switch to virtual labs had an adverse effect on both student perception and student performance in the second half of the semester. Our observations underscore the importance of creating an interactive community when teaching virtually.
Engineering fiber anisotropy within natural collagen hydrogels
Authors: Ahmed Adeel , Joshi Indranil M. , Mansouri Mehran , Ahamed Nuzhet N. N. , Hsu Meng-Chun , Gaborski Thomas R. , Abhyankar Vinay V.
Published: April 2021

It is well known that biophysical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM), including stiffness, porosity, composition, and fiber alignment (anisotropy), play a crucial role in controlling cell behavior in vivo. Type I collagen (collagen I) is a ubiquitous structural component in the ECM and has become a popular hydrogel material that can be tuned to replicate the mechanical properties found in vivo. In this review article, we describe popular methods to create 2-D and 3-D collagen I hydrogels with anisotropic fiber architectures. We focus on methods that can be readily translated from engineering and materials science laboratories to the life-science community with the overall goal of helping to increase the physiological relevance of cell culture assays.
Activation of KCNQ (KV7) K+ channels in enteric neurons inhibits epithelial Cl− secretion in mouse distal colon
Authors: Nickerson Andrew J. , Rottgen Trey S. , Rajendran Vazhaikkurichi M.
Published: April 2021

Voltage-gated Kv7 ( KCNQ family) K+ channels are expressed in many neuronal populations and play an important role in regulating membrane potential by generating a hyperpolarizing K+ current and decreasing cell excitability. However, the role of KV7 channels in the neural regulation of intestinal epithelial Cl− secretion is not known. Cl− secretion in mouse distal colon was measured as a function of short-circuit current (ISC), and pharmacological approaches were used to test the hypothesis that activation of KV7 channels in enteric neurons would inhibit epithelial Cl− secretion. Flupirtine, a nonselective KV7 activator, inhibited basal Cl− secretion in mouse distal colon and abolished or attenuated the effects of drugs that target various components of enteric neurotransmission, including tetrodotoxin (NaV channel blocker), veratridine (NaV channel activator), nicotine (nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist), and hexamethonium (nicotinic antagonist). In contrast, flupritine did not block the response to epithelium-targeted agents VIP (endogenous VPAC receptor ligand) or carbachol (nonselective cholinergic agonist). Flupirtine inhibited Cl− secretion in both full-thickness and seromuscular-stripped distal colon (containing the submucosal, but not myenteric plexus) but generated no response in epithelial T84 cell monolayers. KV7.2 and KV7.3 channel proteins were detected by immunofluorescence in whole mount preparations of the submucosa from mouse distal colon. ICA 110381 (KV7.2/7.3 specific activator) inhibited Cl− secretion comparably to flupirtine. We conclude that KV7 channel activators inhibit neurally driven Cl− secretion in the colonic epithelium and may therefore have therapeutic benefit in treating pathologies associated with hyperexcitable enteric nervous system, such as irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D).
Tumor DDR1 deficiency reduces liver metastasis by colon carcinoma and impairs stromal reaction
Authors: Romayor Irene , Márquez Joana , Benedicto Aitor , Herrero Alba , Arteta Beatriz , Olaso Elvira
Published: April 2021

Tumor DDR1 acts as a key factor during the desmoplastic response surrounding hepatic colorectal metastasis. Hepatic sinusoidal cell-derived soluble factors stimulate tumor DDR1 activation. DDR1 modulates matrix remodeling to promote metastasis in the liver through the interaction with hepatic stromal cells, specifically liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and hepatic stellate cells.
Lung immune tone via gut-lung axis: gut-derived LPS and short-chain fatty acids’ immunometabolic regulation of lung IL-1β, FFAR2, and FFAR3 expression
Authors: Liu Qing , Tian Xiaoli , Maruyama Daisuke , Arjomandi Mehrdad , Prakash Arun
Published: April 2021

Microbial metabolites produced by the gut microbiome, e.g. short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), have been found to influence lung physiology and injury responses. However, how lung immune activity is regulated by SCFA is unknown. We examined fresh human lung tissue and observed the presence of SCFA with interindividual variability. In vitro, SCFA were capable of modifying the metabolic programming in LPS-exposed alveolar macrophages (AM). We hypothesized that lung immune tone could be defined by baseline detection of lung intracellular IL-1β. Therefore, we interrogated naïve mouse lungs with intact gut microbiota for IL-1β mRNA expression and localized its presence within alveolar spaces, specifically within AM subsets. We established that metabolically active gut microbiota, which produce SCFA, can transmit LPS and SCFA to the lung and thereby could create primed lung immunometabolic tone. To understand how murine lung cells sensed and upregulated IL-1β in response to gut microbiome-derived factors, we determined that, in vitro, AM and alveolar type II (AT2) cells expressed SCFA receptors, free fatty acid receptor 2 (FFAR2), free fatty acid receptor 3 (FFAR3), and IL-1β but with distinct expression patterns and different responses to LPS. Finally, we observed that IL-1β, FFAR2, and FFAR3 were expressed in isolated human AM and AT2 cells ex vivo, but in fresh human lung sections in situ, only AM expressed IL-1β at rest and after LPS challenge. Together, this translational study using mouse and human lung tissue and cells point to an important role for the gut microbiome and their SCFA in establishing and regulating lung immune tone.
Balancing precision versus cohort transcriptomic analysis of acute and recovery phase of viral bronchiolitis
Authors: Gupta Ruchir , Leimanis Mara L. , Adams Marie , Bachmann André S. , Uhl Katie L. , Bupp Caleb P. , Hartog Nicholas L. , Kort Eric J. , Olivero Rosemary , Comstock Sarah S. , Sanfilippo Dominic J. , Lunt Sophia Y. , Prokop Jeremy W. , Rajasekaran Surender
Published: April 2021

Viral infections affecting the lower respiratory tract place enormous burdens on hospitals. As neither vaccines nor antiviral agents exist for many viruses, understanding risk factors and outcomes in each patient using minimally invasive analysis, such as blood, can lead to improved health care delivery. A cohort of PAXgene RNA sequencing of infants admitted with moderate or severe acute bronchiolitis and respiratory syncytial virus were compared with case-control statistical analysis and cohort-based outlier mapping for precision transcriptomics. Patients with severe bronchiolitis had signatures connected to the immune system, interferon signaling, and cytokine signaling, with marked sex differences in XIST, RPS4Y1, KDM5D, and LINC00278 for severity. Several patients had unique secondary infections, cytokine activation, immune responses, biological pathways, and immune cell activation, highlighting the need for defining patient-level transcriptomic signatures. Balancing relative contributions of cohort-based biomarker discoveries with patient’s biological responses is needed to understand the totality of mechanisms of adverse outcomes in viral bronchiolitis.
Differential contributions of voltage-gated potassium channel subunits in enhancing temporal coding in the bushy cells of the ventral cochlear nucleus
Authors: Fu Mingyu , Zhang Lu , Xie Xiao , Wang Ningqian , Xiao Zhongju
Published: April 2021

This study investigates the roles of Kv channels in effecting precision using electrophysiological and pharmacological methods in bushy cells. Different Kv channels have varying electrophysiological characteristics, which contribute to the interplay between changes in the membrane properties and regulation of neuronal excitability which then improve temporal coding. We conclude that the Kv channels are specialized to promote the precise and rapid coding of acoustic input by optimizing the generation of reliable APs.