bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Similar cognitive deficits in mice and humans in the chronic phase post-stroke identified using the touchscreen-based paired-associate learning task
Authors: Chow Wei Zhen , Ong Lin Kooi , Kluge Murielle G. , Gyawali Prajwal , Walker Frederick R. , Nilsson Michael
Published: November 2020

For many chronic stroke survivors, persisting cognitive dysfunction leads to significantly reduced quality of life. Translation of promising therapeutic strategies aimed at improving cognitive function is hampered by existing, disparate cognitive assessments in animals and humans. In this study, we assessed post-stroke cognitive function using a comparable touchscreen-based paired-associate learning task in a cross-sectional population of chronic stroke survivors (≥ 5 months post-stroke, n = 70), age-matched controls (n = 70), and in mice generated from a C57BL/6 mouse photothrombotic stroke model (at six months post-stroke). Cognitive performance of stroke survivors was analysed using linear regression adjusting for age, gender, diabetes, systolic blood pressure and waist circumference. Stroke survivors made significantly fewer correct choices across all tasks compared with controls. Similar cognitive impairment was observed in the mice post-stroke with fewer correct choices compared to shams. These results highlight the feasibility and potential value of analogous modelling of clinically meaningful cognitive impairments in chronic stroke survivors and in mice in chronic phase after stroke. Implementation of validated, parallel cross-species test platforms for cognitive assessment offer the potential of delivering a more useful framework for evaluating therapies aimed at improving long-term cognitive function post-stroke.
Deacidification by FhlA-dependent hydrogenase is involved in urease activity and urinary stone formation in uropathogenic Proteus mirabilis
Authors: Lin Wen-Yuan , Liaw Shwu-Jen
Published: November 2020

Proteus mirabilis is an important uropathogen, featured with urinary stone formation. Formate hydrogenlyase (FHL), consisting of formate dehydrogenase H and hydrogenase for converting proton to hydrogen, has been implicated in virulence. In this study, we investigated the role of P. mirabilis FHL hydrogenase and the FHL activator, FhlA. fhlA and hyfG (encoding hydrogenase large subunit) displayed a defect in acid resistance. fhlA and hyfG mutants displayed a delay in medium deacidification compared to wild-type and ureC mutant failed to deacidify the medium. In addition, loss of fhlA or hyfG decreased urease activity in the pH range of 5–8. The reduction of urease activities in fhlA and hyfG mutants subsided gradually over the pH range and disappeared at pH 9. Furthermore, mutation of fhlA or hyfG resulted in a decrease in urinary stone formation in synthetic urine. These indicate fhlA- and hyf-mediated deacidification affected urease activity and stone formation. Finally, fhlA and hyfG mutants exhibited attenuated colonization in mice. Altogether, we found expression of fhlA and hyf confers medium deacidification via facilitating urease activity, thereby urinary stone formation and mouse colonization. The link of acid resistance to urease activity provides a potential strategy for counteracting urinary tract infections by P. mirabilis.
Gut microbiota depletion by chronic antibiotic treatment alters the sleep/wake architecture and sleep EEG power spectra in mice
Authors: Ogawa Yukino , Miyoshi Chika , Obana Nozomu , Yajima Kaho , Hotta-Hirashima Noriko , Ikkyu Aya , Kanno Satomi , Soga Tomoyoshi , Fukuda Shinji , Yanagisawa Masashi
Published: November 2020

Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota affects physiological processes, including brain functions, by altering the intestinal metabolism. Here we examined the effects of the gut microbiota on sleep/wake regulation. C57BL/6 male mice were treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics for 4 weeks to deplete their gut microbiota. Metabolome profiling of cecal contents in antibiotic-induced microbiota-depleted (AIMD) and control mice showed significant variations in the metabolism of amino acids and vitamins related to neurotransmission, including depletion of serotonin and vitamin B6, in the AIMD mice. Sleep analysis based on electroencephalogram and electromyogram recordings revealed that AIMD mice spent significantly less time in non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREMS) during the light phase while spending more time in NREMS and rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) during the dark phase. The number of REMS episodes seen in AIMD mice increased during both light and dark phases, and this was accompanied by frequent transitions from NREMS to REMS. In addition, the theta power density during REMS was lower in AIMD mice during the light phase compared with that in the controls. Consequently, the gut microbiota is suggested to affect the sleep/wake architecture by altering the intestinal balance of neurotransmitters.
Considerations on the human Achilles tendon moment arm for in vivo triceps surae muscle–tendon unit force estimates
Authors: Holzer Denis , Paternoster Florian Kurt , Hahn Daniel , Siebert Tobias , Seiberl Wolfgang
Published: November 2020

Moment arm-angle functions (MA-a-functions) are commonly used to estimate in vivo muscle forces in humans. However, different MA-a-functions might not only influence the magnitude of the estimated muscle forces but also change the shape of the muscle’s estimated force-angle relationship (F-a-r). Therefore, we investigated the influence of different literature based Achilles tendon MA-a-functions on the triceps surae muscle–tendon unit F-a-r. The individual in vivo triceps torque–angle relationship was determined in 14 participants performing maximum voluntary fixed-end plantarflexion contractions from 18.3° ± 3.2° plantarflexion to 24.2° ± 5.1° dorsiflexion on a dynamometer. The resulting F-a-r were calculated using 15 literature-based in vivo Achilles tendon MA-a-functions. MA-a-functions affected the F-a-r shape and magnitude of estimated peak active triceps muscle–tendon unit force. Depending on the MA-a-function used, the triceps was solely operating on the ascending limb (n = 2), on the ascending limb and plateau region (n = 12), or on the ascending limb, plateau region and descending limb of the F-a-r (n = 1). According to our findings, the estimated triceps muscle–tendon unit forces and the shape of the F-a-r are highly dependent on the MA-a-function used. As these functions are affected by many variables, we recommend using individual Achilles tendon MA-a-functions, ideally accounting for contraction intensity-related changes in moment arm magnitude.
A comparison of inflammation markers for predicting oncological outcomes after surgical resection of non-small-cell lung cancer: a validated analysis of 2,066 patients
Authors: Wu Hsiang-Ling , Wu Yu-Ming , Chen Jui-Tai , Chang Kuang-Yi , Cherng Yih-Giun , Lin Shih-Pin , Tsou Mei-Yung , Tai Ying-Hsuan
Published: November 2020

Clinical and pathological predictors have proved to be insufficient in identifying high-risk patients who develop cancer recurrence after tumour resection. We aimed to compare the prognostic ability of various inflammation markers in patients undergoing surgical resection of lung cancer. We consecutively included 2,066 patients with stage I–III non-small-cell lung cancer undergoing surgical resection at the center between 2005 and 2015. We evaluated prognostic nutritional index, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio along with their perioperative changes. We conducted stepwise backward variable elimination and internal validation to compare the selected markers’ predictive performance for postoperative recurrence-free survival and overall survival. Preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio independently predicts recurrence-free survival (HR: 1.267, 95% CI 1.064–1.509, p = 0.0079, on base-2 logarithmic scale) and overall survival (HR: 1.357, 95% CI 1.070–1.721, p = 0.0117, on base-2 logarithmic scale). The cut-off value is 2.3 for predicting both recurrence (sensitivity: 46.1% and specificity: 66.7%) and mortality (sensitivity: 84.2% and specificity: 40.4%). Advanced cancer stage, poor tumour differentiation, and presence of perineural infiltration were significantly correlated with higher preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. We concluded that preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is superior to prognostic nutritional index and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in predicting postoperative recurrence and mortality of patients undergoing surgical resection of non-small-cell lung cancer.
Predictive modeling of proliferative vitreoretinopathy using automated machine learning by ophthalmologists without coding experience
Authors: Antaki Fares , Kahwati Ghofril , Sebag Julia , Coussa Razek Georges , Fanous Anthony , Duval Renaud , Sebag Mikael
Published: November 2020

We aimed to assess the feasibility of machine learning (ML) algorithm design to predict proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) by ophthalmologists without coding experience using automated ML (AutoML). The study was a retrospective cohort study of 506 eyes who underwent pars plana vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) by a single surgeon at a tertiary-care hospital between 2012 and 2019. Two ophthalmologists without coding experience used an interactive application in MATLAB to build and evaluate ML algorithms for the prediction of postoperative PVR using clinical data from the electronic health records. The clinical features associated with postoperative PVR were determined by univariate feature selection. The area under the curve (AUC) for predicting postoperative PVR was better for models that included pre-existing PVR as an input. The quadratic support vector machine (SVM) model built using all selected clinical features had an AUC of 0.90, a sensitivity of 63.0%, and a specificity of 97.8%. An optimized Naïve Bayes algorithm that did not include pre-existing PVR as an input feature had an AUC of 0.81, a sensitivity of 54.3%, and a specificity of 92.4%. In conclusion, the development of ML models for the prediction of PVR by ophthalmologists without coding experience is feasible. Input from a data scientist might still be needed to tackle class imbalance—a common challenge in ML classification using real-world clinical data.
Sex-dependent differences in single-leg squat kinematics and their relationship to squat depth in physically active individuals
Authors: Zawadka Magdalena , Smolka Jakub , Skublewska-Paszkowska Maria , Lukasik Edyta , Bys Aleksandra , Zielinski Grzegorz , Gawda Piotr
Published: November 2020

The purpose of this study is to compare recreationally physically active females and males with regard to spine, pelvis and lower limb joints peak angles in each plane of motion during a single leg squat (SLS). The second aim is to investigate the relationship between kinematics and SLS depth in females and males. Fifty-eight healthy, young adults performed 5 repetitions of a single right leg squat to maximal depth while keeping their balance. Kinematic data were obtained using an optical motion capture system. At the hip, greater adduction and greater internal rotation were observed in females than in males. Females had more extended spines and less outward bended knees throughout the SLS than did men. In males, squat depth was significantly, positively correlated with the maximal angle of the ankle (r = 0.60, p < 0.001), the knee (r = 0.87, p < 0.001), the hip (r = 0.73, p < 0.001) and the pelvis (r = 0.40, p = 0.02) in the sagittal plane. A positive significant correlation was found between SLS depth and maximal angle of the knee (r = 0.88, p < 0.001) and the ankle (r = 0.53, p = 0.01) in the sagittal plane in females. Males and females used different motor strategies at all levels of the kinematic chain during SLS.
Overexpression of OsCM alleviates BLB stress via phytohormonal accumulation and transcriptional modulation of defense-related genes in Oryza sativa
Authors: Jan Rahmatullah , Khan Muhammad Aaqil , Asaf Sajjad , Lee In-Jung , Bae Jong-Sup , Kim Kyung-Min
Published: November 2020

Xanthomonas oryzae is a serious pathogen causing bacterial leaf blight (BLB) disease in rice, markedly reducing its yield. In this study, the rice chorismate mutase (OsCM) gene was overexpressed in a bacterial leaf blight-susceptible rice line to investigate the functional role of OsCM in response to bacterial leaf blight stress. We reported that overexpression of OsCM altered the downstream pathway of aromatic amino acids, mitigating pathogen stress by altering stress-responsive genes and hormonal accumulation. Phenotypic evaluation showed that the lesion length in the transgenic line was significantly lesser than that in the wild-type, suggesting greater resistance in the transgenic line. Further analysis revealed that OsCM expression induced phenylalanine accumulation and suppressed tyrosine accumulation in response to bacterial leaf blight stress. Furthermore, bacterial leaf blight stress induced genes downstream of the phenylpropanoid pathway in conjunction with OsCM, suggesting that the phenylpropanoid pathway is dependent on OsCM gene expression. We reported high SA and low JA accumulation in response to bacterial leaf blight stress in the transgenic line. This higher SA accumulation suggested that SA induces immune responses by functioning as a promoter of nonexpresser pathogenesis-related genes 1 (NPR1) transcriptional regulation. Xa7 expression was induced with increase in nonexpresser pathogenesis-related genes 1, which is thought to be responsible for Xa7 expression, which is responsible for mitigating bacterial leaf blight stress.
Managing incursions of Vespa velutina nigrithorax in the UK: an emerging threat to apiculture
Authors: Jones Eleanor P. , Conyers Chris , Tomkies Victoria , Semmence Nigel , Fouracre David , Wakefield Maureen , Stainton Kirsty
Published: November 2020

Vespa velutina nigrithorax is an invasive species of hornet accidentally introduced into Europe in 2004. It feeds on invertebrates, including honey bees, and represents a threat to European apiculture. In 2016, the first nest of this hornet was detected and destroyed on mainland UK. A further 8 nests were discovered between 2016 and 2019. Nest dissection was performed on all nests together with microsatellite analyses of different life stages found in the nests to address the reproductive output and success of nests found in the UK. None of the nests had produced the next generation of queens. Follow-up monitoring in those regions detected no new nests in the following years. Diploid males were found in many UK nests, while microsatellite analysis showed that nests had low genetic diversity and the majority of queens had mated with one or two males. All UK nests derived from the European zone of secondary colonisation, rather than from the native range of the species. None of the nests discovered so far have been direct offspring of another UK nest. The evidence suggests that these nests were separate incursions from a continental population rather than belonging to a single established UK population of this pest.
Recycling biofloc waste as novel protein source for crayfish with special reference to crayfish nutritional standards and growth trajectory
Authors: Lunda Roman , Roy Koushik , Dvorak Petr , Kouba Antonin , Mraz Jan
Published: November 2020

Screening of novel feedstuffs, that too for data-deficient (nutritionally) animals, is somewhat ambiguous or problematic. Through systematic meta-analyses, the present study formulated most up-to-date crayfish nutritional standards, against which a recyclable waste (biofloc biomass, BM) from intensive aquaculture systems was assessed as a novel protein source. Growth trajectory dependencies and thermal growth coefficient qualifying for good growth in crayfish (TGC 0.5–0.64 units) were benchmarked. Using these standards and a 7-week growth trial, BM's suitability as a novel protein source for red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii was evaluated through its graded inclusions in a commercial feed. Results suggest that BM can elevate growth at 33–66% inclusion in existing feed formulations. Beyond 66% inclusion, BM can deteriorate growth in crayfish due to high ash content (exceeding physiological limit > 14%), arginine deficiency (~ 14–20% lower than an optimum requirement), and insufficient non-protein energy: protein ratio (3.7 cal mg−1). Arginine is perhaps the most critical amino acid in dietary protein for crayfish, and deficient in BM. Although no critical bioaccumulation levels of heavy metals were breached by feeding 100% BM to crayfish, a mineral and heavy metal (Hg) stress seemed plausible. Crayfish raised solely on biofloc may not realize full growth potential.
Pattern formation in reaction–diffusion system on membrane with mechanochemical feedback
Authors: Tamemoto Naoki , Noguchi Hiroshi
Published: November 2020

Shapes of biological membranes are dynamically regulated in living cells. Although membrane shape deformation by proteins at thermal equilibrium has been extensively studied, nonequilibrium dynamics have been much less explored. Recently, chemical reaction propagation has been experimentally observed in plasma membranes. Thus, it is important to understand how the reaction–diffusion dynamics are modified on deformable curved membranes. Here, we investigated nonequilibrium pattern formation on vesicles induced by mechanochemical feedback between membrane deformation and chemical reactions, using dynamically triangulated membrane simulations combined with the Brusselator model. We found that membrane deformation changes stable patterns relative to those that occur on a non-deformable curved surface, as determined by linear stability analysis. We further found that budding and multi-spindle shapes are induced by Turing patterns, and we also observed the transition from oscillation patterns to stable spot patterns. Our results demonstrate the importance of mechanochemical feedback in pattern formation on deforming membranes.
HRRD: a manually-curated database about the regulatory relationship between HPV and host RNA
Authors: Yan Bingqing , Zhang Siwei , Yu Siyang , Hussain Sajjad , Liu Tianyang , Wang Bozhi , Dong Xiaoyu , Ma Fen , Wei Lanlan
Published: November 2020

HPV (Human papilloma virus) is a kind of small double-stranded DNA viruses which is extremely associated with different cancers. The roles HPV plays in the host were gradually identified through the interaction between it (including its early genes) and host RNA. In recent years, increasing numbers of studies in HPV-related cancers have been published showing the relationship between HPV and host RNA. Here, we present a database named HRRD, which contains the regulatory relationship between HPV and RNA (mRNA, miRNA and lncRNA). The information was extracted from 10,761 papers in PubMed (up to December 1st, 2019). In addition, the sequence map of HPV (198 genotypes) is also contained. HRRD was designed as a user-friendly web-based interface for data retrieval. It integrated the information of interaction between HPV and RNA, which reflects the relationship between HPV and host. We hope HRRD will further provide a comprehensive understanding of HPV in carcinogenesis and prognosis. HRRD is freely accessible at www.hmuhrrd.com/HRRD.
Validation of red blood cell flux and velocity estimations based on optical coherence tomography intensity fluctuations
Authors: Marchand Paul J. , Lu Xuecong , Zhang Cong , Lesage Frédéric
Published: November 2020

We present a validation of red blood cell flux and speed measurements based on the passage of erythrocytes through the OCT’s focal volume. We compare the performance of the so-called RBC-passage OCT technique to co-localized and simultaneously acquired two-photon excitation fluorescence microscopy (TPEF) measurements. Using concurrent multi-modal imaging, we show that fluctuations in the OCT signal display highly similar features to TPEF time traces. Furthermore, we demonstrate an overall difference in RBC flux and speed of 2.5 ± 3.27 RBC/s and 0.12 ± 0.67 mm/s (mean ± S.D.), compared to TPEF. The analysis also revealed that the OCT RBC flux estimation is most accurate between 20 RBC/s to 60 RBC/s, and is severely underestimated at fluxes beyond 80 RBC/s. Lastly, our analysis shows that the RBC speed estimations increase in accuracy as the speed decreases, reaching a difference of 0.16 ± 0.25 mm/s within the 0–0.5 mm/s speed range.
Control over the fibrillization yield by varying the oligomeric nucleation propensities of self-assembling peptides
Authors: Lau Chun Yin Jerry , Fontana Federico , Mandemaker Laurens D. B. , Wezendonk Dennie , Vermeer Benjamin , Bonvin Alexandre M. J. J. , de Vries Renko , Zhang Heyang , Remaut Katrien , van den Dikkenberg Joep , Medeiros-Silva João , Hassan Alia , Perrone Barbara , Kuemmerle Rainer , Gelain Fabrizio , Hennink Wim E. , Weingarth Markus , Mastrobattista Enrico
Published: November 2020

Self-assembling peptides are an exemplary class of supramolecular biomaterials of broad biomedical utility. Mechanistic studies on the peptide self-assembly demonstrated the importance of the oligomeric intermediates towards the properties of the supramolecular biomaterials being formed. In this study, we demonstrate how the overall yield of the supramolecular assemblies are moderated through subtle molecular changes in the peptide monomers. This strategy is exemplified with a set of surfactant-like peptides (SLPs) with different β-sheet propensities and charged residues flanking the aggregation domains. By integrating different techniques, we show that these molecular changes can alter both the nucleation propensity of the oligomeric intermediates and the thermodynamic stability of the fibril structures. We demonstrate that the amount of assembled nanofibers are critically defined by the oligomeric nucleation propensities. Our findings offer guidance on designing self-assembling peptides for different biomedical applications, as well as insights into the role of protein gatekeeper sequences in preventing amyloidosis.
Influence of solvent on crystal nucleation of benzocaine
Authors: Cheuk Dominic , Zeglinski Jacek , Krishnaraj Renuka , Rasmuson Åke C.
Published: November 2020

The influence of the solvent in nucleation of benzocaine FII was explored by measuring nucleation induction times, probing solvent–solute interactions with spectroscopy and modelling the strength of solvent–solute intermolecular interactions using DFT.
Multicomponent crystals of baclofen with acids and bases—conformational flexibility and synthon versatility
Authors: Malapile Ramokone Junia , Nyamayaro Kudzanai , Nassimbeni Luigi R. , Báthori Nikoletta B.
Published: November 2020

Crystals of baclofen with acidic or basic coformers suggest that the robustness of the hydrogen bonding between the adjacent baclofen molecules aids the formation of the alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic layers in the crystal structures.
Synergetic effects of hydrogenation and acidic sites in phosphorus-modified nickel catalysts for the selective conversion of furfural to cyclopentanone
Authors: Gao Guoming , Shao Yuewen , Gao Yong , Wei Tao , Gao Guanggang , Zhang Shu , Wang Yi , Chen Qifeng , Hu Xun
Published: November 2020

Nickel phosphide species can tailor the selectivity of hydrogenation sites. The yields of CPO and CPL reached 93.5% over 15%Ni–25%P/Al2O3. The balanced distribution of hydrogenation/acid sites maximizes the yield of CPO.
Thermal decomposition of hybrid ultramicroporous materials (HUMs)
Authors: Healy Colm , Harvey-Reid Nathan C. , Howard Ben I. , Kruger Paul E.
Published: November 2020

The thermal decomposition behaviour of representative hybrid ultramicroporous materials (HUMs) is investigated. Decomposition is triggered by fragmentation of the inorganic pillar, yielding XF4 gases and metal fluorides.
Toxicokinetics of pristine and aged silver nanoparticles in Physa acuta
Authors: Silva Patrícia V. , van Gestel Cornelis A. M. , Verweij Rudo A. , Papadiamantis Anastasios G. , Gonçalves Sandra F. , Lynch Iseult , Loureiro Susana
Published: November 2020

Nanoparticle characteristics and exposure route greatly influence the toxicokinetics of pristine and (simulated) aged silver nanoparticles in Physa acuta.
Cyclic siloxanes conjugated with fluorescent aromatic compounds as fluoride sensors
Authors: Prigyai Nicha , Chanmungkalakul Supphachok , Thanyalax Sutthiroj , Sukwattanasinitt Mongkol , Ervithayasuporn Vuthichai
Published: November 2020

When cyclic siloxanes were exposed to fluoride ions, a blue-shift and enhanced fluorescence emissions appeared in most organic solvents.
Supramolecular assemblies of a 1,8-naphthalimide conjugate and its aggregation-induced emission property
Authors: Misra Souvik , Singh Pijush , Das Ankita , Brandão Paula , Sahoo Pathik , Sepay Nayim , Bhattacharjee Gourab , Datta Pallab , Mahapatra Ajit K. , Satpati Biswarup , Nanda Jayanta
Published: November 2020

Here, we are reporting for the first time a simple naphthalimide derivative that undergoes assembly in the J-type manner in the solid, solution and gel state. It shows the aggregation-induced emission property and has been used for cell imaging.
Enhanced water oxidation of CoP/CNTs via interfacial charge transfer induced by poly dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride
Authors: Dai Yuxue , Gao Peng , Wang Xueying , Wang Pengfei , Gao Dandan , Luo Chuannan
Published: November 2020

CoP layer was successfully deposited onto poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) (PDDA) functionalized carbon nanotubes (CoP/PDDA@CNTs) as high effective OER electrocatalysts in alkaline solution.
Synthesis of vildagliptin conjugated metal nanoparticles for type II diabetes control: targeting the DPP-IV enzyme
Authors: Fayyaz Sharmeen , Ahmed Dania , Khalid Sadia , Khan Sehrosh Naz , Shah M. Raza , Choudhary M. Iqbal
Published: November 2020

Diabetes is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide.
Transition-metal ion-mediated morphological transformation of pyridine-based peptide nanostructures
Authors: Singh Narendra , Singh Ramesh , Sharma Swati , Kesharwani Khushboo , Joshi Khashti Ballabh , Verma Sandeep
Published: November 2020

Pyridine-mediated constitutionally isomeric artificial metallopeptides possess remarkable advantages over the natural counterparts mainly due to their tailor-made chemical structure.
Biosynthesis and heterologous production of furanocoumarins: perspectives and current challenges
Authors: Rodrigues Joana L. , Rodrigues Lígia R.
Published: November 2020

This highlight reviews the furanocoumarins pathway and explores the challenges to address toward their heterologous production.
Palladium catalyzed C–C and C–N bond forming reactions: an update on the synthesis of pharmaceuticals from 2015–2020
Authors: Rayadurgam Jayachandra , Sana Sravani , Sasikumar M. , Gu Qiong
Published: November 2020

Some of the most prominent and promising catalysts in organic synthesis for the requisite construction of C–C and C–N bonds are palladium (Pd) catalysts, which play a pivotal role in pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry.
Construction of organometallic trefoil knots and one-dimensional chains featuring half-sandwich Cp*Rh corner units and an abnormal zwitterion ligand
Authors: Gao Xiang , Cui Zheng , Lin Yue-Jian , Jin Guo-Xin
Published: November 2020

An abnormal flexible O-coordinated zwitterion ligand L shows self-adaptive conformation behaviour in chemical self-assembly. Two trefoil knots were obtained with C-shaped ligand L and two novel 1D chains were obtained with Z-shaped ligand L.
A ZnO@ABS/TPU/CaSiO3 3D skeleton and its adsorption/photocatalysis properties for dye contaminant removal
Authors: Zhang Mengli , Xia Xinshu , Cao Changlin , Xue Hun , Yang Yujin , Li Wei , Chen Qinghua , Xiao Liren , Qian Qingrong
Published: November 2020

Enhanced synergistic effect of photocatalytic and adsorption was realized through the system constructed of ZnO nanoparticle loaded 3D skeleton.
An integrated approach based on phytochemistry, network pharmacology and metabolomics reveals the mechanism of action ofXanthium strumariumL. for allergic rhinitis
Authors: Yao Tie , Yan Jiankun , Li Yang , Wang Jiaxin , Qiao Miao , Hu Xintong , Shi Xuliu , Cao Shijie , Qiu Feng
Published: November 2020

This study investigated the mechanism ofXanthium strumariumL. for allergic rhinitis through an integrated approach of phytochemistry, network pharmacology and metabolomics.
Performance evaluation of a low-cost, novel vanadium nitride xerogel (VNXG) as a platinum-free electrocatalyst for dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Gnanasekar Subashini , Sonar Prashant , Jain Sagar M. , Jeong Soon Kwan , Grace Andrews Nirmala
Published: November 2020

A vanadium nitride xerogel (VNXG) was synthesised by a simple and effective method of ammonialising a vanadium pentoxide xerogel at a higher temperature. The electrochemical and photo-current studies were performed towards a counter electrode for DSSC.
Adhesive functionalized ascorbic acid on CoFe2O4: a core–shell nanomagnetic heterostructure for the synthesis of aldoximes and amines
Authors: Sorkhabi Serve , Ghadermazi Mohammad , Mozafari Roya
Published: November 2020

Heterogeneous catalysts were prepared by the anchoring of cobalt and vanadium on the surface of CoFe2O4 coated with ascorbic acid.
The effect of diameter size of single-walled carbon nanotubes on their high-temperature energy storage behaviour in ionic liquid-based electric double-layer capacitors
Authors: Al-zubaidi Ayar , Asai Nanami , Ishii Yosuke , Kawasaki Shinji
Published: November 2020

Temperature-induced changes in electrolyte improved ion accessibility inside small SWCNTs, while spaces inside larger SWCNTs provided accessible storage sites and good performance at RT, rendering temperature of little effect on their charge storage performance.
Ladder-type sulfonated poly(arylene perfluoroalkylene)s for high performance proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Authors: Long Zhi , Miyake Junpei , Miyatake Kenji
Published: November 2020

Sulfone-bonded ladder-type sulfonated poly(arylene perfluoroalkylene)s (SPAF-P-Lad) were synthesized by an easy method to achieve high thermo-mechanical stability, proton conductivity, fuel cell performance and remarkable in situ durability.
The thermo-optic relevance of Ho3+in fluoride microcrystals embedded in electrospun fibers
Authors: Zhang Yan , Gao Zelin , Li Yue , Pun Edwin Yue Bun , Lin Hai
Published: November 2020

The morphology of electrospun fibers embedded with microcrystals and the relationship between sensitivity and temperature based on green up-conversion emission are studied.
Synthesis of new thienylpicolinamidine derivatives and possible mechanisms of antiproliferative activity
Authors: Ismail Mohamed A. , Abdel-Rhman Mohamed H. , Abdelwahab Ghada A. , Hamama Wafaa S. , El-Shafeai Heba M. , El-Sayed Wael M.
Published: November 2020

Three thienylpicolinamidine derivatives 4a–c were prepared from their corresponding picolinonitriles 3a–c on treatment with lithium trimethylsilylamide, LiN(TMS)2, followed by a de-protection step using ethanol/HCl (gas).
Ultrasensitive molecular sensing of few-layer niobium diselenide
Authors: Lv Qian , Wu Xi , Tan Junyang , Liu Bilu , Gan Lin , Li Jia , Huang Zheng-Hong , Kang Feiyu , Lv Ruitao
Published: November 2020

Few-layer NbSe2 demonstrates ultrasensitive molecular detection properties with a record low concentration of 5 × 10−16 M by an enhanced Raman scattering effect.
Recent developments in fabrication and performance of metal halide perovskite field-effect transistors
Authors: Liu Yu , Chen Ping-An , Hu Yuanyuan
Published: November 2020

Recent developments in fabrication strategies and device performance of field-effect transistors based on metal halide perovskites are reviewed.
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG soluble mediators ameliorate early life stress-induced visceral hypersensitivity and changes in spinal cord gene expression
Authors: McVey Neufeld Karen-Anne , Strain Conall R. , Pusceddu Matteo M. , Waworuntu Rosaline V. , Manurung Sarmauli , Gross Gabriele , M. Moloney Gerry , Hoban Alan E. , Murphy Kiera , Stanton Catherine , Dinan Timothy G. , Cryan John F. , O'Mahony Siobhain M.
Published: November 2020

Visceral hypersensitivity is a hallmark of many functional and stress-related gastrointestinal disorders, and there is growing evidence that the gut microbiota may play a role in its pathophysiology. It has previously been shown that early life stress-induced visceral sensitivity is reduced by various probiotic strains of bacteria (including Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG)) alone or in combination with prebiotic fibres in rat models. However, the exact mechanisms underpinning such effects remain unresolved. Here, we investigated if soluble mediators derived from LGG can mimic the bacteria’s effects on visceral hypersensitivity and the microbiota–gut–brain axis. Rats were exposed to maternal separation (MS) from postnatal days 2–12. From weaning onwards both non-separated (NS) and MS offspring were provided drinking water with or without supplementation of standardized preparations of the LGG soluble mediators (LSM). Our results show that MS led to increased visceral sensitivity and exaggerated corticosterone plasma levels following restraint stress in adulthood, and both of these effects were ameliorated through LSM supplementation. Differential regulation of various genes in the spinal cord of MS versus NS rats was observed, 41 of which were reversed by LSM supplementation. At the microbiota composition level MS led to changes in beta diversity and abundance of specific bacteria including parabacteroides, which were ameliorated by LSM. These findings support probiotic soluble mediators as potential interventions in the reduction of symptoms of visceral hypersensitivity.
Identification of glottal instants using electroglottographic signal for vulnerable cases of voicing
Authors: Mandal Tanumay , Rao Krothapalli Sreenivasa , Gupta Sanjay K.
Published: November 2020

Robust detection of glottal instants is essential for various speech and biomedical applications. Glottal closing and glottal opening are two crucial instants/epochs of a glottal cycle. The first‐order derivative of the Electroglottographic (EGG) signal demonstrates important peaks at those locations for standard voicing, but the detection of glottal instants becomes erroneous when the peak to peak amplitude of the EGG signal is very low, irregular and unpredictable. In this work, a new efficient method is proposed for identification of glottal instants from the EGG signals including the segments of the signals where the signals are feeble with irregular periodicity. The overall accuracy of detection will be enhanced by identifying the glottal instants for the whole part of the signal including the vulnerable segments of signal. As the phase of a signal is uniform in nature, the phase information of the EGG signal has been explored to detect glottal instants accurately. Under low strength of the EGG signal, the proposed method remarkably has better performance compared to the existing instants detection methods and for pathological EGG signal, the detection accuracy of glottal instants is better than other existing methods.
Neural network‐based semantic segmentation model for robot perception of driverless vision
Authors: Ye Lu , Duan Ting , Zhu Jiayi
Published: November 2020

Driverless vision is one of the important applications of robot perception. With the development of driverless vehicles, the perception and understanding of the surrounding environment are becoming more and more important. When the types of surrounding objects are too complex, the ability of the computer to recognise the environment is poor. To improve the recognition accuracy of the computer and enhance the ability of segmentation, in this study, depth estimation is used to predict depth information to assist semantic segmentation, and then edge features of objects are introduced to enhance the contour of objects. A neural network‐based semantic segmentation model is proposed. Finally, the intrinsic mechanism of attention is used to increase the correlation between channels. The experimental results on the CamVid data set show that this model can obtain better evaluation results and improve the segmentation accuracy of images compared with other models.
Study on 3D printing technology and mechanical properties of a nano‐enhanced composite hydrogel bio‐ink
Authors: Wu Weitao
Published: November 2020

Traditional bio‐inks are mostly limited in application due to their low‐mechanical strength or complex cross‐linking curing methods. In this study, a nanocomposite hydrogel bio‐ink [gelatin–alginate–montmorillonite (GT–AT–MMT)] for 3D bioprinting is designed based on the thermo‐sensitive properties of GT, the advantages of ionic crosslinking of sodium AT, and the shear thinning and toughening mechanism of nano‐MMT. The 3D printing of the bio‐ink with variable AT content is optimised, and the tensile, compressive, and creep properties of the 3D printed structure are studied. Results show that GT–AT–MMT bio‐ink has good printability, and its mechanical properties are enhanced with increased AT content. The tensile modulus of the GT–4% AT–MMT sample can reach 0.533 MPa, which has a minimum creep deformation of 0.311 mm under the same load condition. Therefore, GT–AT–MMT bio‐ink provides a new possibility for the development of 3D bioprinting, which will offer many opportunities in fields such as tissue engineering, drug delivery, and regeneration medicine.
Development and characterisation of glucosamine sulphate magnetic nanoparticles for rheumatoid arthritis chemotherapy
Authors: Subbiah Latha , Palanisamy Selvamani , Thimiri Govinda Raj Deepak B.
Published: November 2020

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that principally attacks synovial joints. RA also cause inflammation in the joints and associated regions. There is an unmet medical need for RA as well as for the targetted drug delivery of anti‐rheumatic drugs to improve its efficacy at a much lower doses while decreasing its side effects. Hence, in this Letter, the authors report the development and characterisation of glucosamine sulphate magnetic nanoparticles for magnetically targetted RA chemotherapy.
Facile approach to synthesise zeolite X and its adsorption for Cu (II) and Zn(II)
Authors: Shi Bin , Chang Qing
Published: November 2020

Pure zeolite X was synthesised by a facile microwave‐assisted two‐step approach using high silicon fly ash, industrial‐grade reagents and tap water. First, a microwave heating method was conducted to extract silicon and the extract process was completed in 20 min, which was more effective. Then, a microwave approach was used to synthesis zeolite X. The whole analysis process is <2 h. The composition, phase structure, morphology, particle size distribution, specific surface areas and adsorption of heavy metal ions were evaluated comprehensively. The results show that single phase zeolite X with octahedral structure and an average diameter of 1.10 μm is obtained, and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area is 583.22 m2/g. Especially, the adsorption of Cu2+ and Zn2+ are as high as 81.33 and 67.21 mg/g, respectively. It can be concluded that the Letter provides a facile and fast method utilising high silicon fly ash to synthetise zeolite X, which is an excellent adsorbent to remove heavy metal ions.
Peony‐like Na2Mg(CO3)2: a nanomaterial with the characteristic of high sensitivity and rapid response for the detection of alcohols
Authors: Cai Xinli , Liu Fei , Sun Bai , Xu Fangwen , Tang Zhuo , Zhang Jie , Cheng Yunming , Liu Jinyun , Zhu Shuguang
Published: November 2020

Alcohol has a potential health risk to human health, so it is important to realise the rapid detection of alcohols. Based on this, the nano Na2Mg(CO3)2 was prepared by a simple hydrothermal method to establish a cataluminescence (CTL) gas sensor for alcohols. The Na2Mg(CO3)2with highly purified quality was characterised by scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy and the powder X‐ray diffraction. The results show that the nano Na2Mg(CO3)2 is a peony‐like substance with a large surface area, which will be beneficial to produce ultra‐weak chemiluminescence reaction between the detector and the material. The peony‐like Na2Mg(CO3)2 has good CTL response to alcohols (methanol, ethanol, n‐propanol and n‐butanol), showing high selectivity. The response time of Na2Mg(CO3)2 for four alcohols is between 1 and 2 s, which indicate that the material has the advantage of rapid response. The limit of detection of four alcohols defined as 3 N/S is about 7.91, 4.75, 6.69 and 8.10 mg/l, respectively. The optimum reaction conditions of the gas sensor based on nano Na2Mg(CO3)2 are mild and this nanomaterial can be used for alcohol detection.
Multilevel non‐volatile memory based on Al2O3/ZnO bilayer device
Authors: Arya Lekshmi Jagath , Nandha Kumar Thulasiraman , Jinesh Kochupurackal
Published: November 2020

This Letter reports the multilevel resistive switching characteristics of bipolar bi‐layer nanodevice made of Ag/Al2O3(10 nm)/ZnO (5 nm)/fluorine‐doped tin oxide for the first time, exhibiting five distinguishable resistive states including both high resistance state (HRS) and low resistance state (LRS). Among five distinct memory states, three resistive states are attained with RESET voltages and two are attained with SET voltages. The distinguishable resistive levels obtained with RESET voltages 2.3, 3.0 and 3.8 V are 1300, 2700 and 4320 Ω, respectively, whereas two stable resistive levels attained with SET voltages 0.8 and 1.70 V are 3000 and 100 Ω, respectively. Moreover, the proposed device excels in its Roff/Ron ratio of 354 obtained with HRS/LRS at −1.4 V as well as the ratio of intermediate states IRS1, IRS2, IRS3 to HRS becomes 15, 04 and 27, respectively. Further, the conduction mechanism as well as the switching mechanism are demonstrated. Finally, the cycle‐to‐cycle as well as device‐to‐device variability in device characteristics and statistical distribution of their resistance levels are also analysed and report that devices in the sample are also exhibiting stable multilevel capability.
Phylogenetic and Phylogeographic Analysis of DENV-1 Genotype Ⅰ in Asian-Pacific Region
Authors: Yang Deyan , Wang Haiqi , Yan Bin
Published: November 2020

Objective: To clarify the evolutionary characteristics and transmission mode of DENV-1 genotype I dengue virus in the Asia-Pacific region. Methods: 200 DENV-1 genotype I dengue viruses in the Asia-Pacific region from 2010 to 2014 and 2015 to 2019 were used for phylogenetic analysis and bayesian phylogeographic analysis using a series of molecular biology software. Results: DENV-1 genotype I dengue virus spread frequently between coastal cities in China and Southeast Asian countries. The evolution rate of DENV-1 genotype I dengue virus during 2010-2014 was 5.73×104 (/site/year,95%CI) , and the time to the most recent common ancestor was 1970-09-14.And the evolution rate of virus during 2015-2019 was 5.25×104 (/site/year,95%CI) , and the time to the most recent common ancestor was 1978-10-30.The virus spatial diffusion pathways shows the phenomenon that the dengue virus of this genotype is widespread in the Asia-Pacific region, the spread of the dengue virus between the coastal provinces and some inland provinces of China, and Southeast Asian countries. The study results indicated that the monitoring and preventive measures should be strengthened to avoid the threat of personal safety caused by large-scale spread of DENV-1 in China.
Vibration-based Processing and Classification Method for Oil Well-testing Data from Downhole Pressure Gauges
Authors: Xin Feng , Shaohui Li , Qiang Feng , Shugui Liu
Published: November 2020

During petroleum exploration and exploitation, the oil well-testing data collected by pressure gauges are used for monitoring the well condition and recording the reservoir performance. However, due to the large number of the collected data, the classification of this large volume of data requires a previous processing for the removal of noise and outliers. It is impractical to partition and process these data manually. Vibration-based features reflect geological properties and offer a promising option to fulfil such requirements. Based on the 75 on-site measured samples, the time-frequency-domain features are extracted and the classification performance of three classical classifiers are investigated. Then the downhole data processing and classification method is present by analysing the cross interaction of different types of data features and different classification mechanism. Several feature combinations are tested to establish a processing flow that can efficiently remove the noise and preserve the shape of curves, high signal to noise ratio rates, with minimum absolute errors. The results show that optimal multi-feature combination can achieve the highest working stage identification rate of 72%, the parameters optimized support vector machine can achieve the better classification performance than other listed classifiers. This paper provides a theoretical study for the data denoising and processing to enhance the working stage classification accuracy.
Study on the Fruit Quality of Different Canopy and Tree Shapes of Huangguogan Citrus
Authors: Tan Liping , Chen Zhaofang , Yang Youting , Zhang Qing , Qiu Xia , Wang Tie , Deng Honghong , Liao Ling , Sun Guochao , Wang Zhihui
Published: November 2020

In this paper, Shimian yellow citrus fruit was used as material to study the differences of HuangGuo citrus fruit strains by sampling, measuring and analyzing the fruit quality according to different shapes and canopy. The results showed that: in the yellow fruit citrus plants fruit quality was better than the performance of the lower part of the upper canopy, appearance quality did not change significantly, little difference; intrinsic quality significantly different soluble solids and sugar content than other obvious difference; round tree fruit quality was better than natural growth happy shape and form.
Characteristics of Benthos communities in Laoting area of Hebei Province
Authors: Guanglou Li , Hongmei Cao , wei Ye
Published: November 2020

According to a survey of benthos in the Laoting sea area of Hebei Province on May 24th 2019, a total of 40 benthos species were obtained, of which mollusks have the largest number, followed by annelids and arthropods. The dominant species are Sternaspis sculata and Ringicula doliaris. The number of species obtained in this survey is much lower than the historical average. The diversity index is significantly lower than that in the April 2008 survey, and the evenness index and richness index have declined slightly, indicating that the benthic community structure in this sea area tends to be simplistic, stability tends to deteriorate.
Analysis of eutrophication trend of surface water in Tianjin coastal area
Authors: Youping Shou , Junjie Zhao , Jianzhe Qiao
Published: November 2020

In this study, the concentration of COD, inorganic nitrogen（IN） and active phosphate(PO43-) in surface water of Tianjin coastal area in the spring and autumn of 2008, 2010, 2013 and 2016 were collected. The results showed that the COD concentration had no obvious change while the concentration of IN and PO43- had a significant decline after land reclamation projects. As for seasonal changes, COD concentration is generally higher in autumn than in spring, while the concentration of IN and PO43- is generally higher in spring than in autumn. As for eutrophication index (E), it is generally higher in spring than autumn. In the spring of 2008 and 2010, the eutrophication index (E) bigger than 3 showed moderate eutrophication of surface waters. Since the reclamation began in 2010, the eutrophication index (E) of the coastal waters has decreased sharply, the level of eutrophication is mild during the construction period. With the construction of the port area, large-scale dredging and backfilling, the land-based pollutants have been effectively controlled, and the water quality of Tianjin coastal waters has been improved.