bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Importance of house dust and storage mites in canine atopic dermatitis in the geographic region of Galicia, Spain
Authors: Goicoa Ana , Espino Luciano , Rodríguez Isabel , Puigdemont Anna , Brazis Pilar , Rejas Juan
Published: May 2008

Sensitisation to mites is frequent in atopic dogs. The main mite genus involved in canine atopic dermatitis is
Dermatophagoides
. The importance of storage mite allergens in dogs has been controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitisation rates against storage mites (
Lepidoglyphus destructor
and
Tyrophagus putrescentiae
) and house dust mites (
Dermatophagoides farinae
and
D. pteronyssinus
) in atopic dogs from Galicia, a highly humid and temperate region of Spain, using a FcɛRIα-based immunoglobulin E (IgE)
in vitro
test. The study was performed on 95 dogs suffering from atopic dermatitis and presenting detectable specific serum IgE levels: 91.6% of the dogs tested positive for storage mites, whereas sensitisation to house dust mites was detected in 87.4%. These results indicate the importance of storage mites in this specific geographic area.
Gastric zygomycosis in a pig affected with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome — Case report
Authors: Szeredi Levente , Szentirmai Csaba
Published: May 2008

A postweaning pig died in spite of antibiotic therapy showing wasting in a small herd. Postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) was diagnosed on the basis of gross pathological and histological lesions and the presence of moderate amounts of porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) antigen in tissue samples. Mycotic gastritis caused by
Zygomycetes
spp. was found on round areas with a diameter of 1 to 3 cm in the glandular mucosa of the stomach. Moderate amount of PCV2 viral antigen was detected almost evently in the stomach and mostly in the macrophages. In addition, acute uraemia, revealed by an ammonia-like stink of the gastric mucosa and the presence of acute erosions on the glandular mucosa of the stomach, was observed as a consequence of PCV2-induced interstitial nephritis. Only PCV2 infection could be identified as a cause of secondary mycotic gastritis. The results further support the immunosuppressive ability of PCV2 infection in PMWS-affected pigs.
Model specification to determine thermal conductivity of soils
Authors: Clarke B. G. , Agab A. , Nicholson D.
Published: May 2008

Developments in technology have led to an increasing interest in alternative sources of energy, which includes the ground and, in particular, the zone of influence of building foundations. The temperature in that zone in northern Europe is about 10–13°C, which is about the mean air temperature. It is possible to take advantage of this stable temperature to cool/heat buildings by circulating liquid through a closed loop within this zone and passing it through a heat exchanger or heat pump connected to a circulation system within the building. The number of loops required depends on the difference in temperature between the building and the ground, and on the thermal properties of the ground. This paper describes a model specification for determining the thermal characteristics of soils and rocks obtained from routine site investigations. Tests on cylindrical specimens have been used to develop the equipment, test procedure and analysis. The results indicate that the technique is simple, reliable, and produces typical results for sand and clays.
A Behavioral-Genetic Analysis of Health Anxiety: Implications for the Cognitive-Behavioral Model of Hypochondriasis
Authors: Taylor Steven , Jang Kerry L. , Stein Murray B. , Asmundson Gordon J. G.
Published: May 2008

The leading contemporary cognitive-behavioral model of excessive health anxiety (HA) emphasizes the importance of environmental factors, such as learning experiences. The model has little to say about the role of genetic factors and, by ignoring these factors, seems to imply that they are unimportant. In contrast, results from the University of British Columbia Twin Study, using a sample of 88 monozygotic and 65 dizygotic twin pairs, indicated that various facets of HA, such as excessive disease fear, unrealistic beliefs that one has a serious disease, and HA-related interference in functioning, are moderately heritable. The present study extended the analyses of this data set by investigating the extent to which the various facets of HA are due to genetic or environmental factors that are common to all facets versus specific to each facet. Results indicated that all facets of HA are influenced by a common set of genes—there was very little evidence of facet-specific genetic influences. There was considerably stronger evidence for facet-specific environmental influences, where each facet is strongly influenced by environmental experiences that are specific to that facet. However, there was also evidence that particular environmental influences—especially those that shape disease conviction—also influence some of the other HA facets (fear and interference). The importance of environmental factors is consistent with the cognitive-behavioral model of HA, although the model needs to be refined to account for the role of genetic factors. Possibilities for refining the model are discussed, along with promising research directions to better understand the role of genes and the environment in HA.
Enhancing Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Monosymptomatic Hypochondriasis With Motivational Interviewing: Three Case Illustrations
Authors: McKay Dean , Bouman Theo K.
Published: May 2008

Monosymptomatic hypochondriasis (MSH) is frequently referred to as a delusional variant of hypochondriasis. Treatment is typically difficult to initiate and complete for this condition. This article describes three uncontrolled cases of MSH where cognitive-behavioral therapy was administered following an initial phase of motivational interviewing. Cognitive-behavioral therapy consisted of combinations of exposure and cognitive therapy. At treatment termination and 6-month follow-up, all three clients showed improvement on measures of depression, anxiety, and belief conviction of the presence of illness. Implications for treatment and future research on MSH are discussed.
Refinement of the Shared Care Instrument-Revised: A Measure of a Family Care Interaction
Authors: Sebern Margaret D.
Published: May 2008

This study’s purpose was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Shared Care Instrument-Revised (SCI-R) in a sample of family care dyads. The SCI-R was developed to measure the construct of shared care, which is a system of three constructs (communication, decision making, reciprocity) used in family care to exchange support. An important aspect of evaluating the SCI-R was to create a measure that is statistically sound and meaningful for patient and caregivers. Surveys were mailed to randomly selected home health dyads, which included 223 patients and 220 caregivers. Reliability and confirmatory factor analysis, and concurrent validity were examined. Internal consistency reliability of the patient subscales ranged from 0.74 to 0.76, and from 0.72 to 0.78 for caregiver subscales. Factor analysis supported the underlying theoretical basis of the SCI-R. Construct validity also was supported using the hypothesis-testing approach. One major challenge in family care research is to develop methods and tools to study the dynamic characteristics of close relationships. The findings from this study support further use of SCI-R to study how shared care facilitates the exchange of support and the influence shared care has on outcomes for both patients and caregivers.
Internal Control Weaknesses and Information Uncertainty
Authors: Beneish Messod Daniel , Billings Mary Brooke , Hodder Leslie D.
Published: May 2008

We analyze a sample of 330 firms making unaudited disclosures required by Section 302 and 383 firms making audited disclosures required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We find that Section 302 disclosures are associated with negative announcement abnormal returns of −1.8 percent, and that firms experience an abnormal increase in equity cost of capital of 68 basis points. We conclude that Section 302 disclosures are informative and point to lower credibility of disclosing firms' financial reporting. In contrast, we find that Section 404 disclosures have no noticeable impact on stock prices or firms' cost of capital. Further, we find that auditor quality attenuates the negative response to Section 302 disclosures and that accelerated filers—larger firms required to file under Section 404—have significantly less negative returns (−1.10 percent) than non-accelerated filers (−4.22 percent). The findings have implications for the debate about whether to implement a scaled securities regulation system for smaller public companies: material weakness disclosures are more informative for smaller firms that likely have higher pre-disclosure information uncertainty.
Optimal Team Size and Monitoring in Organizations
Authors: Liang Pierre Jinghong , Rajan Madhav V. , Ray Korok
Published: May 2008

We formulate and analyze a model of team structure and monitoring within a Linear-Exponential-Normal (LEN) agency framework. We incorporate three key instruments in the internal design of an organization involving team production: team size, monitoring activities, and incentive contracts. We show that the complex tradeoffs among these instruments lead to surprisingly simple implications. One such result is that the equilibrium level of pay-for-performance for workers is attenuated and is, at times, invariant to most environmental variables of interest. As such, our model helps explain the empirical puzzle of the lack of a trade-off for risk/incentives shown in standard agency models. Our work also demonstrates the presence of complementarities between team size and monitoring, and between worker talent and managerial monitoring ability. Finally, we derive predictions about the impact of environmental variables on the choice of optimal team size, incentives, and employee quality, even in the presence of an external marketplace for talent.
The Use of DuPont Analysis by Market Participants
Authors: Soliman Mark T.
Published: May 2008

DuPont analysis, a common form of financial statement analysis, decomposes return on net operating assets into two multiplicative components: profit margin and asset turnover. These two accounting ratios measure different constructs and, accordingly, have different properties. Prior research has found that a change in asset turnover is positively related to future changes in earnings. This paper comprehensively explores the DuPont components and contributes to the literature along three dimensions. First, the paper contributes to the financial statement analysis literature and finds that the information in this accounting signal is in fact incremental to accounting signals studied in prior research in predicting future earnings. Second, it contributes to the literature on the stock market's use of accounting information by examining immediate and future equity return responses to these components by investors. Finally, it adds to the literature on analysts' processing of accounting information by again testing immediate and delayed response of analysts through contemporaneous forecast revisions as well as future forecast errors. Consistent across both groups of market participants, the results show that the information is useful as evidenced by associations between the DuPont components and stock returns as well as analyst forecast revisions. However, I find predictable future forecast errors and future abnormal returns indicating that the information processing does not appear to be complete. Taken together, the analysis indicates that the DuPont components represent an incremental and viable form of information about the operating characteristics of a firm.
Obese Mice Lacking Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Are Sensitized to the Metabolic Actions of Peroxisome Proliferator–Activated Receptor-γ Agonism
Authors: Dallaire Patrice , Bellmann Kerstin , Laplante Mathieu , Gélinas Stéphanie , Centeno-Baez Carolina , Penfornis Patrice , Peyot Marie-Line , Latour Martin G. , Lamontagne Julien , Trujillo Maria E. , Scherer Philipp E. , Prentki Marc , Deshaies Yves , Marette André
Published: May 2008

OBJECTIVE—Synthetic ligands for peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) improve insulin sensitivity in obesity, but it is still unclear whether inflammatory signals modulate their metabolic actions. In this study, we tested whether targeted disruption of inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS), a key inflammatory mediator in obesity, modulates the metabolic effects of rosiglitazone in obese mice.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—iNOS−/− and iNOS+/+ were subjected to a high-fat diet or standard diet for 18 weeks and were then treated with rosiglitazone for 2 weeks. Whole-body insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance were determined and metabolic tissues harvested to assess activation of insulin and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathways and the levels of inflammatory mediators.

RESULTS—Rosiglitazone was found to similarly improve whole-body insulin sensitivity and insulin signaling to Akt/PKB in skeletal muscle of obese iNOS−/− and obese iNOS+/+ mice. However, rosiglitazone further improved glucose tolerance and liver insulin signaling only in obese mice lacking iNOS. This genotype-specific effect of rosiglitazone on glucose tolerance was linked to a markedly increased ability of the drug to raise plasma adiponectin levels. Accordingly, rosiglitazone increased AMPK activation in muscle and liver only in obese iNOS−/− mice. PPAR-γ transcriptional activity was increased in adipose tissue of iNOS−/− mice. Conversely, treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes with a NO donor blunted PPAR-γ activity.

CONCLUSIONS—Our results identify the iNOS/NO pathway as a critical modulator of PPAR-γ activation and circulating adiponectin levels and show that invalidation of this key inflammatory mediator improves the efficacy of PPAR-γ agonism in an animal model of obesity and insulin resistance.
What is the role of local landscape structure in the vegetation composition of field boundaries?
Authors: Aavik Tsipe , Augenstein Isabel , Bailey Debra , Herzog Felix , Zobel Martin , Liira Jaan
Published: May 2008

Question: How distinct is the flora of field boundaries? How does the structure of field boundaries determine the composition of vegetation?

Location: Estonia, six 4 km × 4 km agricultural areas.

Methods: We studied the vegetation of fields and field boundaries using 2 m × 2 m sample plots. We estimated the frequency of species in both habitat types, applied an MRPP test to analyse the vegetation composition of field boundaries with various combinations of landscape features (ditches, roads, tree and bush layers) illustrating this by DCA ordination, and used indicator species analysis to determine the characteristic species of each boundary type.

Results: Ca. 45% of the flora of field boundaries comprised species found on agricultural land. Most typical species in fields — agrotolerants — were also the most common in field boundaries. The vegetation of road verges and grassy boundaries consisted mainly of disturbance‐tolerant species. Woody boundaries were characterised by shade‐tolerant and nitrophilous species. Ditch banks included species typical of moist habitats and semi‐natural grasslands. Few threatened or protected species were observed.

Conclusion: The vegetation composition of field boundaries varied due to the complex effects of landscape structure around and in these boundaries. Plant species in agricultural landscapes can be classified into two broad emergent groups on the basis of their different responses to agricultural disturbances — agrotolerant species and nature‐value species. Agrotolerant species are promoted by agriculture, nature‐value species include rare weeds and habitat specialists. We suggest that high‐nature‐value species should prevail in monitoring the effects of land‐use intensification on biodiversity rather than total species richness.
Registration of DT676 Loose Smut Resistant Durum Wheat Germplasm
Authors: Knox R. E. , Campbell H. L. , Clarke J. M. , Fernandez M. R. , McLeod J. G. , DePauw R. M.
Published: May 2008

DT676 (Reg. No. GP‐838, PI 650845), initially identified as P9162‐BJ08*B, is a durum wheat [Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn.] line released in 2007 by Agriculture and Agri‐Food Canada, Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre in Swift Current, SK, Canada. Well adapted to the drier regions of the northern Great Plains, DT676 is a source of resistance to the prevalent Canadian prairie races of loose smut [caused by Ustilago tritici (Pers.) Rostr.].
Registration of ‘CDC Mindon’ Barley
Authors: Rossnagel B. G. , Zatorski T. , Voth W. D. , Scoles G. J. , Legge W. G. , Tucker J. R. , Tekauz A. , Savard M.
Published: May 2008

‘CDC Mindon’ (Reg. No. CV‐337, PI 651860; CN107350; Canadian Food Inspection Agency [CFIA] Reg. No. 6224, Canadian PBR Appl. No. 07‐5903) is a two‐row spring feed barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) developed at the Crop Development Centre (CDC), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, with collaboration by Agriculture and Agri‐Food Canada at the Brandon Research Centre, Brandon, MB, Canada, and the Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada. CDC Mindon was tested in CDC yield trials as SB00106 in 2000–2003 and in the Western Canadian Cooperative Two‐Row Barley Registration trial as TR04378 during 2004 and 2005. CDC Mindon was registered for production in western Canada as it has demonstrated good agronomic performance combined with good kernel quality and, of greater significance, enhanced resistance to Fusarium head blight (incited by Fusarium graminearum Schwabe) with lower deoxynivalenol accumulation in combination with tolerance to spot blotch [incited by Cochliobolus sativus (Ito & Kuribayashi) Drechs. Ex Dastur]. CDC Mindon is also resistant to the barley smuts (incited by Ustilago spp.).
Registration of WSRC01, WSRC02, and WSRC03 Winter‐Hardy Safflower Germplasm
Authors: Johnson R. C. , Li Dajue
Published: May 2008

Winter‐hardy safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) germplasm lines WSRC01 (Reg. No. GP‐38, PI 651878) WSRC02 (Reg. No. GP‐39, PI 651879), and WSRC03 (Reg. No. GP‐40, PI 651880) were developed at the USDA–ARS, Western Regional Plant Introduction Station, Pullman, WA. All three lines were developed from germplasm originating in China and derived from two cycles of recurrent mass selection. Plants of each original accession were fall planted at Pullman (elevation 786 m), and seed of surviving plants was bulked for each cycle. In tests at Pullman and Central Ferry (elevation 206 m), WA, selection increased winter survival an average of 4.1% for WSRC01, 25.3% for WSRC02, and 94.5% for WSRC03, with the increase significant for WSRC02 and WSRC03 (P < 0.05). Average winter survival for WSRC01 was 88%, for WSRC02 84%, and for WSRC03 78%. Survival for spring‐type cultivars was zero in all tests. This is the first release of winter‐hardy safflower and is expected to be useful in breeding improved winter safflower with potential adaptation to areas of the western United States and the southern Great Plains, in addition to international regions such as the Mediterranean basin and southwest Asia.
Registration of ‘CP 00‐1101’ Sugarcane
Authors: Gilbert Robert A. , Comstock Jack C. , Glaz Barry , Edmé Serge J. , Davidson R. Wayne , Glynn Neil C. , Miller Jimmy D. , Tai Peter Y. P.
Published: May 2008

‘CP 00‐1101’ (Reg. No. CV‐130, PI 651881) sugarcane (a complex hybrid of Saccharum spp.) was developed through cooperative research conducted by the USDA‐ARS, the University of Florida, and the Florida Sugarcane League, Inc., and was released to growers in Florida in September 2007. CP 00‐1101 was selected from a putative self‐cross of ‘CP 89‐2143’ made at Canal Point, FL, in January 1998. CP 89‐2143 is a major sugarcane cultivar in Florida. CP 00‐1101 was released because of its high plant cane and ratoon yields of cane and commercial recoverable sucrose on organic and sand soils, and its resistance to smut [caused by Ustilago scitaminea (Sydow & P. Sydow)], brown rust (caused by Puccinia melanocephala H. & P. Sydow), orange rust (caused by Puccinia kuehnii E.J. Butler), leaf scald (caused by Xanthomonas albilineans Ashby, Dowson), Sugarcane mosaic virus strain E (mosaic), and ratoon stunting disease (caused by Clavibacter xyli subsp. Xyli Davis) in Florida.
Toward More Personalized Management of Device-Detected Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Siegler James E. , Sposato Luciano A. , Yaghi Shadi
Published: April 2024

This Viewpoint discusses the need to individualize the management of subclinical atrial fibrillation according to burden (among other factors) by modeling stroke risk.
Denials in informal co‐witness conversations do not affect memory for witnessed events
Authors: Bücken Charlotte A. , Mangiulli Ivan , Otgaar Henry
Published: April 2024

Campus sexual assault constitutes a frequent crime witnessed by many. Among co‐witnesses such assault is oftentimes denied. We examined how false denials during an informal co‐witness conversation impacted memory for the conversation and witnessed assault. Ninety participants watched a trauma‐analogue video with a co‐witness. The next day, honest control dyads engaged in an honest, informal discussion about the film. In lying dyads one participant falsely denied (internal false denial group) details during this informal discussion with their co‐witness (external denial group). One week later, participants' recognition memory for the video and conversation was tested. We did not replicate denial‐induced forgetting in that participants who falsely denied did not forget details of the previous conversation, relative to honest participants. Moreover, memory for the film was not statistically significantly affected by our manipulation. Thus, informal false denials might not negatively affect memory, despite previous research showing such effects in formal settings.
SAMHSA CoE offers Part 2 medical emergency exception tool
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: April 2024

The Center of Excellence for Protected Health Information (CoE‐PHI), funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, has released a new tool to help substance use disorder (SUD) treatment providers learn about the Medical Emergency Exception to 42 CFR Part 2, the federal regulation that protects the confidentiality of treatment records. The tool is designed to help SUD service providers identify what constitutes a medical emergency and who may receive SUD treatment records pursuant to this exception. Specifically, the tool's objectives are to describe what constitutes a medical emergency, identify when the medical emergency exception applies, and explain who may perceive records pursuant to this exception. This is an on‐demand module that can be accessed at any time. For more information, go to
Part 2's Medical Emergency Exception.
Self‐Assembled Monolayer Hole‐Selective Contact for Up‐Scalable and Cost‐Effective Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Wu Tianhao , Mariotti Silvia , Ji Penghui , Ono Luis K. , Guo Ting , Rabehi Ilhem‐Nadia , Yuan Shuai , Zhang Jiahao , Ding Chenfeng , Guo Zhanglin , Qi Yabing
Published: April 2024

Inverted positive‐intrinsic‐negative (p‐i‐n) perovskite solar cells (IPSCs) have attracted widespread attention due to their low fabrication temperature, good stability in ambient air, and the potential for use in flexible and tandem devices. In recent years, self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) have been investigated as a promising hole‐selective contact for IPSCs, leading to an impressive record efficiency of about 26%, which is comparable to that of the regular n‐i‐p counterparts. This review focuses on the progress of SAM‐based IPSCs from the perspective of energy level matching, defect passivation, interface carrier extraction, and SAMs’ stability improvement, as well as the advances in up‐scalable fabrication of SAMs and perovskite layers for efficient solar modules and tandem devices. A cost analysis of the SAMs and other commonly used hole‐selective materials is conducted to evaluate their cost‐effectiveness for photovoltaic applications. Finally, the future challenges are pointed out and the perspectives on how to up‐scale SAM‐based IPSCs and improve their long‐term operational stability are provided.
A High‐Sensitive Rubber‐Based Sensor with Integrated Strain and Humidity Responses Enabled by Bionic Gradient Structure
Authors: Yang Yunpeng , Kong Lingli , Huang Bai , Lin Baofeng , Fu Lihua , Xu Chuanhui
Published: April 2024

Real‐time detection of different physiological characteristics is crucial for human physical and mental health. A detection system with multimodal sensing capability, high sensitivity, excellent mechanical properties, and environmental stability is highly desirable, but it is still a great challenge. Inspired by the structural gradient of biological tissues, a multifunctional sensor based on carboxylic styrene butadiene rubber (XSBR) and sodium polyacrylate (PAANa) non‐covalently modified MXenes is prepared in this study, in which the MXenes exhibit a gradient distribution and simultaneously formed an orientation arrangement at the bottom of the matrix through the formation of hydrogen bonding interactions with PAANa. The material shows a considerable stretchability of 244% and strength of 7.67 MPa, high electrical conductivity of 55.40 S m‒1, low percolation threshold of 2.48 wt%, and excellent response to strain (gauge factor of 906.7 within 98% strain) and humidity (relative resistance change of 530% within 11–93% relative humidity). Based on the superior performances of the XSBR/PAANa/MXene composite, an integrated detection system is designed to accurately detect respiration and body movements at various scales. This work provides a new perspective for the development of a novel biomimetic functional material for sensor applications.
Relay Catalysis of Fe and Co with Multi‐Active Sites for Specialized Division of Labor in Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction Reaction
Authors: Luo Hongxia , Li Shuangjun , Wu Ziyang , Jiang Miaomiao , Kuang Min , Liu Yanbiao , Luo Wei , Zhang Dieqing , Yang Jianping
Published: April 2024

Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) driven by renewable energy is a promising technology for the removal of nitrate‐containing wastewater. However, the sluggish kinetics resulted from the complex proton‐coupled electron transfer and various intermediates remain the key barriers for large‐scale application of NO3RR. Herein, a tactic is reported to raise rate of NO3RR and increase selectivity to N2 using bimetal catalyst: Co is inclined to act on the key steps needed in NO3RR process, rate‐determining step (RDS: *NO3 to *NO2, the asterisk means intermediates) and the subsequent *N hydrogenation as well as Fe exhibits the efficient activity for the selectivity‐ determining step (SDS: *NO to *N then to N2) via a relay catalysis mechanism. A removal efficiency of 78.5% and an ultra‐long cycle stability of 60 cycles (12 h per cycle) are achieved on FeCo alloy confined with nitrogen‐doped porous carbon nanofibers (FeCo‐NPCNFs). DFT calculations unveil that the introduction of Co active site not only regulates the d‐band center of FeCo alloy, optimizes the adsorption of intermediates, but also has a strong capacity to supply active hydrogen species. Clearly, this study elucidates the effects of bimetallic relay catalysis on the performance of electrocatalytic NO3RR and offers avenues for designing Fe‐based catalysts to realize the nitrogen‐neutral cycle.
Tunable In Situ Synthesis of Ultrathin Extracellular Matrix‐Derived Membranes in Organ‐on‐a‐Chip Devices
Authors: Newton Jeremy D. , Song Yuetong , Park Siwan , Kanagarajah Kayshani R. , Wong Amy P. , Young Edmond W. K.
Published: April 2024

Thin cell culture membranes in organ‐on‐a‐chip (OOC) devices are used to model a wide range of thin tissues. While early and most current platforms use microporous or fibrous elastomeric or thermoplastic membranes, there is an emerging class of devices using extra‐cellular matrix (ECM) protein‐based membranes to improve their biological relevance. These ECM‐based membranes present physiologically relevant properties, but they are difficult to integrate into OOC devices due to their relative fragility. Additionally, the specialized fabrication methods developed to date make comparison between methods difficult. This work presents the development and characterization of a method to produce ultrathin matrix‐derived membranes (UMM) in OOC devices that requires only a preassembled thermoplastic device and a micropipette, decoupling the device and UMM fabrication processes. Control over the thickness and permeability of the UMM is demonstrated, along with integration of the UMM in a device enabling high‐resolution on‐chip microscopy. The reliability of the UMM fabrication method is leveraged to develop a medium‐throughput well‐plate format device with 32 independent UMM‐integrated samples. Finally, proof‐of‐concept cell culture experiments are demonstrated. Due to its simplicity and controllability, the presented method has the potential to overcome technical barriers preventing wider adoption of physiologically relevant ECM‐based membranes in OOC devices.
Transient Nanoscopy of Exciton Dynamics in 2D Transition Metal Dichalcogenides
Authors: Li Jingang , Yang Rundi , Higashitarumizu Naoki , Dai Siyuan , Wu Junqiao , Javey Ali , Grigoropoulos Costas P.
Published: April 2024

The electronic and optical properties of 2D transition metal dichalcogenides are dominated by strong excitonic resonances. Exciton dynamics plays a critical role in the functionality and performance of many miniaturized 2D optoelectronic devices; however, the measurement of nanoscale excitonic behaviors remains challenging. Here, a near‐field transient nanoscopy is reported to probe exciton dynamics beyond the diffraction limit. Exciton recombination and exciton–exciton annihilation processes in monolayer and bilayer MoS2 are studied as the proof‐of‐concept demonstration. Moreover, with the capability to access local sites, intriguing exciton dynamics near the monolayer‐bilayer interface and at the MoS2 nano‐wrinkles are resolved. Such nanoscale resolution highlights the potential of this transient nanoscopy for fundamental investigation of exciton physics and further optimization of functional devices.
Meta‐Attention Network Based Spectral Reconstruction with Snapshot Near‐Infrared Metasurface
Authors: He Haoyang , Zhang Yuzhe , Shao Yujie , Zhang Yan , Geng Guangzhou , Li Junjie , Li Xin , Wang Yongtian , Bian Liheng , Zhang Jun , Huang Lingling
Published: April 2024

Near‐infrared (NIR) spectral information is important for detecting and analyzing material compositions. However, snapshot NIR spectral imaging systems still pose significant challenges owing to the lack of high‐performance NIR filters and bulky setups, preventing effective encoding and integration with mobile devices. This study introduces a snapshot spectral imaging system that employs a compact NIR metasurface featuring 25 distinct C4symmetry structures. Benefitting from the sufficient spectral variety and low correlation coefficient among these structures, center‐wavelength accuracy of 0.05 nm and full width at half maximum accuracy of 0.13 nm are realized. The system maintains good performance within an incident angle of 1°. A novel meta‐attention network prior iterative denoising reconstruction (MAN‐IDR) algorithm is developed to achieve high‐quality NIR spectral imaging. By leveraging the designed metasurface and MAN‐IDR, the NIR spectral images, exhibiting precise textures, minimal artifacts in the spatial dimension, and little crosstalk between spectral channels, are reconstructed from a single grayscale recording image. The proposed NIR metasurface and MAN‐IDR hold great promise for further integration with smartphones and drones, guaranteeing the adoption of NIR spectral imaging in real‐world scenarios such as aerospace, health diagnostics, and machine vision.
2D WS2/WSe2(Er) Heterojunction for High Performance Photodetectors
Authors: Chen Yin , Liang Xianxiao , Liu Shaoxiang , Huang Zuqiang , Wu Zepeng , Liu Xiu , Xiao Zeyun , Peng Xiaoyu , Shi Xuan , Zhao Hongquan
Published: April 2024

2D transition metal dichalcogenides and their heterojunctions have demonstrated great potentialities for applications in optoelectronics, and rare‐earth doping has proven an effective way for achieving high performance. Here, 2D WS2 and Er3+ in situ doped WSe2 are prepared by the chemical vapor deposition method. Thicknesses and atomic structures of the prepared WS2 and WSe2 are characterized by atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscope, while qualities of the membranes are characterized by photoluminescence spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy, respectively. The 13.7 and 15.8 at% of Er3+ doping concentration in WSe2 are examined by energy dispersive spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. Performances of photodetectors based on the WSe2 and Er3+ doped WSe2 membranes are characterized individually. A microregion fixed‐point transfer technique is used to transfer the monolayer WS2 onto the Er‐doped monolayer WSe2 to form vertical van der Waals heterojunctions. Excellent performances are measured from the monolayer WS2/WSe2(Er3+) heterojunction photodetector with a photoresponsivity (Rλ) of up to 40.5 A W−1 and external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 8793%. The results prove the effectiveness of Er3+ in situ doping in WS2/WSe2(Er) heterojunctions for high‐performance photodetectors.
Building Models in Pairs for Cross‐Verification Using SDL and DEVS
Authors: Fonseca i Casas Pau , Ruiz Martin Cristina
Published: April 2024

The objective of the paper is to present a methodology that can be used to translate a model from one formalism to another allowing model reuse and cross‐verification. With the use of formal languages, the model specifications can be expressed in a rigorous and univocal way, and the model can be validated against the specifications or conceptual model. Expressing the same model in different formal languages opens the conceptual model validation to a varied number of specialists. Also, in the context of modeling a new system, where there is no data to perform validation against a real system, having pairs of models can be used to perform cross‐model verification to ensure that the model specifications or conceptual models are correctly implemented by comparing the results produced by both models. Specifically, a method is presented to translate a model conceptualized on specification and description language (SDL) to discrete event system specification (DEVS). The transformation mechanism between SDL and DEVS formalisms is described. The methodology is exemplified with a disease spread model for COVID‐19, and it is shown how the results obtained by the two models can be used for cross‐verification.
Deciphering the Role of Nickel in Electrochemical Organic Oxidation Reactions
Authors: Ghosh Suptish , Bagchi Debabrata , Mondal Indranil , Sontheimer Tobias , Jagadeesh Rajenahally V. , Menezes Prashanth. W.
Published: April 2024

Organic oxidation reactions (OORs) powered by renewable energy sources are gaining importance as a favorable alternative to oxygen evolution reaction, with the promise of reducing the cell potential and enhancing the overall viability of the water electrolysis. This comprehensive review delves into the electrochemical oxidation of diverse organic compounds, including alcohols, aldehydes, amines, and urea, as well as biomass‐derived renewable feedstocks such as hydroxymethylfurfural and glycerol. The key focus centers on the role of nickel (Ni)‐based catalysts for these OORs. The unique redox activity and chemical nature of Ni have been proven instrumental for the sustainable and cost‐effective oxidation of various organic molecules more efficiently and selectively. This review article discusses how strategic choices, such as the selection of foreign metals, intercalating species, vacancies, defects, and a secondary element (e.g. chalcogens and non‐metals), contribute to tuning the electrochemical performances of a Ni‐based (pre)catalyst for OORs. Moreover, this review provides insights into the active species in various reaction environments and further explores reaction mechanisms, to apparent phase changes of the catalyst with the most relevant examples. Finally, the review not only elucidates the limitations of the current approaches but also outlines potential avenues for future advancements in OOR.
CAR T‐cell therapy induces a high rate of prolonged remission in relapsed primary CNS lymphoma: Real‐life results of the LOC network
Authors: Choquet Sylvain , Soussain Carole , Azar Nabih , Morel Véronique , Metz Carole , Ursu Renata , Waultier‐Rascalou Agathe , di Blasi Roberta , Houot Roch , Souchet Laetitia , Roos‐Weil Damien , Uzunov Madalina , Quoc Stéphanie Nguyen , Jacque Nathalie , Boussen Inès , Gauthier Nicolas , Ouzegdouh Maya , Blonski Marie , Campidelli Arnaud , Ahle Guido , Guffroy Blandine , Willems Lise , Corvilain Emilie , Barrie Maryline , Alcantara Marion , le Garff‐Tavernier Magali , Psimaras Dimitri , Weiss Nicolas , Baron Marine , Bravetti Clotilde , Hoang‐Xuan Khê , Davi Frédéric , Shor Natalia , Alentorn Agusti , Houillier Caroline
Published: April 2024

The prognosis of relapsed primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) remains dismal. CAR T‐cells are a major contributor to systemic lymphomas, but their use in PCNSL is limited. From the LOC network database, we retrospectively selected PCNSL who had leukapheresis for CAR‐T cells from the third line of treatment, and, as controls, PCNSL treated with any treatment, at least in the third line and considered not eligible for ASCT. Twenty‐seven patients (median age: 68, median of three previous lines, including ASCT in 14/27) had leukapheresis, of whom 25 received CAR T‐cells (tisa‐cel: N = 16, axi‐cel: N = 9) between 2020 and 2023. All but one received a bridging therapy. The median follow‐up after leukapheresis was 20.8 months. The best response after CAR‐T cells was complete response in 16 patients (64%). One‐year progression‐free survival from leukapheresis was 43% with a plateau afterward. One‐year relapse‐free survival was 79% for patients in complete or partial response at CAR T‐cell infusion. The median overall survival was 21.2 months. Twenty‐three patients experienced a cytokine release syndrome and 17/25 patients (68%) a neurotoxicity (five grade ≥3). The efficacy endpoints were significantly better in the CAR T‐cell group than in the control group (N = 247) (median PFS: 3 months; median OS: 4.7 months; p < 0.001). This series represents the largest cohort of PCNSL treated with CAR T‐cells reported worldwide. CAR T‐cells are effective in relapsed PCNSL, with a high rate of long‐term remission and a reassuring tolerance profile. The results seem clearly superior to those usually observed in this setting.
Patients with parosmia respond faster to unpleasant odors than patients with hyposmia: Insights from olfactory event‐related potentials
Authors: Li Zetian , Richter Luisa , Krueger Tanja , Eichwald Herbert , Hähner Antje , Hummel Thomas
Published: April 2024

Background

Diagnosing parosmia is a challenge. The present study aimed to explore the distinctions between hyposmic patients with and without parosmia utilizing electroencephalography‐derived olfactory event‐related potentials (ERP).

Methods

Forty‐four patients with hyposmia were enrolled and divided into a group with parosmia (n = 23, mean age ± standard deviation = 48 ± 14 years, seven men) and a group without parosmia (n = 21, age = 52 ± 12 years, seven men) based on the clinical interview. Additionally, 21 healthy controls (mean age = 45 ± 14 years, six men) were included. Various measurements were obtained, including the Sniffin’ Stick test, threshold tests for the odorants furfural mercaptan and 2,6‐nonadienal, a modified Sniffin’ Stick parosmia test, and well‐being ratings. Chemosensory ERPs were recorded separately for each nostril using high‐precision, computer‐controlled air‐dilution olfactometry.

Results

Patients with parosmia had a decreased olfactory function similar to that observed in patients with hyposmia, although the odor sensitivity of patients with severe parosmia remained relatively unaffected. Patients with parosmia reported a decrease in well‐being compared to controls. The severity of parosmia was positively correlated with odor sensitivity. Furthermore, patients with severe parosmia exhibited faster responses to unpleasant odors than patients without parosmia.

Conclusion

Overall, the present findings support the idea that parosmia predominantly occurs during olfactory recovery, significantly disturbing patients and warranting the development of effective treatments. Notably, the relatively faster responses of hyposmic patients with severe parosmia suggest that the generation of distorted olfactory responses may involve early stages of the processing of olfactory information.
Bottlebrush Networks: A Primer for Advanced Architectures
Authors: Clarke Brandon R. , Witt Connor L. , Ilton Mark , Crosby Alfred J. , Watkins James J. , Tew Gregory N.
Published: April 2024

Bottlebrush networks (BBNs) are an exciting new class of materials with interesting physical properties derived from their unique architecture. While great strides have been made in our fundamental understanding of bottlebrush polymers and networks, an interdisciplinary approach is necessary for the field to accelerate advancements. This review aims to act as a primer to BBN chemistry and physics for both new and current members of the community. In addition to providing an overview of contemporary BBN synthetic methods, we developed a workflow and desktop application (LengthScale), enabling bottlebrush physics to be more approachable. We conclude by addressing several topical issues and asking a series of pointed questions to stimulate conversation within the community.
Atomically Precise Nanometer‐Sized Pt Catalysts with an Additional Photothermy Functionality
Authors: Wang Runguo , Chen Dong , Fang Liang , Fan Wentao , You Qing , Bian Guoqing , Zhou Yue , Gu Wanmiao , Wang Chengming , Bai Licheng , Li Jin , Deng Haiteng , Liao Lingwen , Yang Jun , Wu Zhikun
Published: April 2024

Atomically precise ~1‐nm Pt nanoparticles (nanoclusters, NCs) with ambient stability are important in fundamental research and exhibit diverse practical applications (catalysis, biomedicine, etc.). However, synthesizing such materials is challenging. Herein, by employing the mixture ligand protecting strategy, we successfully synthesized the largest organic‐ligand‐protected (~1‐nm) Pt23 NCs precisely characterized with mass spectrometry and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses. Interestingly, natural population analysis and Bader charge calculation indicate an alternate, varying charge ‐layer distribution in the sandwich‐like Pt23 NC kernel. Pt23 NCs can catalyze the oxygen reduction reaction under acidic conditions without requiring calcination and other treatments, and the resulting specific and mass activities without further treatment are sevenfold and eightfold higher than those observed for commercial Pt/C catalysts, respectively. Density functional theory and d‐band center calculations interpret the high activity. Furthermore, Pt23 NCs exhibit a photothermal conversion efficiency of 68.4 % under 532‐nm laser irradiation and can be used at least for six cycles, thus demonstrating great potential for practical applications.
Recycling Valuable Alkylbenzenes from Polystyrene through Methanol‐Assisted Depolymerization
Authors: Zeng Lin , Yan Tao , Du Junjie , Liu Chengyuan , Dong Bin , Qian Bing , Xiao Zhou , Su Guangning , Zhou Tao , Peng Zijun , Wang Zhandong , Li Hongliang , Zeng Jie
Published: April 2024

The vast bulk of polystyrene (PS), a major type of plastic polymers, ends up in landfills, which takes up to thousands of years to decompose in nature. Chemical recycling promises to enable lower‐energy pathways and minimal environmental impacts compared with traditional incineration and mechanical recycling. Herein, we demonstrated that methanol as a hydrogen supplier assisted the depolymerization of PS (denoted as PS‐MAD) into alkylbenzenes over a heterogeneous catalyst composed of Ru nanoparticles on SiO2. PS‐MAD achieved a high yield of liquid products which accounted for 93.2 wt % of virgin PS at 280 °C for 6 h with the production rate of 118.1 mmolcarbon gcatal.−1 h−1. The major components were valuable alkylbenzenes (monocyclic aromatics and diphenyl alkanes), the sum of which occupied 84.3 wt % of liquid products. According to mechanistic studies, methanol decomposition dominates the hydrogen supply during PS‐MAD, thereby restraining PS aromatization which generates by‐products of fused polycyclic arenes and polyphenylenes.
Buffer Chain Model for Understanding Crystallization Competition in Conjugated Polymers
Authors: Yu Zi‐Di , Lu Yang , Yao Ze‐Fan , Wu Hao‐Tian , Wang Zi‐Yuan , Pan Chen‐Kai , Wang Jie‐Yu , Pei Jian
Published: April 2024

It remains challenging to comprehensively understand the packing models of conjugated polymers, in which side chains play extremely critical roles. The side chains are typically flexible and non‐conductive and are widely used to improve the polymer solubility in organic solutions. Herein, a buffer chain model is proposed to describe link between conjugated backbone and side chains for understanding the relationship of crystallization competition of conductive conjugated backbones and non‐conductive side chains. A longer buffer chain is beneficial for alleviating such crystallization competition and further promoting the spontaneous packing of conjugated backbones, resulting in enhanced charge transport properties. Our results provide a novel concept for designing conjugated polymers towards ordered organization and enhanced electronic properties and highlight the importance of balancing the competitive interactions between different parts of conjugated polymers.
Strukturelle Einblicke in die Terpencyclasedomänen Zweier Pilzlicher Sesterterpensyntasen und Enzymengineering zur Diversifizierung von Sesterterpenen
Authors: Xu Meng , Xu Houchao , Lei Zhenyu , Xing Baiying , Dickschat Jeroen S. , Yang Donghui , Ma Ming
Published: April 2024

Über die Strukturen und katalytischen Mechanismen von Sesterterpensynthasen (StTSs) ist wenig bekannt, was das strukturbasierte Engineering von StTSs zur Erweiterung der strukturellen Diversität von Sesterterpenen erheblich erschwert. Wir berichten hier über die Kristallstrukturen der Terpencyclisierungsdomänen (TC) von zwei pilzlichen StTSs: der Sesterfisherol‐Synthase (NfSS) und der Sesterbrasiliatrien‐Synthase (PbSS). Beide TC‐Strukturen enthalten Benzyltriethylammoniumchlorid (BTAC), Pyrophosphat (PPi) und Magnesiumionen (Mg2+), wodurch die katalytisch aktiven Zentren klar definiert sind. Eine Kombination aus Theorie und Experimenten, einschließlich der Modellierung carbokationischer Intermediate, ortsgerichteter Mutagenese und Isotopenmarkierungen, lieferte detaillierte Einblicke in die strukturellen Grundlagen der katalytischen Mechanismen. Strukturbasiertes Engineering von NfSS und PbSS führte zur Bildung von 20 Sesterterpenen, darunter 13 neue Verbindungen und vier Epimerpaare mit unterschiedlichen Konfigurationen an C18. Diese Ergebnisse erweitern die strukturelle Vielfalt von Sesterterpenen und liefern wichtige Erkenntnisse für die zukünftige Forschung im Bereich der synthetischen Biologie.