bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids using an intralesional 1470 nm bare-fibre diode laser: a novel efficient minimally-invasive technique
Authors: Li Ke , Nicoli Fabio , Cui Chunxiao , Xi Wen Jing , Al-Mousawi Ahmed , Zhang Zheng , Balzani Alberto , Neill Lindsay , Sorge Roberto , Tong Yun , Zhang Yixin
Published: December 2020

Hypertrophic and keloid scars result from abnormal wound healing and can have a variable response to a number of available treatment modalities. The evolution of laser treatments in recent years has shown a wide range of clinical applications including their use in the treatment of scars. We investigated the effectiveness of a 1470 nm diode laser using an intralesional optical fibre delivery device in the treatment of hypertrophic and keloid scars. We evaluated its safety and efficacy as a novel and minimally invasive treatment alternative for scar modulation and volume reduction. A prospective cohort study was performed involving 21 patients with hypertrophic scars (HS) (n = 9) and keloids (n = 12) resulting from various aetiology. Patients were treated with one to three treatment sessions. Comprehensive evaluations were performed using the Vancouver Scar Scale, Doppler ultrasound, Cutometer, Mexameter and PeriCam PSI. Scar thickness was reduced by an average of 0.308 ± 0.138 cm (p < 0.001). In particular the two subgroups showed a significant 27.7% and 28.2% reduction in scar thickness of HS and Keloids, respectively. Scar firmness showed a significant improvement of 1.2% (p < 0.05) for HS, though for keloids this was 0.4% (p = 0.26). Keloids had a significant reduction in pigmentation at 21.3%. Blood perfusion had a significant reduction of 29.6% in HS and 22.7% in Keloids. Overall VSS total score improvement of 42% in the HS and at 37.9% in the Keloid subgroup. No adverse events such as hypo/hyperpigmentation, skin infection, or recurrence were reported. This study shows that the intralesional 1470 nm bare-fibre diode laser significantly improved hypertrophic and keloid scars based on both subjective and objective analyses and supports this type of laser therapy as a safe and effective minimally-invasive treatment option.
Protective effect of predator species richness on human hantavirus infection incidence
Authors: Min Kyung-Duk , Kim Ho , Hwang Seung-sik , Cho Seongbeom , Schneider Maria Cristina , Hwang Jusun , Cho Sung-il
Published: December 2020

Are predators of rodents beneficial for public health? This question focuses on whether predators regulate the spillover transmission of rodent-borne diseases. No clear answer has emerged because of the complex linkages across multiple trophic levels and the lack of accessible data. Although previous empirical findings have suggested ecological mechanisms, such as resource partitioning, which implies protective effects from predator species richness, epidemiological evidence is needed to bolster these arguments. Thus, we investigated the association between predator species richness and incidence of rodent-borne haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in the human population using district-level longitudinal data of 13 years for South Korea. With the exception of districts with low species richness, we found a significant negative association between the incidence of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and the species richness of both avian and mammalian predators; the trends for both predator types were similar. Thus, biodiversity conservation may benefit public health.
Resolidification of a mushy-zone and directional solidification: a method for efficient alloy development demonstrated using the example of Cu–Ga–Sn
Authors: Salge Martin , Wiehl Gunther , Hack Klaus , Rettenmayr Markus
Published: December 2020

An experimental method for alloy development that allows to systematically scan multicomponent alloy systems is presented using the Cu–Ga–Sn system as an example. Rods with homogeneous concentration distribution of different initial compositions are annealed in a steep temperature gradient with temperatures in the range from above liquidus to below solidus temperature. During resolidification of the initially formed mushy-zone, a continuously varying composition over the length of the rods develops. Further concentration gradients of the alloying elements are generated during subsequent directional solidification. The graded samples are evaluated for different properties. Vickers hardness as a function of composition was measured along the length of the samples to get first information on the mechanical behavior of bulk samples. The melting range of selected compositions (cylindrical disks of 1 mm thickness cut out of the rods) was determined by differential scanning calorimetry and compared to liquidus temperatures extrapolated from the binary systems with a fitting method and the Calphad method. With the procedure introduced here, it is possible to determine several alloy properties over an extended composition range of a multicomponent system with significantly reduced experimental effort.
Evaluation of methods for the reduction of contaminating host reads when performing shotgun metagenomic sequencing of the milk microbiome
Authors: Yap Min , Feehily Conor , Walsh Calum J. , Fenelon Mark , Murphy Eileen F. , McAuliffe Fionnuala M. , van Sinderen Douwe , O’Toole Paul W. , O’Sullivan Orla , Cotter Paul D.
Published: December 2020

Shotgun metagenomic sequencing is a valuable tool for the taxonomic and functional profiling of microbial communities. However, this approach is challenging in samples, such as milk, where a low microbial abundance, combined with high levels of host DNA, result in inefficient and uneconomical sequencing. Here we evaluate approaches to deplete host DNA or enrich microbial DNA prior to sequencing using three commercially available kits. We compared the percentage of microbial reads obtained from each kit after shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Using bovine and human milk samples, we determined that host depletion with the MolYsis complete5 kit significantly improved microbial sequencing depth compared to other approaches tested. Importantly, no biases were introduced. Additionally, the increased microbial sequencing depth allowed for further characterization of the microbiome through the generation of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). Furthermore, with the use of a mock community, we compared three common classifiers and determined that Kraken2 was the optimal classifier for these samples. This evaluation shows that microbiome analysis can be performed on both bovine and human milk samples at a much greater resolution without the need for more expensive deep-sequencing approaches.
Acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of khellactone coumarin derivatives isolated from Peucedanum japonicum Thurnberg
Authors: Heo Jeong Hyun , Eom Bo Hyun , Ryu Hyung Won , Kang Myung-Gyun , Park Jong Eun , Kim Doo-Young , Kim Jung-Hee , Park Daeui , Oh Sei-Ryang , Kim Hoon
Published: December 2020

Cholinesterase (ChE) and monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors have been attracted as candidate treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Fifteen khellactone-type coumarins from the roots ofPeucedanum japonicumThunberg were tested for acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and MAO inhibitory activities. Compound 3′-angeloyl-4′-(2-methylbutyryl)khellactone (PJ13) most potently inhibited AChE (IC50 = 9.28 µM), followed by 3′-isovaleryl-4′-(2-methylbutyroyl)khellactone (PJ15) (IC50 = 10.0 μM). Compound senecioyl-4′-angeloyl-khellactone (PJ5) most potently inhibited BChE (IC50 = 7.22 μM) and had the highest selectivity index (> 5.54), followed by 3′-senecioyl-4′-(2-methylbutyryl)khellactone (PJ10) and 3′,4′-disenecioylkhellactone (PJ4) (IC50 = 10.2 and 10.7 μM, respectively). CompoundsPJ13,PJ15, andPJ5showed reversible and mixed-types of inhibition with Kivalues of 5.98, 10.4 (for AChE), and 4.16 µM (for BChE), respectively. However, all 15 compounds weakly inhibited MAO-A and MAO-B. Molecular docking simulation revealed thatPJ13had a higher binding affinity (− 9.3 kcal/mol) with AChE thanPJ15(− 7.8 kcal/mol) orPJ5(− 5.4 kcal/mol), due to the formation of a hydrogen bond with Tyr121 (distance: 2.52 Å). On the other hand, the binding affinity ofPJ5(− 10.0 kcal/mol) with BChE was higher than forPJ13(− 7.7 kcal/mol) orPJ15(− 8.1 kcal/mol), due to the formation of a hydrogen bond with Ser198 (distance: 2.05 Å). These results suggest thatPJ13andPJ5are potential reversible selective inhibitors of AChE and BChE, respectively, for the treatment of AD.
Performance analysis of noninvasive electrophysiological methods for the assessment of diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy in clinical research: a systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis
Authors: Haque Fahmida , Reaz Mamun Bin Ibne , Ali Sawal Hamid Md , Arsad Norhana , Chowdhury Muhammad Enamul Hoque
Published: December 2020

Despite the availability of various clinical trials that used different diagnostic methods to identify diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSPN), no reliable studies that prove the associations among diagnostic parameters from two different methods are available. Statistically significant diagnostic parameters from various methods can help determine if two different methods can be incorporated together for diagnosing DSPN. In this study, a systematic review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis (TSA) were performed to determine the associations among the different parameters from the most commonly used electrophysiological screening methods in clinical research for DSPN, namely, nerve conduction study (NCS), corneal confocal microscopy (CCM), and electromyography (EMG), for different experimental groups. Electronic databases (e.g., Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar) were searched systematically for articles reporting different screening tools for diabetic peripheral neuropathy. A total of 22 studies involving 2394 participants (801 patients with DSPN, 702 controls, and 891 non-DSPN patients) were reviewed systematically. Meta-analysis was performed to determine statistical significance of difference among four NCS parameters, i.e., peroneal motor nerve conduction velocity, peroneal motor nerve amplitude, sural sensory nerve conduction velocity, and sural sensory nerve amplitude (all p < 0.001); among three CCM parameters, including nerve fiber density, nerve branch density, and nerve fiber length (all p < 0.001); and among four EMG parameters, namely, time to peak occurrence (from 0 to 100% of the stance phase) of four lower limb muscles, including the vastus lateralis (p < 0.001), tibialis anterior (p = 0.63), lateral gastrocnemius (p = 0.01), and gastrocnemius medialis (p = 0.004), and the vibration perception threshold (p < 0.001). Moreover, TSA was conducted to estimate the robustness of the meta-analysis. Most of the parameters showed statistical significance between each other, whereas some were statistically nonsignificant. This meta-analysis and TSA concluded that studies including NCS and CCM parameters were conclusive and robust. However, the included studies on EMG were inconclusive, and additional clinical trials are required.
(R)-Roscovitine and CFTR modulators enhance killing of multi-drug resistant Burkholderia cenocepacia by cystic fibrosis macrophages
Authors: Shrestha Chandra L. , Zhang Shuzhong , Wisniewski Benjamin , Häfner Stephanie , Elie Jonathan , Meijer Laurent , Kopp Benjamin T.
Published: December 2020

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterized by chronic bacterial infections and heightened inflammation. Widespread ineffective antibiotic use has led to increased isolation of drug resistant bacterial strains from respiratory samples. (R)-roscovitine (Seliciclib) is a unique drug that has many benefits in CF studies. We sought to determine roscovitine’s impact on macrophage function and killing of multi-drug resistant bacteria. Human blood monocytes were isolated from CF (F508del/F508del) and non-CF persons and derived into macrophages (MDMs). MDMs were infected with CF clinical isolates ofB. cenocepaciaandP. aeruginosa.MDMs were treated with (R)-roscovitine or its main hepatic metabolite (M3). Macrophage responses to infection and subsequent treatment were determined. (R)-roscovitine and M3 significantly increased killing ofB. cenocepaciaandP. aeruginosain CF MDMs in a dose-dependent manner. (R)-roscovitine-mediated effects were partially dependent on CFTR and the TRPC6 channel. (R)-roscovitine-mediated killing ofB. cenocepaciawas enhanced by combination with the CFTR modulator tezacaftor/ivacaftor and/or the alternative CFTR modulator cysteamine. (R)-roscovitine also increased MDM CFTR function compared to tezacaftor/ivacaftor treatment alone. (R)-roscovitine increases CF macrophage-mediated killing of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. (R)-roscovitine also enhances other macrophage functions including CFTR-mediated ion efflux. Effects of (R)-roscovitine are greatest when combined with CFTR modulators or cysteamine, justifying further clinical testing of (R)-roscovitine or optimized derivatives.
Nucleation and stability of skyrmions in three-dimensional chiral nanostructures
Authors: Liu Yan , Cai Na , Yu Xingxing , Xuan Shengjie
Published: December 2020

We studied the magnetization evolution in three-dimensional chiral nanostructures, including nanotubes and circularly curved thin films, by micromagnetic simulations. We found that in a nanotube skyrmions can be formed by broken of the helical stripes on the left and right sides of the nanotube, and the formation of skyrmions doesn’t correspond to any abrupt change of topological number. Skyrmions can exist in a large range of magnetic field, and the thinner nanotube has a larger field range for skyrmion existence. The configuration of a skyrmion in nanotubes is different from the one in thin film. From the outer to the inner circular layer, the size of the skyrmion becomes larger, and the deformation becomes more obvious. In circularly curved magnetic films with fixed arc length, there are three kinds of hysteresis processes are found. For the curved films with a large radius, the magnetization evolution behavior is similar to the case in two-dimensional thin films. For the curved films with a small radius, the skyrmions are created by broken of the helical stripes on the left and right sides of the curved film. For the curved film with a medium radius, no skyrmion is formed in the hysteresis process.
Effect of extraction temperature and solvent type on the bioactive potential of Ocimum gratissimum L. extracts
Authors: Onyebuchi Confidence , Kavaz Doğa
Published: December 2020

Ocimum gratissimum is a shrub that belongs to the Lamiaceae family of plants. Despite the known biological activities and ethnomedicinal applications, comparative evaluation of the effects of different extraction techniques on the chemical and bioactive properties of O. gratissimum extracts has not yet been performed. This study adopted different analytical techniques to determine the effect of extraction temperature and solvent type on the phytochemical and bioactive properties of O. gratissimum extracts. Chemical profiling showed increased concentrations of compounds for both the ethanolic and methanolic extracts compared to the water extracts. The results also revealed that the extraction temperature had an effect on the total phenolic content and radical-scavenging properties of the different extracts. The antioxidant kinetic modeling achieved the best fit when using the second-order kinetic model. Methanolic extracts had the highest levels of antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella typhimurium. At high concentrations, all extracts lowered the viability of the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. In conclusion, the chemical and bioactive properties of all extracts showed significant dependence on the extraction temperature and solvent type. With proper extraction methods, they boast a wide range of promising applications in the medical, pharmaceutical, and food industries.
Minimal shoes improve stability and mobility in persons with a history of falls
Authors: Cudejko Tomasz , Gardiner James , Akpan Asangaedem , D’Août Kristiaan
Published: December 2020

Postural and walking instabilities contribute to falls in older adults. Given that shoes affect human locomotor stability and that visual, cognitive and somatosensory systems deteriorate during aging, we aimed to: (1) compare the effects of footwear type on stability and mobility in persons with a history of falls, and (2) determine whether the effect of footwear type on stability is altered by the absence of visual input or by an additional cognitive load. Thirty participants performed standing and walking trials in three footwear conditions, i.e. conventional shoes, minimal shoes, and barefoot. The outcomes were: (1) postural stability (movement of the center of pressure during eyes open/closed), (2) walking stability (Margin of Stability during normal/dual-task walking), (3) mobility (the Timed Up and Go test and the Star Excursion Balance test), and (4) perceptions of the shoes (Monitor Orthopaedic Shoes questionnaire). Participants were more stable during standing and walking in minimal shoes than in conventional shoes, independent of visual or walking condition. Minimal shoes were more beneficial for mobility than conventional shoes and barefoot. This study supports the need for longitudinal studies investigating whether minimal footwear is more beneficial for fall prevention in older people than conventional footwear.
Rho-GTPase pathways may differentiate treatment response to TNF-alpha and IL-17A inhibitors in psoriatic arthritis
Authors: Rahmati Sara , O’Rielly Darren D. , Li Quan , Codner Dianne , Dohey Amanda , Jenkins Kari , Jurisica Igor , Gladman Dafna D. , Chandran Vinod , Rahman Proton
Published: December 2020

Biological therapies have dramatically improved the therapeutic landscape of psoriatic arthritis (PsA); however, 40–50% of patients are primary non-responders with response rates declining significantly with each successive biological therapy. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop a coherent strategy for effective initial and subsequent selection of biologic agents. We interrogated 40 PsA patients initiating either tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) or interleukin-17A inhibitors (17Ai) for active PsA. Patients achieving low disease activity according to the Disease Activity Index for PsA (DAPSA) at 3 months were classified as responders. Baseline and 3-month CD4+transcript profiling were performed, and novel signaling pathways were identified using a multi-omics profiling and integrative computational analysis approach. Using transcriptomic data at initiation of therapy, we identified over 100 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that differentiated IL-17Ai response from non-response and TNFi response from non-response. Integration of cell-type-specific DEGs with protein–protein interactions and further comprehensive pathway enrichment analysis revealed several pathways. Rho GTPase signaling pathway exhibited a strong signal specific to IL-17Ai response and the genes,RAC1andROCKs, are supported by results from prior research. Our detailed network and pathway analyses have identified the rewiring of Rho GTPase pathways as potential markers of response to IL17Ai but not TNFi. These results need further verification.
High-frequency sound components of high-resolution audio are not detected in auditory sensory memory
Authors: Nittono Hiroshi
Published: December 2020

High-resolution digital audio is believed to produce a better listening experience than the standard quality audio, such as compact disks (CDs) and digital versatile disks (DVDs). One common belief is that high-resolution digital audio is superior due to the higher frequency (> 22 kHz) of its sound components, a characteristic unique to this audio. This study examined whether sounds with high-frequency components were processed differently from similar sounds without these components in the auditory cortex. Mismatch negativity (MMN), an electrocortical index of auditory deviance detection in sensory memory, was recorded in young adults with normal hearing (N = 38) using two types of white noise bursts: original sound and digitally filtered sound from which high-frequency components were removed. The two sounds did not produce any MMN response and could not be discriminated behaviourally. In conclusion, even if high-resolution audio is superior to the standard format, the difference is apparently not detectable at the cortical level.
Discrimination between human and animal blood by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Mistek-Morabito Ewelina , Lednev Igor K.
Published: December 2020

Forensic chemistry is an important area of analytical chemistry. This field has been rapidly growing over the last several decades. Confirmation of the human origins of bloodstains is important in practical forensics. Current serological blood tests are destructive and often provide false positive results. Here, we report on the development of a nondestructive method that could potentially be applied at the scene for differentiation of human and animal blood using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform-infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy and statistical analysis. The following species were used to build statistical models for binary human–animal blood differentiation: cat, dog, rabbit, horse, cow, pig, opossum, and raccoon. Three other species (deer, elk, and ferret) were used for external validation. A partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA) was used for classification purposes and showed excellent performance in internal cross-validation (CV). The method was externally validated first using blood samples from new donors of species used in the training data set, and second using donors of new species that were not used to construct the model. Both validations showed excellent results demonstrating potential of the developed approach for nondestructive, rapid, and statistically confident discrimination between human and animal blood for forensic purposes.
The Development and Use of Protein and Protein-affinity Libraries for Phenotypic Screening
Authors: Davies Rick , Schiavone Lovisa Holmberg , Hunt James
Published: December 2020

Physiological and disease processes are regulated by proteins at a systemic, organ and cellular level. Gaining a deeper understanding of these processes and the proteins involved will lead to hypotheses for therapeutic intervention in areas of high unmet medical need. This chapter describes different approaches to using proteins and protein affinity tools in conjunction with relevant cellular phenotypic assays with the aim of identifying new targets for drug discovery. Different types of protein tools are described, including approaches to generating libraries for screening and the potential uses and advantages associated. Practical considerations for sample management, screening strategies and deconvolution of results are described, together with a discussion on how data from these approaches might impact the discovery of targets for drug discovery in the future. In addition, we describe a case study, in which a library of purified, secreted proteins was screened in a cell-based phenotypic assay. This work exemplifies some of the data generated and how it can be used to develop new hypotheses for drug discovery.
Contemporary Techniques for Target Deconvolution and Mode of Action Elucidation
Authors: Schirle Markus , Jenkins Jeremy L.
Published: December 2020

The elucidation of the cellular efficacy target and mechanism of action of a screening hit remain key steps in phenotypic drug discovery. A large number of experimental and in silico approaches have been introduced to address these questions and are being discussed in this chapter with a focus on recent developments. In addition to practical considerations such as throughput and technological requirements, these approaches differ conceptually in the specific compound characteristic that they are focusing on, including physical and functional interactions, cellular response patterns as well as structural features. As a result, different approaches often provide complementary information and we describe a multipronged strategy that is frequently key to successful identification of the efficacy target but also other epistatic nodes and off-targets that together shape the overall cellular effect of a bioactive compound.
Supramolecular nanomedicine for selective cancer therapy via sequential responsiveness to reactive oxygen species and glutathione
Authors: Sun Chen , Wang Zeyu , Wang Ziyi , Yue Ludan , Cheng Qian , Ye Zhan , Zhang Qing-Wen , Wang Ruibing
Published: December 2020

A supramolecular nanomedicine that is sequentially responsive to ROS and GSH was developed to specifically deliver chemotherapeutic agents to cancer cells.
Introduction to Biomaterials for Imaging and Sensing
Authors: Jokerst Jesse V. , Pu Kanyi
Published: December 2020

Guest editors Jesse Jokerst and Kanyi Pu introduce the Biomaterials Science themed collection on Biomaterials for Imaging and Sensing.
Unveiling the structural features of the host–guest complexes of carboxylated pillar[5]arene with viologen derivatives
Authors: Butkiewicz Helena , Kosiorek Sandra , Sashuk Volodymyr , Danylyuk Oksana
Published: December 2020

Here we describe inclusion and self-assembly behavior of carboxylated pillar[5]arene with four viologen derivatives.
Crystal engineering of coordination polymers using flexible tetracarboxylate linkers with embedded cyclohexyldiamine cores
Authors: Chahine Ali Y. , Turner David R. , Batten Stuart R.
Published: December 2020

Flexible amine-functionalised tetracarboxylate ligands with different length arms generate a large variety of coordination polymers which notably lack topological consistency.
Identification of key oxidative intermediates and the function of chromium dopants in PKU-8: catalytic dehydrogenation of sec-alcohols with tert-butylhydroperoxide
Authors: Wang Weilu , He Yang , He Junkai , Dang Yanliu , Kankanmkapuge Tharindu , Gao Wenliang , Cong Rihong , Suib Steven L. , Yang Tao
Published: December 2020

t-BuOO* activated by Cr-PKU-8 from TBHP is the key intermediate to the highly selective dehydrogenation of sec-alcohols.
Chemoselective heterogeneous iridium catalyzed hydrogenation of cinnamalaniline
Authors: Savela Risto , Shcherban Nataliya D. , Melander Marko M. , Bezverkhyy Igor , Simakova Irina L. , Långvik Otto , Kholkina Ekaterina , Schindler Tamara , Krauβ Annabelle , Honkala Karoliina , Murzin Dmitry Yu. , Leino Reko
Published: December 2020

A selective atmospheric hydrogenation of unsaturated imines over heterogeneous iridium catalyst is described, in addition the selectivity is elucidated by DFT-calculations.
Construction of a 3D/2D g-C3N4/ZnIn2S4 hollow spherical heterostructure for efficient CO2 photoreduction under visible light
Authors: Shao Boyu , Wang Junyan , Zhang Yizhong , Tan Xin , Zhou Wei , Chen Yiliang , Xie Tao , Yu Tao
Published: December 2020

The 3D/2D g-C3N4/ZnIn2S4 hollow spherical heterostructure can greatly increase visible light absorption and improve the efficiency of photo-generated electron migration and conversion, resulting in an excellent CO generation rate.
Improved ammonia synthesis activity of Ce doped barium tantalate supported Ru catalysts
Authors: Huang Jia , Zhao Yushi , Yuan Mingwei , Li Jinjun , You Zhixiong
Published: December 2020

Ce doping could increase the specific surface area and reducibility of the barium tantalate carrier, which is beneficial to Ru based ammonia synthesis.
Pt–Carbon interaction-determined reaction pathway and selectivity for hydrogenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural over carbon supported Pt catalysts
Authors: Wang Xiaofeng , Zhang Chengcheng , Jin Baitang , Liang Xinhua , Wang Qingfa , Zhao Zhe , Li Qingbo
Published: December 2020

In the hydrogenation of HMF, the main product was DHMF over all carbon supported Pt catalysts prepared by impregnation, and it changed to DMF over the Pt catalysts prepared via atomic layer deposition due to the relatively strong Pt–CNT interaction.
Formic acid enabled selectivity boosting in transfer hydrogenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandimethanol on highly dispersed Co–Nx sites
Authors: Xu Ling , Nie Renfeng , Chen Xujie , Li Yanchen , Jiang Yuxi , Lu Xiuyang
Published: December 2020

Catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) reaction is considered as a potential route for upgrading bio-based carbonyl compounds to their corresponding alcohols.
Light-induced synthesis of platinum/titania nanocapsules as an efficient, photosensitive and stable electrocatalyst
Authors: Huang Huan , Sheng Zhao Min , Niu Rui Liang , Li Chang Ming , Han Sheng
Published: December 2020

Novel Pt/TiO2 nanocapsules (NCs) having sizes of 40–100 nm and walls of 6–17 nm were successfully synthesized.
Correction: Bridging the immiscibility of an all-fluoride fire extinguishant with highly-fluorinated electrolytes toward safe sodium metal batteries
Authors: Zheng Xueying , Gu Zhenyi , Liu Xuyang , Wang Zhongqiang , Wen Jiayun , Wu Xinglong , Luo Wei , Huang Yunhui
Published: December 2020

Correction for ‘Bridging the immiscibility of an all-fluoride fire extinguishant with highly-fluorinated electrolytes toward safe sodium metal batteries’ by Xueying Zheng et al., Energy Environ. Sci., 2020, 13, 1788–1798, DOI: 10.1039/D0EE00694G.
COVID-19 lockdowns induced land surface temperature variability in mega urban agglomerations in India
Authors: Nanda Dhruv , Mishra Deepk R. , Swain Debadatta
Published: December 2020

Reduced anthropogenic activities during COVID-19 lockdowns improved air quality and dampened LST in highly populated and polluted Indian megacities.
Efficient detection of emission lines for H and O and the use as an internal standard for underwater LIBS
Authors: Li Nan , Nishi Naoya , Zheng Ronger , Sakka Tetsuo
Published: December 2020

Efficient underwater-LIBS signal emission from H and O with a long-pulse irradiation, and the use as an internal standard for better quantitative analysis of dissolved metal elements.
Zero-to-one (or more) nanoarchitectonics: how to produce functional materials from zero-dimensional single-element unit, fullerene
Authors: Ariga Katsuhiko , Shrestha Lok Kumar
Published: December 2020

This review article demonstrates the zero to one innovation capability of fullerene nanoarchitectonics in material advances.
Synthesis and σ receptor affinity of spiro[[2]benzopyran-1,1′-cyclohexanes] with an exocyclic amino moiety in the 3′-position
Authors: Kronenberg Elisabeth , Weber Frauke , Schepmann Dirk , Wünsch Bernhard
Published: December 2020

Novel spirocyclic σ1 ligands with defined distances between the basic amino moiety and the phenyl rings were designed, synthesized and pharmacologically evaluated, in order to analyze the structural features crucial for high σ1 affinity.
High-performance Bi2O3-NC anodes through constructing carbon shells and oxygen vacancies for flexible battery-supercapacitor hybrid devices
Authors: Yang Chao , Jia Qi , Pan Qianqian , Qi Wentao , Ling Rui , Cao Bingqiang
Published: December 2020

A facile and efficient strategy of constructing carbon shells and oxygen vacancies is proposed, in order to improve specific capacity, rate capability and cycling stability of the Bi2O3 anode for the battery–supercapacitor hybrid device.
Three-dimensional porous SERS powder for sensitive liquid and gas detections fabricated by engineering dense “hot spots” on silica aerogel
Authors: Yang Longkun , Ren Zhifang , Zhang Meng , Song Yanli , Li Pan , Qiu Yun , Deng Pingye , Li Zhipeng
Published: December 2020

A 3D porous SERS powder was developed in this study. Highly sensitive and homogeneous SERS detections on liquid and gas have been achieved, demonstrating potential application for an artificial “nose”.
Improving ternary blend morphology by adding a conjugated molecule into non-fullerene polymer solar cells
Authors: Zhao Di , Jia Pengcheng , Li Ling , Tang Yang , Cui Qiuhong , Zhan Chuanlang , Hou Yanbing , Hu Yufeng , Lou Zhidong , Teng Feng
Published: December 2020

The use of ternary polymer solar cells (PSCs) is a promising strategy to enhance photovoltaic performance while improving the fill factor (FF) of a device, but is still a challenge due to the complicated morphology.
Photophysical properties and fluorosolvatochromism of D–π–A thiophene based derivatives
Authors: Sabek Hussain A. Z. , Alazaly Ahmed M. M. , Salah Dina , Abdel-Samad Hesham S. , Ismail Mohamed A. , Abdel-Shafi Ayman A.
Published: December 2020

Solvation-dependent photophysical properties of two push–pull thiophene-based compounds with donor–π–acceptor (D–π–A) structures were investigated using absorption, fluorescence emission and time resolved spectroscopy, and supported by different solvation models.
Hydrogen adsorption mechanism of MOF-74 metal–organic frameworks: an insight from first principles calculations
Authors: Nguyen-Thuy Trang , Le-Hoang Phong , Hoang Vu Nam , Le Thong Nguyen-Minh , Le Hoang Doan Tan , Kuo Jer-Lai , Nguyen Toan T. , Phan Thang Bach , Nguyen-Manh Duc
Published: December 2020

The microscopic mechanism of the H2 adsorption of two Mg-MOF-74 isoreticular frameworks, one with a benzenedicarboxylate linker and the other with a dihydroxyfumarate linker, were studied on the basis of density functional theory (DFT) method.
Highly efficient radiative recombination in intrinsically zero-dimensional perovskite micro-crystals prepared by thermally-assisted solution-phase synthesis
Authors: Xu Wei-Long , Bradley Siobhan J. , Xu Yang , Zheng Fei , Hall Christopher R. , Ghiggino Kenneth P. , Smith Trevor A.
Published: December 2020

0D Cs4PbBr6perovskite microcrystals exhibit a radiative recombination coefficient two orders of magnitude higher than typical 3D perovskite.
Direct Z-scheme copper cobaltite/covalent triazine-based framework heterojunction for efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction under visible light
Authors: Lin Guiyun , Sun Long , Huang Guocheng , Chen Qiaoshan , Fang Shengqiong , Bi Jinhong , Wu Ling
Published: December 2020

Copper cobaltite/covalent triazine-based framework hybrid photocatalysts with robust interfacial interactions were designed and synthesized for efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction.
Ultrathin MoS2 wrapped N-doped carbon-coated cobalt nanospheres for OER applications
Authors: Gaur Ashish , Sachdeva Parrydeep K. , Kumar Rajinder , Maruyama Takahiro , Bera Chandan , Bagchi Vivek
Published: December 2020

The possibilities to resolve the exponential increase in energy demand using water splitting have also triggered huge worldwide attention towards the oxygen evolution reaction using an efficient, earth-abundant and low-cost electrocatalyst.
Mo2B2 MBene-supported single-atom catalysts as bifunctional HER/OER and OER/ORR electrocatalysts
Authors: Zhang Tian , Zhang Bikun , Peng Qiong , Zhou Jian , Sun Zhimei
Published: December 2020

Ni@Mo2B2 can be used as a HER/OER bifunctional electrocatalyst while Cu@Mo2B2 can be used as an OER/ORR bifunctional electrocatalyst.
Interlayer confinement synthesis of Ir nanodots/dual carbon as an electrocatalyst for overall water splitting
Authors: Li Yaru , Zhu Yu-Quan , Xin Weili , Hong Song , Zhao Xiaoying , Yan Hong , Xu Sailong
Published: December 2020

An Ir nanodots@S–C/rGO composite is prepared via interlayer nanoconfinement of a guest/host precursor, and exhibits decent electrocatalytic performances for the OER and HER, and as an electrolyzer.
Tailoring the hetero-structure of iron oxides in the framework of nitrogen doped carbon for the oxygen reduction reaction and zinc–air batteries
Authors: Xiao Zhourong , Wu Chan , Wang Wei , Pan Lun , Zou Jijun , Wang Li , Zhang Xiangwen , Li Guozhu
Published: December 2020

We report a H2-thermal-reduction strategy to fabricate FeOx/Fe NPs dispersed on a porous N-doped carbon framework. The optimal hybrid exhibited high ORR performance with an E1/2 of 0.838 V and remarkable Zn–air battery performance with a peak power density of 156.6 mW cm−2.
Co–Mo–P carbon nanospheres derived from metal–organic frameworks as a high-performance electrocatalyst towards efficient water splitting
Authors: Li Nan , Guan Yi , Li Yongliang , Mi Hongwei , Deng Libo , Sun Lingna , Zhang Qianling , He Chuanxin , Ren Xiangzhong
Published: December 2020

A well-designed Co–Mo–P active site allows electron transport between Co and MoP, which will reduce the absorption free energy of the intermediates and improve the electrocatalytic activity of the hybrid.
A near-infrared fluorescent probe based on a hemicyanine dye with an oxazolidine switch for mitochondrial pH detection
Authors: Mazi Wafa , Yan Yunnan , Zhang Yibin , Xia Shuai , Wan Shulin , Tajiri Momoko , Luck Rudy L. , Liu Haiying
Published: December 2020

A near-infrared fluorescent probe (AH+) has been prepared by incorporating an oxazolidine switch into a near-infrared hemicyanine dye for pH detection in the mitochondria of HeLa cells.
Microtubule-based hierarchical porous carbon for lightweight and strong wideband microwave absorption
Authors: Li Xianjun , Cao Min , Pang Xiaona , Hu Jinbo , Yang Xi
Published: December 2020

A lightweight and strong wideband microwave absorber, microtubule-based porous carbon, is synthesized by a feasible pretreatment and thermal annealing process.
Schottky diodes based on 2D materials for environmental gas monitoring: a review on emerging trends, recent developments and future perspectives
Authors: Mathew Minu , Rout Chandra Sekhar
Published: December 2020

This review details the fundamentals, working principles and recent developments of Schottky junctions based on 2D materials to emphasize their improved gas sensing properties including low working temperature, high sensitivity, and selectivity.
Fabrication of stable and efficient 2D/3D perovskite solar cells through post-treatment with TBABF4
Authors: Dehghanipour M. , Behjat A. , Amrollahi Bioki H.
Published: December 2020

A promising 2D/3D heterostructure based on TBABF4 salt to boost the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells.
Aggregation-mediated photo-responsive luminescence of cyanostilbene based cruciform AIEgens
Authors: Zhang Zhibo , Liu Xiaoqing , Feng Yang , Yu Zhen-Qiang , Wang Lei , Ren Xiang-Kui , Liu Yi
Published: December 2020

Cruciform AIEgens can act as photochromic luminescent materials in the solution, nano-aggregate, and solid states, and in a polymer matrix.
Silicate–CoNi–carbon triple shell sandwich structured composite hollow microspheres with low density boosted microwave absorption and high mechanical strength
Authors: An Zhenguo , Zhang Jingjie
Published: December 2020

Low density silicate–CoNi–carbon triple shell hollow microspheres with high mechanical strength and controllable electromagnetic properties were prepared on a large scale.
Connecting the dots: combined control of endocytic recycling and degradation
Authors: MacDonald Ewan , Savage Bryan , Zech Tobias
Published: December 2020

Endocytosis is an essential process where proteins and lipids are internalised from the plasma membrane in membrane-bound carriers, such as clathrin-coated vesicles. Once internalised into the cell these vesicles fuse with the endocytic network where their contents are sorted towards degradation in the lysosome or recycling to their origin. Initially, it was thought that cargo recycling is a passive process, but in recent years the identification and characterisation of specialised recycling complexes has established a hitherto unthought-of level of complexity that actively opposes degradation. This review will summarise recent developments regarding the composition and regulation of the recycling machineries and their relationship with the degradative pathways of the endosome.
Dissecting the complexity of biomolecular condensates
Authors: Swain Pinaki , Weber Stephanie C.
Published: December 2020

Biomolecular condensates comprise a diverse and ubiquitous class of membraneless organelles. Condensate assembly is often described by liquid–liquid phase separation. While this process explains many key features, it cannot account for the compositional or architectural complexity that condensates display in cells. Recent work has begun to dissect the rich network of intermolecular interactions that give rise to biomolecular condensates. Here, we review the latest results from theory, simulations and experiments, and discuss what they reveal about the structure–function relationship of condensates.
Anatomy of a twin DNA replication factory
Authors: Li Huilin , Yao Nina Y. , O'Donnell Michael E.
Published: December 2020

The replication of DNA in chromosomes is initiated at sequences called origins at which two replisome machines are assembled at replication forks that move in opposite directions. Interestingly, in vivo studies observe that the two replication forks remain fastened together, often referred to as a replication factory. Replication factories containing two replisomes are well documented in cellular studies of bacteria (Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis) and the eukaryote, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This basic twin replisome factory architecture may also be preserved in higher eukaryotes. Despite many years of documenting the existence of replication factories, the molecular details of how the two replisome machines are tethered together has been completely unknown in any organism. Recent structural studies shed new light on the architecture of a eukaryote replisome factory, which brings with it a new twist on how a replication factory may function.
Die Rolle der Zahl verfügbarer
Intensivbetten bei
der Bewältigung der ersten
COVID-19-Welle
Authors: Gandjour Afschin
Published: December 2020

Häufig wird gefragt, ob die im internationalen Vergleich hohe Zahl
verfügbarer Intensivbetten in Deutschland dazu beigetragen hat, eine
Überlastung deutscher Krankenhäuser während der ersten
COVID-19-Welle zu vermeiden. Eine Antwort darauf ergibt sich durch folgende
Überlegung. Betrachten wir die norditalienische Region Lombardei, in der
es bekanntlich zu einem Engpass bei der intensivmedizinischen Versorgung kam.
Nehmen wir an, Deutschland hätte (nur) über die
Intensivbettenzahl der Lombardei verfügt (korrigiert für deren
Einwohnerzahl). Wäre es unter dieser Voraussetzung zu einer
Überlastung der Intensivstationen gekommen? Die Region Lombardei hat 10
Mio. Einwohner und verfügte im März nach Ausbau der
Bettenkapazität über 1202 Intensivbetten 1. In Deutschland lag der
Höchststand an COVID-19-Intensivpatienten bei 2922 am 17. April 2. Umgerechnet auf die
Bevölkerungszahl der Lombardei hätte sich somit ein Bedarf an
365 (2922/8) Intensivbetten ergeben. Dies entspricht einer Beanspruchung
von 30% (365/1202). Es wäre jedoch wahrscheinlich nicht
machbar gewesen, durch Verschiebung planbarer Eingriffe und andere
Maßnahmen 30% der Intensivbetten für COVID-19-Patienten
freizuhalten. Der Grund liegt darin, dass bereits alle Intensivbetten durch
Nicht-COVID-19-Patienten belegt wären (selbst bei Korrektur für
die Einwohnerzahl). So gab es am 26.4. (d. h. einen Tag vor Empfehlung
des Bundesgesundheitsministeriums Elektiveingriffe wiederaufzunehmen 3) einen Bedarf an 1980 Intensivbetten
für Nicht-COVID-19-Patienten (korrigiert für die Differenz der
Einwohnerzahl) 4. Daher lag zumindest
ein Grund für die Vermeidung einer Überlastung deutscher
Intensivstationen in der relativ hohen Bettenzahl.
Cardiometabolic Syndrome: An Update on Available Mouse Models
Authors: Aravani Dimitra , Kassi Eva , Chatzigeorgiou Antonios , Vakrou Styliani
Published: December 2020

Cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS), a disease entity characterized by abdominal obesity, insulin resistance (IR), hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, is a global epidemic with approximately 25% prevalence in adults globally. CMS is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and development of diabetes. Due to its multifactorial etiology, the development of several animal models to simulate CMS has contributed significantly to the elucidation of the disease pathophysiology and the design of therapies. In this review we aimed to present the most common mouse models used in the research of CMS. We found that CMS can be induced either by genetic manipulation, leading to dyslipidemia, lipodystrophy, obesity and IR, or obesity and hypertension, or by administration of specific diets and drugs. In the last decade, the ob/ob and db/db mice were the most common obesity and IR models, whereas Ldlr−/− and Apoe−/− were widely used to induce hyperlipidemia. These mice have been used either as a single transgenic or combined with a different background with or without diet treatment. High-fat diet with modifications is the preferred protocol, generally leading to increased body weight, hyperlipidemia, and IR. A plethora of genetically engineered mouse models, diets, drugs, or synthetic compounds that are available have advanced the understanding of CMS. However, each researcher should carefully select the most appropriate model and validate its consistency. It is important to consider the differences between strains of the same animal species, different animals, and most importantly differences to human when translating results.
Emotional labour, social intelligence, and narcissism among physicians in Jordan
Authors: Alsawalqa Rula Odeh
Published: December 2020

Although many studies have investigated relationships between emotional labour and emotional intelligence among hospital staff, few have paid attention to social intelligence in this field. This study explored the relationships between emotional labour, social intelligence, and narcissism among physicians in governmental hospitals in Jordan. The goal was to improve the understanding of the causes of patients abusing physicians in Jordan. Some patients have maintained that physicians are responsible for hostile behaviour against them, as these resulted from medical errors, physician negligence, and a failure to provide adequate care, exacerbated by physician narcissism, lack of empathy, verbal miscommunication, and lack of sympathy in critical cases. Findings confirmed that whenever physicians engage in strategies of emotional labour, they display higher social intelligence and lower levels of narcissism. Moreover, social intelligence does not mediate the relationship between emotional labour and narcissism. The results of the study suggest that interventions by the Jordan Medical Association to reduce physical and verbal assaults on physicians should encompass more than a mere legal focus.
Nil-Killing vector fields and type III deformations
Authors: Aadne Matthew Terje
Published: December 2020

This paper is concerned with deformations of Kundt metrics in the direction of type III tensors and nil-Killing vector fields whose flows give rise to such deformations. We find various characterizations within the Kundt class in terms of nil-Killing vector fields and obtain a theorem classifying algebraic stability of tensors, which has an application in finding sufficient criteria for a type III deformation of the metric to preserve spi’s. This is used in order to specify Lie algebras of nil-Killing vector fields that preserve the spi’s, for degenerate Kundt metrics. Using this we discuss the characterization of Kundt-Constant scalar invariants spacetimes in terms of nil-Killing vector fields.
Translational approaches to treating dynamical diseases through in silico clinical trials
Authors: Alfonso Sofia , Jenner Adrianne L. , Craig Morgan
Published: December 2020

The primary goal of drug developers is to establish efficient and effective therapeutic protocols. Multifactorial pathologies, including dynamical diseases and complex disorders, can be difficult to treat, given the high degree of inter- and intra-patient variability and nonlinear physiological relationships. Quantitative approaches combining mechanistic disease modeling and computational strategies are increasingly leveraged to rationalize pre-clinical and clinical studies and to establish effective treatment strategies. The development of clinical trials has led to new computational methods that allow for large clinical data sets to be combined with pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic models of diseases. Here, we discuss recent progress using in silico clinical trials to explore treatments for a variety of complex diseases, ultimately demonstrating the immense utility of quantitative methods in drug development and medicine.