bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation of The Edinburgh cognitive and behavioural ALS screen (ECAS) in behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: De Icaza Valenzuela Mónica M. , Bak Thomas H. , Thompson Harriet E. , Colville Shuna , Pal Suvankar , Abrahams Sharon
Published: May 2021

The Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS) was developed to assess cognitive and behavioural changes in an anterior frontotemporal syndrome (executive functions, language, fluency and behaviour), common in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and also assesses posterior cerebral dysfunction (memory and visuospatial abilities).

Objectives

To validate the ECAS in behavioural variant Frontotemporal Dementia (bvFTD) without ALS, as compared with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), against comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. Compare its sensitivity to that of the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (ACE‐III) and investigate behavioural changes in both types of dementia.

Methods

Retrospective study of 16 people with bvFTD (without ALS), 32 with AD, and 48 healthy controls completed the ECAS, ACE‐III and extensive neuropsychological assessment.

Results

The ECAS showed higher sensitivity (94%) and marginally lower specificity (96%) than the ACE‐III for both the bvFTD and AD groups. The anterior composite subscore was sensitive for bvFTD (94%), and slightly less so for AD (84%), while the posterior composite subscore was sensitive for AD (97%), and less so for bvFTD (75%). All people with bvFTD that were impaired on the ECAS total and anterior composite scores were also impaired on the anterior function’s tests of the neuropsychological assessment. A cut‐off of four or more behavioural domains affected differentiated well between the bvFTD and AD groups, while a qualitative analysis of the behavioural interview found different themes between groups.

Conclusions

The ECAS is a valid and sensitive assessment for bvFTD without ALS and for AD. The carer behavioural interview makes it particularly suitable to detect behavioural abnormalities related to frontal lobe disorders
Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells Suppress Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 Production in Response to TGFβ Pathway Activation
Authors: Colucci Silvia , Altamura Sandro , Marques Oriana , Dropmann Anne , Horvat Natalie K. , Müdder Katja , Hammad Seddik , Dooley Steven , Muckenthaler Martina U.
Published: May 2021

Background and Aims

TGFβ/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling in the liver plays a critical role in liver disease. Growth factors, such as BMP2, BMP6, and TGFβ1, are released from LSECs and signal in a paracrine manner to hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells to control systemic iron homeostasis and fibrotic processes, respectively. The misregulation of the TGFβ/BMP pathway affects expression of the iron‐regulated hormone hepcidin, causing frequent iron overload and deficiency diseases. However, whether LSEC‐secreted factors can act in an autocrine manner to maintain liver homeostasis has not been addressed so far.

Approach and Results

We analyzed publicly available RNA‐sequencing data of mouse LSECs for ligand‐receptor interactions and identified members of the TGFβ family (BMP2, BMP6, and TGFβ1) as ligands with the highest expression levels in LSECs that may signal in an autocrine manner. We next tested the soluble factors identified through in silico analysis in optimized murine LSEC primary cultures and mice. Exposure of murine LSEC primary cultures to these ligands shows that autocrine responses to BMP2 and BMP6 are blocked despite high expression levels of the required receptor complexes partially involving the inhibitor FK‐506–binding protein 12. By contrast, LSECs respond efficiently to TGFβ1 treatment, which causes reduced expression of BMP2 through activation of activin receptor‐like kinase 5.

Conclusions

These findings reveal that TGFβ1 signaling is functionally interlinked with BMP signaling in LSECs, suggesting druggable targets for the treatment of iron overload diseases associated with deficiency of the BMP2‐regulated hormone hepcidin, such as hereditary hemochromatosis, β‐thalassemia, and chronic liver diseases.
Usefulness of virtual touch tissue quantification for predicting the presence of esophageal varices in patients with liver cirrhosis
Authors: Matsui Teppei , Nagai Hidenari , Watanabe Gou , Yoshimine Naoyuki , Amanuma Makoto , Kobayashi Kojiro , Ogino Yuu , Mukozu Takanori , Matsukiyo Yasushi , Daido Yasuko , Wakui Noritaka , Nakano Shigeru , Shinohara Mie , Momiyama Koichi , Kudo Takehide , Maruyama Kenichi , Igarashi Yoshinori
Published: May 2021

Background and Aim

Measuring the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) is an established technique to detect increased portal pressure and predict the presence of esophageal varices (EVs); however, the risk of the test is greater than the information it provides. This study aimed to clarify the usefulness of virtual touch tissue quantification (VTQ), which assesses liver stiffness, in predicting the presence of EVs in patients with liver cirrhosis by comparing it with HVPG.

Methods

Two hundred seventeen patients with liver cirrhosis underwent VTQ, HVPG measurement, and upper endoscopy. Patients were divided into three groups: group V, hepatitis C virus liver cirrhosis (n = 40); group A, alcoholic liver cirrhosis (n = 116); and group N, other liver cirrhosis (n = 61). In each group, we performed linear regression analysis of VTQ and HVPG data. The accuracy of VTQ and HVPG measurement in predicting the presence of EVs and high‐risk EVs (EV category F2 and F3) was assessed by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC).

Results

VTQ was significantly correlated with the HVPG in the whole patients and in each group, and both VTQ and HVPG values were significantly higher in patients with EVs and high‐risk EVs than in those without. The AUROC for the presence of EVs for VTQ was 0.76 in the whole sample, 0.76 in group V, 0.79 in group A, and 0.67 in group N; and for HVPG, 0.92, 0.94, 0.93, and 0.88, respectively. For VTQ, the AUROC for the presence of high‐risk EVs was 0.78 in the whole sample, 0.78 in group V, 0.73 in group A, and 0.73 in group N; and for HVPG, it was 0.85, 0.82, 0.85, and 0.82, respectively.

Conclusion

VTQ was reliable at predicting the presence of EVs and high‐risk EVs. Therefore, we propose that VTQ is a useful, noninvasive tool for predicting the presence of EVs in daily medical care.
Dual‐contrast computed tomography enables detection of equine posttraumatic osteoarthritis in vitro
Authors: Saukko Annina E. A. , Nykänen Olli , Sarin Jaakko K. , Nissi Mikko J. , te Moller Nikae C. R. , Weinans Harrie , Mancini Irina A. D. , Visser Jetze , Brommer Harold , van Weeren P. Réné , Malda Jos , Grinstaff Mark W. , Töyräs Juha
Published: May 2021

To prevent the progression of posttraumatic osteoarthritis, assessment of cartilage composition is critical for effective treatment planning. Posttraumatic changes include proteoglycan (PG) loss and elevated water content. Quantitative dual‐energy computed tomography (QDECT) provides a means to diagnose these changes. Here, we determine the potential of QDECT to evaluate tissue quality surrounding cartilage lesions in an equine model, hypothesizing that QDECT allows detection of posttraumatic degeneration by providing quantitative information on PG and water contents based on the partitions of cationic and nonionic agents in a contrast mixture. Posttraumatic osteoarthritic samples were obtained from a cartilage repair study in which full‐thickness chondral defects were created surgically in both stifles of seven Shetland ponies. Control samples were collected from three nonoperated ponies. The experimental (n = 14) and control samples (n = 6) were immersed in the contrast agent mixture and the distributions of the agents were determined at various diffusion time points. As a reference, equilibrium moduli, dynamic moduli, and PG content were measured. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in partitions between the experimental and control samples were demonstrated with cationic contrast agent at 30 min, 60 min, and 20 h, and with non‐ionic agent at 60 and 120 min. Significant Spearman's rank correlations were obtained at 20 and 24 h (ρ = 0.482–0.693) between the partition of cationic contrast agent, cartilage biomechanical properties, and PG content. QDECT enables evaluation of posttraumatic changes surrounding a lesion and quantification of PG content, thus advancing the diagnostics of the extent and severity of cartilage injuries.
Multi‐scale attention‐based convolutional neural network for classification of breast masses in mammograms
Authors: Niu Jing , Li Hua , Zhang Chen , Li Dengao
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Breast cancer is the cancer with the highest incidence in women, and early detection can effectively improve the survival rate of patients. Mammography is an important method for physicians to screening breast cancer, but the diagnosis of mammograms by physicians depends largely on clinical practice experience. Studies have shown that using computer‐aided diagnosis techniques can help doctors diagnose breast cancer.

Methods

In this paper, the method of convolutional neural network is mainly used to classify benign and malignant breast masses in the mammograms. First, we use multi‐scale residual networks and densely connected networks as backbone networks to extract the features of global image patches and local image patches. Second, we use the attention module named convolutional block attention module (CBAM) to improve the two feature extraction networks to enhance the network's feature expression ability. Finally, we fuse the features of multi‐scale image patches to achieve the classification of benign and malignant breast masses.

Results

In the digital database for screening mammography (DDSM) database, the accuracy, sensitivity, AUC value and corresponding standard deviation of our method are 0.9626 ± 0.0110, 0.9719 ± 0.0126, and 0.9576 ± 0.0064, respectively. Compared with the commonly used ResNet (AUC = 0.8823 ± 0.0112) and DenseNet (AUC = 0.9141 ± 0.0085), the performance of our method has improved. In addition, we also used the INbreast database to train and validate the proposed method. The accuracy, sensitivity, AUC and corresponding standard deviations are 0.9554 ± 0.0296, 0.9605 ± 0.0228, and 0.9468 ± 0.0085, respectively.

Conclusions

Compared with the previous work, our proposed method uses multi‐scale image features, has better classification performance in breast mass patches classification tasks, and can effectively assist physicians in breast cancer diagnosis.
Relative associations of abdominal and thigh compositions with cardiometabolic diseases in African Caribbean men
Authors: Tilves Curtis , Zmuda Joseph M. , Kuipers Allison L. , Nair Sangeeta , Carr John Jeffrey , Terry James G. , Peddada Shyamal , Wheeler Victor , Miljkovic Iva
Published: May 2021

Background

Regional body compositions are differentially associated with cardiometabolic risk factors. Simultaneous inclusion of both upper and lower body composition predictors in models is not often done, and studies which do include both measures (1) tend to exclude some tissue(s) of potential metabolic relevance, and (2) have used study populations with underrepresentation of individuals with African ancestries. Further, most body composition analyses do not employ compositional data analytic approaches, which may result in spurious associations.

Objective

The objective of this analysis was to assess associations of abdominal and thigh adipose (AT) and muscle tissues with hypertension and type 2 diabetes using compositional data analytic methods.

Research Design and Methods

This cross‐sectional analysis included 610 African Caribbean men (median age: 62 years; mean BMI: 27.8 kg/m2). Abdominal (three components: subcutaneous [ASAT] and visceral [VAT] AT, ‘other’ abdominal tissue) and mid‐thigh (four components: subcutaneous and intermuscular AT, muscle, bone) compositions were measured by computed tomography; additive log ratio transformations were applied to each composition. Regression models were used to simultaneously assess associations of abdominal and thigh component ratios with continuous risk factors (blood pressures, fasting glucose and insulin, HOMA‐IR) and disease categories.

Results

A two‐fold increase in ASAT:‘Other’ ratio was associated with higher continuous risk factors and with odds of being in a higher hypertension (OR: 1.77, 95%CI: 1.10–2.84) or diabetes (OR: 1.81, 95%CI: 1.06–3.10) category. A two‐fold increased VAT ratio was only associated with higher log‐insulin and log‐HOMA‐IR (β = 0.10,p < 0.05 for both), while a two‐fold increased thigh muscle:bone ratio was associated with a lower diabetes category (OR: 0.37, 95%CI: 0.14–1.01).

Conclusions

These findings support ASAT as a significant driver of cardiometabolic disease in African Ancestry populations, independent of other abdominal and thigh tissues.
Methylation profile of imprinted genes provides evidence for teratomatous origin of a subset of mucinous ovarian tumours
Authors: Kato Noriko , Kamataki Akihisa , Kurotaki Hidekachi
Published: May 2021

Mucinous ovarian tumours are sometimes associated with mature teratomas. It is suggested that the mucinous tumours in this setting are derived from teratomas, but there remains the possibility of collision or metastasis from extra‐ovarian sites. Because mature ovarian teratomas are considered to be parthenogenetic tumours that arise from a single oocyte/ovum, they have only a maternal genome and therefore show maternal genome imprinting. If mucinous ovarian tumours originate from teratomas, their genome imprinting is theoretically maternal. One of the most important mechanisms of genome imprinting is DNA methylation. In the present study, we analysed a total of 28 mucinous ovarian tumours (7 with teratomas, 21 without teratomas; 14 malignant, 14 borderline) to clarify the methylation profiles of their imprinted genes using methylation‐specific multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification (MS‐MLPA) of 21 imprinting control regions (ICRs) of nine imprinted genes/gene clusters using formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded samples. All cases lacked evidence of an extra‐ovarian primary mucinous tumour. In all seven mucinous tumours with teratomas, the overall methylation profile of mucinous tumours was comparable to that of teratomas, although some ICRs showed aberrant methylation. In contrast, all but one of the mucinous tumours without teratomas showed somatic or irregular methylation patterns. Morphologically, there was little teratomatous tissue in some mucinous tumours carrying teratoma‐type methylation profiles, suggesting that mucinous tumours overwhelmed ancestral teratomas. In conclusion, the methylation profile of imprinted genes provides evidence that a subset of mucinous ovarian tumours originated from mature teratomas. Genome imprinting‐based analysis is a promising strategy to verify the teratomatous origin of human tumours. © 2021 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interface adjustment between poly(ethylene terephthalate) and graphene oxide in order to enhance mechanical and thermal properties of nanocomposites
Authors: de Souza Ziani S. B. , Pinto Gabriel M. , Silva Giovanna da C. , Demarquette Nicole R. , Fechine Guilhermino J. M. , Sobrinho Maurício A. M.
Published: May 2021

There is great interest in the use of graphene and derivatives in the production of polymer nanocomposites as it provides improvements in the properties of the materials to which they are associated. Such improvements depend heavily on filler dispersion and the interaction between the nanomaterials and the matrix. This work aimed to study the compatibility of graphene oxide (GO) with a poly(ethylene terephthalate) matrix. For this, graphite was modified using Hummers method, using reaction times of 3 and 6 h. The obtained GO was functionalized with amine, amide, and magnetite groups (FGO). The effects of the oxidation degree, functionalization and concentration of the nanofillers on the dispersion and consequently on the properties of the polymer nanocomposites were evaluated. The nanocomposites were synthesized by the solid–solid deposition method followed by the melt mixing technique. It was observed that lower concentrations of nanofiller associated with the lower degree of oxidation and functionalization improved the interaction of the nanofillers with the matrix, which resulted in better mechanical properties under tensile stresses for strain at break, maximum stress, Young's modulus and toughness. It was also observed that the glass transition and crystallization of nanocomposites increased due to a nucleating effect of the nanofillers.
Aminoglycoside dosing and monitoring for Pseudomonas aeruginosa during acute pulmonary exacerbations in cystic fibrosis
Authors: Ochs Madeleine A. , Dillman Nicholas O. , Caverly Lindsay J. , Chaffee Valerie D.
Published: May 2021

Aminoglycosides are commonly used for the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PsA) in the setting of acute pulmonary exacerbations (PEx) in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). There are controversies and practice differences between institutions related to aminoglycoside dosing and monitoring strategies. The purpose of this review article is to summarize the currently available literature and identify gaps in the literature related to pharmacokinetic parameter goals, aminoglycoside dosing strategies, and methods for monitoring serum aminoglycoside concentrations for treatment of PsA in CF PEx, and throughout will discuss anticipated changes with the increasing availability of highly effective CF transmembrane conductance regulator modulators. This review focuses on tobramycin, as it is the most commonly used aminoglycoside in CF PEx, and will briefly discuss special circumstances surrounding use of amikacin and gentamicin.
Can laboratory findings predict pulmonary involvement in children with COVID‐19 infection?
Authors: Böncüoğlu Elif , Coşkun Mehmet , Kıymet Elif , Öztürk Atasoy Tülay , Şahinkaya Şahika , Cem Ela , Düzgöl Mine , Yılmaz Çelebi Miray , Akaslan Kara Aybüke , Arıkan Kamile Ö. , Bayram Nuri , Devrim İlker
Published: May 2021

Background

Studies investigating clinical and imaging findings of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pneumonia and predictors for lung injury mostly focus on adults. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the role of laboratory findings in predicting lung involvement in children with COVID‐19.

Methods

Children with COVID‐19 confirmed by reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction or COVID‐19 IgM and who underwent chest computed tomography (CT) scans were reviewed retrospectively. Admission absolute neutrophil count (ANC), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), ANC/ALC ratio, platelet count, D‐dimer, fibrinogen, ferritin, procalcitonin, C‐reactive protein (CRP), and lactate dehydrogenase levels were compared in patients with normal and abnormal CT scans.

Results

A total of 101 children were included. Among the patients, 68 (67.3%) had normal CT scans, and 33 (32.7%) had pulmonary involvement. The median CRP, ferritin, and fibrinogen levels were significantly higher in children with abnormal CT findings. The model of binary logistic regression based on the presence of cough, shortness of breath, fibrinogen, ferritin, and CRP levels showed that the possibility of having abnormal CT was 1.021 times more likely for every one unit increase in fibrinogen levels.

Conclusion

Fibrinogen might be useful to predict pulmonary involvement of COVID‐19 in children. Restricting radiological imaging to patients with significant symptoms and high fibrinogen levels might be helpful in children with COVID‐19 infections.
Characterization of the multidrug efflux transporter styMdtM from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi
Authors: Shaheen Aqsa , Ismat Fouzia , Iqbal Mazhar , Haque Abdul , Ul‐Haq Zaheer , Mirza Osman , De Zorzi Rita , Walz Thomas , Rahman Moazur
Published: May 2021

Salmonellae are foodborne pathogens and the major cause of gastroenteritis in humans. Salmonellae express multidrug efflux transporters that play a key role in their drug resistance, which is becoming an increasing problem for therapeutic intervention. Despite their biomedical importance, the mechanisms underlying substrate transport by multidrug efflux transporters remain poorly understood. Here, we describe the first characterization of a multidrug transporter belonging to the major facilitator superfamily from the genus Salmonella. We show that several clinical Salmonella Typhi (S. Typhi) isolates constitutively express the styMdtM (STY4874) gene, which encodes a known multidrug‐resistance (MDR) transporter. Guided by the structure of the Escherichia coli (E. coli) homolog, we studied two residues critical for substrate transport, Asp25 and Arg111. Mutation of Asp25 to glutamate did not affect the transport function of styMdtM, whereas mutation to alanine reduced its transport activity, suggesting that a negative charge at this position is critical for substrate translocation across the membrane. Substrate‐affinity measurements by intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy showed that the Asp25Ala mutant retained its capacity to bind substrate, albeit at a lower level. Mutation of Arg111 to alanine resulted in a decrease in secondary structure content of the transporter, and mutation to lysine completely destabilized the structure of the transporter. A homology model of styMdtM suggests that Arg111 is important for stabilizing the transmembrane domain by mediating necessary interactions between neighboring helices. Together, our studies provide new structural and mechanistic insights into the Salmonella MDR transporter styMdtM.
Fungal Ice2p is in the same superfamily as SERINCs, restriction factors for HIV and other viruses
Authors: Alli‐Balogun Ganiyu O. , Levine Tim P.
Published: May 2021

Ice2p is an integral endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane protein in budding yeast S. cerevisiae named ICE because it is required for Inheritance of Cortical ER. Ice2p has also been reported to be involved in an ER metabolic branch‐point that regulates the flux of lipid either to be stored in lipid droplets or to be used as membrane components. Alternately, Ice2p has been proposed to act as a tether that physically bridges the ER at contact sites with both lipid droplets and the plasma membrane via a long loop on the protein's cytoplasmic face that contains multiple predicted amphipathic helices. Here we carried out a bioinformatic analysis to increase understanding of Ice2p. First, regarding topology, we found that diverse members of the fungal Ice2 family have 10 transmembrane helices (TMHs), which places the long loop on the exofacial face of Ice2p, where it cannot form inter‐organelle bridges. Second, we identified Ice2p as a full‐length homolog of SERINC (serine incorporator), a family of proteins with 10 TMHs found universally in eukaryotes. Since SERINCs are potent restriction factors for HIV and other viruses, study of Ice2p may reveal functions or mechanisms that shed light on viral restriction by SERINCs.
Does atorvastatin therapy change the anti‐Xa activity in xabans‐treated patients with atrial fibrillation?
Authors: Škorňová Ingrid , Samoš Matej , Bolek Tomáš , Stančiaková Lucia , Vádelová Ľubica , Galajda Peter , Staško Ján , Kubisz Peter , Mokáň Marián
Published: May 2021

Atorvastatin and direct oral factor Xa inhibitors (xabans) are frequently co‐administrated in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, no studies investigating the possibility of the pharmacologic interaction between these agents have been conducted. The aim of this prospective observational study was to determine the impact of atorvastatin therapy on anti‐Xa activity in xabans‐treated patients with AF. We enrolled 115 AF patients on long‐term rivaroxaban (52 patients) and long‐term apixaban (63 patients) therapy. Long‐term atorvastatin (40 mg once daily) was administrated to 28 rivaroxaban‐treated patients and to 28 apixaban‐treated patients. Trough and peak samples were tested for anti‐Xa activity with drug‐specific anti‐Xa chromogenic analysis. For rivaroxaban, there were no significant differences in trough activity (45.5 ± 39.5 ng/ml vs. 46.2 ± 30.1 ng/ml; p = .34) and peak anti‐Xa activity (179.2 ± 108.8 ng/ml vs. 208.1 ± 104.1 ng/ml; p = .94) between atorvastatin‐treated patients and those without atorvastatin. Similarly, atorvastatin did not impact the trough activity (127.7 ± 71.1 ng/ml vs. 100.8 ± 61.1 ng/ml; p = .12) or peak anti‐Xa activity (213.8 ± 103.6 ng/ml vs. 179.3 ± 72.9 ng/ml; p = .14) among apixaban‐treated patients with AF. This observational study did not show a significant impact of atorvastatin on trough and peak anti‐Xa activity in xabans‐treated patients with AF.
Back Cover Image, Volume 77, Issue 6
Authors: Morrison William R , Scully Erin D , Campbell James F
Published: May 2021

The back cover image is based on the Review Towards developing areawide semiochemical‐mediated, behaviorally‐based integrated pest management programs for stored product insects by William R Morrison III et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.6289.

image
What shapes fire size and spread in African savannahs?
Authors: Takacs Sacha , Schulte to Bühne Henrike , Pettorelli Nathalie
Published: May 2021

Fires play an important role in savannah ecosystems, shaping among other things vegetation structure and altering species composition. As direct and indirect anthropogenic pressures on these ecosystems increase, fire dynamics in savannahs are expected to change in the coming decades, with potential impacts on ecosystem functioning. Although the ecological impacts of fires are relatively well‐known, the factors that shape fire dynamics in these ecosystems have received less research attention. Using Pendjari National Park (Benin) as a case study, we assessed the importance of different biotic and abiotic factors in shaping fire size and spread in the region. Our results show that fires spread faster (1) in the middle of the dry season compared to the early or late dry season, (2) in areas that are far away from natural and anthropogenic firebreaks, and (3) in areas that are covered with highly flammable vegetation. By contrast, most vegetation types had little influence on fire size, which seems to depend instead on rainfall. Our approach and results highlight new avenues for satellite data to improve our understanding of fire dynamics in large, remote savannah ecosystems and to improve our ability to predict how fires spread, a key variable for wildlife management in the face of rapidly changing environmental conditions.
In Situ, Atomic‐Resolution Observation of Lithiation and Sodiation of WS2 Nanoflakes: Implications for Lithium‐Ion and Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Xu Yaobin , Wang Ke , Yao Zhenpeng , Kang Joohoon , Lam David , Yang Dan , Ai Wei , Wolverton Chris , Hersam Mark C. , Huang Ying , Huang Wei , Dravid Vinayak P. , Wu Jinsong
Published: May 2021

WS2 nanoflakes have great potential as electrode materials of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) because of their unique 2D structure, which facilitates the reversible intercalation and extraction of alkali metal ions. However, a fundamental understanding of the electrochemical lithiation/sodiation dynamics of WS2 nanoflakes especially at the nanoscale level, remains elusive. Here, by combining battery electrochemical measurements, density functional theory calculations, and in situ transmission electron microscopy, the electrochemical‐reaction kinetics and mechanism for both lithiation and sodiation of WS2 nanoflakes are investigated at the atomic scale. It is found that compared to LIBs, SIBs exhibit a higher reversible sodium (Na) storage capacity and superior cyclability. For sodiation, the volume change due to ion intercalation is smaller than that in lithiation. Also, sodiated WS2 maintains its layered structure after the intercalation process, and the reduced metal nanoparticles after conversion in sodiation are well‐dispersed and aligned forming a pattern similar to the layered structure. Overall, this work shows a direct interconnection between the reaction dynamics of lithiated/sodiated WS2 nanoflakes and their electrochemical performance, which sheds light on the rational optimization and development of advanced WS2‐based electrodes.
Hole‐Transporting Molecules with Tetrabenzo[a,c,g,i]carbazole Core for Highly Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Liu Fan , Wu Fei , Ling Weidong , Zhu Linna , Li Qianqian , Li Zhen
Published: May 2021

Hole‐transporting materials (HTMs) are the key component of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) for the role of extracting photogenerated holes, as well as the charge transporting between perovskite layer and metal electrode. Herein, with the aim to enhance the hole mobility by compact molecular packing, the modification of HTMs focuses on the extension of conjugated cores from the commonly used carbazole (Cz) to tetrabenzo[a,c,g,i]carbazole (TBC). Because of the closely cofacial stacking mode of the TBC core with an X‐type symmetric structure, the resultant TBC‐2,7,11,16‐tetra‐diphenylamine (TD) can achieve a hole mobility of 6.6 × 10−4 cm2 V−1 s−1 and the corresponding conversion efficiency of 20.52%, higher than that of the analogue Cz‐TD (18.34%).
“Anybody can do science if they're brave enough”: Understanding the role of science capital in science majors' identity trajectories into and through postsecondary science
Authors: Gonsalves Allison J. , Cavalcante Alexandre Soares , Sprowls Emily Diane , Iacono Hailey
Published: May 2021

This article reports on research investigating the experiences and resources that make science thinkable for undergraduate science majors as they engage in postsecondary science contexts. We regard these experiences and resources as contributing to science majors' science capital, and we suggest that science capital accumulates over time across identity trajectories. Using a multiple case study approach, we characterize seven undergraduate science majors' identity trajectories that they narrate through their stories of experiences with science in school, out of school and into postsecondary education. We examine how they navigate sources of science capital (e.g., families, science outreach), and the value they attribute to their science capital once they enter science programs in university. We also consider how their access to science capital influences their reasons for engaging in science outreach. To characterize students' movements into postsecondary education, and their experiences in postsecondary science, we crafted three identity trajectories: the “expected trajectory,” “persistent trajectory” and the “new directions trajectory.” These trajectories helped us to examine how science majors' identities mediate their perceptions of the use and exchange values of their science capital and the doxa of science that they legitimate. This study contributes to our understanding of how science capital operates along identity trajectories into postsecondary science, and demonstrates that simply having access to resources that contribute to students' accumulation of science capital is not sufficient for sustained engagement in science.
Artificial cordyceps mycelium by submerged fermentation of Hirsutella sinensis HS 1201 using rice bran hydrolysate as substrate
Authors: Ren Wenqiang , Wang Chengyu , Zhao Ran , Li Honghua , Zhang Qinghua , Cai Di
Published: May 2021

Artificial cordyceps mycelium (CM) is a potential substitute for natural cordyceps. In this study, rice bran hydrolysate (RBH), from the residual of the food process, was applied as substrate for submerged fermentation. The active compounds’ constituents in CM were investigated in detail. Results indicated that RBH could not only be used as nutriments and facilitate the submerged fermentation but also showed the ability to promote the metabolism of active ingredients by Hirsutella sinensis HS 1201. Key parameters of the fermentation process were optimized. Under the optimized conditions (pH 6.5, silkworm chrysalis powder 4 g/L, and yeast extract 6 g/L), 15.1 ± 0.6 g/L of the CM was obtained, which was 77.6% higher than the control group that using the conventional synthesis medium. For the constitution of the bioactive compounds, the adenosine content in the CM reached 176 ± 11 mg/100 g, which was increased by 11.4% compared to the control. The concentration of ergosterol in the dry CM was 320 ± 20 mg/100 g, and the cordycepin concentration was 9.66 ± 0.55 mg/100 g. At the same time, lipid yield was 1.2 times higher than that obtained in the control group. The cordyceps polysaccharide content was also increased to 162.3 ± 8.6 mg/g using the RBH‐based medium.
Flavonoid intake and incident dementia in the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health cohort
Authors: Bondonno Catherine P. , Bondonno Nicola P. , Dalgaard Frederik , Murray Kevin , Gardener Samantha L. , Martins Ralph N. , Rainey‐Smith Stephanie R. , Cassidy Aedín , Lewis Joshua R. , Croft Kevin D. , Kyrø Cecilie , Gislason Gunnar , Scalbert Augustin , Tjønneland Anne , Overvad Kim , Hodgson Jonathan M.
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Prospective studies investigating flavonoid intake and dementia risk are scarce. The aims of this study were to examine associations between flavonoid intake and the risk of incident dementia and to investigate whether this association differs in the presence of lifestyle risk factors for dementia.

Methods

We examined associations in 55,985 participants of the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health Study followed for 23 years. The Phenol‐Explorer database was used to estimate flavonoid intakes. Information on incident dementia and dementia subtypes was obtained using Danish patient and prescription registries. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using restricted cubic splines in multivariable‐adjusted Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

For incident dementia, moderate compared to low intakes of flavonols (HR: 0.90 [0.82, 0.99]), flavanol oligo+polymers (HR: 0.87 [0.79, 0.96]), anthocyanins (HR: 0.84 [0.76, 0.93]), flavanones (HR: 0.89 [0.80, 0.99]), and flavones (HR: 0.85 [0.77, 0.95]) were associated with a lower risk. For vascular dementia, moderate intakes of flavonols (HR: 0.69 [0.53, 0.89]) and flavanol oligo + polymers (HR: 0.65 [0.51, 0.83]) were associated with lower risk. Flavonoid intakes were not significantly associated with Alzheimer's disease or unspecified dementia. The inverse association between total flavonoid intake and incident dementia was stronger in “ever” smokers than in “never” smokers and in those without hypercholesterolemia versus those with hypercholesteremia. Furthermore, the inverse association of vascular dementia with a moderate total flavonoid intake was stronger in “ever” smokers and those who were “normal” to “overweight” versus “never” smokers or those who were “obese,” respectively.

Conclusion

A moderate intake of flavonoid‐rich foods may help to reduce dementia risk.
Qualified Money—A Better Financial System for the Future
Authors: Helbing Dirk
Published: May 2021

Over millennia, people have seen the financial system collapse again and again. It is, therefore, time to re-invent money and the financial system altogether in order to make them fit for the complex world of today. Here, it is described how the idea for a new socio-ecological finance system came about. Three main innovations are proposed: (1) a particular combination of cash and electronic money, which promotes electronic transactions, while preserving privacy, where it is justified and needed; (2) money that has additional qualifiers such as reputation, which may depend on the geographic region, the exchange history, or other variables; (3) multidimensional money, which is better suited to manage complex systems such as our economy, and enables (the design of) self-organizing systems with favorable properties, e.g., economic systems that promote a co-evolutionary processes toward a circular economy.
A “Social Bitcoin” Could Sustain a Democratic Digital World
Authors: Kleineberg Kaj-Kolja , Helbing Dirk
Published: May 2021

A multidimensional financial system could provide benefits for individuals, companies, and states. Instead of top-down control, which is destined to eventually fail in a hyperconnected world, a bottom-up creation of value can unleash creative potential and drive innovations. Multiple currency dimensions can represent different externalities and thus enable the design of incentives and feedback mechanisms that foster the ability of complex dynamical systems to self-organize and lead to a more resilient society and sustainable economy. Modern information and communication technologies play a crucial role in this process, as Web 2.0 and online social networks promote cooperation and collaboration on unprecedented scales. Within this contribution, we discuss how one dimension of a multidimensional currency system could represent socio-digital capital (Social Bitcoins) that can be generated in a bottom-up way by individuals who perform search and navigation tasks in a future version of the digital world. The incentive to mine Social Bitcoins could sustain digital diversity, which mitigates the risk of totalitarian control by powerful monopolies of information and can create new business opportunities needed in times where a large fraction of current jobs is estimated to disappear due to computerization.
Progress in protecting vestibular hair cells
Authors: Jiang Luoying , Zheng Zhiwei , He Yingzi
Published: May 2021

Vestibular hair cells are mechanosensory receptors that are capable of detecting changes in head position and thereby allow animals to maintain their posture and coordinate their movement. Vestibular hair cells are susceptible to ototoxic drugs, aging, and genetic factors that can lead to permanent vestibular dysfunction. Vestibular dysfunction mainly results from the injury of hair cells, which are located in the vestibular sensory epithelium. This review summarizes the mechanisms of different factors causing vestibular hair cell damage and therapeutic strategies to protect vestibular hair cells.
The Lawson number of a semitopological semilattice
Authors: Banakh Taras , Bardyla Serhii , Gutik Oleg
Published: May 2021

For a Hausdorff topologized semilattice X its Lawson number$$\bar{\Lambda }(X)$$

Λ

¯

(
X
)

is the smallest cardinal $$\kappa $$
κ
such that for any distinct points $$x,y\in X$$

x
,
y
∈
X

there exists a family $$\mathcal U$$
U
of closed neighborhoods of x in X such that $$|\mathcal U|\le \kappa $$

|
U
|
≤
κ

and $$\bigcap \mathcal U$$

⋂
U

is a subsemilattice of X that does not contain y. It follows that $$\bar{\Lambda }(X)\le \bar{\psi }(X)$$

Λ

¯

(
X
)
≤

ψ

¯

(
X
)

, where $$\bar{\psi }(X)$$

ψ

¯

(
X
)

is the smallest cardinal $$\kappa $$
κ
such that for any point $$x\in X$$

x
∈
X

there exists a family $$\mathcal U$$
U
of closed neighborhoods of x in X such that $$|\mathcal U|\le \kappa $$

|
U
|
≤
κ

and $$\bigcap \mathcal U=\{x\}$$

⋂
U
=
{
x
}

. We prove that a compact Hausdorff semitopological semilattice X is Lawson (i.e., has a base of the topology consisting of subsemilattices) if and only if $$\bar{\Lambda }(X)=1$$

Λ

¯

(
X
)
=
1

. Each Hausdorff topological semilattice X has Lawson number $$\bar{\Lambda }(X)\le \omega $$

Λ

¯

(
X
)
≤
ω

. On the other hand, for any infinite cardinal $$\lambda $$
λ
we construct a Hausdorff zero-dimensional semitopological semilattice X such that $$|X|=\lambda $$

|
X
|
=
λ

and $$\bar{\Lambda }(X)=\bar{\psi }(X)=\mathrm {cf}(\lambda )$$

Λ

¯

(
X
)
=

ψ

¯

(
X
)
=
cf
(
λ
)

. A topologized semilattice X is called (i) $$\omega $$
ω
-Lawson if $$\bar{\Lambda }(X)\le \omega $$

Λ

¯

(
X
)
≤
ω

; (ii) complete if each non-empty chain $$C\subseteq X$$

C
⊆
X

has $$\inf C\in {\overline{C}}$$

inf
C
∈

C
¯

and $$\sup C\in {\overline{C}}$$

sup
C
∈

C
¯

. We prove that for any complete subsemilattice X of an $$\omega $$
ω
-Lawson semitopological semilattice Y, the partial order $$\le _X=\{(x,y)\in X\times X:xy=x\}$$

≤
X

=

{

(
x
,
y
)

∈
X
×
X
:
x
y
=
x
}

of X is closed in $$Y\times Y$$

Y
×
Y

and hence X is closed in Y. This implies that for any continuous homomorphism $$h:X\rightarrow Y$$

h
:
X
→
Y

from a complete topologized semilattice X to an $$\omega $$
ω
-Lawson semitopological semilattice Y the image h(X) is closed in Y.
Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging of meniscal pathology ex vivo
Authors: Bae Won C. , Tadros Anthony S. , Finkenstaedt Tim , Du Jiang , Statum Sheronda , Chung Christine B.
Published: May 2021

Objective

To determine the ability of conventional spin echo (SE) T2 and ultrashort echo time (UTE) T2* relaxation times to characterize pathology in cadaveric meniscus samples.

Materials and methods

From 10 human donors, 54 triangular (radially cut) meniscus samples were harvested. Meniscal pathology was classified as normal (n = 17), intrasubstance degenerated (n = 33), or torn (n = 4) using a modified arthroscopic grading system. Using a 3-T MR system, SE T2 and UTE T2* values of the menisci were determined, followed by histopathology. Effect of meniscal pathology on relaxation times and histology scores were determined, along with correlation between relaxation times and histology scores.

Results

Mean ± standard deviation UTE T2* values for normal, degenerated, and torn menisci were 3.6 ± 1.3 ms, 7.4 ± 2.5 ms, and 9.8 ± 5.7 ms, respectively, being significantly higher in degenerated (p < 0.0001) and torn (p = 0.0002) menisci compared to that in normal. In contrast, the respective mean SE T2 values were 27.7 ± 9.5 ms, 25.9 ± 7.0 ms, and 35.7 ± 10.4 ms, without significant differences between groups (all p > 0.14). In terms of histology, we found significant group-wise differences (each p < 0.05) in fiber organization and inner-tip surface integrity sub-scores, as well as the total score. Finally, we found a significant weak correlation between UTE T2* and histology total score (p = 0.007, Rs2 = 0.19), unlike the correlation between SE T2 and histology (p = 0.09, Rs2 = 0.05).

Conclusion

UTE T2* values were found to distinguish normal from both degenerated and torn menisci and correlated significantly with histopathology.
The endosomal RIN2/Rab5C machinery prevents VEGFR2 degradation to control gene expression and tip cell identity during angiogenesis
Authors: Kempers Lanette , Wakayama Yuki , van der Bijl Ivo , Furumaya Charita , De Cuyper Iris M. , Jongejan Aldo , Kat Marije , van Stalborch Anne-Marieke D. , van Boxtel Antonius L. , Hubert Marvin , Geerts Dirk , van Buul Jaap D. , de Korte Dirk , Herzog Wiebke , Margadant Coert
Published: May 2021

Sprouting angiogenesis is key to many pathophysiological conditions, and is strongly regulated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling through VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2). Here we report that the early endosomal GTPase Rab5C and its activator RIN2 prevent lysosomal routing and degradation of VEGF-bound, internalized VEGFR2 in human endothelial cells. Stabilization of endosomal VEGFR2 levels by RIN2/Rab5C is crucial for VEGF signaling through the ERK and PI3-K pathways, the expression of immediate VEGF target genes, as well as specification of angiogenic ‘tip’ and ‘stalk’ cell phenotypes and cell sprouting. Using overexpression of Rab mutants, knockdown and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing, and live-cell imaging in zebrafish, we further show that endosomal stabilization of VEGFR2 levels is required for developmental angiogenesis in vivo. In contrast, the premature degradation of internalized VEGFR2 disrupts VEGF signaling, gene expression, and tip cell formation and migration. Thus, an endosomal feedforward mechanism maintains receptor signaling by preventing lysosomal degradation, which is directly linked to the induction of target genes and cell fate in collectively migrating cells during morphogenesis.
Grounded action transformation for sim-to-real reinforcement learning
Authors: Hanna Josiah P. , Desai Siddharth , Karnan Haresh , Warnell Garrett , Stone Peter
Published: May 2021

Reinforcement learning in simulation is a promising alternative to the prohibitive sample cost of reinforcement learning in the physical world. Unfortunately, policies learned in simulation often perform worse than hand-coded policies when applied on the target, physical system. Grounded simulation learning (gsl) is a general framework that promises to address this issue by altering the simulator to better match the real world (Farchy et al. 2013 in Proceedings of the 12th international conference on autonomous agents and multiagent systems (AAMAS)). This article introduces a new algorithm for gsl—Grounded Action Transformation (GAT)—and applies it to learning control policies for a humanoid robot. We evaluate our algorithm in controlled experiments where we show it to allow policies learned in simulation to transfer to the real world. We then apply our algorithm to learning a fast bipedal walk on a humanoid robot and demonstrate a 43.27% improvement in forward walk velocity compared to a state-of-the art hand-coded walk. This striking empirical success notwithstanding, further empirical analysis shows that gat may struggle when the real world has stochastic state transitions. To address this limitation we generalize gat to the stochasticgat (sgat) algorithm and empirically show that sgat leads to successful real world transfer in situations where gat may fail to find a good policy. Our results contribute to a deeper understanding of grounded simulation learning and demonstrate its effectiveness for applying reinforcement learning to learn robot control policies entirely in simulation.
A new middle Miocene lineage based on taxonomic revision of the large and rare cricetid-rodent genus Lartetomys
Authors: Prieto Jérôme , Rummel Michael , Scholz Herbert , Mein Pierre
Published: May 2021

Large-sized cricetid rodents (Cricetodotontini) immigrated to Central Europe at the beginning of the Middle Miocene Climate Transition at ca. 15 My and are thus of great value for biostratigraphic and palaeoecologic purposes. An important fossil material belonging to a relatively small species of Mixocricetodon from the North Alpine Foreland Basin is described. It is a rare component in faunas of equivalent age, and the new material confirms the synonymy with the genus Lartetomys. The lineage L. mirabilis-L dehmi is documented in its chronostratigraphic framework, and the origin of the genus is discussed but remains uncertain.
Testing the Motivational Strength of Positive and Negative Duty Arguments Regarding Global Poverty
Authors: Buckland Luke , Lindauer Matthew , Rodríguez-Arias David , Véliz Carissa
Published: May 2021

Two main types of philosophical arguments have been given in support of the claim that the citizens of affluent societies have stringent moral duties to aid the global poor: “positive duty” arguments based on the notion of beneficence and “negative duty” arguments based on noninterference. Peter Singer’s positive duty argument (Singer 1972) and Thomas Pogge’s negative duty argument (Pogge 2002) are among the most prominent examples. Philosophers have made speculative claims about the relative effectiveness of these arguments in promoting attitudes and behaviors that could lead to the alleviation of poverty. In this article we present the results of two empirical studies that evaluate these claims, and suggest that both arguments have a modest effect on people’s attitudes and behaviors regarding global poverty. In a replication of the second study, the negative duty argument, in particular, had a statistically significant effect on donations. We discuss the theoretical and practical significance of these results and suggest directions for further research on the role that philosophical arguments can play in engendering concern and action on pressing moral problems.
A Differentiated Discussion About AI Education K-12
Authors: Steinbauer Gerald , Kandlhofer Martin , Chklovski Tara , Heintz Fredrik , Koenig Sven
Published: May 2021

AI Education for K-12 and in particular AI literacy gained huge interest recently due to the significantly influence in daily life, society, and economy. In this paper we discuss this topic of early AI education along four dimensions: (1) formal versus informal education, (2) cooperation of researchers in AI and education, (3) the level of education, and (4) concepts and tools.