bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anticounterfeiting Labels with Smartphone‐Readable Dynamic Luminescent Patterns Based on Tailored Persistent Lifetimes in Gd2O2S:Eu3+/Ti4+
Authors: Katumo Ngei , Ruiz‐Preciado Luis Arturo , Kumar Vinay , Hernandez‐Sosa Gerardo , Richards Bryce S. , Howard Ian A.
Published: May 2021

Dynamic luminescent labels, in which a luminescent image changes with time after ultraviolet excitation is turned off, are attractive for anticounterfeiting. A sequence of Gd2O2S:Eu3+/Ti4+ phosphors is presented in which the Ti4+ doping concentration allows the persistent emission lifetime to be varied from 1.17 ± 0.02 to 5.95 ± 0.07 s. While this persistent lifetime is tuned, the photoluminescence quantum yield remains over 46% ± 3%. A broad charge‐transfer band allows these phosphors to be excited with inexpensive and relatively safe 375 nm light‐emitting diodes. By developing patterns with phosphors that have differing persistent lifetimes, dynamic changes in the luminescent image after the excitation source is removed can be observed. For patterns made from phosphor materials that have big differences in persistent lifetimes, these dynamic changes are observable by the eye. By contrast, the dynamic changes in patterns made by phosphors with comparable persistent lifetimes (0.20 s delayed lifetime difference) are difficult to observe by the naked eye but can be easily determined by analysis of a 30‐frames‐per‐second video taken with a smartphone. Thus, these bright phosphors with tunable persistent lifetime allow both overt (observable by eye) and covert (requiring smartphone video analysis) dynamic anticounterfeiting labels to be created.
Pressure Dependence of the Low Temperature Carbonation Kinetics of Calcium Oxide for Potential Thermochemical Energy Storage Purposes and Sustainable CO2 Fixation
Authors: Gravogl Georg , Birkelbach Felix , Müller Danny , Lengauer Christian L. , Weinberger Peter , Miletich Ronald
Published: May 2021

The pressure effect on the carbonation behavior of CaO as model compound is studied under mild hydrothermal conditions, as relevant to sustainable geological CO2 sequestration and for potential utilization in thermochemical energy storage. Reaction yields are determined experimentally by means of in situ powder X‐ray diffraction using CaO powder samples in a controlled reaction with CO2 under gas pressures between 1.0 and 5.0 MPa and at temperatures between 298 and 373 K. The results show a two‐step conversion of CaO to CaCO3, involving Ca(OH)2 as a reactive intermediate, with differing influences of the microstructures on the individual reaction sub‐steps. A kinetic evaluation of the experimental data delivers a high rate‐enhancing effect of temperature on the hydration reaction, whereas the CaCO3 formation is strongly dependent on the available CO2 gas pressure. With this systematic investigation the optimal pressure and temperature conditions for this reaction system can be determined delivering a contribution to a sustainable climate and energy management.
The Green Lean Amine Machine: Harvesting Electric Power While Capturing Carbon Dioxide from Breath
Authors: Kalkus Trevor J. , Guha Anirvan , Scholten Philip B.V. , Nagornii Dmitrii , Coskun Ali , Ianiro Alessandro , Mayer Michael
Published: May 2021

As wearable technologies redefine the way people exchange information, receive entertainment, and monitor health, the development of sustainable power sources that capture energy from the user's everyday activities garners increasing interest. Electric fishes, such as the electric eel and the torpedo ray, provide inspiration for such a power source with their ability to generate massive discharges of electricity solely from the metabolic processes within their bodies. Inspired by their example, the device presented in this work harnesses electric power from ion gradients established by capturing the carbon dioxide (CO2) from human breath. Upon localized exposure to CO2, this novel adaptation of reverse electrodialysis chemically generates ion gradients from a single initial solution uniformly distributed throughout the device instead of requiring the active circulation of two different external solutions. A thorough analysis of the relationship between electrical output and the concentration of carbon capture agent (monoethanolamine, MEA), the amount of CO2 captured, and the device geometry informs device design. The prototype device presented here harvests enough energy from a breath‐generated ion gradient to power small electronic devices, such as a light‐emitting diode (LED).
Influence of DC Bias on the Hysteresis, Loss, and Nonlinearity of Epitaxial PbZr0.55Ti0.45O3 Films
Authors: Lucke Philip , Bayraktar Muharrem , Schukkink Niels , Yakshin Andrey E. , Rijnders Guus , Bijkerk Fred , Houwman Evert P.
Published: May 2021

The hysteresis, loss, and nonlinearity of the strain and polarization response of an epitaxial PbZr0.55Ti0.45O3 film are experimentally investigated for non‐switching AC excitation fields at a DC bias of 20 kV cm−1 in the 70 Hz to 5 kHz range. The measured strain is hysteretic and linear, whereas the polarization is hysteretic and highly nonlinear with excitation amplitude. Furthermore, compared to the case with zero bias, the effective piezoelectric coefficient that is extracted from the strain response is almost not changed for the investigated field range. In contrast, the loss tangent and nonlinearity of the polarization response are strongly reduced. The observations can not be explained by the Rayleigh model and its extensions, but are very well explained by the recently proposed polarization rotation model through addition of a non‐zero bias field term to the model. This model describes the film properties as the result of the nonlinear rotation of the polarization vector within the unit‐cell in response to the applied field, which is accompanied with viscous domain interaction. These results demonstrate that the polarization rotation model can describe the film response in a broad range of excitation frequencies and amplitudes, which far the applicable range of the Rayleigh  model.
Recyclable, Healable, and Stretchable High‐Power Thermoelectric Generator
Authors: Zhu Pengcheng , Shi Chuanqian , Wang Yalong , Wang Yaling , Yu Yuedong , Wang Yao , Deng Yuan , Xiao Jianliang
Published: May 2021

Direct energy conversion based on thermoelectric (TE) materials is a long‐term and maintenance‐free energy harvesting technique, and therefore is very promising for self‐powered wearable electronics. Yet, it is challenging to achieve high‐performance stretchable, healable, and even recyclable thermoelectric generators (TEGs) without compromising TE conversion performance due to the intrinsic mechanical rigidity and brittleness of the inorganic TE materials. Herein, recyclable, healable, and stretchable TEGs (RHS‐TEGs) are reported that are assembled from commercial Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 TE legs generating superior power density via the use of liquid metal as interconnects and dynamic covalent thermoset polyimine as encapsulation. The TEGs fabricated using this strategy are endowed with excellent TE performance, mechanical compliance, and healing and recycling capabilities. The normalized output power density and mechanical stretchability can reach up to 1.08 µW cm−2·K2 and 50%, respectively. After healing and recycling, the TEGs show output performance comparable to the original devices. The TEGs also exhibit high reliability and stability under cyclic deformation. This study paves the way for sustainable application of TEGs as energy harvesters to power wearable electronics using body heat.
Backaction‐Noise Suppression and System Stabilization in Double‐Mode Optomechanical Systems
Authors: Yan Jia‐shun , Jing Jun
Published: May 2021

A double‐mode strategy of coherent quantum noise cancellation (CQNC) is developed to mitigate the effect of the backaction‐noise in optomechanical systems. Working under an asymmetrical configuration, the CQNC strategy of quantum interference can promote the system stabilization in addition to enhance its sensitivity in weak‐force metrology by offsetting the backaction‐noise. Through exploiting the coupling between the probe mode and the ancillary mode, the rotating‐wave term and the counter‐rotating term are found to be responsible under certain circumstances for system‐stability and noise‐suppression, respectively. They demonstrate a subtle compromise between the resonant noise cancellation ratio and the effective damping rate. This strategy can be carried out in optomechanical setups with a membrane in the middle or a twisted‐cavity‐based weak‐torque detector.
Phenacyl Phenothiazinium Salt as a New Broad‐Wavelength‐Absorbing Photoinitiator for Cationic and Free Radical Polymerizations
Authors: Zhu Yi , Xu Dandan , Zhang Yuchao , Zhou Yufan , Yagci Yusuf , Liu Ren
Published: May 2021

A novel broad‐wavelength‐absorbing photoinitiator based on phenacyl phenothiazinium hexafluroantimonate (P‐PTh) possessing both phenacyl and phenothiazine chromophoric groups was reported. P‐PTh absorbs light at UV, Visible and Near‐IR region. Photophysical, photochemical, and computational investigations revealed that P‐PTh in solution decomposes at all wavelengths by homolytic and heterolytic cleavages and generates cationic and radical species, which could efficiently initiate cationic and free radical polymerizations. It is anticipated that the photoinitiator with such wavelength flexibility may open up new pathways in curing applications of formulations of pigment systems.
Enantio‐ and Diastereodivergent Sequential Catalysis Featuring Two Transition‐Metal‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Reactions
Authors: Masson‐Makdissi Jeanne , Prieto Liher , Abel‐Snape Xavier , Lautens Mark
Published: May 2021

This study demonstrates the feasibility and inherent benefits of combining two distinct asymmetric transition‐metal‐catalyzed reactions in one pot. The reported transformation features a Pd‐catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation and a Rh‐catalyzed enantioselective 1,4‐conjugate addition, effectively converting simple allyl enol carbonate precursors into enantioenriched cyclic ketones with two remote stereocenters. Despite the anticipated challenges associated with controlling stereoselectivity in such a complex system, the products are obtained in enantiomeric excesses ranging up to >99 % ee, exceeding those obtained from either of the individual asymmetric reactions. In addition, since the stereoselectivity of both steps is under catalyst control, this one‐pot reaction is enantio‐ and diastereodivergent, enabling facile access to all stereoisomers from the same set of starting materials.
A Cationic Micelle as In Vivo Catalyst for Tumor‐Localized Cleavage Chemistry
Authors: Wang Chunhong , Hong Hanyu , Chen Mengqi , Ding Zexuan , Rui Yuchen , Qi Jianyuan , Li Zi‐Chen , Liu Zhibo
Published: May 2021

The emerging strategies of accelerating the cleavage reaction in tumors through locally enriching the reactants is promising. Yet, the applications are limited due to the lack of the tumor‐selectivity for most of the reactants. Here we explored an alternative approach to leverage the rate constant by locally inducing an in vivo catalyst. We found that the desilylation‐induced cleavage chemistry could be catalyzed in vivo by cationic micelles, and accelerated over 1400‐fold under physiological condition. This micelle‐catalyzed controlled release platform is demonstrated by the release of a 6‐hydroxyl‐quinoline‐2‐benzothiazole derivative (HQB) in two cancer cell lines and a NIR dye in mouse tumor xenografts. Through intravenous injection of a pH‐sensitive polymer micelles, we successfully applied this strategy to a prodrug activation of hydroxyl camptothecin (OH‐CPT) in tumors. Its “decaging” efficiency is 42‐fold to that without cationic micelles‐mediated catalysis. This micelle‐catalyzed desilylation strategy unveils the potential that micelle may act beyond a carrier but a catalyst for local perturbing or activation.
Gated Molecular Diffusion at Liquid–Liquid Interfaces
Authors: Li Lianshun , Sun Huilou , Li Mingwei , Yang Yang , Russell Thomas P. , Shi Shaowei
Published: May 2021

The jamming of nanoparticle surfactants (NPSs) at liquid–liquid interface imparts attractive properties to the interfacial assemblies and enables the structuring of liquids. Herein, we report photoresponsive supramolecular microcapsules with jammed NPS assemblies at the oil‐water interface, taking advantage of host–guest molecular recognition. The permeability of the colloidal membrane can be effectively manipulated by switching the NPSs from a jammed state to an unjammed state with a photo trigger, leading to a controlled molecular diffusion and release, affording a versatile platform for the construction of next generation smart microcapsule systems.
Identification of a Pyrrole Intermediate Which Undergoes C‐Glycosidation and Autoxidation to Yield the Final Product in Showdomycin Biosynthesis
Authors: Ren Daan , Kim Minje , Wang Shao‐An , Liu Hung‐wen
Published: May 2021

Showdomycin is a C‐nucleoside bearing an electrophilic maleimide base. Herein, the biosynthetic pathway of showdomycin is presented. The initial stages of the pathway involve non‐ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) mediated assembly of a 2‐amino‐1H‐pyrrole‐5‐carboxylic acid intermediate. This intermediate is prone to air oxidation whereupon it undergoes oxidative decarboxylation to yield an imine of maleimide, which in turn yields the maleimide upon acidification. It is also shown that this pyrrole intermediate serves as the substrate for the C‐glycosidase SdmA in the pathway. After coupling with ribose 5‐phosphate, the resulting C‐nucleoside undergoes a similar sequence of oxidation, decarboxylation and deamination to afford showdomcyin after exposure to air. These results suggest that showdomycin could be an artifact due to aerobic isolation; however, the autoxidation may also serve to convert an otherwise inert product of the biosynthetic pathway to an electrophilic C‐nucleotide thereby endowing showdomycin with its observed bioactivities.
Perovskite oxide and polyazulene–based heterostructure for high–performance supercapacitors
Authors: Huang Jiaqian , Jiang Kaiyue , Tranca Diana , Ke Changchun , Zhang Longhai , Li Jin , Li Jiantong , Tong Gangsheng , Kymakis Emmanuel , Zhuang Xiaodong
Published: May 2021

Several types of electrode materials have been developed for high–performance supercapacitors. Most of the relevant studies have focused on the discovery of new atomic structures and paid limited attention to the effect of heterostructures in supercapacitor electrodes, which has long hindered the fundamental understanding of the use of hybrid materials in supercapacitors. In this study, a novel heterostructure based on perovskite oxide (LaNiO3) nanosheets and polyazulene was synthesized. The as–prepared heterostructure–based supercapacitor exhibited a specific capacitance of up to 464 F g−1 at a high current density of 2 A g−1 in 1–ethyl–3–methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate. In a symmetric supercapacitor, this heterostructure delivered an energy density of up to 56.4 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 1100 W kg−1. Both LaNiO3 and polyazulene contributed pseudocapacitance and dominated the performance. Unexpectedly, electric double–layer capacitance was found to contribute in this system. Density functional theory calculations indicated that the advantage of the high electrical conductivity of the heterostructure benefited the supercapacitor operation. Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance analysis revealed that the fast ion flux and adsorption boosted performance. The high intrinsic electrical conductivity and improved stability make this heterostructure a promising electrode material candidate for supercapacitors.
Not a political statement: Psychoanalytic notes on the measures to fight the pandemic and the responses to them
Authors: Giorgi Liana
Published: May 2021

This article critically examines some of the measures installed to fight the Covid‐19 pandemic, such as the face mask, and the responses these have called forth. It relies on clinical material and on popular culture. The purpose is twofold. First, to exemplify the unique contribution of psychoanalysis for decoding both the political narrative and its reception thus helping understand and better address societal challenges. Second, to inform the debate in the political sciences as to what is a good crisis management strategy. The main argument is that an effective communication, in general, but especially in emergency situations, needs to allow for the unconscious responses to both the danger itself and to the measures imposed to deal with it. Failure to consider this unconscious dimension impacts on the effectiveness of the policy.
Cup marks on Ambra Crater: a new engraving site in the Western Highlands of Papua New Guinea
Authors: TORRENCE ROBIN , DENHAM TIM , WAGNER THOMAS P.
Published: May 2021

We report an unusual example of rock engravings in an open context in the Highlands region of Papua New Guinea. The highly weathered assemblage comprised a cluster of two “cup and ring” motifs with at least eight additional cup marks pecked on a small basalt boulder located on the summit of Ambra Crater (also Mt. Ambra), a potentially significant place because it has provided an elevated viewpoint across the denuded Upper Wahgi Valley landscape for millennia.
A One‐Pot Synthesis of α,β‐Unsaturated Esters From Esters
Authors: Hong Chang Whee , Lee Yong Jin , An Duk Keun
Published: May 2021

A convenient method for reductive Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons (HWE) olefination is described. The E‐selective HWE homologation of various esters to α,β‐unsaturated esters was readily achieved and gave the desired products in good‐to‐moderate yields under mild conditions. The one‐pot reaction proceeds through an in situ generated aldehyde, formed via the partial reduction of an ester with lithium diisobutyl‐t‐butoxyaluminum hydride. The formation of cyclized metal acetal and subsequent decompose to the aldehyde for the olefination was found to be a crucial step in this C2‐carbon homologation protocol.
Synthesis and Biological Activities of Novel (Z)‐/(E)‐Anisaldehyde‐Based Oxime Ester Compounds
Authors: Fan Zhongtian , Duan Wengui , Lin Guishan , Chen Ming , Huang Mei
Published: May 2021

In search of novel natural product‐based bioactive molecules, twenty (ten pairs) novel (Z)‐/(E)‐anisaldehyde‐based oxime ester compounds were designed and synthesized by using anisaldehyde as starting material. Structural characterization of the target compounds was carried out by NMR, FT‐IR, ESI‐MS, and elemental analysis. Their herbicidal and antifungal activities were preliminarily tested. As a result, at 50 μg/mL, compound (E)‐5b exhibited excellent to good inhibition rates of 92.3 %, 79.2 %, and 73.9 %, against Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum, and Bipolaris maydis, respectively, better than or comparable to that of the positive control chlorothalonil. In addition, at 100 μg/mL, compounds (E)‐5b, (E)‐5f, (Z)‐5f and (E)‐5d exhibited excellent to good inhibition rates of 85.8 %, 82.9 %, 78.6 % and 64.2 %, respectively, against the root‐growth of rape (B. campestris), much better than that of the positive control flumioxazin. The bioassay result also showed that the synthesized compounds had obvious differences in antifungal and herbicidal activities between (Z)‐ and (E)‐isomers. Preliminary structure–activity relationship was also discussed by theoretical calculation.
NiCoP/NF 1D/2D Biomimetic Architecture for Markedly Enhanced Overall Water Splitting
Authors: Wang Dongdong , Zhang Yiwei , Fei Ting , Mao Chunfeng , Song Youchao , Zhou Yuming , Dong Guomeng
Published: May 2021

The construction of a well‐defined metal‐organic framework (MOF) precursor structure is essential to obtain highly efficient transition metal phosphide electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in water splitting. In this regard, we propose a novel strategy involving the in situ conversion of flake nickel‐cobalt hydroxide into NiCo MOF with a unique biomimetic architecture (i. e. Venus flytrap‐like morphology with dense 1D nanowires anchoring on 2D nanosheets), and further phosphating the precursor into NiCoP that possesses a similar, distinctive structure. Specifically, 1D nanowires afford effective electron transfer, while 2D nanosheets provide enhanced mechanical stability to the composite. The experimental results show that this material has an enormous amount of available active sites, accelerated charge/mass transfer, and a structural synergistic effect. As a result, the as‐prepared NiCoP/nickel foam (NF) catalyst only requires overpotentials of 78 and 262 mV to reach a current density of 10 mA cm−2 for the HER and OER in 1.0 M KOH, respectively. Furthermore, the application of NiCoP/NF as a bifunctional catalyst for the overall water splitting reaction yields current densities of 10 mA cm−2 at 1.60 V. Therefore, this is an effective strategy for the development of next‐generation electrocatalysts for solar‐energy conversion.
Effect of Carbon Doping on CO2‐Reduction Activity of Single Cobalt Sites in Graphitic Carbon Nitride
Authors: Huang Peipei , Huang Jiahao , Li Junying , Zhang Lei , He Jie , Caputo Christine A. , Frenkel Anatoly I. , Li Gonghu
Published: May 2021

Single‐atom catalysts have demonstrated interesting activity in a variety of applications. In this study, we prepared single Co2+ sites on graphitic carbon nitride (C3N4), which was doped with carbon for enhanced activity in visible‐light CO2 reduction. The synthesized materials were characterized with a variety of techniques, including microscopy, X‐ray powder diffraction, UV‐vis spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and X‐ray absorption spectroscopy. Doping C3N4 with carbon was found to have profound effect on the photocatalytic activity of the single Co2+ sites. At relatively low levels, carbon doping enhanced the photoresponse of C3N4 in the visible region and improved charge separation upon photoactivation, thereby enhancing the photocatalytic activity. High levels of carbon doping were found to be detrimental to the photocatalytic activity of the single Co2+ sites by altering the structure of C3N4 and generating defect sites responsible for charge recombination.
Medial septum tau accumulation induces spatial memory deficit via disrupting medial septum–hippocampus cholinergic pathway
Authors: Wu Dongqin , Gao Di , Yu Haitao , Pi Guilin , Xiong Rui , Lei Huiyang , Wang Xin , Liu Enjie , Ye Jinwang , Yu Huilin , Gao Yang , He Ting , Jiang Tao , Sun Fei , Su Jingfen , Song Guoda , Peng Wenju , Yang Ying , Wang Jian‐Zhi
Published: May 2021

Tau accumulation and cholinergic impairment are characteristic pathologies in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the causal role of tau accumulation in cholinergic lesion is elusive. Here, we observed an aberrant tau accumulation in the medial septum (MS) of 3xTg and 5xFAD mice, especially in their cholinergic neurons. Overexpressing hTau in mouse MS (MShTau) for 6 months but not 3 months induced spatial memory impairment without changing object recognition and anxiety‐like behavior, indicating a specific and time‐dependent effect of MS‐hTau accumulation on spatial cognitive functions. With increasing hTau accumulation, the MShTau mice showed a time‐dependent cholinergic neuron loss with reduced cholinergic projections to the hippocampus. Intraperitoneal administration of donepezil, a cholinesterase inhibitor, for 1 month ameliorated the MS‐hTau‐induced spatial memory deficits with preservation of MS–hippocampal cholinergic pathway and removal of tau load; and the beneficial effects of donepezil was more prominent at low dose. Proteomics revealed that MS‐hTau accumulation deregulated multiple signaling pathways with numerous differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Among them, the vacuolar protein sorting‐associated protein 37D (VP37D), an autophagy‐related protein, was significantly reduced in MShTau mice; the reduction of VP37D was restored by donepezil, and the effect was more significant at low dose than high dose. These novel evidences reveal a causal role of tau accumulation in linking MS cholinergic lesion to hippocampus‐dependent spatial cognitive damages as seen in the AD patients, and the new tau‐removal and autophagy‐promoting effects of donepezil may extend its application beyond simple symptom amelioration to potential disease modification.
ETH‐LEACH: An energy enhanced threshold routing protocol for WSNs
Authors: Chithaluru Prem Kumar , Khan Mohammad S , Kumar Manoj , Stephan Thompson
Published: May 2021

Many wireless sensor‐based applications use LEACH as a preferred routing protocol owing to its unique features such as optimal sleeping time, minimum packet collisions, dynamic channel selection, and least power consumption. The traditional LEACH protocol wastes the transmission opportunities as it processes data only in an event occurring, leading to wastage of resources. To resolve this issue, this paper proposes a more robust Energy Enhanced Threshold Routing Protocol (ETH‐LEACH) for WSNs. The working of ETH‐LEACH is conceptualized in two parts. In the first part, TDMA is implemented to estimate the opportunistic paths to remove network overhead. Furthermore, in the second part, a threshold value is calculated for choosing the forwarder nodes. The proposed technique minimizes the energy usage of the sensor nodes and consequently enhances the network's lifetime by extending the duration of node death. The ETH‐LEACH protocol is contrasted with the different variants of LEACH to verify its effectiveness. The experimental results show that the proposed ETH‐LEACH protocol outperforms the traditional routing protocols. In this paper, the ETH‐LEACH protocol performs nearly 54.6% efficient than LEACH, 47.6% efficient than Q‐LEACH, 41.3% efficient than NR‐LEACH, 33.6% efficient than LEACH‐GA, and 29.7% efficient than LEACH‐POS in reducing the usage of energy in the overall simulation.
Mixed plantations ofMetasequoia glyptostroboidesandBischofia polycarpachange soil fungal and archaeal communities and enhance soil phosphorus availability in Shanghai, China
Authors: Zhang Weiwei , Liu Wen , He Shanwen , Chen Qingchu , Han Jigang , Zhang Qingfei
Published: May 2021

Soil degradation has been found in urban forests in Shanghai, especially in the pure plantations. Mixed plantations are considered to improve soil quality because they can stimulate organic matter cycling and increase soil carbon and nutrient content. Although soil microbes play crucial roles in regulating soil biogeochemical processes, little is known about how mixed plantations affect soil microbial communities, including bacteria, archaea, and fungi. Here, we evaluated soil chemical properties, abundances and compositions of soil bacterial, archaeal, and fungal communities, and enzyme activities in pure and mixedMetasequoia glyptostroboidesandBischofia polycarpaplantations, located in Shanghai, China. The results showed that soil available phosphorus content in the mixed plantation ofM. glyptostroboidesandB. polycarpawas significantly higher than that in pure plantations, while no significant difference was observed in the content of soil organic carbon, total and available nitrogen, total and available potassium among the three studied plantations. We found higher fungal abundance in the mixed plantation, when compared to both pure plantations. Moreover, fungal abundance was positively correlated with the content of soil available phosphorus. No significant difference was found in the abundance and diversity of bacterial and archaeal community among the three studied plantations. A similarity analysis (ANOSIM) showed that mixed plantation significantly altered the community composition of archaea and fungi, accompanied with an increase of alkaline phosphatase activity. However, ANOSIM analysis of bacterial communities showed that there was no significant group separation among different plantations. Overall, results from this study indicated that fungal and archaeal communities were more sensitive to aboveground tree species than bacterial community. Moreover, mixed plantations significantly increased the activity of alkaline phosphatase and the content of soil available phosphorus, suggesting that afforestation withM. glyptostroboidesandB. polycarpais an effective way to alleviate phosphorus deficiency in urban forests in Shanghai, China.
Identifying goals in patients with chronic pain: A European survey
Authors: Goudman Lisa , De Smedt Ann , Linderoth Bengt , Eldabe Sam , Witkam Richard , Henssen Dylan , Moens Maarten
Published: May 2021

Background

Chronic pain is a major healthcare issue that often requires an interdisciplinary treatment approach. Defining relevant treatment goals is one of the crucial steps in creating successful rehabilitation schemes. Therefore, the first aim was to explore goals that patients suffering from chronic pain aim to achieve. The second aim was to translate those goals into measurable functional outcome variables which can be used to measure treatment success.

Methods

An online survey was developed and spread through local pain alliances in six European countries. Participants, patients suffering from chronic pain, were asked to report their most important goals, combined with a rank to denote the importance of each goal. For the highest ranked goals, participants were asked to decompose their goal into functional postures and the number of minutes per posture to achieve this goal.

Results

We approached 1,494 persons, of which 487 effectively completed this survey. The highest ranked goals were taking part in family and social activities (72.55%), pain reduction (91.18%) and household tasks (68.14%). Obtaining pain reduction was most often ranked first (55.75%), followed by improving sleep (12.25%) and taking part in family or social activities (11.00%). For all goals, walking was a crucial component.

Conclusions

The goals of chronic pain patients are in line with previously explored expectations, denoting the importance of achieving pain relief combined with improvements on the level of activities and participation. This survey indicates that rehabilitation programs should definitely focus on improving walking ability, due to its importance in underpinning overall goal achievement.

Significance

Goals and expectations of chronic pain patients are in line with each other. Obtaining pain relief remains the highest ranked goal, however, goals on the level of activities and participation were also highly ranked. Walking seems to be the overall crucial component for goal achievement.
Multi‐stage Ordered Mesoporous Carbon‐graphene Aerogel‐Ni3S2/Co4S3 for Supercapacitor Electrode
Authors: Li Ning , Wang Dan , Liang Xiu , Li Dongwei , Liu Guoran , Sun Guanliang , Xu Guanchen , Zhang Xingshuang , Li Yong
Published: May 2021

Transition metal sulfides have emerged as promising materials in supercapacitor. In this work, we firstly developed an interface‐induced superassembly approach to fabricate NiSx and CoSx nanoparticles, which based on ordered mesoporous carbon‐graphene aerogel composites for supercapacitor electrodes. The obtained multi‐component superassembled nanoparticles‐carbon matrix composites have controllable 3D porous structure of multi‐stage composite. The two‐dimensional graphene interlaced to form a 3D framework with large sponge‐like pores, and then the graphene surface was loaded with mesoporous carbon with mesoporous pore size and vertical orientation. The composites display high specific capacitance of 958.1 F g−1 at 0.1 A g−1. The capacitance retains about 97.3 % after 3000 charging‐discharging cycles at 2 A g−1. These results indicate that the obtained OMC−GA−Ni3S2/Co4S3 is a promising material for electrochemical capacitors, which providing new technical methods and ideas for the research of new energy and analytical sensor materials in the fields of energy storage, photocatalysis, point‐of‐care testing devices and other fields.
Nutritive quality prediction of peaches during storage
Authors: Zhong Yuming , Bao Yao , Chen Yumin , Zhai Dequan , Liu Jianliang , Liu Huifan
Published: May 2021

Peaches (Prunus persica L. Batsch) are commonly consumed fruits with high nutritional value. We evaluated the nutritive qualities of peach fruit during storage. Heatmap analysis showed that protein, ash, and crude fiber contents clustered together, whereas fat and reducing sugars clustered separately. We then classified the nutrients into two clusters; cluster 1 showed low fat and reducing sugar levels and high protein, crude fiber, and ash levels, whereas cluster 2 showed high fat and reducing sugar levels and low protein, cruder fiber, and ash levels. Partial least squares regression and random forest analyses showed accuracies of 67% and 61%, respectively. Spectra at 1,439 and 1,440 nm indicated reducing sugars, and the spectrum at 2,172 nm indicated protein. Thus, Fourier transform‐near infrared spectroscopy could predict the two clusters based on five nutritive qualities. Our findings may help to establish guidelines for promoting the acceptability of peach fruits among consumers.
FMR1 gene CGG repeat distribution among the three individual cohorts with intellectual disability, autism, and primary ovarian insufficiency from Tamil Nadu, Southern India
Authors: Nagarathinam Indhumathi , Chong Samuel S. , B. K. Thelma , Justin Margret Jeffrey , Venkataraman Viswanathan , Natarajan Padmavathy Karthikeyen , Srisailapathy C. R. Srikumari
Published: May 2021

Fragile X syndrome is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability (ID) and is also well known to have a role in primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) and fragile X‐associated tremor ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) that expresses across generations. The objective was to compare the CGG repeat variants in FMR1 gene among three correlating cohorts of ID, autism and idiopathic POI. Thirty‐six patients with ID, 12 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 13 females with idiopathic POI were screened for FMR1 CGG repeat size by fluorescent methylation‐specific PCR and GeneScan analysis, irrespective of Hagerman checklist clinical scores. Among 29 males and seven females, 11 FMR1 allelic variants ranging from 21 to >200 CGG repeats were observed. Three (CF2‐3, 39‐5, 44‐2) out of 29 males had full mutation alleles accounting for a 10.34% incidence of FXS among idiopathic ID males. One of them was a mosaic for CGG repeats with both premutation and full mutation alleles. The frequency of fragile X syndrome is high among patients with idiopathic ID; they also had a high score for the clinical check list. A cascade testing that begins with checklist evaluation prior to DNA analysis will be cost‐effective for establishing early diagnosis in South India. With the huge disease burden, there is a need for the establishment of more molecular diagnostics and self‐help groups for fragile X syndrome.
Who cares when you close down? The effects of primary care practice closures on patients
Authors: Bischof Tamara , Kaiser Boris
Published: May 2021

This paper investigates the consequences that patients face when their regular general practitioner (GP) closes down her practice, typically due to retirement. We estimate the causal impact of closures on patients' utilization patterns, healthcare expenditures, hospitalizations, mortality, and health plan choices. Employing a difference‐in‐difference framework, we find that patients who experience a discontinuity of care persistently adjust their ambulatory utilization pattern by shifting visits away from GPs (−12%) toward specialists (+11%) and hospital outpatient facilities (+6%). In contrast, we find no evidence on adverse health effects as measured by hospitalizations and mortality. The impact on utilization is heterogeneous along several dimensions. In particular, we find geographic disparities between regions with high and low availability of primary care. We also observe that patients with chronic conditions substitute more strongly toward other providers. Our results have potential implications for health policy in at least two dimensions: first, practice closures lead to more fragmented care which may entail inefficiencies, and second, closures deteriorate access to primary care in regions with low physician density.
Phosphorylation and Stabilization of PIN1 by JNK Promote Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Growth
Authors: Lepore Alessio , Choy Pui Man , Lee Nathan C.W. , Carella Maria Annunziata , Favicchio Rosy , Briones‐Orta Marco A. , Glaser Shannon S. , Alpini Gianfranco , D’Santos Clive , Tooze Reuben M. , Lorger Mihaela , Syn Wing‐Kin , Papakyriakou Athanasios , Giamas Georgios , Bubici Concetta , Papa Salvatore
Published: May 2021

Background and Aims

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a highly aggressive type of liver cancer in urgent need of treatment options. Aberrant activation of the c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) pathway is a key feature in ICC and an attractive candidate target for its treatment. However, the mechanisms by which constitutive JNK activation promotes ICC growth, and therefore the key downstream effectors of this pathway, remain unknown for their applicability as therapeutic targets. Our aim was to obtain a better mechanistic understanding of the role of JNK signaling in ICC that could open up therapeutic opportunities.

Approach and Results

Using loss‐of‐function and gain‐of‐function studies in vitro and in vivo, we show that activation of the JNK pathway promotes ICC cell proliferation by affecting the protein stability of peptidyl‐prolyl cis‐trans isomerase NIMA‐interacting 1 (PIN1), a key driver of tumorigenesis. PIN1 is highly expressed in ICC primary tumors, and its expression positively correlates with active JNK. Mechanistically, the JNK kinases directly bind to and phosphorylate PIN1 at Ser115, and this phosphorylation prevents PIN1 mono‐ubiquitination at Lys117 and its proteasomal degradation. Moreover, pharmacological inhibition of PIN1 through all‐trans retinoic acid, a Food and Drug Administration–approved drug, impairs the growth of both cultured and xenografted ICC cells.

Conclusions

Our findings implicate the JNK‐PIN1 regulatory axis as a functionally important determinant for ICC growth, and provide a rationale for therapeutic targeting of JNK activation through PIN1 inhibition.
Forest operations, tree species composition and decline in rainfall explain runoff changes in the Nacimiento experimental catchments, south central Chile
Authors: Iroumé Andrés , Jones Julia , Bathurst James C.
Published: May 2021

Few long‐term studies have explored how intensively managed short rotation forest plantations interact with climate variability. We examine how prolonged severe drought and forest operations affect runoff in 11 experimental catchments on private corporate forest land near Nacimiento in south central Chile over the period 2008–2019. The catchments (7.7–414 ha) contain forest plantations of exotic fast‐growing species (Pinus radiata, Eucalyptus spp.) at various stages of growth in a Mediterranean climate (mean long‐term annual rainfall = 1381 mm). Since 2010, a drought, unprecedented in recent history, has reduced rainfall at Nacimiento by 20%, relative to the long‐term mean. Pre‐drought runoff ratios were <0.2 under 8‐year‐old Eucalyptus; >0.4 under 21‐year‐old Radiata pine and >0.8 where herbicide treatments had controlled vegetation for 2 years in 38% of the catchment area. Early in the study period, clearcutting of Radiata pine (85%–95% of catchment area) increased streamflow by 150 mm as compared with the year before harvest, while clearcutting and partial cuts of Eucalyptus did not increase streamflow. During 2008–2019, the combination of emerging drought and forestry treatments (replanting with Eucalyptus after clearcutting of Radiata pine and Eucalyptus) reduced streamflow by 400–500 mm, and regeneration of previously herbicide‐treated vegetation combined with growth of Eucalyptus plantations reduced streamflow by 1125 mm (87% of mean annual precipitation 2010–2019). These results from one of the most comprehensive forest catchment studies in the world on private industrial forest land indicate that multiple decades of forest management have reduced deep soil moisture reservoirs. This effect has been exacerbated by drought and conversion from Radiata pine to Eucalyptus, apparently largely eliminating subsurface supply to streamflow. The findings reveal tradeoffs between wood production and water supply, provide lessons for adapting forest management to the projected future drier climate in Chile, and underscore the need for continued experimental work in managed forest plantations.
A systematic review of stem cell therapy treatment for women suffering from stress urinary incontinence
Authors: Klapper‐Goldstein Hadar , Tamam Shai , Sade Shanny , Weintraub Adi Y.
Published: May 2021

Background

Stem cell therapy (SCT) is used for regeneration of injured tissues. This seems a novel promising strategy for restoring urethral sphincter function in patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Objective

To summarize the clinical trials available to date on SCT for treatment of SUI in women.

Search strategy

PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus and Embase.

Selection criteria

Prospective interventional case series, randomized prospective interventional study and prospective cohort study assessing women aged 18 years and over diagnosed with SUI and treated by SCT were included. The quality of studies was finally assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklists according to the PRISMA guidelines.

Data collection and analysis

Nineteen studies (n = 773 patients) were selected for final analysis. These were conducted worldwide between the years 2005 and 2016. Although different cell types were used, general processing steps were similar. The follow‐up period ranged between 6 weeks and 6 years and included common subjective and objective evaluation tools.

Results

Overall, the studies imply that SCT for treatment of SUI is a safe and effective treatment.

Conclusion

In our opinion, the initial results of SCT for the treatment of SUI seem promising. Standardization and validation of this treatment modality is required before it can be recommended for routine use.
“This isn't a fairy tale we're talking about; this is our real lives”: Community‐orientated responses to address trans and gender diverse homelessness
Authors: Vandenburg Tycho , Groot Shiloh , Nikora Linda W.
Published: May 2021

Globally, trans and gender diverse people contend with day‐to‐day exclusion, discrimination, and marginalisation, often culminating in experiences of poverty and homelessness. In this discussion article, we outline a bricolage research orientation rooted in liberation and Indigenous approaches brought into dialogue with the broader cannon of community psychology for meaningful research with homeless trans and gender diverse people. Such an approach transcends rigid disciplinary divides and shapes a framework for collaborative action, advocacy, and social change. We argue that scholar‐activism, social justice, and relationality and collaboration should inform every stage of the research process and beyond when engaging with minoritized communities.
Profiling T cell receptor β‐chain in responders after immunization with recombinant hepatitis B vaccine
Authors: Yan Dong , Yang Jiezuan , Ji Zhongkang , Wang Ju , Lu Xiaoqing , Huang Yandi , Zhong Chengli , Li Lanjuan
Published: May 2021

Background

T cells with edited T cell receptor β‐chain variable (TRBV) are involved in the immune response to recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (rHBsAg) vaccine and the production of hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb). The immune repertoire (IR) profile and mechanism of vaccination positive responders (VPR) with rHBsAg are not fully understood.

Methods

The IR of six VPRs (HBsAb+, HbsAg–) with rHBsAg vaccination was established by the high throughput sequencing technique and bioinformatics analysis and compared with those in five vaccination negative responders (VNRs) (HbsAb–, HbsAg–) who were also inoculated with rHBsAg. The repertoire features of the BV, BJ and V (CDR3) J genes and immune diversity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, respectively, were analyzed for each subject.

Results

There was no significant difference in sequencing amplification indices of each sample. However, TRBV15/BJ2‐3 demonstrated significantly high expression levels in VPR compared to those in the VNR group (both p < 0.05). Further results showed that the BV15/BJ2‐5 level was significantly increased for VPR compared to that of VNR group. Interestingly, the motif of CDR3 in TRBV15/BJ2‐5 was mostly expressed as “GGETQ” or “GETQ”. Additionally, there was no remarkable difference between the two groups of distribution with respect to the different clone expression levels of V (CDR3) J.

Conclusions

The features of IR in the VPR and VNR will contribute to the exploration of the mechanism of the positive response to rHBsAg, and also contribute to development of optimized hepatitis B vaccine, in addition to providing a partial interpretation of the VNR who has a relatively low infection with HBV.
TCF-1 maintains CD8+ T cell stemness in tumor microenvironment
Authors: Wen Shuqiong , Lu Huanzi , Wang Dikan , Guo Junyi , Dai Wenxiao , Wang Zhi
Published: May 2021

T cell factor 1 (TCF-1) is a transcription factor (TF) of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway that encoded by the Tcf7. The crucial role of TCF-1 in T cell development and memory formation has been widely recognized. Recent studies have demonstrated that exhausted CD8+ T cell with the expression of TCF-1 may have inspiring function to amplify immunoreaction and improve the response to immunotherapy in chronic viral infection and cancer. In this short review, we summarized recent progress in intratumoral exhausted CD8+ T cells expressing TCF-1 that represent a fantastic subset with stem cell-like properties that associated with improved antitumor immunity and response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB).
A tripartite evolutionary game research on information sharing of the subjects of agricultural product supply chain with a farmer cooperative as the core enterprise
Authors: Wang Jiali , Peng Xue , Du Yunan , Wang Fulin
Published: May 2021

In order to explore the interaction law of information sharing behavior of decision‐making subjects in the agricultural product supply chain, this paper establishes a tripartite evolutionary game mathematical model, uses the replicator dynamics equation to analyze the dynamic evolution process of the three‐dimensional dynamic system, and carries out numerical simulation analysis. The results show that there are seven key factors affecting the information sharing decisions of the decision‐making subjects. This paper explores the specific role of these influencing factors and finds ways to improve supply chain performance. Finally, the study proposes four suggestions for supply chain information sharing management.
Public opinion poll finds return‐to‐work concerns amid COVID
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: May 2021

Although more employers are becoming more accommodating to the needs of their employees during the pandemic, still some stigma remains for employees, as a new poll from the American Psychiatric Association (APA) reveals that slightly fewer of them than last year say they feel comfortable utilizing mental health services with their current employer or can talk openly about their mental health at work.