bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Atomic Layer Deposition Reinforcement of Methylcellulose Nanowire Forests
Authors: Nachtigal Catherine J. , Li Yi , Zhang Li , Lei Lin , Losego Mark D. , Singer Jonathan P.
Published: January 2022

Micro‐ and nanostructured surfaces are widely used as functional surfaces in various fields including the maritime and medical industries. Many micro‐ and nanocoating technologies are delicate processes that have high costs at scale. Herein, an electrospray deposition (ESD) technique is investigated as an affordable method for obtaining micro/nanostructured surfaces. When processed via ESD from water:ethanol blends, methylcellulose (MC), a fibril gel former, can form nanowire coatings. These nanowires are formed via enhanced gelation by shear forces and surface charges that lead to electrospinning on a drop‐by‐drop basis. However, these ESD MC nanostructures can be easily destroyed upon water exposure. In this work, conformal coating of these MC nanostructures with atomic layer deposition (ALD) of Al2O3 is explored to impart further stability. Upon subsequent heating of the ALD‐coated MC nanostructures, superhydrophobicity can be obtained. It is found that the final ALD‐coated structures exhibit a trade‐off between mechanical stability and hydrophobicity depending on MC nanowire size, with smaller wires being more mechanically robust and larger wires being more hydrophobic.
Bioinspired Perovskite Nanocrystals‐Integrated Photonic Crystal Microsphere Arrays for Information Security
Authors: Bian Feika , Sun Lingyu , Chen Hanxu , Wang Yu , Wang Li , Shang Luoran , Zhao Yuanjin
Published: January 2022

Information security occupies an important position in the era of big data. Attempts to improve the security performance tend to impart them with more additional encryption strategies. Herein, inspired by the wettability feature of Stenocara beetle elytra and signal model of traffic light, a novel array of perovskite nanocrystals (PNs)‐integrated PhC microsphere for information security is presented. The photoluminescent PNs are encapsulated in angle‐independent PhC microspheres to impart them with binary optical signals as coding information. Through the multimask superposition approach, PNs‐integrated PhC microspheres with different codes are placed into fluorosilane‐treated PDMS substrate to form different arrays. These arrays could converge moisture on PhC microspheres in wet environment, which avoids the ions loss of the PNs and effectively prevented mutual contamination. In addition, the fluorescence of the PNs inside PhC microspheres could reversibly quench or recover in response to the environmental moisture. Based on these features, it is demonstrated that the PNs‐integrated PhC microsphere arrays could realize various information encryption modes, which indicate their excellent values in information security fields.
Engineering a Rapid Insulin Release System Controlled By Oral Drug Administration
Authors: Mahameed Mohamed , Xue Shuai , Stefanov Bozhidar‐Adrian , Hamri Ghislaine Charpin‐El , Fussenegger Martin
Published: January 2022

Rapid insulin release plays an essential role in maintaining blood‐glucose homeostasis in mammalians. Patients diagnosed with type‐I diabetes mellitus experience chronic and remarkably high blood‐sugar levels, and require lifelong insulin injection therapy, so there is a need for more convenient and less invasive insulin delivery systems to increase patients’ compliance and also to enhance their quality of life. Here, an endoplasmic‐reticulum‐localized split sec‐tobacco etch virus protease (TEVp)‐based rapamycin‐actuated protein‐induction device (RAPID) is engineered, which is composed of the rapamycin‐inducible dimerization domains FK506 binding protein (FKBP) and FKBP‐rapamycin binding protein fused with modified split sec‐TEVp components. Insulin accumulation inside the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is achieved through tagging its C‐terminus with KDEL, an ER‐retention signal, spaced by a TEVp cleavage site. In the presence of rapamycin, the split sec‐TEVp‐based RAPID components dimerize, regain their proteolytic activity, and remove the KDEL retention signal from insulin. This leads to rapid secretion of accumulated insulin from cells within few minutes. Using liver hydrodynamic transfection methodology, it is shown that RAPID quickly restores glucose homeostasis in type‐1‐diabetic (T1DM) mice treated with an oral dose of clinically licensed rapamycin. This rapid‐release technology may become the foundation for other cell‐based therapies requiring instantaneous biopharmaceutical availability.
Controlling the aggregation and assembly of boron‐containing molecular and polymeric materials
Authors: Shimoyama Daisuke , Jäkle Frieder
Published: January 2022

Boron‐containing molecules and polymers are attractive as powerful tunable Lewis acids for small molecule activation and catalysis, as luminescent materials for organic electronic device and (bio)imaging applications, and as smart chemical sensors. While the characteristics of the boron‐containing building blocks are attractive in and of themselves, their assembly into higher order supramolecular materials offers access to unique properties and emerging functions. Herein, we highlight recent achievements in the field of aggregated organoboron materials. We discuss how supramolecular interactions can be exploited to precisely control the structure of the assemblies and impact their functions as luminescent materials, recyclable and smart catalyst systems, chemical sensors, stimuli‐responsive and self‐healing materials.
Aggregation and luminescence in carbonized polymer dots
Authors: Kang Chunyuan , Tao Songyuan , Yang Fan , Yang Bai
Published: January 2022

The aggregate luminescence behavior of organic luminescent materials has been studied extensively. As a new kind of luminescent nanomaterials, carbonized polymer dots (CPDs) not only inherit the stability and biocompatibility of carbon materials, but also possess the luminescence tunability, water solubility, and high photoluminescence quantum yield of organic luminescent materials, rendering them a strong candidate for the next generation of light‐emitting materials. Previously, people mainly understood its luminescence from the perspective of carbon materials, but some luminescence mechanisms are still unclear. In this review, we discuss the luminescence mechanism by referring to organic luminescent materials with emphasis on their aggregation behavior. Firstly, three representative aggregate luminescence phenomena of organic luminescent materials are briefly introduced. Chromophores present in CPDs are elaborated to further discuss the potential interactions between them, with emphasis on the role of crosslinked polymer networks. On this basis, some special luminescence phenomena of CPDs in the aggregate state are summarized, and relevant mechanisms are discussed in detail to consolidate relevant statements.
Augmenting Sensor Performance with Machine Learning Towards Smart Wearable Sensing Electronic Systems
Authors: Zhang Songlin , Suresh Lakshmi , Yang Jiachen , Zhang Xueping , Tan Swee Ching
Published: January 2022

Wearable sensing electronic systems (WSES) are becoming a fundamental platform to construct smart and intelligent networks for broad applications. Various physiological data are readily collected by the WSES, including biochemical, biopotential, and biophysical signals from human bodies. However, understanding these sensing data, such as feature extractions, recognitions, and classifications, is largely restrained because of the insufficient capacity when using conventional data processing techniques. Recent advances in sensing performance and system‐level operation quality of the WSES are expedited with the assistance of machine learning (ML) algorithms. Here, the state‐of‐the‐art of the ML‐assisted WSES is summarized with emphasis on how the accurate perceptions on physiological signals under different algorithms paradigm augment the performance of the WSES for diverse applications. Concretely, ML algorithms that are frequently implemented in the WSES studies are first synopsized. Then broad applications of ML‐assisted WSES with strengthened functions are discussed in the following sections, including intelligent physiological signals monitoring, disease diagnosis, on‐demand treatments, assistive devices, human–machine interface, and multiple sensations‐based virtual and augmented reality. Finally, challenges confronted for the ML‐assisted WSES are addressed.
Magnetic Miniature Actuators with Six‐Degrees‐of‐Freedom Multimodal Soft‐Bodied Locomotion
Authors: Xu Changyu , Yang Zilin , Tan Shaun Wee Kiat , Li Jianhuang , Lum Guo Zhan
Published: January 2022

Magnetic miniature robots (MMRs) are mobile actuators that can exploit their size to noninvasively access highly confined, enclosed spaces. By leveraging on such unique abilities, MMRs have great prospects to transform robotics, biomedicine, and materials science. As having high dexterity is critical for MMRs to enable their targeted applications, existing MMRs have developed numerous soft‐bodied gaits to locomote in various environments. However, there exist two critical limitations that have severely restricted their dexterity: 1) MMRs capable of multimodal soft‐bodied locomotion have only demonstrated five‐degrees‐of‐freedom (five‐DOF) motions because the sixth‐DOF rotation about their net magnetic moment axis is uncontrollable; 2) six‐DOF MMRs have only realized one mode of soft‐bodied, swimming locomotion. Herein, a six‐DOF MMR is proposed that can execute seven modes of soft‐bodied locomotion and perform 3D pick‐and‐place operations. By optimizing its harmonic magnetization profile, the MMR can produce 1.41–63.9‐fold larger sixth‐DOF torque than existing MMRs with similar profiles, without compromising their traditional five‐DOF actuation capabilities. The proposed MMR demonstrates unprecedented dexterity: it can jump through narrow slots to reach higher grounds; use precise orientation control to roll, two‐anchor crawl, and swim across tight openings with strict shape constraints; and perform undulating crawling across three different planes in convoluted channels. An interactive preprint version of the article can be found at:https://www.authorea.com/doi/full/10.22541/au.164087652.25227465.
Rational Design of High‐Performance Nickel‐Sulfur Nanocomposites by the Electroless Plating Method for Electrochemical Lithium‐Sulfur Battery Cathodes
Authors: Cheng Cun‐Sheng , Chung Sheng‐Heng
Published: January 2022

The development of high‐performance sulfur‐based composite cathodes is a promising strategy to accelerate the reaction kinetics of sulfur and decelerate the irreversible loss of polysulfides. Herein, a strategy for fabricating high‐performance metal‐sulfur composite cathodes is proposed to achieve a facile synthesis process, adjustable high sulfur content, and excellent electrochemical performance. Electroless nickel plating is applied to achieve a nickel‐sulfur nanocomposite with metallic nickel to inhibit the high resistance of the active solid‐state materials (i. e., sulfur and lithium sulfide) and the rapid diffusion of the active liquid‐state materials (i. e., lithium polysulfides). Therefore, the electroless nickel‐plated sulfur (ENS) composite cathode attains high, tunable sulfur contents of 60 wt %–95 wt %, large sulfur loadings of 2–10 mg cm−2, and excellent charge‐storage capacity values of 822–1,362 mAh g−1, corresponding to high areal capacity and energy density values of 8.2 mAh cm−2 and 17.3 mWh cm−2, respectively.
Identification of ginsenoside metabolites in plasma related to different bioactivities of Panax notoginseng and Panax ginseng
Authors: Dong Qinghai , An Yang , Du Guangguang , Wang Jia , Liu Jiayin , Su Jun , Xie Hongliu , Liang Chongyang , Liu Jihua
Published: January 2022

Although the chemical components of Panax notoginseng (PN) and Panax ginseng (PG) are similar, their bioactivities are different. In this study, the differential bioactivities of PN and PG were used as the research object. First, the different metabolites in the plasma after oral administration of PN and PG were analyzed using a UPLC‐Q/TOF‐MS‐based metabolomics approach. Afterward, the metabolite‐target‐ pathway network of PN and PG was constructed, and thus the pathways related to different bioactivities were analyzed. As a result, 7 different metabolites were identified in PN group, and 10 different metabolites were identified in the PG group. In the PN group, the metabolite N1 was related to hemostasis, N1 and N3 were related to inhibiting the nerve center, antihypertensive, and abirritation. The metabolites N1, N3, N4, N5, and N6 were related to liver protection. The results showed that the metabolites G1, G2, G3, G5, and G6 in PG group were related to heart protection, and G1, G2, G6, and G9 were related to increased blood pressure. There were 13 signaling pathways related to different biological activities of PN (8 pathways) and PG (5 pathways). These pathways further clarified the mechanism of action that caused the different bioactivities between PN and PG. In summary, metabolomics combined with network pharmacology could be helpful to clarify the material basis of different bioactivities between PN and PG, promoting the research on PN and PG.
Efficient Oligomerization of Aromatic Amino Acids Induced by Gaps in Four‐Helix Bundles of DNA or RNA
Authors: Doppleb Olivia , Schwarz Rainer Joachim , Landa Maria , Richert Clemens
Published: January 2022

The formation of peptides from amino acids is one of the processes associated with life. Because of the dominant role of translation in extant biology, peptide‐forming processes that are RNA induced are of particular interest. We have previously reported the formation of phosphoramidate‐linked peptido RNAs as the products of spontaneous condensation reactions between ribonucleotides and free amino acids in aqueous solution. We now asked whether four‐helix bundle (4HB) DNA or RNA folding motifs with a single‐ or double‐nucleotide gap next to a 5’‐phosphate can act as reaction sites for phosphoramidate formation. For glycine, this was found to be the case, whereas phenylalanine and tryptophan showed accelerated formation of peptides without a covalent link to the nucleic acid. Free peptides with up to 11 tryptophan or phenylalanine residues were found in precipitates forming in the presence of gap‐containing DNA or RNA 4HBs. Control experiments using motifs with just a nick or primer alone did not have the same effect. Because folded structures with a gap in a double helix are likely products of hybridization of strands formed in statistically controlled oligomerization reactions, our results are interesting in the context of prebiotic scenarios. Independent of a putative role in evolution, our findings suggest that for some aromatic amino acids an RNA‐induced pathway for oligomerization exists that does not have a discernable link to translation.
Synthesis of α‐D‐Ribose 1‐Phosphate and 2‐Deoxy‐α‐D‐Ribose 1‐Phosphate Via Enzymatic Phosphorolysis of 7‐Methylguanosine and 7‐Methyldeoxyguanosine
Authors: Varizhuk Irina V. , Oslovsky Vladimir E. , Solyev Pavel N. , Drenichev Mikhail S. , Mikhailov Sergey N.
Published: January 2022

A simple and efficient method for the preparation of α‐D‐ribose 1‐phosphate and 2‐deoxy‐α‐D‐ribose 1‐phosphate, key intermediates in nucleoside metabolism and important starting compounds for the enzymatic synthesis of various modified nucleosides, has been proposed. It consists in near‐irreversible enzymatic phosphorolysis of readily prepared hydroiodide salts of 7‐methylguanosine and 7‐methyl‐2′‐deoxyguanosine, respectively, in the presence of purine nucleoside phosphorylase. α‐D‐Ribose 1‐phosphate and 2‐deoxy‐α‐D‐ribose 1‐phosphate are obtained in near quantitative yields (by HPLC analysis) and 74%‐94% yields after their isolation and purification. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: Preparation of α‐D‐ribose 1‐phosphate barium salt (4a)

Alternate Protocol 1: Preparation of 2‐deoxy‐α‐D‐ribose 1‐phosphate barium salt (4b)

Basic Protocol 2: Preparation of α‐D‐ribose 1‐phosphate bis(cyclohexylammonium) salt (5a)

Alternate Protocol 2: Preparation of 2‐deoxy‐α‐D‐ribose 1‐phosphate bis(cyclohexylammonium) salt (5b)
Evaluation of lodging resistance in rice based on an optimized parameter from lodging index
Authors: Luo Xiaoyun , Wu Zefang , Fu Lu , Dan Zhiwu , Yuan Zhengqing , Liang Ting , Zhu Renshan , Hu Zhongli , Wu Xianting
Published: January 2022

Lodging is being increasingly recognized as a critical concern among crop breeders worldwide as it causes a significant reduction in the grain yield and quality of multiple cereal crops. The lodging index is frequently used for evaluating the lodging resistance of rice (Oryza sativa L.) crops. However, the application of lodging index for comparing lodging susceptibility between different rice cultivars is inadequate under certain special conditions. This study was aimed to identify optimized parameters that would evaluate the lodging susceptibility and could then be used along with the lodging index for further assessing the lodging resistance. A total of 32 representative rice accessions from different countries were grown at two different locations on three different sowing dates over a period of 3 yr. The analysis of the lodging index of the different rice cultivars revealed the lodging index value of 200 as the critical threshold value of the evaluated rice accessions. Subsequently, an optimized parameter from the lodging index was proposed. This parameter could be interpreted as the magnitude of the external force that the basal second internode could withstand. A comparison of the optimized parameter values of different rice accessions revealed a previously unknown lodging‐resistant variety R379. The application of the optimized parameter would enable an accurate determination and comparison of the lodging resistance among different rice cultivars, thereby contributing to the effective selection of lodging‐resistant cultivars in rice breeding programs.
Multidimensional corporate social responsibility disclosure and financial performance: A meta‐analytical review
Authors: Gupta Jyotirani , Das Niladri
Published: January 2022

The emergence of various Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) disclosure laws around the globe, in the past decade, indicates the significance of CSR for a country as well as for an organization. Organization belief CSR as a strategic tool for enhancing value, still evidence on how CSR disclosure affects financial performance has been inconclusive. To resolve the ambiguity presence in the literature, this study carried out a meta‐analytic investigation based on 168 effect sizes from 73 empirical studies. This study employs a multivariate framework to explore the potential moderators that leads to conflicting results among the focal relationship of the study. The study discovers that if CSR disclosure strategy and measurement technique are adequately addressed with the help of econometric tools, then the true effect of CSR can be observed. Moreover, implications are drawn for academicians and practitioners interested in exploring the relationship between CSR disclosure and financial performance.
A velocity program using the Kanade–Lucas–Tomasi feature‐tracking algorithm with demonstration for pressure and electroosmosis conditions
Authors: Devasagayam Jasen , Bosma Rick , Collier Christopher M.
Published: January 2022

Investigating microfluidic flow profiles is of interest in the microfluidics field for the determination of various characteristics of a lab‐on‐a‐chip system. Microparticle tracking velocimetry uses computational methods upon recording video footage of microfluidic flow to ultimately visualize motion within a microfluidic system across all frames of a video. Current methods are computationally expensive or require extensive instrumentation. A computational method suited to microparticle tracking applications is the robust Kanade–Lucas–Tomasi (KLT) feature‐tracking algorithm. This work explores a microparticle tracking velocimetry program using the KLT feature‐tracking algorithm. The developed program is demonstrated using pressure‐driven and EOF and compared with the respective mathematical fluid flow models. An electrostatics analysis of EOF conditions is performed in the development of the mathematical using a Poisson's Equation solver. This analysis is used to quantify the zeta potential of the electroosmotic system. Overall, the KLT feature‐tracking algorithm presented in this work proved to be highly reliable and computationally efficient for investigations of pressure‐driven and EOF in a microfluidic system.
Drying of NCM Cathode Electrodes with Porous, Nanostructured Particles Versus Compact Solid Particles: Comparative Study of Binder Migration as a Function of Drying Conditions
Authors: Klemens Julian , Schneider Luca , Herbst Eike Christian , Bohn Nicole , Müller Marcus , Bauer Werner , Scharfer Philip , Schabel Wilhelm
Published: January 2022

Porous, nanostructured Li(NixCoyMn)O2 (NCM) achieves an improvement in the fast‐charging capability and the durability of lithium‐ion batteries. This improvement is attributed to an extended electrolyte—active material interface, where the electrochemical reactions take place and thus shorter diffusion paths inside the active material particles are necessary for charge transfer. Due to the porous particle morphology, new processing challenges arise compared to compact solid NCM. Herein, the properties of the slurries and the electrodes made of the two active materials and, in particular, the influence of the drying process on the binder distribution, are comparatively investigated. For the same composition of the slurries, a significantly lower dependence of adhesion force and discharge capacity at higher C‐rates on the drying rate is shown when using porous, nanostructured particles instead of solid particles. Binder migration and thus an inhomogeneous concentration distribution of the polyvinylidene fluoride binder is less pronounced for these electrodes during faster drying. Cell tests with half cells show that after increasing the drying rate by more than 350%, the discharge capacity of the electrodes consisting of solid NCM is reduced by about 63% at 5C while for the electrodes made of porous material no reduction is measured.
Neurite density imaging in amygdala nuclei reveals interindividual differences in neuroticism
Authors: Schlüter Caroline , Fraenz Christoph , Friedrich Patrick , Güntürkün Onur , Genç Erhan
Published: January 2022

Neuroticism is known to have significant health implications. While previous research revealed that interindividual differences in the amygdala function are associated with interindividual differences in neuroticism, the impact of the amygdala’s structure and especially microstructure on variations in neuroticism remains unclear. Here, we present the first study using NODDI to examine the association between the in vivo microstructural architecture of the amygdala and neuroticism at the level of neurites. We, therefore, acquired brain images from 221 healthy participants using advanced multi‐shell diffusion‐weighted imaging. Because the amygdala comprises several nuclei, we, moreover, used a high‐resolution T1 image to automatically segment the amygdala into eight different nuclei. Neuroticism and its facets have been assessed using the NEO‐PI‐R. Finally, we associated neuroticism and its facets with the volume and microstructure of the amygdala nuclei. Statistical analysis revealed that lower neurite density in the lateral amygdala nucleus (La) was significantly associated with higher scores in depression, one of the six neuroticism facets. The La is the sensory relay of the amygdala, filtering incoming information based on previous experiences. Reduced neurite density and related changes in the dendritic structure of the La could impair its filtering function. This again might cause harmless sensory information to be misevaluated as threatening and lead to the altered amygdala responsivity as reported in previous studies investigating the functional correlates of neuroticism and neuroticism‐related disorders like depression.
Evaluation of the peripheral blood T and B cell subsets and IRF‐7 variants in adult patients with severe influenza virus infection
Authors: Çalık Başaran Nursel , Tan Çağman , Özışık Lale , Özbek Begüm , İnkaya Ahmet Çağkan , Alp Şehnaz , Ersoy Ebru Ortaç , Ayvaz Deniz Çağdaş , Tezcan İlhan
Published: January 2022

Background and Aims

Influenza virus is one of the leading infections causing death among human being. Despite known risks, primary immune deficiency due to Interferon Regulatory Factor‐7 (IRF7) gene defect was reported as a possible cause of the risk factors for complicated influenza. We aimed to investigate the changes in peripheral T and B cell subsets in adult patients with severe seasonal influenza virus infection and the investigation of variants of IRF7 gene.

Methods

In this study, 32 patients, hospitalized due to influenza infection‐related acute respiratory failure were included.

Results

The median age of the patients was 76 years (26‐96), and 13/32 (40.6%) were in the intensive care unit. Central memory Th, effector memory Th, TEMRA Th, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), central memory CTL of the patients were found to be increased, naive CTL were decreased. There was a significant increase in the percentage of effector memory Th, and a decrease in the percentage of naive CTL in patients ≥65 years‐old compared to patients <65 years old (P = .039, and P = .017, respectively). IRF7 gene analysis revealed two different nucleotide changes in three patients; c.535 A > G; p.Lys179Glu (K179E) and c584A > T; p.His195Leu (H195L), located in the fourth exon of the IRF7 gene.

Discussion

The increases in central and effector memory Th, central memory CTL and decrease of naive CTLs may be secondary to the virus infection. K179E (rs1061502) and H195L (rs139709725) variants were not reported to be related with susceptibility to an infection yet. It is conceivable to investigate for novel variants in other genes related to antiviral immunity.
Immune‐mediated inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: Beyond Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
Authors: Vuyyuru Sudheer K , Kedia Saurabh , Sahu Pabitra , Ahuja Vineet
Published: January 2022

Immune‐mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are a diverse group of complex inflammatory diseases that result from dysregulated immune pathways and can involve any system of the human body. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is one such disease involving the gastrointestinal (GI) system. With high prevalence in the West and increasing incidence in newly industrialized countries, IBD poses a significant burden on health care. IMIDs of the GI system other than IBD can have similar clinical features, causing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Although these disorders share a common pathophysiology, the defects can occur anywhere in the complex network of cytokines, inflammatory mediators, and innate and adaptive systems, leading to unregulated inflammation. Precise knowledge about them will help determine the possible targeted therapy. Thus, it is essential to distinguish these disorders from IBD. This review describes various IMIDs of the GI tract that mimic IBD.
Multiparametric MRI‐Based Radiomic Signature for Preoperative Evaluation of Overall Survival in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma After Partial Hepatectomy
Authors: Yang Yang , Zou Xianlun , Zhou Wei , Yuan Guanjie , Hu Daoyu , Kuang Dong , Shen Yaqi , Xie Qingguo , Zhang Qingpeng , Hu Xuemei , Li Zhen
Published: January 2022

Background

The clinical outcomes of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) after partial hepatectomy remain suboptimal. Identifying patients with poor outcomes before surgery is urgently required.

Purpose

To develop a multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐based radiomic signature to evaluate overall survival (OS) preoperatively and to investigate its incremental value for disease stratification.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Subjects

One hundred and sixty‐three patients with pathologically defined ICC, divided into training (N = 115) and validation sets (N = 48).

Sequence

Three‐dimensional T1‐weighted gradient‐echo sequence with and without contrast agent, T2‐weighted fast spin‐echo sequence, and diffusion‐weighted imaging with single‐shot echo‐planar sequence at 1.5 T or 3.0 T.

Assessment

OS was defined as the time from the date of surgery to death or last contact. The radiomic signature was built based on the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression model. A clinicopathologic‐radiographic (CPR) model and a combined model integrating radiomic signature with CPR factors were developed with multivariable Cox regression models.

Statistical Tests

Harrell's concordance index (C‐index) was used to compare the discrimination of different models. Net reclassification index (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) were used to quantify the improvement of prognostic accuracy after adding radiomic signature.

Results

The high‐risk patients of death defined by the radiomic signature showed significantly lower OS compared with low‐risk patients in validation set (3‐year OS 17.1% vs. 56.4%, P < 0.001). Integrating radiomic signature into tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) staging system significantly improved the prognostic accuracy compared with TNM stage alone (validation set C‐index 0.745 vs. 0.649, P = 0.039, NRI improvement 39.9%–43.8%, IDI improvement 16.1%–19.4%). The radiomic signature showed no significant difference of C‐index with postoperative CPR model (validation set, 0.698 vs. 0.674, P = 0.752). Incorporating the radiomic signature into CPR model significantly improved prognostic accuracy (NRI improvement 32.5%–34.3%, IDI improvement 8.1%–12.9%).

Data Conclusion

Multiparametric MRI‐based radiomic signature is a potential biomarker for preoperative prognostic evaluation of ICC patients.

Level of Evidence

4

Technical Efficacy

Stage 4
Plasmonic color generation in silver nanocrystal‐over‐mirror films by thermal embedment into a polymer spacer
Authors: Prezgot Daniel , Tatarchuk Stephen W. , Ianoul Anatoli
Published: January 2022

The production of colors by plasmonic nanostructures is an attractive prospect over dyes as they allow ultra‐high resolution, non‐fading colors. Typical techniques for producing plasmonic color patterns such as by electron beam or ion beam lithography are expensive, slow and not well scalable. This work demonstrates a simple, lithography‐free technique for producing plasmonic colors using a silver nanocube (AgNC) based nanoparticle‐over‐mirror (NPoM) system with thermally‐generated colors. AgNC's are deposited over a metal (Au or Ag) film with a polystyrene (PS) dielectric spacer. Upon heating the system past the glass‐transition temperature of PS, the AgNC embed into the polymer, reducing the AgNC/metal film distance. This results in a strong gap‐plasmon that can shift over 200 nm across the visible spectrum during the process. The thermal embedment of AgNC in NPoM systems is tunable across the visible range, producing wide, distinct color palettes depending on the metal film used. This technique can potentially be applied to plasmonic color‐patterning systems to produce high‐resolution microscale or nanoscale patterns over a large area.
‘A fascinating time to be involved with research’ exploring the impact of COVID‐19 on postgraduate psycho‐oncology researchers
Authors: King Lucy , Matthews Sara , Foster Claire , Starkings Rachel , Holch Patricia , Absolom Kate , Archer Stephanie ,   of the British Psychosocial Oncology Society Executive Committee
Published: January 2022

Key points

To explore the COVID‐19 experiences of UK postgraduate research students (PGRs), the British Psychosocial Oncology Society (BPOS) conducted an online survey

Twenty‐three respondents' qualitative data were analysed thematically and summarised using the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) framework

COVID‐19 offered opportunities to develop online skills, resilience, and adaptability, whilst opening wellbeing conversations

PGRs reported practical difficulties, social isolation, unhealthy work/life balance and concerns about future careers

PGRs have had an unprecedented and continually evolving experience; BPOS and relevant institutions must continue to provide adequate support and development opportunities to safeguard their futures
Surface‐Oxide‐Controlled InAlGaN/GaN High‐Electron‐Mobility Transistors Using Al2O3‐Based Insulated‐Gate Structures with H2O Vapor Pretreatment
Authors: Ozaki Shiro , Yaita Junya , Yamada Atsushi , Minoura Yuichi , Ohki Toshihiro , Okamoto Naoya , Nakamura Norikazu , Kotani Junji
Published: January 2022

Herein, Al2O3/InAlGaN/GaN metal–insulator–semiconductor high‐electron‐mobility transistors (MIS‐HEMTs) using H2O vapor pretreatment to decrease the amount of deficient indium oxide (InOx) is successfully developed. InOxacts as an electron trap in the oxide on the surface of the InAlGaN barrier layer. It is clarified that when O2plasma is used as an oxidant source for atomic‐layer‐deposited (ALD) Al2O3(O2plasma‐Al2O3), the forward breakdown voltage increases using the MIS‐HEMT, due to a high density and a low leakage current of O2plasma‐Al2O3. Furthermore, when using O2plasma‐Al2O3for InAlGaN/GaN MIS‐HEMTs, H2O vapor pretreatment is effective in decreasing the amount of InOxand electron traps in the oxide on the surface, thus suppressing current collapse. These results demonstrate the improved output power characteristics of the fabricated Al2O3/InAlGaN/GaN MIS‐HEMT and show the potential of surface‐oxide‐controlled MIS structures as promising process technologies for next‐generation high‐power radio frequency devices.
A number‐between‐events control chart for monitoring finite horizon production processes
Authors: Johannssen Arne , Chukhrova Nataliya , Celano Giovanni , Castagliola Philippe
Published: January 2022

In this paper, we present a number‐between‐events (NBE) control chart for monitoring the fraction nonconforming in finite horizon production (FHP) processes and related specific performance measures. When monitoring fractions nonconforming in FHP processes, the common binomial ‐chart has two crucial limitations: the underlying distributional assumptions are violated when dealing with low‐volume production and a scarce efficiency in the case of processes characterized by a low fraction nonconforming. Thus, an efficient monitoring of FHP processes requires the selection of the correct underlying statistical model: in this case, a distribution from the hypergeometric family of discrete statistical distributions. An efficient statistical monitoring of processes with low fractions nonconforming can be achieved by means of discrete time‐between‐events (TBE) control charts, which count the number of units up to the appearance of a fixed number of nonconforming units in the sample. Here, we present a discrete TBE‐chart, denoted as NBE‐chart, based on the negative hypergeometric distribution that meets numerous requirements of efficient monitoring of FHP processes. The proposed control chart can be conveniently used for both low‐volume and mass production in processes with frequent changeovers.
Model reference adaptive control of piecewise affine systems with state tracking performance guarantees
Authors: Liu Tong , Buss Martin
Published: January 2022

In this paper, we investigate the model reference adaptive control approach for uncertain piecewise affine systems with state tracking performance guarantees. The proposed approach ensures the error metric, defined as the weighted Euclidean norm of the state tracking error, to be confined within a user‐defined time‐varying performance bound. We introduce an auxiliary performance bound to construct a barrier Lyapunov function. This auxiliary performance bound is reset at each switching instant, which prevents the barrier transgression caused by the jumps of the error metric at switching instants. The dwell time constraints are derived such that the auxiliary performance bound resides within the user‐defined performance bound. We prove that the Lyapunov function is nonincreasing at and in between the switching instants. Therefore, it does not impose extra dwell time constraints and ensures the error metric to fulfill the performance guarantees. Furthermore, we study the robust modification of the adaptive controller for the uncertain piecewise affine systems subject to unmatched disturbances. A numerical example validates the correctness of the proposed approach.
Challenges of devising a milk recipe in a hand‐reared hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)
Authors: Henry Barbara A. , Power Michael L. , Maslanka Michael T. , Rencken Camerin A. , Nollman Jennifer A.
Published: January 2022

In January 2017, a Nile hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious) was born approximately six weeks premature at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Due to the calf's weakened condition and lack of interest from the dam, management at the zoo made the decision to hand‐rear the calf. Limited published information was available on hand‐rearing this species of hippopotamus (hippo). To devise a nutritionally appropriate recipe, milk samples were acquired from the dam on Days 1, 3, 8, and 9 postpartum, and assayed for sugar, protein, fat, mineral, and water content using standard methods validated for multiple species of mammals at the Smithsonian National Zoo's Nutrition Science Laboratory. The sugar content stayed relatively constant (mean = 4.5%; range: 4.3%–4.7%). The fat consistently increased from 0.48% to 4.24% (mean = 2%). Excluding Day 9, the protein content gradually decreased from 9.56% to 6.39% (mean = 8%). The dry matter (DM) ranged from 14.38% to 16.72% (i.e., water content of 85.62%–83.28%), with the sum of the solids (sugar, protein, fat, and ash) averaging 98.5% of measured DM. Fat content was lower than expected but within the range of other artiodactyls. Between Days 1 and 8, the trend of decreasing protein and increasing fat was consistent with a change from colostrum to mature milk. The sharp increase in fat and protein with a decrease in sugar on Day 9 may indicate the beginning of the involution of the mammary gland due to lack of nursing stimulus. Utilizing this information, the Cincinnati Zoo was able to formulate a successful milk replacement recipe that allowed the calf to be raised through weaning to maturity.
WNT/beta-catenin signalling interrupts a senescence-induction cascade in human mesenchymal stem cells that restricts their expansion
Authors: Lehmann Johannes , Narcisi Roberto , Franceschini Natasja , Chatzivasileiou Danai , Boer Cindy G. , Koevoet Wendy J. L. M. , Putavet Diana , Drabek Dubravka , van Haperen Rien , de Keizer Peter L. J. , van Osch Gerjo J. V. M. , ten Berge Derk
Published: January 2022

Senescence, the irreversible cell cycle arrest of damaged cells, is accompanied by a deleterious pro-inflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Senescence and the SASP are major factors in aging, cancer, and degenerative diseases, and interfere with the expansion of adult cells in vitro, yet little is known about how to counteract their induction and deleterious effects. Paracrine signals are increasingly recognized as important senescence triggers and understanding their regulation and mode of action may provide novel opportunities to reduce senescence-induced inflammation and improve cell-based therapies. Here, we show that the signalling protein WNT3A counteracts the induction of paracrine senescence in cultured human adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). We find that entry into senescence in a small subpopulation of MSCs triggers a secretome that causes a feed-forward signalling cascade that with increasing speed induces healthy cells into senescence. WNT signals interrupt this cascade by repressing cytokines that mediate this induction of senescence. Inhibition of those mediators by interference with NF-κB or interleukin 6 signalling reduced paracrine senescence in absence of WNT3A and promoted the expansion of MSCs. Our work reveals how WNT signals can antagonize senescence and has relevance not only for expansion of adult cells but can also provide new insights into senescence-associated inflammatory and degenerative diseases.
Accuracy control for roll and sheet processed printed electronics on flexible plastic substrates
Authors: Välimäki Marja K. , Jansson Elina , Von Morgen Valentijn J. J. , Ylikunnari Mari , Väisänen Kaisa-Leena , Ontero Pekka , Kehusmaa Minna , Korhonen Pentti , Kraft Thomas M.
Published: January 2022

For the first time, the necessity to thermally pre-treat ubiquitously used PET substrates for printed electronics, to improve dimensional stability during manufacturing, is clearly defined. The experimental results have proven this phenomenon for both roll-to-roll (R2R) and sheet-to-sheet (S2S) processing of printed electronics. The next generation of electronics manufacturing has pushed the boundaries for low-cost, flexible, printed, and mass produced electronic components and systems. A driving force, and enabling production method, are the R2R printing presses. However, to produce electronics with increasing complexity and high yield in volume production, one must have a highly accurate process. In this article, R2R processing accuracy of printed electronics is evaluated from the point of dimensional accuracy of the flexible polyester substrate (DuPont Teijin Films’ PET Melinex ST504 with and without indium tin oxide, Melinex ST506, and Melinex PCS), precision of printing, and accuracy of layer-to-layer registration with stages that involve tension and elevated temperatures. This study has confirmed that dimensional changes during R2R processing will occur only in the first processing stage and that if a thermal pre-treatment run for the substrate is made—at identical temperature and tension of the processing stage—there is improved stability originating from a new-level strain in the crystalline PET film structure and freezing it in at the tensions and temperatures it is exposed to (i.e. 1400 μm machine direction stretching reduced to 8 μm). Furthermore, it is explained how the dimensional accuracy can be improved and reproducibly maintained in multilayer printing of electronics devices such as organic photovoltaics (OPV). These devices provide a valuable baseline of how the layer-to-layer alignment accuracy plays a crucial role in fully printed electronics devices, which lessons can be applied in all aspects of this field including hybrid systems and system fabrication involving multiple processing methods.
High-resolution human KIR genotyping
Authors: Downing Jonathan , D’Orsogna Lloyd
Published: January 2022

Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) regulate the function of natural killer cells through interactions with various ligands on the surface of cells, thereby determining whether natural killer (NK) cells are to be activated or inhibited from killing the cell being interrogated. The genes encoding these proteins display extensive variation through variable gene content, copy number and allele polymorphism. The combination of KIR genes and their ligands is implicated in various clinical settings including haematopoietic stem cell and solid organ transplant and infectious disease progression. The determination of KIR genes has been used as a factor in the selection of optimal stem cell donors with haplotype variations in recipient and donor giving differential clinical outcomes. Methods to determine KIR genes have primarily involved ascertaining the presence or absence of genes in an individual. With the more recent introduction of massively parallel clonal next-generation sequencing and single molecule very long read length third-generation sequencing, high-resolution determination of KIR alleles has become feasible. Determining the extent and functional impact of allele variation has the potential to lead to further optimisation of clinical outcomes as well as a deeper understanding of the functional properties of the receptors and their interactions with ligands. This review summarizes recently published high-resolution KIR genotyping methods and considers the various advantages and disadvantages of the approaches taken. In addition the application of allele level genotyping in the setting of transplantation and infectious disease control is discussed.
Biome-specific distribution of Ni-containing carbon monoxide dehydrogenases
Authors: Inoue Masao , Omae Kimiho , Nakamoto Issei , Kamikawa Ryoma , Yoshida Takashi , Sako Yoshihiko
Published: January 2022

Ni-containing carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (Ni-CODH) plays an important role in the CO/CO2-based carbon and energy metabolism of microbiomes. Ni-CODH is classified into distinct phylogenetic clades, A–G, with possibly distinct cellular roles. However, the types of Ni-CODH clade used by organisms in different microbiomes are unknown. Here, we conducted a metagenomic survey of a protein database to determine the relationship between the phylogeny and biome distribution of Ni-CODHs. Clustering and phylogenetic analyses showed that the metagenome assembly-derived Ni-CODH sequences were distributed in ~ 60% Ni-CODH clusters and in all Ni-CODH clades. We also identified a novel Ni-CODH clade, clade H. Biome mapping on the Ni-CODH phylogenetic tree revealed that Ni-CODHs of almost all the clades were found in natural aquatic environmental and engineered samples, whereas those of specific subclades were found only in host-associated samples. These results are comparable with our finding that the diversity in the phylum-level taxonomy of host-associated Ni-CODH owners is statistically different from those of the other biomes. Our findings suggest that while Ni-CODH is a ubiquitous enzyme produced across diverse microbiomes, its distribution in each clade is biased and mainly affected by the distinct composition of microbiomes.
Psoriatic arthritis with hyperuricemia: more peripheral, destructive, and challenging to treat
Authors: Widawski L. , Fabacher T. , Spielmann L. , Gottenberg JE. , Sibilia J. , Duret PM. , Messer L. , Felten R.
Published: January 2022

Objective

To study the impact of hyperuricemia on clinical presentation, severity, and associated comorbidities of psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods

Retrospective bicentric case–control study performed in Strasbourg and Colmar, France, from 2009 to 2019. Patients with PsA (according to ICD-10 coding) and at least one available serum urate (SU) measurement were included. Demographic, comorbidities, clinical, and radiographic data were collected. Hyperuricemia was defined as SU level ≥ 360 µmol/L.

Results

We included 242 patients: 73 (30.2%) had hyperuricemia and 15 (6.2%) met 2015 ACR/EULAR criteria for gout. On univariate analysis, as compared with normo-uricemic patients, hyperuricemic patients were more frequently male (72.6% vs 39.1%, p = 1.6 × 10−6) with higher body mass index (30.9 vs 28.7 kg/m2, p = 0.015) and more comorbidities (Charlson comorbidity index: 2.6 vs 1.8, p = 0.005). PsA started at an older age (47.5 vs 43 years, p = 0.016) was more polyarticular (56.2% vs 41.9%, p = 0.049) than axial (9.6% vs 22.8%, p = 0.019) and more destructive (52.8% vs 37.4%, p = 0.032). PsA patients with joint destruction more frequently had hyperuricemia than did others (37.6% vs 25.8%, p = 0.047). Multivariable analysis confirmed the association of hyperuricemic PsA with peripheral joint involvement (odds ratio 2.98; 95% confidence interval 1.15–7.75; p = 0.025) and less good response to treatment (0.35; 0.15–0.87; p = 0.024).

Conclusion

Patients with hyperuricemic PsA show poorer response to PsA treatment and have more peripheral and destructive joint damage than normo-uricemic patients.

Key Points• Gout and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) can co-exist in the same patient.• Monosodium urate crystals might have a deleterious impact on PsA.• Hyperuricemic PsA is more polyarticular, less frequently axial, and more destructive than normo-uricemic PsA.• PsA with hyperuricemia should lead to more personalized medicine.