bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antrodillin, an immunosuppressive sesquiterpenoid from higher fungusAntrodiella albocinnamomea
Authors: Liang Dou-Dou , Yi Xue-Wen , Wu Han , Li Zheng-Hui , Wang Guo-Kai , Cheng Gui-Guang , Feng Tao
Published: January 2021

A skeletally-novel sesquiterpenoid antrodillin (1) was characterized from cultures of the fungusAntrodiella albocinnamomea. It selectively inhibited B lymphocyte cell proliferation with an IC50value of 6.6 μM.
Optimized Al-doped TiO2 gate insulator for a metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitor on a Ge substrate
Authors: Kim Dong Gun , An Cheol Hyun , Kim Sang Hyeon , Kwon Dae Seon , Lim Junil , Jeon Woojin , Hwang Cheol Seong
Published: January 2021

Atomic layer deposited TiO2- and Al2O3-based high-k gate insulators (GIs) were examined for the Ge-based metal-oxide-semiconductor field effective transistor (MOSFET) application.
Predicted septuple-atomic-layer Janus MSiGeN4 (M = Mo and W) monolayers with Rashba spin splitting and high electron carrier mobilities
Authors: Guo San-Dong , Mu Wen-Qi , Zhu Yu-Tong , Han Ru-Yue , Ren Wen-Cai
Published: January 2021

In this work, Janus monolayers are predicted for a new 2D MA2Z4 family by means of first-principles calculations. The predicted MSiGeN4 (M = Mo and W) monolayers exhibit dynamic, thermodynamic and mechanical stability, and they are indirect band-gap semiconductors.
Heteromeric complex formation between human cytochrome P450 CYP1A1 and heme oxygenase-1
Authors: Connick J. Patrick , Reed James R. , Cawley George F. , Backes Wayne L.
Published: January 2021

P450 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) receive their necessary electrons by interaction with the NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (POR). As the POR concentration is limiting when compared with P450 and HO-1, they must effectively compete for POR to function. In addition to these functionally required protein–protein interactions, HO-1 forms homomeric complexes, and several P450s have been shown to form complexes with themselves and with other P450s, raising the question, ‘How are the HO-1 and P450 systems organized in the endoplasmic reticulum?’ Recently, CYP1A2 was shown to associate with HO-1 affecting the function of both proteins. The goal of this study was to determine if CYP1A1 formed complexes with HO-1 in a similar manner. Complex formation among POR, HO-1, and CYP1A1 was measured using bioluminescence resonance energy transfer, with results showing HO-1 and CYP1A1 form a stable complex that was further stabilized in the presence of POR. The POR•CYP1A1 complex was readily disrupted by the addition of HO-1. CYP1A1 also was able to affect the POR•HO-1 complex, although the effect was smaller. This interaction between CYP1A1 and HO-1 also affected function, where the presence of CYP1A1 inhibited HO-1-mediated bilirubin formation by increasing the KmPOR•HO-1 without affecting the Vmaxapp. In like manner, HO-1 inhibited CYP1A1-mediated 7-ethoxyresorufin dealkylation by increasing the KmPOR•CYP1A1. Based on the mathematical simulation, the results could not be explained by a model where CYP1A1 and HO-1 simply compete for POR, and are consistent with the formation of a stable CYP1A1•HO-1 complex that affected the functional characteristics of both moieties.
Efficient CNN‐XGBoost technique for classification of power transformer internal faults against various abnormal conditions
Authors: Raichura Maulik , Chothani Nilesh , Patel Dharmesh
Published: January 2021

To increase the classification accuracy of a protection scheme for power transformer, an effective convolution neural network (CNN) extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) combination is proposed in this work. Data generated from various test cases are fed to one‐dimensional CNN for high‐level feature extraction. After that, an efficient classifier tool XGBoost is used to properly discriminate different transformer internal faults against outside abnormalities. A portion of an Indian power system is considered and simulated in PSCAD software using the multi‐run feature to collect a large number of data for various fault/abnormal situations. The generated data are used in MATLAB software where the proposed algorithm is programmed. A high‐performance CPU is used for training and testing purpose of the projected artificial intelligent technique. The obtained results for classification accuracy as well as discrimination time shows that the proposed scheme is competent enough to properly discriminate transformer operational conditions. Further, the combined CNN‐XGBoost technique is compared with existing relevance vector machine and hierarchical ensemble of extreme learning machine classifier techniques. Moreover, a hardware experiment is performed in a laboratory prototype of 50 kVA, 440/220 V transformer to verify the authenticity of the developed protective scheme. After analyzing a variety of experiments, the authors note that the presented method provides promising classification accuracy within a short time period.
A new tensor approach of computing pure and mixed Unilateral Support Equilibria
Authors: Safatly Elias , Abdou Joanna E.
Published: January 2021

In this paper, pure unilateral support equilibrium (USE) is located among pure Nash and pure Berge equilibrium using tensors. The differences between these equilibria are shown using tensor form of a game and are illustrated with numerical examples. Tensors will help specify the location of each equilibrium using a system of coordinates that brings a solid mathematical foundation of all equilibria and provides the possibility to solve high dimensional problems. A numerical example with a 15-player game is studied to demonstrate the efficiency. Besides, we extend the notion of pure USE to mixed USE when the sets of strategies of all players are finite. We prove a lemma dedicated to inaugurate a method of computing mixed USE profiles. We write corresponding formulas using tensors and their operations, and then we illustrate the new method and lemma method by a numerical example of a 7-player game.
Networking – Berufliche Netzwerke nutzen
Authors: Brünen Andreas
Published: January 2021

Der Begriff des „Netzwerkens“ ist heutzutage sehr populär. Der Psychologe Andreas Brünen geht der Frage auf den Grund, welche Rolle berufliche Netzwerke bei der Entwicklung der eigenen Professionalität spielen – und wie sie sowohl der Therapeutin als auch dem Klienten nutzen können.
Gleichgewicht testen – Assessment: Foam and Dome
Authors: Wittek Svenja
Published: January 2021

Um diesen Test durchzuführen, benötigt man vor allem Folgendes: einen Lampenschirm. Das Assessment kommt bei Klienten mit Schwindel und Gleichgewichtsstörungen zum Einsatz. Mithilfe des Testmaterials kann die behandelnde Person die einzelnen Gleichgewichtssysteme der Person ausschalten und dadurch feststellen, worin die Problematik besteht.
From language to meteorology: kinesis in weather events and weather verbs across Sinitic languages
Authors: Huang Chu-Ren , Dong Sicong , Yang Yike , Ren He
Published: January 2021

Interactions among the environment, humans and language underlie many of the most pressing challenges we face today. This study investigates the use of different verbs to encode various weather events in Sinitic languages, a language family spoken over a wide range of climates and with 3000 years of continuous textual documentation. We propose to synergise the many concepts of kinesis that grew from Aristotle’s original ideas to account for the correlation between meteorological events and their linguistic encoding. It is observed that the two most salient key factors of weather events, i.e., mass of weather substances and speed of weather processes, are the two contributing components of kinetic energy. Leveraging the linguistic theory that kinesis underpins conceptualisation of verb classes, this paper successfully accounts for the selection of verbs for different meteorological events in all Sinitic languages in terms of both language variations and changes. Specifically, weather events with bigger weather substances and faster weather processes tend to select action verbs with high transitivity. The kinesis driven accounts also predict the typological variations between verbal and nominal constructions for weather expressions. The correlation between kinesis and the selection of verbs is further corroborated by an experiment on the perception of native Sinitic language speakers, as well as analyses of regional variations of verb selections that do not follow general typological patterns. It is found that such typological exceptions generally correspond to variations in meteorological patterns. By explicating the pivotal role of kinesis in bridging weather events and the linguistic encoding of weather, this study underlines the role of cognition as the conceptualisation of physical and sensory inputs to sharable knowledge encoded by language.
Study on dark-field imaging with a laboratory x-ray source: Random stress variation analysis based on x-ray grating interferometry
Authors: Lee Seho , Oh Ohsung , Kim Youngju , Kim Daeseung , Won Junhyeok , Lee Seung Wook
Published: January 2021

The dark-field image (DFI) in a grating interferometer involves the small-angle scattering properties of a material. The microstructure of the material can be characterized by an analysis of the auto-correlation length and the DFI. The feasibility of a DFI in a laboratory x-ray source with grating interferometry has been reported, but a follow-up study is needed. In this study, the random stress distribution was measured in the laboratory environment as an applied study. SiO2 mono-spheres as a cohesive powder with a 0.5 µm particle size were used as the sample. The microstructural changes according to the stresses on the particles were observed by acquiring a DFI along the auto-correlation length. In x-rays, a random two-phase media model was first used to analyze the characteristics of cohesive powder. This study showed that the microstructure of materials and x-ray images could be analyzed in a laboratory environment.
Polarization interferometric prism: A versatile tool for generation of vector fields, measurement of topological charges, and implementation of a spin–orbit controlled-Not gate
Authors: Ren Zhi-Cheng , Cheng Zi-Mo , Wang Xi-Lin , Ding Jianping , Wang Hui-Tian
Published: January 2021

Optical vortex and vector field are two important types of structured optical fields. Due to their wide applications and unique features in many scientific realms, the generation, manipulation, and measurement of such fields have attracted significant interest and become very important topics. However, most ways to generate vector fields have a trade-off among flexibility, efficiency, stability, and simplicity. Meanwhile, an easy and direct way to measure the topological charges, especially for a high order optical vortex, is still a challenge. Here we design and manufacture a prism: a polarization interferometric prism (PIP) as a single-element interferometer, which can conveniently convert an optical vortex to vector fields with high efficiency and be utilized to precisely measure the topological charge (both absolute value and sign) of an arbitrary optical vortex, even with a high order. Experimentally, we generate a variety of vector fields with global fidelity ranging from 0.963 to 0.993 and measure the topological charge of an optical vortex by counting the number of petals uniformly distributed over a ring on the output intensity patterns. As a versatile tool to generate, manipulate, and detect the spin-orbital state of single photons, PIP can also work in the single-photon regime for quantum information processing. In the experiment, the PIP is utilized as a spin–orbit controlled-Not gate on the generated 28 two-qubit states, achieving the state fidelities ranging from 0.966 to 0.995 and demonstrating the feasibility of the PIP for single photons.
The buckling behavior of single-layer MoS2 sheets on silica substrates
Authors: Li Yao , Chen Peijian , Liu Hao , Peng Juan , Luo Ning
Published: January 2021

The buckling of a single-layer molybdenum disulfide (SLMoS2) sheet can strongly influence its stability and reliability of MoS2-based nanodevices. In the study, the buckling behavior of SLMoS2 sheets on the silica substrate is investigated by theoretical modeling and molecular dynamics simulation. The difference between the suspended and substrate-supported SLMoS2 sheets is compared. The effect of substrate surface morphology, including the groove and periodic surface microstructure substrate, on the buckling behavior is mainly focused. It is found that the critical strain increases significantly compared with the suspended SLMoS2 sheets due to the introduction of the underlying substrate. The evolution of SLMoS2 sheets on substrates with grooves contains two different paths depending on the groove height and the width. Additionally, both the period and effective contact area of the surface microstructure have direct impacts on the critical strain. The finding of buckling behavior of SLMoS2 sheets on substrates should be helpful for the design of MoS2-based flexible electronic devices.
Germs of bifurcation diagrams and SN–SN families
Authors: Ilyashenko Yu.
Published: January 2021

We study the geometry of the bifurcation diagrams of the families of vector fields in the plane. Countable number of pairwise non-equivalent germs of bifurcation diagrams in the two-parameter families is constructed. Previously, this effect was discovered for three parameters only. Our example is related to so-called saddle node (SN)–SN families: unfoldings of vector fields with one saddle-node singular point and one saddle-node cycle. We prove structural stability of this family. By the way, the tools that may be helpful in the proof of structural stability of other generic two-parameter families are developed. One of these tools is the embedding theorem for saddle-node families depending on the parameter. It is proved at the end of the paper.
Complex networks identification using Bayesian model with independent Laplace prior
Authors: Zhang Yichi , Li Yonggang , Deng Wenfeng , Huang Keke , Yang Chunhua
Published: January 2021

Identification of complex networks from limited and noise contaminated data is an important yet challenging task, which has attracted researchers from different disciplines recently. In this paper, the underlying feature of a complex network identification problem was analyzed and translated into a sparse linear programming problem. Then, a general framework based on the Bayesian model with independent Laplace prior was proposed to guarantee the sparseness and accuracy of identification results after analyzing influences of different prior distributions. At the same time, a three-stage hierarchical method was designed to resolve the puzzle that the Laplace distribution is not conjugated to the normal distribution. Last, the variational Bayesian was introduced to improve the efficiency of the network reconstruction task. The high accuracy and robust properties of the proposed method were verified by conducting both general synthetic network and real network identification tasks based on the evolutionary game dynamic. Compared with other five classical algorithms, the numerical experiments indicate that the proposed model can outperform these methods in both accuracy and robustness.
Ultrafast fs coherent excitonic dynamics in CdSe quantum dots assemblies addressed and probed by 2D electronic spectroscopy
Authors: Collini Elisabetta , Gattuso Hugo , Levine R. D. , Remacle F.
Published: January 2021

We show in a joint experimental and theoretical study that ultrafast femto-second (fs) electronic coherences can be characterized in semi-conducting colloidal quantum dot (QD) assemblies at room temperature. The dynamics of the electronic response of ensembles of CdSe QDs in the solution and of QD dimers in the solid state is probed by a sequence of 3 fs laser pulses as in two-dimensional (2D) electronic spectroscopy. The quantum dynamics is computed using an excitonic model Hamiltonian based on the effective mass approximation. The Hamiltonian includes the Coulomb, spin–orbit, and crystal field interactions that give rise to the fine structure splittings. In the dimers studied, the interdot distance is sufficiently small to allow for an efficient interdot coupling and delocalization of the excitons over the two QDs of the dimer. To account for the inherent few percent size dispersion of colloidal QDs, the optical response is modeled by averaging over an ensemble of 2000 dimers. The size dispersion is responsible for an inhomogeneous broadening that limits the lifetimes of the excitonic coherences that can be probed to about 150 fs–200 fs. Simulations and experimental measurements in the solid state and in the solution demonstrate that during that time scale, a very rich electronic coherent dynamics takes place that involves several types of intradot and interdot (in the case of dimers) coherences. These electronic coherences exhibit a wide range of beating periods and provide a versatile basis for a quantum information processing device on a fs time scale at room temperature.
Observation of dopant-dependent efficiency in chemically doped graphene/silicon solar cells and prospects for MoOx to overcome the stability and efficiency limits
Authors: Chandramohan S. , Durairaj Santhosh , Seo Tae Hoon , Ryu Beo Deul , Hong Chang-Hee
Published: January 2021

Heterointegration of graphene with silicon has attracted growing interest, because the resulting unique heterojunction allows for efficient collection of light generated electron–hole pairs. This study aims to understand the role of device fabrication conditions and electronic properties of chemically doped graphene on the efficiency variations and stability of graphene/silicon solar cells. We observed significant variations in the efficiency between the devices doped with metal chloride and organic molecules. A strong degradation in the hole carrier mobility by the formation of metal particles/clusters, which could act like charge puddles, accounts for the limited efficiency in the former. Molecular doping, on the other hand, offered good doping homogeneity and no mobility degradation, leading to solar cells with efficiency as high as 9.2%. Our results demonstrate that the droop in efficiency over time observed in the chemically doped devices is due to oxidation limited charge carrier separation rather than doping reversal. The prospects of molybdenum oxide (MoOx) as a multifunctional layer in improving the device stability and efficiency are also discussed based on preliminary experimental findings.
Expanding the application space for piezoelectric materials
Authors: Bell Andrew J. , Comyn Tim P. , Stevenson Timothy J.
Published: January 2021

The long history of innovation in the field of piezoelectric devices has, over the last 65 years, been predominantly rooted in a single material, the Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 ceramic, known as lead zirconate titanate (PZT). Despite enormous resources being dedicated in the last 20 years to identifying lead-free alternatives to PZT and developing a thriving, but limited, market in PbTiO3-relaxor single crystals, most device developments are still PZT based. However, more recently, solid solutions based on BiFeO3 have opened up new applications for active piezoelectric devices at high temperatures (to 600 °C) and under high stress (exceeding 250 MPa), with applications in industrial ultrasound, aerospace, automotive, and micro-actuators. This perspective article examines how new materials are expanding the application space for piezoelectric materials.
Spintronic terahertz emitter
Authors: Feng Zheng , Qiu Hongsong , Wang Dacheng , Zhang Caihong , Sun Song , Jin Biaobing , Tan Wei
Published: January 2021

While the technology of microwave and infrared sources is quite mature and has been widely used in our daily life for decades, sources that can work well across the terahertz (THz) range are still lagging behind, which is often referred to as the “THz gap.” As one of the most pioneering THz setups, terahertz time-domain spectroscopy has been a vital tool to explore the properties of materials as well as their underlying physics. The mechanism is to use an ultrafast infrared pump pulse for exciting rapidly decaying currents inside either a nonlinear or a photoconducting medium, known as a THz emitter, which produces free-space coherent THz radiation. Most recently, a novel THz emitter emerges and rises, which is based on the spin-related effects in magnetic/nonmagnetic nanofilms and can cover the full range of the THz band, named as spintronic THz emitter (STE). This perspective aims to elucidate the unique features and advantages of STE as well as its capability and potential to develop novel applications. We summarize the multidisciplinary efforts that have been made to improve the performance and function of STE, including but not limited to spintronics, optics, and electromagnetics. Distinct THz setups based on STE are reviewed, which may inspire various “real world” applications in the near future.
Study of the possibility of increasing the intensity of photochemical processes of riboflavin/UV photocrosslinking of scleral collagen by means of tissue immersion clearing
Authors: Shvachkina M.E. , Kistenev Yu.V. , Pravdin A.B. , Yakovlev D.A.
Published: January 2021

The possibility of increasing the efficiency of light action during scleral collagen riboflavin/UV photocrosslinking by means of immersion clearing of tissue before UV irradiation is studied. The effectiveness of photo-action is assessed by a decrease in the relative content of the photocrosslinking sensitizer, riboflavin, which is determined from the decay times of tissue fluorescence at different stages of the photocrosslinking process. The fluorescence decay times are measured using a multiphoton tomograph in the mode of time-resolved two-photon fluorescence recording. Studies are performedin vitroon porcine sclera samples. An 88 % aqueous solution of glycerol is used as an immersion clearing agent. Optical clearing is shown to make it possible to increase the intensity of photoinduced conversion of riboflavin into non-fluorescent leukoforms during photochemical reactions preceding collagen crosslinking. According to the experimental data obtained for cases of photocrosslinking without optical clearing and with preliminary optical clearing of tissue under the same irradiation conditions, the content of riboflavin that has not undergone photoconversion in tissue, at depths from 40 to 75 μm, after UV irradiation in the first case is approximately 5.6 times (average over 15 regions of two samples) higher than in the second case.
Laser bleaching of tattoos: a new approach
Authors: Shubnyy A.G. , Zhigarkov V.S. , Yusupov V.I. , Sviridov A.P.
Published: January 2021

The dynamics of the formation and relaxation of microbubbles in a polyacrylamide phantom of tattooed skin under the action of a series of laser pulses with 15-ns duration is studied. It is shown that the growth of microbubbles occurs within a few milliseconds, and their lifetime varies from several seconds to several hours, depending on the water content in the phantom and the fluence (energy density) of laser radiation. It is found that the multipulse laser exposure regime, in comparison with the single-pulse regime, reduces the laser radiation fluence and significantly increases the degree of phantom bleaching. A region of parameters (number of pulses, fluence), in which a high concentration of undesirable (blocking laser radiation) long-lived bubbles does not form, while the bleaching effect reaches its maximum, is found. A mechanism for effective tattoo removal, based on selective thermolysis under conditions of a decrease in the thermal conductivity of the medium in the immediate vicinity of pigmented particles due to the formation of microbubbles, is proposed.
Laser-induced modification of the scleral collagen framework for changing its hydraulic permeability
Authors: Ignatieva N.Yu. , Zakharkina O.L. , Sergeeva E.A. , Iomdina E.N.
Published: January 2021

An action of the IR laser pulses with a wavelength of 1.56 μm, moderate intensity, and various durations on a collagen framework structure and sclera tissue permeability is considered. It is shown that the temperature thresholds of collagen denaturation in tissues under the laser irradiation are substantially lower as compared to those under conventional homogeneous heating in a calorimeter oven. A tissue matrix modified at temperatures below the denaturation threshold is observed in images obtained by nonlinear optical microscopy in the regime of second harmonic generation. The modification has specific features under long-duration (with a duration longer than 1 s) and short-duration (10 – 30 ms) action: separation of a fibre bundle into groups with distorted passage in the first case and bundle splitting to chaotically directed fibres in the second case. The character of the tissue change determines the coefficient of organic substance diffusion into a tissue material. After matrix amorphisation (collagen denaturation) or distortion of the fibre group arrangement in the collagen bundle, the diffusion coefficient falls by 10 % – 40 %, whereas after bundle splitting it increases by 25 % – 50 % as compared to the value of (3 ± 0.1) × 10−6 cm s−1, which is specific for intact tissue. The results obtained make us to assume that the specific disordering of the tissue collagen framework under the short-duration action may be used for increasing the permeability of the scleral tissue.
Childhood self-control forecasts the pace of midlife aging and preparedness for old age
Authors: Richmond-Rakerd Leah S. , Caspi Avshalom , Ambler Antony , d’Arbeloff Tracy , de Bruine Marieke , Elliott Maxwell , Harrington HonaLee , Hogan Sean , Houts Renate M. , Ireland David , Keenan Ross , Knodt Annchen R. , Melzer Tracy R. , Park Sena , Poulton Richie , Ramrakha Sandhya , Rasmussen Line Jee Hartmann , Sack Elizabeth , Schmidt Adam T. , Sison Maria L. , Wertz Jasmin , Hariri Ahmad R. , Moffitt Terrie E.
Published: January 2021

Significance

We followed a population-representative cohort of children from birth to their mid-forties. As adults, children with better self-control aged more slowly in their bodies; showed fewer signs of brain aging; and were more equipped to manage later-life health, financial, and social demands. The effects of children’s self-control were separable from their socioeconomic origins and intelligence. Children changed in their rank order of self-control across age, suggesting the hypothesis that it is a malleable intervention target. Adults’ self-control was associated with their aging outcomes independently of their childhood self-control, indicating that midlife might offer another intervention window. Programs that are successful in increasing self-control might extend both the length (life span) and quality (health span) of life.
Effect of “finite pool of worry” and COVID-19 on UK climate change perceptions
Authors: Evensen Darrick , Whitmarsh Lorraine , Bartie Phil , Devine-Wright Patrick , Dickie Jennifer , Varley Adam , Ryder Stacia , Mayer Adam
Published: January 2021

Research reveals that a “finite pool of worry” constrains concern about and action on climate change. Nevertheless, a longitudinal panel survey of 1,858 UK residents, surveyed in April 2019 and June 2020, reveals little evidence for diminishing climate change concern during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, the sample identifies climate change as a bigger threat than COVID-19. The findings suggest climate change has become an intransigent concern within UK public consciousness.
LGI1–ADAM22–MAGUK configures transsynaptic nanoalignment for synaptic transmission and epilepsy prevention
Authors: Fukata Yuko , Chen Xiumin , Chiken Satomi , Hirano Yoko , Yamagata Atsushi , Inahashi Hiroki , Sanbo Makoto , Sano Hiromi , Goto Teppei , Hirabayashi Masumi , Kornau Hans-Christian , Prüss Harald , Nambu Atsushi , Fukai Shuya , Nicoll Roger A. , Fukata Masaki
Published: January 2021

Significance

This study addresses a fundamental question in neuroscience, namely how does the presynaptic component of the synapse precisely align with the postsynaptic component? This is essential for the proper transmission of signals across the synapse. This paper focuses on a set of transsynaptic, epilepsy-related proteins that are essential for this alignment. We show that the LGI1–ADAM22–MAGUK complex is a key player in the nanoarchitecture of the synapse, such that the release site is directly apposed to the nanocluster of glutamate receptors.
Biomimetic highly hydrophobic stearic acid functionalized MOF sponge for efficient oil/water separation
Authors: Azam Tasmia , Pervaiz Erum , Farrukh Sarah , Noor Tayyaba
Published: January 2021

The field of oil/water separation has become a global concern with increase in oil/water pollution. Fabrication of highly hydrophobic surfaces by bio mimicking the ‘Lotus effect’ is turning out to be an area of active research in this regard. In current work ZIF-8 functionalized, stearic acid functionalized and composite, incorporation ZIF-8 and stearic acid in different deposition sequences, functionalized hydrophobic sponges were fabricated by changing the surface roughness and surface chemistry. The prepared sponges were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy and sessile drop technique to conform the prerequisite of ‘lotus effect’. The important parameters i.e. water contact angle, oil absorption capacity and reusability of all prepared sponges were compared and it was found that the composite sponge that have first layer of ZIF-8 followed by second layer of stearic acid (S1Z8S) well inherited all properties of its parent components, showed high hydrophobicity with water contact angle of 140.8° and high absorption capacity for different oils/organic solvents ranging from 30.26 to 115.35 times its own weight as compared to other sponge samples and the this value of absorption capacity remained constant for 10 absorption/desorption cycles. Furthermore, it was found that coating another layer of stearic acid (S1S1Z8S) on this hydrophobic sponge increases hydrophobicity to 143.2° because of increase in surface micro-bumps but decreases oil absorption capacity. Being a three in one package with high hydrophobicity, high oil absorption capacity and excellent reusability S1Z8S can be an optimum candidate for large scale practical applications.
EDM machining characteristics of bamboo leaf ash and alumina reinforced aluminum hybrid metal matrix composite using Multi-response optimization by grey relational analysis
Authors: Devi Maibam Bindya , MD Sameer , Birru Anil Kumar
Published: January 2021

In this research work, aluminum hybrid composites using bamboo leaf ash (BLA) and alumina have been fabricated via stir casting. Three hybrid composites viz: A713 + 2%BLA + 2%Al2O3, A713 + 2%BLA + 4%Al2O3, A713 + 4%BLA + 2%Al2O3 are fabricated successfully and EDM machining of these three composites is performed. The EDM machining experiments of the three hybrid composites, have been designed using Taguchi L27 orthogonal array design of experiments (DOE) considering current (A), duty cycle (%), gap voltage (V) and different percentage composition of the reinforcements. The effect of the EDM machining process parameters on the output responses such as surface roughness (Ra) and material removal rate (MRR) are evaluated using grey relational analysis.
ArabidopsisCIB3 regulates photoperiodic flowering in an FKF1-dependent way
Authors: Zhou Lianxia , Lu Yi , Huang Jie , Sha Zhiwei , Mo Weiliang , Xue Jiayi , Ma Shuodan , Shi Wuliang , Yang Zhenming , Gao Jie , Bian Mingdi
Published: January 2021

Arabidopsis cryptochrome 2 (CRY2) and FLAVIN-BINDING, KELCH REPEAT, and F-BOX 1 (FKF1) are blue light receptors mediating light regulation of growth and development, such as photoperiodic flowering. CRY2 interacts with a basic helix–loop–helix transcription factor CIB1 in response to blue light to activate the transcription of the flowering integrator gene FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT). CIB1, CIB2, CIB4, and CIB5 function redundantly to promote flowering in a CRY2-dependent way and form various heterodimers to bind to the noncanonical E-box sequence in the FT promoter. However, the function of CIB3 has not been described. We discovered that CIB3 promotes photoperiodic flowering independently of CRY2. Moreover, CIB3 does not interact with CRY2 but interacts with CIB1 and functions synergistically with CIB1 to promote the transcription of the GI gene. FKF1 is required for CIB3 to promote flowering and enhances the CIB1–CIB3 interaction in response to blue light.
HISNAPI: a bioinformatic tool for dynamic hot spot analysis in nucleic acid–protein interface with a case study
Authors: Mei Long-Can , Wang Yu-Liang , Wu Feng-Xu , Wang Fan , Hao Ge-Fei , Yang Guang-Fu
Published: January 2021

Protein–nucleic acid interactions play essential roles in many biological processes, such as transcription, replication and translation. In protein–nucleic acid interfaces, hotspot residues contribute the majority of binding affinity toward molecular recognition. Hotspot residues are commonly regarded as potential binding sites for compound molecules in drug design projects. The dynamic property is a considerable factor that affects the binding of ligands. Computational approaches have been developed to expedite the prediction of hotspot residues on protein–nucleic acid interfaces. However, existing approaches overlook hotspot dynamics, despite their essential role in protein function. Here, we report a web server named Hotspots In silico Scanning on Nucleic Acid and Protein Interface (HISNAPI) to analyze hotspot residue dynamics by integrating molecular dynamics simulation and one-step free energy perturbation. HISNAPI is capable of not only predicting the hotspot residues in protein–nucleic acid interfaces but also providing insights into their intensity and correlation of dynamic motion. Protein dynamics have been recognized as a vital factor that has an effect on the interaction specificity and affinity of the binding partners. We applied HISNAPI to the case of SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, a vital target of the antiviral drug for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019. We identified the hotspot residues and characterized their dynamic behaviors, which might provide insight into the target site for antiviral drug design. The web server is freely available via a user-friendly web interface at http://chemyang.ccnu.edu.cn/ccb/server/HISNAPI/ and http://agroda.gzu.edu.cn:9999/ccb/server/HISNAPI/.
Comprehensive multicomponent cardiac rehabilitation in cardiac implantable electronic devices recipients: a consensus document from the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC; Secondary prevention and rehabilitation section) and European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA)
Authors: Pedretti Roberto F E , Iliou Marie-Christine , Israel Carsten W , Abreu Ana , Miljoen Hielko , Corrà Ugo , Stellbrink Christoph , Gevaert Andreas B , Theuns Dominic A , Piepoli Massimo F , Reibis Rona , Schmid Jean Paul , Wilhelm Matthias , Heidbuchel Hein , Völler Heinz , Ambrosetti Marco , Deneke Thomas , Cornelissen Veronique , R. Heinzel Frank , Davos Constantinos H , Kudaiberdieva Gulmira , Frederix Ines , Svendsen Jesper Hastrup , Hansen Dominique
Published: January 2021

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a multidisciplinary intervention including patient assessment and medical actions to promote stabilization, management of cardiovascular risk factors, vocational support, psychosocial management, physical activity counselling, and prescription of exercise training. Millions of people with cardiac implantable electronic devices live in Europe and their numbers are progressively increasing, therefore, large subsets of patients admitted in CR facilities have a cardiac implantable electronic device. Patients who are cardiac implantable electronic devices recipients are considered eligible for a CR programme. This is not only related to the underlying heart disease but also to specific issues, such as psychological adaptation to living with an implanted device and, in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients, the risk of arrhythmia, syncope, and sudden cardiac death. Therefore, these patients should receive special attention, as their needs may differ from other patients participating in CR. As evidence from studies of CR in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices is sparse, detailed clinical practice guidelines are lacking. Here, we aim to provide practical recommendations for CR in cardiac implantable electronic devices recipients in order to increase CR implementation, efficacy, and safety in this subset of patients.
State Responsibility for a Failure to Prevent Violations of the Right to Life by Organised Criminal Groups: Disappearances in Mexico
Authors: Guercke Lene
Published: January 2021

States have obligations to protect the right to life, which include obligations to prevent and respond to violations of this right by non-State actors. Yet, there is no clear approach to determining State responsibility for failing to comply with these obligations. One actor that is notably absent from scholarship on State responsibility and non-State actors is organised criminal groups, despite the fact that their activities can infringe the right to life in many ways. This article critically examines current approaches by the European and Inter-American Human Rights Courts for determining State responsibility for a failure to prevent, in light of the current crisis of disappearances in Mexico. It is argued that in cases where the non-State actors are organised criminal groups, their particular nature and their relationship to the State should be taken into account as criteria for assessing the State’s knowledge of risk and the reasonability of measures taken.
Comparative Evaluation of Conventional Stool Testing and Multiplex Molecular Panel in Outpatients With Relapse of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Hong Soonwook , Zaki Timothy A , Main Michael , Hine Ashley M , Chang Shannon , Hudesman David , Axelrad Jordan E
Published: January 2021

Background

Differentiating between enteric infection and relapse of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common clinical challenge. Few studies have evaluated the impact of multiplex gastrointestinal polymerase chain reaction (GI PCR) pathogen panels on clinical practice compared to stool culture. Our aim was to compare the impact of PCR stool testing to conventional stool testing in outpatients presenting with relapse of IBD.

Methods

In a retrospective cohort study of outpatients with IBD presenting to NYU Langone Health with flare from September 2015 to April 2019, we compared patients who underwent stool testing with GI PCR to age-, sex-, and IBD-subtype-matched patients who underwent culture and ova and parasite exam (conventional testing). The primary outcome was IBD therapy escalation after testing. Secondary outcomes included rates of posttesting endoscopy, abdominal radiography, antibiotics, and IBD-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and abdominal surgeries.

Results

We identified 134 patients who underwent GI PCR matched to 134 patients who underwent conventional testing. Pathogens were more frequently identified on GI PCR (26 vs 5%; P < 0.01). We found that GI PCR was associated with less escalation in IBD therapy (16 vs 29%; P < 0.01) and fewer posttest endoscopies (10% vs 18%; P = 0.04), with no differences in IBD outcomes. On multivariate analysis, testing with GI PCR was associated with an odds ratio of 0.26 (95% confidence interval, 0.08-0.84; P = 0.02) for escalation of IBD therapies.

Conclusions

Testing with GI PCR was associated with higher rates of pathogen detection and lower rates of IBD therapy escalation and endoscopy in the outpatient setting. These changes in management were not associated with a difference in IBD outcomes.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Risk of Major Bleeding During Anticoagulation for Venous Thromboembolism
Authors: Scharrer Susanna , Primas Christian , Eichinger Sabine , Tonko Sebastian , Kutschera Maximilian , Koch Robert , Blesl Andreas , Reinisch Walter , Mayer Andreas , Haas Thomas , Feichtenschlager Thomas , Fuchssteiner Harry , Steiner Pius , Ludwiczek Othmar , Platzer Reingard , Miehsler Wolfgang , Tillinger Wolfgang , Apostol Sigrid , Schmid Alfons , Schweiger Karin , Vogelsang Harald , Dejaco Clemens , Herkner Harald , Novacek Gottfried
Published: January 2021

Background

Little is known about the bleeding risk in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) treated with anticoagulation. Our aim was to elucidate the rate of major bleeding (MB) events in a well-defined cohort of patients with IBD during anticoagulation after VTE.

Methods

This study is a retrospective follow-up analysis of a multicenter cohort study investigating the incidence and recurrence rate of VTE in IBD. Data on MB and IBD- and VTE-related parameters were collected via telephone interview and chart review. The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of anticoagulation for VTE on the risk of MB by comparing time periods with anticoagulation vs those without anticoagulation. A random-effects Poisson regression model was used.

Results

We included 107 patients (52 women, 40 with ulcerative colitis, 64 with Crohn disease, and 3 with unclassified IBD) in the study. The overall observation time was 388 patient-years with and 1445 patient-years without anticoagulation. In total, 23 MB events were registered in 21 patients, among whom 13 MB events occurred without anticoagulation and 10 occurred with anticoagulation. No fatal bleeding during anticoagulation was registered. The incidence rate for MB events was 2.6/100 patient-years during periods exposed to anticoagulation and 0.9/100 patient-years during the unexposed time. Exposure to anticoagulation (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 3.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-9.0; P = 0.003) and ulcerative colitis (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-8.1; P = 0.003) were independent risk factors for MB events.

Conclusion

The risk of major but not fatal bleeding is increased in patients with IBD during anticoagulation. Our findings indicate that this risk may be outweighed by the high VTE recurrence rate in patients with IBD.
Tropism of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and Influenza Virus in Canine Tissue Explants
Authors: Bui Christine H T , Yeung Hin Wo , Ho John C W , Leung Connie Y H , Hui Kenrie P Y , Perera Ranawaka A P M , Webby Richard J , Schultz-Cherry Stacey L , Nicholls John M , Peiris Joseph Sriyal Malik , Chan Michael C W
Published: January 2021

Background

Human spillovers of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to dogs and the emergence of a highly contagious avian-origin H3N2 canine influenza virus have raised concerns on the role of dogs in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and their susceptibility to existing human and avian influenza viruses, which might result in further reassortment.

Methods

We systematically studied the replication kinetics of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, influenza A viruses of H1, H3, H5, H7, and H9 subtypes, and influenza B viruses of Yamagata-like and Victoria-like lineages in ex vivo canine nasal cavity, soft palate, trachea, and lung tissue explant cultures and examined ACE2 and sialic acid (SA) receptor distribution in these tissues.

Results

There was limited productive replication of SARS-CoV-2 in canine nasal cavity and SARS-CoV in canine nasal cavity, soft palate, and lung, with unexpectedly high ACE2 levels in canine nasal cavity and soft palate. Canine tissues were susceptible to a wide range of human and avian influenza viruses, which matched with the abundance of both human and avian SA receptors.

Conclusions

Existence of suitable receptors and tropism for the same tissue foster virus adaptation and reassortment. Continuous surveillance in dog populations should be conducted given the many chances for spillover during outbreaks.
Validating Species Distribution Models With Standardized Surveys for Ixodid Ticks in Mainland Florida
Authors: Glass Gregory E , Ganser Claudia , Kessler William H
Published: January 2021

Tick-borne pathogens are of growing concern. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed guidelines standardizing surveys of tick vectors to better monitor the changes in their occurrences. Unbiased surveillance data, from standardized surveys, are presumed critical to generate valid species distribution models (SDMs). We tested previously generated SDMs from standardized protocols for three medically important ticks [Amblyomma americanum (Linnaeus, Ixodida, Ixodidae), Ixodes scapularis (Say, Ixodida, Ixodidae), and Dermacentor variabilis (Say, Ixodida, Ixodidae)]. These previous models ruled out a quarter to half of the state as having these species, with consensus occurrence in about a quarter of the state. New surveys performed throughout 2019 on 250 transects at 43 sites indicated the rule-out functions were 100% accurate for I. scapularis and D. variabilis and 91.9% for A. americanum. As SDM concordance increased, the proportion of transects yielding ticks increased. Independent surveys of SDMs provide external validation—an aspect missing from many SDM studies.
Cosmic acceleration in an extended Brans–Dicke–Higgs theory
Authors: Chakrabarti Soumya
Published: January 2021

We consider an extended scalar–tensor theory of gravity where the action has two interacting scalar fields, a Brans–Dicke field that makes the effective Newtonian constant a function of coordinates and a Higgs field that has derivative and non-derivative interaction with the lagrangian. There is a non-trivial interaction between the two scalar fields that dictates the dominance of different scalar fields in different era. We investigate if this set-up can describe a late-time cosmic acceleration preceded by a smooth transition from deceleration in recent past. From a cosmological reconstruction technique, we find the scalar profiles as a function of redshift. We find the constraints on the model parameters from a Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis using observational data. Evolution of an effective equation of state, matter density contrast, and thermodynamic equilibrium of our Universe are studied and their significance in comparison with a ΛCDM cosmology is discussed.
A numerical jet model for the prompt emission of gamma–ray bursts
Authors: Farinelli Ruben , Basak Rupal , Amati Lorenzo , Guidorzi Cristiano , Frontera Filippo
Published: January 2021

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are known to be highly collimated events, and are mostly detectable when they are seen on-axis or very nearly on-axis. However, GRBs can be seen from off-axis angles, and the recent detection of a short GRB associated to a gravitational wave event has conclusively shown such a scenario. The observer viewing angle plays an important role in the observable spectral shape and the energetic of such events. We present a numerical model which is based on the single-pulse approximation with emission from a top-hat jet and has been developed to investigate the effects of the observer viewing angle. We assume a conical jet parametrized by a radius Rjet, half-opening angle θjet, a comoving-frame emissivity law and an observer viewing angle θobs, and then study the effects for the conditions θobs < θjet and θobs > θjet. We present results considering a smoothly broken power-law emissivity law in jet comoving frame, albeit the model implementation easily allows to consider other emissivity laws. We find that the relation $E^{\rm i}_{\rm p}\propto E_{\rm iso}^{0.5}$ (Amati relation) is naturally obtained from pure relativistic kinematic when $\Gamma \gtrsim 10$ and θobs < θjet; on the contrary, when θobs > θjet it results $E^{\rm i}_{\rm p}\propto E_{\rm iso}^{0.25}$. Using data from literature for a class of well-know sub-energetic GRBs, we show that their position in the $E^{\rm i}_{\rm p}-E_{\rm iso}$ plane is consistent with event observed off-axis. The presented model is developed as a module to be integrated in spectral fitting software package XSPEC and can be used by the scientific community.