bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acceleration Response Analysis of a Steel-wood Composite Floor System under Human-induced Vibration
Authors: Yujian Dong , Lilin Cao
Published: June 2021

To investigate the vibration response of a steel-wood composite floor system under walking and jump excitation. The ABAQUS subroutine Vdload is used to simulate the human walking and jumping process on the structure, while the human-induced excitation is equated to a combination of a Fourier-scale load model and a biomechanical model of mass, stiffness, and damping (MSD) to study the human-induced vibration response under human-structure interaction (HSI). The effects of walking and jumping excitation on the peak acceleration of the structure are also considered. The results show that the peak acceleration of the structure considering the human-structure interaction is significantly smaller than that without the human-structure interaction, and the results obtained from the numerical simulation analysis are more consistent with the experimental situation. In addition, the acceleration response of the steel-wood composite floor system under jump excitation is larger than that of walking excitation, and the peak acceleration increases with the increase of jump frequency. Then: any floor, no matter its structural configuration and material, is prone to vibrate under walking and jumpimg excitation if the excitation frequency is in resonance with one of its main frequencies. The induced vibrations affect the floor serviceability, when the induced peak acceleration exceeds the comfort requirements. The magnitude of the induced peak acceleration is the larger, the larger the acting force and the lower the vibrating floor mass and its damping.
One perpetrator, two perpetrators: The effect of multiple perpetrators on eyewitness identification
Authors: Lockamyeir Robert F. , Carlson Curt A. , Jones Alyssa R. , Wooten Alex R. , Carlson Maria A. , Hemby Jacob A.
Published: June 2021

Most eyewitness identification research simulates single perpetrator crimes, but real‐world crimes often transpire at the hands of multiple perpetrators. It is unclear how multiple perpetrators might impact the ability of eyewitnesses to discriminate between the guilty and innocent. To address this issue, we conducted two experiments in which large nationwide samples of participants read a vignette about a crime being committed, and then viewed one to two target faces. If there were two targets, they were either similar or dissimilar, and presented either simultaneously or sequentially. Participants later viewed a target‐present or ‐absent lineup for each target. As predicted, presenting one target enhanced discriminability compared to two targets presented simultaneously (Experiments 1 and 2), and two targets presented sequentially (Experiment 2). Results were mixed regarding the effect of similarity, with discriminability better for dissimilar compared to similar target pairs in just one experiment. Lastly, high confidence indicated high accuracy across all conditions.
Judging the accuracy of eyewitness testimonies using retrieval effort cues
Authors: Gustafsson Philip U. , Lindholm Torun , Jönsson Fredrik U.
Published: June 2021

Recent research has shown that incorrect statements in eyewitness testimonies contain more cues to effortful memory retrieval than correct statements. In two experiments, we attempted to improve judgments of testimony accuracy by informing participants about these effort cues. Participants read eyewitness testimony transcripts and judged statement accuracy. Performance was above chance in both experiments, but there was only a significant effect of the effort‐cue instruction in Experiment 2. In Experiment 1, we also compared judgment accuracy between police detectives, police students and laypersons, and found no significant difference, in contrast to previous studies. Moreover, the current study corroborates previous findings that (a) judging testimony accuracy is a difficult task and (b) people spontaneously rely on effort cues to some extent when judging accuracy. However, a complete reliance on effort cues showed substantially better performance than relying on one's own judgments skills at best, and offered equal performance at worst.
Fed‐Batch Droplet Nanobioreactor for Controlled Growth of Cyberlindnera (Pichia) jadinii: A Proof‐Of‐Concept Demonstration
Authors: Totlani Kartik , Wang Yen‐Chieh , Bisschops Maxime , de Riese Thorben , Kreutzer Michiel T. , van Gulik Walter M. , van Steijn Volkert
Published: June 2021

A key bottleneck in bioprocess development is that state‐of‐the‐art tools used for screening of cells and optimization of cultivation conditions do not represent the conditions enforced at industrial scale. At industrial scale, cell growth is strictly controlled (“fed‐batch”) to optimize the metabolites produced by the cells. In contrast, cell growth is uncontrolled (“batch”) in microwells commonly used for bioprocess development due to the difficulty to continuously supply minute amounts of nutrients to the cells in these wells over the course of the cultivation experiment. This work addresses this bottleneck through the development of a droplet‐based fed‐batch nanobioreactor. A key challenge addressed in this work is the implementation of the required non‐steady droplet operations on chip to establish a semi‐continuous nutrient supply, while keeping the chip and its operation as simple as possible. The ability to study micro‐organisms under nutrient‐controlled fed‐batch conditions is demonstrated using the yeast Cyberlindnera (Pichia) jadinii, with the cell growth rate controlled through the glucose concentration. Given the relative ease of operation and the potential to extend its features, the presented nanobioreactor provides a solid platform technology for further development and use in the field of bioprocess development and beyond.
Biologically Inspired Ultrathin Contact Imager for High‐Resolution Imaging of Epidermal Ridges on Human Finger
Authors: Jang Kyung‐Won , Kim Kisoo , Bae Sang‐In , Jeong Ki‐Hun
Published: June 2021

Compound eyes exhibit compelling vision schemes due to their unique visual ultrastructures. Here, a biologically inspired ultrathin contact imager (BUCI) for high‐resolution contact fingerprint imaging is reported. The BUCI contains ultrathin arrayed camera, light‐emitting diode arrays, and light guide plate (LGP). The ultrathin arrayed camera is fully packaged with microlens arrays, variable micropinhole arrays (MLA‐VMA), and a single complementary metal oxide semiconductor image sensor. The ultrathin arrayed camera shows a large field of view of 77.3° and a constant MTF50 of 89.4 cycles mm–1, relatively higher than a comparable single lens camera at the distance less than 36.8 mm. The channel images of a human fingertip are directly obtained by using frustrated total internal reflection and stitched to a single and high‐resolution full‐field image for a fingertip of 5.7 mm × 4.9 mm. The BUCI provides a new platform for high‐resolution contact imaging in biometric or healthcare applications.
Passive Particle Jamming Variable Stiffness Material‐Based Flexible Capacitive Stress Sensor with High Sensitivity and Large Measurement Limit
Authors: Zhang Dongguang , Wang Xinxin , Wu Yali , Song Honglie , Ma Zhen , Zhang Xunying , Yang Xiaofeng , Xing Ruizhe , Li Yang , Yang Jiayi
Published: June 2021

Flexible capacitive stress sensors are important for robotics, human–machine interactions, and electronic skin due to their temperature independence, low power consumption, and high stability. Pressing the soft dielectric material brings the electrodes closer together and thereby increases capacitance. However, the invariance of the elastic modulus of dielectric materials contradicts the sensitivity and measurement limit of capacitive stress sensors. To solve this problem, a passive particle jamming variable stiffness material‐based flexible capacitive stress sensor with high sensitivity, large measurement limit is proposed. Applying small stress does not jam the particles, leading to a low elastic modulus (5.2 kPa). As the stress increases, the particles begin to jam and squeeze the elastic cavity, resulting in a jamming phenomenon that gradually increases the elastic modulus (up to 132.4 kPa). Based on this mechanism, a sensor with high sensitivity (0.023 kPa−1) and large measurement limit (320 kPa) is demonstrated. In addition, several demonstrations prove the potential applications of the sensor.
High Contrast and Bright Emission Piezochromic Fluorescence in Organic Crystals via Pressure Modulated Exciton Coupling Effect
Authors: Lv Zheng , Man Zhongwei , Xu Zhenzhen , Fu Liyuan , Li Shuai , Zhang Yujian , Fu Hongbing
Published: June 2021

With its recent debut in various fields, piezochromic fluorescent (PCF) materials have attracted considerable attention due to their unique photophysical features with dynamically reversible emission wavelength and intensity. Herein, a novel luminogen DBCT is developed, which is sensitive to external pressure and displays dual color reversibly switched PCF fluorescence. The solid state emission can switch from bright orange (O) (λem = 586 nm, Φsolid = 0.47) to deep red (R) emission (λem = 646 nm, Φsolid = 0.34) with high contrast through pressing (0.6 MPa), heating and fuming processes. Single crystal X‐ray analysis and theoretical calculations verify that the reversible luminescence switching characteristic is highly related to the different molecular packing mode within O and R crystals, which amplifies the exciton coupling (EC) effect and results in good PCF performances with high Φsolid as well as distinguishable red‐shifted emission. With such multiple advantages that writable fluorescent inks are successfully fabricated with high contrast for security anti‐counterfeiting applications based on DBCT molecules. This research may offer an important guideline for molecular design of PCF materials and enrich the underlying mechanism of mechanochromic luminescence, which also broadens the real‐life applications of smart materials.
Adsorption of SF6 Decomposed Species on Ti3C2O2 and Ti3C2F2 with Point Defects by DFT Study
Authors: Kong Lingyan , Liang Xiongyi , Deng Xiangxuan , Guo Chen , Wu Chi‐Man Lawrence
Published: June 2021

The high specific surface area and electrical conductivity of new 2D metal carbide MXenes make them become a suitable candidate as sensor platform of the gas sensor. Herein, density functional theory (DFT) is implemented to investigate the adsorption of the SF6 decomposed gases (SOF2, SO2, and H2S) on Ti3C2O2, Ti3C2F2, and Ti3C2(OH)2. Modification of the surface of Ti3C2O2 and Ti3C2F2 by O and F point vacancy, respectively, is then performed to improve the adsorption performance. The band structure, charge density differences, electron localization function (ELF), and projected density of states (PDOS) are investigated to study the adsorption mechanism. The results indicate that as compared with the weak adsorption on pristine Ti3C2O2 and Ti3C2F2, the SOF2, SO2, and H2S gas molecules tend to be chemisorbed on Ti3C2O2 and Ti3C2F2 with point vacancy with high adsorption energies. Furthermore, the study of electronic properties suggests that all adsorption systems show high electronic conductivity and the exposed Ti atoms by point defect mainly contribute to the formation of ionic bond with high adsorption energy. Thus, the present results show that Ti3C2O2 and Ti3C2F2 with point vacancy are feasible novel sensing materials to detect SF6 decomposed species with high sensitivity and low electronic noise. The sensitive detection capability of SO2 is particularly noticeable.
Prototype for developing SNP markers from GWAS and biparental QTL for rice panicle and grain traits
Authors: Eizenga Georgia C. , Jackson Aaron K. , Edwards Jeremy D.
Published: June 2021

There is a large gap between genomewide association studies (GWAS) and developing markers that can be used in marker‐assisted selection (MAS) schemes for cultivar improvement. This study is a prototype for developing markers using segregating single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for panicle architecture and grain shape traits identified by GWAS in the Rice Diversity Panel‐1 and colocalized in QTL regions revealed by linkage mapping in the Estrela × NSFTV199 rice (Oryza sativa L.) population. Markers were developed from sequence variants suitable for reliable detection in regions surrounding the most significant SNPs identified in GWAS. Once developed, the markers were validated in three Japonica subspecies biparental populations, used to improve QTL mapping resolution, and employed to select potential parents for use in MAS. All marker alleles segregated in the rice tropical japonica subpopulation.
Germplasm exchange is critical to conservation of biodiversity and global food security
Authors: Smith Stephen , Nickson Thomas E. , Challender Mary
Published: June 2021

Global food security depends on the continual improvement of a relatively small number of food and feed crops. Today's food supply is heavily dependent on the movement of seed and other forms of plant germplasm for these crops across national and regional borders. As occurred during the Green Revolution, facilitated and widespread exchange of the major food crops is critical for food security. Plant breeders, molecular biologists, and agronomists, using scientifically guided processes and working collaboratively around the world, are achieving greater gains in crop yields and quality in shorter times than in the past. However, newer policies emerging from international environmental negotiations are giving rise to restrictions that are limiting access and exchange of germplasm and threatening food security. We argue that these evolving policies and practices are having far‐reaching and negative impacts on plant breeding, agriculture, and food security. We provide some ideas on how to steer future policy negotiations to encourage germplasm exchange and thereby support food security and other important environmental objectives.
Design of delayed PID‐type controllers for high‐order recycling systems with time delays using model reduction
Authors: Vazquez Guerra Rocio J. , Marquez Rubio Juan F. , del Muro‐Cúellar Basilio
Published: June 2021

In even the simplest recycling system with a first‐order plus dead time model for the direct and recycling paths, the characteristic equation for the open‐loop transfer function contains an infinite number of poles. This is due to the presence of time delays in the internal dynamics. The task of designing a controller is therefore challenging from the perspective of control. This paper considers the problem of stabilising a high‐order delayed recycling system (with a possible unstable direct path) through the use of a reduced model in conjunction with a new PID (proportional‐integral‐derivative)‐type delayed controller. We state the condition under which the stability of the closed‐loop system is guaranteed and determine the sets of stabilising control parameters. The performance of our proposed strategy is illustrated using several numerical simulations of industrial processes, including an industrial quench column, two continuous stirred tank reactor systems with recycling and a reactor–separator process.
Natural resources derived biocomposites as potential carriers of green pesticides in agricultural field: Designing and fabrication of a pot‐like device
Authors: Viscusi Gianluca , Liparoti Sara , Pantani Roberto , Gorrasi Giuliana
Published: June 2021

Hemp fibers (HF) are used as filler in pectin to produce biocomposites. To improve the compatibility of the filler with the polymeric matrix, HF are treated through mechanochemically assisted alkaline attack. The effect of the treatment time on the morphology of HF is investigated through atomic force microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. Cinnamic acid, a green pesticide, is added to the composites in order to test the capability of such materials to act as potential devices in the agricultural field. Analysis of thermal, mechanical, barrier properties and surface energy are evaluated on biocomposites and compared either to unfilled pectin or to composites filled with untreated HF. The release of cinnamic acid is evaluated and found to be dependent on the fibers' treatment time. The design and the fabrication of a pot prototype is also reported. The manufacture appears promising as green functional container for plants to be implanted in the ground.
Preparation and application of magnetic chitosan in environmental remediation and other fields: A review
Authors: Shaumbwa Veino Risto , Liu Dagang , Archer Bright , Li Jinlei , Su Fan
Published: June 2021

Magnetic chitosan has received considerable attention over the decades due to its low cost, biodegradability, green sources, magnetic intensity. In this review, we reviewed the preparation methods of magnetic chitosan using co‐precipitation, cross‐linking and electrochemical. Therein cross‐linking methodologies involved in the reaction of amino groups are facile to introduce additional reaction groups and improve anti‐swelling of chitosan layers, mostly in an acidic environment. Besides, we focused on the applications of magnetic chitosan in various fields such as wastewater treatment, for example, removal of heavy metal ions, organic/inorganic dyes, fluorides, and pesticides. Moreover, magnetic chitosan also reveals great potential application in the field of medical, pharmaceutical, food and electronic screening. Above all, magnetic chitosan is economically and operationally beneficial as it can be easily separated and controlled with an external magnetic field and can be modified to maximize its functions.
A novel grafted polyethylene with diphenyl phosphoryl group: Improved flame retardancy and favorable compatibility
Authors: Wang Weiduo , Li Huayi , Li Qian , Luo Zhi
Published: June 2021

A novel phosphorous/benzene‐containing flame‐retardant diphenyl phosphoryl polyethylene (PEP) is synthesized from ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer with two steps reactions and its chemical structure is characterized by Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. The grafted molecular dispersion is calculated by gel permeation chromatography and the phase transition is analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry. And results show its promising processability potential. High density polyethylene (HDPE) composite containing 15 wt% PEP is prepared by melt blending, and its fire performance and thermal behaviors are investigated in terms of limiting oxygen index (LOI), vertical burning (UL‐94) and thermogravimetric analysis. There is a 16% increase to 20.2 in the LOI value of PEP, while it fails the UL‐94 test. The char morphology is characterized by scanning electronic microscopy and observed multi‐layered intumescent residue char effectively reduces the transfer of heat and oxygen. The major degradation is quantitively analyzed by the Flynn‐Wall‐Ozawa method. The results demonstrate that there is a catalytic effect by the phosphorous substance in char formation. Finally, the mechanical properties tests show that the loss due to the addition is small, which signifies the good compatibility between the pure HDPE and the grafted addition.
Burrowing in blindsnakes: A preliminary analysis of burrowing forces and consequences for the evolution of morphology
Authors: Herrel Anthony , Lowie Aurélien , Miralles Aurélien , Gaucher Philippe , Kley Nathan J. , Measey John , Tolley Krystal A.
Published: June 2021

Burrowing is a common behavior in vertebrates. An underground life‐style offers many advantages but also poses important challenges including the high energetic cost of burrowing. Scolecophidians are a group of morphologically derived subterranean snakes that show great diversity in form and function. Although it has been suggested that leptotyphlopids and anomalepidids mostly use existing underground passageways, typhlopids are thought to create their own burrows. However, the mechanisms used to create burrows and the associated forces that animals may be able to generate remain unknown. Here, we provide the first data on push forces in scolecophidians and compare them with those in some burrowing alethinophidian snakes. Our results show that typhlopids are capable of generating higher forces for a given size than other snakes. The observed differences are not due to variation in body diameter or length, suggesting fundamental differences in the mechanics of burrowing or the way in which axial muscles are used. Qualitative observations of skull and vertebral shape suggest that the higher forces exerted by typhlopids may have impacted the evolution of their anatomy. Our results provide the basis for future studies exploring the diversity of form and function in this fascinating group of animals. Quantitative comparisons of the cranial and vertebral shape in addition to collecting functional and ecological data on a wider array of species would be particularly important to test the patterns described here.
Climate change mitigation: Carbon assurance and reporting integrity
Authors: Bui Binh , Houqe Muhammad Nurul , Zaman Mahbub
Published: June 2021

Concern about climate change has increased the pressure on firms to be accountable for social impact and to report on environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. Focusing on the view that sustainability‐oriented firms are likely to consider wider stakeholder interests and pursue high financial reporting integrity, this paper examines the association between carbon assurance and earnings management. Using a sample of firms listed on the New York Stock Exchange, we find voluntary adoption of carbon assurance (level), carbon disclosure and gender diverse boards are negatively associated with earnings management. Additional tests using different components of carbon assurance (percent and verification) confirm our main results. Our results suggest that firms that voluntarily invest in carbon assurance, carbon disclosure and gender diverse boards are less likely to engage in earnings management and thus have higher reporting integrity. This aligns with the view that firms' ethical concerns translate into higher quality reporting.
A journey to improve Arabic‐speaking young peoples’ access to psychological assessment tools: It’s not just Google translate!
Authors: Yassin Sulafa , Evans Chris
Published: June 2021

One of the key challenges that counsellors and psychotherapists may now find themselves encountering is that of working with clients whose native language is not English. This is of particular importance when using psychological assessment tools published in English to ascertain difficulties in a client's native language and utilising these tools to help in assessing the level of risk, whether this be done through an interpreter or a multilingual therapist delivering therapy in their native language. This paper takes the reader through the process of translating the YP‐CORE assessment tool from English (original version) to Arabic; it draws on the crucial personal involvements and experiences vital to good translation work and how a good translation must be informed by the challenges of delivering therapies in multicultural settings. The process illustrates some of the cultural (and possibly religious) influences that were at play during the translation process for the young people and their families. This article highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity and competence, as well as religious implications, that some individuals from an Arab or Muslim background might experience in relation to accessing counselling/psychotherapy or even just being seen to support such psychological services (as was the case for translating the YP‐CORE). The crucial outcome of successfully creating an Arabic version of YP‐CORE, which is now published online and available for use by professionals, also brings with it a cultural awareness of Arabic‐speaking cultures and the possible implications of these when delivering counselling or psychotherapy and when constructing policies.
Prospective evaluation of lipid management following acute coronary syndrome in non‐Western countries
Authors: Navar Ann Marie , Matskeplishvili Simon T. , Urina‐Triana Miguel , Arafah Mohammed , Chen Jaw‐Wen , Sukonthasarn Apichard , Corp dit Genti Valérie , Daclin Véronique , Peterson Eric D.
Published: June 2021

Background

Half the global burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is concentrated in the Asia‐Pacific (APAC) region.

Hypothesis

Suboptimal control of low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) may play a large role in the burden of CVD in APAC and non‐Western countries.

Methods

The Acute Coronary Syndrome Management (ACOSYM) registry is a multinational, multicenter, prospective observational registry designed to evaluate LDL‐C control in patients within 6 months after hospitalization following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) event across nine countries.

Results

Overall, 1581 patients were enrolled, of whom 1567 patients met the eligibility criteria; 80.3% of the eligible patients were men, 46.1% had ST‐elevation myocardial infarction, and 39.5% had non‐ST‐elevation myocardial infarction. Most (1245; 79.5%) patients were discharged on a high‐intensity statin. During the follow‐up, only 992 (63.3%) patients had at least one LDL‐C measurement; of these, 52.9% had persistently elevated LDL‐C (>70 mg/dl). The patients not discharged on a high‐dose statin were more likely (OR 3.2; 95% CI 2.1–4.8) to have an LDL‐C above the 70 mg/dl LDL‐C target compared with those who were discharged on a high‐dose statin.

Conclusion

Our real‐world registry found that a third or more of post‐ACS patients did not have a repeat LDL‐C follow‐up measurement. In those with an LDL‐C follow‐up measurement, more than half (52.9%) were not achieving a <70 mg/dl LDL‐C goal, despite a greater uptake of high‐intensity statin therapy than has been observed in recent evidence. This demonstrates the opportunity to improve post‐ACS lipid management in global community practice.
Machine learning for cell classification and neighborhood analysis in glioma tissue
Authors: Solorzano Leslie , Wik Lina , Olsson Bontell Thomas , Wang Yuyu , Klemm Anna H. , Öfverstedt Johan , Jakola Asgeir S. , Östman Arne , Wählby Carolina
Published: June 2021

Multiplexed and spatially resolved single‐cell analyses that intend to study tissue heterogeneity and cell organization invariably face as a first step the challenge of cell classification. Accuracy and reproducibility are important for the downstream process of counting cells, quantifying cell–cell interactions, and extracting information on disease‐specific localized cell niches. Novel staining techniques make it possible to visualize and quantify large numbers of cell‐specific molecular markers in parallel. However, due to variations in sample handling and artifacts from staining and scanning, cells of the same type may present different marker profiles both within and across samples. We address multiplexed immunofluorescence data from tissue microarrays of low‐grade gliomas and present a methodology using two different machine learning architectures and features insensitive to illumination to perform cell classification. The fully automated cell classification provides a measure of confidence for the decision and requires a comparably small annotated data set for training, which can be created using freely available tools. Using the proposed method, we reached an accuracy of 83.1% on cell classification without the need for standardization of samples. Using our confidence measure, cells with low‐confidence classifications could be excluded, pushing the classification accuracy to 94.5%. Next, we used the cell classification results to search for cell niches with an unsupervised learning approach based on graph neural networks. We show that the approach can re‐detect specialized tissue niches in previously published data, and that our proposed cell classification leads to niche definitions that may be relevant for sub‐groups of glioma, if applied to larger data sets.
Imaging flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy in assessing radiation response in lymphocytes from umbilical cord blood and cancer patients
Authors: Durdik Matus , Kosik Pavol , Jakl Lukas , Kozackova Maria , Markova Eva , Vigasova Katarina , Beresova Katarina , Jakubikova Jana , Horvathova Eva , Zastko Lucian , Fekete Marta , Zavacka Ingrid , Pobijakova Margita , Belyaev Igor
Published: June 2021

DNA double strand breaks (DSB) induced by ionizing radiation (IR) are usually measured using γH2AX/53BP1 DNA repair foci, that is considered to be the most sensitive assay for DSB analysis. While fluorescence microscopy (FM) is the gold standard for this analysis, imaging flow cytometry (IFC) may offer number of advantages such as lack of the fluorescence background, higher number of cells analyzed, and higher sensitivity in detection of DNA damage induced by IR at low doses. Along with appearance of γH2AX foci, the variable fraction of the cells exhibits homogeneously stained γH2AX signal resulting in so‐called γH2AX pan‐staining, which is believed to appear at early stages of apoptosis. Here, we investigated incidence of γH2AX pan‐staining at different time points after irradiation with γ‐rays using IFC and compared the obtained data with the data from FM. Appearance of γH2AX pan‐staining during the apoptotic process was further analyzed by fluorescence‐activated cell sorting (FACS) of cells at different stages of apoptosis and subsequent immunofluorescence analysis. Our results show that IFC was able to reveal dose dependence of pan‐staining, while FM failed to detect all pan‐staining cells. Moreover, we found that γH2AX pan‐staining could be induced by therapeutic, but not low doses of γ‐rays and correlate well with percentage of apoptotic cells was analyzed using flow cytometric Annexin‐V/7‐AAD assay. Further investigations showed that γH2AX pan‐staining is formed in the early phases of apoptosis and remains until later stages of apoptotic process. Apoptotic DNA fragmentation as detected with comet assay using FM correlated with the percentage of live and late apoptotic/necrotic cells as analyzed by flow cytometry. Lastly, we successfully tested IFC for detection of γH2AX pan‐staining and γH2AX/53BP1 DNA repair foci in lymphocyte of breast cancer patients after radiotherapy, which may be useful for assessing individual radiosensitivity in a clinically relevant cohort of patients.
Innate immunity in latent autoimmune diabetes in adults
Authors: Huang Juan , Pearson James Alexander , Wong F. Susan , Wen Li , Zhou Zhiguang
Published: June 2021

Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is an autoimmune disease that shares some genetic, immunological and clinical features with both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Immune cells including CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, B cells, macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) have been detected in the pancreas of patients with LADA and a rat model of LADA. Therefore, similar to type 1 diabetes, the pathogenesis of LADA may be caused by interactions between islet β‐cells and innate and adaptive immune cells. However, the role of the immunity in the initiation and progression of LADA remains largely unknown. In this review, we have summarized the potential roles of innate immunity and immune‐modulators in LADA development. Furthermore, we have examined the evidence and discussed potential innate immunological reasons for the slower development of LADA compared with type 1 diabetes. More in‐depth mechanistic studies are needed to fully elucidate the roles of innate immune‐associated genes, molecules and cells in their contributions to LADA pathogenesis. Undertaking these studies will greatly enhance the development of new strategies and optimization of current strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
The application of laboratory‐based analytical tools and techniques for the quality assessment and improvement of commercial antivenoms used in the treatment of snakebite envenomation
Authors: Patra Aparup , Herrera María , Gutiérrez José María , Mukherjee Ashis K.
Published: June 2021

Snakebite envenomation is a public health problem of high impact, particularly for the developing world. Antivenom, which contains whole or protease‐digested immunoglobulin G, purified from the plasma of hyper‐immunized animals (mainly horses), is the mainstay for the treatment of snakebite envenomation. The success of antivenom therapy depends upon its ability to abrogate or reduce the local and systemic toxicity of envenomation. In addition, antivenom administration must be safe for the patients. Therefore, antivenom manufacturers must ensure that these products are effective and safe in the treatment of envenomations. Antivenom efficacy and safety are determined by the physicochemical characteristics of formulations, purity of the immunoglobulin fragments and antibodies, presence of protein aggregates, endotoxin burden, preservative load, and batch to batch variation, as well as on the ability to neutralize the most important toxins of the venoms against which the antivenom is designed. In this context, recent studies have shown that laboratory‐based simple analytical techniques, for example, size exclusion chromatography, sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, immunological profiling including immuno‐turbidimetry and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays, Western blotting, immune‐chromatographic technique coupled to mass spectrometry analysis, reverse‐phase high performance liquid chromatography, spectrofluorometric analysis, in vitro neutralization of venom enzymatic activities, and other methodologies, can be applied for the assessment of antivenom quality, safety, stability, and efficacy. This article reviews the usefulness of different analytical techniques for the quality assessment of commercial antivenoms. It is suggested that these tests should be applied for screening the quality of commercial antivenoms before their preclinical and clinical assessment.
Stanozolol‐N‐glucuronide metabolites in human urine samples as suitable targets in terms of routine anti‐doping analysis
Authors: Göschl Lorenz , Gmeiner Günter , Gärtner Peter , Stadler Georg , Enev Valentin , Thevis Mario , Schänzer Wilhelm , Guddat Sven , Forsdahl Guro
Published: June 2021

The exogenous anabolic‐androgenic steroid (AAS) stanozolol stays one of the most detected substances in professional sports. Its detection is a fundamental part of doping analysis, and the analysis of this steroid has been intensively investigated for a long time. This contribution to the detection of stanozolol doping describes for the first time the unambiguous proof for the existence of 17‐epistanozolol‐1′N‐glucuronide and 17‐epistanozolol‐2′N‐glucuronide in stanozolol‐positive human urine samples due to the access to high‐quality reference standards. Examination of excretion study samples shows large detection windows for the phase‐II metabolites stanozolol‐1′N‐glucuronide and 17‐epistanozolol‐1′N‐glucuronide up to 12 days and respectively up to almost 28 days. In addition, we present appropriate validation parameters for the analysis of these metabolites using a fully automatic method online solid‐phase extraction (SPE) method already published before. Limits of identification (LOIs) as low as 100 pg/ml and other validation parameters like accuracy, precision, sensitivity, robustness, and linearity are given.
Climate‐induced increase in terrestrial carbon storage in the Yangtze River Economic Belt
Authors: Gu Fengxue , Zhang Yuandong , Huang Mei , Yu Li , Yan Huimin , Guo Rui , Zhang Li , Zhong Xiuli , Yan Changrong
Published: June 2021

Predicting the change in carbon storage in regions of high carbon uptake and those under highly intensive human disturbance is crucial for regional ecosystem management to promote sustainable development of the economy and ecology in the future. We use a process‐based model to estimate the terrestrial carbon storage in Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) and to predict the change of carbon storage over the next 100 years. The results show that the vegetation carbon (VC) and soil organic carbon (SOC) storage were 8.97 and 28.85 Pg C in the YREB from 1981 to 2005, respectively. The highest VC density is distributed in the southern region of the YREB, and the highest SOC density distributes in subalpine and alpine area of the western region of the YREB. Carbon storage in the YREB continued to increase from 1981 to 2005 and in future projections, under both the representative concentration pathway 4.5 (RCP4.5) and the RCP8.5 scenarios. The increased rate of carbon storage in the YREB under the RCP8.5 scenario is higher than that under the RCP4.5 scenario. Under the RCP4.5 scenario, the increasing trend of VC storage tends to be reduced after the 2060s; conversely, the increase of both VC and SOC is accelerated after the 2050s under the RCP8.5 scenario. The SOC density in Western Sichuan will decrease in the future, especially under the RCP8.5 scenario. Western Sichuan has the highest SOC density in the YREB; therefore, it is important to manage the ecosystems there in order to cope with significant warming. The positive impact of warming and the CO2 fertilization effect on vegetation growth and carbon uptake will be predominantly attributed to the increase of terrestrial carbon storage in the YREB. However, warming will stimulate the decomposition of soil organic carbon, contributing directly to reducing SOC storage in high‐altitude regions (e.g., alpine and subalpine regions of Western Sichuan).
Molecular evolution of bumble bee vitellogenin and vitellogenin‐like genes
Authors: Zhao Fang , Morandin Claire , Jiang Kai , Su Tianjuan , He Bo , Lin Gonghua , Huang Zuhao
Published: June 2021

Vitellogenin (Vg), a storage protein, has been significantly studied for its egg yolk precursor role in oviparous animals. Recent studies found that vitellogenin and its Vg‐like homologs were fundamentally involved in many other biological processes in social insects such as female caste differences and oxidative stress resilience. In this study, we conducted the first large‐scale molecular evolutionary analyses of vitellogenin coding genes (Vg) and Vg‐like genes of bumble bees, a primitively eusocial insect belonging to the genus Bombus. We obtained sequences for each of the four genes (Vg, Vg‐like‐A, Vg‐like‐B, and Vg‐like‐C) from 27 bumble bee genomes (nine were newly sequenced in this study), and sequences from the two closest clades of Bombus, including five Apis species and five Tetragonula species. Our molecular evolutionary analyses show that in bumble bee, the conventional Vg experienced strong positive selection, while the Vg‐like genes showed overall relaxation of purifying selection. In Apis and Tetragonula; however, all four genes were found under purifying selection. Furthermore, the conventional Vg showed signs of strong positive selection in most subgenera in Bombus, apart from the obligate parasitic subgenus Psithyrus which has no caste differentiation. Together, these results indicate that the conventional Vg, a key pleiotropic gene in social insects, is the most rapidly evolving copy, potentially due to its multiple known social functions for both worker and queen castes. This study shows that concerted evolution and purifying selection shaped the evolution of the Vg gene family following their ancient gene duplication and may be the leading forces behind the evolution of new potential protein function enabling functional social pleiotropy.
The history, biological relevance, and potential applications for polyp bailout in corals
Authors: Schweinsberg Maximilian , Gösser Fabian , Tollrian Ralph
Published: June 2021

Corals have evolved a variety of stress responses to changing conditions, many of which have been the subject of scientific research. However, polyp bailout has not received widespread scientific attention, despite being described more than 80 years ago. Polyp bailout is a drastic response to acute stress in which coral colonies break down, with individual and patches of polyps detaching from the colony and the calcareous skeleton Polyps retain their symbiotic partners, have dispersal ability, and may undergo secondary settlement and calcification. Polyp bailout has been described worldwide in a variety of anthozoan species, especially in Scleractinia. It can be induced by multiple natural stressors, but also artificially. Little is known about the evolutionary and ecological potential and consequences of breaking down modularity, the dispersal ability, and reattachment of polyps resulting from polyp bailout. It has been shown that polyp bailout can be used as a model system, with promise for implementation in various research topics. To date, there has been no compilation of knowledge on polyp bailout, which prompted us to review this interesting stress response and provide a basis to discuss research topics and priorities for the future.
Effects of habitat types on the dynamic changes in allocation in carbon and nitrogen storage of vegetation–soil system in sandy grasslands: How habitat types affect C and N allocation?
Authors: Lv Peng , Sun Shanshan , Medina‐Roldánd Eduardo , Zhao Shenglong , Hu Ya , Guo Aixia , Zuo Xiaoan
Published: June 2021

The progressively restoration of degraded vegetation in semiarid and arid desertified areas undoubtedly formed different habitat types. The most plants regulate their growth by fixing carbon with their energy deriving from photosynthesis; carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) play the crucial role in regulating plant growth, community structure, and function in the vegetation restoration progress. However, it is still unclear how habitat types affect the dynamic changes in allocation in C and N storage of vegetation–soil system in sandy grasslands. Here, we investigated plant community characteristics and soil properties across three successional stages of habitat types: semi‐fixed dunes (SFD), fixed dunes (FD), and grasslands (G) in 2011, 2013, and 2015. We also examined the C and N concentrations of vegetation–soil system and estimated their C and N storage. The C and N storage of vegetation system, soil, and vegetation–soil system remarkably increased from SFD to G. The litter C and N storage in SFD, N storage of vegetation system in SFD, and N storage of soil and vegetation–soil system in FD increased from 2011 to 2015, while aboveground plant C and N storage of FD were higher in 2011 than in 2013 and 2015. Most of C and N were sequestered in soil in the vegetation restoration progress. These results suggest that the dynamic changes in allocation in C and N storage in vegetation–soil systems varied with habitat types. Our study highlights that SFD has higher N sequestration rate in vegetation, while FD has the considerably N sequestration rate in the soil.
Progress and challenges in the treatment of cardiac amyloidosis: a review of the literature
Authors: Adam Robert Daniel , Coriu Daniel , Jercan Andreea , Bădeliţă Sorina , Popescu Bogdan A. , Damy Thibaud , Jurcuţ Ruxandra
Published: June 2021

Cardiac amyloidosis is a restrictive cardiomyopathy determined by the accumulation of amyloid, which is represented by misfolded protein fragments in the cardiac extracellular space. The main classification of systemic amyloidosis is determined by the amyloid precursor proteins causing a very heterogeneous disease spectrum, but the main types of amyloidosis involving the heart are light chain (AL) and transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR). AL, in which the amyloid precursor is represented by misfolded immunoglobulin light chains, can involve almost any system carrying the worst prognosis among amyloidosis patients. This has however dramatically improved in the last few years with the increased usage of the novel therapies such as proteasome inhibitors and haematopoietic cell transplantation, in the case of timely diagnosis and initiation of treatment. The treatment for AL is directed by the haematologist working closely with the cardiologist when there is a significant cardiac involvement. Transthyretin (TTR) is a protein that is produced by the liver and is involved in the transportation of thyroid hormones, especially thyroxine and retinol binding protein. ATTR results from the accumulation of transthyretin amyloid in the extracellular space of different organs and systems, especially the heart and the nervous system. Specific therapies for ATTR act at various levels of TTR, from synthesis to deposition: TTR tetramer stabilization, oligomer aggregation inhibition, genetic therapy, amyloid fibre degradation, antiserum amyloid P antibodies, and antiserum TTR antibodies. Treatment of systemic amyloidosis has dramatically evolved over the last few years in both AL and ATTR, improving disease prognosis. Moreover, recent studies revealed that timely treatment can lead to an improvement in clinical status and in a regression of amyloid myocardial infiltration showed by imaging, especially by cardiac magnetic resonance, in both AL and ATTR. However, treating cardiac amyloidosis is a complex task due to the frequent association between systemic congestion and low blood pressure, thrombo‐embolic and haemorrhagic risk balance, patient frailty, and generally poor prognosis. The aim of this review is to describe the current state of knowledge regarding cardiac amyloidosis therapy in this constantly evolving field, classified as treatment of the cardiac complications of amyloidosis (heart failure, rhythm and conduction disturbances, and thrombo‐embolic risk) and the disease‐modifying therapy.
Homologous and heterologous serological response to the N‐terminal domain of SARS‐CoV‐2 in humans and mice
Authors: Lv Huibin , Tsang Owen Tak‐Yin , So Ray T. Y. , Wang Yiquan , Yuan Meng , Liu Hejun , Yip Garrick K. , Teo Qi Wen , Lin Yihan , Liang Weiwen , Wang Jinlin , Ng Wilson W. , Wilson Ian A. , Peiris J. S. Malik , Wu Nicholas C. , Mok Chris K. P.
Published: June 2021

The increasing numbers of infected cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) poses serious threats to public health and the global economy. Most SARS‐CoV‐2 neutralizing antibodies target the receptor binding domain (RBD) and some the N‐terminal domain (NTD) of the spike protein, which is the major antigen of SARS‐CoV‐2. While the antibody response to RBD has been extensively characterized, the antigenicity and immunogenicity of the NTD protein are less well studied. Using 227 plasma samples from COVID‐19 patients, we showed that SARS‐CoV‐2 NTD‐specific antibodies could be induced during infection. As compared to the results of SARS‐CoV‐2 RBD, the serological response of SARS‐CoV‐2 NTD is less cross‐reactive with SARS‐CoV, a pandemic strain that was identified in 2003. Furthermore, neutralizing antibodies are rarely elicited in a mice model when NTD is used as an immunogen. We subsequently demonstrate that NTD has an altered antigenicity when expressed alone. Overall, our results suggest that while NTD offers a supplementary strategy for serology testing, it may not be suitable as an immunogen for vaccine development.
Signal Amplification with Co(III) Protoporphyrin IX Nanoparticles and Anodic Stripping Voltammetry
Authors: Tzepos Robert G. , Raman Easwer , Toote Lauren E. , Wright David W. , Gerdon Aren E.
Published: June 2021

Electrochemical analysis of cobalt(III) protoporphyrin IX (CoP), synthesis and characterization of CoP nanoparticles, and signal amplification for biosensor development is presented. CoP was self‐assembled into nanoparticles and then released to produce over 1000 electrochemically‐detectable molecules for each protein target of interest, in this case monoclonal rabbit antibody. Anodic stripping voltammetry was utilized for quantitative and sensitive detection of CoP which correlated to target protein concentration. The CoP limit of detection was 4 nM and target protein was detected at 100 pM. This combination of nanoparticle and electrochemical signal amplification could allow for sensitive, inexpensive, and portable detection of protein biomarkers.