bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trans-tail regulation-mediated suppression of cryptic transcription
Authors: Choi Jungmin , Ryoo Zae Young , Cho Dong-Hyung , Lee Hyun-Shik , Ryu Hong-Yeoul
Published: November 2021

Crosstalk between post-translational modifications of histone proteins influences the regulation of chromatin structure and gene expression. Among such crosstalk pathways, the best-characterized example is H2B monoubiquitination-mediated H3K4 and H3K79 methylation, which is referred to as trans-tail regulation. Although many studies have investigated the fragmentary effects of this pathway on silencing and transcription, its ultimate contribution to transcriptional control has remained unclear. Recent advances in molecular techniques and genomics have, however, revealed that the trans-tail crosstalk is linked to a more diverse cascade of histone modifications and has various functions in cotranscriptional processes. Furthermore, H2B monoubiquitination sequentially facilitates H3K4 dimethylation and histone sumoylation, thereby providing a binding platform for recruiting Set3 complex proteins, including two histone deacetylases, to restrict cryptic transcription from gene bodies. The removal of both ubiquitin and SUMO, small ubiquitin-like modifier, modifications from histones also facilitates a change in the phosphorylation pattern of the RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain that is required for subsequent transcriptional elongation. Therefore, this review describes recent findings regarding trans-tail regulation-driven processes to elaborate on their contribution to maintaining transcriptional fidelity.
LncRNA SFTA1P mediates positive feedback regulation of the Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling pathway in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Zhu Bowen , Finch-Edmondson Megan , Leong Kim Whye , Zhang Xiaoqian , V. Mitheera , Lin Quy Xiao Xuan , Lee Yaelim , Ng Wei Ting , Guo Huili , Wan Yue , Sudol Marius , DasGupta Ramanuj
Published: November 2021

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate numerous biological processes involved in both development and carcinogenesis. Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling, a critical pathway responsible for organ size control, is often dysregulated in a variety of cancers. However, the nature and function of YAP/TAZ-regulated lncRNAs during tumorigenesis remain largely unexplored. By profiling YAP/TAZ-regulated lncRNAs, we identified SFTA1P as a novel transcriptional target and a positive feedback regulator of YAP/TAZ signaling. Using non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines, we show that SFTA1P is transcriptionally activated by YAP/TAZ in a TEAD-dependent manner. Functionally, knockdown of SFTA1P in NSCLC cell lines inhibited proliferation, induced programmed cell death, and compromised their tumorigenic potential. Mechanistically, SFTA1P knockdown decreased TAZ protein abundance and consequently, the expression of YAP/TAZ transcriptional targets. We provide evidence that this phenomenon could potentially be mediated via its interaction with TAZ mRNA to regulate TAZ translation. Our results reveal SFTA1P as a positive feedback regulator of Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling, which may serve as the molecular basis for lncRNA-based therapies against YAP/TAZ-driven cancers.
Recurrent de novo pathogenic variant of WASF1 in a Japanese patient with neurodevelopmental disorder with absent language and variable seizures
Authors: Shimojima Yamamoto Keiko , Yanagishita Tomoe , Yamamoto Hisako , Miyamoto Yusaku , Nagata Miho , Ishihara Yasuki , Miyashita Yohei , Asano Yoshihiro , Sakata Yasushi , Yamamoto Toshiyuki
Published: November 2021

A recurrent de novo pathogenic variant of WASF1, NM_003931:c.1516C>T [p.Arg506*], was identified in a 6-year-old female Japanese patient with severe developmental delay, hypotonia, hyperkinetic behavior, and distinctive facial features. The initial report of five adult patients with WASF1 variants was the only previous report regarding variants of this gene; this is the second such report, reaffirming that rare but recurrent truncating variants of WASF1 are associated with severe neurodevelopmental disorders.
Representation and participation across 20 years of plant genome sequencing
Authors: Marks Rose A. , Hotaling Scott , Frandsen Paul B. , VanBuren Robert
Published: November 2021

The field of plant genome sequencing has grown rapidly in the past 20 years, leading to increases in the quantity and quality of publicly available genomic resources. The growing wealth of genomic data from an increasingly diverse set of taxa provides unprecedented potential to better understand the genome biology and evolution of land plants. Here we provide a contemporary view of land plant genomics, including analyses on assembly quality, taxonomic distribution of sequenced species and national participation. We show that assembly quality has increased dramatically in recent years, that substantial taxonomic gaps exist and that the field has been dominated by affluent nations in the Global North and China, despite a wide geographic distribution of study species. We identify numerous disconnects between the native range of focal species and the national affiliation of the researchers studying them, which we argue are rooted in colonialism—both past and present. Luckily, falling sequencing costs, widening availability of analytical tools and an increasingly connected scientific community provide key opportunities to improve existing assemblies, fill sampling gaps and empower a more global plant genomics community.
Unraveling energy and charge transfer in type-II van der Waals heterostructures
Authors: Liu Junyi , Li Zi , Zhang Xu , Lu Gang
Published: November 2021

Recent experiments observed significant energy transfer in type-II van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures, such as WS2/MoSe2, which is surprising due to their staggered band alignment and weak spectral overlap. In this work, we carry out first-principles calculations to shed light on energy and charge transfer in WS2/MoSe2 heterostructure. Incorporating excitonic effect in nonadiabatic electronic dynamics, our first-principles calculations uncover a two-step process in competing energy and charge transfer, unravel their relative efficiencies and explore the means to control their competition. While both Dexter and Förster mechanisms can be responsible for energy transfer, they are shown to operate at different conditions. The excitonic effect is revealed to drive ultrafast energy and charge transfer in type-II WS2/MoSe2 heterostructure. Our work provides a comprehensive picture of exciton dynamics in vdW heterostructures and paves the way for rational design of novel vdW heterostructures for optoelectronic and photovoltaic applications.
Electrochemical tomography as a nondestructive technique to study localized corrosion of metals
Authors: van Ede M. C. , Earls C. J. , Fichtner A. , Angst U.
Published: November 2021

We present an approach, termed electrochemical tomography (ECT), for the in-situ study of corrosion phenomena in general, and for the quantification of the instantaneous rate of localized corrosion in particular. Traditional electrochemical techniques have limited accuracy in determining the corrosion rate when applied to localized corrosion, especially for metals embedded in opaque, porous media. One major limitation is the generally unknown anodic surface area. ECT overcomes these limitations by combining a numerical forward model, describing the electrical potential field in the porous medium, with electrochemical measurements taken at the surface, and using a stochastic inverse method to determine the corrosion rate, and the location and size of the anodic site. Additionally, ECT yields insight into parameters such as the exchange current densities, and it enables the quantification of the uncertainty of the obtained solution. We illustrate the application of ECT for the example of localized corrosion of steel in concrete.
Molecular interactions between parasite and mosquito during midgut invasion as targets to block malaria transmission
Authors: Keleta Yacob , Ramelow Julian , Cui Liwang , Li Jun
Published: November 2021

Despite considerable effort, malaria remains a major public health burden. Malaria is caused by five Plasmodium species and is transmitted to humans via the female Anopheles mosquito. The development of malaria vaccines against the liver and blood stages has been challenging. Therefore, malaria elimination strategies advocate integrated measures, including transmission-blocking approaches. Designing an effective transmission-blocking strategy relies on a sophisticated understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing the interactions between the mosquito midgut molecules and the malaria parasite. Here we review recent advances in the biology of malaria transmission, focusing on molecular interactions between Plasmodium and Anopheles mosquito midgut proteins. We provide an overview of parasite and mosquito proteins that are either targets for drugs currently in clinical trials or candidates of promising transmission-blocking vaccines.
Noncentral forces mediated between two inclusions in a bath of active Brownian rods
Authors: Sebtosheikh Mahmoud , Naji Ali
Published: November 2021

Using Brownian Dynamics simulations, we study effective interactions mediated between two identical and impermeable disks (inclusions) immersed in a bath of identical, active (self-propelled), Brownian rods in two spatial dimensions, by assuming that the self-propulsion axis of the rods may generally deviate from their longitudinal axis. When the self-propulsion is transverse (perpendicular to the rod axis), the accumulation of active rods around the inclusions is significantly enhanced, causing a more expansive steric layering (ring formation) of the rods around the inclusions, as compared with the reference case of longitudinally self-propelling rods. As a result, the transversally self-propelling rods also mediate a significantly longer ranged effective interaction between the inclusions. The bath-mediated interaction arises due to the overlaps between the active-rod rings formed around the inclusions, as they are brought into small separations. When the self-propulsion axis is tilted relative to the rod axis, we find an asymmetric imbalance of active-rod accumulation around the inclusion dimer. This leads to a noncentral interaction, featuring an anti-parallel pair of transverse force components and, hence, a bath-mediated torque on the dimer.
Multi-physics coupling simulation of electrode induction melting gas atomization for advanced titanium alloys powder preparation
Authors: Li Hailin , Shen Yongpeng , Liu Pu , Liang Weihua , Wang Mingjie , Wang Shuhong
Published: November 2021

A numerical modeling method is proposed for the melting process of Titanium metals of Titanium alloys powder preparation used for 3D printing. The melting process simulation, which involves the tight coupling between electromagnetic field, thermal field and fluid flow as well as deformation associated during the melting process, is conducted by adopting the finite element method. A two-way coupling strategy is used to include the interactions between these fields by incorporating the material properties dependent on temperature and the coupling terms. In addition, heat radiation and phase change are also considered in this paper. The arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian formulation is exploited to model the deformation of Titanium metal during the melting process. The distribution of electromagnetic flux density, eddy current density, temperature, and fluid flow velocity at different time can be determined by utilizing this numerical method. In a word, the method proposed in this paper provides a general way to predict the melting process of electrode induction melting gas atomization (EIGA) dynamically, and it also could be used as a reference for the design and optimization of EIGA.
Tracking induced forgetting across both strong and weak memory representations to test competing theories of forgetting
Authors: Maxcey Ashleigh M. , Joykutty Zara , Megla Emma
Published: November 2021

Here we employ a novel analysis to address the question: what causes induced forgetting of pictures? We use baseline memorability as a measure of initial memory strength to ask whether induced forgetting is due to (1) recognition practice damaging the association between the memory representation and the category cue used to activate the representation, (2) the updating of a memory trace by incorporating information about a memory probe presented during recognition practice to the stored trace, (3) inhibitory mechanisms used to resolve the conflict created when correctly selecting the practiced item activates competing exemplars, (4) a global matching model in which repeating some items will hurt memory for other items, or (5) falling into the zone of destruction, where a moderate amount of activation leads to the highest degree of forgetting. None of the accounts of forgetting tested here can comprehensively account for both the novel analyses reported here and previous data using the induced forgetting paradigm. We discuss aspects of forgetting theories that are consistent with the novel analyses and existing data, a potential solution for existing models, proposals for future directions, and considerations when incorporating memorability into models of memory.
Dynamical efficiency for multimodal time-varying transportation networks
Authors: Bellocchi Leonardo , Latora Vito , Geroliminis Nikolas
Published: November 2021

Spatial systems that experience congestion can be modeled as weighted networks whose weights dynamically change over time with the redistribution of flows. This is particularly true for urban transportation networks. The aim of this work is to find appropriate network measures that are able to detect critical zones for traffic congestion and bottlenecks in a transportation system. We propose for both single and multi-layered networks a path-based measure, called dynamical efficiency, which computes the travel time differences under congested and free-flow conditions. The dynamical efficiency quantifies the reachability of a location embedded in the whole urban traffic condition, in lieu of a myopic description based on the average speed of single road segments. In this way, we are able to detect the formation of congestion seeds and visualize their evolution in time as well-defined clusters. Moreover, the extension to multilayer networks allows us to introduce a novel measure of centrality, which estimates the expected usage of inter-modal junctions between two different transportation means. Finally, we define the so-called dilemma factor in terms of number of alternatives that an interconnected transportation system offers to the travelers in exchange for a small increase in travel time. We find macroscopic relations between the percentage of extra-time, number of alternatives and level of congestion, useful to quantify the richness of trip choices that a city offers. As an illustrative example, we show how our methods work to study the real network of a megacity with probe traffic data.
Epicardial adipose tissue radiodensity is associated with all-cause mortality in patients undergoing hemodialysis
Authors: Kwon Seong Soon , Choi Kyoungjin , Da Nam Bo , Lee Haekyung , Cho Nam-Jun , Park Byoung Won , Kim Hyoungnae , Noh Hyunjin , Jeon Jin Seok , Han Dong Cheol , Oh Sujeong , Kwon Soon Hyo
Published: November 2021

The radiodensity and volume of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) on computed tomography angiography (CTA) may provide information regarding cardiovascular risk and long-term outcomes. EAT volume is associated with mortality in patients undergoing incident hemodialysis. However, the relationship between EAT radiodensity/volume and all-cause mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing maintenance hemodialysis remains elusive. In this retrospective study, EAT radiodensity (in Hounsfield units) and volume (in cm3) on coronary CTA were quantified for patients with ESRD using automatic, quantitative measurement software between January 2012 and December 2018. All-cause mortality data (up to December 2019) were obtained from the Korean National Statistical Office. The prognostic values of EAT radiodensity and volume for predicting long-term mortality were assessed using multivariable Cox regression models, which were adjusted for potential confounders. A total of 221 patients (mean age: 64.88 ± 11.09 years; 114 women and 107 men) with ESRD were included. The median follow-up duration (interquartile range) after coronary CTA was 29.63 (range 16.67–44.7) months. During follow-up, 82 (37.1%) deaths occurred. In the multivariable analysis, EAT radiodensity (hazard ratio [HR] 1.055; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.015–1.095; p = 0.006) was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in patients with ESRD. However, EAT volume was not associated with mortality. Higher EAT radiodensity on CTA is associated with higher long-term all-cause mortality in patients undergoing prevalent hemodialysis, highlighting its potential as a prognostic imaging biomarker in patients undergoing hemodialysis.
Atomistic-scale analysis of the deformation and failure of polypropylene composites reinforced by functionalized silica nanoparticles
Authors: Sorkin V. , Pei Q. X. , Liu P. , Thitsartarn W. , He C. B. , Zhang Y. W.
Published: November 2021

Interfacial adhesion between polymer matrix and reinforcing silica nanoparticles plays an important role in strengthening polypropylene (PP) composite. To improve the adhesion strength, the surface of silica nanoparticles can be modified by grafted functional molecules. Using atomistic simulations, we examined the effect of functionalization of silica nanoparticles by hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) and octyltriethoxysilane (OTES) molecules on the deformation and failure of silica-reinforced PP composite. We found that the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of PP composite functionalized by OTES (28 MPa) is higher than that of HMDS (25 MPa), which is in turn higher than that passivated only by hydrogen (22 MPa). To understand the underlying mechanistic origin, we calculated the adhesive energy and interfacial strength of the interphase region, and found that both the adhesive energy and interfacial strength are the highest for the silica nanoparticles functionalized by OTES molecules, while both are the lowest by hydrogen. The ultimate failure of the polymer composite is initiated by the cavitation in the interphase region with the lowest mass density, and this cavitation failure mode is common for all the examined PP composites, but the cavitation position is dependent on the tail length of the functional molecules. The present work provides interesting insights into the deformation and cavitation failure mechanisms of the silica-reinforced PP composites, and the findings can be used as useful guidelines in selecting chemical agents for surface treatment of silica nanoparticles.
Impact of respiratory infectious epidemics on STEMI incidence and care
Authors: Macherey S. , Meertens M. M. , Adler C. , Braumann S. , Heyne S. , Tichelbäcker T. , Nießen F. S. , Christ H. , Ahrens I. , Baer F. M. , Eberhardt F. , Horlitz M. , Meissner A. , Sinning J. M. , Baldus S. , Lee S.
Published: November 2021

The effect of respiratory infectious diseases on STEMI incidence, but also STEMI care is not well understood. The Influenza 2017/2018 epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic were chosen as observational periods to investigate the effect of respiratory virus diseases on these outcomes in a metropolitan area with an established STEMI network. We analyzed data on incidence and care during the COVID-19 pandemic, Influenza 2017/2018 epidemic and corresponding seasonal control periods. Three comparisons were performed: (1) COVID-19 pandemic group versus pandemic control group, (2) COVID-19 pandemic group versus Influenza 2017/2018 epidemic group and (3) Influenza 2017/2018 epidemic group versus epidemic control group. We used Student’s t-test, Fisher’s exact test and Chi square test for statistical analysis. 1455 patients were eligible. The daily STEMI incidence was 1.49 during the COVID-19 pandemic, 1.40 for the pandemic season control period, 1.22 during the Influenza 2017/2018 epidemic and 1.28 during the epidemic season control group. Median symptom-to-contact time was 180 min during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the pandemic season control group it was 90 min (p = 0.183), and in the Influenza 2017/2018 cohort it was 90 min, too (p = 0.216). Interval in the epidemic control group was 79 min (p = 0.733). The COVID-19 group had a door-to-balloon time of 49 min, corresponding intervals were 39 min for the pandemic season group (p = 0.038), 37 min for the Influenza 2017/2018 group (p = 0.421), and 38 min for the epidemic season control group (p = 0.429). In-hospital mortality was 6.1% for the COVID-19 group, 5.9% for the Influenza 2017/2018 group (p = 1.0), 11% and 11.2% for the season control groups. The respiratory virus diseases neither resulted in an overall treatment delay, nor did they cause an increase in STEMI mortality or incidence. The registry analysis demonstrated a prolonged door-to-balloon time during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Colorimetric determination of trace orthophosphate in water by using C18-functionalized silica coated magnetite
Authors: Phouthavong Vanpaseuth , Manakasettharn Supone , Viboonratanasri Duangkamon , Buajarern Siriwit , Prompinit Panida , Sereenonchai Kamonthip
Published: November 2021

In this study, we customized magnetic sorbents by functionalizing silica coated magnetite with octadecyl(C18)silane (Fe3O4@SiO2@C18). This sorbent was intended for the determination of trace orthophosphate (o-PO43−) in unpolluted freshwater samples. The o-PO43− was transformed to phosphomolybdenum blue (PMB), a known polyoxometalate ion. Then the PMB were coupled with cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), cationic surfactant, in order to hydrophobically bound with the Fe3O4@SiO2@C18 particles through dispersive magnetic solid-phase extraction (d-MSPE) as part of sample preconcentration. The PMB–CTAB–magnetic particles are simply separated from the aqueous solution by the external magnet. The acidified ethanol 0.5 mL was used as PMB-CTAB eluent to produce an intense blue solution, which the absorbance was measured using a UV–Vis spectrophotometer at 800 nm. The proposed method (employing 2 mg of Fe3O4@SiO2@C18) yielded an enhancement factor of 32 with a linear range of 1.0–30.0 µg P L−1. Precision at 6.0 µg P L−1 and 25.0 µg P L−1 were 3.70 and 2.49% (RSD, n = 6) respectively. The lower detection limit of 0.3 µg P L−1 and quantification limit of 1.0 µg P L−1 allowed trace levels analysis of o-PO43− in samples. The reliability and accuracy of the proposed method were confirmed by using a certified reference material. Our method offers highly sensitive detection of o-PO43− with simple procedures that can be operated at room temperature and short analysis time.
Photocrosslinked gelatin hydrogel improves wound healing and skin flap survival by the sustained release of basic fibroblast growth factor
Authors: Kushibiki Toshihiro , Mayumi Yoshine , Nakayama Eiko , Azuma Ryuichi , Ojima Kenichiro , Horiguchi Akio , Ishihara Miya
Published: November 2021

Biomaterials traditionally used for wound healing can act as a temporary barrier to halt bleeding, prevent infection, and enhance regeneration. Hydrogels are among the best candidates for wound healing owing to their moisture retention and drug-releasing properties. Photo-polymerization using visible light irradiation is a promising method for hydrogel preparation since it can easily control spatiotemporal reaction kinetics and rapidly induce a single-step reaction under mild conditions. In this study, photocrosslinked gelatin hydrogels were imparted with properties namely fast wound adherence, strong wet tissue surface adhesion, greater biocompatibility, long-term bFGF release, and importantly, ease of use through the modification and combination of natural bio-macromolecules. The production of a gelatin hydrogel made of natural gelatin (which is superior to chemically modified gelatin), crosslinked by visible light, which is more desirable than UV light irradiation, will enable its prolonged application to uneven wound surfaces. This is due to its flexible shape, along with the administration of cell growth factors, such as bFGF, for tissue regeneration. Further, the sustained release of bFGF enhances wound healing and skin flap survival. The photocrosslinking gelatin hydrogel designed in this study is a potential candidate to enhance wound healing and better skin flap survival.
Branched-chain amino acids govern the high learning ability phenotype in Tokai high avoider (THA) rats
Authors: Shida Yukari , Endo Hitoshi , Owada Satoshi , Inagaki Yutaka , Sumiyoshi Hideaki , Kamiya Akihide , Eto Tomoo , Tatemichi Masayuki
Published: November 2021

To fully understand the mechanisms governing learning and memory, animal models with minor interindividual variability and higher cognitive function are required. THA rats established by crossing those with high learning capacity exhibit excellent learning and memory abilities, but the factors underlying their phenotype are completely unknown. In the current study, we compare the hippocampi of parental strain Wistar rats to those of THA rats via metabolomic analysis in order to identify molecules specific to the THA rat hippocampus. Higher branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) levels and enhanced activation of BCAA metabolism-associated enzymes were observed in THA rats, suggesting that acetyl-CoA and acetylcholine are synthesized through BCAA catabolism. THA rats maintained high blood BCAA levels via uptake of BCAAs in the small intestine and suppression of BCAA catabolism in the liver. Feeding THA rats with a BCAA-reduced diet decreased acetylcholine levels and learning ability, thus, maintaining high BCAA levels while their proper metabolism in the hippocampus is the mechanisms underlying the high learning ability in THA rats. Identifying appropriate BCAA nutritional supplements and activation methods may thus hold potential for the prevention and amelioration of higher brain dysfunction, including learning disabilities and dementia.
Transferring cognitive talent across domains to reduce the disposition effect in investment
Authors: Rotaru Kristian , Kalev Petko S. , Yadav Nitin , Bossaerts Peter
Published: November 2021

We consider Theory of Mind (ToM), the ability to correctly predict the intentions of others. To an important degree, good ToM function requires abstraction from one’s own particular circumstances. Here, we posit that such abstraction can be transferred successfully to other, non-social contexts. We consider the disposition effect, which is a pervasive cognitive bias whereby investors, including professionals, improperly take their personal trading history into account when deciding on investments. We design an intervention policy whereby we attempt to transfer good ToM function, subconsciously, to personal investment decisions. In a within-subject repeated-intervention laboratory experiment, we record how the disposition effect is reduced by a very significant 85%, but only for those with high scores on the social-cognitive dimension of ToM function. No such transfer is observed in subjects who score well only on the social-perceptual dimension of ToM function. Our findings open up a promising way to exploit cognitive talent in one domain in order to alleviate cognitive deficiencies elsewhere.
Omniphobic Membranes: Fundamentals, Materials, and Applications
Authors: Ni Tianlong , Zhao Shuaifei , Kong Lingxue , Lin Jiuyang
Published: November 2021

Omniphobic membranes repelling all kinds of liquids have been increasingly investigated for water treatment by membrane distillation (MD). Conventional MD membranes are hydrophobic or superhydrophobic to avoid liquid wetting and or passing through the membrane. However, these membranes cannot undergo long-term MD operation and suffer from fouling by the contaminants in the feed solution (e.g., oil, metallic salts, and biological substance). Omniphobic membranes can be ideal candidates to overcome these obstacles due to their unique properties and robustness. In general, omniphobic membranes have ultralow surface energy and re-entrant structures. These two factors contribute to the robust MD process to mitigate wetting and fouling. In this chapter, we provide a thorough understanding of omniphobic membranes, including the fundamentals of wettability, fouling mechanisms, material fabrication, and surface modification.
Harnessing Janus Properties Towards Novel Membrane Applications
Authors: Gao Song , Huang Wengang , Lee Jaeho , Hou Jingwei
Published: November 2021

Recent years have seen a rapid growth in the research and applications of Janus membranes, i.e. membranes with opposing properties on each side. These novel membranes show intriguing transport and separation behaviours, outperforming conventional membranes in many processes particularly those requiring dual-phase transport. They also enable some novel membrane applications such as liquid/ion diodes and solar-thermal conversions. This chapter introduces the fundamentals of the Janus membranes, presents the fabrication techniques and elaborates on the exciting applications of such membranes with detailed mechanisms.
3D Printed Functional Membranes for Water Purification
Authors: Xu Yilin , Chuah Chong Yang , Yang Zhao , Yuan Shushan
Published: November 2021

In the last few years, three-dimensional (3D) printing has emerged as a promising alternative for the fabrication of membranes, overcoming some of the limitations associated with conventional phase separation methods. To evaluate the feasibility of 3D printing technologies in membrane fabrication, this chapter is focused on 3D printed membranes for water treatment and purification processes. The fundamentals of 3D printing technology are first introduced along with its commonly used categories, technical features, and examples for membrane fabrication. Then, the detailed applications of 3D printed membranes are summarized, mainly focusing on oil–water separation, wastewater treatment, and desalination. Lastly, we conclude the chapter by highlighting technical challenges and future research directions in this field.
Non-destructive prediction of the hotness of fresh pepper with a single scan using portable near infrared spectroscopy and a variable selection strategy
Authors: Chen Meng-juan , Yin Han-liang , Liu Yang , Wang Rong-rong , Jiang Li-wen , Li Pao
Published: November 2021

A nondestructive method for determining the hotness of fresh peppers was developed using portable near infrared spectroscopy and the variable selection strategy.
Catalytic open-circuit passivation by thin metal oxide films of p-Si anodes in aqueous alkaline electrolytes
Authors: Fu Harold J. , Buabthong Pakpoom , Ifkovits Zachary Philip , Yu Weilai , Brunschwig Bruce S. , Lewis Nathan S.
Published: November 2021

Ni and NiOx-based protective thin films catalyze the oxidation of Si in the presence of O2 in strongly alkaline KOH(aq) even in the absence of illumination.
Releasable antimicrobial polymer-silk coatings for combating multidrug-resistant bacteria
Authors: Wulandari Erna , Budhisatria Rachel , Soeriyadi Alexander H. , Willcox Mark , Boyer Cyrille , Wong Edgar H. H.
Published: November 2021

Controlled release of synthetic cationic antimicrobial polymers from silk-based coating for preventing bacterial biofilm formation on the surface and for killing planktonic bacteria cells.
On the photopolymerization of mevalonic lactone methacrylate: exposing the potential of an overlooked monomer
Authors: Esen Cansu , Antonietti Markus , Kumru Baris
Published: November 2021

This manuscript will exhibit the photopolymerization of mevalonic lactone methacrylate, an overlooked monomer, and how functional polymers with lactone pendant units can be synthesized.
Synthesis of 2-trifluoromethylquinolines through rhodium-catalysed redox-neutral [3 + 3] annulation between anilines and CF3-ynones using traceless directing groups
Authors: Huang Haichao , Wang Hailong , Gong Chao , Zhuang Zhenjing , Feng Wenmin , Wu Si-Hai , Wang Lianhui
Published: November 2021

Rhodium-catalysed [3 + 3]-cycloaddition of acetanilides with CF3-ynones was achieved through a traceless directing-group strategy, which delivered 2-trifluromethylquinolines exhibiting favorable blue emissions.
Correction: Correlated biphasic features of improved rate capability upon Ga doping in LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2
Authors: Li Jie , Li Zhimin , Zhang Maolin , Yan Yangxi , Zhang Dongyan , Wang Pangpang , Murakami Ri-ichi
Published: November 2021

Correction for ‘Correlated biphasic features of improved rate capability upon Ga doping in LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2’ by Jie Li et al., J. Mater. Chem. A, 2021, 9, 23323–23334, DOI: 10.1039/D1TA05676J.
Semantic Reasoning: Building Vocabulary With Critical Thinking Skills
Authors: Fallon Karen A. , Lawrence Beth , Seifert Deena
Published: November 2021

Purpose:

Increasing the depth and breadth of vocabulary knowledge is critical for academic success, particularly for middle and high school students who face ever-increasing linguistic demands with each grade advancement. Implementing effective vocabulary instruction methods that integrate with classroom curricula remains of critical clinical importance for struggling students. This clinical focus article addresses the challenge of contextual vocabulary instruction by presenting semantic reasoning, an evidence-based instructional approach that utilizes both cognitive and linguistic processes. Semantic reasoning pairs critical-thinking, multiple visual examples, and language-based instruction to teach vocabulary words.

Conclusions:

This article provides a description of semantic reasoning as an evidence-based vocabulary teaching approach that can be used in contextualized language intervention, particularly with adolescent students. Step-by-step guides for preparing and implementing contextualized vocabulary lessons that use semantic reasoning are provided in an effort to promote clinical application of this approach.
Motivating Adolescents to Participate in Literacy Intervention: A Case Example From Telepractice
Authors: Collins Ginger G.
Published: November 2021

Purpose:

Motivation declines as children reach adolescence. Poor motivation inhibits participation and engagement in language-based interventions. The purpose of this tutorial is to demonstrate how intervention can be designed to increase client motivation to participate while improving language-based literacy skills.

Method:

Motivation and behavior change techniques based on self-determination theory are presented, as are examples of how to integrate these techniques into contextualized language intervention with adolescent clients.

Conclusion:

Incorporating motivation and behavior change techniques into contextualized language interventions with adolescents promotes self-determination and motivation through satisfaction of their need for autonomy, relatedness, and competence while simultaneously addressing language-based literacy deficits.
Control of upper limb rehabilitation robot based on active disturbance rejection control
Authors: Li Junchen , Zhang Wenzhao , Zheng Yu , An Aimin , Pan Wenda
Published: November 2021

The upper limb rehabilitation robot technology integrates rehabilitation medicine, human anatomy, mechanics, computer science, robotics, and many other disciplines. Its main function is to drive the affected limb to carry out rehabilitation training to restore the condition of patients with upper limb dyskinesia, which plays a great role in improving the quality of life. In this study, to resolve the problems of slow convergence speed and poor tracking accuracy due to the interference of patient spasms with the trajectory‐tracking control of the upper limb rehabilitation robot, a novel algorithm based on active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) is adopted, and the convergence of its main structure is proved by the time‐domain analysis method. First, this ADRC algorithm can obtain better trajectory‐tracking performance due to its non‐linear extended observer and non‐linear feedback mechanism, even if the model suffers a strong disturbance or receives inaccurate information. Second, the non‐linear tracking differentiator can guarantee to gain quick convergence speed. To validate this algorithm, a model of three degrees of freedom upper limb rehabilitation robot is established using MATLAB R2019b and three situations including strong spasm and weak spasm are carried out to prove the effectiveness and reliability of the control algorithm designed.
A six‐port network based on substrate integrated waveguide coupler with metal strips
Authors: Hu Xiaojun , Xu Feng
Published: November 2021

In this study, a novel coupling structure based on half‐mode substrate‐integrated waveguide (HMSIW) is proposed with a small size and broad bandwidth. The HMSIW coupler is realised by connecting their equivalent magnetic walls with metal strips, which avoids exposing the semi‐enclosed magnetic walls outside. Hence, it has greater anti‐interference capability than the existing HMSIW couplers. The directional coupling principle is introduced by analysing the proposed single connecting strip coupler. In order to lower return loss and higher isolation, a 3 dB directional coupler working from 10.8 to 16.8 GHz is designed with two connecting strips. Finally, a six‐port circuit is achieved by utilising this compact 3 dB directional coupler. Furthermore, a broadband HMSIW power divider is optimised to satisfy the performance of this six‐port circuit. The proposed coupler with metal strips helps to increase bandwidth and reduce size, which makes it more applicable to demanding systems with complex requirements such as detecting and transceiver systems. The 3 dB coupler and six‐port circuit are fabricated and measured. The measured results are in accordance with the simulated data.
Domain wall dynamics in two-dimensional van der Waals ferromagnets
Authors: Abdul-Wahab Dina , Iacocca Ezio , Evans Richard F. L. , Bedoya-Pinto Amilcar , Parkin Stuart , Novoselov Kostya S. , Santos Elton J. G.
Published: November 2021

Domain wall motion is in the core of many information technologies ranging from storage [Beach et al., J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 320, 1272–1281 (2008)], processing [Tatara et al., Phys. Rep. 468, 213–301 (2008)], and sensing [Ralph and Stiles, J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 320, 1190–1216 (2008)] up to novel racetrack memory architectures [Parkin et al., Science 320, 190–194 (2008)]. The finding of magnetism in two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) materials [Huang et al., Nature 546, 270 (2017); Gong et al., Nature 546, 265–269 (2017); Guguchia et al., Sci. Adv. 4, eaat3672 (2018); Klein et al., Science 360, 1218–1222 (2018)] has offered a new frontier for the exploration and understanding of domain walls at the limit of few atom-thick layers. However, to use 2D vdW magnets for building spintronics nanodevices such as domain-wall based logic [Allwood et al., Science 309, 1688–1692 (2005); Luo et al., Nature 579, 214–218 (2020); Xu et al., Nat. Nanotechnol. 3, 97–100 (2008)], it is required to gain control of their domain wall dynamics by external driving forces such as spin-polarized currents or magnetic fields, which have so far been elusive. Here, we show that electric currents as well as magnetic fields can efficiently move domain walls in the recently discovered 2D vdW magnets CrI3 and CrBr3 at low temperatures and robust down to monolayer. We realize field- and current-driven domain wall motion with velocities up to 1020 m s−1, which are comparable to the state-of-the-art materials for domain-wall based applications [Yang et al., Nat. Nanotechnol. 10, 221–226 (2015); Woo et al., Nat. Mater. 15, 501–506 (2016); Vélez et al., Nat. Commun. 10, 4750 (2019); Siddiqui et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 121, 057701 (2018); Ryu et al., Nat. Nanotechnol. 8, 527–533 (2013)]. Domain walls keep their coherence driven by the spin-transfer torque induced by the current and magnetic fields up to large values of about 12×109 A cm−2 and 5 T, respectively. For larger magnitudes of current or field, a transition to a hydrodynamic spin-liquid regime is observed with the emission of a periodic train of spin-wave solitons with modulational instability [Rabinovich and Trubetskov, Oscillations and Waves: In Linear and Nonlinear Systems, Mathematics and its Applications (Springer Netherlands, 2011)]. The emitted waveform achieves terahertz (THz) frequency in a wide range of fields and current densities, which opens up perspectives for reconfigurable magnonic devices. Moreover, we found that these spin-waves can transport spin angular momentum through the layers over distances as long as 10 μm without losses for the transport of spin information. Our results push the boundary of what is currently known about the dynamics of domain walls in 2D vdW ferromagnets and unveil strategies to design ultrathin, high-speed, and high-frequency spintronic devices.
Dryland soil salinity and seasonal effects on leaf and xylem sap ecophysiological characteristics of native plant species
Authors: Mapfumo E.
Published: November 2021

The objective of this 3-year study was to investigate the relationships between soil salinity and ecophysiological responses of C3 and C4 native plant species around Lake Altham and Lake Coyrecup (both are salt lakes in Western Australia), and to evaluate their potential for use in the remediation of salt-affected soils. Three shrubs (Atriplex vesicaria, Tecticornia lepidosperma and T. indica) that grew in highly saline soil of average Na concentration greater than 300 mM had higher leaf δ13C and δ15N ratios. These species also had higher Na-to-K and Na-to-Ca ratios in both their leaves and stem xylem sap, indicating that these species accumulate high amounts of sodium in their tissues. In contrast, tree species Eucalyptus loxophleba, Casuarina obesa and Acacia acuminata grew in soil of average Na concentration of less than 100 mM and had lower values of δ15N, δ13C, Na content, and Na-to-K ratio in their leaves. These species also had lower xylem Na-to-K and Na-to-Ca ratios. Seasonal effects were observed in leaf total N content, leaf Na, xylem sap Na-to-K ratio and xylem sap Na-to-Ca ratio. Strong and significant positive correlations (r > 0.75; P < 0.01) were observed between soil Na concentration and ecophysiological responses, such as leaf Na contents, leaf δ15N, xylem sap Na, xylem Na-to-K ratio and xylem Na-to-Ca ratio. Overall, Atr. vesicaria, T. lepidosperma, T. indica and Santalum acuminatum are good candidates for remediation of highly saline soils.
Functional recovery of secondary tropical forests
Authors: Poorter Lourens , Rozendaal Danaë M. A. , Bongers Frans , Almeida de Jarcilene S. , Álvarez Francisco S. , Andrade José Luís , Arreola Villa Luis Felipe , Becknell Justin M. , Bhaskar Radika , Boukili Vanessa , Brancalion Pedro H. S. , César Ricardo G. , Chave Jerome , Chazdon Robin L. , Dalla Colletta Gabriel , Craven Dylan , de Jong Ben H. J. , Denslow Julie S. , Dent Daisy H. , DeWalt Saara J. , Díaz García Elisa , Dupuy Juan Manuel , Durán Sandra M. , Espírito Santo Mário M. , Fernandes Geraldo Wilson , Finegan Bryan , Granda Moser Vanessa , Hall Jefferson S. , Hernández-Stefanoni José Luis , Jakovac Catarina C. , Kennard Deborah , Lebrija-Trejos Edwin , Letcher Susan G. , Lohbeck Madelon , Lopez Omar R. , Marín-Spiotta Erika , Martínez-Ramos Miguel , Meave Jorge A. , Mora Francisco , de Souza Moreno Vanessa , Müller Sandra C. , Muñoz Rodrigo , Muscarella Robert , Nunes Yule R. F. , Ochoa-Gaona Susana , Oliveira Rafael S. , Paz Horacio , Sanchez-Azofeifa Arturo , Sanaphre-Villanueva Lucía , Toledo Marisol , Uriarte Maria , Utrera Luis P. , van Breugel Michiel , van der Sande Masha T. , Veloso Maria D. M. , Wright S. Joseph , Zanini Kátia J. , Zimmerman Jess K. , Westoby Mark
Published: November 2021

Significance

Tropical forests disappear rapidly through deforestation but also have the potential to regrow naturally through a process called secondary succession. To advance successional theory, it is essential to understand how these secondary forests and their assembly vary across broad spatial scales. We do so by synthesizing continental-scale patterns in succession using a functional trait approach. We show that the start and pathway of succession varies with climatic water availability. In dry forests, succession is driven by drought tolerance traits and in wet forests by shade tolerance traits. Based on these successional principles, we propose an ecologically sound strategy to improve active forest restoration.
Structural dynamics in the evolution of a bilobed protein scaffold
Authors: Gouridis Giorgos , Muthahari Yusran A. , de Boer Marijn , Griffith Douglas A. , Tsirigotaki Alexandra , Tassis Konstantinos , Zijlstra Niels , Xu Ruixue , Eleftheriadis Nikolaos , Sugijo Yovin , Zacharias Martin , Dömling Alexander , Karamanou Spyridoula , Pozidis Charalambos , Economou Anastassios , Cordes Thorben
Published: November 2021

Significance

Proteins conduct numerous complex biological functions by use of tailored structural dynamics. The molecular details of how these emerged from ancestral peptides remains mysterious. How does nature utilize the same repertoire of folds to diversify function? To shed light on this, we analyzed bilobed proteins with a common structural core, which is spread throughout the tree of life and is involved in diverse biological functions such as transcription, enzymatic catalysis, membrane transport, and signaling. We show here that the structural dynamics of the structural core differentiate predominantly via terminal additions during a long-period evolution. This diversifies substrate specificity and, ultimately, biological function.
Gene drive that results in addiction to a temperature-sensitive version of an essential gene triggers population collapse in
Drosophila
Authors: Oberhofer Georg , Ivy Tobin , Hay Bruce A.
Published: November 2021

One strategy for population suppression seeks to use gene drive to spread genes that confer conditional lethality or sterility, providing a way of combining population modification with suppression. Stimuli of potential interest could be introduced by humans, such as an otherwise benign virus or chemical, or occur naturally on a seasonal basis, such as a change in temperature.
Cleave and Rescue
(
ClvR
) selfish genetic elements use Cas9 and guide RNAs (gRNAs) to disrupt endogenous versions of an essential gene while also including a
Rescue
version of the essential gene resistant to disruption.
ClvR
spreads by creating loss-of-function alleles of the essential gene that select against those lacking it, resulting in populations in which the
Rescue
provides the only source of essential gene function. As a consequence, if function of the
Rescue
, a kind of Trojan horse now omnipresent in a population, is condition dependent, so too will be the survival of that population. To test this idea, we created a
ClvR
in
Drosophila
in which
Rescue
activity of an essential gene,
dribble
, requires splicing of a temperature-sensitive intein (TS-

ClvR
dbe

). This element spreads to transgene fixation at 23 °C, but when populations now dependent on Ts-

ClvR
db

e
are shifted to 29 °C, death and sterility result in a rapid population crash. These results show that conditional population elimination can be achieved. A similar logic, in which
Rescue
activity is conditional, could also be used in homing-based drive and to bring about suppression and/or killing of specific individuals in response to other stimuli.