bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disturbances can control fine-scale pedodiversity in old-growth forests: is the soil evolution theory disturbed as well?
Authors: Šamonil P. , Vašíčková I. , Daněk P. , Janík D. , Adam D.
Published: October 2014

Abstract. Biota–soil interactions in natural ecosystems are the subject of considerable research. Our hypothesis is that individual trees play a significant role through biomechanical and biochemical disturbances affecting soil formation in temperate forests, resulting in a complex spatial pattern of disturbance regimes and a close relationship between disturbance histories and soil units. In Žofínský Prales (Czech Republic) – the fourth oldest, continuously protected reserve in Europe and the first site of global research network SIGEO (Smithsonian Institution Global Earth Observatories) in continental Europe – we compared extensive dendrochronological, soil and pit–mound microtopography data both temporally and spatially from an area of anthropogenically unaffected 42 ha collected from 2008–2012. These data sets differ in terms of information complexity and length of memory: tree cores contain complex information about the disturbance history of the past 350 years, footprints of disturbances from the uprooting of a specific tree can persist 1700 years, and soils represent an extensive composite phenotype that has been developing for at least the entire postglacial period (10 500 years). On average, 6.18–13.41% of the canopy on individual soil units was disturbed per decade. Even though the "backbone" of key events in the development of the forest ecosystem remained the same (e.g. the 1870s, 1880s and 1980s), the internal structure of disturbance history often differed among soil units; the most exceptional were Gleysols and Histosols, where important feedback from soil to trees was expected. However, the characteristics of treethrow dynamics as well as the frequencies of stronger releases in core series also significantly differed along a gradient of terrestrial soil weathering and leaching (Haplic Cambisols – Dystric Cambisols – Entic Podzols – Albic Podzols). These results suggest the existence of several disturbance regimes within the forest, controlling fine-scale pedodiversity.
Diatom flux reflects water-mass conditions on the southern Northwind Abyssal Plain, Arctic Ocean
Authors: Onodera J. , Watanabe E. , Harada N. , Honda M. C.
Published: October 2014

Abstract. We studied time-series fluxes of diatom particles and their relationship to hydrographic variations from 4 October 2010 through 18 September 2012 using bottom-tethered sediment trap moorings deployed at Station NAP (75° N, 162° W; 1975 m water depth) in the western Arctic Ocean. We observed clear maxima of the diatom valve flux in November–December of both 2010 and 2011, and in August 2011. Diatoms in samples were categorized into 98 taxa. The diatom flux maxima were characterized by many resting spores in November–December and by the sea ice-associated diatom Fossula arctica in August 2011. These assemblages along with abundant clay minerals in the samples suggest a significant influence of shelf-origin materials transported by mesoscale eddies, which developed along the Chukchi Sea shelf break. In contrast, the fluxes of total mass and diatoms were reduced in summer 2012. We hypothesize that this suppression reflects the influx of oligotrophic water originating from the central Canada Basin. A physical oceanographic model demonstrated that oligotrophic surface water from the Beaufort Gyre was supplied to Station NAP from December 2011 to early half of 2012.
Impact of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) on deriving anthropogenic warming rates from the instrumental temperature record
Authors: van der Werf G. R. , Dolman A. J.
Published: October 2014

Abstract. The instrumental surface air temperature record has been used in several statistical studies to assess the relative role of natural and anthropogenic drivers of climate change. The results of those studies varied considerably, with anthropogenic temperature trends over the past 25–30 years suggested to range from 0.07 to 0.20 °C decade−1. In this short communication, we assess the origin of these differences and highlight the inverse relation between the temperature trend of the past 30 years and the weight given to the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) as an explanatory factor in the multiple linear regression (MLR) tool that is usually employed. We highlight that robust MLR outcomes require a better understanding of the AMO in general and, more specifically, of its characterization. Our results indicate that both the high and the low end of the anthropogenic trend over the past 30 years found in previous studies are unlikely and that a transient climate response of 1.6 (1.0–3.3) °C best captures the historic instrumental temperature record.
LiDAR measurement of seasonal snow accumulation along an elevation gradient in the southern Sierra Nevada, California
Authors: Kirchner P. B. , Bales R. C. , Molotch N. P. , Flanagan J. , Guo Q.
Published: October 2014

Abstract. We present results from snow-on and snow-off airborne-scanning LiDAR measurements over a 53 km2 area in the southern Sierra Nevada. We found that snow depth as a function of elevation increased approximately 15 cm per 100 m, until reaching an elevation of 3300 m, where depth sharply decreased at a rate of 48 cm per 100 m. Departures from the 15 cm per 100 m trend, based on 1 m elevation-band means of regression residuals, showed slightly less steep increases below 2050 m; steeper increases between 2050 and 3300 m; and less steep increases above 3300 m. Although the study area is partly forested, only measurements in open areas were used. Below approximately 2050 m elevation, ablation and rainfall are the primary causes of departure from the orographic trend. From 2050 to 3300 m, greater snow depths than predicted were found on the steeper terrain of the northwest and the less steep northeast-facing slopes, suggesting that ablation, aspect, slope and wind redistribution all play a role in local snow-depth variability. At elevations above 3300 m, orographic processes mask the effect of wind deposition when averaging over large areas. Also, terrain in this basin becomes less steep above 3300 m. This suggests a reduction in precipitation from upslope lifting and/or the exhaustion of precipitable water from ascending air masses. Our results suggest a cumulative precipitation lapse rate for the 2100–3300 m range of about 6 cm per 100 m elevation for the accumulation period of 3 December 2009 to 23 March 2010. This is a higher gradient than the widely used PRISM (Parameter-elevation Relationships on Independent Slopes Model) precipitation products, but similar to that from reconstruction of snowmelt amounts from satellite snow-cover data. Our findings provide a unique characterization of the consistent, steep average increase in precipitation with elevation in snow-dominated terrain, using high-resolution, highly accurate data and highlighs the importance of solar radiation, wind redistribution and mid-winter melt with regard to snow distribution.
Spatial sensitivity analysis of snow cover data in a distributed rainfall–runoff model
Authors: Berezowski T. , Nossent J. , Chormański J. , Batelaan O.
Published: October 2014

Abstract. As the availability of spatially distributed data sets for distributed rainfall–runoff modelling is strongly growing, more attention should be paid to the influence of the quality of the data on the calibration. While a lot of progress has been made on using distributed data in simulations of hydrological models, sensitivity of spatial data with respect to model results is not well understood. In this paper we develop a spatial sensitivity analysis (SA) method for snow cover fraction input data (SCF) for a distributed rainfall–runoff model to investigate if the model is differently subjected to SCF uncertainty in different zones of the model. The analysis was focused on the relation between the SCF sensitivity and the physical, spatial parameters and processes of a distributed rainfall–runoff model. The methodology is tested for the Biebrza River catchment, Poland for which a distributed WetSpa model is setup to simulate two years of daily runoff. The SA uses the Latin-Hypercube One-factor-At-a-Time (LH-OAT) algorithm, which uses different response functions for each 4 km × 4 km snow zone. The results show that the spatial patterns of sensitivity can be easily interpreted by co-occurrence of different environmental factors such as: geomorphology, soil texture, land-use, precipitation and temperature. Moreover, the spatial pattern of sensitivity under different response functions is related to different spatial parameters and physical processes. The results clearly show that the LH-OAT algorithm is suitable for the spatial sensitivity analysis approach and that the SCF is spatially sensitive in the WetSpa model.
GRACE storage-streamflow hystereses reveal the dynamics of regional watersheds
Authors: Sproles E. A. , Leibowitz S. G. , Reager J. T. , Wigington P. J. , Famiglietti J. S. , Patil S. D.
Published: October 2014

Abstract. We characterize how regional watersheds function as simple, dynamic systems through a series of hysteresis loops. These loops illustrate the temporal relationship between runoff and terrestrial water storage using measurements from NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites in three regional-scale watersheds (>150 000 km2) of the Columbia River Basin, USA and Canada. The direction of the hystereses for the GRACE signal move in opposite directions from the isolated groundwater hystereses, suggesting that regional scale watersheds require soil water storage to reach a certain threshold before groundwater recharge and peak runoff occur. While the physical processes underlying these hystereses are inherently complex, the vertical integration of terrestrial water in the GRACE signal encapsulates the processes that govern the non-linear function of regional-scale watersheds. We use this process-based understanding to test how GRACE data can be applied prognostically to predict seasonal runoff (mean R2 of 0.91) and monthly runoff (mean R2 of 0.77) in all three watersheds. The global nature of GRACE data allows this same methodology to be applied in other regional-scale studies, and could be particularly useful in regions with minimal data and in trans-boundary watersheds.
Improving inflow forecasting into hydropower reservoirs through a complementary modelling framework
Authors: Gragne A. S. , Sharma A. , Mehrotra R. , Alfredsen K.
Published: October 2014

Abstract. Accuracy of reservoir inflow forecasts is instrumental for maximizing the value of water resources and benefits gained through hydropower generation. Improving hourly reservoir inflow forecasts over a 24 h lead-time is considered within the day-ahead (Elspot) market of the Nordic exchange market. We present here a new approach for issuing hourly reservoir inflow forecasts that aims to improve on existing forecasting models that are in place operationally, without needing to modify the pre-existing approach, but instead formulating an additive or complementary model that is independent and captures the structure the existing model may be missing. Besides improving forecast skills of operational models, the approach estimates the uncertainty in the complementary model structure and produces probabilistic inflow forecasts that entrain suitable information for reducing uncertainty in the decision-making processes in hydropower systems operation. The procedure presented comprises an error model added on top of an un-alterable constant parameter conceptual model, the models being demonstrated with reference to the 207 km2 Krinsvatn catchment in central Norway. The structure of the error model is established based on attributes of the residual time series from the conceptual model. Deterministic and probabilistic evaluations revealed an overall significant improvement in forecast accuracy for lead-times up to 17 h. Season based evaluations indicated that the improvement in inflow forecasts varies across seasons and inflow forecasts in autumn and spring are less successful with the 95% prediction interval bracketing less than 95% of the observations for lead-times beyond 17 h.
Women and Sufism: Religious Expression and the Political Sphere in Contemporary Morocco
Authors: El Haitami Meriem
Published: October 2014

The sociopolitical changes in postmodern Morocco have reshuffled the dynamics of women's in/visibility within the Sufi tradition and redefined parameters of religious authority, especially after the 2003 Casablanca terrorist attacks that prompted the Moroccan government to promote Sufism as a tolerant expression of Islam to counteract religious extremism. This article explores gender dynamics within Morocco's Sufi tradition and women's complex relationship with the public sphere, and traces women's different styles of participation and leadership. This article also addresses the extent to which Morocco's official Islam provides a broader role for women than other forms of Islam and increases their presence and visibility in the religious sphere.
Itinerario de la formulación histórica de la idea contractual en el matrimonio occidental
Authors: Guzmán García Jairo José
Published: October 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/derecho.v0i5.1508
De la finalidad del proceso
Authors: Cerda Carlos
Published: October 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/derecho.v0i6.1517
Junta general de accionista en la sociedad anónima, según la normativa de Nicaragua
Authors: Moreira Jiménez Enrique
Published: October 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/derecho.v0i6.1523
La protección al derecho de la intimidad en el código penal Español los delitos de descubrimiento y revelación de secretos
Authors: Moreno Castillo María Asunción
Published: October 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/derecho.v0i6.1525
Contrasting genetic diversity of tree species in Spain: from Tertiary relicts to domestication
Authors: Lopez de Heredia U. , Robledo-Arnuncio J. J. , Fuentes-Utrilla P. , Valbuena-Carabaña M. , Gil L.
Published: October 2014

The diversity of forest ecosystems depends on the species richness, but also on the genetic variability at the intraspecific level. In this work, we investigate the contrasting patterns of genetic diversity among Spanish tree species, illustrated by means of four case studies. Combining molecular, palaeobotanical and historical information, we identify the main factors that explain the observed genetic variability of some representative taxa: (1) isolation of relict tree populations in island ecosystems of Balearic evergreen oaks and Canary Island Pine; (2) existence of glacial refugia for Pinus sylvestris, Quercus petraea and Q. pyrenaica; and (3) domestication and spread of Ulmus minor by Romans throughout Western Europe. These situations represent a gradient in the observed values of genetic diversity: Pinus canariensis and the evergreen oaks show high levels of genetic diversity in the Canary Islands and the Balearics, respectively; P. sylvestris, Q. petraea and Q. pyrenaica have also maintained high levels of genetic diversity, even under intensive, longstanding human management. Finally, U. minor genetic variability has been greatly affected by human activities, Dutch elm disease, and the interaction between the two. Understanding how the genetic diversity is maintained and how it is geographically distributed is basic to develop sound conservation policies and sustainable forest management strategies.
The role of ecophysiology in reforestation
Authors: Vilagrosa A. , Cortina J. , Rubio E. , Trubat R. , Chirino E. , Gil-Pelegrin E. , Vallejo V. R.
Published: October 2014

Afforestation and reforestation have been the more extended practices of forest restoration in most of Mediterranean countries. The establishment of the different species depends on both abiotic and biotic factors, the later including morphofunctional characteristics of each species. Target species and stock quality of seedlings are two of the main factors influencing reforestation success. Until recently, results of reforestations were analyzed in terms of survival and growth of the introduced species and the relationship of these variables with the morphological characteristics of seedlings. The new developments of ecophysiological instrumentation, with improved portability, have allowed to incorporate ecophysiological information in the assessment of the quality and the performance of seedlings. In this way, new perspectives on functional and morphological evaluation of seedlings have been opened. Ecophysiological techniques can be a very useful tool helping to explain the processes involved in the responses of the species.Within the ecophysiological aspects, the analysis of the strategies developed by species in relation to biotic and abiotic factors has been the more developed field of research. Starting from this point and from the understanding of the different factors that interact in a plant, a deeper knowledge on seedling ecophysiology will help to produce high performance seedlings and we will be able to adapt nursery techniques in order to manipulate morphofunctional characteristic of seedlings according to the interests and objectives of forest restoration.
Process-based models of Mediterranean forest production and dynamics
Authors: De Zavala M. A. , Urbieta I. R. , Bravo de la Parra R. , Angulo O.
Published: October 2014

Sustainable management of forest ecosystems requires an understanding of the mechanisms governing their structure and function across levels of biological organization, from the leaf to the ecosystem. Process-based models are, along experimentation, a critical element for advancing in this understanding. In this contribution we review key advances and challenges for the development of process-based models of Mediterranean forest ecosystems at several functional levels: from the whole-plant to the landscape. At the whole-plant level we discuss a gas exchange simulator that describes explicitly the feedback between transpiration and soil water potential through a plant optimization process. At the stand level, a partial differential equation framework is introduced, that allows us to scale up plant physiological processes from the leaf to the stand level. The model describes explicitly the dynamics of stand structure based on species individual responses to resource heterogeneity and among tree interactions. Finally we discuss the general structure of spatially-explicit forest models as well as their application to the identification of rules of community assembly of Mediterranean forests.
A Review of Preanalytical Factors Affecting Molecular, Protein, and Morphological Analysis of Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) Tissue: How Well Do You Know Your FFPE Specimen?
Authors: Bass B. Paige , Engel Kelly B. , Greytak Sarah R. , Moore Helen M.
Published: October 2014

Context

Formalin fixation and paraffin embedding is a timeless, cost-efficient, and widely adopted method of preserving human tissue biospecimens that has resulted in a substantial reservoir of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks that represent both the pathology and preanalytical handling of the biospecimen. This reservoir of specimens is increasingly being used for DNA, RNA, and proteomic analyses.

Objective

To evaluate the impact of preanalytical factors associated with the formalin fixation and paraffin embedding process on downstream morphological and molecular endpoints.

Data Sources

We surveyed the existing literature using the National Cancer Institute's Biospecimen Research Database for published reports investigating the potential influence of preanalytical factors associated with the formalin fixation and paraffin embedding process on DNA, RNA, protein, and morphological endpoints.

Conclusions

Based on the literature evidence, the molecular, proteomic, and morphological endpoints can be altered in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens by suboptimal processing conditions. While the direction and magnitude of effects associated with a given preanalytical factor were dependent on the analyte (DNA, RNA, protein, and morphology) and analytical platform, acceptable conditions are highlighted, and a summary of conditions that could preclude analysis is provided.
Validation of a Next-Generation–Sequencing Cancer Panel for Use in the Clinical Laboratory
Authors: Simen Birgitte B. , Yin Lina , Goswami Chirayu P. , Davis Kathleen O. , Bajaj Renu , Gong Jerald Z. , Peiper Stephen C. , Johnson Erica S. , Wang Zi-Xuan
Published: October 2014

Context

Next-generation sequencing allows for high-throughput processing and sensitive variant detection in multiple genes from small samples. For many diseases, including cancer, a comprehensive mutational profile of a targeted list of genes can be used to simultaneously inform patient care, establish eligibility for ongoing clinical trials, and further research.

Objective

To validate a pan-cancer, next-generation–sequencing assay for use in the clinical laboratory.

Design

DNA was extracted from 68 clinical specimens (formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded; fine-needle aspirates; peripheral blood; or bone marrow) and 5 normal controls. Sixty-four DNA samples (94%; 64 of 68) were successfully processed with the TruSeq Amplicon Cancer Panel (Illumina Inc, San Diego, California) and sequenced in 4 sequencing runs. The data were analyzed at 4 different filter settings for sequencing coverage and variant frequency cutoff.

Results

Libraries created from 40 specimens could be successfully sequenced in a single run and still yield sufficient coverage for robust data analysis of individual samples. Sensitivity for mutation detection down to 5% was demonstrated using dilutions of clinical specimens and control samples. The test was highly repeatable and reproducible and showed 100% concordance with clinically validated Sanger sequencing results. Comparison to an alternate next-generation sequencing technology was performed by also processing 9 of the specimens with the AmpliSeq Cancer Hotspot Panel (version 2; Life Technologies, Grand Island, New York). Thirty of the 31 (97%) TruSeq-detected variants covered by the designs of both panels were confirmed.

Conclusion

A sensitive, high-throughput, pan-cancer mutation panel for sequencing of cancer hot-spot mutations in 42 genes was validated for routine use in clinical testing.
Advanced Feeder-Free Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Directly From Blood Cells
Authors: Trokovic Ras , Weltner Jere , Nishimura Ken , Ohtaka Manami , Nakanishi Mahito , Salomaa Veikko , Jalanko Anu , Otonkoski Timo , Kyttälä Aija
Published: October 2014

Generation of validated human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for biobanking is essential for exploring the full potential of iPSCs in disease modeling and drug discovery. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are attractive targets for reprogramming, because blood is collected by a routine clinical procedure and is a commonly stored material in biobanks. Generation of iPSCs from blood cells has previously been reported using integrative retroviruses, episomal Sendai viruses, and DNA plasmids. However, most of the published protocols require expansion and/or activation of a specific cell population from PBMCs. We have recently collected a PBMC cohort from the Finnish population containing more than 2,000 subjects. Here we report efficient generation of iPSCs directly from PBMCs in feeder-free conditions in approximately 2 weeks. The produced iPSC clones are pluripotent and transgene-free. Together, these properties make this novel method a powerful tool for large-scale reprogramming of PBMCs and for iPSC biobanking.
L’évaluation de la qualité de dispositifs scolaires
Authors: Tremblay Philippe
Published: October 2014

Dans le cadre d’une recherche portant sur l’évaluation comparée de la qualité de deux dispositifs scolaires destinés à des élèves ayant des troubles d’apprentissage, l’auteur a été amené à développer, sur la base de concertations avec différents groupes d’intervenants, de concepts et de théories émanant des sciences de l’éducation, un modèle multidimensionnel et bidirectionnel de la qualité des dispositifs scolaires. Délaissant le « débat ontologique » (Behrens, 2007) autour du concept de qualité, ce travail de conceptualisation et de formalisation d’un cadre d’évaluation de la qualité de dispositifs s’est inspiré de travaux similaires (Bou - chard & Plante, 2002 ; De Ketele & Gerard, 2007) portant sur des objets proches (programme, organisme, etc.). Sur la base des liens de conformité entre un référent et un référé, issus des caractéristiques d’un dispositif, l’auteur a construit un modèle composé de dix dimensions bidirectionnelles (pertinence, adéquation, congruité, synergie, efficacité, efficience, fiabilité, impact, bien-fondé et flexibilité).
Évaluation des compétences dans un programme de formation en enseignement
Authors: Harvey Léon
Published: October 2014

Cette étude propose d’analyser les dossiers académiques, qui cumulent les crédits mérités dans le cadre d’un programme, afin de déterminer si les notes, obtenues durant les cours associés à la formation, permettent de porter un jugement valide sur le développement des compétences attendues. Le concept de validité de construit curriculaire est introduit afin de qualifier le jugement qui sera porté à cet effet. Des analyses factorielles confirmatoires permettent de confronter la struc - turation Cours-Compétences sous-jacente au programme avec l’empirie, ce qui permet de valider les jugements énoncés. Les analyses portent sur les dossiers académiques de 164 finissantes et finissants du programme d’enseignement secondaire d’une université québécoise, diplômés entre 2002 et 2010. Les résultats confirment que les évaluations se structurent en fonction de quatre groupes de compétences liés aux fondements de l’éducation, à l’acte d’enseigner, aux aspects sociaux et au développement de l’identité professionnelle. Les avantages et les limites de cette analyse sont discutés.
Les gestes évaluatifs de l’enseignant dans une tâche de correction collective
Authors: Jorro Anne , Mercier-Brunel Yann
Published: October 2014

La correction collective est une pratique évaluative commune dans le quotidien d’une classe de cycle 3. Elle est, à ce titre, rarement remise en question par les enseignants qui y ont recours, et elle obéit la plupart du temps à des routines qui en conditionnent le déroulement. Or, les séances correctives importent du point de vue de la qualité de la régulation des apprentissages. L’agir professionnel de l’enseignant et, en particulier, ses gestes évaluatifs déterminent l’entrée des élèves dans de tels processus. Si de nombreuses recherches ont mis en évidence l’impor - tance des processus de rétroaction dans l’apprentissage, il reste que la mise en oeuvre de ceux-ci est encore peu documentée. La présente recherche vise à dis - tinguer et à caractériser les gestes évaluatifs de l’enseignant en situation corrective ainsi que leurs incidences sur la posture des apprenants.
Performance of at-risk students in dynamics following a statics class with additional recitation time
Authors: Burkhardt John
Published: October 2014

Comparisons are made between the final exam and final course grades of at-risk students in dynamics who took one of two versions of the same statics course. A standard version of the statics course met 3 hours per week over the course of a 15-week semester, while a second version met 4 hours per week. During the 11-year timeframe covered by this study, the 4-hour statics course was populated by students identified as ‘at risk’ using an informal screening procedure. For comparison with this group, using the same enrollment data, a second group of at-risk students was identified from the 3-hour statics class using a more formal screening procedure, based on logistic regression. A performance comparison of the two groups shows that the extra contact hour had a minor, statistically insignificant effect on student final exam and final course grades in dynamics. As a result of this study and a related study examining the effect of additional class time on statics performance, the 4-hour statics class is no longer offered.
Amygdala neural activity reflects spatial attention towards stimuli promising reward or threatening punishment
Authors: Peck Christopher J , Salzman C Daniel
Published: October 2014

Humans and other animals routinely identify and attend to sensory stimuli so as to rapidly acquire rewards or avoid aversive experiences. Emotional arousal, a process mediated by the amygdala, can enhance attention to stimuli in a non-spatial manner. However, amygdala neural activity was recently shown to encode spatial information about reward-predictive stimuli, and to correlate with spatial attention allocation. If representing the motivational significance of sensory stimuli within a spatial framework reflects a general principle of amygdala function, then spatially selective neural responses should also be elicited by sensory stimuli threatening aversive events. Recordings from amygdala neurons were therefore obtained while monkeys directed spatial attention towards stimuli promising reward or threatening punishment. Neural responses encoded spatial information similarly for stimuli associated with both valences of reinforcement, and responses reflected spatial attention allocation. The amygdala therefore may act to enhance spatial attention to sensory stimuli associated with rewarding or aversive experiences.
How Should Organizations Be Held Accountable for Clinician Well-Being?
Authors: Ripp Jonathan , Shanafelt Tait
Published: August 2024

This Viewpoint summarizes methods used by health care organizations to assess and improve clinician well-being, discusses the potential downsides of public reporting of clinician well-being survey data, and calls for making organizations’ adherence to structure and process measures a part of accreditation criteria.
Compartmentalization in cardiomyocytes modulates creatine kinase and adenylate kinase activities
Authors: Birkedal Rikke , Branovets Jelena , Vendelin Marko
Published: August 2024

Intracellular molecules are transported by motor proteins or move by diffusion resulting from random molecular motion. Cardiomyocytes are packed with structures that are crucial for function, but also confine the diffusional spaces, providing cells with a means to control diffusion. They form compartments in which local concentrations are different from the overall, average concentrations. For example, calcium and cyclic AMP are highly compartmentalized, allowing these versatile second messengers to send different signals depending on their location. In energetic compartmentalization, the ratios of AMP and ADP to ATP are different from the average ratios. This is important for the performance of ATPases fuelling cardiac excitation‐contraction coupling and mechanical work. A recent study suggested that compartmentalization modulates the activity of creatine kinase and adenylate kinase in situ. This could have implications for energetic signaling through, for example, AMP‐activated kinase. It highlights the importance of taking compartmentalization into account in our interpretation of cellular physiology and developing methods to assess local concentrations of AMP and ADP to enhance our understanding of compartmentalization in different cell types.
GABARAP interacts with EGFR — supporting the unique role of this hAtg8 protein during receptor trafficking
Authors: Üffing Alina , Weiergräber Oliver H. , Schwarten Melanie , Hoffmann Silke , Willbold Dieter
Published: August 2024

The human Atg8 family member GABARAP is involved in numerous autophagy‐related and ‐unrelated processes. We recently observed that specifically the deficiency of GABARAP enhances epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) degradation upon ligand stimulation. Here, we report on two putative LC3‐interacting regions (LIRs) within EGFR, the first of which (LIR1) is selected as a GABARAP binding site in silico. Indeed, in vitro interaction studies reveal preferential binding of LIR1 to GABARAP and GABARAPL1. Our X‐ray data demonstrate interaction of core LIR1 residues FLPV with both hydrophobic pockets of GABARAP suggesting canonical binding. Although LIR1 occupies the LIR docking site, GABARAP Y49 and L50 appear dispensable in this case. Our data support the hypothesis that GABARAP affects the fate of EGFR at least in part through direct binding.
Cell‐free DNA from ascites identifies clinically relevant variants and tumour evolution in patients with advanced ovarian cancer
Authors: Werner Bonnita , Powell Elyse , Duggan Jennifer , Cortesi Marilisa , Lee Yeh Chen , Arora Vivek , Athavale Ramanand , Dean Michael , Warton Kristina , Ford Caroline E.
Published: August 2024

The emergence of targeted therapies has transformed ovarian cancer treatment. However, biomarker profiling for precision medicine is limited by access to quality, tumour‐enriched tissue samples. The use of cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) in ascites presents a potential solution to this challenge. In this study, next‐generation sequencing was performed on ascites‐derived cfDNA samples (26 samples from 15 human participants with ovarian cancer), with matched DNA from ascites‐derived tumour cells (n = 5) and archived formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) tissue (n = 5). Similar tumour purity and variant detection were achieved with cfDNA compared to FFPE and ascites cell DNA. Analysis of large‐scale genomic alterations, loss of heterozygosity and tumour mutation burden identified six cases of high genomic instability (including four with pathogenic BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations). Copy number profiles and subclone prevalence changed between sequential ascites samples, particularly in a case where deletions and chromothripsis in Chr17p13.1 and Chr8q resulted in changes in clinically relevant TP53 and MYC variants over time. Ascites cfDNA identified clinically actionable information, concordant to tissue biopsies, enabling opportunistic molecular profiling. This advocates for analysis of ascites cfDNA in lieu of accessing tumour tissue via biopsy.
Adaptive quantized tracking control for switched nonlinear systems with hysteresis nonlinearity using a novel predefined‐time stability criterion
Authors: Jin Ling , Su Lei , Lü Shaoyu , Wang Kang , Wang Jing
Published: August 2024

This article investigates the adaptive tracking control problem for switched nonlinear systems with input quantization and hysteresis nonlinearity. First, the hysteresis nonlinear phenomenon is considered and the Bouc–Wen hysteresis model is employed to address the complexities of controller design. Considering the time‐sampling mechanism may lead to the wastage of communication resources, a hysteresis quantizer is introduced to address this issue. Additionally, a command filter is constructed to relieve complexity explosion issues encountered during the backstepping process. Subsequently, compared with the conventional predefined‐time lemma, a novel predefined‐time lemma is proposed which can effectively adjust system performance even if the predefined‐time parameter is determined. In this case, a novel adaptive predefined‐time control scheme is devised by considering hysteresis properties and input quantization via the application of backstepping, which can track the reference signals within the predefined‐time frame. Finally, the flexibility and effectiveness of the proposed strategy are elaborated through numerical and practical examples.
Augmented Tactile Perception of Robotic Fingers Enabled by AI‐Enhanced Triboelectric Multimodal Sensors
Authors: Zhao Xi , Sun Zhongda , Lee Chengkuo
Published: August 2024

Recent developments in robotics increasingly highlight the importance of sensing technology, especially tactile perception, in enabling robots to effectively engage with their environment and interpret physical interactions. Due to power efficiency and low cost, the triboelectric mechanism has been frequently studied for measuring pressure and identifying materials to enhance robot perception. Nevertheless, there has been limited exploration of using the triboelectric effect to detect curved surfaces, despite their prevalence in daily lives. Here, a triboelectric multimodal tactile sensor (TMTS) of multilayered structural design is proposed to recognize distinct materials, curvatures, and pressure simultaneously, thus decoupling different modalities to enable more accurate detection. By attaching sensors to robotic fingertips and leveraging deep learning analytics, the quantitative curvature measurement provides more precise insights into an object's detailed geometric characteristics rather than merely assessing its overall shape, hence achieving automatic recognition of 12 grasped objects with 99.2% accuracy. The sensor can be further used to accurately recognize the softness of objects under different touch gestures of a robotic hand, achieving a 94.1% accuracy, demonstrating its significant potential for wide‐ranging applications in a future robotic‐enabled intelligent society.
Leakage‐Free and Non‐Flammable High‐Safety Li Metal Battery Using 85.3 wt.% Multifunctional Organic Lithium Salt as Quasi‐Solid Electrolyte
Authors: Liu Yijing , Qiao Sibo , Lin Weichao , Bao Lixia , Hu Jinrui , Liu Pengpeng , Liu Shu , Wang Jiliang
Published: August 2024

Safety issues of lithium metal batteries caused by leakageable, inflammable, and unstable electrolytes and lithium dendrites are a major concern worldwide. Herein, an ultra‐concentrated electrolyte composed of 85.3 wt.% of a novel phosphate quaternary ammonium lithium salt (PQ‐3Li) in fluoroethylene carbonate is prepared, labeled as CPQE. CPQE reveals an exceptional ionic conductivity (0.32 × 10−3 S cm−1), a high lithium transference number (0.66), an electrochemical stability window above 6 V, and a superb fire resistance. Li|CPQE|Li cells show stable cycling performance without lithium dendrites for 1000 h, and a solid‐electrolyte‐interface layer with an inorganics‐rich inner layer and an organics‐rich outer layer is confirmed using computation simulation, electron probe microanalysis, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Li|CPQE|NCM cells present a discharge capacity of 162 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C, and a Coulombic efficiency of up to 99%. A commercial LED bulb can be lighted up by the Li|CPQE|NCM cell for at least 1 h without performance deterioration while prolonging the cycling time. The fabricated CPQE‐based pouch cells own terrific safety and power supply capacity. No leakage, thermal runaway, combustion, or explosion behavior is detected during the nailing penetration test, implying large potential applications for developing the next generation of high‐safety lithium batteries.
Synergism of Covalent Linkage and Bimetallic Atom Catalysis Enables High‐Performance Cathodes for Li–S Batteries Under High Sulfur Loading and Low‐Temperature Conditions
Authors: Li Zhenfeng , Zhang Meng , Liu Yu , Cao Yong , Zeng Qinghui , Mao Qianjiang , Lu Zhihua , Jiang Yuchen , Chen Anqi , Guan Jiazhu , Wang Honghao , Chen Lin , Li Rongzheng , Zhou Yajuan , Wang Jiancheng , Liu Xiangfeng , Li Xiaoyi , Zhang Liaoyun
Published: August 2024

Lithium sulfur batteries (Li–S) with high theoretical specific capacity have aroused great interests in the field of energy storage. However, shuttle effect and slow conversion kinetics of lithium polysulfides seriously affect its practical application. Particularly, Li–S batteries face significant challenges in achieving good long‐term cycling performance under high sulfur loading and low temperatures. Herein, a kind of bimetallic organosulfur cathode namely Porphyrin(Cu/Fe)‐S‐rGO with high sulfur content (85 wt.%) which benefits from the synergy of the bimetallic atom catalysis and covalently anchored sulfur is designed and prepared for the first time. The results of electrochemical measurements and calculations suggest that the cells with Porphyrin(Cu/Fe)‐S‐rGO cathode exhibit better performance than the cells with corresponding blending cathode Porphyrin(Cu/Fe)/S/rGO and the cell with monometallic cathode Porphyrin(Cu)/S/rGO). Remarkably, the cell with Porphyrin(Cu/Fe)‐S‐rGO cathode can stably cycle for 200 cycles with a maximum capacity of 5.92 mAh cm−2 even under a high sulfur loading of 7.79 mg cm−2 at −20 °C. This study believes that the method of introducing covalent linkages into bimetallic systems offers an innovative solution for the design of high‐performance Li–S batteries under high sulfur loading and low‐temperature conditions.
Anti‐Cytokine Active Immunotherapy Based on Supramolecular Peptides for Alleviating IL‐1β‐Mediated Inflammation
Authors: Shetty Shamitha , Wu Yaoying , Lloyd Christopher Z. , Mehta Nalini , Liu Yining , Woodruff Mia E. , Segura Tatiana , Collier Joel H.
Published: August 2024

IL‐1β is a principal proinflammatory cytokine underlying multiple local and systemic chronic inflammatory conditions including psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and type 2 diabetes. Passive immunotherapies and biologic drugs targeting IL‐1β, while offering significant clinical benefit, nevertheless have limitations such as significant non‐response rates, induction of anti‐drug antibodies, and high costs. Here, an active immunotherapy raising antibody responses against IL‐1β employing self‐assembling peptide nanofibers is described. The nanofibers contain defined quantities of B‐cell epitopes from IL‐1β and exogenous T helper epitopes and employ the Q11 self‐assembling peptide platform. Without adjuvant, the nanofibers raised durable anti‐IL‐1β antibody responses that inhibit IL‐1β activity in vitro and in vivo. In a mouse model of imiquimod‐induced psoriasis, prophylactic immunizations with the nanofibers diminished symptoms of epidermal thickening. This therapeutic effect is associated with biasing the immune response toward an anti‐inflammatory IgG1/Th2 phenotype and a lowered expression of proinflammatory genes in the skin. Further, anti‐IL‐1β nanofibers induced therapeutic immunosuppressive CD62L+ Treg cells. This technology represents a potential alternative for passive immunotherapies and other biologics for treating chronic inflammatory conditions.
Nanoengineered Nonenzymatic Paper‐Based Fluorescent Platform for Pre‐Dilution‐Free and Visual Real‐Time Home Monitoring of Urea for Early Warning of Abnormal Nitrogen‐Based Unhealthy Issues
Authors: Chen Lijuan , Luo Xiaomin , Wang Xuechuan , Wang Yitong , Yang Hao , Zhao Suqiu , Zhang Qian , Liu Xinhua , Jiang Huie
Published: August 2024

Distorted urea levels indicate several liver, kidney, or metabolic diseases; however, traditional clinical urea detection relies on urease‐based methods enslaved to well‐known limitations of high‐price, unstable properties, complicated sample pretreatment and analysis procedures, and difficult visual real‐time monitoring. Herein, nonenzymatic paper‐based fluorescent materials (UFP‐BP) are strategically integrated with an on‐demand fluorescent‐sensor (UFP) self‐aggregated nanoparticle on commercial filter paper for pre‐dilution‐free and visual real‐time urea monitoring. The UFP is synthesized and self‐aggregated into the fluorescent nanoparticles for selective urea recognition. Then, the nanoparticles are interstitially loaded on filter paper to nanoengineer the UFP‐BP, achieving selective quantitative urea detection in the normal concentration range (10–1000 mm). UFP and UFP‐BP can successfully monitor urea levels in real rat urine, artificial simulants, and milk. The proposed sensing platform, integrated with smartphones, offers accurate, quantitative, nonenzymatic, noninvasive, pre‐dilution‐free, on‐site, rapid, low‐cost, easy‐to‐operate, real‐time visual urea detection in food samples and human body fluids. The designed sensing system can provide early warnings of abnormal nitrogen‐based health issues.
Coexistence and Interplay of Two Ferroelectric Mechanisms in Zn1‐xMgxO
Authors: Yang Jonghee , Ievlev Anton V. , Morozovska Anna N. , Eliseev Eugene A. , Poplawsky Jonathan D , Goodling Devin , Spurling Robert Jackson , Maria Jon‐Paul , Kalinin Sergei V. , Liu Yongtao
Published: August 2024

Ferroelectric materials promise exceptional attributes including low power dissipation, fast operational speeds, enhanced endurance, and superior retention to revolutionize information technology. However, the practical application of ferroelectric‐semiconductor memory devices has been significantly challenged by the incompatibility of traditional perovskite oxide ferroelectrics with metal‐oxide‐semiconductor technology. Recent discoveries of ferroelectricity in binary oxides such as Zn1‐xMgxO and Hf1‐xZrxO have been a focal point of research in ferroelectric information technology. This work investigates the ferroelectric properties of Zn1‐xMgxO utilizing automated band excitation piezoresponse force microscopy. This findings reveal the coexistence of two ferroelectric subsystems within Zn1‐xMgxO. A “fringing‐ridge mechanism” of polarization switching is proposed that is characterized by initial lateral expansion of nucleation without significant propagation in depth, contradicting the conventional domain growth process observed in ferroelectrics. This unique polarization dynamics in Zn1‐xMgxO suggests a new understanding of ferroelectric behavior, contributing to both the fundamental science of ferroelectrics and their application in information technology.
Single‐Step Inkjet Printing PDMS Microlens Arrays for Tunable‐Focus Artificial Compound Eyes
Authors: Zhou Shiyu , Guo Hao , Qian Bo , Li Lingying , Shi Xuejun
Published: August 2024

Flexible, tunable‐focus artificial compound eyes (ACEs) have been extensively studied due to their large field of view (FOV), variable focal length, and large depth of field. The fabrication of flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microlens arrays (MLAs) is a key issue for this system. Due to the difficulty of directly precision‐machining PDMS, PDMS MLAs typically need molds, which involve complex, costly, and hard‐to‐control methods like laser fabrication and lithography. In this paper, a moldless, single‐step inkjet printing method for PDMS MLAs is proposed. By optimizing the rheological properties of the PDMS ink and adjusting printing waveforms, voltages, and frequencies, this study achieves, for the first time, large‐scale inkjet printing fabrication of PDMS MLAs. The surface morphologies of the microlenses are uniformly consistent, resembling spherical caps. Subsequently, the optimized printed PDMS MLA film is bonded to a microfluidic chip to fabricate a hydraulically driven, variable‐focus ACE with the FOV tunable between 0° and 140° and the focal length tunable from 6 mm to infinity. The ACE is demonstrated to image the objects at various distances by altering the volume of the injected liquid and possessing good optical imaging quality.
Colloidal Semiconductor Quantum Well Supraparticles as Low‐Threshold and Photostable Microlasers
Authors: Alves Pedro Urbano , Quinn Gemma , Strain Michael J. , Durmusoglu Emek Goksu , Sharma Manoj , Demir Hilmi Volkan , Edwards Paul R. , Martin Robert W. , Dawson Martin D. , Laurand Nicolas
Published: August 2024

This study introduces and compares the lasing performance of micron‐sized and sphere‐shaped supraparticle (SP) lasers fabricated through bottom‐up assembly of II‐VI semiconductor colloidal quantum wells (CQWs) with their counterparts made of quantum dots (CQDs). CQWs consist of a 4‐monolayers thick CdSe core and an 8‐monolayers thick CdxZn1‐xS shell with a nominal size of 14 × 15 × 4.2 nm, and CQDs of CdSxSe1‐x/ZnS with 6 nm diameter. SPs are optically characterized with a 0.76 ns pulse laser (spot size: 2.88 × 10−7 cm2) at 532 nm, and emit in the 620–670 nm spectral range. Results show that CQW SPs have lasing thresholds twice as low (0.1–0.3 nJ) as CQD SPs (0.3–0.6 nJ), and stress tests using a constant 0.6 nJ optical pump energy demonstrate that CQW SPs withstand lasing emission for longer than CQD SPs. Lasing emission in CQW and CQD SPs under continuous operation yields half‐lives of τCQW SP ≈150 min and τCQD SP ≈22 min, respectively. The half‐life of CQW SPs is further extended to τQW ≈385 min when optically pumped at 0.5 nJ. Such results compare favorably to those in the literature and highlight the performance of CdSe‐based CQW SPs for laser applications.