bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MicroRNA‐204‐5p modulates mitochondrial biogenesis in C2C12 myotubes and associates with oxidative capacity in humans
Authors: Houzelle Alexandre , Dahlmans Dennis , Nascimento Emmani B. M. , Schaart Gert , Jörgensen Johanna A. , Moonen‐Kornips Esther , Kersten Sander , Wang Xu , Hoeks Joris
Published: May 2020

Using an unbiased high‐throughput microRNA (miRNA)‐silencing screen combined with functional readouts for mitochondrial oxidative capacity in C2C12 myocytes, we previously identified 19 miRNAs as putative regulators of skeletal muscle mitochondrial metabolism. In the current study, we highlight miRNA‐204‐5p, identified from this screen, and further studied its role in the regulation of skeletal muscle mitochondrial function. Following silencing of miRNA‐204‐5p in C2C12 myotubes, gene and protein expression were assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, microarray analysis, and western blot analysis, while morphological changes were studied by confocal microscopy. In addition, miRNA‐204‐5p expression was quantified in human skeletal muscle biopsies and associated with in vivo mitochondrial oxidative capacity. Transcript levels of PGC‐1α (3.71‐fold; p  <  .01), predicted as an miR‐204‐5p target, as well as mitochondrial DNA copy number (p <  .05) and citrate synthase activity (p  =  .06) were increased upon miRNA‐204‐5p silencing in C2C12 myotubes. Silencing of miRNA‐204‐5p further resulted in morphological changes, induced gene expression of autophagy marker light chain 3 protein b (LC3B; q  =  .05), and reduced expression of the mitophagy marker FUNDC1 (q  =  .01). Confocal imaging revealed colocalization between the autophagosome marker LC3B and the mitochondrial marker OxPhos upon miRNA‐204‐5p silencing. Finally, miRNA‐204‐5p was differentially expressed in human subjects displaying large variation in oxidative capacity and its expression levels associated with in vivo measures of skeletal muscle mitochondrial function. In summary, silencing of miRNA‐204‐5p in C2C12 myotubes stimulated mitochondrial biogenesis, impacted on cellular morphology, and altered expression of markers related to autophagy and mitophagy. The association between miRNA‐204‐5p and in vivo mitochondrial function in human skeletal muscle further identifies miRNA‐204‐5p as an interesting modulator of skeletal muscle mitochondrial metabolism.
Mesenchymal stromal cells; a new horizon in regenerative medicine
Authors: Tavakoli Shirin , Ghaderi Jafarbeigloo Hamid Reza , Shariati Ali , Jahangiryan Afsaneh , Jadidi Faezeh , Jadidi Kouhbanani Mohammd Amin , Hassanzadeh Ali , Zamani Majid , Javidi Kamran , Naimi Adel
Published: May 2020

In recent decades, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) biomedical utilizing has attracted worldwide growing attention. After the first report of the human MSCs obtaining from the bone marrow (BM) tissue, these cells were isolated from wide types of the other tissues, ranging from adipose tissue to dental pulp. Their specific characteristics, comprising self‐renewality, multipotency, and availability accompanied by their immunomodulatory properties and little ethical concern denote their importance in the context of regenerative medicine. Considering preclinical studies, MSCs can modify immune reactions during tissue repair and restoration, providing suitable milieu for tissue recovery; on the other hand, they can be differentiated into comprehensive types of the body cells, such as osteoblast, chondrocyte, hepatocyte, cardiomyocyte, fibroblast, and neural cells. Though a large number of studies have investigated MSCs capacities in regenerative medicine in varied animal models, the oncogenic capability of unregulated MSCs differentiation must be more assessed to enable their application in the clinic. In the current review, we provide a brief overview of MSCs sources, isolation, and expansion as well as immunomodulatory activities. More important, we try to collect and discuss recent preclinical and clinical research and evaluate current challenges in the context of the MSC‐based cell therapy for regenerative medicine.
From Good Governance to Governance for Good: Blockchain for Social Impact
Authors: Seyedsayamdost Elham , Vanderwal Peter
Published: May 2020

Agenda 2030 has triggered a phalanx of initiatives to expand the scale and scope of activities and actors addressing global challenges. One increasingly scrutinized area is the use of distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) in the fields of development and humanitarian aid. This paper examines three projects that have piloted DLT use cases, including cash‐based transfers to Syrian refugees by the World Food Programme; illegal child trafficking in Moldova by the United Nations Office for Project Services; and microlending to social enterprises in Brazil by Moeda. The paper explores the use of blockchain technology with a view to understanding its implications for governance. It argues that the decentralization and disintermediation associated with the blockchain are not a given outcome in the cases explored for this paper. Rather, the DLT projects under examination have centralizing tendencies that empower the state while replacing traditional intermediaries with new ones that have expertise in code and blockchain. The paper identifies limitations associated with DLT solutions and offers policy recommendations to enhance the use of DLTs to accelerate the achievement of the sustainable development goals. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of acid and alkali stress on extracellular metabolite profile of Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 14917
Authors: Wu Lingyi , Wang Wenwen , Wu Zhen , Pan Daodong , Zeng Xiaoqun , Guo Yuxing , Lian Liwei
Published: May 2020

As a multifunctional lactic acid bacterium, Lactobacillus plantarum has been proved to survive in the human gastrointestinal tract, and it can also colonize this tract. In this study, the effects of L. plantarum ATCC 14917 metabolic profile caused by initial acid–base (pH 5.5 and 8.5) stress were investigated using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and multivariate data analysis. The results showed that the metabolome mainly consisted of 14 metabolites, including the components like amino acids, sugars, organic acids, and alkaloids. According to the nontargeted principal component analysis, there was a decrease in most of the metabolites in the alkali‐treated group (mainly change in PC1) except acetate, whereas the production of lactate and glycine was increased in the acid‐treated group (mainly change in PC2). Furthermore, the initial alkali stress inhibits the secretion of lactic acid, as a decrease was observed in the activity of lactate dehydrogenase and acetic dehydrogenase of L. plantarum ATCC 14917 in the alkali group. All these findings revealed that alkali stress could limit the acid environment formation of L. plantarum 14917 in the fermentation process; however, low acid pH is more suitable for the growth of L. plantarum.
Environmental drivers of population variability in colony‐forming marine diatoms
Authors: Kenitz Kasia M. , Orenstein Eric C. , Roberts Paul L. D. , Franks Peter J. S. , Jaffe Jules S. , Carter Melissa L. , Barton Andrew D.
Published: May 2020

Many aquatic microbes form colonies, yet little is known about their abundance and fitness relative to single‐celled taxa. The formation of diatom chains, in particular, has implications for diatom growth, survival, and carbon transfer. Here, we utilize an autonomous underwater microscope, combined with traditional microscopy, to develop a novel, multiyear record of the abundance of single‐cell and colony‐forming diatoms at Scripps Pier, a coastal location in the Southern California Bight. The total abundance of diatoms was lower during the warmer and more stratified conditions from 2015 to early 2016, but increased in cooler and less stratified conditions in mid‐2016 to late 2017. Diatom blooms were dominated by chain‐forming taxa, whereas solitary diatoms prevailed during low‐biomass conditions. The abundance of dinoflagellates, some of which are important diatom predators, is highest when colonies (chains) are most abundant. These observations of the diatom assemblage are consistent with a trade‐off between resource acquisition and predator defenses. Solitary diatom cells dominated during conditions with weak nutrient supply because they have a greater diffusive catchment area per cell in comparison to cells living in colonies. In contrast, during bloom conditions when nutrient supply is high and predators are abundant, forming a colony may reduce predation losses to quickly growing microzooplankton predators, and afford chains a higher fitness despite the costs of sharing resources with neighboring cells. These results highlight the contrasting ecology of single‐cell and chain‐forming diatoms, and the need to differentiate them in monitoring campaigns and ecological models.
Analysis of hydrothermal characteristics of magnetic Al2O3‐H2O nanofluid within a novel wavy enclosure during natural convection process considering internal heat generation
Authors: Sadeghi Mohamad Sadegh , Tayebi Tahar , Dogonchi Abdul Sattar , Armaghani Taher , Talebizadehsardari Pouyan
Published: May 2020

This numerical contribution examines the magnetic natural convection within a novel nanoliquid filled‐enclosure with wavy wall and trapezoidal heater considering interior heat generation. Numerical solutions are obtained via Finite Element Method. The effectual thermal conductivity and viscosity of nanoliquid are computed by Koo‐Kleinstreuer‐Li correlations considering the nanoparticle's Brownian motion. Impacts of diverse parameters like heat generation parameter, shape factor of nanoparticles, Hartmann number, nanoparticles concentration, displacement of the trapezoidal heater wall, Rayleigh number, and amplitude of wavy wall on natural convective flow characteristic are perused. The results disclose that the application of an interior heat generation and horizontal magnetic field can be an effectual way in controlling natural convective flow inside the system.
Multi‐energy computed tomography and material quantification: Current barriers and opportunities for advancement
Authors: Jacobsen Megan C. , Thrower Sara L. , Ger Rachel B. , Leng Shuai , Court Laurence E. , Brock Kristy K. , Tamm Eric P. , Cressman Erik N.K. , Cody Dianna D. , Layman Rick R.
Published: May 2020

Computed tomography (CT) technology has rapidly evolved since its introduction in the 1970s. It is a highly important diagnostic tool for clinicians as demonstrated by the significant increase in utilization over several decades. However, much of the effort to develop and advance CT applications has been focused on improving visual sensitivity and reducing radiation dose. In comparison to these areas, improvements in quantitative CT have lagged behind. While this could be a consequence of the technological limitations of conventional CT, advanced dual‐energy CT (DECT) and photon‐counting detector CT (PCD‐CT) offer new opportunities for quantitation. Routine use of DECT is becoming more widely available and PCD‐CT is rapidly developing. This review covers efforts to address an unmet need for improved quantitative imaging to better characterize disease, identify biomarkers, and evaluate therapeutic response, with an emphasis on multi‐energy CT applications. The review will primarily discuss applications that have utilized quantitative metrics using both conventional and DECT, such as bone mineral density measurement, evaluation of renal lesions, and diagnosis of fatty liver disease. Other topics that will be discussed include efforts to improve quantitative CT volumetry and radiomics. Finally, we will address the use of quantitative CT to enhance image‐guided techniques for surgery, radiotherapy and interventions and provide unique opportunities for development of new contrast agents.
Feasibility of proton FLASH irradiation using a synchrocyclotron for preclinical studies
Authors: Darafsheh Arash , Hao Yao , Zwart Townsend , Wagner Miles , Catanzano Daniel , Williamson Jeffrey F. , Knutson Nels , Sun Baozhou , Mutic Sasa , Zhao Tianyu
Published: May 2020

Purpose

It has been recently shown that radiotherapy at ultrahigh dose rates (>40 Gy/s, FLASH) has a potential advantage in sparing healthy organs compared to that at conventional dose rates. The purpose of this work is to show the feasibility of proton FLASH irradiation using a gantry‐mounted synchrocyclotron as a first step toward implementing an experimental setup for preclinical studies.

Methods

A clinical Mevion HYPERSCAN®synchrocyclotron was modified to deliver ultrahigh dose rates. Pulse widths of protons with 230 MeV energy were manipulated from 1 to 20 μs to deliver in conventional and ultrahigh dose rate. A boron carbide absorber was placed in the beam for range modulation. A Faraday cup was used to determine the number of protons per pulse at various dose rates. Dose rate was determined by the dose measured with a plane‐parallel ionization chamber with respect to the actual delivery time. The integral depth dose (IDD) was measured with a Bragg ionization chamber. Monte Carlo simulation was performed in TOPAS as the secondary check for the measurements.

Results

Maximum protons charge per pulse, measured with the Faraday cup, was 54.6 pC at 20 μs pulse width. The measured IDD agreed well with the Monte Carlo simulation. The average dose rate measured using the ionization chamber showed 101 Gy/s at the entrance and 216 Gy/s at the Bragg peak with a full width at half maximum field size of 1.2 cm.

Conclusions

It is feasible to deliver protons at 100 and 200 Gy/s average dose rate at the plateau and the Bragg peak, respectively, in a small ~1 cm2field using a gantry‐mounted synchrocyclotron.
Void region restriction for additive manufacturing via a diffusion physics approach
Authors: Sabiston Graeme , Kim Il Yong
Published: May 2020

A longstanding challenge in additive manufacturing (AM), the presence of void regions in additively manufactured components, causes two main issues: the enclosing of build material powder in powder bed fusion techniques and limiting tool access in critical post‐processing operations to remove sacrificial support structures. As topology optimization has embraced and overcome many of the obstacles of incorporating AM constraints into the underlying numerical optimization statement, there exist few solutions that directly address this fundamental void region issue. By developing computationally efficient and effective solutions to this problem, the integration of these two advanced technologies can be fully realized. Drawing on inspiration from the principles of diffusion physics, a particle diffusion void restriction (PDVR) method is presented in this work that is capable of encouraging the optimization scheme to generate final designs that are fully accessible. Additionally, this method empowers the user to choose the type of post‐processing method to clear support material (eg, three‐axis or five‐axis milling operations, number and orientation of part set‐ups) and, therefore, quantify the level of costs associated with the post‐processing operation. The PDVR optimization framework is demonstrated on multiple two‐ and three‐dimensional test problems, with physically manufactured examples depicting the real‐world benefits this method admits.
Types of motivation and eudemonic well‐being as predictors of academic outcomes in first‐year students: A self‐determination theory approach
Authors: Breva Alicia , Galindo María Paz
Published: May 2020

Grounded in self‐determination theory (SDT), the purpose of this study is to analyze how academic outcomes, such as hedonic well‐being and achievement, are affected by the students’ reasons for attending university. Additionally, the extent to which eudemonic well‐being predicts academic outcomes beyond the types of motivation is also explored. In an initial sample of 3,392 first‐year students, the motivation and well‐being variables were measured at the beginning of the course (Time 1); and after the end of the academic year (Time 2) the academic achievement variables were collected from 366 participants belonging to the initial sample. Hierarchical regression analyses reveal that the types of motivation and eudemonic well‐being differentially predicted hedonic well‐being; the results related to academic achievement show the predictive power of intrinsic motivation and amotivation although these remain less conclusive. The implications for both research and practice are included.
SARS‐CoV‐2 in the context of past coronaviruses epidemics: Consideration for prenatal care
Authors: Lambelet Valentine , Vouga Manon , Pomar Léo , Favre Guillaume , Gerbier Eva , Panchaud Alice , Baud David
Published: May 2020

Since December 2019, the novel SARS‐CoV‐2 outbreak has resulted in millions of cases and more than 200 000 deaths worldwide. The clinical course among nonpregnant women has been described, but data about potential risks for women and their fetus remain scarce. The SARS and MERS epidemics were responsible for miscarriages, adverse fetal and neonatal outcomes, and maternal deaths. For COVID‐19 infection, only nine cases of maternal death have been reported as of 22 April 2020, and pregnant women seem to develop the same clinical presentation as the general population. However, severe maternal cases, as well as prematurity, fetal distress, and stillbirth among newborns have been reported. The SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic greatly impacts prenatal management and surveillance and raise the need for clear unanimous guidelines. In this narrative review, we describe the current knowledge about coronaviruses (SARS, MERS, and SARS‐CoV‐2) risks and consequences on pregnancies, and we summarize available current candidate therapeutic options for pregnant women. Finally, we compare current guidance proposed by The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the World Health Organization to give an overview of prenatal management which should be utilized until future data appear.
Advanced anticorrosion coatings prepared from polybenzoxazine/siloxane‐containing epoxy resin
Authors: Sili He , Yuntao Li , Chunxia Zhao , Jiaojiao Wu , Hui Li , Dong Xiang
Published: May 2020

In this study, a new type of coating comprising benzoxazine and siloxane‐containing epoxy (SiEP) resin was prepared by the thermal curing method. The FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) analysis not only confirmed the complete reaction between polybenzoxaine and SiEP resin after heat curing, but also found the hydrogen‐bonding interactions between them. The addition of SiEP resin significantly enhanced the hydrophobicity and adhesion ability of the coating and greatly improved the water contact angles of the blend coatings (>108°), compared to that of the pristine PBa coating, which attributed to the introduction of a SiOSi network structure in the matrix. In addition, the corrosion resistance of the coating was tested though a series of electrochemical experiment. According to the results, the corrosion current values of the blend coatings decreased by about four orders of magnitude compared to that of the pristine carbon steel, and the corrosion protection efficiency of the blend coatings were >99%, indicating good application prospect of these blend coatings.
A concise overview on plasma treatment for application on textile and leather materials
Authors: Tudoran Cristian , Roşu Marcela‐Corina , Coroş Maria
Published: May 2020

Plasma technology used for textile and leather materials treatment is a dry, environmental friendly, and easy to operate method by which surface modification is obtained without altering the bulk properties of the materials. Particularly, nonthermal plasmas are very appropriate due to the fact that most textiles, and especially leathers, are usually heat sensitive. The major objective of this review is to provide a critical update on the present state‐of‐art relating to plasma and its effects on different textiles and leathers. We believe that the discussed subjects are helpful and may be used as an instruction guide for the future developments in the field of plasma‐activated textiles and leathers.
Method to Determine the Impact Strength of Triple‐Base Gun Propellant Based on Strain Energy Density
Authors: Liu Ji‐Hua , Zhao Hong‐Li , He Chang‐Hui , Jin Jian‐Wei , Zhao Bao‐Ming , Wang Qiong‐Lin , Zhang Zou‐Zou
Published: May 2020

A method to obtain the impact strength of triple‐base gun propellant is proposed according to strain energy density. Using a drop‐weight impact testing machine, the impact strengths of DAGR125‐21/19 gun propellant at room temperature (20 °C) and low temperature (−40 °C) were studied. In the experiments, there were different impact energies via changing the drop weight or height. The surface images of gun propellants during the impact process were captured using a high‐speed camera. The deformation of DAGR125‐21/19 gun propellant was calculated through digital image correlation method (DICM). After analyzing the surface images and deformation, it was found that there was a good agreement between the maximum of axial nominal strain energy density (ANSED) and initial fracture point. Finally, the impact strength of DAGR125‐21/19 gun propellant was obtained through calculating the strain energy density during the plastic stage between the yield and initial fracture points. Moreover, successive parallel and replication experiment results proved the rationality and feasibility of the proposed method to determine the impact strengths of DAGR125‐21/19 gun propellant at room temperature (20 °C) and low temperature (−40 °C).
Population Pharmacodynamic Model of Neutrophil Margination and Tolerance to Describe Effect of Sarilumab on Absolute Neutrophil Count in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Kovalenko Pavel , Paccaly Anne , Boyapati Anita , Xu Christine , St John Gregory , Nivens Michael C. , Davis John D. , Rippley Ronda , DiCioccio A. Thomas
Published: May 2020

Evidence suggests that effects of interleukin‐6 pathway inhibitors sarilumab, tocilizumab, and sirukumab on absolute neutrophil count (ANC) are due to margination of circulating neutrophils into rapidly mobilizable noncirculating pools. We developed a population pharmacodynamic model using compartments for neutrophil margination and ANC‐specific tolerance to describe rapid, transient ANC changes in blood following administration of subcutaneous sarilumab and intravenous/subcutaneous tocilizumab based on data from 322 patients with rheumatoid arthritis in two single‐dose (NCT02097524 and NCT02404558) and one multiple‐dose (NCT01768572) trials. The model incorporated a tolerance compartment to account for ANC nadir and beginning of recovery before maximal drug concentration after subcutaneous dosing, and absence of a nadir plateau when the ANC response is saturated after subcutaneous or intravenous dosing. The model effectively describes the ANC changes and supports neutrophil margination and tolerance as an explanation for the absence of increased infection risk associated with low ANC due to interleukin‐6 pathway inhibitor treatment.
Ab Initio Theory of Fourier‐Transformed Quasiparticle Interference Maps and Application to the Topological Insulator Bi2Te3
Authors: Rüßmann Philipp , Mavropoulos Phivos , Blügel Stefan
Published: May 2020

The quasiparticle interference (QPI) technique is a powerful tool that allows to uncover the structure and properties of electronic structure of a material combined with scattering properties of defects at surfaces. Recently, this technique has been pivotal in proving the unique properties of the surface state of topological insulators which manifests itself in the absence of backscattering. Herein, a Green function‐based formalism is derived for the ab initio computation of Fourier‐transformed QPI images. The efficiency of the new implementation is shown at the examples of QPI that forms around magnetic and nonmagnetic defects at the Bi2Te3 surface. This method allows a deepened understanding of the scattering properties of topologically protected electrons off defects and is a useful tool in the study of quantum materials in the future.
Structural Variation in Carbonate Electrolytes by the Addition of Li Salts Studied by X‐Ray Total Scattering
Authors: Kimura Koji , Hayashi Kouichi , Kiuchi Hisao , Morita Masahito , Haruyama Jun , Otani Minoru , Sakaebe Hikari , Fujisaki Fumika , Mori Kazuhiro , Yonemura Masao , Takabayashi Yasuhiro , Nakatani Tomotaka , Fujinami So , Fukunaga Toshiharu , Matsubara Eiichiro
Published: May 2020

X‐ray total scattering measurements are carried out for the typical electrolyte used in lithium‐ion batteries, that is, the mixture of ethylene carbonate (EC) and ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) electrolyte with LiPF6 salt. The obtained pair distribution function is compared with that of the EC/EMC solvent without LiPF6, to investigate the effect of the Li+ cation on the intramolecular structure. It is found that the peak shift corresponding to the shrinking of the CO bonds is induced by dissolving LiPF6. Also, the peak height becomes lower by the addition of LiPF6. These behaviors are also observed by the X‐ray total scattering measurements for the mixture of EC and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) with and without LiPF6. Also, it is ascertained that such a shrinking is present in EC/DMC electrolytes by means of neutron total scattering. First‐principles calculations on the basis of the density functional theory for isolated EC, EMC, and DMC molecules with the Li+ cation confirm that the shrinking of the CO bond is accompanied by the formation of the solvation structure. The observed structural variations induced by adding LiPF6 will be a good indicator for the formation of the solvation structure.
Comparative metabolism of gelsenicine in liver microsomes from humans, pigs, goats and rats
Authors: Wang Zi‐Yuan , Zuo Ming‐Ting , Zhao Xue‐Jiao , Li Yu‐Juan , Sun Zhi‐Liang , Liu Zhao‐Ying
Published: May 2020

Rationale

Gelsemium elegans (G. elegans) is highly toxic to humans and rats but has insecticidal and growth‐promoting effects on pigs and goats. However, the mechanisms behind the toxicity differences of G. elegans are unclear. Gelsenicine, isolated from G. elegans, has been reported to be a toxic alkaloid.

Methods

In this study, the in vitro metabolism of gelsenicine was investigated and compared for the first time using human (HLM), pig (PLM), goat (GLM) and rat (RLM) liver microsomes and high‐performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS).

Results

In total, eight metabolites (M1–M8) were identified by using high‐performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole‐time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (HPLC/QqTOF‐MS). Two main metabolic pathways were found in the liver microsomes of the four species: demethylation at the methoxy group on the indole nitrogen (M1) and oxidation at different positions (M2–M8). M8 was identified only in the GLM. The degradation ratio of gelsenicine and the relative percentage of metabolites produced during metabolism were determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/QqQ‐MS/MS). The degradation ratio of gelsenicine in liver microsomes decreased in the following order: PLM ≥ GLM > HLM > RLM. The production of M1 decreased in the order of GLM > PLM > RLM > HLM, the production of M2 was similar among the four species, and the production of M3 was higher in the HLM than in the liver microsomes of the other three species.

Conclusions

Based on these results, demethylation was speculated to be the main gelsenicine detoxification pathway, providing vital information to better understand the metabolism and toxicity differences of G. elegans among different species.
GRATIS: GeneRAting TIme Series with diverse and controllable characteristics
Authors: Kang Yanfei , Hyndman Rob J. , Li Feng
Published: May 2020

The explosion of time series data in recent years has brought a flourish of new time series analysis methods, for forecasting, clustering, classification and other tasks. The evaluation of these new methods requires either collecting or simulating a diverse set of time series benchmarking data to enable reliable comparisons against alternative approaches. We propose GeneRAting TIme Series with diverse and controllable characteristics, named GRATIS, with the use of mixture autoregressive (MAR) models. We simulate sets of time series using MAR models and investigate the diversity and coverage of the generated time series in a time series feature space. By tuning the parameters of the MAR models, GRATIS is also able to efficiently generate new time series with controllable features. In general, as a costless surrogate to the traditional data collection approach, GRATIS can be used as an evaluation tool for tasks such as time series forecasting and classification. We illustrate the usefulness of our time series generation process through a time series forecasting application.
Design, Synthesis and Characterization of N‐Substituted Heteroaromatics: DFT‐Studies and Organic Light Emitting Device Application
Authors: Mohan Makesh , John Raganjali , Nagarajan Satyanarayan M. , Trivedi Darshak R.
Published: May 2020

Schiff's base condensation of 4,5‐Dimethyl‐1,2‐phenylenediamine with various aldehydes namely fluorene‐2‐carboxaldehyde (MBF), N‐ethyl‐3‐carboxaldehyde (MBE), 8‐hydroxyjulolidine‐9‐carboxaldehyde (MBJ) and N‐(4‐formylphenyl) carbazole (MBB) functioning as light emitters have been synthesized. Solid‐state emission reveals the exhibition of variant fluorescent color achieved by mere variation in the peripheral group attached to the core. Amongst the designed system, MBB showed a solid‐state blue light emission with its emission peak centered at 453 nm. The fluorescence quantum yield of MBB displayed value of 44.82% in the solution state. Electrochemical studies on MBB estimated a HOMO energy level at −5.7 eV and LUMO at −3.2 eV. OLED realized with MBB as an active emitter material was successful in the generation of bluish‐green emission with a maximum brightness of 280 cd/m2. Current efficiency of 2 cd/A and a power efficiency of 0.18 lm/W was observed for the fabricated device.
Host‐Guest Complexation Affects Perylene‐Based Dye Aggregation
Authors: Nilam Mohamed , Huang Chusen , Karmacharya Shreya , Aryal Gyan H. , Huang Liming , Nau Werner M. , Assaf Khaleel I.
Published: May 2020

A fluorescent perylene‐based dye (PDI) was designed with two aromatic moieties at the imide position of the perylene core. The dye displayed contrasting behavior with water‐soluble macrocycles. Cucurbit[n]urils (CB7 and CB8) reduced the self‐aggregation of the dye molecules, while sulfonatocalixarenes (SCX4 and SCX5) and sulfonato‐β‐cyclodextrin (S‐β‐CD) resulted in a complexation‐enhanced aggregation. In regard to potential applications, the CB8•PDI complex served as an excellent reporter pair inside cells to detect the uptake of neurotransmitters by fluorescence.
Catalytic Performances of NiCuP@rGO and NiCuN@rGO for Oxygen Reduction and Oxygen Evolution Reactions in Alkaline Electrolyte
Authors: Dinesh M. Mayilvel , Liang Dong , Zhang Haizhou , Ma Xiaochun , Zhou Xiaoming , Huang Taizhong , Mao Shun , Mao Jianfeng
Published: May 2020

In this paper, the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) supported nickel‐copper phosphide (NiCuP@rGO) nanotube and nickel‐copper nitride (NiCuN@rGO) nano‐rods were synthesized and the catalytic performances of them for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reactions (OER) in alkaline electrolyte were reported. Structure investigations show that the NiCuP@rGO has a nanotube structure, whereas NiCuN@rGO has aggregated nanorods structure. The catalytic performance of NiCuP@rGO and NiCuN@rGO for ORR and OER were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), Tafel, rotating disc electrode (RDE) and rotating ring disc electrode (RRDE) tests and other methodologies. Results showed that both NiCuP@rGO and NiCuN@rGO had good catalytic performance for ORR, which major happened through 4‐electron pathway. Thus, the catalytic performance of NiCuP@rGO for OER was much higher than that of NiCuN@rGO. The great difference in the catalytic performance should be attributed to the different electronegativity of nitrogen and phosphorus. The higher negativity of nitrogen facilitates the electron transfer from catalyst to oxygen molecules but inhibits the acceptance of electron from hydroxide ions in the alkaline electrolyte. On the other hand, the nanotube structure of NiCuP@rGO with superior electron conductivity facilitates the OER reaction on the catalyst surface. This paper provides a reference for the design of novel catalysts for ORR and OER.
Evolution of Bio‐Inspired Artificial Synapses: Materials, Structures, and Mechanisms
Authors: Yu Haiyang , Wei Huanhuan , Gong Jiangdong , Han Hong , Ma Mingxue , Wang Yongfei , Xu Wentao
Published: May 2020

Artificial synapses (ASs) are electronic devices emulating important functions of biological synapses, which are essential building blocks of artificial neuromorphic networks for brain‐inspired computing. A human brain consists of several quadrillion synapses for information storage and processing, and massively parallel computation. Neuromorphic systems require ASs to mimic biological synaptic functions, such as paired‐pulse facilitation, short‐term potentiation, long‐term potentiation, spatiotemporally‐correlated signal processing, and spike‐timing‐dependent plasticity, etc. Feature size and energy consumption of ASs need to be minimized for high‐density energy‐efficient integration. This work reviews recent progress on ASs. First, synaptic plasticity and functional emulation are introduced, and then synaptic electronic devices for neuromorphic computing systems are discussed. Recent advances in flexible artificial synapses for artificial sensory nerves are also briefly introduced. Finally, challenges and opportunities in the field are discussed.
Temporal Sampling of Enzymes from Live Cells by Localized Electroporation and Quantification of Activity by SAMDI Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Mukherjee Prithvijit , Berns Eric J. , Patino Cesar A. , Hakim Moully Elamar , Chang Lingqian , Nathamgari S. Shiva P. , Kessler John A. , Mrksich Milan , Espinosa Horacio D.
Published: May 2020

Measuring changes in enzymatic activity over time from small numbers of cells remains a significant technical challenge. In this work, a method for sampling the cytoplasm of cells is introduced to extract enzymes and measure their activity at multiple time points. A microfluidic device, termed the live cell analysis device (LCAD), is designed, where cells are cultured in microwell arrays fabricated on polymer membranes containing nanochannels. Localized electroporation of the cells opens transient pores in the cell membrane at the interface with the nanochannels, enabling extraction of enzymes into nanoliter‐volume chambers. In the extraction chambers, the enzymes modify immobilized substrates, and their activity is quantified by self‐assembled monolayers for matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (SAMDI) mass spectrometry. By employing the LCAD‐SAMDI platform, protein delivery into cells is demonstrated. Next, it is shown that enzymes can be extracted, and their activity measured without a loss in viability. Lastly, cells are sampled at multiple time points to study changes in phosphatase activity in response to oxidation by hydrogen peroxide. With this unique sampling device and label‐free assay format, the LCAD with SAMDI enables a powerful new method for monitoring the dynamics of cellular activity from small populations of cells.
The NHx Group Induced Formation of 3D α‐Co(OH)2 Curly Nanosheet Aggregates as Efficient Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysts
Authors: Wang Yuan , Yang Chenxi , Li Zhimin , Liang Zuozhong , Cao Guozhong
Published: May 2020

Recently, the curly structure attracts researchers' attention due to the strain effect, electronic effect, and improved surface area, which exhibits enhanced electrocatalytic activity. However, the synthesis of metastable curved structures is very difficult. Herein, a simple room temperature coprecipitation method is proposed to synthesize 3D cobalt (Co) hydroxide (α‐Co(OH)2) electrocatalysts that consist of curly 2D nanosheets. The formation process of curly nanosheets is elaborated systematically and the results demonstrate that the NHx group has great effect on the formation of curly structure. Combining the advantage of 2D curly nanosheet and 3D aggregate structure, the as‐prepared α‐Co(OH)2 curly nanosheet aggregates show the best water oxidation activity with an overpotential of 269 mV at j = 10 mA cm−2 in 1.0 m KOH. The electrocatalytic process studies demonstrate that the formation of CoIVO species is the rate‐determining step. Theoretical calculations further confirm the beneficial effect of the bent structure on the conductivity, the adsorption of OH− and the formation of OOH* species.
Metal‐organic framework‐based cancer theranostic nanoplatforms
Authors: Yang Jie , Yang Ying‐Wei
Published: May 2020

The rapid development of imaging technologies provides a visual diagnostic tool for scientists and surgeons to comprehensively and accurately understand the pathogenesis and pathological processes of complicated diseases, especially cancer. Theranostic platforms integrating various imaging technologies and treatment strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer have been extensively studied. Notably, metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) – an emerging porous organic‐inorganic hybrid material composed of metal ions/ion clusters as nodes and organic ligands as linkers bridged by coordination bonds – have been widely used as intelligent carriers for cancer theranostics in recent years due to their fascinating properties, including facile synthesis, diverse compositions, high surface areas and porosities, tailorable sizes, multiple physicochemical properties, easy surface functionalization, and good biocompatibility. This review summarizes the recent advanced developments and achievements of MOFs as smart theranostic platforms for effective cancer diagnosis and treatment guided by monomodal imaging technologies, including optical imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography imaging, positron emission tomography imaging, and photoacoustic imaging, and multimodal imaging technologies. Moreover, the development prospects and critical challenges of MOFs for cancer theranostics are also addressed.
Development of a recombinase polymerase amplification assay for rapid detection of Haemophilus parasuis in tissue samples
Authors: Han Qiaoyi , Wang Jinfeng , Li Ruiwen , Han Qingan , Yuan Wanzhe , Wang Jianchang
Published: May 2020

Haemophilus parasuis is the etiological agent of Glässer's disease in swine, which associates with severe economic losses in the swine industry worldwide. A real‐time recombinase polymerase amplification assay (real‐time RPA) was developed for direct and rapid detection of H. parasuis basing on the translation‐initiation factor IF2 (infB) gene. The assay was performed successfully at 39°C for 20 min in Genie III, which is portable and chargeable by battery. The developed assay was highly specific for H. parasuis, and the limit of detection of the assay was 6.0 × 103 fg of H. parasuis genomic DNA, which was the same as that of a real‐time PCR developed previously. The assay was further evaluated on 68 pig tissue samples, and 18 (26.5%), 20 (29.4%), and 8 (11.8%) samples were positive for H. parasuis by the real‐time RPA, real‐time PCR and bacterial isolation, respectively. With the bacteria isolation as the reference method, the real‐time RPA showed a diagnostic specificity of 83.33% and a diagnostic sensitivity of 100%. The above data demonstrated the well‐potentiality and usefulness of the developed real‐time RPA assay in reliable diagnosis of swine Glässer's disease, especially in resource limited settings.
Movement Ecology of Spring Wild Turkey Hunters on Public Lands in South Carolina, USA
Authors: Gerrits Alaina P. , Wightman Patrick H. , Cantrell Jay R. , Ruth Charles , Chamberlain Michael J. , Collier Bret A.
Published: May 2020

Wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo spp., hereafter turkey) are the second most pursued big game species in the United States. Turkey hunting occurs primarily during spring, and on publicly owned lands managers often monitor hunter numbers and harvest as components of managing hunter opportunity and satisfaction. Contemporary research has shown that hunting activity on public lands can influence male turkey behavior; hence, research detailing hunter behaviors is needed to better support informed management. We allocated 1,500 Global Positioning System units to hunters pursuing male turkeys during the spring hunting seasons of 2014–2018 on the Webb Wildlife Management Area Complex in South Carolina, USA. Mean number of unique hunting bouts per hunter per day was 2 (SE = 0.03, range = 1–8), whereas average time spent hunting was 230.1 minutes (SE = 4.6, range = 11.3–872.6)/hunter/day. Hunting effort was focused during the first half of hunting season, with 70.2% of the total time spent hunting occurring during the first 2 weeks of the season (~1–15 Apr). Mean distance a hunter traveled was 2,171 m (SE = 38.1, range = 10–20,685)/hunting bout. Almost 90% of hunting activity occurred between 0500 and 1200, 76% occurred before 1000. Access to roads appeared to be the primary driver of hunter movements, with 40.1% of all hunter locations <25 m from the nearest main or secondary road. On average, hunters were 480 m (SE = 0.5, range = 0–2,132) from main roads that allowed vehicle traffic, but only 123 m (SE = 0.3, range = 0–1,990) from secondary roads allowing only foot traffic. Hunters spent 54.3% of hunting bouts actively hunting and 45.7% stationary. The amount of time spent active decreased as the hunting season progressed. Hunter effort decreased significantly as the hunting season progressed, indicated by a decline in numbers of hunters and total time spent hunting. Understanding how and when turkey hunters move about the landscape is important for effectively managing hunting access and opportunity on public hunting lands. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.
Rural Destination Areas: Impacts and Practices
Authors: Nori Michele , Farinella Domenica
Published: May 2020

In this chapter we provide a framework to assess and analyse ongoing rural migration dynamics from the perspective of areas of destination, with a view to answer to the following questions: What are the impacts on the local economy and society? Which are the practices, programs and policies that underpin the presence and integration of migration? What is recent experience revealing on these matters?
Worries About His Future
Authors: Chen Xinhui
Published: May 2020

QJ, male, born in 1984. Has an elder sister. Has severe intellectual disability. Graduated from a mainstream school. Started working at Shanghai Papa John’s in 2010.
I Treat Him as My Own Son
Authors: Xiao Jiaying
Published: May 2020

QB, male, born in 1994. The only child in the family. Grade IV intellectual disability. Graduated from a special education school (Shanghai Primary Vocational and Technical School of Changning District) in 2012. Started working at Shanghai Papa John’s in 2013.
Disability Certificate Acquired as an Adult
Authors: Lu Qianyu , Yu Mengyuan
Published: May 2020

L, male, born in 1989. The only child in the family. Grade IV intellectual disability. Graduated from a regular school (Shanghai Environmental Science School) in 2008. Started working at Shanghai Papa John’s in November 2013.
Never Treat the Child as Someone with a Disability
Authors: Wei Zhen
Published: May 2020

LJ, female, born in 1991. The only child in the family. Grade III intellectual disability. Graduated from a special education school in 2008. Started working at Shanghai Papa John’s in 2010.
Note on supersymmetric Dirac-Born-Infeld action with Fayet-Iliopoulos term
Authors: Antoniadis Ignatios , Jiang Hongliang , Lacombe Osmin
Published: May 2020

Abstract

We study the Dirac-Born-Infeld (DBI) action with one linear and one nonlinear supersymmetry in the presence of a constant Fayet-Iliopoulos (FI) D-term added explicitly or through a deformation of supersymmetry transformations. The linear supersymmetry appears to be spontaneously broken since the D auxiliary field gets a non- vanishing vacuum expectation value and an extra term proportional to the FI parameter involving fermions emerges in the non-linear formulation of the action written recently. However in this note, we show that on-shell this action is equivalent to a standard supersymmetric DBI action without FI term but with redefined tension, at least up to order of mass-dimension 12 effective interactions.
A dS obstruction and its phenomenological consequences
Authors: Montero Miguel , Van Riet Thomas , Venken Gerben
Published: May 2020

Abstract

In this note we observe that positive runaway potentials can generically be stabilized by abelian p-form fluxes, leading to parametrically controlled de Sitter solutions after compactification to a lower dimension. When compactifying from 4d to 2d the dS solutions are metastable, whereas all higher dimensional cases are unstable. The existence of these dS solutions require that a certain inequality involving the derivatives of the potential and p-form gauge coupling is satisfied. This inequality is not satisfied in simple stringy examples (outside of the scope of Maldacena-Nuñez), which unsurprisingly avoid this route to dS solutions. We can apply our techniques to construct dS
2 solutions in the Standard Model plus an additional runaway scalar such as quintessence. Demanding that these are avoided leads to (weak) phenomenological constraints on the time variation of the fine structure constant and QCD axion-photon coupling.
A multipoint conformal block chain in d dimensions
Authors: Parikh Sarthak
Published: May 2020

Abstract

Conformal blocks play a central role in CFTs as the basic, theory-independent building blocks. However, only limited results are available concerning multipoint blocks associated with the global conformal group. In this paper, we systematically work out the d-dimensional n-point global conformal blocks (for arbitrary d and n) for external and exchanged scalar operators in the so-called comb channel. We use kinematic aspects of holography and previously worked out higher-point AdS propagator identities to first obtain the geodesic diagram representation for the (n + 2)-point block. Subsequently, upon taking a particular double-OPE limit, we obtain an explicit power series expansion for the n-point block expressed in terms of powers of conformal cross-ratios. Interestingly, the expansion coefficient is written entirely in terms of Pochhammer symbols and (n − 4) factors of the generalized hypergeometric function 3
F
2, for which we provide a holographic explanation. This generalizes the results previously obtained in the literature for n = 4, 5. We verify the results explicitly in embedding space using conformal Casimir equations.
A new mechanism for symmetry breaking from nilmanifolds
Authors: Andriot David , Cornell Alan , Deandrea Aldo , Dogliotti Fabio , Tsimpis Dimitrios
Published: May 2020

Abstract

We present a method to obtain a scalar potential at tree level from a pure gauge theory on nilmanifolds, a class of negatively-curved compact spaces, and discuss the spontaneous symmetry breaking mechanism induced in the residual Minkowski space after compactification at low energy. We show that the scalar potential is completely determined by the gauge symmetries and the geometry of the compact manifold. In order to allow for simple analytic calculations we consider three extra space dimensions as the minimal example of a nilmanifold, therefore considering a pure Yang-Mills theory in seven dimensions.