bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Circ_LAS1L regulates cardiac fibroblast activation, growth, and migration through miR‐125b/SFRP5 pathway
Authors: Sun Li‐ye , Zhao Jin‐chao , Ge Xiao‐ming , Zhang Hui , Wang Chuan‐mei , Bie Zi‐dong
Published: January 2020

Current studies have shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) are closely related in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Previous studies have shown that miR‐125b promotes fibrosis and up‐regulates in cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), and further experiments showed that circ_LAS1L had multiple binding sites of miR‐125b, and their expression was inversely related in AMI patients and CFs. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), pull down, and dual luciferase reporter gene assay all confirmed that miR‐125b directly bound to circ_LAS1L. Circ_LAS1L overexpression promoted the expression of downstream target gene secreted frizzled‐related protein 5 (SFRP5), inhibited the expression of alpha‐SMA, collagen I, and collagen III, inhibited CF proliferation and migration, and promoted apoptosis. When cotransfected with circ_LAS1L overexpression vector and miR‐125b mimics, the above gene expression and CF biological behaviours did not change significantly. But when cotransfected with circ_LAS1L overexpression vector and SFRP5 siRNA, SFRP5 expression was still down‐regulated, the expression of alpha‐SMA, collagen I, and collagen III was up‐regulated, and the proliferation and migration of CFs were increased. Therefore, circ_LAS1L inhibits the activity of miR‐125b by adsorbing it, thus promoting the expression of SFRP5 and then regulating the biological characteristics of CFs. These findings may provide an important experimental basis for the regulation of myocardial fibrosis after myocardial infarction.

Significance of the study

Studies have shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play important roles in cardiovascular diseases, but there are few studies on their roles in the process of myocardial fibrosis. In this study, we found that circ_LAS1L was down‐regulated in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients and cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), and could bind directly to miR‐125b, thereby promoting the expression of downstream target gene secreted frizzled‐related protein 5 (SFRP5), ultimately inhibiting the activation, proliferation and migration of CF, and promoting apoptosis. This suggests that circ_LAS1L/miR‐125b/SFRP5 pathway can regulate the biological function of CF and may play an important role in the process of myocardial fibrosis, thus providing an important theoretical basis for the regulation of myocardial fibrosis after myocardial infarction.
Nitroprolinates as Nucleophiles in Michael‐type Additions and Acylations. Synthesis of Enantiomerically Enriched Fused Amino‐pyrrolidino‐[1,2‐a]pyrazinones and ‐diketopiperazines
Authors: García‐Mingüens Eduardo , Selva Verónica , Larrañaga Olatz , Nájera Carmen , Sansano José M. , de Cózar Abel
Published: January 2020

The enantioselective formation of nitroprolinates followed by diastereoselective Michael‐type addition onto a second unit of the nitro alkene is studied. The reaction occurred in a one pot‐sequential process controlled by the chiral phosphoramidite⋅silver benzoate complex. The origin of the high diastereoselectivity is studied by DFT computational analysis where the crucial effect of the benzoic acid is justified. The employment of this strategy to the preparation of pyrazine‐2‐ones is also surveyed, as well as the preparation of diketopiperazines from enantiomerically enriched exo‐prolinates using conventional N‐acylation‐amination‐cyclization steps.
Construction of 2D‐ZnS@ZnO Z‐Scheme Heterostructured Nanosheets with a Highly Ordered ZnO Core and Disordered ZnS Shell for Enhancing Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Luan Qingrui , Chen Qifeng , Zheng Jie , Guan Ruifang , Fang Yanfen , Hu Xun
Published: January 2020

Heterostructure and defects in photocatalyst play highly important role in photocatalysis. Formation of 2D‐ZnS@ZnO Z‐scheme heterostructure and introduction of zinc interstitial defects into ZnO were successfully achieved through a facile in‐situ ion‐exchange hydrothermal approach, and the photocatalysts exhibited high photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution. The heterointerface between the highly ordered ZnO core and disordered ZnS shell, and the zinc interstitial, facilitate the transfer and separation of charge carriers, resulting in high photocatalytic activity. The 2D‐ZnS@ZnO photocatalyst with a disordered ZnS layer of about 8 nm in thickness exhibited a photocurrent density about 7.2 times than that of ZnO, which is mainly attributed to the facilitative effect on interface transfer and the increased charge density. In addition, the photocatalytic activity can be adjusted via changing the thickness of the disordered ZnS overlayer. This work provides a strategy for the design of the heterointerface photocatalysts combined with defect engineering, through which the photocatalytic activity can be remarkably improved.
Surfactant‐Assisted Symmetry Breaking in Colloidal Gold Nanocrystal Growth
Authors: González‐Rubio Guillermo , Scarabelli Leonardo , Guerrero‐Martínez Andrés , Liz‐Marzán Luis M.
Published: January 2020

Colloidal anisotropic gold nanocrystals play a central role in the field of plasmonics owing to their tunable optical activity across a wide spectral range. However, achieving sufficient optical quality for practical implementation requires advanced synthetic protocols yielding gold nanocrystals with the desired morphology and plasmonic properties. This Minireview focuses on a fundamental step during the growth of anisotropic nanocrystals, namely symmetry breaking. In connection with thermodynamic and kinetic control of nanocrystal growth, we discuss the complex interplay between the role of seed morphology and that of surfactants, shape‐directing additives and reducing agents. We revisit some iconic syntheses of anisotropic gold nanoparticles, including nanorods, nanotriangles, and nanobipyramids. Finally, we analyze the use of co‐surfactants as an emerging strategy to disconnect the symmetry breaking event from the anisotropic growth process, overcoming current limitations in the synthesis of anisotropic gold nanocrystals.
Effects of Lasmiditan on Cardiovascular Parameters and Pharmacokinetics in Healthy Subjects Receiving Oral Doses of Propranolol
Authors: Tsai Max , Case Michael , Ardayfio Paul , Hochstetler Helen , Wilbraham Darren
Published: January 2020

Lasmiditan (LY573144/COL‐144) is a high‐affinity, centrally penetrant, selective 5‐HT1F receptor agonist currently under investigation for acute treatment of migraine. Although lasmiditan is not known to induce vasoconstriction, it remains important to understand its effect on cardiovascular parameters because it is likely to be coadministered with β‐adrenergic receptor antagonists used for migraine prophylaxis, such as propranolol. This phase 1, single‐center, open‐label, fixed‐sequence study evaluated the cardiovascular and pharmacokinetic effects of 200 mg lasmiditan in 44 healthy subjects receiving repeated oral doses of twice‐daily 80 mg propranolol under fasting conditions. Coadministration caused statistically significant decreases in mean hourly heart rate relative to propranolol alone, but the maximum magnitude of this effect was –6.5 bpm and recovered to predose levels by 3 to 4 hours before stabilizing. Additionally, short‐lived (≤2.5 hours) statistically significant increases in systolic blood pressure (8.3 mm Hg) and diastolic blood pressure (6.4 mm Hg) were observed following coadministration. Consistent with the largely nonoverlapping metabolic pathways of lasmiditan and propranolol, exposure to either drug was not affected by coadministration. Overall, compared with administration of either drug alone, coadministration was generally well tolerated.
An effective deep learning neural network model for short‐term load forecasting
Authors: Li Ning , Wang Lu , Li Xinquan , Zhu Qing
Published: January 2020

Energy load forecasting plays an important role in the smart grid, which can affect the promoting energy production and consumption decision‐making processes. In this paper, the state‐of‐the‐art deep learning (DL) neural models are used in the short‐term load forecasting, including the multilayer perceptron (MLP), the convolutional neural network (CNN), and the long short‐term memory (LSTM). A novel loss function is proposed for the load forecasting, and two commonly used benchmarks are used to verify the validity of the proposed function. The simulation results show that the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of the proposed loss function is 19.63% lower than cross‐entropy and 2.34% lower than mean absolute error (MAE). We compared the mentioned neural networks in different aspects, and the results show that in energy load forecasting, CNN has superior performance than MLP and LSTM in terms of high accuracy and robustness to weather changes.
Mode of reproduction and meiotic chromosome behavior in Acroceras macrum
Authors: Ferrari Usandizaga Silvana C. , Martínez Eric J. , Schedler Mara , Honfi Ana I. , Acuña Carlos A.
Published: January 2020

Acroceras macrum Stapf is a high‐quality C3 grass species adapted to the subtropics. It is a valuable forage resource in frequently flooded environments. The objectives were to analyze the type of polyploidy, mode of reproduction, and estimate seed and pollen fertility. A living collection of 22 tetraploid and five hexaploid genotypes of A. macrum was analyzed. Type of polyploidy was analyzed from chromosomal pairing at diakinesis and prometaphase I, and meiotic irregularities were evaluated during the microsporogenesis. Pollen viability was also examined. Bivalents predominated in tetraploids and trivalents in hexaploids. Meiotic abnormalities were more frequent in hexaploids than in tetraploids, and they were mainly related to mechanisms of chromosome nondisjunction. The reproductive mode was determined by cytological analysis of megasporogenesis and megagametogenesis, seed fertility under different pollination methods, and molecular progeny tests. In both tetraploid and hexaploid races, only the development of single meiotically derived embryo sacs was observed. Greater seed production in outcrossing compared with selfing indicated a primarily allogamous matting system. Progenies from crosses between genetically different tetraploid genotypes amplified male‐specific molecular markers, indicating a hybrid origin and solid evidence of sexual reproduction. Population breeding approaches developed for sexual cross‐pollinated species are suited for improving A. macrum.
Atomic Force Microscopy and Molecular Dynamics Simulations for Study of Lignin Solution Self‐Assembly Mechanisms in Organic–Aqueous Solvent Mixtures
Authors: Wang Jingyu , Qian Yong , Li Libo , Qiu Xueqing
Published: January 2020

Lignin‐based nanomaterials fabricated by solution self‐assembly in organic–aqueous solvent mixtures are among the most attractive biomass‐derived products. To accurately control the structure, size, and properties of lignin‐based nanomaterials, it is important to achieve fundamental understanding of its dissolution and aggregation mechanisms. In this work, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are employed to explore the dissolution and aggregation behavior of enzymatic hydrolysis lignin (EHL) in different organic–aqueous solvent mixtures at molecular scale. EHL was found to dissolve well in appropriate organic–aqueous solvent mixtures, such as acetone–water mixture with a volume ratio of 7:3, whereas it aggregated in pure water, ethanol, acetone, and tetrahydrofuran. The interactions between the EHL‐coated AFM probe and the substrate were 1.21±0.18 and 0.75±0.35 mN m−1 in water and acetone, respectively. In comparison, the interaction decreased to 0.15±0.08 mN m−1 in acetone–water mixture (7:3 v/v). MD simulations further indicate that the hydrophobic skeleton and hydrophilic groups of lignin could be solvated by acetone and water molecules, respectively, which significantly promoted its dissolution. Conversely, only the hydrophobic skeleton or the hydrophilic groups were solvated in organic solvent or water, respectively, inducing serious aggregation of lignin.
A wirelessly powered low‐power digital temperature sensor
Authors: Amin Syed Usman , Shahbaz Muhammad Aaquib , Jawed Syed Arsalan , Naveed Muhammad , Hassan Ayesha , Mahar Asma , Khan Fahd , Masood Noman , Kaleem Danish , Warsi Zain Hussain , Junaid Muhammad
Published: January 2020

A wirelessly powered temperature sensor is presented in complementary metal‐oxide‐semiconductor (CMOS) 180‐nm process. The wireless power transfer (WPT) is performed using resonant magnetic coupling, and a diode‐less AC to DC conversion is achieved through a quadrature‐oscillator with native‐MOS. The quadrature‐signals are subsequently used to control the diode‐less rectifier switches. The on‐chip temperature sensor exploits the subthreshold region temperature, and the sensed temperature is converted to frequency using a ring‐oscillator, which is implemented using differential cross coupled oscillator‐based delay cells. The temperature sensor architecture also employs a temperature‐insensitive replica circuit to minimize process dependence and enhance power‐supply rejection ratio (PSRR) of the sensing process. The application‐specific integrated circuit has been designed and fabricated in 180‐nm CMOS process and has dimensions of 2 mm × 2 mm. The measurement results demonstrate that the WPT circuit generates a DC voltage of 1V with a power transfer efficiency of 85% for distances 2 to 8 mm with settling time of microseconds to milliseconds. The temperature sensor demonstrates a resolution of < ±0.6C with a sensitivity of 0.52 mV/C and 126.9 Hz/C along with PSRR of −63dB and Integral Non‐Linraity (INL) of 5% measured across six different dies. The back‐scattering communication demonstrates a −53‐dB signal at a distance of 4 mm without affecting the WPT efficiency. The total power consumption of the temperature sensor along with the integrated biases is 120 nW.
Use of visual surveys and radiotelemetry reveals sources of detection bias for a cryptic snake at low densities
Authors: Boback Scott M. , Nafus Melia G. , Yackel Adams Amy A. , Reed Robert N.
Published: January 2020

Transect surveys are frequently used to estimate distribution and abundance of species across a landscape, yet a proportion of individuals present will be missed because either they were out of view and unavailable for detection or they were available but not detected because the surveyors missed them. These situations lead to availability and perception bias, respectively, and can result in misleading estimates of abundance and habitat use. In this study, we examined potential biases of visual surveys used for the brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis), a cryptic invasive snake responsible for the extirpation of at least 15 vertebrates on Guam. We simultaneously executed visual surveys and radiotelemetry in a low‐density population of brown tree snakes with two goals in mind: to assess the efficacy of visual surveys in detecting subjects at low densities and to identify sources of perception and availability bias in such surveys. Results indicated that with considerable effort, visual surveys can predict the presence of this cryptic reptile even at low densities (0.4 animals/ha) but perform poorly at predicting areas of high use resulting in inaccurate estimates of relative habitat importance. Telemetered snakes used densely foliated plants includingPandanus tectoriusand ferns (epiphytic and terrestrial species) for nearly half of their time, yet <9% of visual survey observations occurred in these microhabitats. Visibility of snakes decreased as they perched higher in the canopy mirroring the disparity between visual survey and telemetry detections but was also surprisingly low near the forest floor (0–1 m). Microhabitats identified in this study are likely to disproportionately affect visual surveys and would be appropriate resources to target for management purposes. When there is critical need to prevent false negatives, such as during an incipient invasion elsewhere, targeted searches of high‐use resources could augment other detection tools to improve detection probabilities of this and other cryptic species.
The lead (Pb) lining of agriculture‐related subsidies: enhanced Golden Eagle growth rates tempered by Pb exposure
Authors: Herring Garth , Eagles‐Smith Collin A. , Buck Jeremy A. , Shiel Alyssa E. , Vennum Chris R. , Emery Colleen , Johnson Branden , Leal David , Heath Julie A. , Dudek Benjamin M. , Preston Charles R. , Woodbridge Brian
Published: January 2020

Supplementary food resources (e.g., subsidies) associated with agriculture can benefit wildlife species, increasing predictability and availability of food. Avian scavengers including raptors often utilize subsidies associated with both recreational hunting and pest shooting on agricultural lands. However, these subsidies can contain lead (Pb) fragments if they are culled with Pb‐based ammunition, potentially leading to Pb poisoning and physiological impairment in wildlife. Nesting Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) commonly forage in agricultural lands during the breeding season, and therefore, both adults and their nestlings are susceptible to Pb exposure from scavenging shot wildlife. We assessed drivers of Pb exposure in 258 nestling Golden Eagles (401 total blood samples), along with physiological and growth responses, in agricultural lands across four western states in the United States. We also evaluated the birds’ Pb stable isotope signatures to inform exposure sources. Twenty‐six percent of Golden Eagle nestlings contained Pb concentrations associated with subclinical poisoning for sensitive species (0.03–0.2 μg/g ww), 4% had Pb concentrations that exceeded subclinical poisoning benchmarks (0.2–0.5 μg/g ww), and <1% exceeded either concentrations associated with clinical poisoning (0.5–1.0 μg/g ww) and or those deemed to cause severe clinical poisoning (>1.0 μg/g ww). Lead concentrations were highest in nestlings with close proximity to fields that potentially provided subsidies and declined exponentially as distance to subsidies increased. However, close proximity to agriculture, and presumably subsidies, positively influenced nestling growth rates. Across the range of Pb exposure, nestlings experienced a 67% reduction in delta‐aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ‐ALAD) activity, suggesting nestlings may have been anemic or experiencing cellular damage. Isotopic ratios of 206Pb/207Pb increased non‐linearly with increasing blood Pb in Golden Eagle nestlings, and 45% of the birds were consistent with those of ammunition. However, above 0.10 μg/g ww, the proportion associated with ammunition increased to 89% of the nestlings. An improved understanding of how these positive (growth) and negative (physiology) effects associated with proximity to subsidies interact would be beneficial to managers when considering management scenarios and potentially evaluating any measures taken to reduce Pb exposure across the landscape.
Recent Research Progress of Anode Materials for Potassium‐ion Batteries
Authors: Zhang Chenglin , Zhao Huaping , Lei Yong
Published: January 2020

The next‐generation smart grid for the storage and delivery of renewable energy urgently needs to develop a low‐cost and rechargeable energy storage technology beyond lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). Owing to the abundance of potassium (K) resources and the similar electrochemical performance to that of LIBs, potassium‐ion batteries (PIBs) have been attracted considerable interest in recent years, and significant progress has been achieved concerning the discovery of high‐performance electrode materials for PIBs. This review especially summarizes the latest research progress regarding anode materials for PIBs, including carbon materials, organic materials, alloys, metal‐based compounds, and other new types of compounds. The reversible K‐ion storage principle and the electrochemical performance (i.e., capacity, potential, rate capability, and cyclability) of these developed anode materials are summarized. Furthermore, the challenges and the corresponding effective strategies to enhance the battery performance of the anode materials are highlighted. Finally, prospects of the future development of high‐performance anode materials for PIBs are discussed.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Alkoxycarbonylation of sec‐Benzylic Ethers
Authors: Schneider Carolin , Jackstell Ralf , Maes Bert U. W. , Beller Matthias
Published: January 2020

Herein, we report the palladium‐catalyzed synthesis of 3‐arylpropionate esters starting from secondary benzylic ethers. With this investigation it could be shown that ethers are suitable starting materials in addition to the established carbonylation reactions of olefins, alcohols, or aryl halides.
Transient Analysis of a Current‐Driven Full Wave AC/DC Converter for Indirect Characterization of Piezoelectric Devices during Energy Harvesting
Authors: Kraśny Marcin J. , Bowen Christopher R. , Michel Coralie , Taylor John T.
Published: January 2020

This article provides a new approach to extract piezoelectric energy harvester properties, namely, capacitance and current, from the increase of voltage with time on a storage capacitor after full wave rectification. The work provides a derivation of a more complete expression for the development of the output voltage with time, from which the equilibrium expression used in earlier publications appears as a limiting case. This new formulation enables an accurate estimate of the sinusoidal driving current and the shunt capacitance to be made without recourse to direct measurement. Using the analysis with both simulated and experimental data, a four‐step procedure is proposed that requires only the measurement of the initial slope of the voltage–time profile and the final settling value. This approach allows the much studied method of converting the piezoelectric output into charge stored on a capacitor to provide a unique indirect measurement method of the driving current and device capacitance while the piezoelectric energy harvester operates at a variety of conditions, such as frequency, temperature, stress, and strain.
Integrated UAS and LiDAR reveals the importance of land cover and flood magnitude on the formation of incipient chute holes and chute cutoff development
Authors: Lewis Quinn W. , Edmonds Douglas A. , Yanites Brian J.
Published: January 2020

Meandering river sinuosity increases until the channel erodes into itself (neck cutoff) or forms a new channel over the floodplain (chute cutoff) and sinuosity is reduced. Unlike neck cutoff, which can be measured or modelled without considering overbank processes, chute cutoff must be at least partially controlled by channel‐forming processes on the floodplain. Even though chute cutoff controls meandering river form, the processes that cause chute cutoff are not well understood. This study analyses the morphology of two incipient chute cutoffs along the East Fork White River, Indiana, USA, using high temporal and spatial resolution UAS‐based LiDAR and aerial photography. LiDAR and aerial imagery obtained between 1998 and 2019 reveals that large scour holes formed in the centre of both chutes sometime after chute channel initiation. A larger analysis within the study watershed reveals that scour holes within incipient chutes can be stable or unstable, and tend to stabilize when the chute is colonized by native vegetation and forest. When the scour holes form in farmed floodplain, they enlarge rapidly after initial formation and contribute to complete chute cutoff. In addition, this study shows that the formation of scour holes can occur in response to common, relatively low‐magnitude floods and that the amount of incipient chute erosion does not depend on peak flood magnitude. The role of scour holes in enlarging chute channels could be an important mechanism for chute channel evolution in meandering rivers. This study also confirms that understanding the relationships among flow, land cover, and cutoff morphology is substantially improved with on‐demand remote sensing techniques like integrated UAS and LiDAR. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Token system‐based efficient route optimization in mobile ad hoc network for vehicular ad hoc network in smart city
Authors: Sultanuddin S. J. , Ali Hussain Md.
Published: January 2020

Mobile ad hoc network (MANET) is a well‐known wireless hoc network, which several nodes combined together to form a network. These nodes do not have any structure that forms network by self‐configuring. In the global area, MANET is one of the popular technologies. At present, the most important real‐time challenge in MANET is efficient routing. This is because of dynamic topology and resource constraints. Several existing researcher's workfare were done in an achieving efficient routing mechanism. In our work, we propose a token agent‐based route planning protocol for achieving reliable routing. Vehicular ad hoc network (VANET) is advanced concept of the MANET. VANET can be performed in various smart cities, and it travels each city from source to destination. This token system consists of a token agent that monitors and operates the whole network. The tokens are responsible for collecting nodes activity details such as mobile node energy, node location, and speed. Later, its current and previous information is up‐to‐date and inmate to the token agent for further process in the network. Our proposed routing protocol is well applicable for typical application and a multimedia application. In order to transfer typical packets, our proposed scheme finds the shortest path based on the collect the information.
Market making under a weakly consistent limit order book model
Authors: Law Baron , Viens Frederi
Published: January 2020

We develop a new market‐making model, from the ground up, which is tailored toward high‐frequency trading under a limit order book (LOB), based on the well‐known classification of order types in market microstructure. Our flexible framework allows arbitrary order volume, price jump, and bid‐ask spread distributions as well as the use of market orders. It also honors the consistency of price movements upon arrivals of different order types. For example, it is apparent that prices should never go down on buy market orders. In addition, it respects the price‐time priority of LOB. In contrast to the approach of regular control on diffusion as in the classical Avellaneda and Stoikov (Quantitative Finance, 8, 217, 2008) market‐making framework, we exploit the techniques of optimal switching and impulse control on marked point processes, which have proven to be very effective in modeling the order book features. The Hamilton‐Jacobi‐Bellman quasi‐variational inequality (HJBQVI) associated with the control problem can be solved numerically via finite‐difference method. We illustrate our optimal trading strategy with a full numerical analysis, calibrated to the order book statistics of a popular exchanged‐traded fund (ETF). Our simulation shows that the profit of market‐making can be severely overstated under LOBs with inconsistent price movements.
Advanced low‐dimensional carbon materials for flexible devices
Authors: Das Chandreyee M. , Kang Lixing , Ouyang Qingling , Yong Ken‐Tye
Published: January 2020

We live in a digitized era, where we are completely surrounded by a plethora of automated electronic systems, be it a smart home energy controller or a self‐operated diagnostic kiosk in a clinic. With the recent advent of one‐dimensional (1D) and two‐dimensional (2D) nanomaterials like carbon nanotube (CNT) and graphene, the world of electronics has revolutionized with state‐of‐the‐art product paradigms. These nanomaterials possess desirable features of large surface area, excellent electrical conductivity, and high mechanical strength. Electronic devices made out of these materials have the added advantages of being flexible, light‐weight, and durable. Thus, present‐day devices that utilize these substances as channel or electrode materials have been able to undergo a positive transformation as compared with conventional structures. Flexibility and bendability are some of the coveted aesthetics of modern‐day electronics and the use of these 1D and 2D nanomaterials imparts such features to the devices, without having to compromise on key output characteristics like sensitivity and efficiency. In this short review, we discuss about various new configurations that are based on graphene, CNT, and other materials like transition metal dichalcogenides, and how these materials have been able to metamorphose the attributes of conventional devices.

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Recent progress on flexible nanogenerators toward self‐powered systems
Authors: Liu Yiming , Wang Lingyun , Zhao Ling , Yu Xinge , Zi Yunlong
Published: January 2020

The advances in wearable/flexible electronics have triggered tremendous demands for flexible power sources, where flexible nanogenerators, capable of converting mechanical energy into electricity, demonstrate its great potential. Here, recent progress on flexible nanogenerators for mechanical energy harvesting toward self‐powered systems, including flexible piezoelectric and triboelectric nanogenerator, is reviewed. The emphasis is mainly on the basic working principle, the newly developed materials and structural design as well as associated typical applications for energy harvesting, sensing, and self‐powered systems. In addition, the progress of flexible hybrid nanogenerator in terms of its applications is also highlighted. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives toward flexible self‐powered systems are reviewed.

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GZ17‐6.02 initiates DNA damage causing autophagosome‐dependent HDAC degradation resulting in enhanced anti‐PD1 checkpoint inhibitory antibody efficacy
Authors: Booth Laurence , Roberts Jane L. , West Cameron , Von Hoff Daniel , Dent Paul
Published: January 2020

Our studies examined the molecular mechanisms by which the novel cancer therapeutic GZ17‐6.02 (NCT03775525) killed GI tumor cells. TZ17‐6.02 activated ATM which was responsible for increased phosphorylation of nuclear γH2AX and AMPKα T172. ATM‐AMPK signaling was responsible for the subsequent inactivation of mTORC1 and mTORC2, dephosphorylation of ULK1 S757, and increased phosphorylation of ULK1 S317 and of ATG13 S318, which collectively caused enhanced autophagosome formation. GZ17‐6.02 interacted with 5‐fluorouracil in an additive to greater than additive fashion to kill all of the tested GI tumor cell types. This was associated with greater ATM activation and a greater mammalian target of rapamycin inactivation and autophagosome induction. As a result, autophagy‐dependent degradation of multiple histone deacetylase (HDAC) proteins and chaperone proteins occurred. Loss of HDAC expression was causal in reduced expression of programed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1), ornithine decarboxylase, and indole amine 2,3‐dioxygenase (IDO1) and in the elevated expression of major histocompatibility complex Class IA (MHCA). Treatment with GZ17‐6.02 also resulted in enhanced efficacy of a subsequently administered anti‐PD1 checkpoint inhibitory antibody. Thus, the primary mode of GZ17‐6.02 action is to induce a DNA damage response concomitant with ATM activation, that triggers a series of interconnected molecular events that result in tumor cell death and enhanced immunogenicity.
TRIM59, amplified in ovarian cancer, promotes tumorigenesis through the MKP3/ERK pathway
Authors: Tong Xiaojing , Mu Peng , Zhang Yuhua , Zhao Jiao , Wang Xiaobin
Published: January 2020

Tripartite motif containing 59 (TRIM59) functions as an oncoprotein in various human cancers including ovarian cancer. In this study, we found that TRIM59 gene amplification was prevalent in ovarian cancer tissues, and its amplification was significantly correlated with poorer overall survival. Moreover, knockdown of TRIM59 in SKOV3 and OVCAR3 cells, which had relatively high level of TRIM59, suppressed glucose uptake and lactate production. TRIM59 knockdown also decreased the expression of c‐Myc and lactate dehydrogenase A, and the phosphorylation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK). TRIM59 overexpression in A2780 cells, which expressed low level of TRIM59, showed reverse effects. Notably, treatment with an ERK inhibitor (PD98059) completely abolished the oncogenic effects of TRIM59 overexpression. Interestingly, TRIM59 increased the ubiquitination of MAP kinase phosphatase 3 (MKP3), which may dephosphorylate and inactivate ERK. Ectopic expression of MKP3 inhibited the promoting effects of TRIM59 on glycolysis and the phosphorylation of ERK. TRIM59 protein expression was negatively correlated with MKP3 protein expression in ovarian cancer tissues. Finally, TRIM59 amplification potently affected the anticancer effect of 3‐bromopyruvate, an inhibitor of glycolysis, in ovarian cancer cells and patient‐derived xenograft. In conclusion, these results suggest that TRIM59 may regulate glycolysis in ovarian cancer via the MKP3/ERK pathway.
Evolution of epimorphosis in mammals
Authors: Muneoka Ken , Dawson Lindsay A.
Published: January 2020

Mammalian epimorphic regeneration is rare and digit tip regeneration in mice is the best‐studied model for a multi‐tissue regenerative event that involves blastema formation. Digit tip regeneration parallels human fingertip regeneration, thus understanding the details of this response can provide insight into developing strategies to expand the potential of human regeneration. Following amputation, the digit stump undergoes a strong histolytic response involving osteoclast‐mediated bone degradation that is spatially and temporally linked to the expansion of blastema osteoprogenitor cells. Blastemal differentiation occurs via direct intramembranous ossification. Although robust, digit regeneration is imperfect: The amputated cortical bone is replaced with woven bone and there is excessive bone regeneration restricted to the dorsal–ventral axis. Ontogenetic and phylogenetic analysis of digit regeneration in amphibians and mammals raise the possibility that mammalian blastema is a product of convergent evolution and we hypothesize that digit tip regeneration evolved from a nonregenerative precondition. A model is proposed in which the mammalian blastema evolved in part from an adaptation of two bone repair strategies (the bone remodeling cycle and fracture healing) both of which are conserved across tetrapod vertebrates. The view that epimorphic regeneration evolved in mammals from a nonregenerative precondition is supported by recent studies demonstrating that complex regenerative responses can be induced from a number of different nonregenerative amputation wounds by specific modification of the healing response.
Magnetic resonance imaging reveals specific anatomical changes in the brain of Agat‐ and Gamt‐mice attributed to creatine depletion and guanidinoacetate alteration
Authors: Sinha Ankit , Ahmed Sohail , George Chris , Tsagaris Melina , Naufer Amriya , von Both Ingo , Tkachyova Ilona , van Eede Matthijs , Henkelman Mark , Schulze Andreas
Published: January 2020

Arginine:glycine amidinotransferase‐ and guanidinoacetate methyltransferase deficiency are severe neurodevelopmental disorders. It is not known whether mouse models of disease express a neuroanatomical phenotype. High‐resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with advanced image analysis was performed in perfused, fixed mouse brains encapsulated with the skull from male, 10‐12 week old Agat
‐exc and B6J.Cg‐Gamt
tm1Isb mice (n = 48; n = 8 per genotype, strain). T2‐weighted MRI scans were nonlinearly aligned to a 3D atlas of the mouse brain with 62 structures identified. Local differences in brain shape related to genotype were assessed by analysis of deformation fields. Creatine (Cr) and guanidinoacetate (GAA) were measured with high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in brain homogenates (n = 24; n = 4 per genotype, strain) after whole‐body perfusion. Cr was decreased in the brain of Agat‐ and Gamt mutant mice. GAA was decreased in Agat−/− and increased in Gamt−/−. Body weight and brain volume were lower in Agat−/− than in Gamt−/−. The analysis of entire brain structures revealed corpus callosum, internal capsule, fimbria and hypothalamus being different between the genotypes in both strains. Eighteen and fourteen significant peaks (local areas of difference in relative size) were found in Agat‐ and Gamt mutants, respectively. Comparing Agat−/− with Gamt−/−, we found changes in three brain regions, lateral septum, amygdala, and medulla. Intra‐strain differences in four brain structures can be associated with Cr deficiency, while the inter‐strain differences in three brain structures of the mutant mice may relate to GAA. Correlating these neuroanatomical findings with gene expression data implies the role of Cr metabolism in the developing brain and the importance of early intervention in patients with Cr deficiency syndromes.
Fetal Response to a Maternal Internal Auditory Stimulus
Authors: Goldberg Estee , McKenzie Charles A. , de Vrijer Barbra , Eagleson Roy , de Ribaupierre Sandrine
Published: January 2020

Background

Functional MRI (fMRI) is a noninvasive method to investigate the neural correlates of brain development. Insight into the rapidly developing brain in utero is limited, and fetal fMRI can be used to gain a greater understanding of the developmental process. Fetal brain fMRI is typically limited to resting‐state fMRI due to the difficulty to instruct or provide a stimulus to the fetus. Previous studies have employed auditory task fMRI with an external sound stimulus directly on the abdomen of the mother; however, this practice has since been deemed unsafe for the developing fetus.

Purpose

To investigate a reliable and safe paradigm to study the development of fetal brain networks, we postulated that an internal task, such as the mother's singing, as the auditory stimulus would result in activation in the fetal primary auditory cortex.

Study type

Cohort.

Population

Pregnant women with singleton pregnancies (n = 9; 33–38 weeks gestational age).

Field Strength/Sequence

All subjects underwent two task‐based block design blood oxygen level‐dependent (BOLD) at 1.5T or 3T.

Assessment

Each volume was assessed for fetal motion and manually reoriented and realigned to correct for fetal motion. Once the motion was corrected, a gestational age‐matched parcellated atlas with regions of interest overlaid onto the activation map was used to determine which regions in the brain had activation during task phases.

Statistical Tests

First Level Analysis. MRI data were analyzed using SPM 12 as a task fMRI.

Results

Eight subjects had activation on the right Heschl's gyrus; six fetuses demonstrated activation on the left when exposed to the internal acoustic stimulus. Additionally, activation was found on the right and left middle cingulate cortex (MCC) and the left putamen.

Data Conclusion

Maternal singing can be used as an internal stimulus to activate the auditory network and Heschl's gyrus during fetal fMRI.

Level of Evidence 2

Technical Efficacy Stage 2

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;52:139–145.
Classical human astroviruses in symptomatic and asymptomatic children of Goiás, Brazil: Positivity rates, viral loads, and molecular characterization
Authors: Barbosa Gabriela , Caetano Amanda , Dábilla Nathânia , Franco Fernanda , Silva‐Sales Marcelle , Fiaccadori Fabíola , Souza Menira
Published: January 2020

Classical human astroviruses (HAstV) are agents of nonbacterial acute gastroenteritis (AGE), being predominant among children. There are only a few studies reporting HAstV loads in samples from patients with AGE, data are even scarcer regarding asymptomatic patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence and estimate the viral load of HAstV and to perform molecular characterization of positive samples obtained from children, up to 6 years old, with and without AGE. One fecal sample was obtained from each of the 250 children enrolled in the study, from May 2014 to April 2015. Real‐time reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR TaqMan) was performed, followed by a conventional RT‐PCR directed to ORF2, region C, of the positive samples. Then, these amplicons were sequenced and a phylogenetic analysis was performed to determine the HAstV‐1 lineages. A global positivity index of 3.2% (8 of 250) was observed for HAstV with a similar frequency (50%) in both symptomatic and asymptomatic group. Viral loads ranged from 2.8 × 105 to 1.6 × 1011 genome copy/mL Four samples were characterized as HAstV‐1, lineage 1a and two as HAstV‐4, lineage 4c. Our findings show similar HAstV positivity rates for children with and without AGE, providing evidence of HAstV‐1a and HAstV‐4c lineage cocirculation in the Central West region of Brazil. Data contributes to the molecular epidemiology of these agents in the region.
Managerial factors that influence the success of knowledge management systems: A systematic literature review
Authors: Jackson Tim , Shen Jun , Nikolic Sasha , Xia Glen
Published: January 2020

The purpose of this research is to remove the ambiguity that clouds the analysis of knowledge management systems (KMSs). This is because of an overall lack of consensus on how KMSs adapt to the new “knowledge explosion” embraced by the booming “Big Data” hype. In this paper, a refreshing synthesis of literature will uncover benefits and identify gaps in current knowledge. These findings will also be of benefit to researchers and industries as it allows for the holistic analysis of a KMS. This systematic literature review collected 54 papers for qualitative analysis. This analysis led to a synthesis of factors evident in the research and how they could be combined and collected as key categories. Once each factor was categorized, the future directions of research was analysed and documented. The primary factors discussed include (a) formal processes, (b) company culture, (c) top‐down support, (d) motivation, (e) clear goals, and (f) quality of KMS. This research has created a baseline for the further evaluation of KMSs in the real world.
Successful Treatment of Riehl's Melanosis With Mid‐Fluence Q‐Switched Nd:YAG 1064‐nm Laser
Authors: Cho Mi Yeon , Roh Mi Ryung
Published: January 2020

Background and Objectives

Riehl's melanosis is a chronic acquired hyperpigmentation disorder that causes significant cosmetic problems for patients with this condition. Several treatment options, including low‐fluence Q‐switched Nd:YAG (QSNY) 1064‐nm laser treatment, have been attempted with inconsistent results. We aimed to investigate the beneficial effect of mid‐fluence QSNY 1064‐nm laser in the treatment of Riehl's melanosis.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

A retrospective review was conducted on patients repetitively treated with mid‐fluence (3.5–5 J/cm2 with a spot size of 5 mm and a pulse rate of 10 Hz) QSNY 1064‐nm laser. Twenty‐one patients with Riehl's melanosis were involved. Clinical photographs, treatment parameters, and side effects were reviewed to assess the safety and efficacy of the modality.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 57.00 ±8.2 years, and there were 20 female patients and 1 male patient. The mean number of treatment sessions was 5.95 ± 3.6, and the mean interval between each session was 39.12 ± 13.4 days. After treatment, the mean melasma area and severity index score decreased from 12.53 ± 10.2 to 5.98 ± 5.3. At the final visit, 16 of the 21 (76.1%) patients were considered to have moderately or very much improved. No severe side effects were observed.

Conclusions

Repetitive mid‐fluence QSNY 1064‐nm laser treatment may be an effective and safe optional modality for Riehl's melanosis. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Outcome of Early Ablative Fractional Laser Treatment for Thyroidectomy Scars
Authors: You Hi‐Jin , Choi Young‐Soo , Hwang Na‐Hyun , Kim Deok‐Woo , Oh Kyoung Ho , Kwon Soon Young
Published: January 2020

Background and Objectives

Ablative fractional laser (AFL) systems are commonly used to treat various scars, and recent research has indicated that early treatment with AFL may have a preventive effect on scars. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of early treatment with a 10,600 nm carbon dioxide (CO2) AFL on thyroidectomy scars and compare it to late (conventional) treatment for the same and untreated controls.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

We performed a prospective, evaluator‐blinded, split‐scar study on fresh thyroidectomy scars between July 2014 and July 2017. Scars were divided into two equal portions. Early AFL treatment had begun 1 month after surgery; five sessions on the right half of the scar was performed at 1‐month intervals. Late AFL treatment followed for 1 month after the final early treatment session on the left half of the scar at the same interval. The scars were evaluated at 6 and 11 months postoperatively using scar analysis scales and patient questionnaires.

Results

Twenty‐four out of 28 patients completed the study. The mean decrease in Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) scores was significantly higher for the early treated right halves of the scars both at the 6th month (vs. untreated controls) and at the 11th month (vs. late treated controls). The VSS subset analysis showed that the early treated sides had significantly greater improvement in pliability and height than the control sides at each point of evaluation.

Conclusions

Early postoperative AFL treatment is safe and effective in improving linear surgical scars, such as thyroidectomy scars, and may be a promising option for scar prevention. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A temporal perspective on the relationship between top management team internationalization and firms' innovativeness
Authors: Wrede Michaela , Dauth Tobias
Published: January 2020

This study examines whether top management team (TMT) internationalization is positively related to firm innovativeness. Besides focusing on the accumulation of top managers' international knowledge and capabilities, we explore the influence of moderators reflecting temporal concerns at three levels: CEO age, TMT tenure, and firm age. Combining upper echelons theory with innovation literature and using a sample of large stock‐listed German firms, we demonstrate that TMT internationalization can increase firm innovativeness. This relationship is context‐dependent on the age of the CEO. Overall, this paper sheds light on the antecedents of firm innovativeness and the consequences of increasingly international TMTs.
Compact dual band‐notched UWB multiple‐input multiple‐output antenna for portable applications
Authors: Liu Han , Kang Guoqin , Jiang Shuiqiao
Published: January 2020

A compact ultra‐wideband (UWB) multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) antenna with dual band‐notched characteristics for portable applications is proposed in this article. The antenna is fed by coplanar waveguide and has four feeding ports with the size of 50 × 50 mm2. By etching split‐ring resonator slots on the radiation patches, dual notches filtering out the 3.5 GHz WiMAX and 5.5 GHz WLAN bands can be achieved. The design process is given step‐by‐step and the band‐notched mechanism is studied with the surface current distributions. Moreover, the band‐notched characteristics of cylindrical conformal antenna is analyzed in this article. The experimental results show that the proposed antenna can be widely used in UWB communication system with good radiation characteristics, stable gain, and low envelope correlation coefficient. The idea embodied in this article can also be used to guide for the research of band‐notched conformal UWB MIMO antenna.