bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Can low autopsy rates be increased? Yes, we can! Should postmortem examinations in oncology be performed? Yes, we should! A postmortem analysis of oncological cases
Authors: Waidhauser Johanna , Martin Benedikt , Trepel Martin , Märkl Bruno
Published: July 2020

Ever declining autopsy rates have been a concern of pathologists as well as clinicians for decades. Notably, in the field of oncology, data on autopsies and discrepancies between clinical and autoptic diagnoses are particularly scarce. In this retrospective study, we show the effect of a simple catalog of measures consisting of a different approach to obtain consent for autopsy, structured conferencing, and systematic teaching of residents, as well as a close collaboration between clinicians and pathologists on the numbers of autopsies, especially of oncological patients. Additionally, postmortem examination protocols from the years 2015 until 2019 were analyzed, regarding rates of discrepancies between clinical and autoptic causes of death in this category of patients. Autopsy numbers could be significantly increased from a minimum in 2014 (60 autopsies) to a maximum in 2018 (142 autopsies) (p < 0.0001). In the 67 autopsies of oncological cases, a high rate of 51% of major discrepancy between clinical and autoptic causes of death could be detected. In contrast to the general reported decline of autopsy rates, we present rising autopsy numbers over the past 5 years with an increasing number of oncological cases who underwent a postmortem examination. The high percentage of major discrepancies between clinical and autopsy diagnosis is in contrast to an expected decrease of major discrepancies in times of precise diagnostic methods and underlines the importance of autopsies to ensure high quality in diagnostics and therapy not only in the field of oncology.
An in vivo study exploring correlations between early-to-moderate disc degeneration and flexion mobility in the lumbar spine
Authors: Breen Alan , Mellor Fiona , Morris Andrew , Breen Alexander
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Early disc degeneration (DD) has been thought to be associated with loss of spine stability. However, before this can be understood in relation to back pain, it is necessary to know the relationship between DD and intervertebral motion in people without pain. This study aimed to find out if early-to-moderate DD is associated with intervertebral motion in people without back pain.

Methods

Ten pain-free adults, aged 51–71, received recumbent and weight bearing MRI scans and quantitative fluoroscopy (QF) screenings during recumbent and upright lumbar flexion. Forty individual level and 10 composite (L2-S1) radiographic and MRI DD gradings were recorded and correlated with intervertebral flexion ROM, translation, laxity and motion sharing inequality and variability for both positions.

Results

Kinematic values were similar to previous control studies. DD was evidenced up to moderate levels by both radiographic and MRI grading. Disc height loss correlated slightly, but negatively with flexion during weight bearing flexion (R =  − 0.356,p = 0.0.025). Composite MRI DD and T2 signal loss evidenced similar relationships (R =  − 0.305,R =  − 0.267) but did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.056,p = 0.096). No significant relationships between any other kinematic variables and DD were found.

Conclusion

This study found only small, indefinite associations between early-to-moderate DD and intervertebral motion in healthy controls. Motion sharing in the absence of pain was also not related to early DD, consistent with previous control studies. Further research is needed to investigate these relationships in patients.
Nanosecond pulsed electrical fields enhance product recovery in plant cell fermentation
Authors: Rajabi Fatemeh , Gusbeth Christian , Frey Wolfgang , Maisch Jan , Nick Peter
Published: July 2020

The potential of pharmacologically active secondary plant metabolites is limited by the low yield from often rare plants, and the lack of economically feasible chemical synthesis of these complex compounds. Plant cell fermentation offers an alternative strategy to overcome these constraints. However, the efficiency of this approach is limited by intracellular sequestration of the products, such that continuous bioprocessing is not possible. As a precondition for such a, more attractive, continuous process, it is of great importance to stimulate the export of the product into the medium without impairing viability and, thus, the productivity of the cells. Using nicotine alkaloids of tobacco as a case study, an alternative strategy is explored, where nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) are applied for the efficient downstream recovery of the products. To maintain cell viability and allow for the further use of biomass, cells were exposed to strong (1–20 kV·cm−1), but very short (10–100 ns) electric pulses, which leads to a temporary permeabilisation of cell membranes. Using two transgenic cell lines, where two key genes involved in the metabolism of the anti-Alzheimer compound nornicotine were overexpressed, we could show that this nsPEF treatment improved the partitioning of some nicotine alkaloids to the culture medium without impairing viability, nor the synthesis of alkaloids. However, this release was only partial and did not work for nornicotine. Thus, nsPEFs produced a fractionation of alkaloids. We explain this electrofractionation by a working model considering the differential intracellular compartmentalization of nicotineic alkaloids.
Reflecting on 25 Years of Teaching Animal Law: Is it Time for an International Crime of Animal Ecocide?
Authors: Legge Debbie , Brooman Simon
Published: July 2020

2019 marked the 25th anniversary of the introduction of Animal Law to the law degree at Liverpool John Moores University. This article examines changes in the legal protection of animals during this time and the impact this will have on research and scholarship in the law relating to animals. We examine whether the overall international treatment of animals has improved and how far the approach to the Animal Law curriculum should be influenced by the growth in concerns around climate change. In this context, we examine the development of the law of ecocide and the extent to which it addresses concerns around animal welfare across the globe. We suggest that those involved in the development of Animal Law, ethics and policy might usefully engage in a new vision of ecocide, which incorporates a clearer notion of ‘animal ecocide’. This new approach would enhance the international and national focus on animals in their own right, would recognise increasing knowledge of animal sentience and would move our responsibilities to them beyond anthropocentric approaches to environmental protection. We argue that the inclusion of a more specific reference to animal ecocide would contribute to the development of Animal Law and would lead to an enhanced relationship between Animal Law and attempts to protect the environment.
Rules as Resources: An Ecological-Enactive Perspective on Linguistic Normativity
Authors: van den Herik Jasper C.
Published: July 2020

In this paper, I develop an ecological-enactive perspective on the role rules play in linguistic behaviour. I formulate and motivate the hypothesis that metalinguistic reflexivity – our ability to talk about talking – is constitutive of linguistic normativity. On first sight, this hypothesis might seem to fall prey to a regress objection. By discussing the work of Searle, I show that this regress objection originates in the idea that learning language involves learning to follow rules from the very start. I propose an ecological-enactive response to the regress objection. The key move is to deny that language learning consists initially in learning rules. A child first engages in regular communicative behaviour, by learning first-order linguistic skills, and then retroactively interprets her own behaviour in normative metalinguistic terms, i.e., as being guided by rules by relying on reflexive or second-order linguistic skills. On this view, metalinguistic reflexivity enables regulation of already regular communicative behaviour, and thereby constitutes linguistic normativity. Finally, I argue that linguistic rules are resources: they are available to participants in order to (re)negotiate properties of situated language behaviour and thereby reorganize linguistic practices. The account developed in this paper thus allows us to understand the constitutive role of metalinguistic reflexivity for linguistic normativity without falling prey to the regress objection.
Ouabain Modulates the Functional Interaction Between Na,K-ATPase and NMDA Receptor
Authors: Akkuratov Evgeny E. , Westin Linda , Vazquez-Juarez Erika , de Marothy Minttu , Melnikova Aleksandra K. , Blom Hans , Lindskog Maria , Brismar Hjalmar , Aperia Anita
Published: July 2020

The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor plays an essential role in glutamatergic transmission and synaptic plasticity and researchers are seeking for different modulators of NMDA receptor function. One possible mechanism for its regulation could be through adjacent membrane proteins. NMDA receptors coprecipitate with Na,K-ATPase, indicating a potential interaction of these two proteins. Ouabain, a mammalian cardiotonic steroid that specifically binds to Na,K-ATPase and affects its conformation, can protect from some toxic effects of NMDA receptor activation. Here we have examined whether NMDA receptor activity and downstream effects can be modulated by physiological ouabain concentrations. The spatial colocalization between NMDA receptors and the Na,K-ATPase catalytic subunits on dendrites of cultured rat hippocampal neurons was analyzed with super-resolution dSTORM microscopy. The functional interaction was analyzed with calcium imaging of single hippocampal neurons exposed to 10 μM NMDA in presence and absence of ouabain and by determination of the ouabain effect on NMDA receptor–dependent long-term potentiation. We show that NMDA receptors and the Na,K-ATPase catalytic subunits alpha1 and alpha3 exist in same protein complex and that ouabain in nanomolar concentration consistently reduces the calcium response to NMDA. Downregulation of the NMDA response is not associated with internalization of the receptor or with alterations in its state of Src phosphorylation. Ouabain in nanomolar concentration elicits a long-term potentiation response. Our findings suggest that ouabain binding to a fraction of Na,K-ATPase molecules that cluster with the NMDA receptors will, via a conformational effect on the NMDA receptors, cause moderate but consistent reduction of NMDA receptor response at synaptic activation.
On the Cauchy–Nicoletti Type Two-Point Boundary-Value Problem for Fractional Differential Systems
Authors: Marynets Kateryna
Published: July 2020

We deal with a system of quasilinear fractional differential equations, subjected to the Cauchy–Nicoletti type boundary conditions. The task of explicit solution of such problems is difficult and not always solvable. Thus we suggest a suitable numerical–analytic technique that allows to construct an approximate solution of the studied fractional boundary value problem with high precision.
Sustainable life cycle design aspects: how aware are material scientists?
Authors: Vink Karina
Published: July 2020

When developing new materials many aspects of sustainability are relevant, especially when the ultimate goal is mass production. More efficient energy storage and transmission are important parts of a larger product life cycle design and the confines of the circular economy, including environmental and social concerns. For example, due to environmental, geopolitical, and health concerns, it is important to choose materials that are easily accessible, as opposed to materials requiring complicated extraction, storage, and transportation methods. Equally important is the abundance of the material, as the mass production and use of a product are not sustainable if its raw components are scarce. This requires material scientists to be aware of how their design affects the later life cycle stages of the materials they develop. Very few studies cover whether material scientists take these type of questions into consideration. To resolve this, material scientists were questioned on various sustainability aspects. Results show that most of the questioned scientists have little to no awareness of what effects mass production of their developed materials might have regarding greenhouse gases or the workforce, or what their material’s recyclability or longevity might be. The results indicate that these questioned material scientists are not fully aware of several imperative sustainability aspects and do not fully consider the impacts of their designs. To increase instilling and evaluating awareness of sustainability aspects on life cycle design, two improvements are: increasing sustainability education by lifelong learning, and adding sustainability concerns as a required component to grants and funding.
What is science for? The Lighthill report on artificial intelligence reinterpreted
Authors: AGAR JON
Published: July 2020

This paper uses a case study of a 1970s controversy in artificial-intelligence (AI) research to explore how scientists understand the relationships between research and practical applications. It is part of a project that seeks to map such relationships in order to enable better policy recommendations to be grounded empirically through historical evidence. In 1972 the mathematician James Lighthill submitted a report, published in 1973, on the state of artificial-intelligence research under way in the United Kingdom. The criticisms made in the report have been held to be a major cause behind the dramatic slowing down (subsequently called an ‘AI winter’) of such research. This paper has two aims, one narrow and one broad. The narrow aim is to inquire into the causes, motivations and content of the Lighthill report. I argue that behind James Lighthill's criticisms of a central part of artificial intelligence was a principle he held throughout his career – that the best research was tightly coupled to practical problem solving. I also show that the Science Research Council provided a preliminary steer to the direction of this apparently independent report. The broader aim of the paper is to map some of the ways that scientists (and in Lighthill's case, a mathematician) have articulated and justified relationships between research and practical, real-world problems, an issue previously identified as central to historical analysis of modern science. The paper therefore offers some deepened historical case studies of the processes identified in Agar's ‘working-worlds’ model.
Shared and specific patterns of dynamic functional connectivity variability of striato-cortical circuitry in unmedicated bipolar and major depressive disorders
Authors: Chen Guanmao , Chen Pan , Gong JiaYing , Jia Yanbin , Zhong Shuming , Chen Feng , Wang Jurong , Luo Zhenye , Qi Zhangzhang , Huang Li , Wang Ying
Published: July 2020

Background

Accumulating studies have found structural and functional abnormalities of the striatum in bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). However, changes in intrinsic brain functional connectivity dynamics of striato-cortical circuitry have not been investigated in BD and MDD. This study aimed to investigate the shared and specific patterns of dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) variability of striato-cortical circuitry in BD and MDD.

Methods

Brain resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired from 128 patients with unmedicated BD II (current episode depressed), 140 patients with unmedicated MDD, and 132 healthy controls (HCs). Six pairs of striatum seed regions were selected: the ventral striatum inferior (VSi) and the ventral striatum superior (VSs), the dorsal-caudal putamen (DCP), the dorsal-rostral putamen (DRP), and the dorsal caudate and the ventral-rostral putamen (VRP). The sliding-window analysis was used to evaluate dFC for each seed.

Results

Both BD II and MDD exhibited increased dFC variability between the left DRP and the left supplementary motor area, and between the right VRP and the right inferior parietal lobule. The BD II had specific increased dFC variability between the right DCP and the left precentral gyrus compared with MDD and HCs. The MDD had increased dFC variability between the left VSi and the left medial prefrontal cortex compared with BD II and HCs.

Conclusions

The patients with BD and MDD shared common dFC alteration in the dorsal striatal-sensorimotor and ventral striatal-cognitive circuitries. The patients with MDD had specific dFC alteration in the ventral striatal-affective circuitry.
Did Women and Candidates of Color Lead or Ride the Democratic Wave in 2018?
Authors: Fraga Bernard L. , Shah Paru , Juenke Eric Gonzalez
Published: July 2020

Headlines touted a “wave” of women and minority candidates running in the 2018 elections, leading some to conclude that 2018 was the new “year of the woman” and perhaps “year of the candidate of color” (Lai et al. 2018). In fact, the number of women and candidates of color contesting US House elections was so high in 2018 that for the first time on record, White men were the minority of Democratic House nominees (Schneider 2018). Surveys taken immediately before the 2018 midterm elections indicated that women of color were the “ideal candidates” for Democrats, suggesting a changing voter demand for a more diverse field of candidates (Easley 2018).
GISS‐E2.1: Configurations and Climatology
Authors: Kelley Maxwell , Schmidt Gavin A. , Nazarenko Larissa S. , Bauer Susanne E. , Ruedy Reto , Russell Gary L. , Ackerman Andrew S. , Aleinov Igor , Bauer Michael , Bleck Rainer , Canuto Vittorio , Cesana Grégory , Cheng Ye , Clune Thomas L. , Cook Ben I. , Cruz Carlos A. , Del Genio Anthony D. , Elsaesser Gregory S. , Faluvegi Greg , Kiang Nancy Y. , Kim Daehyun , Lacis Andrew A. , Leboissetier Anthony , LeGrande Allegra N. , Lo Ken K. , Marshall John , Matthews Elaine E. , McDermid Sonali , Mezuman Keren , Miller Ron L. , Murray Lee T. , Oinas Valdar , Orbe Clara , García‐Pando Carlos Pérez , Perlwitz Jan P. , Puma Michael J. , Rind David , Romanou Anastasia , Shindell Drew T. , Sun Shan , Tausnev Nick , Tsigaridis Kostas , Tselioudis George , Weng Ensheng , Wu Jingbo , Yao Mao‐Sung
Published: July 2020

This paper describes the GISS‐E2.1 contribution to the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, Phase 6 (CMIP6). This model version differs from the predecessor model (GISS‐E2) chiefly due to parameterization improvements to the atmospheric and ocean model components, while keeping atmospheric resolution the same. Model skill when compared to modern era climatologies is significantly higher than in previous versions. Additionally, updates in forcings have a material impact on the results. In particular, there have been specific improvements in representations of modes of variability (such as the Madden‐Julian Oscillation and other modes in the Pacific) and significant improvements in the simulation of the climate of the Southern Oceans, including sea ice. The effective climate sensitivity to 2 × CO2 is slightly higher than previously at 2.7–3.1°C (depending on version) and is a result of lower CO2 radiative forcing and stronger positive feedbacks.
Monitoring the charge-transfer process in a Nd-doped semiconductor based on photoluminescence and SERS technology
Authors: Yang Shuo , Yao Jiacheng , Quan Yingnan , Hu Mingyue , Su Rui , Gao Ming , Han Donglai , Yang Jinghai
Published: July 2020

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and photoluminescence (PL) are important photoexcitation spectroscopy techniques; however, understanding how to analyze and modulate the relationship between SERS and PL is rather important for enhancing SERS, having a great effect on practical applications. In this work, a charge-transfer (CT) mechanism is proposed to investigate the change and relationships between SERS and PL. Analyzing the change in PL and SERS before and after the adsorption of the probe molecules on Nd-doped ZnO indicates that the unique optical characteristics of Nd3+ ions increase the SERS signal. On the other hand, the observed SERS can be used to explain the cause of PL background reduction. This study demonstrates that modulating the interaction between the probe molecules and the substrate can not only enhance Raman scattering but also reduce the SERS background. Our work also provides a guideline for the investigation of CT as well as a new method for exploring fluorescence quenching.
Correction: Cultivation and characterization of Candidatus Nitrosocosmicus exaquare, an ammonia-oxidizing archaeon from a municipal wastewater treatment system
Authors: Sauder Laura A , Albertsen Mads , Engel Katja , Schwarz Jasmin , Nielsen Per H , Wagner Michael , Neufeld Josh D
Published: July 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Long intergenic non-protein-coding RNA 01446 facilitates the proliferation and metastasis of gastric cancer cells through interacting with the histone lysine-specific demethylase LSD1
Authors: Lian Yifan , Yan Changsheng , Lian Yikai , Yang Renzhi , Chen Qiongyun , Ma Dan , Lian Weibin , Liu Jingjing , Luo Chengyan , Ren Jianlin , Xu Hongzhi
Published: July 2020

Growing evidences illustrated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) exhibited widespread effects on the progression of human cancers via various mechanisms. Long intergenic non-protein-coding RNA 01446 (LINC01446), a 3484-bp ncRNA, is known to locate at chromosome 7p12.1. However, its biological functions and specific action mechanism in gastric cancer (GC) are still unclear. In our study, LINC01446 was proved to be markedly upregulated in GC tissues relative to the normal tissues, and positively correlated with the poor survival of GC patients. The multivariate Cox regression model showed that LINC01446 functioned as an independent prognostic factor for the survival of GC patients. Functionally, LINC01446 facilitated the proliferation and metastasis of GC cells. Moreover, RNA-seq analysis demonstrated that LINC01446 knockdown primarily regulated the genes relating to the growth and migration of GC. Mechanistically, LINC01446 could widely interact with histone lysine-specific demethylase LSD1 and recruit LSD1 to the Ras-related dexamethasone-induced 1 (RASD1) promoter, thereby suppressing RASD1 transcription. Overall, these findings suggest that LINC01446/LSD1/RASD1 regulatory axis may provide bona fide targets for anti-GC therapies.
Broadband optical properties of monolayer and bulk MoS2
Authors: Ermolaev Georgy A. , Stebunov Yury V. , Vyshnevyy Andrey A. , Tatarkin Dmitry E. , Yakubovsky Dmitry I. , Novikov Sergey M. , Baranov Denis G. , Shegai Timur , Nikitin Alexey Y. , Arsenin Aleksey V. , Volkov Valentyn S.
Published: July 2020

Layered semiconductors such as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) offer endless possibilities for designing modern photonic and optoelectronic components. However, their optical engineering is still a challenging task owing to multiple obstacles, including the absence of a rapid, contactless, and the reliable method to obtain their dielectric function as well as to evaluate in situ the changes in optical constants and exciton binding energies. Here, we present an advanced approach based on ellipsometry measurements for retrieval of dielectric functions and the excitonic properties of both monolayer and bulk TMDs. Using this method, we conduct a detailed study of monolayer MoS2 and its bulk crystal in the broad spectral range (290–3300 nm). In the near- and mid-infrared ranges, both configurations appear to have no optical absorption and possess an extremely high dielectric permittivity making them favorable for lossless subwavelength photonics. In addition, the proposed approach opens a possibility to observe a previously unreported peak in the dielectric function of monolayer MoS2 induced by the use of perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic acid tetrapotassium salt (PTAS) seeding promoters for MoS2 synthesis and thus enables its applications in chemical and biological sensing. Therefore, this technique as a whole offers a state-of-the-art metrological tool for next-generation TMD-based devices.
Fluctuation X-ray diffraction reveals three-dimensional nanostructure and disorder in self-assembled lipid phases
Authors: Martin Andrew V. , Kozlov Alexander , Berntsen Peter , Roque Francisco Gian , Flueckiger Leonie , Saha Saumitra , Greaves Tamar L. , Conn Charlotte E. , Hawley Adrian M. , Ryan Timothy M. , Abbey Brian , Darmanin Connie
Published: July 2020

Emergent nanoscale order in materials such as self-assembled lipid phases, colloidal materials and metal-organic frameworks is often characterized by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Frequently, residual disorder in these materials prevents high-resolution 3D structural characterization. Here we demonstrate that angular intensity variations in SAXS patterns can provide previously inaccessible information about local 3D structure via a rich, real-space distribution of three- and four-body statistics. We present the many-body characterisation of a monoolein-based hexagonal phase doped with a phospholipid, revealing non-uniform curvature in the lipid channels, likely due to phase separation of the lipids in the membrane. Our many-body technique has general applicability to nanomaterials with order in the range 10 nm−1 μm currently targeted by synchrotron SAXS and has the potential to impact diverse research areas within chemistry, biology and materials science.
Formation of highly elastomeric and property-tailorable poly(glycerol sebacate)-co-poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels through thiol–norbornene photochemistry
Authors: Tsai Yu-Ting , Chang Chun-Wei , Yeh Yi-Cheun
Published: July 2020

Nor_PGS-co-PEG is a new type of hydrophilic PGS-based copolymer with definable properties for scaffold manufacturing as well as for biomedical applications.
Fabrication of hypoxia-responsive and uperconversion nanoparticles-modified RBC micro-vehicles for oxygen delivery and chemotherapy enhancement
Authors: Wang Peiyuan , Jiang Suhua , Li Yang , Luo Qiang , Lin Jinyan , Hu Lidan , Xu Congjian , Zhu Jun , Fan Lingling
Published: July 2020

RBC based micro-vehicles were successfully fabricated for hypoxia activated O2 precise delivery under 980 nm laser irradiation. Interestingly, owing to hypoxia alleviating, the chemotherapy enhancement of PTX for ovarian tumor was realized.
Multi-shelled cobalt–nickel oxide/phosphide hollow spheres for an efficient oxygen evolution reaction
Authors: Yang Yaru , Wan Hao , Chen Gen , Zhang Ning , Li Junhui , Ma Wei , Liu Xiaohe , Ma Renzhi
Published: July 2020

Due to their composition optimization and structural advantages, multi-shelled Co0.5Ni0.5 oxide/phosphide hollow spheres achieved a rapid oxygen evolution.
Synthesis and biological evaluation of S-lipidated lipopeptides of a connexin 43 channel inhibitory peptide
Authors: Yang Sung-Hyun , Clemett Connor A. , Brimble Margaret A. , O'Carroll Simon J. , Harris Paul W. R.
Published: July 2020

Lipidated Peptide5 analogues are able to mediate hemichannel openings leading to inhibition of chemical messengers to the extracellular matrix.
The chemical gymnastics of enterocin: evidence for stereodivergence in Nature
Authors: Cowled Michael S. , Vuong Daniel , Crombie Andrew , Lacey Ernest , Karuso Peter , Piggott Andrew M.
Published: July 2020

Stereodivergence in Nature encapsulates both enzymatic (biosynthetic) and non-enzymatic (chemical) diversification of natural product scaffolds arising from a single biosynthetic pathway.
Nickel/briphos-catalyzed transamidation of unactivated tertiary amides
Authors: Yang Dahyeon , Shin Taeil , Kim Hyunwoo , Lee Sunwoo
Published: July 2020

The transamidation of tertiary amides was achieved via nickel catalysis in combination with briphos ligands.
Magnesium-specific ring expansion/contraction catalysed by the class II diterpene cyclase from pleuromutilin biosynthesis
Authors: Lemke Cody , Whitham Owen , Peters Reuben J.
Published: July 2020

The class II diterpene cyclase from pleuromutilin biosynthesis, selectively with magnesium, catalyzes ring expansion/contraction between its initial mutildienyl diphosphate product and halimadienyl diphosphate, providing novel catalytic insight.
Bioremediation of cadmium-contaminated paddy soil using an autotrophic and heterotrophic mixture
Authors: Xu Menglong , Liu Yazi , Deng Yan , Zhang Siyuan , Hao Xiaodong , Zhu Ping , Zhou Jieyi , Yin Huaqun , Liang Yili , Liu Hongwei , Liu Xueduan , Bai Lianyang , Jiang Luhua , Jiang Huidan
Published: July 2020

Bioremediation can be a promising and effective remediation technology for treating Cd contaminated soils. Cooperative bioremediation using heterotrophic and autotrophic mixtures proved to be an efficient, short-term bioremediation strategy for heavy metal contaminated soil.
Understanding the effects of shape, material and location of incorporation of metal nanoparticles on the performance of plasmonic organic solar cells
Authors: Mohan Minu , Sekar Ramkumar , Namboothiry Manoj A. G.
Published: July 2020

Enhanced performance in organic solar cells by incorporating non-spherical metal nanoparticles.
Boric acid: the first effective inorganic promoter for methane hydrate formation under static conditions
Authors: Zeng Yanxian , Niu Xiaochun , Lei Dongjun , Liu Zhengwen , Zhu Zhengmei , Wang Weixing
Published: July 2020

Water containing a bit of boric acid can be employed as a storage medium for methane by forming methane hydrate (‘burning ice’) under static conditions.
Phase transitions, screening and dielectric response of CsPbBr3
Authors: Svirskas Šarūnas , Balčiūnas Sergejus , Šimėnas Mantas , Usevičius Gediminas , Kinka Martynas , Velička Martynas , Kubicki Dominik , Castillo Marianela Escobar , Karabanov Andrei , Shvartsman Vladimir V. , de Rosário Soares Maria , Šablinskas Valdas , Salak Andrei N. , Lupascu Doru C. , Banys Jūras
Published: July 2020

Structural transformations of CsPbBr3 were studied by multiple techniques (dielectric, Raman, EPR spectroscopy and XRD) in an extended temperature range.
Pt single-atoms supported on nitrogen-doped carbon dots for highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen generation
Authors: Luo Hui , Liu Ying , Dimitrov Stoichko D. , Steier Ludmilla , Guo Shaohui , Li Xuanhua , Feng Jingyu , Xie Fei , Fang Yuanxing , Sapelkin Andrei , Wang Xinchen , Titirici Maria-Magdalena
Published: July 2020

Pt single-atom catalysts prepared via photo-deposition on nitrogen-doped carbon dots exhibit high activity and stability towards photocatalytic H2 production.
Thermoelasticity in organic semiconductors determined with terahertz spectroscopy and quantum quasi-harmonic simulations
Authors: Banks Peter A. , Maul Jefferson , Mancini Mark T. , Whalley Adam C. , Erba Alessandro , Ruggiero Michael T.
Published: July 2020

The thermomechanical response of organic semiconducting solids – an essential aspect to consider for the design of flexible electronics – was determined using terahertz vibrational spectroscopy and quantum quasiharmonic approximation simulations.
Cortical and Subcortical Control of Swallowing—Can We Use Information From Lesion Locations to Improve Diagnosis and Treatment for Patients With Stroke?
Authors: Wilmskoetter Janina , Daniels Stephanie K. , Miller Arthur J.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Swallowing is a complex process, mediated by a broad bilateral neural network that spans from the brainstem to subcortical and cortical brain structures. Although the cortex's role in swallowing was historically neglected, we now understand, especially through clinical observations and research of patients with stroke, that it substantially contributes to swallowing control. Neuroimaging techniques (e.g., magnetic resonance imaging) have helped significantly to elucidate the role of cortical and subcortical brain areas, in general, and the importance of specific areas in swallowing control in healthy individuals and patients with stroke. We will review recent discoveries in cortical and subcortical neuroimaging research studies and their generalizability across patients to discuss their potential implications and translation to dysphagia diagnosis and treatment in clinical practice.

Conclusions

Stroke lesion locations have been identified that are commonly associated across patients with the occurrence and recovery of dysphagia, suggesting that clinical brain scans provide useful information for improving the diagnosis and treatment of patients with stroke. However, individual differences in brain structure and function limit the generalizability of these relationships and emphasize that the extent of the motor and sensory pathology in swallowing, and how the patient recovers, also depends on a patient's individual brain constitution. The involvement of the damaged brain tissue in swallowing control before the stroke and the health of the residual, undamaged brain tissue are crucial factors that can differ between individuals.
Advances in the Use of Neuromodulation for Neurogenic Dysphagia: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Application of Pharyngeal Electrical Stimulation, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Authors: Sasegbon Ayodele , Cheng Ivy , Zhang Mengqing , Hamdy Shaheen
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The swallowing motor system and, specifically, its cortical substrates appear to have certain unique properties that make it highly susceptible to brain plasticity, both driven and following injury. Furthermore, neurogenic dysphagia is a common complication of brain disease, associated with poor outcomes, and yet treatment options remain limited. Therefore, translating the physiology of neurostimulation into clinical populations becomes imperative. In this review, we describe therapeutic application of neuroplasticity in the human swallowing motor system by initially examining the role of pharyngeal electrical stimulation from a mechanistic perspective and then reporting on clinical studies using this approach. Thereafter, we explore the application of noninvasive brain stimulation, which has previously been used to treat nervous system disorders such as depression, pain modulation, and cognitive impairment. Transcranial brain stimulations, in particular, transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation, have been utilized by a number of investigators for rehabilitation in early-stage clinical trials, including dysphagia after neurological disease. In this review, we assess its usefulness in neurogenic dysphagia.

Conclusion

Early studies indicate these emerging neurostimulatory techniques hold future therapeutic promise. However, both a greater number of and larger clinical trials are required to provide evidence delineating their efficacy and scope of application.
Eine Variante von NEV an ECMO
Authors: Teske Andreas , Rieben Hellmuth , Heinicke Tobias
Published: July 2020

Patienten an der Extrakorporalen Membranoxygenierung (ECMO) unterliegen einem hohen Risiko für ein akutes Nierenversagen. Wäre es nicht eine Erleichterung für Patienten und Pflegende, wenn die ECMO auch als Plattform für andere Organersatzverfahren eingesetzt werden könnte?
Kann die Symptombelastung einen regulären oder irregulären Behandlungsabschluss bei Substanzkonsumstörungen vorhersagen?
Authors: Brokatzky Stefan , Blessing Andreas , Rudaz Myriam , Hansen Aksel , Dammann Gerhard
Published: July 2020

Ziel der Studie Das Ziel der vorliegenden explorativen Studie war zu untersuchen, ob die subjektive Symptombelastung vor und während der Behandlung von PatientInnen mit einer Substanzkonsumstörung einen Einfluss darauf hat, ob die Behandlung regulär (d. h. in gegenseitigem Einverständnis zwischen Therapeut und Patient) oder irregulär (d. h. Therapeut oder Patient bricht ab) beendet wird.

Methodik In der vorliegenden, retrospektiven Untersuchung wurden 54 PatientInnen einer Drogenentzugs- und Entwöhnungsstation untersucht. Die Informationen zur Art des Behandlungsabschlusses wurden der Basisdokumentation und zur Symptombelastung der Brief-Symptom-Checkliste (BSCL) entnommen.

Ergebnisse Die Ergebnisse der binären logistischen Regressionsanalysen zeigten, dass eine allgemeine Reduktion der Symptombelastung während der Behandlung mit einem regulären statt einem irregulären Behandlungsabschluss einherging. Die Analysen der Subskalen der BSCL ergaben signifikante Effekte für eine Abnahme der Ängstlichkeit und des Paranoiden Denkens während der Therapie zugunsten eines regulären Behandlungsabschlusses. Des Weiteren sagten hohe Werte der Zwanghaftigkeit zu Behandlungsbeginn einen regulären Behandlungsabschluss vorher.

Schlussfolgerung Bei der Behandlung von PatientInnen mit Substanzkonsumstörungen erscheint es sinnvoll, die allgemeine subjektive Symptombelastung während der Behandlung zu erfragen, um Therapieabbrüche zu vermeiden. Insbesondere sollten die Ängstlichkeit und das Paranoide Denken in den Fokus der Behandlung rücken, da diese in der vorliegenden Studie einen regulären Behandlungsabschluss vorhersagten.
Severe Polyhydramnios with Consistent Fetal Full Bladder: A Novel Sign of Antenatal Bartter's Disease
Authors: Thakur Seema , Kumar Manisha , Malhotra Supriya , Paliwal Preeti , Thareja Vandana , Sahi Gaurika
Published: July 2020

Bartter's disease, an inherited renal tubular disorder is due to a defect in ion transport across the ascending limb of the loop of Henle leading to failure of the ability of kidneys to concentrate urine and hence polyuria. We present three fetuses of mothers with severe polyhydramnios with normal maternal blood sugar profile, routine Toxoplasma, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes (TORCH) serology. The ultrasound showed no structural anomaly in the fetus, but consistent overdistended bladder with severe polyhydramnios was observed without any evidence of obstructive uropathy. The biochemical test on amniotic fluid was suggestive of Bartter's disease in case 1 and borderline in case 2, and next-generation sequencing confirmed a mutation of KCNJ1 associated with Bartter's disease Type II in case 1 and a mutation in SLC21A1 in case 2. Amniotic fluid biochemistry was inconclusive in case 3. A consistent full bladder with severe polyhydramnios with onset around 24 to 25 weeks was a novel finding which was observed due to fetal polyuria and can be used as a clue to investigate cases with severe polyhydramnios with no structural anomaly. Antenatal diagnosis will help in the proper management of child and genetic counseling for the next pregnancy.
Is Patient Advocacy the Solution to Physician Burnout?
Authors: Jeelani Roohi , Lieberman Daniel , Chen Serena H.
Published: July 2020

Physician burnout has been on the rise over the last several decades in a variety of specialties, leading to high rates of physician suicide and poor health outcomes for patients. As leaders in healthcare attempt to combat this issue through mental health initiatives and changes in medical training policies, we propose patient advocacy as a powerful technique to combat physician burnout and restore autonomy, purpose, and meaning into physicians' lives.
COVID-19 and the metaphor of war (COVID-19 y la metáfora de la guerra)
Authors: Sabucedo José-Manuel , Alzate Mónica , Hur Domenico
Published: July 2020

Metaphors provide easy-to-understand explanations for threatening and unexpected events and can guide behaviour. Some groups have used the metaphor of war in the current pandemic. However, this metaphor is inadvisable because it omits fundamental factors such as mutual care or empathy and causes breakdowns in both social behaviour and the democratic system.
Nanosecond pulsed discharges in distilled water-Part II: line emission and plasma propagation
Authors: von Keudell A , Grosse K , Schulz-von der Gathen V
Published: July 2020

Nanosecond plasmas in liquids can initiate chemical processes that are exploited in the fields of water treatment, electrolysis or biomedical applications. The understanding of these chemical processes relies on unraveling the dynamics of the variation of pressures, temperatures and species densities during the different stages of plasma ignition and plasma propagation as well as the conversion of the liquid into the plasma state and the gas phase. This is analyzed by monitoring the emission of nanosecond pulsed plasmas that are generated by high voltages of 20 kV and pulse lengths of 10 ns applied to a tungsten tip with 50 μm diameter immersed in water. The spectra are acquired with a temporal resolution of 2 ns and the emission pattern is modelled by a combination of black body radiation from the hot tungsten tip and the pronounced emission lines of the hydrogen Balmer series. The data indicate two contributions of the hydrogen line radiation that differ with respect to the degree of self-absorption. It is postulated that one contribution originates from a recombination region showing strong self absorption and one contribution from an ionization region showing very little self-absorption. The emission lines from the ionization region are evaluated assuming Stark broadening, that yielded electron densities up to 5 × 1025 m−3. The electron density evolution follows the same trend as the temporal evolution of the voltage applied to the tungsten tip. The propagation mechanism of the plasma is similar to that of a positive streamer in the gas phase, although in the liquid phase field effects such as electron transport by tunneling should play an important role.
PEDOT:PSS-based micromuscles and microsensors fully integrated in
flexible chips
Authors: Rohtlaid Kätlin , Seurre Lauréline , Nguyen Giao T M , Curley Garrett , Soyer Caroline , Grondel Sébastien , Vidal Frédéric , Plesse Cédric , Cattan Eric
Published: July 2020

The demand for polymer-based soft micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) is
growing due to the substantial increase of flexible and wearable electronic
devices. In this context, electronically conducting polymers (ECPs) fulfil the
requirements for soft MEMS by offering the possibility of actuation and sensing,
however, their miniaturization, their integration attempts and their resulting
performances are still limiting their use in real applications. In this work,
elaboration, integration and operation of soft and efficient microtransducers
based on commercially available poly(3,4-ethyledioxythiophene):poly(styrene
sulfonate) conductive ink into flexible chips is demonstrated. This original
process overcomes existing hurdles to the fabrication of fully integrated
ECP-based devices with gold remote contacts directly in contact with ECPs and
further embedding in flexible support. These batch-fabricated chips are actuated
at low voltage (±3.0 V) in open-air with individual accessible electrical
connections. More importantly, the mechanical strain sensing is evidenced for
the first time on such small ECP-based devices after full integration and
demonstrating low impact of the microfabrication process. This work opens the
way for further development of soft ECP-MEMS and integration into more complex
systems with possible applications in microrobotics, microfluidics,
optoelectronics, biology, medicine or space.
Non-volatile optical memory in vertical van der Waals heterostructures
Authors: Zhou Siyu , Peng Bo
Published: July 2020

Emulating synaptic plasticity in an artificial neural network is crucial to mimic the basic functions of the human brain. In this work, we report a new optoelectronic resistive random access memory (ORRAM) in a three-layer vertical heterostructure of graphene/CdSe quantum dots (QDs)/graphene, which shows non-volatile multi-level optical memory under optical stimuli, giving rise to light-tunable synaptic behaviors. The optical non-volatile storage time is up to ~450 s. The device realizes the function of multi-level optical storage through the interlayer changes between graphene and QDs. This work highlights the feasibility for applying two-dimensional (2D) materials in ORRAM and optoelectronic synaptic devices towards artificial vision.
Energy reconstruction of the ATLAS Tile Calorimeter under high pile-up conditions using the Wiener filter
Authors: Oliveira Gonçalves Dayane
Published: July 2020

The ATLAS experiment records data from the proton-proton collisions produced by the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The Tile Calorimeter is the hadronic sampling calorimeter of ATLAS in the region

|
η
|

<
1.7

. It uses iron absorbers and scintillators as active material. Jointly with the other calorimeters it is designed for reconstruction of hadrons, jets,

τ

-lepton and missing transverse energy. It also assists in muon identification. The energy deposited by the particles in the Tile Calorimeter is read out by approximately 10,000 channels. The signal provided by the readout electronics for each channel is digitized at 40 MHz and its amplitude is estimated by an optimal filtering algorithm. The increase of LHC luminosity leads to signal pile-up that deforms the signal of interest and compromises the amplitude estimation performance. This work presents the proposed algorithm, based on the Wiener filter theory, for energy estimation in the Tile Calorimeter under high pile-up conditions during LHC Run 3. The performance of the proposed method is studied under various pile-up conditions and compared with the current optimal filtering method using proton-proton collision data.
Adversarial Neural Network-based data-simulation corrections for jet-tagging at CMS
Authors: Erdmann Martin , Fischer Benjamin , Noll Dennis , Alexander Rath Yannik , Rieger Marcel , Josef Schmidt David
Published: July 2020

Variable-dependent scale factors are commonly used in HEP to improve shape agreement of data and simulation. The choice of the underlying model is of great importance, but often requires a lot of manual tuning e.g. of bin sizes or fitted functions. This can be alleviated through the use of neural networks and their inherent powerful data modeling capabilities. We present a novel and generalized method for producing scale factors using an adversarial neural network. This method is investigated in the context of the bottom-quark jet-tagging algorithms within the CMS experiment. The primary network uses the jet variables as inputs to derive the scale factor for a single jet. It is trained through the use of a second network, the adversary, which aims to differentiate between the data and rescaled simulation.
Identifying hadronically-decaying vector bosons and top quarks in ATLAS
Authors: Majerský Oliver
Published: July 2020

Hadronic decays of vector bosons and top quarks are increasingly important to the ATLAS physics program, both in measurements of the Standard Model and searches for new physics. At high energies, these decays are collimated into a single overlapping region of energy deposits in the detector, referred to as a jet. However, vector bosons and top quarks are hidden under an enormous background of other processes producing jets. The ATLAS experiment has employed boosted decision trees and deep neural networks to the challenging task of identifying hadronically-decaying vector bosons and top quarks and rejecting other jet backgrounds. These discriminants are becoming increasingly complex and using more advanced machine learning techniques. The methods currently used to tag these objects are described. In order to improve the tagger performance on the signal efficiency and background rejection, new in-situ techniques are applied, thus directly evaluating the agreement between data and simulation after applying an arbitrarily complex classifier. The precision obtained by applying the in-situ techniques is presented.