bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Loss of REDD1 prevents chemotherapy‐induced muscle atrophy and weakness in mice
Authors: Hain Brian A. , Xu Haifang , Waning David L.
Published: October 2021

Background

Chemotherapy is an essential treatment to combat solid tumours and mitigate metastasis. Chemotherapy causes side effects including muscle wasting and weakness. Regulated in Development and DNA Damage Response 1 (REDD1) is a stress‐response protein that represses the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) in complex 1 (mTORC1), and its expression is increased in models of muscle wasting. The aim of this study was to determine if deletion of REDD1 is sufficient to attenuate chemotherapy‐induced muscle wasting and weakness in mice.

Methods

C2C12 myotubes were treated with carboplatin, and changes in myotube diameter were measured. Protein synthesis was measured by puromycin incorporation, and REDD1 mRNA and protein expression were analysed in myotubes treated with carboplatin. Markers of mTORC1 signalling were measured by western blot. REDD1 global knockout mice and wild‐type mice were treated with a single dose of carboplatin and euthanized 7 days later. Body weight, hindlimb muscle weights, forelimb grip strength, and extensor digitorum longus whole muscle contractility were measured in all groups. Thirty minutes prior to euthanasia, mice were injected with puromycin to measure puromycin incorporation in skeletal muscle.

Results

C2C12 myotube diameter was decreased at 24 (P = 0.0002) and 48 h (P < 0.0001) after carboplatin treatment. Puromycin incorporation was decreased in myotubes treated with carboplatin for 24 (P = 0.0068) and 48 h (P = 0.0008). REDD1 mRNA and protein expression were increased with carboplatin treatment (P = 0.0267 and P = 0.0015, respectively), and this was accompanied by decreased phosphorylation of Akt T308 (P < 0.0001) and S473 (P = 0.0006), p70S6K T389 (P = 0.0002), and 4E‐binding protein 1 S65 (P = 0.0341), all markers of mTORC1 activity. REDD1 mRNA expression was increased in muscles from mice treated with carboplatin (P = 0.0295). Loss of REDD1 reduced carboplatin‐induced body weight loss (P = 0.0013) and prevented muscle atrophy in mice. REDD1 deletion prevented carboplatin‐induced decrease of protein synthesis (P = 0.7626) and prevented muscle weakness.

Conclusions

Carboplatin caused loss of body weight, muscle atrophy, muscle weakness, and inhibition of protein synthesis. Loss of REDD1 attenuates muscle atrophy and weakness in mice treated with carboplatin. Our study illustrates the importance of REDD1 in the regulation of muscle mass with chemotherapy treatment and may be an attractive therapeutic target to combat cachexia.
Assembly of peptide linker to amino acid dehydrogenase and immobilized with metal–organic framework
Authors: Wang Shiyan , Duan Lingxuan , Jiang Liang , Liu Kailong , Wang Shizhen
Published: October 2021

BACKGROUND

The metal–organic framework (MOF) ZIF‐8 has the advantages of a large specific surface area and high stability. A new strategy for the assembly of amino acid dehydrogenase with peptide linker and for improving enzyme immobilization is proposed.

RESULTS

Peptide linker enhanced enzyme activity after immobilization by 138.7%, and maintained 81.2% of its initial activity after seven recycles. The stability of PheDH_1D02/ZIF‐8 was greatly enhanced at 70–80 °C and pH 10–11. The catalytic efficiency of PheDH_1D02/ZIF‐8 was also enhanced compared with PheDH_1C1D/ZIF‐8 and two free enzymes.

CONCLUSIONS

Metal ions coordinated with the peptide linker and reoriented immobilization of enzyme onto the MOF with high enzyme loading capacity were achieved. The mesoporous structure of PheDH_1D02/ZIF‐8 facilitates substrate diffusion. Combining the assembly of peptide linker and MOF immobilization is a simple, economical and efficient method for improving dehydrogenase stability. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Evaluation of aortic biomechanics in patients with aortic disease via imaging: A review
Authors: Wang Yanli , Gong Min
Published: October 2021

As a bridge between the heart and the arteries, the aorta plays an important role in the cardiovascular system. The morbidity and mortality of aortic disease are extremely high, which is a serious threat to human life. The biomechanical abnormality of the aorta is an important factor of a series of pathological changes in the aortic wall. At present, there are many imaging methods to evaluate the biomechanics of the aorta, which will benefit to the early diagnosis and treatment of aortic disease. In this review, we describe the application of various imaging methods and parameters in aortic disease.
Stability and accuracy of Engquist–Majda absorbing boundary condition for pseudo spectral time domain method
Authors: Güneş Ahmet , Saydam Talha , Aksoy Serkan
Published: October 2021

Lagrange polynomials based Chebyshev Pseudo Spectral Time Domain (L‐CPSTD) method is an accurate time domain solver for electromagnetic problems. It utilizes the Lagrange interpolation polynomials to expand electromagnetic fields. This global interpolation, which uses all field values on all of the grid points to calculate the value at a single point, provides spectral accuracy. However, absorbing boundary conditions (ABCs) must be applied for open space problems. Engquist–Majda ABC is an important one due to its simplicity. Characteristic variables (CVs) can be used to implement the ABCs. In this article, for the first time, stability and accuracy of the Engquist–Majda ABC are proved by using the CVs in the L‐CPSTD solution of Maxwell's equations. The theoretical findings are verified by using the matrix eigenvalue method and the reflection coefficient in one and two dimensional open space examples. The numerical result is also validated by an analytical and an FDTD solution of a parallel‐plate waveguide problem. The efficiency of the proposed ABC is clearly shown.
The inclusion of minority groups in tourism workforce: Proposition of an impression management framework through the lens of corporate social responsibility
Authors: Hon Alice H. Y. , Gamor Emmanuel
Published: October 2021

Including minority groups in the tourism workforce through the lens of corporate social responsibility and the dignity of work has received less attention in the academic and industry narration. This results from limited knowledge, particularly, theoretical development, the how, and to what extent inclusion of minorities could improve firm image, and the attainment of the SDGs. This paper develops an impression management model along with nine propositions by including minority groups as CSR strategy and corporate image. It incorporates impression management theory and CSR approach and elaborates on implications to attain SDGs 8, 10, and 16 through tourism workforce inclusivity.
Justice and equity in pragmatic clinical trials: Considerations for pain research within integrated health systems
Authors: Ali Joseph , Davis Alison F. , Burgess Diana J. , Rhon Daniel I. , Vining Robert , Young‐McCaughan Stacey , Green Sean , Kerns Robert D.
Published: October 2021

Introduction

Pragmatic clinical trials (PCTs) can overcome implementation challenges for bringing evidence‐based therapies to people living with pain and co‐occurring conditions, providing actionable information for patients, providers, health systems, and policy makers. All studies, including those conducted within health systems that have a history of advancing equitable care, should make efforts to address justice and equity.

Methods

Drawing from collective experience within pragmatic pain clinical trials networks, and synthesizing relevant literature, our multidisciplinary working group examined challenges related to integrating justice and equity into pragmatic pain management research conducted in large, integrated health systems. Our analysis draws from military and veteran health system contexts but offers strategies to consider throughout the lifecycle of pragmatic research more widely.

Results

We found that PCTs present a unique opportunity to address major influences on health inequities by occupying a space between research, healthcare delivery, and the complexities of everyday life. We highlight key challenges that require attention to support complementary advancement of justice and equity via pragmatic research, offering several strategies that can be pursued.

Conclusions

Efforts are needed to engage diverse stakeholders broadly and creatively in PCTs, such as through dedicated health equity working groups and other collaborative relationships with stakeholders, to support robust and inclusive approaches to research design and implementation across study settings. These considerations, while essential to pain management research, offer important opportunities toward achieving more equitable healthcare and health systems to benefit people living with pain and co‐occurring conditions.
A two‐layer cylinder phantom developed for film‐based isocenter verification of radiotherapy machine
Authors: Song Zhiyue , Yan Hui , Xu Yingjie , Dai Jianrong
Published: October 2021

Purpose

A two‐layer cylinder (TLC) phantom was developed for simplifying film‐based isocenter verification of linear accelerators in radiotherapy.

Methods and materials

The phantom mainly consists of two parts: (1) two nested solid cylinders between which a radiochromic film can be inserted and irradiated; (2) a tungsten ball supported by a thin rod and located at the phantom center for alignment with the mechanical isocenter. In practice, the phantom was first positioned by the room laser to align the tungsten ball to the mechanical isocenter of the linear accelerator. Then, a radiochromic film was precisely inserted into the gap between the two cylinders of the phantom and irradiated by beams with preset gantry and couch angles. Later the irradiated film was scanned and processed by an in‐house developed analysis software. Finally, the offset of the radiation isocenter from the mechanical isocenter was determined by the built‐in three‐dimensional (3D) reconstruction algorithms. The accuracy of this method was evaluated by positioning the phantom with a known couch shift, then checking the residual error after couch shift correction. The reliability of this method was evaluated by comparing the calculated offset with the corresponding result determined by the traditional star‐shot method.

Results

For the accuracy test, the residual errors were −0.14 ± 0.03 mm, 0.05 ± 0.06 mm, and 0.05 ± 0.06 mm in the lateral, longitudinal, and vertical axes, respectively. For the reliability test, the differences between the calculated offset and the result determined by the star‐shot method were −0.10 mm, 0.12 mm, and 0.12 mm in the lateral, longitudinal, and vertical axes, respectively.

Conclusion

The proposed method is able to reconstruct beams in 3D with one film, which is more time‐saving and accurate. Additionally, with this design, the phantom positioning, film loading, beam delivery, and data analyzing are simpler. This phantom and analysis software provides an efficient and effective way to perform film‐based isocenter verification of linear accelerators in radiotherapy.
A novel strategy to determine the optimal clamping force based on the clamping force change during injection molding
Authors: Xu Yuxuan , Liu Gang , Dang Kaifang , Fu Nanhong , Jiao Xiaolong , Wang Jinling , Xie Pengcheng , Yang Weimin
Published: October 2021

Injection molding machines are widely used to fabricate plastic products with complex geometries and structures. They consist of an injection unit and a clamping unit. To withstand the pressure of the mold cavity, the clamping unit needs a high clamping force to hold the mold halves. Unfortunately, the clamping force is among the overlooked parameters of the injection molding parameters. Setting the clamping force at max is needed in practice to avoid flash defects for most operators. However, excessive clamping force creates problems for the machine. This study proposes a verification method for determining optimal clamping force based on the clamping force change ΔCF. When ΔCF becomes zero, the current set value of the clamping force is appropriate. A positive and negative ΔCF corresponds to an excessive and insufficient set value of the clamping force, respectively. Verification experiments are implemented on an electric injection molding machine with polypropylene (PP). The experimental results show that the novel strategy can basically calculate and identify the optimal clamping force with iteration method. The optimal clamping force value for current working conditions (620kN) is acquired after several automatic molding trials, which provides a direction for further research.
Chain‐growth branching radical polymerization: an inibramer strategy
Authors: Cao Mengxue , Zhong Mingjiang
Published: October 2021

Branched polymers are considered as more synthetically scalable and accessible alternatives of dendrimers with similar properties such as low viscosity, high solubility, and high degree of end group functionality. However, traditional synthetic strategies towards branched polymers have limited control over molecular weight and degree of branching due to the step‐growth reaction mechanism of the branching polymerization. To achieve a better control over the branching polymerization, a chain‐growth controlled polymerization pathway can be realized by employing a rationally designed comonomer called inibramer (initiator + monomer + branching junction creator) where the initiating site is exclusively active after the monomer is polymerized. In this minireview, recent developments on inibramer design are reviewed. The directions for incorporating new types of inibramers to produce dendrimer‐like polymers and broaden their applications are discussed. © 2021 Society of Industrial Chemistry.
Registration of TifGP‐3 and TifGP‐4 peanut germplasm lines
Authors: Holbrook C. Corley , Ozias‐Akins Peggy , Chu Ye , Lamon Samuele , Bertioli David J. , Leal‐Bertioli Soraya C. M. , Culbreath Albert K. , Godoy Ignacio
Published: October 2021

Late leaf spot (LLS) disease caused by Nothopassalora personata (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) U. Braun, C. Nakash, Videira & Crous is a foliar disease that plagues peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production worldwide. One effective solution to control this disease would be the development of resistant cultivars. IAC 322 is a breeding line resistant to LLS due to alien introgressions from A. cardenasii Krapov. & W.C. Gregory, a wild diploid relative of peanut. We crossed ‘TifNV‐High O/L’ with IAC 322 to develop a segregating breeding population. Two lines with very high levels of resistance to LLS were selected and genotyped. Line S07 (TifGP‐3, Reg. no. GP‐244, PI 698818) has introgressed segments from A. cardenasii on the top of chromosome A02, the bottom of A02, and the bottom of A03. Line S273 (TifGP‐4, Reg. no. GP‐245, PI 698819) has the introgressed segments on the top of A02 and the bottom of A03. The level of resistance to LLS observed in these two lines was not significantly different. Segments on the top of A02 combined with the bottom of A03 accounted for the majority of LLS resistance. Some breeders may choose to use TifGP‐4 to minimize the chance of linkage drag. However, important traits may reside in the segment on the bottom of A02, so we are also releasing TifGP‐3. KASPar assays can be used to determine the presence or absence of each introgressed segment, which will allow breeders to use marker‐assisted selection. These two germplasm lines were jointly released by the USDA‐ARS and University of Georgia in 2021.
Theoretical insights of solvent effect on tautomerism, stability, and electronic properties of 6‐ketomethylphenanthridine
Authors: Asadi Sara , Masoodi Hamid Reza , Mehrabi Hossein
Published: October 2021

In this manuscript, the influence of solvent on stability and electronic properties of enolimine, enaminone, and iminone forms of 6‐ketomethylphenanthridine is theoretically investigated using polarizable continuum model (PCM). Here, PCM is used during optimization of structures of tautomeric forms in solution. Water, ethanol, acetone, acetonitrile, chloroform, diethyl ether, dichloromethane, and dimethyl sulfoxide are chosen as solvent. The calculations are performed at M06‐2X/6‐311++G(d,p) level. In gas phase and in the solvents, the stability of tautomers increases as enaminone > enolimine > iminone. The topological properties of electron charge density are also studied for better understanding of stability of tautomers. It is observed that the stability of tautomers is diminished by increasing dielectric constant of solvent. Also, the increase in dielectric constant of solvent kinetically and thermodynamically facilitates the enolimine ⇌ enaminone tautomerization. To obtain more valuable information on stabilities of tautomers in water phase, the PCM calculations have also been performed with one water molecule. At M06‐2X/6‐311++G(d,p) level of theory, the stability of complexes is amplified as enaminone–water > iminone–water (V) > iminone–water (IV) > enolimine–water. The relationships between dielectric constant of solvent and some electronic properties of tautomers such as band gap, electron affinity, electrophilicity index, first ionization energy, electronic chemical potential, chemical softness, and hardness are also investigated.
Antiarrhythmic drug therapy after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation—Insights from the German Ablation Registry
Authors: Schleberger Ruben , Metzner Andreas , Kuck Karl‐Heinz , Andresen Dietrich , Willems Stephan , Hoffmann Ellen , Deneke Thomas , Eckardt Lars , Brachmann Johannes , Hochadel Matthias , Senges Jochen , Rillig Andreas
Published: October 2021

Data on the optimal treatment strategy for antiarrhythmic drug therapy (AAD) after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) are inconsistent. The present study investigates whether postinterventional AAD leads to an improved long‐term outcome. Patients from the prospective German Ablation Registry (n = 3275) discharged with or without AAD after catheter ablation for AF were compared regarding the rates of recurrences, reablations and cardiovascular events as well as patient reported outcomes during 12 months follow‐up. In patients with paroxysmal AF (n = 2138) the recurrence rate did not differ when discharged with (n = 1051) or without (n = 1087) AAD (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.95–1.35]). The reablation rate was higher and reduced treatment satisfaction was reported more often in those discharged with AAD (reablation: OR 1.30, 95% CI [1.05–1.61]; reduced treatment satisfaction: OR 1.76, 95% CI [1.20–2.58]). Similar rates of recurrences, reablations and treatment satisfaction were found in patients with persistent AF (n = 1137) discharged with (n = 641) or without (n = 496) AAD (recurrence: OR 1.22, 95% CI [0.95–1.56]; reablation: OR 1.21, 95% CI [0.91–1.61]; treatment satisfaction: OR 1.24, 95% CI [0.74–2.08]). The incidence of cardiovascular events and mortality did not differ at follow‐up in patients discharged with or without AAD.

In conclusion, the rates of recurrences, cardiovascular events and mortality did not differ between patients discharged with or without AAD after AF catheter ablation. However, AAD should be considered carefully in patients with paroxysmal AF, in whom it was associated with a higher reablation rate and reduced treatment satisfaction.

Clinical trial registration: The trial has been registered under the number NCT01197638.
State estimation for systems with unobservable packet losses: Approximate estimation, stability, and performance analysis
Authors: Lin Hong , Lam James , Wang Zidong , Shu Zhan
Published: October 2021

For a system with packet losses, if the estimator can observe the status of packet losses, it is called a system with observable packet losses (an OPL system); otherwise, it is called a system with unobservable packet losses (a UPL system). We obtain the optimal estimator (OE) for UPL systems, which consists of an exponentially increasing number of items, and thus is computationally intractable. To address the computation issue, we design an approximate optimal estimator (AOE), which can be computed recursively. The proposed AOE features a theoretically‐proven stability condition and a theoretically‐guaranteed superiority to the optimal linear estimator (OLE). Specifically, for stability, we prove that for a stable UPL system, both the OE and the proposed AOE are stable; for performance, we show that both the OE and the proposed AOE are superior to the OLE in the mean sense. Then, we obtain a tight upper bound of the performance deviation between the OE and the proposed AOE. Finally, numerical examples are presented to illustrate the obtained results and the effectiveness of the proposed AOE in estimating system states when the packet‐loss status, that is, the private information of packet losses, cannot be observed.
Controllability analysis for a class of piecewise nonlinear impulsive non‐autonomous systems
Authors: Yan Jiayuan , Zhang Ding‐Xue , Hu Bin , Guan Zhi‐Hong , Chen Guanrong , Cheng Xin‐Ming
Published: October 2021

This article investigates the controllability for a class of piecewise nonlinear impulsive non‐autonomous systems. The problem is addressed by considering the nonlinearities and impulses as perturbations. First, a standard framework is introduced to transform the issue of controllability to the existence of a fixed point by designing a proper admissible control and constructing a nonlinear operator on a Banach space. Then, two sufficient controllability conditions for such systems are developed by employing Schauder's and Rothe's fixed point theorems when the perturbations satisfy several nonlinear constraints including linear/sublinear growth conditions, bounded constraints, and Lipschitz conditions. It is shown that the controllability of such systems is influenced by the linear parts, the nonlinear perturbations, and the impulsive effects. Finally, the established controllability results are verified through several numerical examples.
Modified particle filtering‐based robust estimation for a networked control system corrupted by impulsive noise
Authors: Wang Xuehai , Ding Feng
Published: October 2021

The non‐Gaussian characteristic of the impulsive noise significantly degrades the performance of the ‐norm‐based identification algorithms. To overcome the negative effects of impulsive noise to system identification, this article develops a modified particle filtering‐based robust multi‐innovation gradient (MPF‐MIG) algorithm for a networked control system corrupted by impulsive noise. The proposed algorithm is formulated based on a continuous logarithmic mixed p‐norm cost function, which can generate an adjustable gain that adapts to the data quality. A modified particle filtering is designed to estimate the unknown true output, which is corrupted by an impulsive noise without explicit probability density function. The simulation examples exhibit that the MPF‐MIG algorithm has better robustness and higher estimation accuracy than the conventional multi‐innovation gradient algorithm.
Synergetic Effect of Rifampin Loaded Mussel‐Inspired Silver Nanoparticles for Enhanced Antibacterial Activity Against Multidrug‐Resistant Strain of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
Authors: Yu Dawei , Xu Junchi , Li Ruonan , Zhao Jing , Li Fanghua , Zhai Yunxia , Xue Jing , Song Huafeng , Yang Fu , Xu Ping , Song Yiyan
Published: October 2021

Tuberculosis (TB) is among the top ten causes of death worldwide. The emergence of multidrug‐resistant (MDR) TB has been challenging to cure TB patients and control the airborne transmission. To ensure the effectiveness of rifampin (RF) in the treatment of MDR TB infection, new and safe silver nanoparticles were used in combination. In this study, polydopamine decorated silver nanoparticles (Ag‐PDA NPs) were synthesized under mild conditions in which antituberculosis drug RF was loaded. Subsequently, the antibacterial activity of different ratios of Ag‐PDA NPs/RF against MDR strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) was evaluated by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) tests. MIC results showed a synergistic interaction between Ag‐PDA NPs and RF, and the optimal antibacterial effect against MDR strain of M. tuberculosis was at the mass ratio of 2 Ag‐PDA NPs : 8RF. In addition, RF loaded Ag‐PDA NPs (RF@Ag‐PDA NPs) were constructed and characterized. The results indicated that RF@Ag‐PDA NPs might be considered as promising nano drugs to inhibit the growth of MDR strain of M. tuberculosis and keep the potency of RF in clinical practice.
Biofabricated Silver Nanoparticles and Nanocomposites as Green Catalyst to Mitigate Dye Pollution in Water‐A Review
Authors: De Anindita , Kalita Dristie , Jain Preeti
Published: October 2021

Synthetic dyes are one of the major classes of pollutant released in the environment by industries such as textile, paper, leather, rubber, cosmetics, pharmaceutical etc. They are known carcinogen and extremely hazardous to human, plant and aquatic life. Conventional chemical, physical and biological methods used for treatment of industrial effluent are costly, time‐consuming and produces secondary waste. Silver nanoparticle and nanocomposite‐based catalyst are very effective in decomposition of dyes due to their high surface area‐to‐volume ratio, stability and biocompatibility. The degradation reaction takes place in presence of light (photocatalytic) or in presence of a reagent such as NaBH4 or H2O2.Of various methods of silver nanoparticle/nanocomposite synthesis, green synthesis has been quite popular in recent times due to ease in synthesis and sustainability factor. In this review, current state of knowledge about application of green synthesized silver nanoparticles /nanocomposites in degradation of synthetic dyes and other organic pollutant have been summarized. Moreover, the article also emphasizes on the mechanism of degradation, the kinetic parameters and optimum treatment conditions.
Designing of DAD Type Small Semiconductor Molecules andInvestigation of Substituent Effect on Their Molecular, Electronic and Optical Properties: A DFT Study**
Authors: Sirin Pinar Seyitdanlioglu , Kahya Naime Didem , Unaleroglu Canan
Published: October 2021

The design of multi‐purpose semiconductor materials has become a major challenge in organic electronics. In this work, we designed DAD type 30 small molecules with thiophene as donor and phthalimide/benzimidazole/benzotriazole as acceptor groups and investigated their structural, electronic and optical properties via computational methods. EHOMO, ELUMO of the designed molecules were calculated with DFT and TD‐DFT methods at HSEH1PBE functional with the 6‐31+G** basis set. HOMO‐LUMO gaps of the designed molecules were ranged between 2.25–3.41 eV. When an amino group is used as a substituent, the lowest HOMO‐LUMO gaps (2.25–2.95 eV) were obtained with increasing HOMO level. Reorganization energies were calculated for hole or electron transport properties of the representative molecules. Benzotriazole based DAD compound, which is N‐Phenyl bearing p‐formyl substituted, has the smallest hole reorganization energy as a promising p‐type organic semiconductor. High open‐circuit voltages were obtained for aldehyde, carboxylic acid and ester substituted structures. This study presents a valuable insight to the experimental studies in designing new photovoltaics and electrochemical biosensors.
Photoactivated Self‐Disassembly of Multifunctional DNA Nanoflower Enables Amplified Autophagy Suppression for Low‐Dose Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Shi Jinjin , Wang Danyu , Ma Yanrui , Liu Jingwen , Li Yanan , Reza Rashed , Zhang Zhenzhong , Liu Junjie , Zhang Kaixiang
Published: October 2021

Low‐dose photodynamic therapy (PDT) holds great promise for reducing undesired patient photosensitivity in cancer treatment. Yet, its therapeutic effect is significantly affected by intracellular cytoprotective processes, such as autophagy. Here, an efficient autophagy suppressor is developed, which is a multifunctional DNA nanoflower (DNF) consisted of tumor‐targeting aptamers and DNAzymes for silencing autophagy‐related genes, with surface modification of low‐dose photosensitizer (Ce6). It is found that the multifunctional DNF can specifically target tumor cells and generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) under light irradiation to trigger self‐disassembly of DNF, enhancing the bioavailability of encoded DNAzymes, leading to amplified autophagy suppression. As a facile spatiotemporally programmable photogene therapy platform, the designed DNF is able to suppress tumor growth in vivo with a very low injection dose of Ce6 (18 µg kg−1, around 100 times lower than the generally applied dose), representing a promising strategy for cancer therapy with safely low‐dose PDT.
Ultrafine Cellulose Nanofiber‐Assisted Physical and Chemical Cross‐Linking of MXene Sheets for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding
Authors: Wu Na , Zeng Zhihui , Kummer Nico , Han Daxin , Zenobi Renato , Nyström Gustav
Published: October 2021

Transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) have shown great potential for constructing thin, high‐performance electromagnetic interference (EMI) shields. The challenges with these materials involve the weak interfacial interactions of MXenes, which results in inferior mechanical properties and structure of the MXene films and a conductivity/EMI shielding performance decay related to the poor MXene oxidation stability. Numerous efforts have been devoted to improving the mechanical properties or oxidation stability of the films, which always comes at the expense of EMI shielding performance. Here, ultrafine (≈1.4 nm) cellulose nanofibers are employed to achieve physical and chemical dual cross‐linking of MXene (PC‐MXene) nanosheets. The procedure involves drying of flexible and highly conductive PC‐MXene films at ambient pressure and is energy‐efficient and scalable. Compared to the MXene films, the PC‐MXene films show significantly improved mechanical strength, hydrophobicity, oxidation stability, and are waterproof, without compromising the excellent EMI shielding effectiveness (SE). Moreover, the freestanding PC‐MXene films reach a thickness of merely 0.9 µm and exhibit a high SE of 33.3 dB, which cannot be achieved by pure MXene films. This leads to ultrahigh thickness‐specific SE and surface‐specific SE values of 37 000 dB mm−1 and 148 000 dB cm2 g−1 respectively, significantly surpassing those of previously reported MXene‐based films.
The Chinese business system and itsauthoriliberaleconomic model
Authors: Figueira Sandra , Torres de Oliveira Rui
Published: October 2021

China's position as one of the most powerful nations in the world is undisputed. However, in an evolving landscape, China's utilization of a path‐dependent business system may hinder the ability of the country's institutions to undergo necessary change, which will have important implications for international business literature. Through business system theory, empirical evidence, and a mixed methods approach, we discuss China's business system explaining how the system may impair sustainable growth and the transformation required by a less dependent industrial society. Our research suggests that the Chinese business system is still very arrested due to its recent past, and the Chinese Communist Party has only partial interest in improving some of the most important bases for the development of modern enterprises, even if fostering a somewhat liberal economic approach. Since similar political (authoritarian) and economic (liberal) approaches are found elsewhere, we theorize on what we called anauthoriliberaleconomic approach.
Internationalization journey of healthcare providers: The case of Turkish Acıbadem healthcare group
Authors: Üner M. Mithat , Cetin Burak , Eroglu Sevgin , Cavusgil S. Tamer
Published: October 2021

The advances in technology and global deregulation have led to the progressive internationalization of professional services, notably, the healthcare industry. The present case study examines the remarkable internationalization journey of Acibadem Healthcare Group (AHG) by scrutinizing the dynamics and outcomes of the agile and innovative strategies which propel their achievements. The case of AHG shows that successful internationalization in the service industry, in general, and healthcare, in particular, is not solely in the domain of large, established companies from advanced economies, but those ventures with liabilities of origin, newness, and size can also succeed with smart strategies and resourceful leveraging of their competitive advantages. The study provides unique insights on strategic management for successful internationalization of the healthcare services within an emerging market context and suggests future research avenues in this fast‐growing field of inquiry.
Coatings with barrier layers for extreme‐short wavelengths
Authors: Yulin Sergiy , Trost Marcus , Schwinde Stefan , Schröder Sven
Published: October 2021

Over the last few decades, remarkable progress has been made in the field of multilayer coatings for the EUV spectral region, mainly due to the demands of EUV lithography for the semiconductor industry. The progress is associated with a deep understanding of the multilayer film growth, application of advanced smoothing technologies for multilayer interfaces, as well as the development of modern deposition and characterization techniques. The projection optics precisely coated by Mo/Si mirrors with 70 % reflectivity is the heart of the performance of industrial EUVL steppers recently developed by ASML for high‐volume chip production. While the EUVL at 13.5 nm has just launched into the market, the first high‐performance LaN/B multilayer mirrors with reflectivity up to 61 % were developed for the next emerging lithography generation with a reduced wavelength of 6.6 nm. Recent technological progress in EUVL optics and radiation sources triggered the development of compact microscopes in the water window spectral range (2.4 – 4.4 nm). The optimization of the multilayer design and deposition process of Cr/V, Cr/Sc and Cr/C mirrors resulted in reflectivity of 14.5% at 2.42 nm, 27.0 % at 3.16 nm, and 15,6% at a wavelength of 4.42 nm, respectively. These promising and still not limiting results indicate a large potential for future application of multilayer coated optics in various application fields such as microscopy in the water window, plasma diagnostics, spectroscopy, and astrophysics.
Pomegranate extract for the processing stabilization of polyethylene
Authors: Tátraaljai Dóra , Tang Yun , Pregi Emese , Vági Erika , Pukánszky Béla
Published: October 2021

Active components with antioxidant activity were extracted from the powder of pomegranate peel and added to polyethylene at 1000 ppm. The stabilization effect of the extract was studied also in compounds containing a phosphorous secondary antioxidant. A commercial hindered phenolic antioxidant with and without a secondary stabilizer was used as reference. The polymer was processed in multiple extrusions, and its functional group content, processability, residual stability, and color were determined by Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, melt flow rate (MFR), and oxidation induction time (OIT) measurements as well as by the determination of the yellowness index. The pomegranate peel extract (POM) has very strong melt stabilization effect, which is comparable or better than that of the commercial hindered phenolic antioxidant used as reference. The extract hinders the reactions of the unsaturated groups of the polymer and prevents the formation of long‐chain branches. Similar to the phenolic antioxidant, it hinders also oxidation, thus preventing the formation of carbonyl groups. On the other hand, the extract does not offer sufficient residual stability and the polymer stabilized with it cannot be used in long‐term applications. The extract discolors the polymer somewhat that further limits its application possibilities. The contradiction of excellent processing stabilization and poor residual stability needs further study and explanation.
Along the allostery stream: Recent advances in computational methods for allosteric drug discovery
Authors: Ni Duan , Chai Zongtao , Wang Ying , Li Mingyu , Yu Zhengtian , Liu Yaqin , Lu Shaoyong , Zhang Jian
Published: October 2021

Allostery is a universal, biological phenomenon in which orthosteric sites are fine‐tuned by topologically distal allosteric sites triggered by perturbations, such as ligand binding, residue mutations, or post‐translational modifications. Allosteric regulation is implicated in a variety of physiological and pathological conditions and is thus emerging as a novel avenue for drug discovery. Allosteric drugs have traditionally been discovered by serendipity through large‐scale experimental screening. Recently, we have witnessed significant progress in biophysics, particularly in structural bioinformatics, which has facilitated the in‐depth characterization of allosteric effects and the accurate detection of allosteric residues and exosites. These advances improve our understanding of allosterism and promote allosteric drug discovery, thereby revolutionizing the shift from the traditional serendipitous route used to discover allosteric drugs to the updated path centered on rational structure‐based design. In this review, recent advances in computational methods applied to allosteric drug discovery are summarized. We comprehensively review these achievements along various levels of allosteric events, from the construction of allosteric databases to the identification and analysis of allosteric residues, signals, sites, and modulators. We expect to increase the awareness of the discovery of allosteric drugs using structure‐based computational methods.

This article is categorized under:

Structure and Mechanism > Computational Biochemistry and Biophysics
Quantification of gold nanoparticles in histologically thin tissue slices using TXRF
Authors: Mankovskii Gabriella , Pejović‐Milić Ana
Published: October 2021

The promise of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in cancer applications remains an active area of research. The assessment of tumoral uptake can provide valuable insights into their intended efficacy. Total X‐ray reflection fluorescence (TXRF) spectroscopy offers low detection limits coupled with direct quantification through internal standardization. These features enable TXRF to measure uptake of AuNPs in the presence of organic matrix. In this work, we demonstrate TXRF's ability to directly quantify AuNP concentration in slices of tissue. Bovine liver was cut into 5 μm thin slices, and 10 nm reference material AuNPs were deposited either above or below the tissue. The tissue slice was then spiked with a lanthanum (La) internal standard. In order to extend the investigation to homogenous samples, a TOPAS‐based simulation toolkit was used to model Au‐containing tissue. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the distribution of the Au and La on the tissue slices, revealing elemental uniformity on the tissue surface. The experimental and simulation results revealed nearly 100% quantification accuracy of AuNPs in all permutations of sample configuration—making TXRF a viable option for assessment of tumoral AuNP uptake with minimal sample preparation.
Coronary computed tomographic angiography as gatekeeper for new-onset stable angina
Authors: Boerhout C. K. M. , Feenstra R. G. T. , Somsen G. A. , Appelman Y. , Ong P. , Beijk M. A. M. , Hofstra L. , van de Hoef T. P. , Piek J. J.
Published: October 2021

Patients with new-onset stable angina constitute a substantial part of the population seen by cardiologists. Currently, the diagnostic workup of these patients depends on the pre-test probability of having obstructive coronary artery disease. It consists of either functional testing for myocardial ischaemia or anatomical testing by using coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) or invasive coronary angiography. In case the pre-test probability is > 5%, the current guidelines for the management of chronic coronary syndromes do not state a clear preference for one of the noninvasive techniques. However, based on the recently published cost-effectiveness analysis of the PROMISE trial and considering the diagnostic yield in patients with angina and nonobstructive coronary artery disease, we argue a more prominent role for CCTA as a gatekeeper for patients with new-onset stable angina.
Ethnografische Qualifikationsarbeiten im Setting Schule – das Spannungsfeld zwischen Forschungsethik, Datenschutz und Forschungspraxis
Authors: Knoche Veronika
Published: October 2021

Das hier vorgestellte Dissertationsprojekt beschäftigt sich mit der Frage, wie Schulsozialarbeiter*innen ihr professionelles Handeln im beruflichen Alltag reflektieren. In der Vorbereitung der ethnografischen Feldphase zeigten sich forschungsethische, datenschutzrechtliche und forschungspraktische Fragestellungen. Der Kontext Schule als sensibles Forschungsfeld und die Rahmenbedingungen einer Qualifikationsarbeit bildeten die Grundlage der Fragestellungen im Hinblick auf die konkrete Umsetzung guter wissenschaftlicher Praxis. Die Beschreibung dieses Spannungsfeldes und der eingeschlagenen Lösungswege soll als Anregung dienen, um den Austausch über qualitative Sozialforschung und deren Rahmenbedingungen voranzutreiben.
From He-Cession to She-Stimulus? The labor market impact of fiscal policy across gender
Authors: Bonk Alica Ida , Simon Laure
Published: October 2021

Men, especially those that are young and less educated, typically bear the brunt of recessions because of the stronger cyclicality of their employment and wages relative to women’s. We study the extent to which fiscal policy may offset or worsen these asymmetric effects across gender. Using micro-level data for the U.S. from the Current Population Survey, we find that the effects of fiscal policy shocks on labor market outcomes depend on the type of public expenditure. Women benefit most from increases in the government wage bill, while men are the main beneficiaries of higher investment spending. Our analysis further reveals that the fiscal component most efficient at closing gender gaps is least suitable for offsetting inequitable business cycle effects across other socioeconomic dimensions.
Zeptomole Imaging of Cytosolic MicroRNA Cancer Biomarkers with A Light-Controlled Nanoantenna
Authors: Song Yang , Cai Xiaoli , Ostermeyer Grayson , Ding Shichao , Du Dan , Lin Yuehe
Published: October 2021

Detecting and quantifying intracellular microRNAs (miRNAs) are a critical step in resolving a cancer diagnostic and resolving the ensemble of gene products that orchestrate the living state of cells. However, the nanoprobe for detecting low abundance miRNAs in cell cytosol is restricted by either the “one-to-one” signal-trigger model or difficulty for cytosol delivery. To address these challenges, we designed a light-harvesting nanoantenna-based nanoprobe, which directs excitation energy to a single molecule to sensitively detect cytosolic miRNA. With light irradiation, the light-harvesting nanoantenna effectively disrupted lysosomal structures by generation of reactive oxygen species, substantially achieved cytosol delivery. The nanoantenna containing > 4000 donor dyes can efficiently transfer excitation energy to one or two acceptors with 99% efficiency, leading to unprecedented signal amplification and biosensing sensitivity. The designed nanoantenna can quantify cytosolic miR-210 at zeptomolar level. The fluorescence lifetime of the donor exhibited good relationship with miR-210 concentration in the range of 0.032 to 2.97 amol/ngRNA. The zeptomole sensitivity of nanoantenna provides accurate bioimaging of miR-210 both in multiple cell lines and in vivo assay, which creates a pathway for the creation of miRNA toolbox for quantitative epigenetics and personalized medicine.
Electrochemical Surface Restructuring of Phosphorus-Doped Carbon@MoP Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Jiang Huimin , Yan Liting , Zhang Shuo , Zhao Yanchao , Yang Xue , Wang Yameng , Shen Jianxing , Zhao Xuebo , Wang Lianzhou
Published: October 2021

The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) through electrocatalysis is promising for the production of clean hydrogen fuel. However, designing the structure of catalysts, controlling their electronic properties, and manipulating their catalytic sites are a significant challenge in this field. Here, we propose an electrochemical surface restructuring strategy to design synergistically interactive phosphorus-doped carbon@MoP electrocatalysts for the HER. A simple electrochemical cycling method is developed to tune the thickness of the carbon layers that cover on MoP core, which significantly influences HER performance. Experimental investigations and theoretical calculations indicate that the inactive surface carbon layers can be removed through electrochemical cycling, leading to a close bond between the MoP and a few layers of coated graphene. The electrons donated by the MoP core enhance the adhesion and electronegativity of the carbon layers; the negatively charged carbon layers act as an active surface. The electrochemically induced optimization of the surface/interface electronic structures in the electrocatalysts significantly promotes the HER. Using this strategy endows the catalyst with excellent activity in terms of the HER in both acidic and alkaline environments (current density of 10 mA cm−2 at low overpotentials, of 68 mV in 0.5 M H2SO4 and 67 mV in 1.0 M KOH).
Differences in somatostatin receptor subtype expression in patients with acromegaly: new directions for targeted therapy?
Authors: Rass Lena , Rahvar Amir-Hossein , Matschke Jakob , Saeger Wolfgang , Renné Thomas , Aberle Jens , Flitsch Jörg , Rotermund Roman
Published: October 2021

Purpose

To analyze the expression of somatostatin receptor (SSTR)2a and 5 by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in surgically resected somatotrophic pituitary adenomas and to associate expression rates with tumor size and clinical, biochemical, and histological parameters and response to somatostatin analog (SA) therapy.

Methods

Forty-three microsurgically treated patients with histopathologically proven growth hormone (GH)–producing pituitary adenoma were included (WHO 2017). SSTR subtype expression was analyzed in adenoma tissues using monoclonal antibodies (Abcam, SSTR2a-UMB1, SSTR5-UMB4). Expression rates were classified as low (≤ 20% staining positivity), moderate (21–50%), and high (> 50%). Furthermore, biochemical parameters such as human growth hormone (hGH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels were measured and clinical, biochemical, radiological, and histological data were evaluated.

Results

Of the 43 patients included in this study, 28 were female and 15 were male. The median age was 52 years (range 17–72 years). The median tumor size was 1.2 cm (range: 0.13–3.93 cm). All resected tumors showed positivity for somatotrophic hormone (STH). In all tissue samples, SSTR2a signal expression was detectable in immunohistochemistry, while only 39 samples were positive for SSTR5. Thirty-six samples had a high expression of SSTR2a, while three had a moderate and four a low SSTR2a signal. In comparison, SSTR5 signal was high in 26 out of 43 samples, while seven adenomas showed a moderate and six cases a low expression rate of SSTR5. The median IGF-1 was 714.2 µg/l and the median GH 19.6 mU/l (= 6.53 µg/l). The present study indicates that there is no significant relationship between the expression rates of receptor subtypes and the parameters we analyzed. However, our study revealed that smaller adenomas have a lower baseline GH level (p = 0.015),

Conclusion

IHC with monoclonal antibodies appears to be a suitable method to determine the expression rates of SSTR2a and 5 at protein levels, as it is not possible to draw conclusions regarding receptor subtypes solely on the basis of the parameters analyzed.