bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mercury in the human adrenal medulla could contribute to increased plasma noradrenaline in aging
Authors: Pamphlett Roger , Kum Jew Stephen , Doble Philip A. , Bishop David P.
Published: February 2021

Plasma noradrenaline levels increase with aging, and this could contribute to the sympathetic overactivity that is associated with essential hypertension and the metabolic syndrome. The underlying cause of this rise in noradrenaline is unknown, but a clue may be that mercury increases noradrenaline output from the adrenal medulla of experimental animals. We therefore determined the proportion of people from 2 to 104 years of age who had mercury in their adrenal medulla. Mercury was detected in paraffin sections of autopsied adrenal glands using two methods of elemental bioimaging, autometallography and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Mercury first appeared in cells of the adrenal medulla in the 21–40 years group, where it was present in 52% of samples, and increased progressively in frequency in older age groups, until it was detected in 90% of samples from people aged over 80 years. In conclusion, the proportion of people having mercury in their adrenal medulla increases with aging. Mercury could alter the metabolism of catecholamines in the adrenal medulla that leads to the raised levels of plasma noradrenaline in aging. This retrospective autopsy study was not able to provide a definitive link between adrenal mercury, noradrenaline levels and hypertension, but future functional human and experimental studies could provide further evidence for these associations.
Immature symbiotic system between horizontally transmitted green algae and brown hydra
Authors: Miyokawa Ryo , Kanaya Hiroyuki J. , Itoh Taichi Q. , Kobayakawa Yoshitaka , Kusumi Junko
Published: February 2021

Some strains of brown hydra (Hydra vulgaris) are able to harbor the green algae Chlorococcum in their endodermal epithelial cells as symbionts. However, the relationship between brown hydra and chlorococcum is considered to be incipient symbiosis because most artificially introduced symbionts are not stable and because symbiotic H. vulgaris strains are rare in the wild. In this study, we compared the gene expression levels of the newly established symbiotic hydra (strain 105G), the native symbiotic strain (J7), and their non-symbiotic polyps to determine what changes would occur at the early stage of the evolution of symbiosis. We found that both the 105G and J7 strains showed comparable expression patterns, exhibiting upregulation of lysosomal enzymes and downregulation of genes related to nematocyte development and function. Meanwhile, genes involved in translation and the respiratory chain were upregulated only in strain 105G. Furthermore, treatment with rapamycin, which inhibits translation activity, induced the degeneration of the symbiotic strains (105G and J7). This effect was severe in strain 105G. Our results suggested that evolving the ability to balance the cellular metabolism between the host and the symbiont is a key requirement for adapting to endosymbiosis with chlorococcum.
Risk factors analysis of COVID-19 patients with ARDS and prediction based on machine learning
Authors: Xu Wan , Sun Nan-Nan , Gao Hai-Nv , Chen Zhi-Yuan , Yang Ya , Ju Bin , Tang Ling-Ling
Published: February 2021

COVID-19 is a newly emerging infectious disease, which is generally susceptible to human beings and has caused huge losses to people's health. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is one of the common clinical manifestations of severe COVID-19 and it is also responsible for the current shortage of ventilators worldwide. This study aims to analyze the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 ARDS patients and establish a diagnostic system based on artificial intelligence (AI) method to predict the probability of ARDS in COVID-19 patients. We collected clinical data of 659 COVID-19 patients from 11 regions in China. The clinical characteristics of the ARDS group and no-ARDS group of COVID-19 patients were elaborately compared and both traditional machine learning algorithms and deep learning-based method were used to build the prediction models. Results indicated that the median age of ARDS patients was 56.5 years old, which was significantly older than those with non-ARDS by 7.5 years. Male and patients with BMI > 25 were more likely to develop ARDS. The clinical features of ARDS patients included cough (80.3%), polypnea (59.2%), lung consolidation (53.9%), secondary bacterial infection (30.3%), and comorbidities such as hypertension (48.7%). Abnormal biochemical indicators such as lymphocyte count, CK, NLR, AST, LDH, and CRP were all strongly related to the aggravation of ARDS. Furthermore, through various AI methods for modeling and prediction effect evaluation based on the above risk factors, decision tree achieved the best AUC, accuracy, sensitivity and specificity in identifying the mild patients who were easy to develop ARDS, which undoubtedly helped to deliver proper care and optimize use of limited resources.
Biochemical and cellular characterisation of the Plasmodium falciparum M1 alanyl aminopeptidase (PfM1AAP) and M17 leucyl aminopeptidase (PfM17LAP)
Authors: Mathew Rency , Wunderlich Juliane , Thivierge Karine , Cwiklinski Krystyna , Dumont Claire , Tilley Leann , Rohrbach Petra , Dalton John P.
Published: February 2021

The Plasmodium falciparum M1 alanyl aminopeptidase and M17 leucyl aminopeptidase, PfM1AAP and PfM17LAP, are potential targets for novel anti-malarial drug development. Inhibitors of these aminopeptidases have been shown to kill malaria parasites in culture and reduce parasite growth in murine models. The two enzymes may function in the terminal stages of haemoglobin digestion, providing free amino acids for protein synthesis by the rapidly growing intra-erythrocytic parasites. Here we have performed a comparative cellular and biochemical characterisation of the two enzymes. Cell fractionation and immunolocalisation studies reveal that both enzymes are associated with the soluble cytosolic fraction of the parasite, with no evidence that they are present within other compartments, such as the digestive vacuole (DV). Enzyme kinetic studies show that the optimal pH of both enzymes is in the neutral range (pH 7.0–8.0), although PfM1AAP also possesses some activity (< 20%) at the lower pH range of 5.0–5.5. The data supports the proposal that PfM1AAP and PfM17LAP function in the cytoplasm of the parasite, likely in the degradation of haemoglobin-derived peptides generated in the DV and transported to the cytosol.
Operant conditioning deficits and modified local field potential activities in parvalbumin-deficient mice
Authors: Lintas Alessandra , Sánchez-Campusano Raudel , Villa Alessandro E. P. , Gruart Agnès , Delgado-García José M.
Published: February 2021

Altered functioning of GABAergic interneurons expressing parvalbumin (PV) in the basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical circuit are likely to be involved in several human psychiatric disorders characterized by deficits in attention and sensory gating with dysfunctional decision-making behavior. However, the contribution of these interneurons in the ability to acquire demanding learning tasks remains unclear. Here, we combine an operant conditioning task with local field potentials simultaneously recorded in several nuclei involved in reward circuits of wild-type (WT) and PV-deficient (PVKO) mice, which are characterized by changes in firing activity of PV-expressing interneurons. In comparison with WT mice, PVKO animals presented significant deficits in the acquisition of the selected learning task. Recordings from prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens (NAc) and hippocampus showed significant decreases of the spectral power in beta and gamma bands in PVKO compared with WT mice particularly during the performance of the operant conditioning task. From the first to the last session, at all frequency bands the spectral power in NAc tended to increase in WT and to decrease in PVKO. Results indicate that PV deficiency impairs signaling necessary for instrumental learning and the recognition of natural rewards.
Genome-wide analysis of allele-specific expression of genes in the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum
Authors: Hoguin Antoine , Rastogi Achal , Bowler Chris , Tirichine Leila
Published: February 2021

Recent advances in next generation sequencing technologies have allowed the discovery of widespread autosomal allele-specific expression (aASE) in mammals and plants with potential phenotypic effects. Extensive numbers of genes with allele-specific expression have been described in the diatom Fragilariopsis cylindrus in association with adaptation to external cues, as well as in Fistulifera solaris in the context of natural hybridization. However, the role of aASE and its extent in diatoms remain elusive. In this study, we investigate allele-specific expression in the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum by the re-analysis of previously published whole genome RNA sequencing data and polymorphism calling. We found that 22% of P. tricornutum genes show moderate bias in allelic expression while 1% show nearly complete monoallelic expression. Biallelic expression associates with genes encoding components of protein metabolism while moderately biased genes associate with functions in catabolism and protein transport. We validated candidate genes by pyrosequencing and found that moderate biases in allelic expression were less stable than monoallelically expressed genes that showed consistent bias upon experimental validations at the population level and in subcloning experiments. Our approach provides the basis for the analysis of aASE in P. tricornutum and could be routinely implemented to test for variations in allele expression under different environmental conditions.
High-temporal-resolution quasideterministic dynamics of granular stick-slip
Authors: Nguyen T. T. T. , Doanh T. , Le Bot A. , Dalmas D.
Published: February 2021

We report high-temporal-resolution observations of the spontaneous instability of model granular materials under isotropic and triaxial compression in fully drained conditions during laboratory tests representative of earthquakes. Unlike in natural granular materials, in the model granular materials, during the first stage of the tests, i.e., isotropic compression, a series of local collapses of various amplitudes occurs under random triggering cell pressures. During the second stage, i.e., shearing under triaxial compression, the model granular samples exhibit very large quasiperiodic stick-slip motions at random deviatoric triggering stresses. These motions are responsible for very large stress drops that are described by power laws and are accurate over more than 3 decades in logarithmic space. Then, we identify the quasideterministic nature of these stick-slip events, assuming that they are fully controlled by the cell pressure and solid fraction. Finally, we discuss the potential mechanisms that could explain these intriguing behaviors and the possible links with natural earthquakes.
Production of bacterial cellulose using Gluconacetobacter kombuchae immobilized on Luffa aegyptiaca support
Authors: Rahman Sameeha Syed Abdul , Vaishnavi T. , Vidyasri G. Sai , Sathya K. , Priyanka P. , Venkatachalam Ponnusami , Karuppiah Sugumaran
Published: February 2021

The present work report for the first time on the production of bacterial cellulose (BC) using natural loofa sponge (Luffa aegyptiaca) as a scaffold for the immobilization ofGluconacetobacter kombuchae. Bacterial cellulose (BC) are recently gained more attention in several fields including biological and biomedical applications due to their outstanding physico-chemical characteristics including high thermal stability, easy biodegradability, good water holding capacity, high tensile strength, and high degree of polymerization. The increase in requirement of alternative method for the enhancement of BC production under economical aspect develops a positive impact in large scale industries. In this study,Luffa aegyptiaca(LA) was introduced in a separate fermentation medium so as to enhance the concentration of BC production byGluconacetobacter kombuchae. Different process/medium parameters such as initial pH, static/shaking condition, inoculum size, nitrogen source, C/N ratio, supplements (ethanol and acetic acid) were analysed for the production of bacterial cellulose using LA support. The maximum yield of BC was obtained using following condition: culturing condition -shaking; initial pH − 5.5; nitrogen source- yeast extract, C/N ratio – 40 and supplement—ethanol. The characterization of the BC was examined using Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy and thermo gravimetric analysis. The biofilm formation on the surface of LA was examined by SEM photographs. Thus, implementation of LA as a support in shaking fermentation under suitable medium/process variables enhanced the BC production.
Obesity reduces the anticancer effect of AdipoRon against orthotopic pancreatic cancer in diet-induced obese mice
Authors: Takenaga Keizo , Akimoto Miho , Koshikawa Nobuko , Nagase Hiroki
Published: February 2021

The antidiabetic adiponectin receptor agonist AdipoRon has been shown to suppress the tumour growth of human pancreatic cancer cells. Because obesity and diabetes affect pancreatic cancer progression and chemoresistance, we investigated the effect of AdipoRon on orthotopic tumour growth of Panc02 pancreatic cancer cells in DIO (diet-induced obese) prediabetic mice. Administration of AdipoRon into DIO mice fed high-fat diets, in which prediabetic conditions were alleviated to some extent, did not reduce either body weight or tumour growth. However, when the DIO mice were fed low-fat diets, body weight and the blood leptin level gradually decreased, and importantly, AdipoRon became effective in suppressing tumour growth, which was accompanied by increases in necrotic areas and decreases in Ki67-positive cells and tumour microvessels. AdipoRon inhibited cell growth and induced necrotic cell death of Panc02 cells and suppressed angiogenesis of endothelial MSS31 cells. Insulin and IGF-1 only slightly reversed the AdipoRon-induced suppression of Panc02 cell survival but had no effect on the AdipoRon-induced suppression of MSS31 cell angiogenesis. Leptin significantly ameliorated AdipoRon-induced suppression of angiogenesis through inhibition of ERK1/2 activation. These results suggest that obesity-associated factors weaken the anticancer effect of AdipoRon, which indicates the importance of weight loss in combating pancreatic cancer.
Wave discrimination at C-band frequencies in microstrip structures inspired by electromagnetically induced transparency
Authors: Jabbar Abdul , Ramzan Rashad , Siddiqui Omar , Amin Muhammad , Tahir Farooq A.
Published: February 2021

We present the design and practical implementation of a microstrip diplexer based on the wave discrimination property associated with the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT)-like effect. The EIT is a quantum interference phenomenon which happens between two atomic transition pathways and allows wave propagation within a medium’s absorption spectrum. Here, we exploit an analogous interference mechanism in a three-port microstrip structure to demonstrate a diplexer based on the EIT-like effect in the microwave regime. Since the transparency is accompanied by a high transmission and strong dispersion characteristics, compact frequency discriminating structures that can resolve nearby frequencies with high isolation can be devised. Our proposed C-band diplexer consists of pairs of unequal open-circuit stubs, which resonate at detuned frequencies and interfere to form the EIT-like passbands for diplexer action. The design is highly compact and scalable in frequency for both PCB and on-chip applications. A prototype of diplexer is fabricated for the center frequencies of lower and upper passbands at 4.6 GHz and 5.5 GHz respectively. The transmission zeros are designed at the complementary channels so that the two passbands are highly isolated presenting the isolation of about 40 dB. The measured insertion loss of lower and upper passband is 0.59 dB and 0.61 dB respectively. Measured input return loss is better than − 15 dB, while the output return losses are well below − 12 dB. Moreover, a decent value of about 200 is achieved for the group refractive index around the EIT-like passbands, which reveals the slow wave characteristics of the proposed EIT-based diplexer.
Study of gadolinium substitution effects in hexagonal yttrium manganite YMnO3
Authors: Karoblis Dovydas , Zarkov Aleksej , Garskaite Edita , Mazeika Kestutis , Baltrunas Dalis , Niaura Gediminas , Beganskiene Aldona , Kareiva Aivaras
Published: February 2021

In the present work, gadolinium substitution effects on the properties of yttrium manganite YxGd1−xMn0.97Fe0.03O3 (x from 0 to 1 with a step of 0.2) synthesized by an aqueous sol–gel method have been investigated. Partial substitution of Mn3+ by 57Fe3+ in the manganite was also performed in order to investigate deeper the structural properties of synthesized compounds applying Mössbauer spectroscopy. It was demonstrated that substitution of Y3+ by Gd3+ ions leads to the changes of structural, magnetic and morphological properties of investigated system. The crystal structure gradually transformed from hexagonal to orthorhombic with an increase of Gd3+ content in the crystal lattice. The mixed phase was obtained when x = 0.6, whereas other compounds were determined to be monophasic. Magnetization measurements revealed paramagnetic behavior of all specimens, however magnetization values were found to be dependent on chemical composition of the samples. Solid solutions with orthorhombic structure revealed higher magnetization values compared to those of hexagonal samples. The highest magnetization was observed for pure GdMn0.97Fe0.03O3. Structural properties were investigated by powder X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer, FTIR and Raman spectroscopies. Morphological features of the synthesized specimens were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Aggregation of cohorts for histopathological diagnosis with deep morphological analysis
Authors: Park Jeonghyuk , Chung Yul Ri , Kong Seo Taek , Kim Yeong Won , Park Hyunho , Kim Kyungdoc , Kim Dong-Il , Jung Kyu-Hwan
Published: February 2021

There have been substantial efforts in using deep learning (DL) to diagnose cancer from digital images of pathology slides. Existing algorithms typically operate by training deep neural networks either specialized in specific cohorts or an aggregate of all cohorts when there are only a few images available for the target cohort. A trade-off between decreasing the number of models and their cancer detection performance was evident in our experiments with The Cancer Genomic Atlas dataset, with the former approach achieving higher performance at the cost of having to acquire large datasets from the cohort of interest. Constructing annotated datasets for individual cohorts is extremely time-consuming, with the acquisition cost of such datasets growing linearly with the number of cohorts. Another issue associated with developing cohort-specific models is the difficulty of maintenance: all cohort-specific models may need to be adjusted when a new DL algorithm is to be used, where training even a single model may require a non-negligible amount of computation, or when more data is added to some cohorts. In resolving the sub-optimal behavior of a universal cancer detection model trained on an aggregate of cohorts, we investigated how cohorts can be grouped to augment a dataset without increasing the number of models linearly with the number of cohorts. This study introduces several metrics which measure the morphological similarities between cohort pairs and demonstrates how the metrics can be used to control the trade-off between performance and the number of models.
Five patients with disorders of calcium metabolism presented with GCM2 gene variants
Authors: García-Castaño Alejandro , Madariaga Leire , Gómez-Conde Sara , Cordo Carmen Lourdes Rey , López-Iglesias María , Garcia-Fernández Yolanda , Martín Alicia , González Pedro , Goicolea Ignacio , de Nanclares Gustavo Pérez , De la Hoz Ana Belén , Aguayo Aníbal , de LaPiscina Idoia Martínez , Martínez Rosa , Saso Laura , Urrutia Inés , Velasco Olaia , Castaño Luis , Gaztambide Sonia
Published: February 2021

The GCM2 gene encodes a transcription factor predominantly expressed in parathyroid cells that is known to be critical for development, proliferation and maintenance of the parathyroid cells. A cohort of 127 Spanish patients with a disorder of calcium metabolism were screened for mutations by Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). A targeted panel for disorders of calcium and phosphorus metabolism was designed to include 65 genes associated with these disorders. We observed two variants of uncertain significance (p.(Ser487Phe) and p.Asn315Asp), one likely pathogenic (p.Val382Met) and one benign variant (p.Ala393_Gln395dup) in the GCM2 gene in the heterozygous state in five families (two index cases had hypocalcemia and hypoparathyroidism, respectively, and three index cases had primary hyperparathyroidism). Our study shows the utility of NGS in unravelling the genetic origin of some disorders of the calcium and phosphorus metabolism, and confirms the GCM2 gene as an important element for the maintenance of calcium homeostasis. Importantly, a novel variant in the GCM2 gene (p.(Ser487Phe)) has been found in a patient with hypocalcemia.
Macrophage and adipocyte interaction as a source of inflammation in kidney disease
Authors: Martos-Rus Cristina , Katz-Greenberg Goni , Lin Zhao , Serrano Eurico , Whitaker-Menezes Diana , Domingo-Vidal Marina , Roche Megan , Ramaswamy Kavitha , Hooper Douglas C. , Falkner Bonita , Martinez Cantarin Maria P.
Published: February 2021

In obesity, adipose tissue derived inflammation is associated with unfavorable metabolic consequences. Uremic inflammation is prevalent and contributes to detrimental outcomes. However, the contribution of adipose tissue inflammation in uremia has not been characterized. We studied the contribution of adipose tissue to uremic inflammation in-vitro, in-vivo and in human samples. Exposure to uremic serum resulted in activation of inflammatory pathways including NFκB and HIF1, upregulation of inflammatory cytokines/chemokines and catabolism with lipolysis, and lactate production. Also, co-culture of adipocytes with macrophages primed by uremic serum resulted in higher inflammatory cytokine expression than adipocytes exposed only to uremic serum. Adipose tissue of end stage renal disease subjects revealed increased macrophage infiltration compared to controls after BMI stratification. Similarly, mice with kidney disease recapitulated the inflammatory state observed in uremic patients and additionally demonstrated increased peripheral monocytes and inflammatory polarization of adipose tissue macrophages (ATMS). In contrast, adipose tissue in uremic IL-6 knock out mice showed reduced ATMS density compared to uremic wild-type controls. Differences in ATMS density highlight the necessary role of IL-6 in macrophage infiltration in uremia. Uremia promotes changes in adipocytes and macrophages enhancing production of inflammatory cytokines. We demonstrate an interaction between uremic activated macrophages and adipose tissue that augments inflammation in uremia.
A non-bioartificial liver support system combined with transplantation in HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure
Authors: Li Peng , Liang Xi , Xu Shan , Xiong Ye , Huang Jianrong
Published: February 2021

We aim to determine the impact of an artificial liver support system (ALSS) treatment before liver transplantation (LT), and identify the prognostic factors and evaluate the predictive values of the current commonly used ACLF prognostic models for short-term prognosis after LT. Data from 166 patients who underwent LT with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) were retrospectively collected from January 2011 to December 2018 from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. Patients were divided into two groups depending on whether they received ALSS treatment pre-LT. In the observation group, liver function tests and prognostic scores were significantly lower after ALSS treatment, and the waiting time for a donor liver was significantly longer than that of the control group. Both intraoperative blood loss and period of postoperative ICU care were significantly lower; however, there were no significant differences between groups in terms of total postoperative hospital stays. Postoperative 4-week and 12-week survival rates in the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group. Similar trends were also observed at 48 and 96 weeks, however, without significant difference. Multivariate Cox regression analysis of the risk factors related to prognosis showed that preoperative ALSS treatment, neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio, and intraoperative blood loss were independent predicting factors for 4-week survival rate after transplantation. ALSS treatment combined with LT in patients with HBV-related ACLF improved short-term survival. ALSS treatment pre-LT is an independent protective factor affecting the 4-week survival rate after LT.
Author Correction: The bears from Dmanisi and the first dispersal of early Homo out of Africa
Authors: Medin Tsegai , Martínez-Navarro Bienvenido , Madurell-Malapeira Joan , Figueirido Borja , Kopaliani Giorgi , Rivals Florent , Kiladze Gocha , Palmqvist Paul , Lordkipanidze David
Published: February 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Publisher Correction: Two coupled chains are simpler than one: field-induced chirality in a frustrated spin ladder
Authors: Pikulski Marek , Shiroka Toni , Casola Francesco , Reyes Arneil P. , Kuhns Philip L. , Wang Shuang , Ott Hans-Rudolf , Mesot Joël
Published: February 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Carbon Nanostructures: Drug Delivery and Beyond
Authors: Gajewska Agnieszka , Istif Akcan , Gul Jasra , Chironi Michele , Faidiga Andrea , Rocco Marco , Slavec Ketty , Gianferrara Teresa , Da Ros Tatiana
Published: February 2021

Carbon nanostructures, such as nanotubes, nanodiamonds, graphene quantum dots and carbon dots, are studied in depth as interesting materials in many different applications. In the biomedical field there are many possible uses but the area most explored, so far, is their application as drug delivery systems considering their biocompatibility and versatility. Herein we propose an analysis of some of the most recent literature related to drug delivery with carbon nanotubes, nanodiamonds, graphene quantum dots and carbon dots and some other appealing possibilities.
Carbon Nanomaterials as Carriers of Anti-inflammatory Drugs
Authors: Guo S. , Soltani R. , Bianco A. , Ménard-Moyon C.
Published: February 2021

Carbon nanomaterials have been extensively studied in different fields including nanomedicine, mainly for cancer therapy, and inflammatory diseases to a lower extent. Their biocompatibility and high surface area make them ideal carriers for the delivery of drugs, improving the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of the drugs. This chapter gives an overview of the use of carbon nanomaterials for the delivery of anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of different inflammatory diseases.
Carbon Nanostructures and Polysaccharides for Biomedical Materials
Authors: González-Domínguez Jose M. , Álvarez-Sánchez Miguel Á. , Hadad Caroline , Benito Ana M. , Maser Wolfgang K.
Published: February 2021

Even though many members from the broad family of carbon nanostructures have been known to us for decades, and despite their promising potential in biology and medicine, there is still a long way ahead to reach the goal of using them in real applications. The cause of such a gap still lies in the persistent drawbacks of insolubility, processability difficulties, poor consistency of macroscopic assemblies and surface inertness of carbon nanostructures. However, solely their direct chemical derivatization might not solve the problem right away. New processing elements need to come into play, but this also twists the whole picture, as the toxicity and performance profiles become more complex. We herein analyse the potential of natural polysaccharides (with a particular focus on cellulose) towards hybrid materials and structures for biomedical purposes. The role that these biopolymers acquire when interfacing with carbon nanostructures goes far beyond a mere dispersing effect, but instead creates unprecedented synergies leading to hydrogels, aerogels, films or fibres with high biocompatibility and bioactivity. In this chapter, the history of carbon nanostructures and natural polysaccharides in the field of biomedical applications will be respectively reviewed, to subsequently go into detail of specific hybrids made with the most relevant biopolymers (namely cellulose, chitin, chitosan and alginate) with extraordinary prospects in biomedicine.
Nanodiamonds and Their Biological Applications
Authors: Epperla Chandra P. , Lin Hsin-Hung , Chang Huan-Cheng
Published: February 2021

Nanomaterials integrated with modern nanotechnology are leading most of the interesting active research in the biomedical field right now. Among nanomaterials, nanodiamonds owe their fame to a unique set of outstanding properties, such as biocompatibility, chemical inertness, high surface area, tunable surface structure and excellent optical/mechanical properties. Due to their unique optical and spectroscopic properties, nanodiamonds have been studied in bioimaging and in super-resolution imaging studies. Nanodiamonds have been utilized for studies of the biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of therapeutic cells in a preclinical setting. Nanodiamonds have also been explored as a nanothermometer for the study of nanoscale chemical reactions due to their invariability to the local chemical environment. Additionally, the strategies for further improving gene delivery by nanodiamonds are reviewed. This chapter covers the recent progress in the biological applications of nanodiamonds and underlines the great advances made by the field, as well as the challenges still faced in achieving the translation of these techniques from the laboratory to the clinic.
Carbon Nanomaterials for the Development of Biosensors for Microbe Detection and Diagnosis
Authors: Tram Nhan Dai Thien , Zhu Xiao , Ee Pui Lai Rachel , Pastorin Giorgia
Published: February 2021

The demand for improvements in diagnostic techniques for infectious diseases is a medical necessity that has been globally recognized. Historically, a few conventional methods have been employed, namely plate count, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), although they are not sufficiently robust to meet current diagnostic needs. Advancement in the field of biosensors may potentially overcome current limitations, by providing shorter processing time, greater sensitivity and selectivity. Among the plethora of available materials, carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) such as graphene, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon dots (CDs) have garnered much attention for their potential applications in the fields of biomedicine and bioelectronics. One of CNMs' virtues most relevant to biosensor technologies is the ease of organic functionalizations. However, the development of CNM-based biosensors, or any kind of biosensor for that matter, should take into consideration the influence from environmental cues. For example, deviation in the surrounding temperature has been shown to instigate transformation in the structural dynamics of dengue viral particles. Consequential restructuring of surface properties could impair the efficiency of immunosensors. Moreover, the detection mechanism of biosensors often relies on weak chemical interactions, whose equilibrium can be swayed by a multitude of factors (e.g. pH, osmolality, ionic strength). It follows that these parameters need to be carefully evaluated to ensure that CNM biosensors provide readouts that are reproducible and reliable.
Biotechnology Applications of Nanocarbons in Plant and Algal Systems
Authors: Antonucci Alessandra , Gillen Alice J. , Boghossian Ardemis A.
Published: February 2021

The unique combination of structural, optical, and electronic properties of nanocarbons (NCs) has made these materials particularly attractive for various applications in biotechnology and biomedicine, ranging from sensing, gene-delivery, bioimaging and therapeutics. When appropriately functionalized, NCs can overcome the cellular barriers of living organisms and localize within specific sub-cellular compartments, where they can then carry out different functions to sense, enhance, or complement natural cell function. Recent areas of research have focused on the targeted integration of engineered NCs into living photosynthetic organisms. The synergistic combination of NCs with plants and algae has the potential to impart photosynthetic organisms with improved capabilities, expanding their use for novel agricultural or electronic applications. This chapter will discuss the important milestones reached over the course of research into NC interactions with photosynthetic systems, highlighting the major applications in the field.
DNA origami: an outstanding platform for functions in nanophotonics and cancer therapy
Authors: Dai Lizhi , Liu Peng , Hu Xiaoxue , Zhao Xiaozhi , Shao Guoqiang , Tian Ye
Published: February 2021

The utilization of the DNA origami technique in the fabrication of complex objects has given rise to possibilities in DNA-induced precise manufacturing and might open a new era of bottom-up fabrication.
Measuring temperature heterogeneities during solar-photothermal heating using quantum dot nanothermometry
Authors: Loeb Stephanie K. , Wei Haoran , Kim Jae-Hong
Published: February 2021

The fluorescence emission wavelength shift of CdSe quantum dots due to heat-induced lattice dilatation is used to spatially resolve temperatures in solar photothermal systems.
An enzyme-free electrochemiluminescence insulin probe based on the regular attachment of ZnO nanoparticles on a 3-D nickel foam and H2O2 as an efficient co-reactant
Authors: Kamyabi Mohammad Ali , Alipour Zahra , Moharramnezhad Mohsen
Published: February 2021

Modification process of nickel foam electrode with ZnO nanoparticles for ECL detection of insulin.
Molecular mobility of polyrotaxane-based biointerfaces alters inflammatory responses and polarization in Kupffer cell lines
Authors: Arisaka Yoshinori , Yui Nobuhiko
Published: February 2021

Molecular mobility of polyrotaxane-based biointerfaces altered the cellular morphology and gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the presence of lipopolysaccharide.
Modulators of protein–protein interactions as antimicrobial agents
Authors: Kahan Rashi , Worm Dennis J. , de Castro Guilherme V. , Ng Simon , Barnard Anna
Published: February 2021

This review describes recent efforts towards the modulation of protein–protein interactions in infectious bacteria.
Monoclinic dibismuth tetraoxide (m-Bi2O4) for piezocatalysis: new use for neglected materials
Authors: Liu Fengling , Chen Haoxuan , Xu Chenmin , Wang Linlin , Qiu Pengxiang , Gao Shuo , Zhu Jiawei , Zhang Shuai , Guo Zhaobing
Published: February 2021

m-Bi2O4 shows remarkably higher piezocatalytic performance compared with traditional piezocatalysts BaTiO3 and BiOCl.
Post-synthetic modification of a highly flexible 3D soft porous metal–organic framework by incorporating conducting polypyrrole: enhanced MOF stability and capacitance as an electrode material
Authors: Li Zhen , Fraile Julio , Viñas Clara , Teixidor Francesc , Planas José G.
Published: February 2021

Porous, stable and functional MOF polymer hybrids can be prepared by the in situ polymerization of otherwise unstable soft crystals.
Blue-AsP monolayer as a promising anode material for lithium- and sodium-ion batteries: a DFT study
Authors: Zhang Jing , Zhang Yong-Fan , Li Yi , Ren Yu-Rong , Huang Shuping , Lin Wei , Chen Wen-Kai
Published: February 2021

Stable blue-AsP monolayer possesses high theoretical capacities, low average open circuit voltages, ultrafast diffusivity with the low energy barriers both for Li- and Na-ion batteries.
Shape changes and budding of giant vesicles induced by an internal chemical trigger: an interplay between osmosis and pH change
Authors: Holló Gábor , Miele Ylenia , Rossi Federico , Lagzi István
Published: February 2021

Shape transformations and budding of phospholipid/fatty acid giant vesicles can be induced by an internal chemical stimulus (pH change) when coupled with an osmotic shock. A kinetic model and the ADE theory help to clarify the budding mechanism.
Solution structure of a europium–nicotianamine complex supports that phytosiderophores bind lanthanides
Authors: Kaliakin Danil S. , Sobrinho Josiane A. , Monteiro Jorge H. S. K. , de Bettencourt-Dias Ana , Cantu David C.
Published: February 2021

The structures of europium–EDTA (known lanthanide chelator) and europium–nicotianamine (biochemical precursor of phytosiderophores) complexes are resolved, in solution, withab initiomolecular dynamics as well as excitation and emission spectroscopy.
Primary photodissociation mechanisms of pyruvic acid on S1: observation of methylhydroxycarbene and its chemical reaction in the gas phase
Authors: Samanta B. R. , Fernando R. , Rösch D. , Reisler H. , Osborn D. L.
Published: February 2021

Following S1 ← S0 excitation at 351 nm, pyruvic acid dissociates mainly into methylhydroxycarbene (MHC) and CO2. Some MHC molecules isomerize to more stable acetaldehyde and vinyl alcohol; the remaining MHC is stabilized and reacts bimolecularly.
Facile one-pot synthesis of defect-engineered step-scheme WO3/g-C3N4 heterojunctions for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production
Authors: Du Xiya , Song Song , Wang Yating , Jin Wenfeng , Ding Tong , Tian Ye , Li Xingang
Published: February 2021

Defect-engineered step-scheme WO3/g-C3N4 heterojunctions synthesized by a facile one-pot method greatly improve the photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution.
RhNPs supported onN-functionalized mesoporous silica: effect on catalyst stabilization and catalytic activity
Authors: Pulido-Díaz Israel T. , Serrano-Maldonado Alejandro , López-Suárez Carlos César , Méndez-Ocampo Pedro A. , Portales-Martínez Benjamín , Gutiérrez-Alejandre Aída , Salas-Martin Karla P. , Guerrero-Ríos Itzel
Published: February 2021

RhNPs supported on mesoporous silica functionalized with nicotinamide groups provided active hydrogenation catalysts for several functional groups, wherein the shape and size of the RhNPs are maintained after catalysis.
Deconvolution of intermixed redox processes in Ni-based cation-disordered Li-excess cathodes
Authors: Huang Tzu-Yang , Crafton Matthew J. , Yue Yuan , Tong Wei , McCloskey Bryan D.
Published: February 2021

Capacity deconvolution of intermixed high-valent Ni redox and oxygen redox through 18O labelling, acid titration, and mass spectrometry.
Magnetic enhancement for the analysis of scintillation crystals by radio frequency glow discharge mass spectrometry
Authors: Yang Weifeng , Zhuo Shangjun , Zhu Zhenli , Qian Rong , Chen Qiao , Dong Jiangli
Published: February 2021

A ring magnet enhancement method was developed and applied for the effective detection of scintillation crystals by rf-GD-MS.
Ultra-small natural product based coordination polymer nanodots for acute kidney injury relief
Authors: Zhang Rui , Cheng Liang , Dong Ziliang , Hou Linqian , Zhang Shaohua , Meng Zhouqi , Betzer Oshra , Wang Yihua , Popovtzer Rachela , Liu Zhuang
Published: February 2021

Fe–Cur CPNs were utilized for AKI relief. After i.v. injection, the oxidative stress-induced damage in kidneys was significantly ameliorated and the kidney functions were well recovered. Fe–Cur CPNs showed potential promise in the treatment of AKI.
Robotic soft swim bladder using liquid–vapor phase transition
Authors: Kang Beomchan , Lee Yongkyu , Piao Tailin , Ding Zhengbing , Wang Wei David
Published: February 2021

An entire soft swim bladder based on liquid–vapor phase transition was developed, which can selectively control buoyancy, thereby allowing multiple modes of maneuvers for underwater robots.
Determination of hypoxia signature to predict prognosis and the tumor immune microenvironment in melanoma
Authors: Shou Yanhong , Yang Lu , Yang Yongsheng , Zhu Xiaohua , Li Feng , Xu Jinhua
Published: February 2021

The hypoxia score is identified as an independent prognostic factor and a predictive biomarker of the immune microenvironment for melanoma.
Different Anderson-type polyoxometalate-based metal–organic complexes exhibiting –OH group-directed structures and electrochemical sensing performance
Authors: Zhang Jing-Yuan , Chang Zhi-Han , Wang Xiu-Li , Wang Xiang , Lin Hong-Yan
Published: February 2021

Four new Anderson-type polyoxometalate (POM)-based metal–organic complexes were hydrothermally synthesized and the –OH groups in POMs have significant effects on their structures and electrochemical performance.
Magnetic nanocatalysts utilized in the synthesis of aromatic pharmaceutical ingredients
Authors: Taheri-Ledari Reza , Maleki Ali
Published: February 2021

This review covers recent developments in nanoscale magnetic catalytic systems and their applications in facilitating organic synthetic reactions of aromatic pharmaceutical ingredients.
Tropane alkaloid biosynthesis: a centennial review
Authors: Huang Jian-Ping , Wang Yong-Jiang , Tian Tian , Wang Li , Yan Yijun , Huang Sheng-Xiong
Published: February 2021

From the first ambitious imagination of tropinone biosynthesis mechanism in plants published in 1917 to the de novo production of scopolamine in yeast realized in 2020, what did we learn from this long story of more than 100 years old?
Ionic charge distributions in silicon atomic surface wires
Authors: Croshaw Jeremiah , Huff Taleana , Rashidi Mohammad , Wood John , Lloyd Erika , Pitters Jason , Wolkow Robert A.
Published: February 2021

Using a non-contact atomic force microscope (nc-AFM), we examine continuous dangling bond (DB) wire structures patterned on the hydrogen terminated silicon (100)-2 × 1 surface.
Investigation of random lasing from all-inorganic halide perovskite quantum dots prepared under ambient conditions
Authors: Zhang Deng-Gui , Jian Liang-Yu , Tseng Zong-Liang , Cheng Hsin-Ming , Lin Ja-Hon
Published: February 2021

Random lasing from CsPbBr3 quantum dots (QDs) prepared by the hot injection method under ambient conditions has been demonstrated. The random laser produced a speckle reduced image with a contrast of around 0.051.
Engineering porous Pd–Cu nanocrystals with tailored three-dimensional catalytic facets for highly efficient formic acid oxidation
Authors: Lu Linfang , Wang Bing , Wu Di , Zou Shihui , Fang Baizeng
Published: February 2021

An innovative strategy is developed to prepare porous Pd–Cu nanocrystals with engineered morphology and highly exposed three-dimensional catalytic facets, which demonstrate considerably improved activity toward formic acid oxidation.
Advancing macromolecular hoop construction: recent developments in synthetic cyclic polymer chemistry
Authors: Wang Teng-Wei , Golder Matthew R.
Published: February 2021

Synthetic methodology to access cyclic macromolecules continues to developviatwo distinct mechanistic classes: ring-expansion of macrocyclic initiators and ring-closure of functionalized linear polymers.
An environmentally benign post-polymerization functionalization strategy towards unprecedented poly(vinylamine) polyHIPEs
Authors: Jurjevec Sarah , Debuigne Antoine , Žagar Ema , Kovačič Sebastijan
Published: February 2021

Interconnected highly porous poly(vinylamine) monoliths are produced by post-polymerization hydrolysis of emulsion-templated poly(N-vinylformamide) polyHIPEs (polymerized high internal phase emulsions).
Reduction-responsive double hydrophilic block copolymer nano-capsule synthesized via RCMP-PISA
Authors: Sarkar Jit , Chan Kai Bin Jonathan , Goto Atsushi
Published: February 2021

Double hydrophilic block copolymer vesicles synthesized via RCMP-PISA are degradable under a reductive conditions.
Carborane based mesoporous nanoparticles as a potential agent for BNCT
Authors: Wang Yong , Xu Yanwen , Yang Jingying , Qiu Xiaoyan , Li Nan , Zhu Yuejin , Yan Lijuan , Li Weiping , Huang Xianjian , Liang Kaiyuan , Guo Rongjun , Tan Hui , Yu Haizhou
Published: February 2021

A novel BNCT system targeting pancreatic tumors was created by covalently hybridizing carborane with dendritic mesoporous silica nanospheres.
Microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of WC–6CO cemented carbide prepared via SPS: incorporation of YSZ as a reinforcer
Authors: Bao Junfeng , Yu Yueguang , Jia Chengchang
Published: February 2021

WC–Co based alloys are widely applied cemented carbide materials due to unique and outstanding properties.
A highly sensitive ppb-level H2S gas sensor based on fluorophenoxy-substituted phthalocyanine cobalt/rGO hybrids at room temperature
Authors: Wang Bin , Wang Xiaolin , Guo ZhiJiang , Gai Shijie , Li Yong , Wu Yiqun
Published: February 2021

Highly sensitive gas sensing materials are of great importance for environmental pollution monitoring.
Controlled preparation of a MCC-g-AM/EDA/PA loaded Fe(iii) adsorbent by the pre-radiation grafting method and its application for the adsorption removal of phosphate
Authors: Zhao Yuan , Yang Jin-Yu , Li Ting-Ting , Liu Guo , Wang Ya-Yang , Jiang Yu , Wang Zheng-Xi , Zhang Fang-Fang , Li Yue-Sheng , Liu Yi
Published: February 2021

A new spherical cellulose-based adsorbent and high phosphate removal rate microcrystalline cellulose-g-acrylamide/ethylenediamine/phthalic anhydride (MCC-g-AM/EDA/PA) loaded Fe(iii) adsorbent was prepared by a pre-radiation grafting and chemical modification method.
Synthesis and biological evaluation of fluorinated 3,4-dihydroquinolin-2(1H)-ones and 2-oxindoles for anti-hepatic fibrosis
Authors: Li Man , He Fu-Sheng , Ji Long-Shan , Gao Ya-Ting , Zhang Xin , Yu Zhuo , Fang Miao , Wu Jie , Gao Yue-Qiu
Published: February 2021

(Z)-4-(Iodomethylene)-3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-3,4-dihydroquinolin-2(1H)-ones and fluorinated 3,3-disubstituted 2-oxindoles are synthesized and evaluated for anti-hepatic fibrosis.
In situ microwave-assisted solvothermal synthesis via morphological transformation of ZnCo2O4 3D nanoflowers and nanopetals to 1D nanowires for hybrid supercapacitors
Authors: Koyyada Ganesh , Kumar Nadavala Siva , Al. Ghurabi Ibrahim H. , Boumaza Mourad , Kim Jae Hong , Mallikarjuna Koduru
Published: February 2021

Microwave-assisted solvothermal fabrication of ZnCo2O4 nanostructures for energy storage applications like supercapacitors and batteries.
Selective extraction of trivalent actinides using CyMe4BTPhen in the ionic liquid Aliquat-336 nitrate
Authors: Zsabka Péter , Van Hecke Karen , Adriaensen Lesley , Wilden Andreas , Modolo Giuseppe , Verwerft Marc , Binnemans Koen , Cardinaels Thomas
Published: February 2021

Improving the kinetics of selective An(iii) extraction from nitric acid feed solutions into an ionic liquid based solvent: combining CyMe4BTPhen with TODGA in Aliquat-336 nitrate.
A high-temperature continuous stirred-tank reactor cascade for the multistep synthesis of InP/ZnS quantum dots
Authors: Lignos Ioannis , Mo Yiming , Carayannopoulos Loukas , Ginterseder Matthias , Bawendi Moungi G. , Jensen Klavs F.
Published: February 2021

Multistep and continuous production of core–shell InP/ZnS semiconductor nanocrystals in a high-temperature and miniature continuous stirred-tank reactor cascade.
Investigating the innate selectivity issues of methane to methanol: consideration of an aqueous environment
Authors: Bunting Rhys J. , Rice Peter S. , Thompson Jillian , Hu P.
Published: February 2021

Consideration of the selectivity of methane to methanol in the aqueous phase with AIMD.