bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hospital of the Transfiguration
Authors: Lem Stanisław
Published: August 2020

An early realist novel by Stanisław Lem, taking place in a Polish psychiatric hospital during World War II.

Taking place within the confines of a psychiatric hospital, Stanisław Lem's The Hospital of the Transfiguration tells the story of a young doctor working in a Polish asylum during World War II. At first the asylum seems like a bucolic refuge, but a series of sinister encounters and incidents reveal an underlying brutality. The doctor begins to seek relief in the strange conversation of the poet Sekulowski, who is posing as a patient in a bid for safety from the occupying German forces. Meanwhile, Resistance fighters stockpile weapons in the surrounding woods.

A very early work by Lem, The Hospital of the Transfiguration is partly autobiographical, drawing on the author's experiences as a medical student. Written in 1948, it was suppressed by Polish censors and not published until 1955. The censorship of this realist novel is partly what led Lem to focus on science fiction and nonfiction for the rest of his career.
Cognition in the Wild
Authors: Hutchins Edwin
Published: August 2020

Edwin Hutchins combines his background as an anthropologist and an open ocean racing sailor and navigator in this account of how anthropological methods can be combined with cognitive theory to produce a new reading of cognitive science. His theoretical insights are grounded in an extended analysis of ship navigation—its computational basis, its historical roots, its social organization, and the details of its implementation in actual practice aboard large ships. The result is an unusual interdisciplinary approach to cognition in culturally constituted activities outside the laboratory—"in the wild."

Hutchins examines a set of phenomena that have fallen in the cracks between the established disciplines of psychology and anthropology, bringing to light a new set of relationships between culture and cognition. The standard view is that culture affects the cognition of individuals. Hutchins argues instead that cultural activity systems have cognitive properties of their own that are different from the cognitive properties of the individuals who participate in them. Each action for bringing a large naval vessel into port, for example, is informed by culture: the navigation team can be seen as a cognitive and computational system.

Introducing Navy life and work on the bridge, Hutchins makes a clear distinction between the cognitive properties of an individual and the cognitive properties of a system. In striking contrast to the usual laboratory tasks of research in cognitive science, he applies the principal metaphor of cognitive science—cognition as computation (adopting David Marr's paradigm)—to the navigation task. After comparing modern Western navigation with the method practiced in Micronesia, Hutchins explores the computational and cognitive properties of systems that are larger than an individual. He then turns to an analysis of learning or change in the organization of cognitive systems at several scales. Hutchins's conclusion illustrates the costs of ignoring the cultural nature of cognition, pointing to the ways in which contemporary cognitive science can be transformed by new meanings and interpretations.

Bradford Books imprint
Inductive Logic Programming
Authors: Bergadano Francesco , Gunetti Daniele
Published: August 2020

Although Inductive Logic Programming (ILP) is generally thought of as a research area at the intersection of machine learning and computational logic, Bergadano and Gunetti propose that most of the research in ILP has in fact come from machine learning, particularly in the evolution of inductive reasoning from pattern recognition, through initial approaches to symbolic machine learning, to recent techniques for learning relational concepts. In this book they provide an extended, up-to-date survey of ILP, emphasizing methods and systems suitable for software engineering applications, including inductive program development, testing, and maintenance. Inductive Logic Programming includes a definition of the basic ILP problem and its variations (incremental, with queries, for multiple predicates and predicate invention capabilities), a description of bottom-up operators and techniques (such as least general generalization, inverse resolution, and inverse implication), an analysis of top-down methods (mainly MIS and FOIL-like systems), and a survey of methods and languages for specifying inductive bias. Logic Programming series
Spatial Hearing
Authors: Blauert Jens
Published: August 2020

The field of spatial hearing has exploded in the decade or so since Jens Blauert's classic work on acoustics was first published in English. This revised edition adds a new chapter that describes developments in such areas as auditory virtual reality (an important field of application that is based mainly on the physics of spatial hearing), binaural technology (modeling speech enhancement by binaural hearing), and spatial sound-field mapping. The chapter also includes recent research on the precedence effect that provides clear experimental evidence that cognition plays a significant role in spatial hearing. The remaining four chapters in this comprehensive reference cover auditory research procedures and psychometric methods, spatial hearing with one sound source, spatial hearing with multiple sound sources and in enclosed spaces, and progress and trends from 1972 (the first German edition) to 1983 (the first English edition)—work that includes research on the physics of the external ear, and the application of signal processing theory to modeling the spatial hearing process. There is an extensive bibliography of more than 900 items.
Creative Cognition
Authors: Finke Ronald A. , Ward Thomas B. , Smith Steven M.
Published: August 2020

Creative Cognition combines original experiments with existing work in cognitive psychology to provide the first explicit account of the cognitive processes and structures that contribute to creative thinking and discovery.

Creative Cognition combines original experiments with existing work in cognitive psychology to provide the first explicit account of the cognitive processes and structures that contribute to creative thinking and discovery.

In separate chapters, the authors take up visualization, concept formation, categorization, memory retrieval, and problem solving. They describe novel experimental methods for studying creative cognitive processes under controlled laboratory conditions, along with techniques that can be used to generate many different types of inventions and concepts. Unlike traditional approaches, Creative Cognition considers creativity as a product of numerous cognitive processes, each of which helps to set the stage for insight and discovery. It identifies many of these processes as well as general principles of creative cognition that can be applied across a variety of different domains, with examples in artificial intelligence, engineering design, product development, architecture, education, and the visual arts.

Following a summary of previous approaches to creativity, the authors present a theoretical model of the creative process. They review research involving an innovative imagery recombination technique, developed by Finke, that clearly demonstrates that creative inventions can be induced in the laboratory. They then describe experiments in category learning that support the provocative claim that the factors constraining category formation similarly constrain imagination and illustrate the role of various memory processes and other strategies in creative problem solving.

Bradford Books imprint
Opioid-Induced Sickle Cell Crisis With Multiple, Life-threatening Complications
Authors: Haggerty Ashley Griswold , Koons Andrew , Beauchamp Gillian , Cook Matthew D. , Cannon Robert D. , Katz Kenneth D.
Published: August 2020

The risk of opioid use disorder among patients with sickle cell disease who are treated with chronic opioids remains unclear, but the complications associated with opioid use and overdose can be accentuated in those with sickle cell disease. In this case report, we describe a 13-year-old girl with sickle cell disease who presented to the emergency department after a morphine overdose causing renal infarction, acute kidney injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome.
Gametophytic self-incompatibility in Andean capuli (Prunus serotina subsp. capuli): allelic diversity at the S-RNase locus influences normal pollen-tube formation during fertilization
Authors: Gordillo-Romero Milton , Correa-Baus Lisa , Baquero-Méndez Verónica , Torres María de Lourdes , Vintimilla Carlos , Tobar Jose , Torres Andrés F.
Published: August 2020

Capuli (Prunus serotina subsp. capuli) is a tree species that is widely distributed in the northern Andes. In Prunus, fruit set and productivity appears to be limited by gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI) which is controlled by the S-Locus. For the first time, this research reveals the molecular structure of the capuli S-RNase (a proxy for S-Locus diversity) and documents how S-Locus diversity influences GSI in the species. To this end, the capuli S-RNase gene was amplified and sequenced in order to design a CAPS (Cleaved Amplified Polymorphic Sequence) marker system that could unequivocally detect S-alleles by targeting the highly polymorphic C2–C3 S-RNase intra-genic region. The devised system proved highly effective. When used to assess S-Locus diversity in 15 P. serotina accessions, it could identify 18 S-alleles; 7 more than when using standard methodologies for the identification of S-alleles in Prunus species. CAPS marker information was subsequently used to formulate experimental crosses between compatible and incompatible individuals (as defined by their S-allelic identity). Crosses between heterozygote individuals with contrasting S-alleles resulted in normal pollen tube formation and growth. In crosses between individuals with exactly similar S-allele identities, pollen tubes often showed morphological alterations and arrested development, but for some (suspected) incompatible crosses, pollen tubes could reach the ovary. The latter indicates the possibility of a genotype-specific breakdown of GSI in the species. Overall, this supports the notion that S-Locus diversity influences the reproductive patterns of Andean capuli and that it should be considered in the design of orchards and the production of basic propagation materials.
An epidemiological investigation of porcine circovirus type 2 and porcine circovirus type 3 infections in Tianjin, North China
Authors: Wang Shuai-Yong , Sun Ying-Feng , Wang Qi , Yu Ling-Xue , Zhu Shi-Qiang , Liu Xiao-Min , Yao Yun , Wang Juan , Shan Tong-Ling , Zheng Hao , Zhou Yan-Jun , Tong Wu , Kong Ning , Tong Guang-Zhi , Yu Hai
Published: August 2020

Novel porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3), first identified in the United States, has been detected in many other countries. Porcine circovirus is associated with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome, reproductive failure, congenital tremors, and other clinical symptoms. In this study, we established a double polymerase chain reaction assay for detecting both porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and PCV3. This is the first study to detect and characterize the PCV3 genome in the Tianjin region of North China. We collected a total of 169 tissue samples from seven farms between 2016 and 2018. The PCV3-positive rate of all tissue samples was 37.3% (63/169) and the rate of PCV2 and PCV3 coinfection was 14.8% (25/169). PCV2 and PCV3 coinfections with more serious clinical symptoms were found in only three farms. We sequenced three PCV3 strains selected from tissue samples that were positively identified. The complete genome sequences of the three strains shared 97.6–99.4% nucleotide identities with the PCV3 strains in GenBank. Our results showed the extent of PCV3’s spread in Tianjin, and the need to further study PCV3’s pathobiology, epidemiology, isolation, and coinfection.
Description of a new species of cryptic snubnose darter (Percidae: Etheostomatinae) endemic to north-central Mississippi
Authors: Sterling Ken A. , Warren, Jr. Melvin L.
Published: August 2020

Many subclades within the large North American freshwater fish genus Etheostoma (Percidae) show brilliant male nuptial coloration during the spring spawning season. Traditionally, perceived differences in color were often used to diagnose closely related species. More recently, perceived differences in male nuptial color have prompted further investigation of potential biodiversity using genetic tools. However, cryptic diversity among Etheostoma darters renders male nuptial color as unreliable for detecting and describing diversity, which is foundational for research and conservation efforts of this group of stream fishes. Etheostoma raneyi (Yazoo Darter) is an imperiled, range-limited fish endemic to north-central Mississippi. Existing genetic evidence indicates cryptic diversity between disjunctly distributed E. raneyi from the Little Tallahatchie and Yocona river watersheds despite no obvious differences in male color between the two drainages. Analysis of morphological truss and geometric measurements and meristic and male color characters yielded quantitative differences in E. raneyi from the two drainages consistent with genetic evidence. Morphological divergence is best explained by differences in stream gradients between the two drainages. Etheostoma faulkneri, the Yoknapatawpha Darter, is described as a species under the unified species concept. The discovery of cryptic diversity within E. raneyi would likely not have occurred without genetic tools. Cryptic diversity among Etheostoma darters and other stream fishes is common, but an overreliance on traditional methods of species delimitation (e.g., identification of a readily observable physical character to diagnose a species) impedes a full accounting of the diversity in freshwater fishes in the southeastern United States.
Cashew Growth and Canopy Dynamics as Influenced by Manuring in a Guinea Savanna Agro-Ecology of Nigeria
Authors: Nduka Beatrice Abanum , Akanbi Olorunfemi Sunday Ojo , Mohammed Idrisu , Adeosun Seun Adewale , Ugioro Osasogie , Oyeledun Kehinde Olusola , Okunade Adeyemi Favour
Published: August 2020

A two-year experiment was conducted to study the response of manuring on growth and canopy development on three-year-old Cashew trees. The experiment was laid in a randomized complete block design, with three replications. Soil characteristics including the chemical and physical properties were analyzed before and after the experiments. Fecti-plus organic pelletized fertilizer was applied at different rates of 0,750.6 and 1,501.2 kg/ha-1 respectively around the circumference of the tree. Before the application, the fertilizer sample was also analyzed. Data collected were plant height, stem girth, canopy dynamics which includes: Canopy diameter, canopy radius, canopy spread (North-South and East-West directions), canopy volume, canopy ground cover and percentage ground cover. The results from the pre soil sample show a relatively low status but were significantly enhanced after the application of the pelletized organic fertilizer (Ferti-plus). The soil nutrient composition of Oc, Om, N, K, Na, Ca and Mg+ was significantly highest in the plots having 1,501.2 kg/ha-1 treatments. Generally, there was a significant increase in the soil nutrient with the addition of pelletized fertilizer in respective of the rate of application. Also the results on the canopy dynamic in terms of canopy volume, spread and diameter revealed better development with the use of 1501.2 kg/ha-1 pelletized fertilizer and significantly different to 750.6 kg/ha-1 and those in the no-manure (control)plots. Meanwhile, the use of pelletized organic fertilizer gave superior growth and canopy development. It also influenced the growth of the Cashew plants, as well as the physical and chemical properties of the soil status.
Nephroprotective Property of C. chayamansa Aqueous Leaf Extract in Diabetic Rats
Authors: Dabak Jonathan Dingkwoet , Kuyambana Rose Titus , Johnson Titilayo Omolara , Dabal Jonathan Latrwang
Published: August 2020

Aim: To evaluate the nephroprotective property of Cnidoscolus chayamansa aqueous leaf extract in diabetic rats.

Study Design: Rats were randomly divided into five groups with group 1 as the normal control. Diabetic was induced in groups 2-4. Group 2 was used as the test control while groups 3 and 4 were treated with different concentrations of the leaf extract; group 5 was treated with the standard drug, glipizide.

Place and Duration of Study: Departments of Biochemistry and Anatomy, University of Jos, Nigeria, between August to November, 2019.

Methodology: Fourty (40) male albino Wistar rats were grouped into five groups. The rats were treated for fourteen days and then sacrificed by decapitation after anaesthesia. Blood was collected for biochemical parameters; kidney was excised and stored in formaldehyde until required for histopathological study. Serum urea, creatinine, uric acid, sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate were determined using appropriate methods.

Results: The test control had a significant (P < .05) decrease in the concentrations of Na+, Cl- and HCO3- ions; significant (P < .05) increases in serum K+ ion, urea, uric acid and creatinine. Treatments of the test groups with the different doses of the leaf extract and the standard drug increased the concentration of Na+ ion which was not significantly (P < .05) different from the test control. On the other hand, the concentration of Cl- and HCO- ions  were significantly (P < .05) increased; the concentrations of K+, urea, uric acid and creatinine were significantly (P < .05) decreased. The histochemistry of the kidneys revealed that the injury brought about under diabetic condition was ameliorated with the treatments with the low and high doses of the leaf extract, and the standard drug.

Conclusion: The results show that the aqueous leaf extract has nephroprotective property.
Adverse Effects of Sub-lethal Doses of Chlorpyrifos on Birth Outcome of Female Wistar Rats
Authors: Iheanacho J. U. I. , Onyeka P. I. K. , Udujih H. I. , Udujih O. G. , Dozie U. W.
Published: August 2020

Chlorpyrifos is a widely used Organophosphorus pesticide for pest control, leading to increased risk for humans and wildlife exposure. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of chlorpyrifos on birth outcome in pregnant female wistar rats (Rattus novergicus). Animals were randomly assigned into 4 equal groups, group 1 were untreated and served as control. Rats of group 2 to 4 were treated with chlorpyrifos at concentration 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.8% respectively through feed and drinking water ad libitum from gestation day 1 through to weaning. The results on litter size indicates non-significant dose dependent decrease (p>0.05) across treated groups. Total litter birth weight significantly decreased (p<0.05) in a dose dependent manner compared with control. Stillbirth recorded non-significant (p>0.05) among treatment groups when compared with that of control. Also, postnatal survival showed significant (p<0.05) dose dependent lower number of pups survival between parturition and weaning. These results demonstrated that Chlorpyrifos has adverse impact on birth outcome in treated rats.
Proximate and Mineral Composition of the Fruit of Ficus polita
Authors: Nasir A. , Jaafar F. I. , Muhammad I. U. , Matazu K. I. , Yaradua A. I. , Usman A. , Suleiman Z. A. , Sulaiman H. , Nasir N. M.
Published: August 2020

The proximate and mineral analyses were conducted in the Department of Biochemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria, in May 2019. The study was carried out to determine the proximate and mineral composition of the fruit of Ficus polita using standard analytical methods. The fruit on dry weight basis (DW) contains moisture (9.12 %), ash (1.30 %), crude lipid (20.51 %), crude fibre (56.69 %), crude protein (1.19 %), available carbohydrates (11.40 %), and calorific value (234.98 Kcal/100 g). The fruit also contains potassium (324.46 mg/100 g), sodium (164.78 mg/100 g), calcium (91.09 mg/100 g), magnesium (70.06 mg/100 g), iron (3.39 mg/100 g), zinc (0.46 mg/100 g), manganese (0.37 mg/100 g), copper (0.23 mg/100 g), and cobalt (0.11 mg/100 g). The study revealed that F. polita fruit contains an appreciable amount of calorific value, crude fibre, crude lipid, available carbohydrate, and crude protein. The fruit was also found to be rich in minerals such as potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium and iron. The fruit should be recommended as a good source of energy, fibre, lipid, carbohydrate, protein, potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and iron.
Semiconductor Package Design Solution for Addressing High-Density Configuration
Authors: Rodriguez Rennier , Gomez Frederick Ray , Maming Maiden Grace
Published: August 2020

The direction for integrated circuit (IC) packaging is getting smaller yet with increasing unit performance. In this case substrate-based technology became limited to miniaturization and downsizing direction. In this paper, a specialized design of IC is presented and discussed through augmentation of routing channels at the backside of the silicon die to eliminate the substrate application in the package. Routed channels are fabricated using plating or immersion process that are electrically connected to the bonding pads through conductive via within the silicon material. By eliminating the substrate re-distribution layers (RDL), a package is expected to decrease by 20 – 40% from its designed dimension.
Evaluation of Antioxidant Potentials of Ocimum gratissimum and Xylopia aethiopica in Alcohol- Induced Hepatotoxic Albino Rats
Authors: Chuks-Oguine N. C. , Bartimaeus E. S. , Nwachuku E. O.
Published: August 2020

Aims: This study evaluated the antioxidant potentials of Ocimum gratissimum and Xylopia aethiopica on Alcohol-induced Hepatotoxicity in Albino rats.

Study Design: The study is an experimental case-controlled study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Physiology, University of Port-Harcourt, Nigeria.

Methodology: Fifty-five (55) healthy adult male albino rats with an average weight of about 150-200 g were used for the study. They were divided into 11 groups of 5 Rats each and subjected to different treatments of the aforementioned herbs. All the animals received humane treatments according to the criteria outlined in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals prepared by the National Institute of Health. Fresh leaves of Ocimum gratissimum and Xylopia aethiopica were bought from the Mile 3 market in Port-Harcourt. The herbs were separately extracted using maceration method. Absolute ethanol at a volume of 1 ml/kg (0.79 g/kg) was used to induce hepatotoxicity in rats. At the end of the treatment period, rats in all the groups were anaesthetized with chloroform and blood samples collected by jugular puncture. Total antioxidant capacity was analyzed using colorimetric method, whilst, malondialdehyde levels were determined using ELISA method. SPSS version 22.0 was used to analyse data generated and p values less than 0.05 were considered significant.

Results: Results show that intraperitoneal injection of 1 ml/kg ethanol significantly raised plasma MDA levels and significantly decreased TAOC in induced rats. Treatment with 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg b.wt. of aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum and Xylopia aethiopica however effectively reduced ethanol induced raised activity of the MDA levels and increased the activity of TAOC in the rats, but the effects were not dose dependent and a combination of both herbs did not produce better therapeutic effect.

Conclusion: Based on our findings, we conclude that Ocimum gratissimum and Xylopia aethiopica used separately could reduce oxidative stress in alcohol induced hepatotoxic rats.
Awareness on Commonly used Sedatives Hypnotic in Dental Practices among Dental Students
Authors: Sivakumar Nathasha , Ganapathy Dhanraj , Pandurangan Kiran Kumar , Velayudhan Ashok
Published: August 2020

Fear or anxiety towards dental procedures can discourage patients from getting dental treatment done. The management of anxious patients undergoing dental treatment is still a challenge in clinical practices. The increased use of sedative and hypnotics in dental practices appears to indicate that the assessment of dental student’s awareness of it, is essential. This survey is carried out to determine the awareness of sedatives and hypnotics used in dental practices among dental students. A questionnaire-based survey study was conducted among 100 undergraduate students at Saveetha Dental College and hospital. The study revealed 94% of the students are aware of the commonly used sedatives and hypnotics in dental practices.
Knowledge and Awareness of Monosodium Glutamate (Ajinomoto Salt) among Students
Authors: Sivaharini S. , Ganapathy Dhanraj
Published: August 2020

The aim of the study is to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of monosodium glutamate(MSG) (Ajinomoto salt) among dental students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 dental undergraduate students in Chennai. A pre-structured questionnaire was used for the survey. The responses were obtained and the data were extracted and analyzed statistically for understanding about MSG among students as well as their attitudes toward MSG. 56% of participants were               aware and 25% were not and the remaining 19% of participants were heard somewhat.                          We concluded that the level of awareness about the health hazards caused by the                consumption of products containing Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) as a food additive was not adequate.
The structure of myeloid cell‐specific TNF inhibitors affects their biological properties
Authors: Vasilenko Ekaterina A. , Gorshkova Ekaterina N. , Astrakhantseva Irina V. , Drutskaya Marina S. , Tillib Sergei V. , Nedospasov Sergei A. , Mokhonov Vladislav V.
Published: August 2020

Spatial organization and conformational changes of antibodies may significantly affect their biological functions. We assessed the effect of mutual organization of the two VHH domains within bispecific antibodies recognizing human TNF and the surface molecules of murine myeloid cells (F4/80 or CD11b) on TNF retention and inhibition. TNF‐neutralizing properties in vitro and in vivo of MYSTI‐2 and MYSTI‐3 antibodies were compared with new variants with interchanged VHH domains and different linker sequences. The most effective structure of MYSTI‐2 and MYSTI‐3 proteins required the Ser/Gly‐containing ‘superflexible’ linker. The orientation of the modules was crucial for the activity of the proteins, but not for MYSTI‐3 with the Pro/Gln‐containing ‘semi‐rigid’ linker. Our results may contribute toward the development of more effective drug prototypes.
Cryo‐electron microscopy visualization of a large insertion in the 5S ribosomal RNA of the extremely halophilic archaeon Halococcus morrhuae
Authors: Tirumalai Madhan R. , Kaelber Jason T. , Park Donghyun R. , Tran Quyen , Fox George E.
Published: August 2020

The extreme halophile Halococcus morrhuae (ATCC® 17082) contains a 108‐nucleotide insertion in its 5S rRNA. Large rRNA expansions in Archaea are rare. This one almost doubles the length of the 5S rRNA. In order to understand how such an insertion is accommodated in the ribosome, we obtained a cryo‐electron microscopy reconstruction of the native large subunit at subnanometer resolution. The insertion site forms a four‐way junction that fully preserves the canonical 5S rRNA structure. Moving away from the junction site, the inserted region is conformationally flexible and does not pack tightly against the large subunit. The high‐salt requirement of the H. morrhuae ribosomes for their stability conflicted with the low‐salt threshold for cryo‐electron microscopy procedures. Despite this obstacle, this is the first cryo‐electron microscopy map of Halococcus ribosomes.
Early Committed Clockwise Cell Chirality Upregulates Adipogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Bao Yuanye , Wu Siying , Chu Lok Ting , Kwong Hoi Kwan , Hartanto Hogi , Huang Yaozhun , Lam Miu Ling , Lam Raymond H. W. , Chen Ting‐Hsuan
Published: August 2020

Cell chirality is observed with diverse forms and coordinates various left‐right (LR) asymmetry in tissue morphogenesis. To give rise to such diversity, cell chirality may be coupled with cell differentiation. Here, using micropatterned human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), an early committed clockwise (CW) cell chirality that can itself upregulate the adipogenic differentiation is reported. hMSC chirality enables a positively tilted chiral orientation on micropatterned stripes. When cultured as single cells on circular micropatterns, an anticlockwise (ACW)‐biased nucleus rotation and swirling pattern of actin filament are observed. Interestingly, with adipogenic induction for 3–6 days, such chirality is reversed to negative chiral orientation and CW‐biased rotation, which is earlier than the maturation of other differentiation markers, and consistently expressed in terminally differentiated adipocytes. Using latrunculin A (LatA), cytochalasin D (CD), and nocodazole (Noco) that forces a CW‐biased actin filament and nucleus rotation resembling the early differentiated chirality upon adipogenic induction, an upregulation of adipogenic differentiation is found. The result demonstrates that the early differentiated chirality may serve as a mechanical precursor to engage the lineage commitment, suggesting a feedback mechanism of chiral actin in regulating cell differentiation and LR morphogenesis.
Membranes for Guided Bone Regeneration: A Road from Bench to Bedside
Authors: Aprile Paola , Letourneur Didier , Simon‐Yarza Teresa
Published: August 2020

Bone resorption can negatively influence the osseointegration of dental implants. Barrier membranes for guided bone regeneration (GBR) are used to exclude nonosteogenic tissues from influencing the bone healing process. In addition to the existing barrier membranes available on the market, a growing variety of membranes for GBR with tailorable physicochemical properties are under preclinical evaluation. Hence, the aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive description of materials used for GBR and to report the main industrial and regulatory aspects allowing the commercialization of these medical devices (MDs). In particular, a summary of the main attributes defining a GBR membrane is reported along with a description of commercially available and under development membranes. Finally, strategies for the scaling‐up of the manufacturing process and the regulatory framework of the main MD producers (USA, EU, Japan, China, and India) are presented. The description of the regulatory approval process of GBR membranes is representative of the typical path that medium‐ to high‐risk MDs have to follow for an effective medical translation, which is of fundamental importance to increase the impact of biomedical research on public health.
Different PEG‐PLGA Matrices Influence In Vivo Optical/Photoacoustic Imaging Performance and Biodistribution of NIR‐Emitting π‐Conjugated Polymer Contrast Agents
Authors: Neumann Paul Robert , Erdmann Frank , Holthof Joost , Hädrich Gabriela , Green Mark , Rao Jianghong , Dailey Lea Ann
Published: August 2020

The π‐conjugated polymer poly[2,6‐(4,4‐bis‐(2‐ethylhexyl)‐4H‐cyclopenta[2,1‐b;3,4‐b0]‐dithiophene)‐alt‐4,7‐(2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole)] (PCPDTBT) with deep‐red/near‐infrared (NIR) absorption and emission has been investigated as a contrast agent for in vivo optical and photoacoustic imaging. PCPDTBT is encapsulated within poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether‐block‐poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide) (PEG2kDa–PLGA4kDa or PEG5kDa–PLGA55kDa) micelles or enveloped by the phospholipid, 1,2‐dipalmitoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphoethanolamine‐N‐[methoxy(polyethylene glycol)‐2000] (PEG2kDa‐DPPE), to investigate the formulation effect on imaging performance, biodistribution, and biocompatibility. Nanoparticles that meet the quality requirements for parenteral administration are generated with similar physicochemical properties. Optical phantom imaging reveals that both PEG‐PLGA systems exhibit a 30% higher signal‐to‐background ratio (SBR) than PEG2kDa‐DPPE. This trend cannot be observed in a murine HeLa xenograft model following intravenous administration since dramatic differences in biodistribution are observed. PEG2kDa–PLGA4kDa systems accumulate more rapidly in the liver compared to other formulations and PEG2kDa‐DPPE demonstrates a higher tumor localization. Protein content in the “hard” corona differs between formulations (PEG2kDa‐DPPE < PEG2kDa–PLGA4kDa < PEG5kDa–PLGA55kDa), although this observation alone does not explain biodistribution patterns. PEG2kDa‐PLGA4kDa systems show the highest photoacoustic amplitude in a phantom, but also a lower signal in the tumor due to differences in biodistribution. This study demonstrates that formulations for conjugated polymer contrast agents can have significant impact on both imaging performance and biodistribution.
Engineering Macrophages for Cancer Immunotherapy and Drug Delivery
Authors: Xia Yuqiong , Rao Lang , Yao Huimin , Wang Zhongliang , Ning Pengbo , Chen Xiaoyuan
Published: August 2020

Macrophages play an important role in cancer development and metastasis. Proinflammatory M1 macrophages can phagocytose tumor cells, while anti‐inflammatory M2 macrophages such as tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) promote tumor growth and invasion. Modulating the tumor immune microenvironment through engineering macrophages is efficacious in tumor therapy. M1 macrophages target cancerous cells and, therefore, can be used as drug carriers for tumor therapy. Herein, the strategies to engineer macrophages for cancer immunotherapy, such as inhibition of macrophage recruitment, depletion of TAMs, reprograming of TAMs, and blocking of the CD47‐SIRPα pathway, are discussed. Further, the recent advances in drug delivery using M1 macrophages, macrophage‐derived exosomes, and macrophage‐membrane‐coated nanoparticles are elaborated. Overall, there is still significant room for development in macrophage‐mediated immune modulation and macrophage‐mediated drug delivery, which will further enhance current tumor therapies against various malignant solid tumors, including drug‐resistant tumors and metastatic tumors.
Bacterial Colonization of Low‐Wettable Surfaces is Driven by Culture Conditions and Topography
Authors: Marguier Adeline , Poulin Nicolas , Soraru Charline , Vonna Laurent , Hajjar‐Garreau Samar , Kunemann Philippe , Airoudj Aissam , Mertz Grégory , Bardon Julien , Delmée Maxime , Roucoules Vincent , Ruch David , Ploux Lydie
Published: August 2020

Effect of surface low‐wettability on bacterial colonization has become a prominent subject for the development of antibacterial coatings. However, bacteria's fate on such surfaces immersed in liquid as well as causal factors is poorly understood. This question is addressed by using a range of coatings with increasing hydrophobicity, to superhydrophobic, obtained by an atmospheric plasma polymer method allowing series production. Chemistry, wettability, and topography are thoroughly described, as well as bacterial colonization by in situ live imaging up to 24 h culture time in different liquid media. In the extreme case of superhydrophobic coating, substrates are significantly less colonized in biomolecule‐poor liquids and for short‐term culture only. Complex statistical analysis demonstrates that bacterial colonization on these low‐wettable substrates is predominantly controlled by the culture conditions and only secondary by topographic coating's properties (variation in surface structuration with almost constant mean height). Wettability is less responsible for bacterial colonization reduction in these conditions, but allows the coatings to preserve colonization‐prevention properties in nutritive media when topography is masked by fouling. Even after long‐term culture in rich medium, many large places of the superhydrophobic coating are completely free of bacteria in relation to their capacity to preserve air trapping.
Ternary Interface of Pt|Few‐Layered N‐rGO|TiN for the Boasting Electrocatalytic Activity in Ethylene Glycol Oxidation
Authors: Yang Ting , Zhang Caixia , Wang Zhanzhong , Bai Ping , Wang Xiaojing , Chai Zhanli
Published: August 2020

The efficient electrochemical oxidation of ethylene glycol (EG) requires the superior synergism of platinum (Pt) based composites, which depends on the formation of effective interface between the components. In this paper, Pt loaded on co‐supporter of TiN and N‐doped reduced graphene oxide (Pt/TiN @ N‐rGO) composite is obtained by an in situ calcination of TiN @ N‐rGO followed with the targeted growth of Pt nanoparticles at the junction of TiN|N‐rGO. As a result, Pt/TiN @ N‐rGO electrode with medium molar ratio of urea to TiCl4 (R =10) and the ideal ternary interface of Pt|few layered N‐rGO|TiN exhibited exceptionally high catalytic mass activity (343.9 mA mg−1 Pt) and long‐term durability (117 mA mg−1 Pt after continuous 1200 min operation) for EG oxidation in acid, compared to other Pt/TiN @ N‐rGO composites and commercial Pt/C (41.1 mA mg−1 Pt). The promoted performance is attributed to the synergies at ternary interface, involving the highest electrochemically active surface areas due to more exposed active sites of Pt nanoparticles, the best electrical conductivity ascribed to the incorporation of few layered N‐rGO, and excellent CO tolerance with the assistance of TiN.
Research and Application Progress Based on the Interfacial Properties of Graphene Oxide
Authors: Li Hanglin , Xue Shaoqing , Shang Yazhuo , Li Jiusheng , Zeng Xiangqiong
Published: August 2020

Graphene oxide (GO), a novel carbon‐based nanomaterial, has been significantly developed and investigated during the past decade in the fields of material science and chemistry. GO is essentially one‐atom thick, but the lateral dimension can reach to dozens of microns, resulting in a unique 2D layered structure. This allows for oxygen‐containing functional groups to be grafted on the sheets, which give GO a unique amphiphilicity and enables it to self‐assemble at two‐phase interfaces. This characteristic provides significant potential for the development of functional interfacial materials with promising performances, including the synthesis of large area interfacial membranes, GO‐based coating with self‐healing abilities, and functional GO‐based emulsions. In this review, the interfacial assembly behaviors of GO and functionalized‐GO at the air–liquid, liquid–liquid, and liquid–solid interfaces are discussed to further understand the properties and applications of GO. The synthesis of different composites using these interfacial properties is also discussed. The application progress of GO composite materials that are prepared based on their interfacial properties is also illustrated, and possible challenges are proposed.
A Flexible Micro‐Thermoelectric Generator Sticker with Trapezoidal‐Shaped Legs for Large Temperature Gradient and High‐Power Density
Authors: Park Ji Won , Kim Choong Sun , Choi Hyeongdo , Kim Yong Jun , Lee Gyu Soup , Cho Byung Jin
Published: August 2020

Micro‐thermoelectric generators (m‐TEGs) are considered one of the potential semi‐permanent power sources for portable self‐powered electronic devices. To supply a sufficient amount of power for applications, the m‐TEG needs high‐performance thermoelectric materials as well as a large temperature difference across the device. Here, an m‐TEG with a new device structure, fabricated with a thin polymer‐supporting layer and trapezoidal‐shaped thermoelectric legs is presented. The m‐TEG, in the form of a sticker, is also flexible and can be attached anywhere that requires power. An m‐TEG with a step height of 200 µm is fabricated by sputtering a (Bi, Te)‐based thermoelectric material, and the device structure is completed using various challenging device fabrication techniques. The thermoelectric legs in the resulting structure have a very small cross‐section area, which enables the m‐TEG to have a larger thermal resistance than the conventional structure. This allows creating a larger temperature gradient across the thermoelectric legs. The fabricated m‐TEG exhibits a temperature difference as large as 0.90 °C, and generates an excellent output power density of 14.37 nW cm−2 even under natural convection, when attached to a heat source of 48 °C.
A Nanoparticle Platform for Accelerated In Vivo Oral Delivery Screening of Nucleic Acids
Authors: El‐Mayta Rakan , Zhang Rui , Shepherd Sarah J. , Wang Feng , Billingsley Margaret M. , Dudkin Vadim , Klein Donna , Lu Hoang D. , Mitchell Michael J.
Published: August 2020

Oral administration of nucleic acids, such as small interfering RNAs and antisense oligonucleotides, represents a potent modality for treating many gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. However, their use is limited due to a lack of carriers that can effectively mediate their delivery through GI barriers, including gastric enzymes and mucus membranes. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are an emerging delivery system that can protect nucleic acids from degradation and mediate their intracellular delivery, but few studies have evaluated their ability to overcome oral delivery barriers. Here, a high‐throughput in vivo screening platform is developed to accelerate the design of LNPs for oral delivery of nucleic acids. A library of LNPs that encapsulate DNA barcodes (b‐DNAs) was pooled and orally administered to mice, and their delivery was quantified by deep sequencing. Sequencing results indicated that increases in the molar ratio of cholesterol to lipid‐anchored polyethylene glycol conjugate in LNPs enhanced their GI content retention and that the presence of an LNP carrier improved b‐DNA delivery to GI tissues, relative to the delivery of naked b‐DNA. Collectively, these results suggest that high‐throughput in vivo screening can accelerate the discovery of LNPs for GI tract nucleic acid delivery upon oral administration.
Nanomedicines as Multifunctional Modulators of Melanoma Immune Microenvironment
Authors: Carreira Barbara , Acúrcio Rita C. , Matos Ana I. , Peres Carina , Pozzi Sabina , Vaskovich‐Koubi Daniella , Kleiner Ron , Bento Mariana , Satchi‐Fainaro Ronit , Florindo Helena F.
Published: August 2020

Melanoma is the most destructive and deadly among skin cancers. Patients presenting the most disseminated form of this disease have very low survival rates (≈15%) and highly restricted therapeutic alternatives. In recent years, the area of cancer immunotherapy has witnessed remarkable developments in the management of many cancers, including melanoma. In fact, immunotherapy unveiled as a feasible therapeutic alternative for late‐stage melanoma patients, specifically using immune checkpoint therapies. However, despite the exciting outcomes, only a small percentage of patients respond to these therapies, and severe immune‐related adverse reactions have been often reported. As such, most of preclinical and clinical studies currently explore melanoma tumor biology and immunology to guide the development of combinational immunotherapies aiming at relevant clinical efficacy and minimal toxicity. Herein, the current knowledge on melanoma biology and immunology is discussed, focusing on nanotechnology as a crucial strategy for the development of combinatorial approaches able to specifically modulate the function of key players responsible for melanoma evolution and evasion of host immune‐mediated attacks. Finally, the major challenges toward the clinical implementation of these emergent targeted nanomedicines for immunotherapy are further discussed, with particular focus on melanoma genomics, predictive biomarkers, clinical trial design, and clinical regulation of nanomedicines.
High‐Performance Daytime Radiative Cooler and Near‐Ideal Selective Emitter Enabled by Transparent Sapphire Substrate
Authors: Chae Dongwoo , Son Soomin , Liu Yuting , Lim Hangyu , Lee Heon
Published: August 2020

Daytime radiative cooling serving as a method to pump heat from objects on Earth to cold outer space is an attractive cooling option that does not require any energy input. Among radiative cooler structures, the multilayer‐ or photonic‐structured radiative cooler, composed of inorganic materials, remains one of the most complicated structures to fabricate. In this study, transparent sapphire‐substrate‐based radiative coolers comprising a simple structure and selective emitter‐like optical characteristics are proposed. Utilizing the intrinsic optical properties of the sapphire substrate and adopting additional IR emissive layers, such as those composed of silicon nitride thin film or aluminum oxide nanoparticles, high‐performance radiative coolers can be fabricated with a low mean absorptivity (3–4%) at 0.3–2.5 µm and a high mean emissivity of over 90% at 8–13 µm. Experiments show that the fabricated radiative coolers reach temperature drops of ≈10 °C in the daytime. From the theoretical calculations of radiative cooling performance, the sapphire‐substrate‐based radiative coolers demonstrate a net cooling power as high as 100 Wm−2.
Exposure of Definite Palladium Facets Boosts Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation at Low Overpotential
Authors: Zhao Huan , Zhang Dan , Li Hongdong , Qi Wenjing , Wu Xueke , Han Yi , Cai Wenwen , Wang Zuochao , Lai Jianping , Wang Lei
Published: August 2020

Various electrocatalyst adjustment methods have been reported with the efforts of plenty of researchers, such as element doping, defect, control crystalline phase, surface modification, etc. However, systematic studies on the relationship between the facets of electrocatalysts and the activity of NRR have not been reported. Pd nanocrystals are systematically studied herein, which selectively expose the (100) facet, (111) facet, and (110) facet (each of which behaves as a cube, octahedron, and rhombic dodecahedron) for NRR at mild conditions. Experimental data show that the NH3 yield of Pd cubes is 24.3 μg mg‐1cat h‐1 at 0 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode and the Faradaic efficiency is 36.6% in 0.1 m Li2SO4 electrolyte, which are 2.7 and 5.3 times higher than Pd octahedrons and Pd rhombic dodecahedrons. Meanwhile, it is also one of the best catalytic materials to realize high activity at low overpotentials ever reported. Furthermore, Pd cubes show extraordinary stability for NRR after a long‐time stability test. Density functional theory calculations reveal the remarkable NRR performance of Pd (100) can be attributed to the lower energy barrier of *NNH generation and the lower energy barrier for producing NH3 from *NH3 (the rate determining step).