bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Homogeneous 2D MoTe2 CMOS Inverters and p–n Junctions Formed by Laser‐Irradiation‐Induced p‐Type Doping
Authors: Chen Jing , Zhu Junqiang , Wang Qiyuan , Wan Jing , Liu Ran
Published: June 2020

Among all typical transition‐metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), the bandgap of α‐MoTe2 is smallest and is close to that of conventional 3D Si. The properties of α‐MoTe2 make it a favorable candidate for future electronic devices. Even though there are a few reports regarding fabrication of complementary metal–oxide‐semiconductor (CMOS) inverters or p–n junction by controlling the charge‐carrier polarity of TMDs, the fabrication process is complicated. Here, a straightforward selective doping technique is demonstrated to fabricate a 2D p–n junction diode and CMOS inverter on a single α‐MoTe2 nanoflake. The n‐doped channel of a single α‐MoTe2 nanoflake is selectively converted to a p‐doped region via laser‐irradiation‐induced MoOx doping. The homogeneous 2D MoTe2 CMOS inverter has a high DC voltage gain of 28, desirable noise margin (NMH = 0.52 VDD, NML = 0.40 VDD), and an AC gain of 4 at 10 kHz. The results show that the doping technique by laser scan can be potentially used for future larger‐scale MoTe2 CMOS circuits.
Engineering Protein Nanoparticles Out from Components of the Human Microbiome
Authors: López‐Laguna Hèctor , Sánchez‐García Laura , Serna Naroa , Voltà‐Durán Eric , Sánchez Julieta M. , Sánchez‐Chardi Alejandro , Unzueta Ugutz , Łoś Marcin , Villaverde Antonio , Vázquez Esther
Published: June 2020

Nanoscale protein materials are highly convenient as vehicles for targeted drug delivery because of their structural and functional versatility. Selective binding to specific cell surface receptors and penetration into target cells require the use of targeting peptides. Such homing stretches should be incorporated to larger proteins that do not interact with body components, to prevent undesired drug release into nontarget organs. Because of their low interactivity with human body components and their tolerated immunogenicity, proteins derived from the human microbiome are appealing and fully biocompatible building blocks for the biofabrication of nonreactive, inert protein materials within the nanoscale. Several phage and phage‐like bacterial proteins with natural structural roles are produced in Escherichia coli as polyhistidine‐tagged recombinant proteins, looking for their organization as discrete, nanoscale particulate materials. While all of them self‐assemble in a variety of sizes, the stability of the resulting constructs at 37 °C is found to be severely compromised. However, the fine adjustment of temperature and Zn2+ concentration allows the formation of robust nanomaterials, fully stable in complex media and under physiological conditions. Then, microbiome‐derived proteins show promise for the regulatable construction of scaffold protein nanomaterials, which can be tailored and strengthened by simple physicochemical approaches.
Active Encapsulation in Biocompatible Nanocapsules
Authors: Wu Baiheng , Yang Chenjing , Li Bo , Feng Leyun , Hai Mingtan , Zhao Chun‐Xia , Chen Dong , Liu Kai , Weitz David A.
Published: June 2020

Co‐precipitation is generally refers to the co‐precipitation of two solids and is widely used to prepare active‐loaded nanoparticles. Here, it is demonstrated that liquid and solid can precipitate simultaneously to produce hierarchical core–shell nanocapsules that encapsulate an oil core in a polymer shell. During the co‐precipitation process, the polymer preferentially deposits at the oil/water interface, wetting both the oil and water phases; the behavior is determined by the spreading coefficients and driven by the energy minimization. The technique is applicable to directly encapsulate various oil actives and avoid the use of toxic solvent or surfactant during the preparation process. The obtained core–shell nanocapsules harness the advantage of biocompatibility, precise control over the shell thickness, high loading capacity, high encapsulation efficiency, good dispersity in water, and improved stability against oxidation. The applications of the nanocapsules as delivery vehicles are demonstrated by the excellent performances of natural colorant and anti‐cancer drug‐loaded nanocapsules. The core–shell nanocapsules with a controlled hierarchical structure are, therefore, ideal carriers for practical applications in food, cosmetics, and drug delivery.
Low‐Cost Permanent Magnet‐Assisted Switched Reluctance Motor for Adjustable Speed Drive Applications
Authors: Kucuk Fuat , Nakamura Taketsune
Published: June 2020

Permanent Magnet (PM) motors have been attracting great attention in recent technology because of providing higher efficiency as well as power/volume as compared to conventional wound‐rotor type machines. Recently, it has been demonstrated that NdFeB magnets, which are one of the expensive magnets, can be replaced by Alnico magnets in the case of Switched Reluctance Motor (SRM) without any performance degradation. However, the performance of this machine has not been analyzed so far under a proper torque control strategy. The main objective of this work is to investigate the performance of DITC‐controlled PM‐SRM under various conditions. The possible demagnetization effect of the Alnico magnets on motor performance has also been considered. Compared to same size SRM, 3% efficiency increase has been obtained at rated operation. Overall results demonstrate that PM‐SRM drive shows valuable performance and may have potential to be used in near future motor drive technology. © 2020 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Preparation of nanocellulose acetate from bleached hardwood pulp and its application for seawater desalination
Authors: Chung Nguyen Hoang , Van Binh Nguyen , Dien Le Quang
Published: June 2020

Nanocellulose acetate was prepared from commercial bleached Kraft hardwood cellulose by a two‐stage process. Firstly, the pulp was purified with sodium hydroxide solution followed by an acetylation process to form cellulose triacetate. Secondly, nanocellulose acetate was produced by treating the cellulose acetate obtained from the previous step with dilute sulfuric acid in presence of hydrogen peroxide at 120 °C. The synthesized products were applied to seawater desalination. Obtained results indicates that nanocellulose acetate is a promising material for seawater treatment since it shows better behavior and efficiency in this process than cellulose acetate.
Shelf‐life determination: inter‐relationship among chemical quality indicators of black tiger shrimp under different preservation conditions
Authors: Tam Le Nhat , Anh Huynh Nguyen Que , Khue Doan Nhu , Uyen Phan Thuy Xuan , Lien Nguyen Le Phuong , Van Thi Tran Thi
Published: June 2020

In this current work, the post‐harvest freshness and quality of black tiger shrimp as affected by different preservation methods during 14 days of storage at 0 °C were investigated. Especially, the different preservation methods included immersing in polyphenols solution, vacuum packaging, and a combination of polyphenol solutions and vacuum packaging, which were all compared with the control method, i.e. storage in ice. The quality indicators including total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB‐N), trimethylamine (TMA‐N), histamine, hypoxanthine, and quality index (QI) were used to evaluate the quality changes of shrimp during storage. The results showed that TVB‐N, TMA‐N and histamine increased with the increasing of storage time but at two different stages, while QI and hypoxanthine content increased linearly with preservation time. The process of black spot formation was partly and almost completely inhibited when shrimps were treated with polyphenol solution and stored under vacuum conditions. Linear regression equations between biochemical quality indicators have been developed for each sample. The remaining shelf‐life can be estimated by quality index method (QIM). The shelf‐life of treated samples appeared longer than that of the control. The vacuum packaging combined with polyphenol solutions of this study has a promise to increase the shelf‐life and quality of shrimp.
Study on Ni(II) adsorption by calcium alginate beads
Authors: Minh Vu Xuan , Dung Kim Thi Trang , Lan Pham Thi , Hanh Le Thi My , Dung Nguyen Tuan
Published: June 2020

Nickel is one of the toxic heavy metals, it is widely used in our daily lives, so there is a lot of risk of being released into the water to poison the human, flora, and fauna. In this study, we investigated the adsorption of Ni(II) on calcium alginate beads (CA), a natural polysaccharide with many outstanding advantages. The effects of initial pH, adsorptive times, and initial concentration of Ni(II) on the adsorption process were investigated. The results showed that the pH value of 3‐7.5 was favorable for the adsorption of Ni(II) on CA, the equilibrium adsorption started 60 minutes. The pseudo‐second order kinetic equation, both Langmuir and Freundlich isothermal models were fit to describe the experimental data. The maximum adsorption capacity reached 6.48 mg/g with wet alginate calcium beads, corresponding to 144 mg/g dry beads. Materials after adsorption were also studied desorption for reuse.
Synthesis and adsorption ability of manganese ferrite/graphene oxide nanocomposites for arsenic(V) removal from water
Authors: Thy Lu Thi Mong , My Nguyen Huong Tra , Tuong Huynh Huy Phuong , Chi Chung Vi , Tu Tran Hoang , Ha Huynh Ky Phuong , Nam Hoang Minh , Phong Mai Thanh , Hieu Nguyen Huu
Published: June 2020

This work aims to synthesise manganese ferrite/graphene oxide (MnFe2O4/GO) matrrials with various MnFe2O4 contents from 20‐60 wt.% in material for arsenic(V) (As(V)) removal. The nanocomposites were studied by X‐ray diffraction, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller, and vibrating‐sample magnetometry. The suitable mass ratio of MnFe2O4 in nanocomposite for As(V) removal was 50 wt.% (MGO50). The adsorption process on MGO50 followed the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models with the maximum adsorption amounts of 212.3 mg/g. Accordingly, MGO50 nanocomposite could be used as an effective adsorbent for removal of As(V) from water.
Mini Review: Anticancer activity of diterpenoid peroxides
Authors: Sikorsky Tatyana V. , Ermolenko Ekaterina V. , Gloriozova Tatyana A. , Dembitsky Valery M.
Published: June 2020

In this review, we present about 100 diterpenoid hydro‐ and endoperoxides isolated from algae, liverworts, leaves, bark, roots and other parts of plants. for the vast majority of hydroperoxides, antitumor activity dominates with a confidence of 63 % to 94 %. And for individual hydroperoxides, antiprotozoal (Plasmodium) activity was also found. For endoperoxides, antitumor activity is dominant with a confidence of 59 to 90 percent. Anti‐inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal activities have also been detected for individual endoperoxides. The data obtained are of interest to pharmacologists, medical professionals, as well as to the pharmaceutical industry.
The Persisting Importance of Rhetoric and Equity in Health Policy and Outcomes
Authors: Stabile Bonnie
Published: June 2020

This editorial considers the persisting importance of rhetoric and equity in health policy analysis, implementation, and outcomes. It argues that employing social determinants of health, and intersectional and rhetorical frames, can improve life and health outcomes, as measured by morbidity and mortality. The pertinence of these frames with regard to the crises brought on by the COVID‐19 pandemic is discussed, and the plan for a special issue on disparties and COVID‐19 is announced.
Illicit Wildlife Trade, Wet Markets, and COVID‐19: Preventing Future Pandemics
Authors: Aguirre A. Alonso , Catherina Richard , Frye Hailey , Shelley Louise
Published: June 2020

Although the exact origin of SARS‐CoV‐2, the etiologic agent of COVID‐19, is currently unknown, there is substantial evidence to suggest the source of transmission of the virus occurred within the Wuhan wet market. In these markets, bats and wild animals are frequently sold and stored in close contact. During several of the world's past pandemics, bats were essential to the spread of zoonotic diseases from bat to another animal or to humans directly. Live animal markets create the perfect conditions for novel viruses such as COVID‐19 to emerge. This paper suggests that to prevent future pandemics, the sale of exotic animals be banned at wet markets. It also advocates for the integration of the analysis of illicit trade with the study of zoonotic disease transmission and pandemics.
Classical gravitational scattering at $$ \mathcal{O} $$(G3) from Feynman diagrams
Authors: Cheung Clifford , Solon Mikhail P.
Published: June 2020

Abstract

We perform a Feynman diagram calculation of the two-loop scattering amplitude for gravitationally interacting massive particles in the classical limit. Conveniently, we are able to sidestep the most taxing diagrams by exploiting the test-particle limit in which the system is fully characterized by a particle propagating in a Schwarzschild spacetime. We assume a general choice of graviton field basis and gauge fixing that contains as a subset the well-known deDonder gauge and its various cousins. As a highly nontrivial consistency check, all gauge parameters evaporate from the final answer. Moreover, our result exactly matches that of Bern et al. [39], here verified up to sixth post-Newtonian order while also reproducing the same unique velocity resummation at third post-Minkowksian order.
The dual properties of chiral and isospin asymmetric dense quark matter formed of two-color quarks
Authors: Khunjua T.G. , Klimenko K.G. , Zhokhov R.N.
Published: June 2020

Abstract

In this paper the phase structure of dense baryon matter composed of u and d quarks with two colors has been investigated in the presence of baryon μ

B
, isospin μ

I
and chiral isospin μ

I5 chemical potentials in the framework of Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model with quark-antiquark and quark-quark interaction channels. In the chiral limit, it has been shown in the mean-field approximation that the duality between phases with spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking and condensation of charged pions, found in the three color case, remains valid in the two color case. In addition, it has been shown that there are two more dualities in the phase diagram in two color case, namely (as in the case with μ

I5 = 0), at μ

I5 ≠ 0 the general (μ, μ

I
, μ

I5)-phase portrait of the model has dual symmetry between the phase with condensation of charged pions and the phase with diquark condensation. This duality stays exact even in the physical point, m
0 ≠ 0. And at m
0 = 0 the (μ, μ

I
, μ

I5)- phase portrait becomes even more symmetrical, since dual symmetry between phases with spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking and diquark condensation appears. It is shown that due to the dualities the phase diagram is extremely symmetric and has interlacing structure. One can show that the phase portrait of two-color NJL model can be obtained just by duality properties from the results of investigations of three-color NJL model (it was noticed only after the numerical calculations have been performed). Three-color case shares only one duality of the two color one, and one can only see a facet of this enormously symmetric picture in the case of three colors. Using dualities only, it is possible to show that there are no mixed phases (phases with two non-zero condensates). This prediction of dualities is of great use, because for sure it can be shown by the direct calculations but it would be enormously more complicated and time-consuming numerically.
QGP universality in a magnetic field?
Authors: Buchel Alex , Umbert Bruno
Published: June 2020

Abstract

We use top-down holographic models to study the thermal equation of state of strongly coupled quark-gluon plasma in external magnetic field. We identify different conformal and non-conformal theories within consistent truncations of

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 8 gauged supergravity in five dimensions (including STU models, gauged

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 2* theory) and show that the ratio of the transverse to the longitudinal pressure P

T
/P

L
as a function of T /

$$ \sqrt{B} $$

B

can be collapsed to a ‘universal’ curve for a wide range of the adjoint hypermultiplet masses m. We stress that this does not imply any hidden universality in magnetoresponse, as other observables do not exhibit any universality. Instead, the observed collapse in P

T
/P

L
is simply due to a strong dependence of the equation of state on the (freely adjustable) renormalization scale: in other words, it is simply a fitting artifact. Remarkably, we do uncover a different universality in

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 2* gauge theory in the external magnetic field: we show that magnetized

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 2* plasma has a critical point at T
crit/

$$ \sqrt{B} $$

B

which value varies by 2% (or less) as m/

$$ \sqrt{B} $$

B

∈ [0, ∞). At criticality, and for large values of m/

$$ \sqrt{B} $$

B

, the effective central charge of the theory scales as ∝

$$ \sqrt{B} $$

B

/m.
Development of a hybrid DLT cloud architecture for the automated use of finite element simulation as a service for fine blanking
Authors: Stanke Joachim , Unterberg Martin , Trauth Daniel , Bergs Thomas
Published: June 2020

Networking and digitization in manufacturing enable novel methods of data-driven analysis and optimization of processes through cross-process data availability. The creation of digital twins plays an important role in this. However, not all data relevant for a digital twin can be measured directly in the process. Therefore, methods are needed that enable the modelling of quantities that are difficult or impossible to measure directly in the process, such as the finite element method. In many companies, however, neither the know-how nor the necessary IT infrastructure for finite element simulations is available. External commissioning processes are also not suitable for achieving the goals of higher productivity and agility pursued with the digitization and networking of manufacturing processes. In this contribution, an architecture is presented that enables the fully automated use of finite element simulation as a service. The architecture is developed using the case study of fine blanking. First, the requirements of the architecture to be created are determined. Important characteristics of the architecture should be scalability as well as interfaces and means of payment suitable for machine communication. In addition, ensuring data integrity is an important requirement when creating the digital twin. Based on the identified requirements, an architecture is then presented that meets these requirements by using cloud computing and distributed ledger technologies and interfaces that can directly process measurement signals from the process and communicate with the architecture. Finally, the capability of the architecture is tested, possible applications and limitations are discussed, and future extensions are considered.
Adaptive stochastic Galerkin FEM for lognormal coefficients in hierarchical tensor representations
Authors: Eigel Martin , Marschall Manuel , Pfeffer Max , Schneider Reinhold
Published: June 2020

Stochastic Galerkin methods for non-affine coefficient representations are known to cause major difficulties from theoretical and numerical points of view. In this work, an adaptive Galerkin FE method for linear parametric PDEs with lognormal coefficients discretized in Hermite chaos polynomials is derived. It employs problem-adapted function spaces to ensure solvability of the variational formulation. The inherently high computational complexity of the parametric operator is made tractable by using hierarchical tensor representations. For this, a new tensor train format of the lognormal coefficient is derived and verified numerically. The central novelty is the derivation of a reliable residual-based a posteriori error estimator. This can be regarded as a unique feature of stochastic Galerkin methods. It allows for an adaptive algorithm to steer the refinements of the physical mesh and the anisotropic Wiener chaos polynomial degrees. For the evaluation of the error estimator to become feasible, a numerically efficient tensor format discretization is developed. Benchmark examples with unbounded lognormal coefficient fields illustrate the performance of the proposed Galerkin discretization and the fully adaptive algorithm.
Development and validation of a multi-analyte GC-MS method for the determination of 84 substances from plastic food contact materials
Authors: Tsochatzis Emmanouil D. , Alberto Lopes Joao , Hoekstra Eddo , Emons Hendrik
Published: June 2020

Chemical substances shall not migrate from food contact materials (FCM) at levels that are potentially harmful for the consumers. Each of the current analytical methods applied to verify the migration of substances from FCM covers only one or few substances. There is a very limited number of publications on the development of analytical methods allowing the simultaneous determination of several classes of FCM substances, and almost none of them reported methods entirely dedicated to the ones in the positive list of Commission Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011 for plastic FCMs. Therefore, a simple, sensitive and reliable multi-analyte method was developed for the analysis of FCM substances in food simulants. It employs an optimised liquid-liquid extraction with dichloromethane as extraction solvent in the presence of 10% m/v NaCl, followed by quantitative analysis with gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A combination of total ion chromatograms (TICs) and extracted ion chromatograms (EICs) was used. The optimisation and validation of the method have been carried out according to current international guidelines. Adequate sensitivity was demonstrated in the selected concentration ranges for most of the analytes, with limits of quantification (LOQs) at least three times lower than the legislative limit, when existing. The results showed that the method is sufficiently accurate for the majority of substances, with recoveries between 70 and 115% and relative standard deviations (RSDs) smaller than 20% at three concentration levels. The method was applied to the analysis of some FCM multilayers. The method allows, for the first time, the simultaneous quantification of 84 FCM substances in two of the official food simulants (A and C) at levels of a few ng g−1.
A Fixed-Point Policy-Iteration-Type Algorithm for Symmetric Nonzero-Sum Stochastic Impulse Control Games
Authors: Zabaljauregui Diego
Published: June 2020

Nonzero-sum stochastic differential games with impulse controls offer a realistic and far-reaching modelling framework for applications within finance, energy markets, and other areas, but the difficulty in solving such problems has hindered their proliferation. Semi-analytical approaches make strong assumptions pertaining to very particular cases. To the author’s best knowledge, the only numerical method in the literature is the heuristic one we put forward in Aïd et al (ESAIM Proc Surv 65:27–45, 2019) to solve an underlying system of quasi-variational inequalities. Focusing on symmetric games, this paper presents a simpler, more precise and efficient fixed-point policy-iteration-type algorithm which removes the strong dependence on the initial guess and the relaxation scheme of the previous method. A rigorous convergence analysis is undertaken with natural assumptions on the players strategies, which admit graph-theoretic interpretations in the context of weakly chained diagonally dominant matrices. A novel provably convergent single-player impulse control solver is also provided. The main algorithm is used to compute with high precision equilibrium payoffs and Nash equilibria of otherwise very challenging problems, and even some which go beyond the scope of the currently available theory.
High-Resolution Modeling of Uplift Landscapes can Inform Micrositing of Wind Turbines for Soaring Raptors
Authors: Hanssen Frank , May Roel , Nygård Torgeir
Published: June 2020

Collision risk of soaring birds is partly associated with updrafts to which they are attracted. To identify the risk-enhancing landscape features, a micrositing tool was developed to model orographic and thermal updraft velocities from high-resolution remote sensing data. The tool was applied to the island of Hitra, and validated using GPS-tracked white-tailed eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla). Resource selection functions predicted that eagles preferred ridges with high orographic uplift, especially at flight altitudes within the rotor-swept zone (40–110 m). Flight activity was negatively associated with the widely distributed areas with high thermal uplift at lower flight altitudes (<110 m). Both the existing wind-power plant and planned extension are placed at locations rendering maximum orographic updraft velocities around the minimum sink rate for white-tailed eagles (0.75 m/s) but slightly higher thermal updraft velocities. The tool can contribute to improve micrositing of wind turbines to reduce the environmental impacts, especially for soaring raptors.
The Impact of a Laparoscopic Surgery Training Course in a Developing Country
Authors: Westwood Esther , Malla Balaram , Ward Jeremy , Lal Roshan , Aryal Kamal
Published: June 2020

Introduction

Surgeons training junior colleagues to perform laparoscopic surgery find the ‘apprenticeship’ model of surgical training inadequate. Therefore, the use of training courses involving simulation have become an important way to teach laparoscopic surgery. An annual laparoscopic surgery course began in Nepal in 2013. It is difficult to assess the impact of the course on trainees and demonstrate a subsequent improvement in patient outcomes, but one way is to ask delegates for reflections on their experience of the course and their perception of how it has impacted patients.

Methods

The course involved simulation and patient‐based training. A questionnaire to collect quantitative data and qualitative comments was sent to all 80 previous delegates (at least 9 months after the course) in September 2018.

Results

Twenty‐eight delegates responded. The majority demonstrated career progression since completing the course (independent practitioners increased from 7 to 50%) and progression in their practice (18% had performed >20 laparoscopic procedures at the time of the course, vs 70% at the time of the questionnaire). All delegates felt that laparoscopic training is useful in the Nepalese context. Delegates felt the course was useful in developing skills, and improving confidence and safety. Suggestions for improvement included lengthening the course and increasing the amount of practical exposure.

Conclusion

There was a positive outcome of the course to Kirkpatrick level 2. There is a need to expand the course's scope to an advanced level, increase its length and start courses in other centres, to ensure the most possible benefit to patients.
Mixture distributions in a stochastic gene expression model with delayed feedback: a WKB approximation approach
Authors: Bokes Pavol , Borri Alessandro , Palumbo Pasquale , Singh Abhyudai
Published: June 2020

Noise in gene expression can be substantively affected by the presence of production delay. Here we consider a mathematical model with bursty production of protein, a one-step production delay (the passage of which activates the protein), and feedback in the frequency of bursts. We specifically focus on examining the steady-state behaviour of the model in the slow-activation (i.e. large-delay) regime. Using a formal asymptotic approach, we derive an autonomous ordinary differential equation for the inactive protein that applies in the slow-activation regime. If the differential equation is monostable, the steady-state distribution of the inactive (active) protein is approximated by a single Gaussian (Poisson) mode located at the globally stable fixed point of the differential equation. If the differential equation is bistable (due to cooperative positive feedback), the steady-state distribution of the inactive (active) protein is approximated by a mixture of Gaussian (Poisson) modes located at the stable fixed points; the weights of the modes are determined from a WKB approximation to the stationary distribution. The asymptotic results are compared to numerical solutions of the chemical master equation.
Correction to: Protected risk stratification with the wearable cardioverter-defibrillator: results from the WEARIT-II-EUROPE registry
Authors: Veltmann Christian , Winter Stefan , Duncker David , Jungbauer Carsten G. , Wäßnig Nadine K. , Geller J. Christoph , Erath Julia W. , Goeing Olaf , Perings Christian , Ulbrich Michael , Roser Mattias , Husser Daniela , Gansera Laura S. , Soezener Korkut , Malur Frank Michael , Block Michael , Fetsch Thomas , Kutyifa Valentina , Klein Helmut U.
Published: June 2020

The original version of this article unfortunately contained mistakes.
The chemistry of cross-linked polymeric vesicles and their functionalization towards biocatalytic nanoreactors
Authors: Moreno Silvia , Voit Brigitte , Gaitzsch Jens
Published: June 2020

Self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers into polymersomes continues to be a hot topic in modern research on biomimetics. Their well-known and valued mechanical strength can be increased even further if they are cross-linked. These additional bonds prevent a collapse or disassembly of the polymersomes and open the way towards smart nanoreactors. A variety of chemistries have been applied to obtain the desired cross-linked polymersomes, and therefore, the chemical approaches performed over time will be highlighted in this mini-review. Due to the large number of studies, a selected set of photo-cross-linked and pH-sensitive polymersomes will be specifically highlighted. This system has proven to be a very potent candidate for the formation of nanoreactors and drug delivery systems, and even for the formation of functional multicompartment cell mimics.
Early cognitive and emotional outcome after stroke is independent of discharge destination
Authors: Slenders Jos P. L. , Verberne Daan P. J. , Visser-Meily Johanna M. A. , Van den Berg-Vos Renske M. , Kwa Vincent I. H. , van Heugten Caroline M.
Published: June 2020

Background and purpose

Cognitive and emotional problems occur frequently after stroke. Patients with minor stroke are more likely to be discharged home. This paper compares early cognitive and emotional outcomes in patients discharged home after stroke versus patients discharged to inpatient rehabilitation, and examines the effect of cognitive and emotional outcomes on long-term participation.

Methods

In this multicenter prospective cohort study, patients with stroke were assessed at two months with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Checklist for Cognitive and Emotional Consequences following Stroke (CLCE-24) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). One year post stroke, participation was assessed with the Restriction subscale of the Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation—Participation (USER-P Restriction).

Results

The study included 332 patients. Two months post stroke, anxiety and cognitive problems were equally prevalent among patients discharged home (n = 243; 73%) and patients discharged to inpatient rehabilitation (n = 89; 27%) (HADS-A = 4.8 ± 3.9 versus 4.6 ± 4.0, p = 0.747; MoCA < 26: 66.7% versus 70.8%, p = 0.477; CLCE-cognition = 3.0 ± 2.9 versus 3.3 ± 2.8, p = 0.499). Depressive symptoms were less severe in patients discharged home (HADS-D = 4.3 ± 3.9 versus 5.5 ± 3.8, p = 0.010). In patients discharged home, cognitive complaints were predictive of long-term participation (B = − 2.03; 95% CI − 3.15, − 0.90), while cognitive or emotional outcomes were not predictive in patients discharged to inpatient rehabilitation.

Conclusions

Cognitive and emotional problems at two months post stroke were comparable between patients discharged home and those discharged to inpatient rehabilitation. For patients discharged home, cognitive complaints were predictive of long-term participation.
A radial histogenetic model of the mouse pallial amygdala
Authors: Garcia-Calero Elena , Martínez-de-la-Torre Margaret , Puelles Luis
Published: June 2020

Conventional anatomic models of the rodent (mammalian) amygdala are based on section planes oblique to its intrinsic radial glial organization. As a result, we still lack a model of amygdalar histogenesis in terms of radial units (progenitor domains and related radial migration and layering patterns). A radial model of the mouse pallial amygdala is first offered here, based on three logical steps: (1) analysis of amygdalar radial structure in variously discriminative genoarchitectonic material, using an optimal ad hoc section plane; (2) testing preliminary models with experiments labelling at the brain surface single packets of radial glia processes, to be followed into the ventricular surface across intervening predicted elements; (3) selection of 81 differential amygdalar gene markers and checking planar and radial aspects of their distribution across the model elements. This approach shows that subtle changes to the conventional schema of the amygdala allow a radial histogenetic model to be recognized, which is consistent with molecularly coded differential identities of its units and strata. It is expected that this model will help both causal studies of amygdalar developmental patterning and comparative evolutionary studies. It also may have potential impact on hodological and functional studies.
Snow-mediated plasticity does not prevent camouflage mismatch
Authors: Kumar Alexander V. , Zimova Marketa , Sparks James R. , Mills L. Scott
Published: June 2020

Global reduction in snow cover duration is one of the most consistent and widespread climate change outcomes. Declining snow duration has severe negative consequences for diverse taxa including seasonally color molting species, which rely on snow for camouflage. However, phenotypic plasticity may facilitate adaptation to reduced snow duration. Plastic responses could occur in the color molt phenology or through behavior that minimizes coat color mismatch or its consequences. We quantified molt phenology of 200 wild snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus), and measured microhabitat choice and local snow cover. Similar to other studies, we found that hares did not show behavioral plasticity to minimize coat color mismatch via background matching; instead they preferred colder, snow free areas regardless of their coat color. Furthermore, hares did not behaviorally mitigate the negative consequences of mismatch by choosing resting sites with denser vegetation cover when mismatched. Importantly, we demonstrated plasticity in the initiation and the rate of the molt and established the direct effect of snow on molt phenology; greater snow cover was associated with whiter hares and this association was not due to whiter hares preferring snowier areas. However, despite the observed snow-mediated plasticity in molt phenology, camouflage mismatch with white hares on brown snowless ground persisted and was more frequent during early snowmelt. Thus, we find no evidence that phenotypic plasticity in snowshoe hares is sufficient to facilitate adaptive rescue to camouflage mismatch under climate change.
Polytope Duality for Families of K3 Surfaces and Coupling
Authors: Mase Makiko
Published: June 2020

We study a relation between coupling introduced by Ebeling (Kodai Math J 29:319-336, 2006) and the polytope duality among families of K3 surfaces.
Soil Carbon Stocks Vary Across Geomorphic Settings in Australian Temperate Tidal Marsh Ecosystems
Authors: Gorham Connor , Lavery Paul , Kelleway Jeffrey J. , Salinas Cristian , Serrano Oscar
Published: June 2020

Tidal marshes rank among the ecosystems with the highest capacity to sequester and store organic carbon (Corg) on earth. To inform conservation of coastal vegetated ecosystems for climate change mitigation, this study investigated the factors driving variability in carbon storage. We estimated soil Corg stocks in tidal marshes across temperate Western Australia and assessed differences among geomorphic settings (marine and fluvial deltas, and mid-estuary) and vegetation type (Sarcocornia quinqueflora and Juncus kraussii) linked to soil biogeochemistry. Soil Corg stocks within fluvial and mid-estuary settings were significantly higher (209 ± 14 and 211 ± 20 Mg Corg ha−1, respectively; 1-m-thick soils) than in marine counterparts (156 ± 12 Mg Corg ha−1), which can be partially explained by higher preservation of soil Corg in fluvial and mid-estuary settings rich in fine-grained (< 0.063 mm) sediments (49 ± 3% and 47 ± 4%, respectively) compared to marine settings (23 ± 4%). Soil Corg stocks were not significantly different between S. quinqueflora and J. kraussii marshes (185 ± 13 and 202 ± 13 Mg Corg ha−1, respectively). The higher contribution of tidal marsh plus supratidal vegetation in fluvial (80%) and intermediate (76%) compared to marine (57%) settings further explains differences in soil Corg stocks. The estimated soil Corg stocks in temperate Western Australia’s tidal marshes (57 Tg Corg within ~ 3000 km2 extent) correspond to about 2% of worldwide tidal marsh soil Corg stocks. The results obtained identify global drivers of soil Corg storage in tidal marshes and can be used to target hot spots for climate change mitigation based on tidal marsh conservation.
The need for disruptive innovation in acute kidney injury
Authors: Doi Kent
Published: June 2020

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a threatening medical condition associated with poor outcomes at different settings. The development of standardized diagnostic criteria and new biomarkers addressed significant clinical impacts of AKI and the need for an early AKI detection, respectively. There have been some breakthroughs in understanding the pathogenesis of AKI through basic research; however, treatments against AKI aside from renal replacement therapy (RRT) have not shown adequate successful results. Biomarkers that could identify good responders to certain treatment are expected to facilitate translation of basic research findings. Most patients with severe AKI treated with RRT died due to multiple-organ failure, not renal dysfunction. Hence, it is essential to identify other organ dysfunctions induced by AKI as organ crosstalk. Also, a multidisciplinary approach of critical care nephrology is needed to evaluate a complex organ crosstalk in AKI. For disruptive innovation for AKI, we further explore these new aspects of AKI, which previously were considered outside the scope of nephrology.
On conformal submersions with geodesic or minimal fibers
Authors: Zawadzki Tomasz
Published: June 2020

We prove that every conformal submersion from a round sphere onto an Einstein manifold with fibers being geodesics is—up to an isometry—the Hopf fibration composed with a conformal diffeomorphism of the complex projective space of appropriate dimension. We also show that there are no conformal submersions with minimal fibers between manifolds satisfying certain curvature assumptions.
Interdisciplinarity in medical education research: myth and reality
Authors: Albert Mathieu , Rowland Paula , Friesen Farah , Laberge Suzanne
Published: June 2020

The medical education (Med Ed) research community characterises itself as drawing on the insights, methods, and knowledge from multiple disciplines and research domains (e.g. Sociology, Anthropology, Education, Humanities, Psychology). This common view of Med Ed research is echoed and reinforced by the narrative used by leading Med Ed departments and research centres to describe their activities as “interdisciplinary.” Bibliometrics offers an effective method of investigating scholarly communication to determine what knowledge is valued, recognized, and utilized. By empirically examining whether knowledge production in Med Ed research draws from multiple disciplines and research areas, or whether it primarily draws on the knowledge generated internally within the field of Med Ed, this article explores whether the characterisation of Med Ed research as interdisciplinary is substantiated. A citation analysis of 1412 references from research articles published in 2017 in the top five Med Ed journals was undertaken. A typology of six knowledge clusters was inductively developed. Findings show that the field of Med Ed research draws predominantly from two knowledge clusters: the Applied Health Research cluster (made of clinical and health services research), which represents 41% of the references, and the Med Ed research cluster, which represents 40% of the references. These two clusters cover 81% of all references in our sample, leaving 19% distributed among the other knowledge clusters (i.e., Education, disciplinary, interdisciplinary and topic centered research). The quasi-hegemonic position held by the Applied Health and Med Ed research clusters confines the other sources of knowledge to a peripheral role within the Med Ed research field. Our findings suggest that the assumption that Med Ed research is an interdisciplinary field is not convincingly supported by empirical data and that the knowledge entering Med Ed comes mostly from the health research domain.
Thalassoglobus polymorphus sp. nov., a novel Planctomycete isolated close to a public beach of Mallorca Island
Authors: Rivas-Marin Elena , Wiegand Sandra , Kallscheuer Nicolai , Jogler Mareike , Peeters Stijn H. , Heuer Anja , Jetten Mike S. M. , Boedeker Christian , Rohde Manfred , Devos Damien P. , Jogler Christian
Published: June 2020

Access to axenic cultures is crucial to extend the knowledge of the biology, lifestyle or metabolic capabilities of bacteria from different phyla. The phylum Planctomycetes is an excellent example since its members display an unusual cell biology and complex lifestyles. As a contribution to the current collection of axenic planctomycete cultures, here we describe strain Mal48T isolated from phytoplankton material sampled at the coast of S’Arenal close to Palma de Mallorca (Spain). The isolated strain shows optimal growth at pH 7.0–7.5 and 30 °C and exhibits typical features of Planctomycetes. Cells of the strain are spherical to pear-shaped, divide by polar budding with daughter cells showing the same shape as the mother cell, tend to aggregate, display a stalk and produce matrix or fimbriae. Strain Mal48T showed 95.8% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with the recently described Thalassoglobus neptunius KOR42T. The genome sequence of the novel isolate has a size of 6,357,355 bp with a G+C content of 50.3%. A total of 4874 protein-coding genes, 41 tRNA genes and 2 copies of the 16S rRNA gene are encoded in the genome. Based on phylogenetic, morphological and physiological analyses, we conclude that strain Mal48T (= DSM 100737T = LMG 29019T) should be classified as the type strain of a new species in the genus Thalassoglobus, for which the name Thalassoglobus polymorphus sp. nov. is proposed.
Online trajectory planning and control of a MAV payload system in dynamic environments
Authors: Potdar Nikhil D. , de Croon Guido C. H. E. , Alonso-Mora Javier
Published: June 2020

Micro Aerial Vehicles (MAVs) can be used for aerial transportation in remote and urban spaces where portability can be exploited to reach previously inaccessible and inhospitable spaces. Current approaches for path planning of MAV swung payload system either compute conservative minimal-swing trajectories or pre-generate agile collision-free trajectories. However, these approaches have failed to address the prospect of online re-planning in uncertain and dynamic environments, which is a prerequisite for real-world deployability. This paper describes an online method for agile and closed-loop local trajectory planning and control that relies on Non-Linear Model Predictive Control and that addresses the mentioned limitations of contemporary approaches. We integrate the controller in a full system framework, and demonstrate the algorithm’s effectiveness in simulation and in experimental studies. Results show the scalability and adaptability of our method to various dynamic setups with repeatable performance over several complex tasks that include flying through a narrow opening and avoiding moving humans.
Identical Quantum Particles as Distinguishable Objects
Authors: Dieks Dennis , Lubberdink Andrea
Published: June 2020

According to classical physics particles are basic building blocks of the world. These classical particles are distinguishable objects, individuated by unique combinations of physical properties. By contrast, in quantum mechanics the received view is that particles of the same kind (“identical particles”) are physically indistinguishable from each other and lack identity. This doctrine rests on the quantum mechanical (anti)symmetrization postulates together with the “factorist” assumption that each single particle is represented in exactly one factor space of the tensor product Hilbert space of a many-particle system. Even though standard in theoretical physics and the philosophy of physics, the assumption of factorism and the ensuing indistinguishability of particles are problematic. Particle indistinguishability is irreconcilable with the everyday meaning of “particle”, and also with how this term is used in the practice of physics. Moreover, it is a consequence of the standard view that identical quantum particles remain indistinguishable even in the classical limit, which makes a smooth transition to the classical particle concept impossible. Lubberdink (1998; 2009) and Dieks and Lubberdink (2011) have proposed an alternative conception of quantum particles that does not rely on factorism and avoids these difficulties. We further explain and discuss this alternative framework here. One of its key consequences is that particles in quantum theory are not fundamental but emergent; another that once they have emerged, quantum particles are always physically distinguishable and thus possess a physically grounded identity.
Non-destructive Testing of Metal-Polymer Laminates with a Digital Holographic Vibrometer
Authors: Nowak-Grzebyta Jagoda , Meijer Frans , Bula Karol , Stachowska Ewa
Published: June 2020

This paper presents the use of a digital holographic vibrometer to investigate metal-polymer laminates by non-destructive testing. A polymer strip was glued to a metal one of the same size. Connection defects could be detected by a local change of the vibration amplitude, even when hidden from view for the observer. The amplitudes of the oscillations excited in the samples were up to 40 nm. This method proved to be non-destructive, allowing the samples to be (re)used after testing, or being studied with other test methods.
Novel alternatively-spliced exons of the VRK2 gene in mouse brain and microglial cells
Authors: Almarzooq Salsabil , Kwon Jaedeok , Willis Ashleigh , Craig John , Morris Brian J.
Published: June 2020

Common sequence variations in the VRK2 gene contribute to genetic risk for various psychiatric diseases including schizophrenia and major depressive disorder. Despite the clear importance of studying the regulation and function of VRK2 for understanding the causes of these diseases, the organisation and expression of the gene remain poorly characterised. Using reverse-transcriptase-PCR, we have amplifed exons of Vrk2 mRNA from regions of mouse brain, and from different cell classes comprising neurones, astrocytes and microglial cells. We find that Vrk2 mRNA is expressed in all cell types, and that the splicing of the mouse Vrk2 gene is much more complex than previously appreciated. In addition to the predicted alternative splicing (absence/presence) of the penultimate 3 prime exon, we also detected a variety of 5 prime structures, including two novel exons spanning the first characterised exon (exon 1), which we term exons 1a and 1b. While expressed in neurones and astrocytes, exon 1b was not expressed in microglial cells. Expression of transcripts containing exon 1a in microglia was increased by immune stimulation. An additional truncated transcript lacking 7 central exons was also identified. As with the human gene, the results confirm complex patterns of alternative splicing which are likely to be relevant for understanding the physiological and pathological function of the gene in the CNS.