bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Non-integrating Methods to Produce Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Regenerative Medicine: An Overview
Authors: Belviso Immacolata , Romano Veronica , Nurzynska Daria , Castaldo Clotilde , Di Meglio Franca
Published: December 2020

Induced Pluripotent Stem cells (iPSC) are adult somatic cells genetically reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell-like state. Due to their autologous origin from adult somatic cells, iPSCs are considered a tremendously valuable tool for regenerative medicine, disease modeling, drug discovery and testing. iPSCs were first obtained by introducing specific transcription factors through retroviral transfection. However, cell reprogramming obtained by integrating methods prevent clinical application of iPSC because of potential risk for infection, teratomas and genomic instability. Therefore, several integration-free alternate methods have been developed and tested thus far to overcome safety issues. The present chapter provides an overview and a critical analysis of advantages and disadvantages of non-integrating methods used to generate iPSCs.
Gender and the social imaginary in medieval Welsh law
Authors: Chapman Stacey Robin
Published: December 2020

This talk explores the role played by gender in the social imaginaries implicit in medieval Welsh law. It takes as its starting point the lawbooks of medieval Wales, which have narrative qualities rendering them susceptible to analyses of several different kinds, from standard historical readings, to scrutiny as law, to more literary critical methods. Of particular interest in this lecture are the ways in which ideas about male and female inform lawbook depictions of space and time, sexuality in both animal and human bodies, and everyday practices such as farming.
'¡Bruja, más que bruja!': Cuando Fernando Fernán-Gómez escribió una zarzuela
Authors: Lagos Gismero Manuel
Published: December 2020

La zarzuela siempre ha ocupado un lugar especial y señalado en la vida del cine español, desde los inicios de este; curiosamente en la etapa del cine mudo, coincidiendo con el esplendor del teatro lírico, son diversas las adaptaciones de grandes títulos del género a la gran pantalla. Pero existe una zarzuela que nace pensada para el cine y no para su representación escénica: ¡Bruja, más que bruja!Una película creada, dirigida y estrenada en 1977 por uno de nuestros más polifacéticos creadores, Fernando Fernán-Gómez, junto al compositor Carmelo Bernaola y al guionista Pedro Beltrán. Una creación artística que constituye un incuestionable hito cinematográfico y que a través de su estudio aportará importante información sobre la evolución de nuestra zarzuela en relación con la historia de nuestro cine musical.
El camino hacia una nueva Constitución
Authors: Nogueira Alcalá Humberto
Published: December 2020

El artículo analiza la explosión social ocurrida en octubre de 2019 en Chile, que se manifiesta por importantes fuerzas sociales que demandan significativos cambios políticos y sociales, como también una nueva Constitución. Dicha movilización de la sociedad civil implicó una toma de conciencia por parte del Gobierno y del Congreso Nacional de los graves problemas sociales no asumidos en la política gubernamental, lo que llevará a un acuerdo político parlamentario que asume el agotamiento del sistema constitucional y el desarrollo de un proceso constituyente, el cual queda regulado en un epígrafe del capítulo XV de la Constitución, el que regula dicho proceso en tres etapas, el plebiscito (referéndum) de entrada, en el que la ciudadanía debe decidir si quiere una nueva Constitución y debe optar por el tipo de convención que la debatirá y aprobará; la segunda etapa, regula el proceso electoral de los convencionales y la regulación, funciones y limitaciones de la convención que elaborará y propondrá el texto de nueva Constitución; y la tercera etapa, el desarrollo del plebiscito (referéndum) en que la ciudadanía deberá pronunciarse sobre la aprobación o rechazo del texto elaborado por la convención. Finalmente el autor realiza algunos comentarios sobre dicho proceso constituyente.The article analyzes the social explosion that occurred in October 2019 in Chile, which is manifested by important social forces that demand significant political and social changes, as well as a new Constitution. This mobilization of civil society involved an awareness by the Government and the National Congress of the serious social problems not assumed in government policy, which will lead to a parliamentary political agreement that assumes the exhaustion of the constitutional system and the development of a constituent process, which is regulated in an epigraph of chapter XV of the Constitution, which regulates said process in three stages, the initial plebiscite (referendum), in which citizens must decide if they want a new Constitution and must choose for the type of convention that will debate and approve it; the second stage, regulates the electoral process of the conventional ones and the regulation, functions and limitations of the convention that will elaborate and propose the text of the new Constitution; and the third stage, the development of the plebiscite (referendum) in which the citizenry must pronounce on the approval or rejection of the text prepared by the convention. Finally, the author makes some comments on said constituent process.
Análisis de instrumentos para el diagnóstico de la competencia digital
Authors: González-Rodríguez César , Urbina-Ramírez Santos
Published: December 2020

La importancia que han cobrado las Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación en la sociedad durante los últimos años ha provocado que la competencia digital sea considerada como clave en el diseño de las políticas educativas y, en consecuencia, que desde diversos ámbitos se hayan desarrollado múltiples instrumentos destinados a la evaluación de las habilidades y destrezas digitales de docentes, discentes y población en general. Es por ello que se ha considerado pertinente analizar diversos tipos de herramientas usadas en la última década en España para el diagnóstico de la competencia digital del alumnado de distintas etapas educativas prestando atención, entre otros aspectos, a los ítems utilizados, la estructura de las herramientas o la metodología empleada. Este trabajo profundiza en el análisis de una serie de investigaciones que, pese a compartir, en muchos casos, aspectos metodológicos, difieren en su visión y concepción de la competencia digital, algo que dificulta el establecimiento de pautas comunes de evaluación, ya que resulta complicado acordar cómo medir una variable cuando la definición de la misma se presta a múltiples interpretaciones. Precisamente la definición de un marco común de referencia en el ámbito educativo que sirva para abordar la evaluación de las habilidades digitales es uno de los retos de investigadores e instituciones, si bien no se trata de una tarea sencilla cuando las tecnologías digitales se caracterizan por los continuos y vertiginosos cambios

The impact of Information and Communication Technologies on society in recent years has caused digital competence to be considered the key to designing educational policies and, consequently, the development of numerous instruments for the evaluation of the digital skills and abilities of teachers, students and the population, in general, in several fields. Therefore, it has been considered relevant to analyze various types of tools used in the past decade in Spain for the diagnosis of the digital competence of students from different educational stages, paying attention, among others, to the items used, the structure of the tools or the methodology. This work goes in depth in the analysis of a series investigations that, despite sharing some methodological aspects in many ways, differ in their vision and conception of the digital competence. This makes the establishment of some common evaluation guidelines more difficult, since it is complicated to agree on how to measure a variable when its own definition could be interpreted in several ways. The definition of a common frame of reference in the educational field that serves to address the evaluation of digital skills is precisely one of the challenges of researchers and institutions. However, it is not an easy task when digital technologies are characterized by continuous and vertiginous changes.
performative effects of diagnosis
Authors: Mohr Sebastian
Published: December 2020

In this article, I suggest the performative effects of diagnosis as an analytical tool to explore the transformations in people’s intimate lives that being diagnosed brings with it. As an analytical term, I understand the performative effects of diagnosis to describe trajectories in people’s intimate lives that emerge in the interplay between a person’s intimate sense of self, that is, their gendered and sexualed self-perceptions, and the logics and norms contained in medical diagnoses. I develop this term in the context of ethnographic research on Danish war veterans’ understandings of and experiences with intimacy and extrapolate it conceptually in this article through scholarship in feminist theory, trans studies, STS, and medical anthropology and sociology. The argument that I make throughout is that the performative effects of diagnosis allows scholars to explore transformations in people’s intimate lives without a foreclosure about the normative dimensions of these transformations. In that sense, rather than only asking how biopolitical and cis- and heteronormative normalcy constitutes itself, the performative effects of diagnosis provide the opportunity to explore how these dimensions are (re)configured and (un)done in and through medicalized intimacies.
Virtuel 3D simulering vs. traditionel anatomiundervisning
Authors: Fravn Michael Ehrnberg , Vejle-Sørensen Jens Kristian , Zetterberg Lars Göran
Published: December 2020

Fremskridt inden for IT-baseret medicinsk billedrekonstruktion har gjort billedbehandling i såvel 2D som 3D til en vigtig del af billeddiagnostikken. Dette stiller særlige krav til faggrupper som f.eks. radiografer. I dette projekt har vi kvantitativt målt radiografstuderendes læring af 3D-anatomi ved virtuel 3D simulering på Sectra Table og sammenlignet denne med læringsudbyttet ved traditionel anatomiundervisning. To kohorter radiografstuderende udgjorde studiepopulationen. 1. kohorte gennemgik et undervisningsforløb baseret på simulering i 3D. 2. kohorte gennemgik et forløb af tilsvarende længde med traditionel holdundervisning. De studerendes viden om 3D-anatomi blev testet før og efter intervention. Ændringer i testresultater sammenlignedes mellem de to kohorter. Studiet har ikke påvist statistisk signifikante forskelle i radiografstuderendes læringsudbytte af 3D-anatomi mellem de to undervisningsmetoder. Undersøgelsens resultater tyder dog på, at Sectra Table kan være et udmærket supplement til traditionel holdundervisning, når hensigten er, at radiografstuderende skal lære 3D-anatomi.
Digitaliserede læringsfællesskaber – netstuderende og deres studiestrategier
Authors: Lyngsø Anita , Borgnakke Karen
Published: December 2020

Denne artikel baseres på etnografisk feltforskning og undersøgelser i en netbaseret sygeplejerskeuddannelse. Artiklen fokuserer på, hvordan netstuderende udvikler strategier til at håndtere den nye online læringskontekst. Empirisk baseres artiklen på data fra observationer og interviews fortaget hjemme hos de studerende. De studerende er fulgt i et toårigt forløb.Feltforskningens kortlægning og analyser viser, hvordan Netuddannelsens e-pædagogiske design fremmer studerendes udvikling af strategier til aktiv og selvstændig håndtering af sygeplejestudiets digitale undervisningsforløb. Det e-pædagogiske design sikrer imidlertid ikke i sig selv den studiemæssige succes. Succesen synes i stedet at blive sikret gennem de netstuderendes selvforvaltende udvikling af studiegrupperne til digitaliserede læringsfællesskaber. De digitaliserede læringsfællesskaber fordrer selvforvaltning af teknologibrugen, samt at de studerende formår at komme de faglige udfordringer i møde i online læringskonteksten. På denne baggrund diskuteres, hvilken betydning indførelse af digitale undervisningsforløb i ellers campusbaserede uddannelser, kan have for studerendes læringsudbytte i henholdsvis højt og lavt præsterende studiegrupper.
Influencing Factors in Psychological Resilience: A Study on the Role of Emotional Reassurance and Optimism as Predictive Dimensions
Authors: Aldhaidan Alhemaidi
Published: December 2020

The present study aims to investigate the relative contribution of emotional reassurance and optimism in predicting psychological resilience in secondary school students. A total of 265 senior secondary student’s male participated in this study. Participants’ ages ranged from 16 to 18. Instruments measuring emotional reassurance, optimism, and psychological resilience, were administered to senior secondary students in Quranic Memorization Schools (QMSs). The researcher used the Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis technique. The findings indicated that there was a positive correlation between psychological resilience and emotional reassurance among the students on the level of 0.01. Furthermore, the findings indicated that there was a positive correlation between psychological resilience and optimism among the sample on the level of 0.01. Finally, the findings also showed that the emotional reassurance and optimism contributed statistically significant in the prediction of psychological resilience among secondary school students. Therefore, academic counsellors, teachers, school principals, and parents should develop optimism, emotional reassurance and psychological resilience, self-esteem in their students and children in the early years.
Assessing the Multidimensionality of Students’ Learning Orientations: The Use of LO-COMPASS for the Well-being and Scholastic Success
Authors: Vettori Giulia , Vezzani Claudio , Bigozzi Lucia , Pinto Giuliana
Published: December 2020

The twofold aim of the present study is to identify specific cluster-profiles of the learning orientations measured by «LO-COMPASS: Learning Orientation-Cognition Metacognition Participation Assessment»; and to create a psychometric rule to cluster the raw scores obtained by the student at the LO-COMPASS factorial dimensions into a specific cluster-profile. 183 middle-school students (91 males and 92 females) validly completed the original version of the LO-COMPASS Questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis and cluster analysis were conducted. LO-COMPASS measures four factors of students’ learning orientations. Furthermore, the instrument has been furnished with a psychometric rule to cluster the raw scores obtained by the student at the LO-COMPASS factorial dimensions into two profiles. The application of LO-COMPASS will allow educational psychologists and teachers to analyze middle-school students’ difficulties and problems, as well as strengths in their motivation to learn. The instrument will be useful at multiple levels: prevention, intervention, evaluation.
Amartia Sen, leitor de Rawls: uma crítica à teoria da justiça enquanto prioridade da liberdade formal (por um novo fundamento da dignidade humana, da autonomia e da justiça)
Authors: Gomes de Melo Damião Benilson , de Araújo Freire José Roberto
Published: December 2020

The object of this essay is to examine Amartia Sen’s approach to the justification of substantive rights pointed out in the third chapter of ‘Development as Freedom’ and his critique of the priority of formal freedoms in rawlsian theory. He points out a conflict between liberties (formal freedoms) and freedoms (material freedoms). This opposition will be confronted with Herbert Hart’s polemic in the third part of ‘Essays in Jurisprudence and philosophy’, where he points out a problem of Rawls’ formulation in not reconciling the admission of private property as a basic freedom with the principle of maximum equal freedom. The problem is whether the Sen model better addresses this issue. Our positive hypothesis. By establishing a small number of basic freedoms, Rawls treated the right as a mere formal guarantee. Consequently, the right to private ownership of large portions of land and the extensive control by private individuals over the financial system and over major industrial, commercial, and service goods, in the absence of any greater or consistent justification, end up envisioned by something equivalent to a self-justified natural right. As Marx said, it is not scientifically possible to conceal the original fact of the conquest of private property by covering it up under the diaphanous cloak of natural law, inasmuch as, to oppose the ‘natural right of a few’ it would be enough for the previously dispossessed majority to gather sufficient strength to impose a ‘natural right’ of the reconquest of usurpation. As for the method, it is an exclusively bibliographical research, which can be based, in a merely incidental way, on empirical data.
Urinary MMP-9/UCr association with albumin concentration and albumin-creatinine-ratio in Mexican patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Arcos-Sacramento Víctor Gildardo , Sampieri Clara Luz , Sandoval-Lozano Víctor Hugo , Orozco-Ortega Rubén Arturo , Acuña-Hernández Mariel Alejandra , Morales-Romero Jaime , Hernández-Hernández Magda Elena , Rodríguez-Hernández Arturo
Published: December 2020

Background

Chronic kidney disease is one of the most common complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), causing an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity has been proposed as useful biomarker for diabetic renal and vascular complications.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among T2DM patients who attended a public secondary hospital in Mexico. We performed clinical, biochemical, and microbiological assessments, as well chronic kidney disease diagnosis according to the KDIGO guideline. Urinary MMP-9 was quantified by ELISA and adjusted using urinary creatinine (UCr).

Results

A total of 111 patients were included. Most participants were women (66%). Mean age was 61 ± 10 years and median T2DM duration was estimated at 11 years. Through multivariate analysis, MMP-9/UCr was found to be associated with albumin concentration and albumin to creatinine ratio.

Discussion

Validation of non-invasive biomarkers of chronic kidney disease among T2DM patients is necessary. Here, we demonstrate MMP-9/UCr as a potential biomarker of albumin concentration and albumin to creatinine ratio in Mexican patients with T2DM.
On the Estimation of Variance of Calibration Regression Estimators with Multiple Auxiliary Information
Authors: Clement Etebong P.
Published: December 2020

This paper introduces the concept of calibration estimators to Statistical Regression Estimation and proposes a multivariate calibration regression (M-REG) estimator of population mean in stratified random sampling. It develops a new approach to variance estimation that is more efficient in estimating populations with multiple auxiliary variables using the principle of analysis of variance (ANOVA). The relative performance of the new variance estimation method with respect to the estimation of variance of the proposed M-REG estimator is compared empirically with a corresponding global variance estimation method. Analysis and evaluation presented, proved the dominance of the suggested new approach to variance estimation.
Conglomeration of General Linear Model for Epilepsy Clinical Neuroimaging
Authors: Sadiq Ibrahim Abubakar , Raghav Jyoti S. , Sharma Sanjeev Kumar
Published: December 2020

An innovative standard scheme was established aimed at developing inferences and interpretations statistically relative to clinical neuroimaging facts and figures. It involves as particular instances, SPMs, a standard methodology to clinical neuroimaging anatomy. Our developed model contributes and provides various educational and statistical benefits which begin from the anatomy of facts at group level before the level of the voxel, commencing by direct modelling of the location and shape of the modules. We set out a new general framework for making inferences from neuroimaging data, which includes a standard approach to neuroimaging analysis, statistical parametric mapping (SPM), as a particular case. The model offers numerous conceptual and statistical advantages that begin from analysis of the collected data at the group level somewhat than the voxel level, from explicit modelling of the shape and position of clusters of activation. It provides a natural and moral way to pool data from nearby voxels for parameter and variance-component estimation. The model can also be viewed as performing Spatio-temporal cluster analysis. The parameters of the model are estimated using an expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm.
Performance Evaluation of Power Weeder in Sugarcane Crop
Authors: Mohan S. Sai , Sanjana G. , Avinash D. , Rohitha M. , Kumar D. Anil
Published: December 2020

Weeding is an important and labour intensive agricultural operation and about 1/3rd of the cost of cultivation is accounted towards weed control operation alone. Any delay and negligence in weeding operation effects the crop yields up to 30-40%. Today the agricultural sector requires non-chemical weed control that safeguards consumers demand for high quality food products and pay special attention to food safety. The objectives of the study was to evaluate the performance of power weeder by evaluating the energy consumption and cost economics of power weeder in sugarcane crop. The evaluation was conducted at soil different moisture contents at 30,45 and 60 days after sowing (DAS) at different speeds of weeder. The bulk density decreased from 0.84 to 0.65 g cm-3 with increased soil moisture content from 7±1 to 12±1 per cent. The field capacity of power weeder varied from 0.0347 to 0.137 ha h-1 when operated with 3 forward speeds at 30, 45 and 60 DAS. The weeding efficiency of power weeder is in the range of 98.74 to 91.22% at 0.584 km h-1, 96.80 to 84.93% at 1.35 km h-1 and 94.67 to 73.72% at 4.153 km h-1. The minimum and maximum plant damage is observed at a forward speeds of 0.584 km h-1 and 4.153 km h-1. When operated at lower speeds the plant damage will be minimum whereas operating at high speeds will result in maximum plant damage. Field machine index of the weeder is observed as 0.83, 0.82 and 0.864 for 30, 45 and 60 DAS. The cost of weeding per hectare is calculated as Rs.3,878 ha-1 and Rs.8000 ha-1 for mechanical and traditional weeding, respectively. It can be started and operated by farmer or any unskilled labour with ease. Also working with power weeder in between the rows is easy with a very less maintenance cost.
Iodine Content of Packaged Salt and Related Knowledge and Storage Practices at Household Level in Dhaka City, Bangladesh
Authors: Hossen Md Sujan , Khan Md Nazrul Islam
Published: December 2020

Aims: Iodine deficiency disorders are one of the major public health concerns in Bangladesh. Regular consumption of iodized salt can help combat these disorders. The aims of this study were to determine the content of iodine in edible packaged salt and to assess iodized salt related knowledge and storage practices in Dhaka City, Bangladesh.

Study Design: The study was an experimental cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: The present study was conducted from June 2019 to July 2019 in Dhaka City, Bangladesh. A total of 120 households were selected for interview and packaged salt sample collection. The chemical analysis was done in the Food Analysis Laboratory of Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka.

Methodology: A closed-ended questionnaire was used for collection of information. Iodometric titration method was used to determine the content of iodine in packaged salt samples.

Results: The mean (±SD) iodine content in the salt samples was 31.469 (±10.196) ppm. More than 90% salt samples were adequately iodized. Twenty five percent of the respondents know that consumption of iodized salt helps prevent goiter. Only 10.8% of the respondents know that iodine content decreases if iodized salt is stored close to fire. About 87% of them store salt away from fire.

Conclusion: Along with consuming packaged iodized salt, householders should be educated about iodized salt related knowledge and storage practices to control iodine deficiency disorders.
Characterization, Grading and Flexural Modelling of Rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis); for the Local and International Construction Industry
Authors: Akpokodje O. I. , Uguru H. , Esegbuyota D. , Esegbuyota D.
Published: December 2020

Rubberwood, hitherto solely employed as fuel wood has found fairly suitable use in the Nigerian construction industry. This paper investigated the engineering properties of this low cost, alternative, timber material, produced from Rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis); often employed within two weeks of felling, for the construction of formworks and related wood works. No real attempt has been made to formally grade or coordinate the properties of rubber wood as employed in the Nigerian construction industry. The research was aimed to achieve the determination of the physical and mechanical properties of naturally seasoned rubber wood obtained from the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, and assigned to it a strength/grade class. Specific properties required for grading were determined using suitable standard methods. The structural and mechanical properties of the timber wood were determined using the three point bending test in accordance with standards presented by BS EN 408 and ASTM D193, but with an aspect ratio of 12. Characteristic values for the wood properties (at the tested moisture content “MC”) were determined in accordance with BS EN 384. Adjustments were made to the characteristic values for the mechanical properties, and the density of the timber species at the test MC; to conform with the international reference MC condition of 12% (as specified by BS EN 338), and also 18% MC, to suit standards required for the Nigerian environmental condition (NCP 2). Grading was carried out in accordance with BS EN 338. The characteristic values for the mechanical properties (at 12% and 18% MC) evaluated from test results are as follows; characteristic values for MOR and MOE were 20.191 N/mm2 and 19.283 N/mm2, and 2285.784 N/mm2 and 2195.606 N/mm2 respectively. Mean values for densities (at 12% and 18% MC) were 406.169 Kg/m3 and 431.058 Kg/m3, while the characteristic values for the related densities were 338.474 Kg/m3 and 359.215 Kg/m3. Furthermore, the mean green density and characteristic green density for the rubberwood were 988.148 Kg/m3 and 900.352 Kg/m3 respectively. From the results obtained, rubberwood procured from the Niger Delta region was categorized as a grade D30 and D35 timber material at 18% MC and 12% MC respectively. Rubberwood from the Niger Delta can be conveniently employed as an alternative material to conventional timber, in both the furniture and the construction industry, but with special considerations.
Two‐Dimensional Siloxene–Graphene Heterostructure‐Based High‐Performance Supercapacitor for Capturing Regenerative Braking Energy in Electric Vehicles
Authors: Krishnamoorthy Karthikeyan , Pazhamalai Parthiban , Mariappan Vimal Kumar , Manoharan Sindhuja , Kesavan Dhanasekar , Kim Sang‐Jae
Published: December 2020

The development of high‐performance electrodes that increase the energy density of supercapacitors (SCs) (without compromising their power density) and have a wide temperature tolerance is crucial for the application of SCs in electric vehicles. Recent research has focused on the preparation of multicomponent materials to form electrodes with enhanced electrochemical properties. Herein, a siloxene–graphene (rGO) heterostructure electrode‐based symmetric SC (SSC) is designed that delivers a high energy density (55.79 Wh kg−1) and maximum power density of 15 000 W kg−1. The fabricated siloxene–rGO SSC can operate over a wide temperature range from –15 to 80 °C, which makes them suitable for applications in automobiles. This study shows the practical applicability of siloxene–rGO SSC to drive an electric car as well as to capture the braking energy in a regenerative brake‐electric vehicle prototype. This work opens new directions for evaluating the use of siloxene–rGO SSC as suitable energy devices in electric vehicles.
Second Near‐Infrared Photothermal Semiconducting Polymer Nanoadjuvant for Enhanced Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Li Jingchao , Yu Xiangrong , Jiang Yuyan , He Shasha , Zhang Yan , Luo Yu , Pu Kanyi
Published: December 2020

Immunotherapy has offered new treatment options for cancer; however, the therapeutic benefits are often modest and desired to be improved. A semiconducting polymer nanoadjuvant (SPNIIR) with a photothermally triggered cargo release for second near‐infrared (NIR‐II) photothermal immunotherapy is reported here. SPNIIR consists of a semiconducting polymer nanoparticle core as an NIR‐II photothermal converter, which is doped with a toll‐like receptor (TLR) agonist as an immunotherapy adjuvant and coated with a thermally responsive lipid shell. Upon NIR‐II photoirradiation, SPNIIR effectively generates heat not only to ablate tumors and induce immunogenic cell death (ICD), but also to melt the lipid layers for on‐demand release of the TLR agonist. The combination of ICD and activation of TLR7/TLR8 enhances the maturation of dendritic cells, which amplifies anti‐tumor immune responses. Thus, a single treatment of SPNIIR‐mediated NIR‐II photothermal immunotherapy effectively inhibits growth of both primary and distant tumors and eliminates lung metastasis in a murine mouse model. This study thus provides a remote‐controlled smart delivery system to synergize photomedicine with immunotherapy for enhanced cancer treatment.
Recognition and Removal of Amyloid‐β by a Heteromultivalent Macrocyclic Coassembly: A Potential Strategy for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Wang Hui , Xu XinXin , Pan Yu‐Chen , Yan YuXing , Hu Xin‐Yue , Chen RunWen , Ravoo Bart Jan , Guo Dong‐Sheng , Zhang Tao
Published: December 2020

The imbalance of amyloid‐β (Aβ) production and clearance causes aggregation of Aβ1‐42 monomers to form fibrils and amyloid plaques, which is an indispensable process in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and eventually leads to pathological changes and cognitive impairment. Consequently, Aβ1‐42 is the most important target for the treatment of AD. However, developing a single treatment method that can recognize Aβ1‐42, inhibit Aβ1‐42 fibrillation, eliminate amyloid plaques, improve cognitive impairments, and alleviate AD‐like pathology is challenging. Here, a coassembly composed of cyclodextrin (CD) and calixarene (CA) is designed, and it is used as an anti‐Aβ therapy agent. The CD–CA coassembly is based on the previously reported heteromultivalent recognition strategy and is able to successfully eliminate amyloid plaques and degrade Aβ1‐42 monomers in 5xFAD mice. More importantly, the coassembly improves recognition and spatial cognition deficits, and synaptic plasticity impairment in the 5xFAD mice. In addition, the coassembly ameliorates AD‐like pathology including prevention of neuronal apoptosis and oxidant stress, and alteration of M1/M2 microglial polarization states. This supramolecular approach makes full use of both molecular recognition and self‐assembly of macrocyclic amphiphiles, and is a promising novel strategy for AD treatment.
A New Nonlinear Optical Selenide Crystal AgLiGa2Se4 with Good Comprehensive Performance in Mid‐Infrared Region
Authors: Yelisseyev Alexander , Lobanov Sergei , Molokeev Maxim , Zhang Shengzi , Pugachev Alexei , Lin Zheshuai , Vedenyapin Vitaly , Kurus Alexei , Khamoyam Avag , Isaenko Ludmila
Published: December 2020

Mid‐infrared (mid‐IR) nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals are indispensable for the mid‐IR lasers generation with tunable wavelengths from 3 to 20 µm. AgGaSe2 is a commercial mid‐IR NLO crystal with the highest figures of merit, but suffers low laser damage threshold (LDT). To achieve the balance of optical transmission, NLO effect, and LDT, it is proposed to molecularly modify the AgGaSe2 structure by introducing the [LiSe4] tetrahedra, and successfully grow large crystals of a new selenide AgLiGa2Se4. The replacement of half of the heavy Ag+ cations with light Li+ increases the band gap to 2.2 eV (vs. 1.7 eV in AgGaSe2). The LDT value in AgLiGa2Se4 increases five times compared to that in AgGaSe2, while keeping a relatively large NLO susceptibility of 26 pm V−1. Moreover, the thermal expansion coefficients in AgLiGa2Se4 are approximately two times lower in absolute value compared with AgGaSe2, which is beneficial to the large crystal growth. All these advantages would make AgLiGa2Se4 a new promising NLO crystal for mid‐IR laser applications.
Two‐Dimensional Metal–Organic Frameworks‐Based Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution and Oxygen Reduction Reactions
Authors: Qi Qianglong , Hu Jue , Zhang Yingjie , Li Wei , Huang Bolong , Zhang Chengxu
Published: December 2020

Due to unique intrinsic properties and flexible structure modulations, 2D metal–organic frameworks (MOFs)‐based materials have become the most promising candidates in the electrocatalysts of energy‐conversion systems such as oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Herein, the background of fundamental 2D MOFs is first introduced and 2D MOF‐based electrocatalysts are classified based on OER and ORR. Meanwhile, the recent advances in the 2D MOF‐based OER and ORR electrocatalysts are emphasized and discussed including the subtle synthesis strategy, novel structures, unique morphologies, superior electrocatalytic performances, and the underlying reaction mechanism. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives for the developments and research of 2D MOFs‐based OER and ORR electrocatalysts are proposed.
Corpus processing service: A Knowledge Graph platform to perform deep data exploration on corpora
Authors: Staar Peter W. J. , Dolfi Michele , Auer Christoph
Published: December 2020

Knowledge Graphs have been fast emerging as the de facto standard to model and explore knowledge in weakly structured data. Large corpora of documents constitute a source of weakly structured data of particular interest for both the academic and business world. Key examples include scientific publications, technical reports, manuals, patents, regulations, etc. Such corpora embed many facts that are elementary to critical decision making or enabling new discoveries. In this paper, we present a scalable cloud platform to create and serve Knowledge Graphs, which we named corpus processing service (CPS). Its purpose is to process large document corpora, extract the content and embedded facts, and ultimately represent these in a consistent knowledge graph that can be intuitively queried. To accomplish this, we use state‐of‐the‐art natural language understanding models to extract entities and relationships from documents converted with our previously presented corpus conversion service platform. This pipeline is complemented with a newly developed graph engine which ensures extremely performant graph queries and provides powerful graph analytics capabilities. Both components are tightly integrated and can be easily consumed through REST APIs. Additionally, we provide user interfaces to control the data ingestion flow and formulate queries using a visual programming approach. The CPS platform is designed as a modular microservice system operating on Kubernetes clusters. Finally, we validate the quality of queries on our end‐to‐end knowledge pipeline in a real‐world application in the oil and gas industry.
Distinct effects of beta‐amyloid and tau on cortical thickness in cognitively healthy older adults
Authors: Harrison Theresa M. , Du Richard , Klencklen Giuliana , Baker Suzanne L. , Jagust William J.
Published: December 2020

Introduction

Published reports of associations between β‐amyloid (Aβ) and cortical integrity conflict. Tau biomarkers may help elucidate the complex relationship between pathology and neurodegeneration in aging.

Methods

We measured cortical thickness using magnetic resonance imaging, Aβ using Pittsburgh compound B positron emission tomography (PiB‐PET), and tau using flortaucipir (FTP)‐PET in 125 cognitively normal older adults. We examined relationships among PET measures, cortical thickness, and cognition.

Results

Cortical thickness was reduced in PiB+/FTP+ participants compared to the PiB+/FTP– and PiB–/FTP– groups. Continuous PiB associations with cortical thickness were weak but positive in FTP– participants and negative in FTP+. FTP strongly negatively predicted thickness regardless of PiB status. FTP was associated with memory and cortical thickness, and mediated the association of PiB with memory.

Discussion

Past findings linking Aβ and cortical thickness are likely weak due to opposing effects of Aβ on cortical thickness relative to tau burden. Tau, in contrast to Aβ, is strongly related to cortical thickness and memory.
Light‐Triggered Transformable Ferrous Ion Delivery System for Photothermal Primed Chemodynamic Therapy
Authors: He Ting , Yuan Yanyan , Jiang Chao , Blum Nicholas Thomas , He Jin , Huang Peng , Lin Jing
Published: December 2020

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) involves the catalytic generation of highly toxic hydroxyl radicals (.OH) from hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) through metal‐ion‐mediated Fenton or Fenton‐like reactions. Fe2+ is a classical catalyst ion, however, it suffers easy oxidation and systemic side‐effects. Therefore, the development of a controllable Fe2+ delivery system is a challenge to maintain its valence state, reduce toxicity, and improve therapeutic efficacy. Reported here is a near‐infrared (NIR) light‐triggered Fe2+ delivery agent (LET‐6) for fluorescence (FL) and photoacoustic (PA) dual‐modality imaging guided, photothermal primed CDT. Thermal expansion caused by 808 nm laser irradiation triggers the transformation of LET‐6 to expose Fe2+ from its hydrophobic layer, which primes the catalytic breakdown of endogenous H2O2 within the tumor microenvironment, thus generating .OH for enhanced CDT. LET‐6 shows remarkable therapeutic effects, both in vitro and in vivo, achieving 100 % tumor elimination after just one treatment. This high‐performance Fe2+ delivery system provides a sound basis for future synergistic metal‐ion‐mediated cancer therapy.
Furin‐Mediated Self‐Assembly of Olsalazine Nanoparticles for Targeted Raman Imaging of Tumors
Authors: Yuan Yue , Raj Piyush , Zhang Jia , Siddhanta Soumik , Barman Ishan , Bulte Jeff W. M.
Published: December 2020

Olsalazine (Olsa) is a broad‐spectrum anti‐cancer agent acting as a DNA‐methylation inhibitor. When conjugated to 2‐cyano‐6‐aminobenzothiazole and a peptide substrate specific for the tumor‐overexpressed enzyme furin, it can self‐assemble into nanoparticles that can be detected by chemical‐exchange saturation‐transfer magnetic‐resonance imaging (CEST MRI). We report here that these nano‐assemblies can also be detected with high specificity in furin‐overexpressing tumor cells by Raman spectroscopy with a distinct scattering signature and demonstrate the utility of this sensing mechanism in vitro and in vivo. Our findings suggest that Raman spectroscopy could be used for high‐resolution image‐guided surgery to precisely delineate tumor margins during and after resection in real‐time as well as to determine microscopic tumor invasion and multifocal locoregional tumor spread, which are currently impossible to visualize with available imaging technologies, including CEST MRI.
Antioxidant Activity of Osage Orange Extract in Soybean Oil and Fish Oil during Storage
Authors: Hwang Hong‐Sik , Winkler‐Moser Jill K. , Tisserat Brent , Harry‐O'kuru Rogers E. , Berhow Mark A. , Liu Sean X.
Published: December 2020

The food industry is seeking natural antioxidants for edible oils that have comparable activity to synthetic counterparts. In this study, Osage orange extract (OOE) rich in osajin (42.9%) and pomiferin (30.0%) was obtained after hexane extraction of the fruit, and its antioxidant activity was examined in stripped soybean oil (SBO) and fish oil (FO), in which antioxidants and polar compounds were removed. The antioxidant activity of OOE was compared with commercial natural antioxidants (i.e., rosemary extract and mixed tocopherols) and a synthetic antioxidant, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), during storage at 25 and 40 °C. The 0.1% OOE had stronger antioxidant activity than 0.1% rosemary extract and 0.1% mixed tocopherols in both oils at 25 and 40 °C. Its activity was similar to 0.02% BHT in SBO and was similar or slightly stronger than 0.02% BHT in FO. When OOE was studied at 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2%, there was a weak dose–response in SBO but a stronger dose–response in FO. Headspace volatile analysis using solid phase micro‐extraction (SPME) combined with GC–MS indicated that 0.1% OOE was very effective in preventing the formation of volatile oxidation products in both oils. Although it should be further tested for safety before the actual use, this study shows that OOE can be developed as an antioxidant for edible oils.
Assessment of plastic ingestion by pole‐caught pelagic predatory fish from O'ahu, Hawai'i
Authors: Hyrenbach K. David , McGinnis Zora , Page Kathleen , Rapp Dan , Horgen F. David , Lynch Jennifer M.
Published: December 2020

Although the frequency of occurrence of plastic ingestion in the large‐sized dolphinfish and tunas taken by the Hawai'i longline fishery is very low (frequency of occurrence < 5% of sampled individuals), the ingestion of plastic in smaller‐sized specimens caught with pole‐and‐line gear by commercial and recreational fishers has not been investigated.

This study examined ingestion of >0.25 mm marine plastic debris (MPD) by four predatory fish species caught by commercial fishers around the Main Hawaiian Islands, and documented ingestion in three species: 85.7% of albacore tuna (n = 7), 40.0% of skipjack tuna (n = 10) and 12.5% of dolphinfish (n = 8).

Yellowfin tuna (n = 10) did not contain any MPD, probably owing to the high proportion of empty stomachs (60%).

For skipjack tuna, the frequency of occurrence of MPD ingestion was significantly higher for the smaller‐sized specimens caught with pole‐and‐line (40%), compared with the larger‐sized specimens caught with longlines (0%).

For dolphinfish, the frequency of occurrence of MPD ingestion was similar for the similar‐sized specimens caught with pole‐and‐line and with longlines.

The ingested MPD items were micro–meso plastics, between 1 and 25 mm. While most ingested items were fragments, albacore also ingested line and skipjack also ingested sheets.

The predatory fishes ingested light MPD items that float in sea water, but there were species‐specific differences in their polymer composition: albacore contained more polypropylene and polyethylene, and skipjack contained more elastomers, characterized by a high percentage of ester plasticizers.

Altogether, these results suggest that albacore and skipjack tunas ingest plastic of different types and polymers. Yet more research is needed to understand how differences in vertical distribution, foraging ecology and diet influence the MPD sampled by these predatory fish species.
Synthesis and antiseizure effect evaluation of nonimidazole histamine H3receptor antagonists containing the oxazole moiety
Authors: Xiao Feng , Yan Rui , Zhang Yanhui , Wang Shiben , Chen Shilong , Zhou Naiming , Deng Xianqing
Published: December 2020

The use of histamine H3receptor (H3R) antagonists is becoming a promising therapeutic approach for epilepsy. In this paper, a series of novel nonimidazole H3R antagonists was synthesized and screened as antiepileptic drugs. All of these prepared antagonists displayed micromolar or submicromolar H3R antagonistic activities in the cAMP response element luciferase screening assay. Compounds5a(IC50 = 0.11 μM),5b(IC50 = 0.56 μM), and5f(IC50 = 0.78 μM) displayed the most potent H3R antagonistic activities, with considerable potency when compared with pitolisant (IC50 = 0.51 μM). In the maximal electroshock (MES)‐induced seizure model, compounds5c,5e, and5gshowed obvious protection for the electrostimulated mice, and the protection of5gagainst the MES‐induced seizures was fully abrogated when mice were cotreated withR‐(α)‐methyl‐histamine, a central nervous system‐penetrant H3R agonist, suggesting that the potential therapeutic effect of5gwas observed to work through H3R. These results indicate that the attempt to find a new antiepileptic drug among H3R antagonists is practicable, but it is necessary to consider the log Pof the molecules to ensure penetration of the blood–brain barrier.
H2 production by photofermentation in an innovative plate‐type photobioreactor with meandering channels
Authors: Turon Violette , Ollivier Stéphane , Cwicklinski Gregory , Willison John C. , Anxionnaz‐Minvielle Zoé
Published: December 2020

Hydrogen production by Rhodobacter capsulatus is an anaerobic, photobiological process requiring specific mixing conditions. In this study, an innovative design of a photobioreactor is proposed. The design is based on a plate‐type photobioreactor with an interconnected meandering channel to allow culture mixing and H2 degassing. The culture flow was characterized as a quasi‐plug‐flow with radial mixing caused by a turbulent‐like regime achieved at a low Reynolds number. The dissipated volumetric power was decreased 10‐fold while maintaining PBR performances (production and yields) when compared with a magnetically stirred tank reactor. To increase hydrogen production flow rate, several bacterial concentrations were tested by increasing the glutamate concentration using fed‐batch cultures. The maximum hydrogen production flow rate (157.7 ± 9.3 ml H2/L/h) achieved is one of the highest values so far reported for H2 production by R. capsulatus. These first results are encouraging for future scale‐up of the plate‐type reactor.
Bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells microvesicles stabilize atherosclerotic plaques by inhibiting NLRP3‐mediated macrophage pyroptosis
Authors: Lin Yu , Liu Meihan , Chen Enqi , Jiang Wei , Shi Weidong , Wang Zhiyuan
Published: December 2020

Rupture of atherosclerotic plaques constitutes the major cause of thrombosis and acute ischemic coronary syndrome. Bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells microvesicles (BMSCs‐MVs) are reported to promote angiogenesis. This study investigated the role of BMSCs‐MVs in stabilizing atherosclerotic plaques. BMSCs‐MVs in mice were isolated and identified. The mouse model of atherosclerosis was established, and mice were injected with BMSCs‐MVs via the tail vein. The macrophage model with high glucose and oxidative damage was established and then incubated with BMSCs‐MVs. Nod‐like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) expression, pyroptosis‐related proteins, and inflammatory factors were detected. Actinomycin D was used to inhibit the secretion of BMSCs‐MVs to verify the source of microRNA‐223 (miR‐223). The binding relationship between miR‐223 and NLRP3 was predicted and verified. BMSCs‐MVs with knockdown of miR‐223 were cocultured with bone marrow‐derived macrophages with knockdown of NLRP3, and then levels of miR‐223, NLRP3, pyroptosis‐related proteins, and inflammatory factors were detected. BMSCs‐MVs could reduce the vulnerability index of atherosclerotic plaques and intima‐media thickness in mice, and inhibit pyroptosis and inflammation. BMSCs‐MVs inhibited pyroptosis and inflammatory factors in macrophages. BMSCs‐MVs carried miR‐223 to inhibit NLRP3 expression and reduce macrophage pyroptosis, thereby stabilizing the atherosclerotic plaques.