bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Core/Shell Metal Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals for Optoelectronic Applications
Authors: Zhang Chengxi , Chen Jiayi , Kong Lingmei , Wang Lin , Wang Sheng , Chen Wei , Mao Rundong , Turyanska Lyudmila , Jia Guohua , Yang Xuyong
Published: March 2021

Core/shell structured metal halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) are emerging as a type of material with remarkable optical and electronic properties. Research into this field has been developing and expanding rapidly in recent years, with significant advances in the studies of the shell growth mechanism and in understanding of properties of these materials. Significant enhancement of both the stability and the optical performance of core/shell perovskite NCs are of particular importance for their applications in optoelectronic technologies. In this review, the recent advances in core/shell structured perovskite NCs are summarized. The band structures and configurations of core/shell perovskite NCs are elaborated, the shell classification and shell engineering approaches, such as perovskites and their derivative shells, semiconductor shell, oxide shell, polymer shell, etc. are reviewed, and the shell growth mechanisms are discussed. The prospective of these NCs in lighting and displays, solar cells, photodetectors, and other devices is discussed in the light of current knowledge, remaining challenges, and future opportunities.
Frequency‐Independent Terahertz Anomalous Hall Effect in DyCo5, Co32Fe68, and Gd27Fe73 Thin Films from DC to 40 THz
Authors: Seifert Tom S. , Martens Ulrike , Radu Florin , Ribow Mirkow , Berritta Marco , Nádvorník Lukáš , Starke Ronald , Jungwirth Tomas , Wolf Martin , Radu Ilie , Münzenberg Markus , Oppeneer Peter M. , Woltersdorf Georg , Kampfrath Tobias
Published: March 2021

The anomalous Hall effect (AHE) is a fundamental spintronic charge‐to‐charge‐current conversion phenomenon and closely related to spin‐to‐charge‐current conversion by the spin Hall effect. Future high‐speed spintronic devices will crucially rely on such conversion phenomena at terahertz (THz) frequencies. Here, it is revealed that the AHE remains operative from DC up to 40 THz with a flat frequency response in thin films of three technologically relevant magnetic materials: DyCo5, Co32Fe68, and Gd27Fe73. The frequency‐dependent conductivity‐tensor elements σxx and σyx are measured, and good agreement with DC measurements is found. The experimental findings are fully consistent with ab initio calculations of σyx for CoFe and highlight the role of the large Drude scattering rate (≈100 THz) of metal thin films, which smears out any sharp spectral features of the THz AHE. Finally, it is found that the intrinsic contribution to the THz AHE dominates over the extrinsic mechanisms for the Co32Fe68 sample. The results imply that the AHE and related effects such as the spin Hall effect are highly promising ingredients of future THz spintronic devices reliably operating from DC to 40 THz and beyond.
Halide Perovskite Light‐Emitting Diode Technologies
Authors: Ji Kangyu , Anaya Miguel , Abfalterer Anna , Stranks Samuel D.
Published: March 2021

Halide perovskites have attracted considerable attention in next‐generation solid‐state lighting and displays owing to their outstanding optoelectronic properties. Over the past few years, perovskite light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) have achieved high external quantum efficiencies of >20% with active layers showing photoluminescence quantum efficiencies close to unity. This paper reviews the historical breakthroughs and recent advancements in perovskite LEDs with near‐infrared, red, green, and blue emission colors. Critical challenges, including device stability and material toxicity, are discussed. Finally, an outlook on white emission and lasing applications based on perovskite materials is presented.
In Situ Polymerization Permeated Three‐Dimensional Li+‐Percolated Porous Oxide Ceramic Framework Boosting All Solid‐State Lithium Metal Battery
Authors: Yan Yiyuan , Ju Jiangwei , Dong Shanmu , Wang Yantao , Huang Lang , Cui Longfei , Jiang Feng , Wang Qinglei , Zhang Yanfen , Cui Guanglei
Published: March 2021

Solid‐state lithium battery promises highly safe electrochemical energy storage. Conductivity of solid electrolyte and compatibility of electrolyte/electrode interface are two keys to dominate the electrochemical performance of all solid‐state battery. By in situ polymerizing poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate within self‐supported three‐dimensional porous Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 framework, the as‐assembled solid‐state battery employing 4.5 V LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 cathode and Li metal anode demonstrates a high Coulombic efficiency exceeding 99% at room temperature. Solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance results reveal that Li+ migrates fast along the continuous Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 phase and Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3/polymer interfacial phase to generate a fantastic conductivity of 2.0 × 10−4 S cm−1 at room temperature, which is 56 times higher than that of pristine poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate. Meanwhile, the in situ polymerized poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate can not only integrate the loose interfacial contact but also protect Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 from being reduced by lithium metal. As a consequence of the compatible solid‐solid contact, the interfacial resistance decreases significantly by a factor of 40 times, resolving the notorious interfacial issue effectively. The integrated strategy proposed by this work can thereby guide both the preparation of highly conductive solid electrolyte and compatible interface design to boost practical high energy density all solid‐state lithium metal battery.
Kesterite Solar Cells: Insights into Current Strategies and Challenges
Authors: He Mingrui , Yan Chang , Li Jianjun , Suryawanshi Mahesh P. , Kim Jinhyeok , Green Martin A. , Hao Xiaojing
Published: March 2021

Earth‐abundant and environmentally benign kesterite Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) is a promising alternative to its cousin chalcopyrite Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 (CIGS) for photovoltaic applications. However, the power conversion efficiency of CZTSSe solar cells has been stagnant at 12.6% for years, still far lower than that of CIGS (23.35%). In this report, insights into the latest cutting‐edge strategies for further advance in the performance of kesterite solar cells is provided, particularly focusing on the postdeposition thermal treatment (for bare absorber, heterojunction, and completed device), alkali doping, and bandgap grading by engineering graded cation and/or anion alloying. These strategies, which have led to the step‐change improvements in the power conversion efficiency of the counterpart CIGS solar cells, are also the most promising ones to achieve further efficiency breakthroughs for kesterite solar cells. Herein, the recent advances in kesterite solar cells along these pathways are reviewed, and more importantly, a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms is provided, and promising directions for the ongoing development of kesterite solar cells are proposed.
Validation of the conventional Glasgow Prognostic Score and development of the improved Glasgow Prognostic Score in patients with stage 0‐III colorectal cancer after curative resection
Authors: Ishikawa Satoshi , Miyoshi Norikatsu , Fujino Shiki , Ogino Takayuki , Takahashi Hidekazu , Uemura Mamoru , Yamamoto Hirofumi , Mizushima Tsunekazu , Doki Yuichiro , Eguchi Hidetoshi
Published: March 2021

Aim

Many inflammation‐nutrition scores, including the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), have been reported as prognostic biomarkers in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). We aimed to examine the predictive ability of the GPS and to improve the GPS.

Methods

We included a total of 438 patients with stage 0‐III CRC who underwent curative surgery from 2010 to 2013. They were divided into a training set comprising 221 patients and a validation set comprising 227 patients, according to the date of surgery. In the training set, the GPS was verified using a Cox regression model, and cut‐off values for C‐reactive protein (CRP) and albumin for relapse‐free survival (RFS) were calculated using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves. The improved GPS (iGPS) was developed with additional optimal cut‐off values. We also compared the iGPS with the conventional GPS in the validation set.

Results

The high GPS (GPS: 1‐2) was correlated with RFS and overall survival (OS) in the training set. Cut‐off values of CRP and albumin for RFS were 1.6 and 3.9, and we modified the GPS accordingly, adding the cut‐off values of 2 and 3.9 to CRP and albumin, respectively. In the validation set, a high iGPS was an independent prognostic factor for RFS (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.273; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.212‐4.364; P = .011), although the conventional GPS was not.

Conclusion

The iGPS was a more accurate prognostic predictor for patients with stage 0‐III CRC.
A Florida Focus on a Key Practice Issue: Mediator Evaluation That Preserves Self‐Determination and Impartiality
Authors: Barkett John M.
Published: March 2021

Florida has the most developed body of mediation ethics opinions of any state researched for this two‐part series [See Part 1 at “A Mediator's Dilemma: Evaluating Without Compromising Self‐Determination or Impartiality,” 39 Alternatives 17 (February 2021) (available at (https://bit.ly/3dbCnC0)]. Last month, we reviewed mediator evaluation and its impact on impartiality and party self‐determination in eight states, including Florida, as well as the Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators (2005) (available at https://bit.ly/3av1L4l) promulgated by the American Arbitration Association, the American Bar Association's Section of Dispute Resolution, and the Association for Conflict Resolution.
Morphometry and histology to assess the maturity stage of three endangered devil ray species (Elasmobranchii: Mobulidae) from the Gulf of California
Authors: Serrano‐López Javier Noe , Soto‐López Katherin , Ochoa‐Báez Rosa Isabel , O'Sullivan John , Galván‐Magaña Felipe
Published: March 2021

Devil rays of the genus Mobula are subject to fishing exploitation worldwide and are considered vulnerable to overexploitation due to population reduction, which is evidenced by a decline in the number of catches of these animals.

Limited biological knowledge on these species has forced the use of precautionary conservation measures in countries where intensive fishing occurs.

This study aimed to describe biological data of interest for estimating the feasibility of the recovery of Mobula populations, emphasizing the reproductive activity of three endangered species of the genus Mobula (Mobula munkiana, Mobula thurstoni, and Mobula mobular) in the Gulf of California.

Reproductive organs were collected during 7 years of commercial fishing (2001–2007), and data on population structure, sex ratio, gamete production, and the number of offspring per breeding period were obtained.

Maturity stages were determined through histological analysis of the gonads for both sexes, and the size at maturity was estimated based on anatomical and histological characteristics of the specimens caught.

Considering the wide global distribution of Mobula species, there is an urgent need to apply strict conservation measures, such as established fishery closures during the breeding season or the establishment of catch periods after specimens have reached sexual maturity, especially in the countries where these animals are caught.
Modifiable risk factors for epilepsy: A two‐sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Yuan Shuai , Tomson Torbjörn , Larsson Susanna C.
Published: March 2021

Introduction

We conducted a two‐sample Mendelian randomization study to determine the associations of modifiable risk factors with epilepsy.

Methods

Fourteen potential risk factors for epilepsy were selected based on a systematic review of risk factors for epilepsy. Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms associated with each exposure at the genome‐wide significance threshold (p < 5×10–8) were proposed as instrumental variables from corresponding genome‐wide association studies. Summary‐level data for epilepsy were obtained from the FinnGen consortium (4,588 cases and 144 780 noncases). Potential causal associations (p < .05) were attempted for replication using UK Biobank data (901 cases and 395 209 controls).

Results

Among 14 potential risk factors, 4 showed significant associations with epilepsy in FinnGen. All associations were directionally similar in UK Biobank and associated with epilepsy at p ≤ .004 in meta‐analyses of FinnGen and UK Biobank data. The odds ratios of epilepsy were 1.46 (95% CI, 1.18, 1.82) for one unit increase in log odds ratio of having depression, 1.44 (95% CI, 1.13, 1.85) for one standard deviation increase in serum ferritin, 1.12 (95% CI, 1.04, 1.21) for one standard deviation increase in transferrin saturation, and 1.25 (95% CI, 1.09, 1.43) for one standard deviation increase in the prevalence of smoking initiation. There were suggestive associations of serum iron and magnesium with epilepsy. No association was observed for insomnia, blood pressure, alcohol consumption, or serum vitamin B12, 25‐hydroxyvitamin D and calcium levels.

Conclusion

This MR study identified several modifiable risk factors for adulthood epilepsy. Reducing prevalence of depression and smoking initiation should be considered as primary prevention strategies for epilepsy.
What motivates the adoption of green restaurant products and services? A systematic review and future research agenda
Authors: T. M. Arun , Kaur Puneet , Ferraris Alberto , Dhir Amandeep
Published: March 2021

Issues regarding green restaurants have received significant scholarly and practitioner attention in the last decade, particularly concerning why consumers adopt green restaurants. Although several reviews exist on green hospitality, a comprehensive review of the literature on consumers' green restaurant adoption is currently lacking. The following systematic literature review examines 50 research studies published on the consumer adoption of green restaurant services to address this gap accordingly. Through a detailed content analysis, the research profile and thematic analysis are presented. The review further identifies four key thematic foci: (a) consumer behavior variables studied, (b) antecedents internal to the consumer, (c) antecedents due to the perception of external factors, and (d) moderators. Limitations and gaps from each of the themes are offered with potential future research questions. The novelty of the review lies in the development of a “green restaurant adoption research framework” that cuts across multiple theoretical perspectives to summarize why consumers adopt green restaurant services.
Automated Laboratory Growth Assessment and Maintenance of Azotobacter vinelandii
Authors: Carruthers Brooke M. , Garcia Amanda K. , Rivier Alex , Kacar Betul
Published: March 2021

Azotobacter vinelandii (A. vinelandii) is a commonly used model organism for the study of aerobic respiration, the bacterial production of several industrially relevant compounds, and, perhaps most significantly, the genetics and biochemistry of biological nitrogen fixation. Laboratory growth assessments of A. vinelandii are useful for evaluating the impact of environmental and genetic modifications on physiological properties, including diazotrophy. However, researchers typically rely on manual growth methods that are oftentimes laborious and inefficient. We present a protocol for the automated growth assessment of A. vinelandii on a microplate reader, particularly well‐suited for studies of diazotrophic growth. We discuss common pitfalls and strategies for protocol optimization, and demonstrate the protocol's application toward growth evaluation of strains carrying modifications to nitrogen‐fixation genes. © 2021 The Authors.

This article was corrected on 13 January 2022 and 26 July 2022. See the end of the full text for details.

Basic Protocol 1: Preparation of A. vinelandii plate cultures from frozen stock

Basic Protocol 2: Preparation of A. vinelandii liquid precultures

Basic Protocol 3: Automated growth rate experiment of A. vinelandii on a microplate reader
An Efficient Agrobacterium‐Mediated Transformation Protocol for Hexaploid and Tetraploid Wheat
Authors: Hayta Sadiye , Smedley Mark A. , Clarke Martha , Forner Macarena , Harwood Wendy A.
Published: March 2021

Wheat, though a key crop plant with considerable influence on world food security, has nonetheless trailed behind other major cereals in the advancement of gene transformation technology for its improvement. New breeding technologies such as genome editing allow precise DNA manipulation, but their potential is limited by low regeneration efficiencies in tissue culture and the lack of transformable genotypes. We developed, in the hexaploid spring wheat cultivar “Fielder,” a robust, reproducible Agrobacterium tumefaciens–mediated transformation system with transformation efficiencies of up to 33%. The system requires immature embryos as starting material and includes a centrifugation pretreatment before the inoculation with Agrobacterium. This high‐throughput, highly efficient, and repeatable transformation system has been used effectively to introduce genes of interest for overexpression, RNA interference, and CRISPR‐Cas‐based genome editing. With slight modifications reported here, the standard protocol can be applied to the hexaploid wheat “Cadenza” and the tetraploid durum wheat “Kronos” with efficiencies of up to 4% and 10%, respectively. The system has also been employed to assess the developmental gene fusion GRF‐GIF with outstanding results. In our hands, this technology combined with our transformation system improved transformation efficiency to 77.5% in Fielder. This combination should help alleviate the genotype dependence of wheat transformation, allowing new genome‐editing tools to be used directly in more elite wheat varieties. © 2021 The Authors.

This article was corrected on 20 July 2022. See the end of the full text for details.

Basic Protocol 1: Growing of donor plants

Basic Protocol 2: Transformation of Agrobacterium with vector by electroporation

Basic Protocol 3: Starting material collection, sterilization, and embryo inoculation

Basic Protocol 4: Selection, regeneration, rooting, and acclimatization of transformants
Chemical Synthesis of Modified Oligonucleotides Containing 5′‐Amino‐5′‐Deoxy‐5′‐Hydroxymethylthymidine Residues
Authors: Ohkubo Akihiro , Muto Kousuke , Watanabe Rintaro , Ogata Daisuke
Published: March 2021

Introduction of cationic modifications into an oligonucleotide can increase its nuclease resistance and duplex‐ or triplex‐forming abilities. In a recent study, we found that the nuclease resistance and RNA binding selectivity of an oligonucleotide containing a 5′‐(R)‐amino‐5′‐deoxy‐5′‐(R)‐hydroxymethylthymidine residue were greater than those of the unmodified oligonucleotide. In this article, we describe the synthesis of 5′‐amino‐5′‐deoxy‐5′‐hydroxymethylthymidine via dihydroxylation of the 5′‐alkene derivative using either of two commercial AD (asymmetric dehydroxylation) mixes or via epoxidation and ring opening. We also provide detailed protocols for the syntheses of oligonucleotides containing 5′‐amino‐5′‐deoxy‐5′‐hydroxymethylthymidine residues. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

This article was corrected on 25 July 2022. See the end of the full text for details.

Basic Protocol 1: Synthesis of 5′‐amino‐5′‐deoxy‐5′‐hydroxymethylthymidine phosphoramidites 9a and 9b

Basic Protocol 2: Synthesis of oligonucleotides 1 and 2 containing 5′‐amino‐5′‐deoxy‐5′‐hydoxymethylthymidine residues (RT and ST)
Burrowing by translocated boodie (Bettongia lesueur) populations alters soils but has limited effects on vegetation
Authors: Palmer Bryony J. , Valentine Leonie E. , Lohr Cheryl A. , Daskalova Gergana N. , Hobbs Richard J.
Published: March 2021

Digging and burrowing mammals modify soil resources, creating shelter for other animals and influencing vegetation and soil biota. The use of conservation translocations to reinstate the ecosystem functions of digging and burrowing mammals is becoming more common. However, in an increasingly altered world, the roles of translocated populations, and their importance for other species, may be different. Boodies (Bettongia lesueur), a commonly translocated species in Australia, construct extensive warrens, but how their warrens affect soil properties and vegetation communities is unknown. We investigated soil properties, vegetation communities, and novel ecosystem elements (specifically non‐native flora and fauna) on boodie warrens at three translocation sites widely distributed across the species’ former range. We found that soil moisture and most soil nutrients were higher, and soil compaction was lower, on warrens in all sites and habitat types. In contrast, there were few substantial changes to vegetation species richness, cover, composition, or productivity. In one habitat type, the cover of shrubs less than 1 m tall was greater on warrens than control plots. At the two sites where non‐native plants were present, their cover was greater, and they were more commonly found on boodie warrens compared to control plots. Fourteen species of native mammals and reptiles were recorded using the warrens, but, where they occurred, the scat of the non‐native rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was also more abundant on the warrens. Together, our results suggest that translocated boodie populations may be benefiting both native and non‐native flora and fauna. Translocated boodies, through the construction of their warrens, substantially alter the sites where they are released, but this does not always reflect their historic ecosystem roles.
In situ feeding as a new management tool to conserve orphaned Eurasian lynx (lynx lynx)
Authors: Premier Joe , Gahbauer Martin , Leibl Franz , Heurich Marco
Published: March 2021

High human‐caused mortality due to wildlife‐vehicle‐collisions and illegal killing leads to frequent cases of orphaned Eurasian lynx juveniles. Under natural conditions, this would result in starvation of the young. To avoid this, wildlife managers conventionally rear animals in captivity and release them later. However, this measure is an undesirable outcome for species conservation, managers, and animals alike. Increased awareness of Eurasian lynx orphaned by human‐caused mortality means managers must often intervene in endangered populations. In this study, we report for the first time a successful case of in situ feeding designed to avoid captivity of two orphaned Eurasian lynx. We exposed 13 roe deer and 7 red deer carcasses in the field to successfully support two orphans to the age of independence and confirm dispersal from the natal range. We present this management approach as a feasible and complimentary tool that can be considered in small or isolated large carnivore populations where every individual counts toward population viability.
A Conversation on New Types of Chemical Bonds
Authors: Hiberty Philippe C. , Danovich D. , Shaik Sason
Published: March 2021

This conversation tells a panoramic story on bonding motifs discovered and/pre‐conceptualized by VB theory (VBT). Initially, the essay recounts how the authors discovered charge‐shift bonding (CSB) which enriched the landscape of electron‐pair bonding. This is followed by triplet‐pair bonds (TPB), between pairs of electrons that possess identical spins. And finally, a story is told of new adventures in describing excited states and their bonding. This is also a tale of a wonderful and insightful theory, Valence Bond Theory, which is coming of age. This is all recounted as a conversation between three scientists who participated in this research, and are conversing here in a Socratic‐Talmudic trialogue.
Acceptability of ENG‐releasing subdermal implants among postpartum Brazilian young women during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Barbieri Mariane Massaini , Herculano Thuany Bento , Dantas Silva Amanda , Bahamondes Luis , Juliato Cassia Raquel Teatin , Surita Fernanda Garanhani
Published: March 2021

Objective

To evaluate etonogestrel (ENG)‐implant acceptance during the immediate postnatal period among adolescents and young women during the COVID‐19 pandemic, and to compare variables according to choice and discuss possible implications of this measure during the pandemic period.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was designed. All women aged up to 24 years, who delivered between April 25, 2020, and June 24, 2020, at Women's Hospital, University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil were considered. The ENG‐implant or other contraceptive methods were offered prior to hospital discharge. The participants were split into two groups: (1) those who chose the ENG‐implant and (2) those that refused the implant. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were performed.

Results

151 women were included, with 76.2% selecting the ENG‐implant. The average age was 19.5 years; 73.2% of pregnancies were unplanned, 32.5% already had a previous pregnancy, 74% were single, and 75.5% were not in full time education. Further, 70.5% had previously used contraceptives, with 89.1% unsatisfied with their previous method that opted for the ENG‐implant (P = 0.07).

Conclusion

Offering the ENG‐implant to youths during the immediate postnatal period is evidence‐based care, and contraceptive provision is an essential health promotion tool, even during a pandemic. Thinking quickly about public policies in times of crisis is important to guarantee sexual and reproductive rights.
The influence of solvents and impurities on the separation of biobased phenol and 2‐octanone
Authors: Sprakel Lisette MJ , Bargeman Gerrald , Galan Sanchez Lara , Schuur Boelo
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

Phenol is used as a raw material in the polycarbonate industry and as the incentive for bio‐based plastics and products is increasing, so is the interest in and demand for bio‐based phenols. In renewable phenol production processes based on biomass, impurities derived from the biomass, including other oxygenate compounds, are expected in the phenol containing solution. Vapor–liquid equilibrium (VLE) of phenol and 2‐Octanone was studied and impact of impurities thereon to gain insights applicable for similar systems in biorefineries for renewable phenol production.

RESULTS

For the binary mixture of phenol ‐ 2‐octanone azeotropic VLE behavior was found. The effects of ternary compounds on the molecular interactions between phenol and 2‐octanone were studied using isothermal calorimetry (ITC) and molecular modelling (MM), and the impact on the VLE behavior was measured using an ebulliometer.

CONCLUSION

It was found that the relative volatility could be improved by adding solvents that are polar and/or contain hydrogen bond accepting groups. Ketones and ethers most strongly improved the relative volatility of the binary mixture 2‐octanone – phenol. Addition of a linear alkane, a repelling component especially for 2‐octanone, strongly improved the relative volatility as well. ITC and MM results, providing heat of mixing and the interaction energy of mixture components, improved fundamental understanding of the molecular interactions between phenol, 2‐octanone and ternary compounds, and supported the VLE findings. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Worldwide variation of the COL14A1 gene is shaped by genetic drift rather than selective pressure
Authors: Calò Carla M. , Onali Federico , Robledo Renato , Flore Laura , Massidda Myosotis , Francalacci Paolo
Published: March 2021

Background

The aim of this study is to analyze the worldwide distribution of SNP rs4870723 in COL14A1 gene to check if there are significant genetic differences among different populations and to test if the gene is a trait under selection.

Methods

Genomic DNA was extracted from 69 unrelated individuals from Sardinia and genotyped for SNP rs4870723. Data were compared with 26 different populations, clustered in 5 super‐populations, from the public 1000 genomes database. Allele frequency and heterozygosity were calculated with Genepop. The Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and pairwise population differentiation through analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA FST) were determined with Arlequin.

Results

Allele frequencies of COL14A1 rs4870723 were compared in 27 populations clustered in 5 super‐populations. All populations were in the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. In almost all populations, allele C was the most frequent allele, reaching the highest values in East Asia. The 27 populations showed an appreciable structure, with significant differences observed between European, African, and Asian populations.

Conclusion

Significant differences were observed in the rs4870723 SNP distribution among the populations studied. However, we found no evidence for a selective pressure. Rather, the differentiation among the populations is likely the result of founder effect, genetic drift, and cultural factors, all events known to establish and maintain genetic diversity between populations.
Echocardiographic image multi‐structure segmentation using Cardiac‐SegNet
Authors: Lei Yang , Fu Yabo , Roper Justin , Higgins Kristin , Bradley Jeffrey D. , Curran Walter J. , Liu Tian , Yang Xiaofeng
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Cardiac boundary segmentation of echocardiographic images is important for cardiac function assessment and disease diagnosis. However, it is challenging to segment cardiac ventricles due to the low contrast‐to‐noise ratio and speckle noise of the echocardiographic images. Manual segmentation is subject to interobserver variability and is too slow for real‐time image‐guided interventions. We aim to develop a deep learning‐based method for automated multi‐structure segmentation of echocardiographic images.

Methods

We developed an anchor‐free mask convolutional neural network (CNN), termed Cardiac‐SegNet, which consists of three subnetworks, that is, a backbone, a fully convolutional one‐state object detector (FCOS) head, and a mask head. The backbone extracts multi‐level and multi‐scale features from endocardium image. The FOCS head utilizes these features to detect and label the region‐of‐interests (ROIs) of the segmentation targets. Unlike the traditional mask regional CNN (Mask R‐CNN) method, the FCOS head is anchor‐free and can model the spatial relationship of the targets. The mask head utilizes a spatial attention strategy, which allows the network to highlight salient features to perform segmentation on each detected ROI. For evaluation, we investigated 450 patient datasets by a five‐fold cross‐validation and a hold‐out test. The endocardium (LVEndo) and epicardium (LVEpi) of the left ventricle and left atrium (LA) were segmented and compared with manual contours using the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), Hausdorff distance (HD), mean absolute distance (MAD), and center‐of‐mass distance (CMD).

Results

Compared to U‐Net and Mask R‐CNN, our method achieved higher segmentation accuracy and fewer erroneous speckles. When our method was evaluated on a separate hold‐out dataset at the end diastole (ED) and the end systole (ES) phases, the average DSC were 0.952 and 0.939 at ED and ES for the LVEndo, 0.965 and 0.959 at ED and ES for the LVEpi, and 0.924 and 0.926 at ED and ES for the LA. For patients with a typical image size of 549 × 788 pixels, the proposed method can perform the segmentation within 0.5 s.

Conclusion

We proposed a fast and accurate method to segment echocardiographic images using an anchor‐free mask CNN.
Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy observer design for nonlinear descriptor systems with unmeasured premise variables and unknown inputs
Authors: Nguyen Anh‐Tu , Campos Víctor , Guerra Thierry‐Marie , Pan Juntao , Xie Wenbo
Published: March 2021

This article presents a new observer design framework for a class of nonlinear descriptor systems with unknown but bounded inputs. In the presence of unmeasured nonlinearities, that is, premise variables, designing nonlinear observers is known as particularly challenging. To solve this problem, we rewrite the nonlinear descriptor system in the form of a Takagi–Sugeno (TS) fuzzy model with nonlinear consequents. This model reformulation enables an effective use of the differential mean value theorem to deal with the mismatching terms involved in the estimation error dynamics. These nonlinear terms, issued from the unmeasured nonlinearities of the descriptor system, cause a major technical difficulty for TS fuzzy‐model‐based observer design. The descriptor form is treated through a singular redundancy representation. For observer design, we introduce into the Luenberger‐like observer structure a virtual variable aiming at estimating the one‐step ahead state. This variable introduction allows for free‐structure decision variables involved in the observer design to further reduce the conservatism. Using Lyapunov‐based arguments, the observer design is reformulated as an optimization problem under linear matrix inequalities with a single line search parameter. The estimation error bounds of both the state and the unknown input can be minimized by means of a guaranteed ℓ∞‐gain performance level. The interests of the new ℓ∞ TS fuzzy observer design are clearly illustrated with two physically motivated examples.
Highly Efficient and Super Stable Full‐Color Quantum Dots Light‐Emitting Diodes with Solution‐Processed All‐Inorganic Charge Transport Layers
Authors: Wang Fuzhi , Wang Zhenye , Zhu Xiaodong , Bai Yiming , Yang Yun , Hu Siqian , Liu Yuqing , You Baogui , Wang Jun , Li Yang , Tan Zhan'ao
Published: March 2021

High performance and super stable all‐inorganic full‐color quantum dot light‐emitting diodes (QLEDs) are constructed by adopting solution‐processed Mg‐doped NiOx (Mg‐NiOx) nanoparticles as hole transport layer (HTL) and Al‐doped ZnO (AZO) as electron transport layer (ETL). Mg‐NiOx nanoparticles possess the advantages of low‐temperature solution processability, intrinsic stability, and controllable electronic properties. UV‐ozone (UVO) treatment is applied to the Mg‐NiOx film to modulate its surface composition. By carefully controlling the UVO treating time, favorable energy levels can be achieved to minimize the energy barrier for hole injection. At the cathode side, Al‐doping can reduce the conductivity of ZnO ETL and decrease the interface charge transfer, effectively, thus leading to more balanced charge injection and consequent high luminance and efficiency. The maximum luminance and EQE can reach as high as 38 444 cd m−2 and 5.09% for R‐QLEDs, 177 825 cd m−2 and 10.1% for G‐QLEDs, and 3103 cd m−2 and 2.19% for B‐QLEDs. The luminance values are the highest ever reported for all‐inorganic QLEDs. Furthermore, the all‐inorganic devices show much better resistance to water and oxygen existing in air. The results show that the ion‐doped NiOx and AZO nanoparticles would facilitate the design and development of highly efficient and super stable QLEDs.
GraphRedex: Look at your research
Authors: Gurdeep Singh Robbert , Scholliers Christophe
Published: March 2021

A significant aspect of designing new programming languages is to define their operational semantics. Working with a pen and paper version of such a semantics is notoriously difficult. For this reason, tools for computer aided semantics engineering were created. Many of these tools allow programmers to execute their language's operational semantics. An executable semantics makes it easier to verify whether the execution of a program leads to the desired result. When a program exhibits unexpected behavior, the programmer can consult the reduction graph to see what went wrong. Unfortunately, visualization of these graphs is currently not well‐supported by most tools. Consequently, the comprehension of errors remains challenging. In this article, we present GraphRedex an open‐source tool that empowers language designers to interactively explore their reduction graphs, offering three main benefits. First, a global exploration mode allows users to obtain a bird's‐eye overview of the reduction graph and learn its high level workings. Second, a local exploration mode lets the programmer closely interact with the individual reduction rules. Third, our query interface allows the programmer to filter out and highlight specific regions of the reduction graph. We evaluated our tool by carrying out a user study showing that participants comprehend programs on average twice as fast while being able to answer questions more accurately. Finally, we demonstrate how GraphRedex helps to understand the semantics of two published works. Exploration of the semantics with GraphRedex unveiled an issue in one of the implementations of these works, which the author confirmed.
Sodium and Potassium Complexes of Anionic N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes
Authors: Frosch Jenni , Körner Lukas , Koneczny Marvin , Tamm Matthias
Published: March 2021

The reaction of 1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin‐2‐ylidene (IDipp) with n‐BuLi in the presence of sodium and potassium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide was studied, and the resulting polymeric dicarbene species were reacted with the fluoroboranes tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane, B(C6F5)3, and tris[3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borane, B(m‐XyF6)3 to produce sodium and potassium salts of an anionic N‐heterocyclic carbene with a weakly coordinating borate moiety (WCA‐NHC).
Descendants in celestial CFT and emergent multi-collinear factorization
Authors: Ebert Stephen , Sharma Atul , Wang Diandian
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Multi-collinear factorization limits provide a window to study how locality and unitarity of scattering amplitudes can emerge dynamically from celestial CFT, the conjectured holographic dual to gauge and gravitational theories in flat space. To this end, we first use asymptotic symmetries to commence a systematic study of conformal and Kac-Moody descendants in the OPE of celestial gluons. Recursive application of these OPEs then equips us with a novel holographic method of computing the multi-collinear limits of gluon amplitudes. We perform this computation for some of the simplest helicity assignments of the collinear particles. The prediction from the OPE matches with Mellin transforms of the expressions in the literature to all orders in conformal descendants. In a similar vein, we conclude by studying multi-collinear limits of graviton amplitudes in the leading approximation of sequential double-collinear limits, again finding a consistency check against the leading order OPE of celestial gravitons.
Machine Learning in der Onkologie – Perspektiven in der Patient-Reported-Outcome-Forschung
Authors: Lehmann Jens , Cofala Tim , Tschuggnall Michael , Giesinger Johannes M. , Rumpold Gerhard , Holzner Bernhard
Published: March 2021

Hintergrund

Steigende Datenmengen in der Onkologie stellen neue Herausforderungen an die Analyse. Machine Learning ist ein Teilbereich der künstlichen Intelligenz und kann auch in sehr großen und weniger strukturierten Datensätzen Zusammenhänge erkennen.

Ziel der Arbeit

Der Artikel vermittelt einen Überblick zu den Einsatzbereichen von Machine Learning in der Onkologie. Weiterhin wird das Potenzial von Machine Learning für die Patient-Reported-Outcome (PRO) Forschung diskutiert.

Material und Methoden

Selektive Literaturrecherche (PubMed, MEDLINE, IEEE Xplore) und Diskussion des aktuellen Stands der Forschung.

Ergebnisse

In der Onkologie ergeben sich drei primäre Einsatzbereiche für Machine Learning: (1) zur Krebserkennung oder Klassifikation bei bildgebenden Verfahren, (2) zur Prognose von Gesamtüberleben oder zur Risikoeinschätzung, (3) zur Unterstützung bei Behandlungsentscheidungen und zur Vorhersage von Therapieansprechen. In der onkologischen PRO-Forschung und Praxis werden bisher kaum Machine-Learning-Ansätze verfolgt und es gibt nur wenige Studien, welche PRO-Daten in Machine-Learning-Modelle integrieren.

Diskussion

Machine Learning zeigt in einigen Bereichen der Onkologie vielversprechende Anwendungsmöglichkeiten, jedoch schaffen wenige Modelle den Sprung in die klinische Praxis. Die Versprechen von einer personalisierten Krebstherapie und von Unterstützung bei der Behandlungsentscheidung durch Machine Learning haben sich noch nicht erfüllt. Als ein Bereich, der in der Onkologie stetig an Bedeutung gewinnt, sollten PRO auch in Machine-Learning-Ansätze aufgenommen werden. Dazu sind jedoch die breite, standardisierte Erfassung von PRO sowie die umfassende Harmonisierung bestehender Datensätze nötig.
Histological changes in the human esophagus following triamcinolone injection to prevent esophageal stricture after endoscopic submucosal dissection
Authors: Kawamura Yudai , Kawada Kenro , Ito Takashi , Saito Katsumasa , Fujiwara Naoto , Okada Takuya , Hoshino Akihiro , Tokairin Yutaka , Nakajima Yasuaki , Kawano Tatsuyuki , Tokunaga Masanori , Kinugasa Yusuke
Published: March 2021

Background

Locoregional steroid injection prevents post-endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) esophageal stricture, but histological changes that occur following steroid injection in the human esophagus are unclear. This study investigated the histopathological characteristics caused by locoregional triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injection using human esophagectomy specimens.

Methods

From January 2014 to December 2019, among 297 patients (373 lesions) who underwent esophageal ESD, 13 patients who underwent additional esophagectomy after ESD were examined. Seven patients (TA group) with wide excisions were injected with TA after ESD and another six patients (Non-TA group) with smaller tumors were not injected with TA. The clinical background of these patients and histopathological features of ESD ulcer scar obtained from esophagectomy specimens were retrospectively investigated.

Results

The circumferential rate of ESD excision was more than three-quarters in all cases in the TA group, whereas it was less than three-quarters in the Non-TA group. No other statistical difference in the clinical background was found between the two groups. The subepithelial fibrous tissue of the ESD ulcer scar in the TA group was significantly thinner than that in the Non-TA group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the thickness of the regenerated epithelium and muscularis propria layer of the ESD ulcer scar.

Conclusions

Histological finding of thinning of the subepithelial fibrous tissue of ESD ulcer scar in the human esophagus after TA injection was obtained. This suggests that TA suppresses the proliferation of the fibrous tissue of the subepithelial layer to help prevent esophageal stricture after widespread ESD in the human esophagus.
Effect of vacancy defects on the electronic transport properties of an Ag–ZnO–Pt sandwich structure
Authors: Berdiyorov G. R. , Boltayev F. , Eshonqulov G. , Hamoudi H.
Published: March 2021

The effect of zinc and oxygen vacancy defects on the electronic transport properties of Ag(100)–ZnO(100)–Pt(100) sandwich structures is studied using density functional theory in combination with the nonequilibrium Green’s functional formalism. Defect-free systems show clear current rectification due to voltage dependent charge localization in the system as revealed in our transmission eigenstates analysis. Regardless of the location, oxygen vacancies result in enhanced current in the system, whereas Zn vacancy defects reduce the charge transport across the junction. The current rectification becomes less pronounced in the presence of both types of vacancy defects. Our findings can be of practical importance for developing metal-insulator-metal diodes.
LEVIATHAN FOR SALE: MARITIME POLICE PRIVATIZATION, BUREAUCRATIC CORRUPTION, AND THE SEWOL DISASTER
Authors: Choi Kyong Jun , Porteux Jonson N.
Published: March 2021

We argue that the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster in South Korea, in which 304 passengers perished, was a result of the mode and process of privatization of South Korea's maritime police and rescue services. Through the development of a nuanced theory of privatization and use of a novel conceptualization of corruption, coupled with empirical analysis, our study shows that the outcome was symptomatic of a wider trend of systematic bureaucratic rent-seeking. A pro-active private sector ready to capitalize on the opportunity, in conjunction with a permissive political environment, resulted in a reduction of state capacity, with devastating consequences.
THE EMANCIPATION OF MASTURBATION IN TWENTIETH-CENTURY HUNGARY
Authors: SZEGEDI GÁBOR
Published: March 2021

In this article, I discuss the emancipation of masturbation in twentieth-century Hungary, focusing on the socialist, Kádár era (late 1950s to late 1980s), which I claim was the time when the discourses concerning masturbation underwent profound transformation. I use Thomas Laqueur's periodization of discourses on masturbation in the West and make the case that in Hungary, due to its twentieth-century political and intellectual history, which affected both the institutionalization of sexology and discourses on sexuality, there is a markedly different chronology. In Hungary, interwar socialists were the first to suggest a new approach toward masturbation but these ideas remained marginal during the Horthy regime and in the ‘Stalinist’ 1950s. In the early years of the Kádár regime, debates about sexual morality reformulated what should be understood under socialist sexual morality. The concept of socialist humanism, especially Imre Hirschler's work, linked early 1960s sex education with the interwar socialist discourse on sex and paved the way to the emancipation of masturbation and the establishment of a post-Stalinist, socialist sexual ethics. In the 1970s and 1980s, iconic sexologists like Vilmos Szilágyi and Béla Buda moved away from socialist humanism and continued Hirschler's work, but mirroring the perspectives of contemporary Western science.
Glucose in a maturation medium with reduced NaCl improves oocyte maturation and embryonic development after somatic cell nuclear transfer and in vitro fertilization in pigs
Authors: Lee Yongjin , Lee Hanna , Lee Joohyeong , Lee Seung Tae , Lee Geun-Shik , Lee Eunsong
Published: March 2021

This study was conducted to examine whether glucose in maturation medium containing reduced NaCl could improve oocyte maturation and embryonic development in pigs. The base medium was bovine serum albumin-free porcine zygote medium (PZM)-3 containing 10% (v/v) pig follicular fluid (FPZM) or 0.1% (w/v) polyvinyl alcohol (PPZM). Using each medium, the effects of NaCl concentrations (108 and 61.6 mM) and 5.56 mM glucose supplementation (designated as PZM108N, PZM108G, PZM61N, and PZM61G, respectively) were examined using a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. When oocytes were matured in FPZM, glucose supplementation improved nuclear maturation compared with no supplementation, regardless of the NaCl concentrations. FPZM61G showed a higher blastocyst formation compared with FPZM108N and FPZM108G after parthenogenesis (PA). Blastocyst formations of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos derived from FPZM61N and FPZM61G were higher compared with those of oocytes from FPZM108N. When oocytes were matured in PPZM, glucose added to PPZM108 and PPZM61 increased nuclear maturation compared with no supplementation. However, glucose added to PPZM108 did not alter embryonic development after PA. Additionally, oocytes matured in PPZM61G showed a higher blastocyst formation compared with those from PPZM61N. In SCNT, blastocyst formation was not influenced by glucose supplementation of PPZM108, but was increased by maturation in glucose-supplemented PPZM61. In embryonic development of in vitro fertilization (IVF), oocytes matured in medium with reduced NaCl and glucose showed significantly higher blastocyst formation compared with those matured in PPZM108G. Our results demonstrated that glucose in maturation medium containing 61.6 mM NaCl increased oocyte maturation and embryonic development after PA, SCNT, and IVF.