bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anterolateral thigh free flaps and radial forearm free flaps in head and neck reconstruction: A 20-year analysis from a single institution
Authors: Yang Simon , Hong Jong Won , Yoon In Sik , Lew Dae Hyun , Roh Tai Suk , Lee Won Jai
Published: January 2021

Background Reconstruction after removal of a malignant tumor in the head and neck region is crucial for restoring tissue integrity, function, and aesthetics. We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent intraoral reconstruction surgery using radial forearm free flaps (RFFF) and anterolateral thigh free flaps (ALT) at a single institution to provide more information supporting the choice of a reconstruction method after removal of head and neck cancer.

Methods The charts of 708 patients who underwent head and neck reconstruction between 1998 and 2018 at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Patients’ age, sex, and history of radiation therapy, diabetes mellitus, and smoking were retrieved. The primary cancer site, types of defects, and complications were investigated.

Results Overall, 473 and 95 patients underwent reconstruction surgery with RFFF and ALT, respectively. RFFF was more often used in patients with cancers of the pharynx, larynx, esophagus, or tonsil, while ALT was more frequently used in patients with cancers of the mouth floor with tonsil or tongue involvement. The proportion of patients undergoing ALT increased gradually. Flap failure and donor site morbidities did not show significant differences between the two groups.

Conclusions RFFF and ALT flaps resulted in similar outcomes in terms of flap survival and donor site morbidity. ALT can be an option for head and neck reconstruction surgery in patients with large and complex defects or for young patients who want to hide their donor site scars.
Suitability of denervated muscle flaps as recipient sites for pancreatic islet cell transplantation
Authors: Park Jong-Lim , Kim Taewoon , Kim Baek-Kyu
Published: January 2021

Background Extensive research has been conducted on islet transplantation as a possible cure for diabetes. Islet transplantation in the liver via the portal vein has shown remarkable results, but numerous other recipient sites are currently being investigated. We aimed to show the effectiveness of using a muscle flap as a recipient site for islet transplantation.

Methods Islet cells were harvested from 12 isogenic Lewis rats, and then diabetes was induced in another 12 isogenic Lewis rats by streptozotocin injection. In six rats, 3,000 islets were transplanted into gastrocnemius muscle flaps, and in the other six rats, the same number of islets were transplanted into the gastrocnemius muscle. The transplanted islet cell function between the two groups was compared by means of blood glucose tests, glucose tolerance tests, immunohistochemistry, and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Results In the muscle flap group, blood glucose levels significantly decreased after islet transplantation. Blood glucose levels were significantly different between the two groups at 3 weeks after transplantation. The muscle flap group showed nearly normoglycemic results upon the glucose tolerance test, whereas the muscle group was hyperglycemic. Immunohistochemical evaluation showed positive results against insulin and glucagon in biopsies of both groups, and the islet cell density was higher in the muscle flap group. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction results.

Conclusions Our results suggest that muscle flaps are promising candidates for islet cell transplantation.
Necessary Suffering? - Investigating Existential Suffering in Youth through Everyday Experiences of Bad Conscience
Authors: Meier Joachim
Published: January 2021

The purpose of this article is to develop an account of existential suffering in youth. According to recent studies, a growing amount of young Westerners has come to suffer from mental disorders, stress, and a general lack of well-being. It is suggested however that the massive concern for young people's mental health might risk contributing to an increased pathologization of all kinds of suffering in youth. In continuation hereof the article aims at disclosing a suffering that is not pathological in kind but quite the contrary clings to existence. Based on interviews with three Danish high school students, regarding their experiences of bad conscience in their everyday lives, it is revealed how they suffer from matters conceivable as normative implications of fundamental conditions of existence such as freedom, finitude and the Other. In the end, critical concerns are raised regarding the normative evaluation of existential suffering as a necessity. That is, should we not always be against suffering?
Elsbeth In Taxland, or Through the Change Purse: An Appreciation
Authors: Bryden P. E.
Published: January 2021

This reflection on E. A. Heaman’s Tax, Order, and Good Government: A New Political History of Canada, 1867-1917 suggests that the innovative “taxationist” interpretation of Canada the author offers bears some striking similarities to other upside-down worlds.  Like Alice’s Wonderland, Bryden shows that this new view of Canada has all manner of interesting characters, new ways of looking at old subjects, and new vantage points from which to observe the familiar.
Canadian History Unsundered: Reflections on Elsbeth Heaman’s Tax, Order, and Good Government
Authors: Nielson Carmen
Published: January 2021

I argue that Elsbeth Heaman’s book achieves precisely what Michael Bliss had hoped for when he wrote “Privatizing the Mind: The Sundering of Canadian History, the Sundering of Canada.” This is readable, politically-engaged scholarship that takes seriously Canadian historians’ task of explaining who “we” are, where “we” have been, and where “we” might be going, without mythologizing or homogenizing who that “we” might be.
Móviles y pantallas en edades tempranas: convivencia digital, derechos de la infancia y responsabilidad adulta
Authors: Caldeiro Pedreira Mari Carmen , Castro Zubizarreta Ana , Havránková Tereza
Published: January 2021

En la sociedad hipermedia donde predomina el uso indiscriminado de múltiples pantallas desde edades cada vez más tempranas, es necesaria no solo la convivencia digital, sino además el respeto a los derechos de la infancia. Aspectos a los que debe unirse la responsabilidad por parte de los medios y también de las familias que educan a los menores. En este contexto surge esta investigación donde se revisa la literatura existente y se identifican dos planteamientos diferentes en torno a los dispositivos móviles e infancia; el referido a usos y posibilidades educativas y de enriquecimiento personal para los pequeños y, el que apunta usos abusivos y problemas derivados de su utilización. Este estudio de corte teórico muestra una revisión y reflexión basada en las ideas de un importante conjunto de autores que, en la era digital cuando la sociedad en general y de forma concreta la infancia utilizan la tecnología, apuestan por el empoderamiento del niño para convertirle en un receptor crítico. Por tanto, teniendo en cuenta que la infancia convive con los medios y que existen diferentes niveles de actividad de los niños frente a estos, se plantea una propuesta de niveles centrada en la actividad, la creación y la crítica social. Una propuesta que es posible alcanzar teniendo en cuenta la educación en, con y para los medios. Así mismo, en el marco de la CDN se propone que familias y escuelas potencien un uso adecuado de medios y pantallas por parte de la infancia.
Hacia la artesanía generativa. Caso de estudio del oficio artesanal del barniz de Pasto (Colombia) y la impresión 3D
Authors: Córdoba-Cely Carlos
Published: January 2021

En la actualidad, se comienza a vislumbrar las implicaciones del nuevo modelo productivo que propone la fabricación digital en el contexto de las prácticas sociales. En el caso particular de la artesanía, no es del todo evidente cómo este tipo de tecnología, que permite materializar cualquier tipo de objeto a partir de bits, contribuye en un determinado sistema de producción cultural. A partir de esta inquietud, y utilizando el concepto de posible adyacente de Stuart Kauffman, se llevó a cabo una experimentación con procesos de impresión 3D y la técnica artesanal del sur de Colombia denominada barniz de Pasto, con el objetivo de explorar los posibles vínculos de estos nuevos modelos productivos con la artesanía. Para justificar la experimentación en este documento, primero se aborda el concepto de artesanía como sistema híbrido de producción cultural, el cual se modela por la tensión entre los cambios tecnológicos y la conservación del patrimonio simbólico de un colectivo. En segundo lugar, se identifican las características más relevantes que determinan la fabricación digital como posible adyacente de la artesanía en la era posindustrial. Los resultados de la experimentación muestran que la fabricación digital se explica como un vector primario de cambio potencial sobre los oficios artesanales en tres diferentes escenarios posibles: escenario de mayor libertad morfológica, escenario de mayor libertad de manufactura y escenario de mayor libertad creativa. Se propone que estos entornos conjuntos son características de un posible adyacente, al cual se ha denominado artesanía generativa.
Identification of PARP-7 substrates reveals a role for MARylation in microtubule control in ovarian cancer cells
Authors: Palavalli Parsons Lavanya H , Challa Sridevi , Gibson Bryan A , Nandu Tulip , Stokes MiKayla S , Huang Dan , Lea Jayanthi S , Kraus W Lee
Published: January 2021

PARP-7 (TiPARP) is a mono(ADP-ribosyl) transferase whose protein substrates and biological activities are poorly understood. We observed that PARP7 mRNA levels are lower in ovarian cancer patient samples compared to non-cancerous tissue, but PARP-7 protein nonetheless contributes to several cancer-related biological endpoints in ovarian cancer cells (e.g. growth, migration). Global gene expression analyses in ovarian cancer cells subjected to PARP-7 depletion indicate biological roles for PARP-7 in cell-cell adhesion and gene regulation. To identify the MARylated substrates of PARP-7 in ovarian cancer cells, we developed an NAD+ analog-sensitive approach, which we coupled with mass spectrometry to identify the PARP-7 ADP-ribosylated proteome in ovarian cancer cells, including cell-cell adhesion and cytoskeletal proteins. Specifically, we found that PARP-7 MARylates α-tubulin to promote microtubule instability, which may regulate ovarian cancer cell growth and motility. In sum, we identified an extensive PARP-7 ADP-ribosylated proteome with important roles in cancer-related cellular phenotypes.
Activation of MAP3K DLK and LZK in Purkinje cells causes rapid and slow degeneration depending on signaling strength
Authors: Li Yunbo , Ritchie Erin M , Steinke Christopher L , Qi Cai , Chen Lizhen , Zheng Binhai , Jin Yishi
Published: January 2021

The conserved MAP3K Dual-Leucine-Zipper Kinase (DLK) and Leucine-Zipper-bearing Kinase (LZK) can activate JNK via MKK4 or MKK7. These two MAP3Ks share similar biochemical activities and undergo auto-activation upon increased expression. Depending on cell-type and nature of insults DLK and LZK can induce pro-regenerative, pro-apoptotic or pro-degenerative responses, although the mechanistic basis of their action is not well understood. Here, we investigated these two MAP3Ks in cerebellar Purkinje cells using loss- and gain-of function mouse models. While loss of each or both kinases does not cause discernible defects in Purkinje cells, activating DLK causes rapid death and activating LZK leads to slow degeneration. Each kinase induces JNK activation and caspase-mediated apoptosis independent of each other. Significantly, deleting CELF2, which regulates alternative splicing of Map2k7, strongly attenuates Purkinje cell degeneration induced by LZK, but not DLK. Thus, controlling the activity levels of DLK and LZK is critical for neuronal survival and health.
Telomeric double-strand DNA-binding proteins DTN-1 and DTN-2 ensure germline immortality in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Yamamoto Io , Zhang Kexin , Zhang Jingjing , Vorontsov Egor , Shibuya Hiroki
Published: January 2021

Telomeres are nucleoprotein complexes at the ends of chromosomes and are indispensable for the protection and lengthening of terminal DNA. Despite the evolutionarily conserved roles of telomeres, the telomeric double-strand DNA (dsDNA)-binding proteins have evolved rapidly. Here, we identified double-strand telomeric DNA-binding proteins (DTN-1 and DTN-2) inCaenorhabditis elegansas non-canonical telomeric dsDNA-binding proteins. DTN-1 and DTN-2 are paralogous proteins that have three putative MYB-like DNA-binding domains and bind to telomeric dsDNA in a sequence-specific manner. DTN-1 and DTN-2 form complexes with the single-strand telomeric DNA-binding proteins POT-1 and POT-2 and constitutively localize to telomeres. Thedtn-1anddtn-2genes function redundantly, and their simultaneous deletion results in progressive germline mortality, which accompanies telomere hyper-elongation and chromosomal bridges. Our study suggests that DTN-1 and DTN-2 are core shelterin components inC. eleganstelomeres that act as negative regulators of telomere length and are essential for germline immortality.
COVID-19 mortality in cancer patients: a report from a tertiary cancer centre in India
Authors: Mehta Anurag , Vasudevan Smreti , Parkash Anuj , Sharma Anurag , Vashist Tanu , Krishna Vidya
Published: January 2021

Background

Cancer patients, especially those receiving cytotoxic therapy, are assumed to have a higher probability of death from COVID-19. We have conducted this study to identify the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) in cancer patients with COVID-19 and have explored the relationship of various clinical factors to mortality in our patient cohort.

Methods

All confirmed cancer cases presented to the hospital from June 8 to August 20, 2020, and developed symptoms/radiological features suspicious of COVID-19 were tested by Real-time polymerase chain reaction assay and/or cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test from a combination of naso-oropharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2. Clinical data, treatment details, and outcomes were assessed from the medical records.

Results

Of the total 3,101 cancer patients admitted to the hospital, 1,088 patients were tested and 186 patients were positive for SARS-CoV-2. The CFR in the cohort was 27/186 (14.52%). Univariate analysis showed that the risk of death was significantly associated with the presence of any comorbidity (OR: 2.68; (95% CI [1.13–6.32]); P = 0.025), multiple comorbidities (OR: 3.01; (95% CI [1.02–9.07]); P = 0.047 for multiple vs. single), and the severity of COVID-19 presentation (OR: 27.48; (95% CI [5.34–141.49]); P < 0.001 for severe vs. not severe symptoms). Among all comorbidities, diabetes (OR: 3.31; (95% CI [1.35–8.09]); P = 0.009) and cardiovascular diseases (OR: 3.77; (95% CI [1.02–13.91]); P = 0.046) were significant risk factors for death. Anticancer treatments including chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy administered within a month before the onset of COVID-19 symptoms had no significant effect on mortality.

Conclusion

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study from India reporting the CFR, clinical associations, and risk factors for mortality in SARS-CoV-2 infected cancer patients. Our study shows that the frequency of COVID-19 in cancer patients is high. Recent anticancer therapies are not associated with mortality. Pre-existing comorbidities, especially diabetes, multiple comorbidities, and severe symptoms at presentation are significantly linked with COVID-19 related death in the cohort.
Evaluation of two fluorescence immunoassays for the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigen—new tool to detect infective COVID-19 patients
Authors: Porte Lorena , Legarraga Paulette , Iruretagoyena Mirentxu , Vollrath Valeska , Pizarro Gabriel , Munita Jose , Araos Rafael , Weitzel Thomas
Published: January 2021

Background

Real-Time Reverse-Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) is currently the only recommended diagnostic method for SARS-CoV-2. However, rapid immunoassays for SARS-CoV-2 antigen could significantly reduce the COVID-19 burden currently weighing on laboratories around the world.

Methods

We evaluated the performance of two rapid fluorescence immunoassays (FIAs), SOFIA SARS Antigen FIA (Quidel Corporation, San Diego, CA, USA) and STANDARD F COVID-19 Ag FIA (SD Biosensor Inc., Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea), which use an automated reader. The study used 64 RT-PCR characterized clinical samples (32 positive; 32 negative), which consisted of nasopharyngeal swabs in universal transport medium.

Results

Of the 32 positive specimens, all from patients within 5 days of symptom onset, the Quidel and SD Biosensor assays detected 30 (93.8%) and 29 (90.6%) samples, respectively. Among the 27 samples with high viral loads (Ct ≤ 25), the two tests had a sensitivity of 100%. Specificity was 96.9% for both kits.

Conclusion

The high performance of the evaluated FIAs indicates a potential use as rapid and PCR-independent tools for COVID-19 diagnosis in early stages of infection. The excellent sensitivity to detect cases with viral loads above ~106 copies/mL (Ct values ≤ 25), the estimated threshold of contagiousness, suggests that the assays might serve to rapidly identify infective individuals.
Adenomyoepithelioma With Myoepithelial Carcinoma of the Breast With Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis: Two Case Reports and Review of the Literature
Authors: Lee Hye Yoon , Lee Jeong Hyun , Jung Seung Pil , Kim Insun , Bae Jeoung Won
Published: January 2021

Objectives

Adenomyoepithelioma (AME) of the breast exhibits characteristic proliferation of the epithelial and myoepithelial cells. Most AMEs are benign, but the 2 inherent cell types can become malignant. The present study reports 2 cases of AME with myoepithelial carcinoma of the breast, one with axillary lymph node metastasis.

Methods

A modified radical mastectomy was performed in a 67-year-old woman, because a sentinel lymph node biopsy revealed one metastatic lymph node composed of a myoepithelial carcinoma component. Despite receiving radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the patient died from lung and brain metastases 21 months later. In the second case, breast-conserving surgery with sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed in a 55-year-old woman. Following additional treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, there were no signs of recurrence or metastasis.

Results

The tumors of the 2 patients were diagnosed as malignant, based on their high mitotic rate and severe nuclear atypia.

Conclusions

Based on previously reported cases with distant metastases, the prognosis of myoepithelial carcinoma is poor. Myoepithelial carcinoma should be followed up with careful screening and treated aggressively.
Restoration thinning permits stems to capitalize on high‐rainfall years in a regenerating endangered forest ecosystem
Authors: Towers Isaac R. , Dwyer John M.
Published: January 2021

1. Passively regenerating native vegetation presents a cost‐effective opportunity to sequester carbon and reinstate habitat in heavily cleared agricultural landscapes.

2. However, in some cases a few woody species recolonize in dense, low‐diversity stands that are slow to self‐thin.

3. Restoration thinning of over‐dominant species has been proposed to accelerate ecosystem recovery, but its longer term efficacy remains uncertain, and is likely to depend strongly on rainfall.

4. This study focuses on a restoration thinning experiment established in 2007 in dense brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) regrowth in Queensland, Australia. Using variation in rainfall between 2007 and 2017, we examined the interactive effects of neighbourhood density and moisture availability on the growth and survival of A. harpophylla.

5. We also compared the strength of A. harpophylla density effects on itself to its effects on a sparsely distributed co‐occurring tree species (Casuarina cristata) that was codominant in the original forest.

6. Our results provide clear evidence that thinning permits A. harpophylla to grow rapidly during periods of high rainfall, and that interspecific competition betweenA. harpophylla and C. cristata is relatively weak. As such, thinning of dense A. harpophylla could be combined with seeding or planting of co‐occurring tree species with complementary niches to further accelerate forest recovery in this extensive regrowth ecosystem.
Marduk
Authors: Oshima Takayoshi
Published: January 2021

Marduk, the god of Babylon, had Esagil (House Whose Top Is High) as his main temple, while the Ziqqurrat of Babylon, Etemenanki (House, Foundation Platform of Heaven and Earth), was probably the inspiration for the biblical Tower of Babel.
Epilepsy inMT‐ATP6‐ related mils/NARP: correlation of elettroclinical features with heteroplasmy
Authors: Licchetta Laura , Ferri Lorenzo , La Morgia Chiara , Zenesini Corrado , Caporali Leonardo , Lucia Valentino Maria , Minardi Raffaella , Fulitano Daniela , Di Vito Lidia , Mostacci Barbara , Alvisi Lara , Avoni Patrizia , Liguori Rocco , Tinuper Paolo , Bisulli Francesca , Carelli Valerio
Published: January 2021

The study aims to characterize the epilepsy phenotype ofmaternallyinheritedLeigh'ssyndrome (MILS) andneuropathy,ataxia,retinitispigmentosa (NARP) due to mutations in the mitochondrialATP6gene and to correlate electroclinical features with mutant heteroplasmy load (HL). We investigated 17 individuals with different phenotype, from asymptomatic carriers to MILS: 11 carried the m.8993T> G mutation, 5 the m.8993T> C and one the novel,de novom.8858G> A mutation. Seizures occurred in 37.5% of patients, EEG abnormalities in 73%. We ranked clinical and EEG abnormalities severity and performed quantitative EEG to estimate Abnormality Ratio (AR) and Spectral Relative Power (SRP). Spearman’s rho and Kruskal–Wallis test were used for correlation with heteroplasmy load (HL). HL correlated with disease severity (Rho = 0.63,P = 0.012) and was significantly higher in patients with seizures or EEG abnormalities (P = 0.014). HL correlated with EEG severity score only for the m.8993T> G (Rho = 0.73,P = 0.040), showing a trend toward a positive correlation with AR and delta SPR, irrespective of the mutation.
Degradable and Excretable Ultrasmall Transition Metal Selenide Nanodots for High‐Performance Computed Tomography Bioimaging‐Guided Photonic Tumor Nanomedicine in NIR‐II Biowindow
Authors: Dong Lile , Sun Lining , Li Wenjuan , Jiang Yunping , Zhan Yingying , Yu Luodan , Chen Yu , Hong Guobin
Published: January 2021

Transition metal selenide nanodots (NDs) represent distinctive antitumor agents for cancer treatment, but their non‐biodegradability may bring serious adverse effects and potential long‐term toxicity to internal tissues/organs, which substantially hinder their further clinical translations. In this work, the construction of a multifunctional theranostic nanosystem based on degradable and excretable ultrasmall Rh3Se8 NDs by a general bovine serum albumin‐templated strategy is reported. The constructed Rh3Se8 NDs exhibit distinctively high photothermal‐conversion efficiency (57.5%) in the second near‐infrared biowindow, making them highly applicable for photoacoustic imaging and photonic hyperthermia at the desired wavelength. Rh3Se8 NDs exhibit a high tumor growth inhibition rate (98.1%) on 4T1 breast tumor‐bearing mice due to the desirable photonic hyperthermia performances. Especially, the fabricated Rh3Se8 NDs feature the large X‐ray attenuation coefficients of the Rh component for contrast‐enhanced X‐ray computed tomography imaging. Importantly, the prominent biodegradability of Rh3Se8 NDs enables their quick excretion out of the body for potentially avoiding inflammation and mitigating long‐term toxicity. Therefore, this work highlights the construction of proof‐of‐concept biodegradable and excretable ultrasmall inorganic theranostic nanosystems for multiple bioimaging‐guided cancer nanotherapeutics, guaranteeing the further clinical translations of inorganic nanoparticles in biomedicine.
Ultrathin and Conformable Lead Halide Perovskite Photodetector Arrays for Potential Application in Retina‐Like Vision Sensing
Authors: Wu Wenqiang , Han Xun , Li Jing , Wang Xiandi , Zhang Yufei , Huo Zhihao , Chen Qiushuo , Sun Xidi , Xu Zhangsheng , Tan Yongwen , Pan Caofeng , Pan Anlian
Published: January 2021

Solution‐processed lead halide perovskites are considered one of the promising materials for flexible optoelectronics. However, the array integration of ultrathin flexible perovskite photodetectors (PDs) remains a significant challenge limited by the incompatibility of perovskite materials with manufacturing techniques involving polar liquids. Here, an ultrathin (2.4 µm) and conformable perovskite‐based PD array (10 × 10 pixels) with ultralight weight (3.12 g m−2) and excellent flexibility, is reported. Patterned all‐inorganic CsPbBr3 perovskite films with precise pixel position, controllable morphology, and homogenous dimension, are synthesized by a vacuum‐assisted drop‐casting patterning process as the active layer. The use of waterproof parylene‐C film as substrate and encapsulation layer effectively protects the perovskite films against penetration of polar liquids during the peeling‐off process. Benefitting from the encapsulation and ultrathin property, the device exhibits long‐term stability in the ambient environment, and robust mechanical stability under bending or 50% compressive strain. More importantly, the ultrathin flexible PD arrays conforming to hemispherical support realize imaging of light distribution, indicating the potential applications in retina‐like vision sensing.
Triple‐Cation and Mixed‐Halide Perovskite Single Crystal for High‐Performance X‐ray Imaging
Authors: Liu Yucheng , Zhang Yunxia , Zhu Xuejie , Feng Jiangshan , Spanopoulos Ioannis , Ke Weijun , He Yihui , Ren Xiaodong , Yang Zhou , Xiao Fengwei , Zhao Kui , Kanatzidis Mercouri , Liu Shengzhong (Frank)
Published: January 2021

Low ionic migration is required for a semiconductor material to realize stable high‐performance X‐ray detection. In this work, successful controlled incorporation of not only methylammonium (MA+) and cesium (Cs+) cations, but also bromine (Br–) anions into the FAPbI3 lattice to grow inch‐sized stable perovskite single crystal (FAMACs SC) is reported. The smaller cations and anions, comparing to the original FA+ and I– help release lattice stress so that the FAMACs SC shows lower ion migration, enhanced hardness, lower trap density, longer carrier lifetime and diffusion length, higher charge mobility and thermal stability, and better uniformity. Therefore, X‐ray detectors made of the superior FAMACs SCs show the highest sensitivity of (3.5 ± 0.2) × 106 μC Gyair−1 cm−2, about 29 times higher than the latest record of 1.22 × 105 μC Gyair−1 cm−2 for polycrystalline MAPbI3 wafer under the same 40 keV X‐ray radiation. Furthermore, the FAMACs SC X‐ray detector shows a low detection limit of 42 nGy s−1, stable dark current, and photocurrent response. Finally, it is demonstrated that high contrast X‐ray imaging is realized using the FAMACs SC detector. The effective triple‐cation mixed halide strategy and the high crystalline quality make the present FAMACs SCs promising for next‐generation X‐ray imaging systems.
3D Synthetic Microstructures Fabricated by Two‐Photon Polymerization Promote Homogeneous Expression of NANOG and ESRRB in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
Authors: Bakhtina Natalia A. , Müller Madlen , Wischnewski Harry , Arora Rajika , Ciaudo Constance
Published: January 2021

The development of in vitro models, which accurately recapitulate early embryonic development, is one of the fundamental challenges in stem cell research. Most of the currently employed approaches involve the culture of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) on 2D surfaces. However, the monolayer nature of these cultures does not permit cells to grow and proliferate in realistic 3D microenvironments, as in an early embryo. In this paper, novel 3D synthetic microstructure arrays, fabricated by two‐photon polymerization photolithography, are utilized to mimic tissue‐specific architecture, enabling cell‐to‐matrix interaction and cell‐to‐cell communication in vitro. Mouse ESCs (mESCs) are able to grow and proliferate on these structures and maintain their pluripotent state. Furthermore, the 3D microstructure arrays are integrated into a microscopy slide allowing the evaluation of the expression of key pluripotency factors at the single cell level. Comparing 2D and 3D surfaces, mESCs grown in serum + leukemia inhibitory factor on 3D microstructures exhibit a stronger signal intensity of three pluripotency markers—homeobox protein NANOG, octamer‐binding transcription factor 4, and estrogen‐related receptor beta (ESRRB)—and more homogenous expression of NANOG and ESRRB, than cells cultivated in 2i medium, demonstrating that 3D microstructures capture naïve pluripotency in vitro. Thus, the slide affords a novel and unique tool to model and study early development.
Site‐Selective Occupancy of Eu2+ toward High Luminescence Switching Contrast in BaMgSiO4‐Based Photochromic Materials
Authors: Zhu Yan , Sun Haiqin , Jia Qiannan , Guan Lili , Peng Dengfeng , Zhang Qiwei , Hao Xihong
Published: January 2021

Luminescent inorganic photochromics have great potential applications in 3D optical memory due to their excellent thermal stability and chemical resistance. Nevertheless, constructing inorganic photochromics with a high luminescence switching contrast remains challenging for optical information storage. Understanding inherent relationships between microenvironment changes, photophysical material properties, and rational control of their luminescence properties are crucial to address these issues. This paper proposes an effective strategy to significantly improve the luminescence switching contrast by more than 300% by site‐selective occupancy engineering on BaMgSiO4:Eu2+ photochromic materials. An effective energy transfer process is established between luminescent and photochromic units, which may provide new insights for designing high‐performance optical storage systems. The fabricated flexible films exhibit excellent waterproof, flexibility, and stretchability characteristics, accompanied by reversible color switching and larger color contrast. Optical data storage can be not only visually encoded and decoded on the flexible films by 405 and 532 nm LED excitation, respectively. Writing, erasing, and reading strategies for flexible films are particularly suitable for complex application environments in optical storage and rewritable flexible devices.
Programmed Molecular Assembly of Abrupt Crystalline Organic/Organic Heterointerfaces Yielding Metal‐Organic Framework Diodes with Large On‐Off Ratios
Authors: Chandresh Abhinav , Liu Xiaojing , Wöll Christof , Heinke Lars
Published: January 2021

Structurally well‐defined, crystalline organic/organic heterojunctions between C60‐ and anthracene‐based semiconductors are realized via layer‐by‐layer deposition of metal‐organic framework, MOF, thin films. As demonstrated by X‐ray diffraction, perfect epitaxy is achieved by adjusting the lattice constants of the two different MOFs. Deposition of top electrodes allows to fabricate p–n as well as n–p devices. Measurements of the electrical properties reveal the presence of high‐performance diodes, with a current on/off ratio of up to 6 orders of magnitude and an ideality factor close to unity. The crystalline nature of the abrupt organic/organic heterojunction provides the basis for a rational, simulation‐based optimization and tailoring of such organic semiconductor interfaces.
Metal−Organic Frameworks for Liquid Phase Applications
Authors: Nalaparaju Anjaiah , Jiang Jianwen
Published: January 2021

In the last two decades, metal−organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted overwhelming attention. With readily tunable structures and functionalities, MOFs offer an unprecedentedly vast degree of design flexibility from enormous number of inorganic and organic building blocks or via postsynthetic modification to produce functional nanoporous materials. A large extent of experimental and computational studies of MOFs have been focused on gas phase applications, particularly the storage of low‐carbon footprint energy carriers and the separation of CO2‐containing gas mixtures. With progressive success in the synthesis of water‐ and solvent‐resistant MOFs over the past several years, the increasingly active exploration of MOFs has been witnessed for widespread liquid phase applications such as liquid fuel purification, aromatics separation, water treatment, solvent recovery, chemical sensing, chiral separation, drug delivery, biomolecule encapsulation and separation. At this juncture, the recent experimental and computational studies are summarized herein for these multifaceted liquid phase applications to demonstrate the rapid advance in this burgeoning field. The challenges and opportunities moving from laboratory scale towards practical applications are discussed.
Spider Origami: Folding Principle of Jumping Spider Leg Joints for Bioinspired Fluidic Actuators
Authors: Göttler Chantal , Elflein Karin , Siegwart Roland , Sitti Metin
Published: January 2021

Jumping spiders (Phidippus regius) are known for their ability to traverse various terrains and have targeted jumps within the fraction of a second to catch flying preys. Different from humans and insects, spiders use muscles to flex their legs, and hydraulic actuation for extension. By pressurizing their inner body fluid, they can achieve fast leg extensions for running and jumping. Here, the working principle of the articular membrane covering the spider leg joint pit is investigated. This membrane is highly involved in walking, grasping, and jumping motions. Hardness and stiffness of the articular membrane is studied using nanoindentation tests and preparation methods for scanning electron microscopy and histology are developed to give detailed information about the inner and outer structure of the leg joint and its membrane. Inspired by the stroller umbrella‐like folding mechanism of the articular membrane, a robust thermoplastic polyurethane‐based rotary semifluidic actuator is demonstrated, which shows increased durability, achieves working angles over 120°, produces high torques which allows lifts over 100 times of its own weight and jumping abilities. The developed actuator can be used for future grasping tasks, safe human–robot interactions and multilocomotion ground robot applications, and it can shed light into spider locomotion‐related questions.
Evaluation of maize varieties for mechanical grain harvesting in mid‐latitude region, China
Authors: Zhang Zhentao , Ming Bo , Liang Hongwei , Huang Zhaofu , Wang Keru , Yang Xiaoguang , Wang Zhigang , Xie Ruizhi , Hou Peng , Zhao Ruixia , Li Shaokun
Published: January 2021

How to allocate heat resources during yield formation and grains drying in the field to ensure food security while reducing the grain moisture content (GMC) is an important issue in maize (Zea mays L.) production in China. In this study, we established three production scenarios (traditional production (TPS, GMC > 30% at harvest), mid‐moisture grain harvest (MMHS, GMC ≤ 25% at harvest), and low‐moisture grain harvest (LMHS, GMC ≤ 20% at harvest)). Five varieties (DMY1, FK139, DK159, XY335, and JK968) were selected as model varieties to establish a grain drying prediction model, and the model prediction accuracy was good (RMSE = 2.96–4.04%, R2 = .408–.733). Results revealed that the production loss of the LMHS was 23.7% compared to the TPS, while the MMHS had a production loss of 6.5%. By replacing new varieties with high yield potential and fast grain drying rate, even small production increases can be achieved in MMHS. By adjusting the layout, it was possible to achieve 25% GMC in Inner Mongolia, which can promote the mechanical grain harvesting. However, the conditions for further reducing GMC (20%) at harvest are not yet available, and this requires more detailed future research.
SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic in the Brazilian community of rare diseases: A patient reported survey
Authors: Schwartz Ida Vanessa Doederlein , Randon Dévora Natalia , Monsores Natan , Moura de Souza Carolina Fischinger , Horovitz Dafne Dain Gandelman , Wilke Matheus Vernet Machado Bressan , Brunoni Decio
Published: January 2021

The COVID‐19 pandemic has led to a reorganization of health systems to prioritize the fight against the virus. The adoption of social distancing interfered with the flow of existing policies, and may thus negatively affect the most vulnerable groups, such as the rare disease community. Aimming at characterizing the perception of the impact of COVID‐19 on the health care of the Brazilian rare disease community, an online questionnaire addressed to patients with rare diseases and their caregivers was disseminated in the Brazilian territory between June 1st to July 5th, 2020. The questions dealt with the sanitary measures adopted; access to medical services; and mental suffering during the pandemic. The survey was answered by 1,466 participants (<18 yo = 53.3%) representing 192 rare diseases. Regarding physical distancing, 1,372 (93.6%) participants did not leave their residence, or did so only when essential; 1,321 (90.1%) always wore masks when leaving home. 1,042 (71.1%) and 995 (67.9%) participants, respectively, referred medical genetics appointments and rehabilitation therapies were postponed/canceled. Telemedicine was experienced by 1,026 (70%), and 68.3% agreed this is a good strategy for health care. Patients with Inborn Errors of Metabolism (IEM, n = 624, 42.5%) appear to have more access to information and ability to overcome difficulties, and feel less threatened, lonely and depressed than the non‐IEM group (p < .05). There was an increment of the rare disease patients' vulnerability in the pandemic scenario. The cooperation of patients/caregivers along with adaptation of the health system is crucial and may be so even post‐pandemic.
Mechanical properties and morphology of modified celluloid foams
Authors: Massart Morgane , Dubois Charles , Boileau Marc
Published: January 2021

Celluloid is a highly flammable plastic made of nitrocellulose and camphor, as a plasticizer, and it has recently received interest as a material for making combustible containers. For this particular application, the inherent combustion properties of celluloid are enhanced by foaming the material. This work evaluates novel celluloid‐like formulations in which camphor is replaced by alternative plasticizers and alternative nucleating agents are also evaluated to further improve the properties of the foams. The effects of these new components on the tensile properties and on the morphology of the combustible plastic are investigated for three plasticizers and for two nucleating agents. Results show that some plasticizers bring mechanical properties exceeding those of regular celluloid, an improvement of Young modulus and tensile stresses by more than 100% was observed. The effect of the nucleating agent on the foamed material's microstructure is also clearly observed, size and number of cells are correlated to the nature and the concentration of the nucleating agent.
IdentifyingDNA‐binding proteins based on multi‐features andLASSOfeature selection
Authors: Zhang Shengli , Zhu Fu , Yu Qianhao , Zhu Xiaoyue
Published: January 2021

DNA‐binding proteins perform an indispensable function in the maintenance and processing of genetic information and are inefficiently identified by traditional experimental methods due to their huge quantities. On the contrary, machine learning methods as an emerging technique demonstrate satisfactory speed and accuracy when used to study these molecules. This work focuses on extracting four different features from primary and secondary sequence features: Reduced sequence and index‐vectors (RS), Pseudo‐amino acid components (PseAACS), Position‐specific scoring matrix‐Auto Cross Covariance Transform (PSSM‐ACCT), and Position‐specific scoring matrix‐Discrete Wavelet Transform (PSSM‐DWT). Using the LASSO dimension reduction method, we experiment on the combination of feature submodels to obtain the optimized number of top rank features. These features are respectively input into the training Ensemble subspace discriminant, Ensemble bagged tree and KNN to predict the DNA‐binding proteins. Three different datasets, PDB594, PDB1075, and PDB186, are adopted to evaluate the performance of the as‐proposed approach in this work. The PDB1075 and PDB594 datasets are adopted for the five‐fold cross‐validation, and the PDB186 is used for the independent experiment. In the five‐fold cross‐validation, both the PDB1075 and PDB594 show extremely high accuracy, reaching 86.98% and 88.9% by Ensemble subspace discriminant, respectively. The accuracy of independent experiment by multi‐classifiers voting is 83.33%, which suggests that the methodology proposed in this work is capable of predicting DNA‐binding proteins effectively.
Facile Cu(I) Loading for Adsorptive C3H6/C3H8 Separation Through Double Cu(II) Salts Incorporation Within Pores With Unsaturated Fe(II) Sites
Authors: Han Hyug Hee , Kim Ah‐Reum , Kim Tea‐Hoon , Bae Youn‐Sang
Published: January 2021

Developing an effective adsorbent for olefin/paraffin separation is a crucial and challenging issue. We have developed an olefin‐selective adsorbent by loading two different Cu(II) salts (CuCl2 and Cu(CH3COO)2) within an iron‐based metal–organic framework (MOF) and reduced them to Cu(I) species without a high‐temperature calcination and an external reducing agent. The successful development of Cu(I)‐loaded MOFs was confirmed by characterizations including scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, powder X‐ray diffraction, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analyses. From the comparisons between Cu(I)‐loaded MOFs degassed at two different temperatures, we confirmed that the unsaturated Fe(II) sites within the iron‐based MOF can enhance the stability of formed Cu(I) species and thus improve the C3H6/C3H8 selectivity. The resulted Cu(I)‐loaded MOF shows large C3H6 uptake (5.15 mmol/g) and high C3H6/C3H8 selectivity (8.9) at 100 kPa and 293 K.
Structural model for analysis of key performance indicators for sustainable manufacturer–supplier collaboration: A grey‐decision‐making trial and evaluation laboratory‐based approach
Authors: Govindan Kannan , Aditi  , Dhingra Darbari Jyoti , Kaul Arshia , Jha PC
Published: January 2021

With growing competition in the market and dire need for sustainability, it has become imperative for companies to build long‐term relationship with their supply chain partners through sustainable collaboration. Among these, the supplier–manufacturer relationship is crucial for improved organizational, business and sustainable performance. Sustainable collaboration with suppliers involves crucial decision‐making processes such as continuous supplier monitoring and supplier development. Hence, a critical challenge that a company faces is to identify the key performance indicators (KPIs) for assessing the performance of a supplier for sustainable collaboration. In this regard, this study focuses on identification of KPIs for an Indian home appliance company through exhaustive discussions involving multiple decision‐makers. Further, a grey‐based decision‐making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) model is proposed in the study for analysing the importance levels among the fifteen KPIs based on multiple stakeholder perspectives. The results of the grey structural model indicate seven KPIs as influencing KPIs and eight KPIs as influenced KPIs. The KPI ‘Information disclosure’ has been identified as the most influential KPI for the evaluation of suppliers for sustainable collaboration. The implications drawn from the result analysis model can provide meaningful insights to managers for identifying strategies towards strengthening the supplier–manufacturer relationship and achieving organizational and market competence.
BAALC‐AS1/G3BP2/c‐Myc feedback loop promotes cell proliferation in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Hongyue , Wang Yan , Zhang Weimin , Wu Qingnan , Fan Jiawen , Zhan Qimin
Published: January 2021

Background

Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been found to be involved in the development of many cancers. In this study, we aimed to identify the molecular mechanisms of lncRNA BAALC antisense RNA 1 (BAALC‐AS1) in regulating the malignancy of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods

The expression of BAALC‐AS1 in cancer patients was analyzed using a tissue microarray. The protein and RNA levels of BAALC‐AS1 were determined by Western blotting analysis and quantitative reverse transcription‐PCR (RT‐qPCR), respectively. The cell proliferation was determined by cell viability assays, bromodeoxyuridine incorporation, and flow cytometry. The relationships among BAALC‐AS1, RasGAPSH3 domain‐binding protein 2 (G3BP2), and c‐Myc were determined using RNA immunoprecipitation, RNA pull‐down assays, and luciferase assays.

Results

The expression of BAALC‐AS1 was highly up‐regulated and associated with malignant phenotypes in ESCC tissues and cell lines. In vivo and in vitro assays showed that BAALC‐AS1 promoted ESCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. BAALC‐AS1 directly interacted with G3BP2, and thereby inhibited the degradation of c‐Myc RNA 3'‐UTR by G3BP2, thus leading to the accumulation of c‐Myc expression. Additionally, c‐Myc acted as a transcription factor that can induce the expression of BAALC‐AS1 by directly binding to its promoter region.

Conclusions

BAALC‐AS1/G3BP2/c‐Myc feedback loop plays a critical role in the development of ESCC, which might provide a novel therapeutic target and facilitate the development of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of ESCC.
The efficacy and safety of definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy for non‐operable esophageal cancer
Authors: Dreyfuss Alexandra D. , Barsky Andrew R. , Wileyto E. Paul , Eads Jennifer R. , Kucharczuk John C. , Williams Noel N. , Karasic Thomas B. , Metz James M. , Ben‐Josef Edgar , Plastaras John P. , Wojcieszynski Andrzej P.
Published: January 2021

Objective

To report outcomes and toxicity in patients who received definitive concurrent chemoradiation (DCCRT) for non‐operable esophageal cancer (EC) in the modern era, and to identify markers of overall and disease‐free survival (OS/DFS).

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with unresectable EC who received DCCRT at our institution between 1/2008 and 1/2019. Descriptive statistics were used to report disease‐control outcomes and CTCAE v4.0–5.0 toxicities. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression, and stepwise regression were used to identify associations with survival.

Results

At a median follow‐up of 19.5 months, 130 patients with adenocarcinoma (AC) (62%) or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (38%) were evaluable (Stage II‐III: 92%). Patients received carboplatin/paclitaxel (75%) or fluorouracil‐based (25%) concurrent chemotherapy. Median total RT dose was 50.4 Gy (range, 44.7–71.4 Gy) delivered in 28 fractions (24–35). Locoregional and distant recurrence occurred in 30% and 35% of AC, and 24% and 33% of SCC, respectively. Median OS and DFS were 22.9 and 10.7 months in AC, and 25.7 and 20.2 months in SCC, respectively. On stepwise regression, tumor stage, feeding tube during DCCRT, and change in primary tumor PET/CT SUVmax were significantly associated with OS and DFS. Most severe toxicities were acute grade 4 hematologic cytopenia (6%) and radiation dermatitis (1%). Most common acute grade 3 toxicities were hematologic cytopenia (35%), dysphagia (23%), and anorexia (19%).

Conclusions

Treatment of non‐operable EC with DCCRT has acceptable toxicity and can provide multi‐year disease control for some patients, even in AC. Continued follow‐up and investigation in large studies would be useful.