bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tipologia da vegetação de uma floresta de várzea influenciada pela macrodrenagem da bacia do Una, na região urbana de Belém, Pará
Authors: Galvão Jessivaldo Rodrigues , Teixeira Pedro Emerson Gazel , Martorano Pedro Guerrero , Oliveira Leonardo de Almeida , Souza Joel Correa de , Carrera Jeferson Campos , Galate Rosemiro dos Santos , Parise Francisco José de Oliveira
Published: March 2020

A bacia do Una é uma área que abrange cerca de 20 bairros da cidade de Belém. A área passou pelo processo de macrodrenagem, instituída com a intenção de possibilitar um maior saneamento para alguns bairros de Belém, localizados em áreas de baixada e muito propícios a inundações. No entanto, mesmo que a macrodrenagem desta área seja considerada um avanço para a infraestrutura adequada na via de acesso da região e para a população que vive nestes bairros, são diversos os prováveis efeitos negativos desta atividade, como a fragmentação da vegetação urbana. O local da realização dos estudos, assume uma significativa área de conservação, compondo um segmento de vegetação primária de Belém, possuindo uma área de 35 hectares. Embora as várzeas não apresentem uma maior representação de espécies se comparada às florestas de terra firme, ela possui uma fauna característica. Estudo da caracterização da tipologia de vegetação existente na área de várzea permite que haja um melhor conhecimento sobre o estado de conservação do local e potencialidades para o seu manejo. Ações de recuperação deveriam ser as mais rápidas e efetivas possíveis. Permitindo-se, assim, a criação de planos eficientes para a proteção da área.
Impactos socioambientais no Rio Grande: percepção dos moradores locais da Vila Brasil na cidade de Barreiras/BA
Authors: Souza Ranieldo Barreiras Barbosa , Silva Filho Antonio José da , Souza Raniele Barbosa
Published: March 2020

A percepção ambiental é definida como o ato de se perceber a natureza e com isso promover a sua preservação.  Essa percepção é de extrema importância para direcionar e fazer o indivíduo pensar novas ações sobre o meio em que vive. Os moradores que se localizam próximos aos rios, geralmente tem tendência a ter um maior contato com o natural e conseguem se atentar às alterações no espaço em que vivem. Com essa pesquisa foi possível identificar e analisar a ótica ambiental de moradores próximos do Rio Grande, trazendo à baila os impactos socioambientais num determinado trecho da cidade de Barreiras-BA. Como metodologia, aplicou-se a técnica de entrevistas e posteriormente a análise pelo discurso do sujeito coletivo (DSC). Foram identificados e analisados sete impactos socioambientais (Lixo/esgoto; Desmatamento/Queimadas; Diminuição do volume de água; Perda da qualidade da água; Assoreamento, Diminuição de Peixes e Impactos socioambientais). Tudo baseado apenas nas informações dos moradores locais e no conceito que cada um tem sobre a natureza. Os moradores reconhecem as implicações desses impactos, suas causas e efeitos e souberam determinar ações que precisam serem tomadas para a minimização dessa problemática pela sociedade no geral e pelos gestores públicos.
Diagnóstico da Arborização Após a Ocorrência de Evento Climático Extremo
Authors: Emerick Tamilis das Graças , Martini Angeline
Published: March 2020

As regiões Sul e Sudeste do país são as que vêm sendo mais afetadas pela ocorrência de eventos climáticos extremos, como tempestades e vendavais. Tais ocorrências provocam prejuízos severos, incluindo queda de árvores. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi realizar o diagnóstico da arborização danificada no campus da Universidade Federal de Viçosa após ocorrência de tempestade. A coleta de dados ocorreu em outubro de 2019, imediatamente após a ocorrência do evento climático.  Foi realizada contagem, identificação botânica e avaliação do estado fitossanitário dos indivíduos danificados, bem como a determinação do grau de dano sofrido (leve, moderado, severo e irreversível), o local de ruptura e a medição de parâmetros dendrométricos daqueles indivíduos mais danificados. No total, 145 indivíduos que compõe a arborização apresentaram algum dano ocasionado pela tempestade, de 29 espécies, o que corresponde a 13% do total de indivíduos existentes no campus. A família com maior ocorrência de danos foi Bignoniaceae e as espécies mais afetadas foram Spathodea campanulata (29%), Tibouchina granulosa (22%) e Licania tomentosa (15%). A maioria apresentou ruptura nos galhos (61%), 23% na base ou tronco e 4% no ápice, compondo o total de 36% de ocorrências com dano irreversível. Cerca de 30% dos indivíduos apresentavam problemas fitossanitários e 70% corresponde a plantios em áreas de calçadas, o que permite associar o maior risco de queda às árvores em locais com menor área de canteiro, espaço disponível para o desenvolvimento das raízes e área disponível para crescimento.
Tipos de liderança dentro do ambiente educativo: uma discussão sobre sua identidade organizacional
Authors: Pereira Ismael Antonello
Published: March 2020

Este trabalho tem a pretensão de apresentar os tipos de liderança existentes dentro do espaço escolar, bem como apontar alguns modelos, os quais podem ser inseridos para que favoreçam o desenvolvimento da equipe pedagógica, dentro da sua prática educativa, assim como na sua metodologia. Contudo, neste é possível perceber que para exercer a liderança dentro da escola, é necessária uma discussão ampla, efetivando a proposição de que o líder é aquele que permite um processo coletivo, envolvendo todos nas decisões, oportunizando a troca de ideias, que resultará num trabalho eficaz.
Huellas de los estudiantes en las plataformas virtuales. Aplicación para evaluar una metodología de aprendizaje activo.
Authors: De la Iglesia Villasol M. Covadonga
Published: March 2020

La orientación del sistema educativo español hacia escenarios de enseñanza-aprendizaje que traspasan los muros de las aulas físicas hacia plataformas virtuales, abre canales asincrónicos de aprendizaje, y lleva a replantearse cómo aprenden los estudiantes, qué usos hacen de las plataformas virtuales, cómo se interrelacionan con ellas y entre sí, y cómo adquieren conocimientos y desarrollan competencias. El trabajo aborda la implementación de la metodología Aprendizaje Basado en un Proyecto Docente (ABPD) a través del análisis descriptivo de los usos y registros estadísticos, que a modo de huella, dejan los estudiantes en cursos presenciales en el campus virtual, plataforma moddle. Para ello se establecen, según una rúbrica prefijada, unos marcadores que identifican los avances en el proceso de aprendizaje, y se complementa con información de cuestionarios ad-hoc, así como las calificaciones obtenidas y sus correlaciones. A modo de caso se presentan resultados descriptivos de un grupo acumulado de estudiantes del Máster de Formación del Profesorado, en la especialidad de Economía y Administración de Empresas de la UCM, que permiten definir tipologías diversas en su aproximación a los materiales, con patrones diferenciados de aprendizaje según las brechas digitales.
La formación del profesorado de educación primaria respecto a la participación de las familias
Authors: Vallespir-Soler Jordi , Morey-López Mercè
Published: March 2020

Como elemento de continuidad del consenso existente en la literatura académica respecto a la importancia de la participación de las familias para conseguir una educación de calidad, así como de la necesidad de formación específica para potenciar dicha participación, este trabajo focaliza su atención en el análisis de la formación recibida por el profesorado de Educación Primaria. Por una parte, se recogen las respuestas ofrecidas por el mismo colectivo docente a través de entrevistas en profundidad realizadas en el contexto de diferentes comunidades autónomas. Concretamente, el interés de este artículo se ha centrado en la valoración que los/las maestros/a hacían respecto a la formación recibida, tanto inicial como continua, relacionada con la participación de las familias. Posteriormente, por otra parte, se presentan los resultados del análisis de la oferta formativa ofrecida por las universidades del Estado español al alumnado que cursa el Grado de Maestro en Educación primaria, revisando las asignaturas que abordan el eje central de este artículo (la participación de las familias). Finalmente, y partiendo de las necesidades detectadas, se sugieren propuestas de mejora centradas en la formación, aunque dirigidas no sólo al colectivo consultado en el estudio, sino a toda la comunidad educativa

There is a consensus in the academic literature regarding the importance of the participation of families to achieve a quality education, as well as the need for specific training to enhance such participation. As an addition to this existing literature, this work focuses its attention on the analysis of the training received by the primary education teachers. On the one hand, the work gathers in-depth interviews to the teaching community in the context of different regions. These interviews were focused on the assessment that the teachers made regarding the training they received, both initial and ongoing, related to the participation of families. Later, on the other hand, the formative opportunities for the Master's Degree in Primary Education in spanish universities were analysed, reviewing the main subjects of this article: family participation in the education. Finally, and with basis on the identified needs, proposals for improvement focused on training are suggested. These proposals are directed not only to the group interviewed in the study, but to the entire educational community
Dynamic optimization model of formation of an optimal portfolio of regional strategic projects for maximal advancement on the development of human capital
Authors: Mazelis Lev Solomonovich , Lavrenyuk Kirill Igorevich , Krasova Elena Viktorovna , Krasko Andrei Aleksandrovich
Published: March 2020

This study is conducted within the framework of a relevant scientific research objective consisting in the accumulation and development of regional human capital. In the conditions of uncertainty, risks and resource scarcity, the regional authorities are facing the task of optimal distribution of the budget between strategic projects, which exert direct or indirect influence upon the development of regional human capital. On the example of Primorksy Krai, the goal of this research consists in structuring and approbation of a dynamic optimization model for formation of an optimal portfolio of regional strategic projects form maximally efficient development of human capital in the region. The authors develop a dynamic model in form of a task of a mathematical programming and describing the impact of regional strategic projects upon the human capital indexes in the region. As the target function, the work uses weighted average of the degree of meeting the objective value of regional human capital development indexes on the examined horizon of planning. The functional dependence of human capital indexes upon the volume and structure of investments, forming from the regional budgetary and private spending on the implementation of the projects and ensuring procedural activity on the regional level, serve as lagged econometric models. Variables for conducting optimization are represented by the Boolean variables of inclusion of the project by one or another vector of investing into the project portfolio in a particular moment in time. The optimal portfolio of strategic projects is proposed in annual dynamics, based on the results of the modeling and quantitative calculations made on the example of Primorsky Krai. Such portfolio provides for maximal efficiency in reaching objective values of development of the regional human capital indexes.
Visual cue-related activity of cells in the medial entorhinal cortex during navigation in virtual reality
Authors: Kinkhabwala Amina A , Gu Yi , Aronov Dmitriy , Tank David W
Published: March 2020

During spatial navigation, animals use self-motion to estimate positions through path integration. However, estimation errors accumulate over time and it is unclear how they are corrected. Here we report a new cell class (‘cue cell’) encoding visual cues that could be used to correct errors in path integration in mouse medial entorhinal cortex (MEC). During virtual navigation, individual cue cells exhibited firing fields only near visual cues and their population response formed sequences repeated at each cue. These cells consistently responded to cues across multiple environments. On a track with cues on left and right sides, most cue cells only responded to cues on one side. During navigation in a real arena, they showed spatially stable activity and accounted for 32% of unidentified, spatially stable MEC cells. These cue cell properties demonstrate that the MEC contains a code representing spatial landmarks, which could be important for error correction during path integration.
Temporal chunking as a mechanism for unsupervised learning of task-sets
Authors: Bouchacourt Flora , Palminteri Stefano , Koechlin Etienne , Ostojic Srdjan
Published: March 2020

Depending on environmental demands, humans can learn and exploit multiple concurrent sets of stimulus-response associations. Mechanisms underlying the learning of such task-sets remain unknown. Here we investigate the hypothesis that task-set learning relies on unsupervised chunking of stimulus-response associations that occur in temporal proximity. We examine behavioral and neural data from a task-set learning experiment using a network model. We first show that task-set learning can be achieved provided the timescale of chunking is slower than the timescale of stimulus-response learning. Fitting the model to behavioral data on a subject-by-subject basis confirmed this expectation and led to specific predictions linking chunking and task-set retrieval that were borne out by behavioral performance and reaction times. Comparing the model activity with BOLD signal allowed us to identify neural correlates of task-set retrieval in a functional network involving ventral and dorsal prefrontal cortex, with the dorsal system preferentially engaged when retrievals are used to improve performance.
Reversal of contractility as a signature of self-organization in cytoskeletal bundles
Authors: Lenz Martin
Published: March 2020

Bundles of cytoskeletal filaments and molecular motors generate motion in living cells, and have internal structures ranging from very organized to apparently disordered. The mechanisms powering the disordered structures are debated, and existing models predominantly predict that they are contractile. We reexamine this prediction through a theoretical treatment of the interplay between three well-characterized internal dynamical processes in cytoskeletal bundles: filament assembly and disassembly, the attachement-detachment dynamics of motors and that of crosslinking proteins. The resulting self-organization is easily understood in terms of motor and crosslink localization, and allows for an extensive control of the active bundle mechanics, including reversals of the filaments’ apparent velocities and the possibility of generating extension instead of contraction. This reversal mirrors some recent experimental observations, and provides a robust criterion to experimentally elucidate the underpinnings of both actomyosin activity and the dynamics of microtubule/motor assemblies in vitro as well as in diverse intracellular structures ranging from contractile bundles to the mitotic spindle.
Bacterial cell cycle control by citrate synthase independent of enzymatic activity
Authors: Bergé Matthieu , Pezzatti Julian , González-Ruiz Víctor , Degeorges Laurence , Mottet-Osman Geneviève , Rudaz Serge , Viollier Patrick H
Published: March 2020

Proliferating cells must coordinate central metabolism with the cell cycle. How central energy metabolism regulates bacterial cell cycle functions is not well understood. Our forward genetic selection unearthed the Krebs cycle enzyme citrate synthase (CitA) as a checkpoint regulator controlling the G1→S transition in the polarized alpha-proteobacterium Caulobacter crescentus, a model for cell cycle regulation and asymmetric cell division. We find that loss of CitA promotes the accumulation of active CtrA, an essential cell cycle transcriptional regulator that maintains cells in G1-phase, provided that the (p)ppGpp alarmone is present. The enzymatic activity of CitA is dispensable for CtrA control, and functional citrate synthase paralogs cannot replace CitA in promoting S-phase entry. Our evidence suggests that CitA was appropriated specifically to function as a moonlighting enzyme to link central energy metabolism with S-phase entry. Control of the G1-phase by a central metabolic enzyme may be a common mechanism of cellular regulation.
Fully automated, sequential focused ion beam milling for cryo-electron tomography
Authors: Zachs Tobias , Schertel Andreas , Medeiros João , Weiss Gregor L , Hugener Jannik , Matos Joao , Pilhofer Martin
Published: March 2020

Cryo-electron tomography (cryoET) has become a powerful technique at the interface of structural biology and cell biology, due to its unique ability for imaging cells in their native state and determining structures of macromolecular complexes in their cellular context. A limitation of cryoET is its restriction to relatively thin samples. Sample thinning by cryo-focused ion beam (cryoFIB) milling has significantly expanded the range of samples that can be analyzed by cryoET. Unfortunately, cryoFIB milling is low-throughput, time-consuming and manual. Here, we report a method for fully automated sequential cryoFIB preparation of high-quality lamellae, including rough milling and polishing. We reproducibly applied this method to eukaryotic and bacterial model organisms, and show that the resulting lamellae are suitable for cryoET imaging and subtomogram averaging. Since our method reduces the time required for lamella preparation and minimizes the need for user input, we envision the technique will render previously inaccessible projects feasible.
A Student's Perspective
Authors: Klevjer Kristoffer , Aspaas Per Pippin
Published: March 2020

In this episode, we are exploring a student's perspective on open science – and specifically replication studies. Kristoffer Klevjer recently finished his Master’s degree in psychology at UiT The Arctic University of Norway and has now taken on a PhD. But already as a master student, Klevjer was involved in replication studies. In his experience, replication studies can be benefitial to the student, the supervisor, and the scientific community at large. Furthermore, Klevjer argues that replications can be well suited for students at Bachelor level as well.

In the interview, Klevjer refers to several publications and projects, including

- The Collaborative Replications and Education Project

- Kool, W., McGuire, J. T., Rosen, Z. B., & Botvinick, M. M. (2010). Decision making and the avoidance of cognitive demand. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 139(4), 665–682. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0020198

- Psychological Science Accelerator

The replication Klevjer did for his Master's degree can be found here

First published online March 9, 2020.
Molecular detection and genotyping of intestinal protozoa from different biogeographical regions of Colombia
Authors: Higuera Adriana , Villamizar Ximena , Herrera Giovanny , Giraldo Julio Cesar , Vasquez-A Luis Reinel , Urbano Plutarco , Villalobos Oswaldo , Tovar Catalina , Ramírez Juan David
Published: March 2020

Background

Intestinal parasitic protozoa represent a serious problem of public health particularly in developing countries. Protozoa such as Blastocystis, Giardia intestinalis, Entamoeba histolytica and Cryptosporidium spp. are associated with diarrheal symptoms. In Colombia, there is little region-specific data on the frequency and circulating genotypes/species of these microorganisms. Therefore, the main objective of our study was to employ molecular detection and genotyping of G. intestinalis and Blastocystis, Cryptosporidium and Entamoeba spp. in samples from different biogeographical regions of Colombia.

Methods

We collected 649 human fecal samples from five biogeographical regions of Colombia: the Amazon, Andean, Caribbean, Orinoco and Pacific regions. Blastocystis, G. intestinalis, Cryptosporidium spp. and Entamoeba complex were detected by microscopy and conventional PCR. Molecular genotyping was conducted to identify Blastocystis subtypes (STs) (18s), G. intestinalis assemblages (triose phosphate isomerase and glutamate dehydrogenase) and Cryptosporidium species (18s). Genetic diversity indices were determined using dnasp.5.

Results

We detected G. intestinalis in 45.4% (n = 280) of samples, Blastocystis in 54.5% (n = 336) of samples, Cryptosporidium spp. in 7.3% (n = 45) of samples, Entamoeba dispar in 1.5% (n = 9) of samples, and Entamoeba moshkovskii in 0.32% (n = 2) of samples. Blastocystis STs 1–4, 8 and 9 and G. intestinalis assemblages AII, BIII, BIV, D and G were identified. The following Cryptosporidium species were identified: C. hominis, C. parvum, C. bovis, C. andersoni, C. muris, C. ubiquitum and C. felis. The Caribbean region had the highest frequency for each of the microorganisms evaluated (91.9% for G. duodenalis, 97.3% for Blastocystis, 10.8% for Cryptosporidium spp., 13.5% for E. dispar and 2.7% for E. moshkovskii). The Orinoco region had a high frequency of Blastocystis (97.2%) and the Andean region had a high frequency of G. intestinalis (69.4%). High and active transmission was apparent in several regions of the country, implying that mechanisms for prevention and control of intestinal parasitosis in different parts of the country must be improved.
Identification and validation of HELLS (Helicase, Lymphoid-Specific) and ICAM1 (Intercellular adhesion molecule 1) as potential diagnostic biomarkers of lung cancer
Authors: Zhu Wei , Li Lin Lin , Songyang Yiyan , Shi Zhan , Li Dejia
Published: March 2020

Although lung cancer is one of the greatest threats to human health, its signaling pathway and related genes are still unknown. This study integrates data from three groups of people to study potential key candidate genes and pathways related to lung cancer. Expression profiles (GSE18842, GSE19188 and GSE27262), including 162 tumor tissue and 135 adjacent normal lung tissue samples, were integrated and analyzed. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and candidate genes were identified, their expression pathways were analyzed, and the diethylene glycol-related protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was analyzed. We identified 232 shared DEGs (40 upregulated and 192 down-regulated) from the three GSE datasets. The DEGs were clustered according to function and signaling pathway for significant enrichment analysis. In total, 129 nodes/DEGs were identified from the DEG PPI network complex. An improved prognosis was associated with increased Helicase, Lymphoid-Specific (HELLS) and decreased Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1) mRNA expression in lung cancer patients. In conclusion, we used integrated bioinformatics analysis to identify candidate genes and pathways in lung cancer to show that HELLS and ICAM1 might be the key genes related to tumorigenesis or tumor progression in lung cancer. Additional studies are needed to further explore the involved functional mechanisms.
La innovación de las radiotelevisiones públicas europeas en la comunicación digital y las comunidades de usuarios
Authors:   Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, López-Golán Mónica , Rodríguez-Castro Marta ,   Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (España), Campos-Freire Francisco ,   Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (España)
Published: March 2020

Esta investigación analiza las estrategias de innovación e interacción social de las radiotelevisiones públicas europeas como respuesta a los retos de transformación y adaptación a la nueva ecología de la comunicación digital. Metodológicamente, se realiza una exploración de las memorias de las corporaciones, un mapeo de la estructura de sus plataformas en Internet y una observación selectiva de la gestión de las webs y sus comunidades de usuarios de los entes públicos de los cinco países europeos con mayor población (Alemania, Reino Unido, Francia, España e Italia). Los resultados muestran que la participación y gestión de estas comunidades es todavía incipiente, poco proactiva y bastante condicionada por las exigencias de sus organizaciones públicas matrices
Ciberciudadanía a través de Twitter: caso Gran Marcha Carnaval y consultas populares contra la minería en La Colosa
Authors:   Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia (Colombia), Badillo Mendoza Miguel Ezequiel , Marta-Lazo Carmen ,   Universidad de Zaragoza (España)
Published: March 2020

Este artículo trata sobre la identificación de prácticas de ciberciudadanía a través de Twitter, en las acciones colectivas, la Gran Marcha Carnaval y las consultas populares contra la minería en La Colosa. Se utilizan el estudio de caso y la etnografía virtual, con técnicas de observación y análisis de contenido sobre tres cuentas: @defensavida, @marchacarnaval y @VotoNOMineria, así como la aplicación de una matriz de codificación. Se comprueban prácticas de ciberciudadanía en una ideología legitimizada en las emociones, la defensa de la naturaleza y acciones en red que conectan la identidad, la relación local-global y la movilización de recursos y sujetos.
La lealtad hacia la televisión de pago en tiempos de dificultades económicas en México y en Brasil
Authors:   Erasmus en la Universidad de Rotterdam y ITI-LARSyS, Castro Deborah , Duarte Luiz G. ,   Universidad de Florida Central United States, Straubhaar Joseph D. ,   Universidad de Texas en Austin United States
Published: March 2020

El estudio explora cómo el estatus socioeconómico y el nivel educativo de la población condicionan la conservación o cambio de hábitos de consumo mediático en tiempos de dificultades económicas. El artículo se centra en el contexto latinoamericano, específicamente en Brasil y México, los dos mercados más importantes de la zona. En ambos casos, los países atravesaron períodos de crisis económicas similares, aunque distintas experiencias sociales. Los datos utilizados provienen de una encuesta realizada por Kantar Media Target Index —el estudio más extenso de la región— así como de una segunda encuesta digital realizada por eCGlobal. Los resultados revelan que la urgencia por cancelar los servicios de televisión de pago no fue tan elevada como se esperaba. Asimismo, el nivel educativo ofrece una mejor explicación del residual abandono de la televisión de pago que la clase social.
Comunicación y espacio público en Chile. Una aproximación a la gráfica como referente ideológico en los años 70
Authors:   Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vergara Enrique , Garrido Claudio ,   Universidad Diego Portales (Chile), Edwards Cristobal ,   Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Undurraga Camila ,   Universidad Diego Portales (Chile)
Published: March 2020

Este artículo busca reflexionar sobre el desarrollo de la comunicación gráfica y su relación con los cambios que experimentó la sociedad chilena entre los años 1970 y 1980. Para esto, se analizan dos soportes de comunicación gráfica de gran impacto y protagonismo durante esa década: el afiche de vía pública para el periodo comprendido entre los años 1970 y 1973, y el aviso publicitario publicado en prensa para el periodo 1975-1980. A partir del análisis de las piezas gráficas, realizado desde un enfoque cualitativo, se identifican algunas claves que muestran las tensiones que experimentó la sociedad chilena durante esa década y el rol de la comunicación en la promoción de dos modelos de desarrollo y modernización para el país. En este sentido, ambas manifestaciones se explican como parte de una época particular que las condiciona y de relatos que las validan y les dan sentido.
Pyruvate alleviates high glucose‐induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis in HK‐2 cells
Authors: Zhang Xiao Meng , Wang Yi Zhen , Tong Jin Dong , Ning Xu Chao , Zhou Fang Qiang , Yang Xiu Hong , Jin Hui Min
Published: March 2020

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a critical role in the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). We previously demonstrated that pyruvate (Pyr)‐enriched oral rehydration solution improved glucometabolic disorders and ameliorated DN outcome in db/db mice. Here, we investigated the effects of Pyr on high glucose‐induced ER stress and apoptosis in HK‐2 cells. Our results suggest that high glucose can induce reactive oxygen species production, apoptosis and ER stress in HK‐2 cells, and that Pyr treatment can ameliorate these effects and restore the expression of key proteins involved in ER stress. Thus, Pyr may have potential for the development of novel strategies for the prevention and treatment of clinical DN.
Self‐Propelled PLGA Micromotor with Chemotactic Response to Inflammation
Authors: Wang Jiamian , Toebes B. Jelle , Plachokova Adelina S. , Liu Qian , Deng Dongmei , Jansen John A. , Yang Fang , Wilson Daniela A.
Published: March 2020

Local drug delivery systems have recently been developed for multiple diseases that have the requirements of site‐specific actions, prolonged delivery periods, and decreased drug dosage to reduce undesirable side effects. The challenge for such systems is to achieve directional and precise delivery in inaccessible narrow lesions, such as periodontal pockets or root canals in deeper portions of the dentinal tubules. The primary strategy to tackle this challenge is fabricating a smart tracking delivery system. Here, drug‐loaded biodegradable micromotors showing self‐propelled directional movement along a hydrogen peroxide concentration gradient produced by phorbol esters‐stimulated macrophages are reported. The drug‐loaded poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) micromotors with asymmetric coverage of enzyme (patch‐like enzyme distribution) are prepared by electrospraying and postfunctionalized with catalase via 1‐ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide coupling. Doxycycline, a common drug for the treatment of periodontal disease, is selected as a model drug, and the release study by high‐performance liquid chromatography is shown that both the postfunctionalization step and the presence of hydrogen peroxide have no negative influence on drug release profiles. The movement behavior in the presence of hydrogen peroxide is confirmed by nanoparticle tracking analysis. An in vitro model is designed and confirmed the response efficiency and directional control of the micromotors toward phorbol esters‐stimulated macrophages.
Conversion of 2,3‐Dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxine‐2‐carboxamides to 3‐Oxoquinolin‐2(1H)‐ones via Ring‐Opening and Formal 6‐endo‐trig Cyclization‐Involved Heck Reactions
Authors: Bhattacharya Debabrata , Tomar Radha , Babu Srinivasarao Arulananda
Published: March 2020

We report the conversion of 2,3‐dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxine‐2‐carboxamides, (derived from 2,3‐dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxine‐2‐carboxylic acid and 2‐haloanilines) to 3‐oxoquinolin‐2(1H)‐one motifs using catalytic amounts of Pd(OAc)2, PPh3, BINOL and Cs2CO3 (1.5 equiv). This conversion occurred via the less common formal 6‐endo‐trig cyclization and chelation‐controlled β‐arylation (Heck‐type reaction) pathways. Initially, a base‐mediated ring‐opening of the 2,3‐dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxine moiety generates an acrylamide intermediate in situ, which then undergoes a formal 6‐endo‐trig cyclization‐involved Heck‐type reaction to afford 3‐oxoquinolin‐2(1H)‐one motif. The proposed acrylamide intermediate was isolated, characterized by the X‐ray structure analysis and then, it was also treated under the experimental conditions, which afforded the expected 3‐oxoquinolin‐2(1H)‐one; thus, providing a strong support for the proposed mechanism. Various 3‐oxoquinolin‐2(1H)‐one motifs were synthesized in moderate to good yields. Representative 3‐oxoquinolin‐2(1H)‐one motifs were characterized by X‐ray analysis.
Perimortem versus postmortem damage: The recent case of Cioclovina 1
Authors: Soficaru Andrei D. , Trinkaus Erik
Published: March 2020

Objectives

Kranioti, Grigorescu, and Harvati have recently described (PLoS One 2019, 14(7),e0216718) the breakage to the Cioclovina 1 earlier Upper Paleolithic cranium as indicating fatal interhuman blunt trauma. We have reassessed their analysis in terms of the specimen's condition at discovery, its current condition, and the post‐discovery history of the cranium.

Materials and Methods

The original Cioclovina 1 neurocranium and currently associated pieces were visually assessed for the nature of the damage to them, and the records of its discovery, the original 1942 photographs, and their subsequent history in Bucharest were reviewed.

Results

The damage to Cioclovina 1, attributed by Kranioti and colleagues to perimortem blunt trauma, was not present at the time of its 1940–41 discovery in the Peştera Cioclovina Uscată. The “trauma” is from the World War II bombing of the University of Bucharest and subsequent attempts to restore the cranium. The damage does not, and cannot, document interhuman violence in the Pleistocene.

Conclusions

Although other cases of antemortem and perimortem trauma are known from the earlier Upper Paleolithic, and Pleistocene humans more broadly, there is absolutely no evidence of perimortem trauma on the Cioclovina 1 cranium. Proper assessment of levels and patterns of human trauma in the Pleistocene must be based on the correct paleontological, taphonomic, and historical assessment of the fossil remains in question.
A Hybrid Assembly of MXene with NH2−Si Nanoparticles Boosting Lithium Storage Performance
Authors: Cui Yu , Wang Jie , Wang Xin , Qin Jinwen , Cao Minhua
Published: March 2020

A facile hybrid assembly between Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets and (3‐aminopropyl) triethoxylsilane‐modified Si nanoparticles (NH2−Si NPs) was developed to construct multilayer stacking of Ti3C2Tx nanosheets with NH2−Si NPs assembling together (NH2−Si/Ti3C2Tx). NH2−Si/Ti3C2Tx exhibits a significantly enhanced lithium storage performance compared to pristine Si, which is attributed to the robust crosslinking architecture and considerably improved electrical conductivity as well as shorter Li+ diffusion pathways. The optimized NH2−Si/Ti3C2Tx anode with Ti3C2Tx: NH2−Si mass ratio of 4 : 1 displays an enhanced capacity (864 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C) with robust capacity retention, which is significantly higher than those of NH2−Si NPs and Ti3C2Tx anodes. Furthermore, this work demonstrates the important effect of the MXene‐based electrode architecture on the electrochemical performance and can guide future work on designing high‐performance Si/MXene hybrids for energy storage applications.
Single‐center prospective study examining use of the Wattson temporary pacing guidewire for transcatheter aortic valve replacement
Authors: Hensey Mark , Sathananthan Janarthanan , Alkhodair Abdullah , Landes Uri , Wood David A. , Daniels David , Webb John G.
Published: March 2020

Objectives

To assess the safety and efficacy of the Wattson temporary pacing guidewire.

Background

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) requires a guidewire for device delivery and generally requires temporary pacing wire for burst and back‐up pacing. The Wattson wire provides concomitant support and bipolar pacing without the need to place a temporary venous pacemaker (TVP).

Methods

This was a single‐center nonrandomized prospective clinical trial enrolling 20 patients. The primary endpoint was defined as successful rapid pacing and transcatheter heart valve (THV) delivery with no loss of capture. Safety, qualitative and quantitative secondary outcomes were also analyzed.

Results

Mean age was 77.4 ± 9.0 years. Mean Society of Thoracic Surgery (STS) score was 3.0 ± 1.5%. All patients received a balloon‐expandable valve via a transfemoral approach. All patients met the primary end‐point. One patient (5%) had balloon predilatation and six patients (30%) had postdilatation, all using the wire. Mean pacing threshold was 2.2 ± 1.2 mA that was evaluated prior to placing an insulating catheter over the wire. One patient required TVP placement and subsequent permanent pacemaker implantation due to complete heart block post THV deployment. There were no incidences of cardiac perforation or tamponade. One patient required valve reintervention, which was not related to the device.

Conclusions

The Wattson wire offered predictable guidewire support with concomitant reliable bipolar pacing at low thresholds to allow safe THV delivery in this patient cohort. It has the potential to make TAVR a safer and more efficient procedure.
Advances in Nanomaterial‐based Water Treatment Approaches for Photocatalytic Degradation of Water Pollutants
Authors: Som Ipsita , Roy Mouni , Saha Rajnarayan
Published: March 2020

Demand of pure drinking water is increasing day by day in line with both a growing population and global industrialization. Studies in the past few decades on the application of advanced oxidation processes (AOP) for the treatment of wastewater containing perilous organic pollutants, are promising when compared to conventional water treatment methods. In case of AOP, generation of powerful oxidant radicals (.OH, HOO.) is crucial for the purpose of degradation. Several processes for the in‐situ generation of such highly reactive oxidants have been discussed. This Review highlights the literature reports on the degradation of various organic pollutants (dyes, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides) by means of photocatalysis. A number of scientific investigations have been performed, which elucidate suitable properties (band gap energy, carrier transport, crystallinity etc.) for the deliberate design of efficient photocatalysts. The oxidation rates and degradation efficiency of photocatalysts are governed by some basic parameters, like organic pollutant concentration, photocatalyst concentration, pH, reaction temperature, light intensity, irradiation time, inorganic ions, oxidants, and these are also discussed. Titania and titania based materials have many attractive properties (nontoxicity, less costly, advanced optical properties, high stability) towards photo degradation process. Several studies have been reported investigating the intermediates produced during degradation process as well as the final degraded product, which might be toxic and/or hazardous to the human as well as to the environment. This review assimilates elaborate study on the mechanism of photocatalytic degradation of various organic pollutants.
ACOUSTIC EMISSION SOURCE LOCATION IN I GIRDER BASED ON EXPERIMENTAL STUDY AND LAMB WAVE PROPAGATION SIMULATION
Authors: Cheng Lu , Xin Haohui , Veljkovic Milan
Published: March 2020

Acoustic Emission (AE) is used in various fields of engineering and recently has been gained increasing attention in crack detection of cyclically loaded engineering structures. The crack location strategies are rather complicated for realistic structures with complex geometry. In this paper, pencil leads breaking (PLB) experiments and finite element simulation of lamb wave propagation are conducted to give a rational interpretation on acoustic wave propagation within composite structures. Identification of the fundamental extensional mode (S0) and flexural mode (A0) is successfully carried out. The proposed FE models are proven to be a suitable alternative/complement to the experiments, in the monitoring of realistic structures.
Improved Operating Parameters for Hydrogen Peroxide‐Generating Gas Diffusion Electrodes
Authors: Muddemann Thorben , Haupt Dennis R. , Sievers Michael , Kunz Ulrich
Published: March 2020

The influence of process parameters on the H2O2 yield of gas diffusion electrodes (GDE) are investigated. The investigated GDEs consist of Vulcan XC72 carbon black and PTFE on gold‐plated nickel wire cloth. An electrolysis cell is used to evaluate the influence of various process parameters, such as temperature, pH value, oxygen pressure and stoichiometric factor, electrolyte flow regime, current density and separator material at steady‐state conditions. It is found that the investigated GDE enables current efficiencies greater than 90 % at up to 2 kA m−2, whereby lower electrolyte temperatures and higher pH values contribute to higher H2O2 yields above 90 % current efficiency.
Interfacing HDF5 with a scalable object‐centric storage system on hierarchical storage
Authors: Mu Jingqing , Soumagne Jerome , Byna Suren , Koziol Quincey , Tang Houjun , Warren Richard
Published: March 2020

Object storage technologies that take advantage of multitier storage on HPC systems are emerging. However, to use these technologies at present, applications have to be modified significantly from current I/O libraries. HDF5, a widely used I/O middleware on HPC systems, provides a virtual object layer (VOL) that allows applications to connect to different storage mechanisms transparently without requiring significant code modifications. We recently designed the proactive data containers (PDC) object‐centric storage system that provides the capabilities of transparent, asynchronous, and autonomous data movement taking advantage of multiple storage tiers—a decision that has so far been left upon the user on most current systems. To enable PDC's features through HDF5 without modifying application codes, we have developed an HDF5 VOL connector that interfaces with PDC. We present in this article the connector interface and evaluate its performance on Cori, a Cray XC40 supercomputer located at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC). Our evaluation demonstrates up to an 8× improvement compared with HDF5 that has the most recent optimizations.
Unconventional Pyridyl Ligand Inclusion within a Flexible Metal‐Organic Framework Bearing an N,N′‐Diethylformamide (DEF)‐Solvated Cd5 Cluster Secondary Building Unit
Authors: Chao Meng‐Yao , Chen Jing , Wu Xiao‐Yu , Wang Rui‐Yao , Wang Pei‐Pei , Ding Lifeng , Young David J. , Zhang Wen‐Hua
Published: March 2020

A cationic three‐dimensional (3D) metal‐organic framework (MOF) sustained by an N,N′‐diethylformamide (DEF)‐solvated zigzag‐shaped Cd5 cluster secondary building unit (SBU), [Et2NH2]2[Cd5(BTB)4(DEF)2] ⋅ 4.75DEF (1 a, H3BTB=benzene‐1,3,5‐tribenzoic acid) shows flexible framework behavior and undergoes solvate exchange with CHCl3 to yield [Et2NH2]2[Cd5(BTB)4(DEF)2] ⋅ xCHCl3 (1 b) accompanied by changes to pore sizes and shapes. Unexpectedly, the DEF solvates coordinated to the central Cd2+ could not be replaced by strongly donor pyridyl and dipyridyl ligands. Additionally, more electron‐deficient pyridyls preferentially coordinated to the flanking Cd2+ of the Cd5 SBU, as exemplified by [Et2NH2]2[Cd5(BTB)4(DEF)2(PyCHO)2] ⋅ xSol (2 a, PyCHO=4‐pyridinealdehyde) and [Et2NH2]2[Cd5(BTB)4(DEF)2(PyAc)2] ⋅ xSol (2 b, PyAc=4‐acetylpyridine). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to understand these counterintuitive observations.
Multigene Engineering by GoldenBraid Cloning: From Plants to Filamentous Fungi and Beyond
Authors: Vazquez‐Vilar Marta , Gandía Mónica , García‐Carpintero Victor , Marqués Eric , Sarrion‐Perdigones Alejandro , Yenush Lynne , Polaina Julio , Manzanares Paloma , Marcos Jose F. , Orzaez Diego
Published: March 2020

Many synthetic biologists have adopted methods based on Type IIS restriction enzymes and Golden Gate technology in their cloning procedures, as these enable the combinatorial assembly of modular elements in a very efficient way following standard rules. GoldenBraid (GB) is a Golden Gate–based modular cloning system that, in addition, facilitates the engineering of large multigene constructs and the exchange of DNA parts as result of its iterative cloning scheme. GB was initially developed specifically for plant synthetic biology, and it has been subsequently extended and adapted to other organisms such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, filamentous fungi, and human cells by incorporating a number of host‐specific features into its basic scheme. Here we describe the general GB cloning procedure and provide detailed protocols for its adaptation to filamentous fungi—a GB variant known as FungalBraid. The assembly of a cassette for gene disruption by homologous recombination, a fungal‐specific extension of the GB utility, is also shown. Development of FungalBraid was relatively straightforward, as both plants and fungi can be engineered using the same binary plasmids via Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation. We also describe the use of a set of web‐based tools available at the GB website that assist users in all cloning procedures. The availability of plant and fungal versions of GB will facilitate genetic engineering in these industrially relevant organisms. © 2020 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Basic Protocol 1: Software‐assisted modular DNA assembly of a two gene expression‐cassette with GB

Basic Protocol 2: Agrobacterium tumefaciens–mediated transformation of filamentous fungi

Basic Protocol 3: Software‐assisted modular DNA assembly of a gene disruption‐cassette using GB

Basic Protocol 4: Obtaining disruption transformants
Electron Transfer Mediated by Iron Carbonyl Clusters Enhance Light‐Driven Hydrogen Evolution in Water by Quantum Dots
Authors: Li Chuanshuai , Rahaman Ahibur , Lin Weihua , Mourad Hassan , Meng Jie , Honarfar Alireza , Abdellah Mohamed , Guo Meiyuan , Richmond Michael G. , Zheng Kaibo , Nordlander Ebbe
Published: March 2020

Photocatalytic water splitting has become a promising strategy for converting solar energy into clean and carbon‐neutral solar fuels in a low‐cost and environmentally benign way. Hydrogen gas is such a potential solar fuel/energy carrier. In a classical artificial photosynthetic system, a photosensitizer is generally associated with a co‐catalyst to convert photogenerated charge into (a) chemical bond(s). In the present study, assemblies consisting of CdSe quantum dots that are coupled with one of two molecular complexes/catalysts, that is, [Fe2S2(CO)6] or [Fe3Te2(CO)9], using an interface‐directed approach, have been tested as catalytic systems for hydrogen production in aqueous solution/organic solution. In the presence of ascorbic acid as a sacrificial electron donor and proton source, these assemblies exhibit enhanced activities for the rate of hydrogen production under visible light irradiation for 8 h in aqueous solution at pH 4.0 with up to 110 μmol of H2 per mg of assembly, almost 8.5 times that of pure CdSe quantum dots under the same conditions. Transient absorption and time‐resolved photoluminescence spectroscopies have been used to investigate the charge carrier transfer dynamics in the quantum dot/iron carbonyl cluster assemblies. The spectroscopic results indicate that effective electron transfer from the molecular iron complex to the valence band of the excited CdSe quantum dots significantly inhibits the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers, boosting the photocatalytic activity for hydrogen generation; that is, the iron clusters function as effective intermediaries for electron transfer from the sacrificial electron donor to the valence band of the quantum dots.