bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Police Work, Unbounded
Authors: Weld Kirsten
Published: June 2020

To scholars of labor and working-class history, police pose a problem—though, one less grave than the problem they pose to contemporary life in the United States, where roughly 10 percent of all homicide victims, and fully one-third of all people killed by strangers, die at police hands. How should police be categorized, and are they worthy subjects for the field? They are workers, of course, but they are also front-line agents of state repression and shock troops for capital. They remain robustly unionized, at least by US standards, but their unions are regressive and politically conservative, more concerned with shielding cops from accountability than with building solidarity. As individuals, many hail from working-class communities of color, but as a social and political category, their effect is to rationalize, reproduce, and fortify axes of racial and class difference. Their labor power is undoubtedly appropriated to produce surplus value, but is the exploitation they suffer superseded—or, to use a newly vexed word, “trumped”—by the work they do as exploiters?
Segmented Possibilities: Migrant life Histories of Hindustani Workers in Post Colonial India
Authors: Buat Camille
Published: June 2020

Starting in the late 19 th century, workers from north India came to constitute the backbone of the urban and industrial labour force in Calcutta and neighboring mill municipalities. As they settled in and around the colonial metropolis, these Hindustani workers maintained strong connections with their rural homes. One generation after the other, they reproduced this dual settlement over the following decades. This bi-local structure of labour circulation, which linked village and city through the constant coming and going of men and women, progressively broke down from the late 20 th century onwards, following the closure of the large textile, engineering and paper industries which underpinned the economic vitality of the Calcutta region. The article sketches out the history of this socio-spatial configuration over the second half of the 20 th century, through the life histories of two migrant Hindustani workers. Born around 1940, Siraj Prajapati and Mohan Lal both spent the greater part of their working lives in Calcutta's industrial suburbs. Siraj, a potter by caste, was engaged in the artisanal production tea-cups in Howrah. Born into one of the most marginalized sections of north Indian society, Mohan managed to train as a mason, and was employed in the Titagarh Paper Mill through the 1960s and 70s. Both have now settled back in their respective villages of eastern Uttar Pradesh. Teasing out the contradictory ways in which both men frame their life trajectories, the article contributes a micro-perspective to the social history of rural-urban migration in post-colonial north India.
Slavery and Decline of Slave-Ownership in Ottoman Bursa 1460–1880
Authors: Canbakal Hülya , Filiztekin Alpay
Published: June 2020

The most widely accepted narrative about the long-term history of slavery in Ottoman lands rests on a supply-side story. According to this, military and diplomatic factors reduced the inflow of slaves from the seventeenth century onwards and, consequently, exorbitant prices turned slaveholding into a luxury inaccessible to all but the top elite. Using evidence from probate inventories of the city of Bursa and its hinterland from 1460 to 1880, the present study examines this narrative in light of the incidence of slave-ownership and prices. We observe substantial decline in slaveholding already before the beginning of the government reforms concerning slavery and slave trade in the nineteenth century. We also find a decline in slave prices, both absolute and relative to wages. This is unexpected. Further analysis suggests, on the one hand, that a different supply factor, relative increase in the African slave population due to changes in the global traffic may have been instrumental in these trends, which links Bursa's non-colonial market to world slavery. On the other hand, examination of the consumption/investment preferences of the wealthy suggests that demand for slaves, too, may have declined, we surmise, in response to demographic and social change affecting alternative labor costs as well as cultural change affecting the meaning of slaveholding.
Effects of parity, sympathy and reciprocity in increasing social welfare
Authors: Sen Sandip , Crawford Chad , Dees Adam , Nanda Kumar Rachna , Hale James
Published: June 2020

We are interested in understanding how socially desirable traits like sympathy, reciprocity, and fairness can survive in environments that include aggressive and exploitative agents. Social scientists have long theorized about ingrained motivational factors as explanations for departures from self-seeking behaviors by human subjects. Some of these factors, namely reciprocity, have also been studied extensively in the context of agent systems as tools for promoting cooperation and improving social welfare in stable societies. In this paper, we evaluate how other factors like sympathy and parity can be used by agents to seek out cooperation possibilities while avoiding exploitation traps in more dynamic societies. We evaluate the relative effectiveness of agents influenced by different social considerations when they can change who they interact with in their environment using both an experimental framework and a predictive analysis. Such rewiring of social networks not only allows possibly vulnerable agents to avoid exploitation but also allows them to form gainful coalitions to leverage mutually beneficial cooperation, thereby significantly increasing social welfare.
Mobility of Human Beings in Europe: An Unpredictable Phenomenon
Authors: Martínez de Codes Rosa María
Published: June 2020

The global refugee crisis has reignited long-standing debates about how to successfully integrate religious minorities into liberal democratic societies. In the United States, security fears, particularly connected with terrorism, are preponderant. In Western Europe cultural fears seem to dominate, with many misunderstanding Islam as a direct threat to the norms and values that bind their societies together.
Dying patients with COVID-19: What should Hospital Palliative Care Teams (HPCTs) be prepared for?
Authors: Anneser Johanna
Published: June 2020

Objective

The COVID-19 pandemic is a care crisis of unknown duration which has seemingly not yet reached its peak in many countries. A significant number of elderly and frail people and those with underlying serious illness will continue to develop severe forms of the COVID-19 infection. Most of them are not eligible for intensive care treatment but can still expect palliative care — in many cases provided by a Hospital Palliative Care Team (HPCT). Several teams have already gained experience in caring for these patients and their families, others are preparing for it.

Method

We report on a COVID-19 patient with pre-existing acute myeloid leukemia who was looked after by a HPCT until death. We discuss the challenges and difficulties while caring for COVID-19-positive palliative patients in a non-ICU setting.

Results

Hospitalization of the patient in an isolation ward caused an enormous burden for the dying patient and his family. Symptom control was particularly difficult because of rapid deteriorating dyspnea and the scarce presence of medical staff in the patient's room.

Significance of results

COVID-19 patients who are not eligible for ICU treatment may have a particularly high need for palliative care. Since beds in specialist palliative care units are limited, the HPCT should be prepared to care for these patients. They may offer support in decision-making, optimize symptom control, and provide psychosocial care for patients and their families. Visiting restrictions aimed to protect the general public must be weighted against the patient's and family's suffering.
A compact dual band-notched SWB antenna with high bandwidth dimension ratio
Authors: Dastranj Aliakbar , Lari Ghazaleh , Bornapour Mosayeb
Published: June 2020

In this research, a compact dual band-notched (DBN) super-wideband (SWB) coplanar waveguide-fed antenna with high bandwidth (BW) dimension ratio of 7427.4 has been presented. The proposed antenna covers a very wide frequency range from 2.8 to 40 GHz (BW ratio of 14.28:1) with |S11|<−10 dB. The overall antenna size is 20 × 14 × 1.6 mm3 which consists of an FR4 substrate with a dielectric constant of 4.4, a shovel-shaped radiating patch and the symmetric stair-shaped ground plane. The DBN characteristics are achieved by employing a pair of C-shaped and circular slots on its shovel-shaped radiating patch to reject the interferences caused by two WiMAX (3.7–4.7 GHz) and WLAN (5.7–6.4 GHz) bands. The notched frequency bands can be controlled by changing the radii of slots. The SWB property of the antenna is obtained by using a symmetric stair-shaped ground plane and also a shovel-shaped radiating patch. The measured results of the fabricated prototype in frequency-and time-domain are also presented and compared with the numerical results. The results indicate that the antenna has good performance over the entire operating BW (173.8%) which makes it very potential candidate for modern SWB applications.
Protective effect of maternal exercise against amyloid-β neurotoxicity in the male rat offspring’s cerebellum
Authors: Klein Caroline Peres , Hoppe Juliana Bender , Saccomori André Brum , Gindri dos Santos Bernardo , August Pauline Maciel , Klein Isadora Peres , Crestani Mariana Scortegagna , Bifi Felippo , Hözer Régis Mateus , Navas Plácido , Salbego Christianne Gazzana , Matté Cristiane
Published: June 2020

The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) states that intrauterine maternal environment influences postnatal life by programming offspring’s metabolism. Intrauterine milieu induced by exercise during pregnancy promotes long-lasting benefits to the offspring’s health and seems to offer some resistance against chronic diseases in adult life. Alzheimer’s disease is a public health concern with limited treatment options. In the present study, we assessed the potential of maternal exercise during pregnancy in long-term programming of young adult male rat offspring’s cerebellar metabolism in conferring neuroprotection against amyloid-β (Aβ) neurotoxicity. Female Wistar rats were submitted to a swimming protocol 1 week prior mating and throughout pregnancy (five sessions/a week lasting 30 min). Aβ oligomers were infused bilaterally in the brain ventricles of 60-day-old male offspring. Fourteen days after surgery, we measured parameters related to redox state, mitochondrial function, and the immunocontent of proteins related to synaptic function. We found that maternal exercise during pregnancy attenuated several parameters in the offspring’s male rat cerebellum, such as the reactive species rise, the increase of inducible nitric oxide synthase immunocontent and tau phosphorylation induced by Aβ oligomers, increased mitochondrial fission indicated by dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), and protein oxidation identified by carbonylation. Strikingly, we find that maternal exercise promotes changes in the rat offspring’s cerebellum that are still evident in young adult life. These favorable neurochemical changes in offspring’s cerebellum induced by maternal exercise may contribute to a protective phenotype against Aβ-induced neurotoxicity in young adult male rat offspring.
The Lithospheric Structure of the Saharan Metacraton From 3‐D Integrated Geophysical‐Petrological Modeling
Authors: Sobh M. , Ebbing J. , Mansi A. H. , Götze H.‐J. , Emry E. L. , Abdelsalam M. G.
Published: June 2020

We modeled crustal and lithospheric thickness variation as well as the variations in temperature, composition, S wave seismic velocity, and density of the lithosphere beneath the Saharan Metacraton (SMC) applying an interdisciplinary 3‐D modeling. Regardless of the limited data set, we aimed at consistent imaging of the SMC lithospheric structure by combining independent data sets to better understand the evolution of the metacraton. We considered that the SMC was once an intact Archean‐Paleoproterozoic craton but was metacratonized during the Neoproterozoic due to partial loss of its subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) during collisional processes along its margin. This has permitted the preservation of three cratonic remnants (Murzuq, Al‐Kufrah, and Chad) within the metacraton. These cratonic remnants are overlain by Paleozoic‐Mesozoic sedimentary basins (Murzuq, Al‐Kufrah, and Chad), which are separated by topographic swells associated with the Hoggar Swell, Tibesti Massif, and Darfur Dome Cenozoic volcanism. The three cratonic remnants are underlain by a relatively thicker lithosphere compared to the surrounding SMC, with the thickest located beneath Al‐Kufrah reaching 200 km. Also, the SCLM beneath Al‐Kufrah cratonic remnant is significantly colder and denser. Modeling of the lithosphere beneath the Chad and Murzuq Basins yielded a complex density and temperature distribution pattern, with lower values than beneath the Tibesti Massif. Further, our modeling indicated a uniform and moderately depleted mantle composition beneath the SMC. The presence of a relatively thinner lithosphere beneath the noncratonic regions of the SMC is attributed with several tectonic events, including partial SCLM delamination during the Neoproterozoic, Mesozoic‐Cenozoic rifting, and Cenozoic volcanism.
Radioactive Bookkeeping of Carbon Emissions
Authors: Derouin Sarah
Published: June 2020

A new sampling method uses carbon-14 to single out which carbon dioxide molecules in the atmosphere derive from fossil fuels. The method could help track emissions goals for climate mitigation.
Stress Orientations in the Nankai Trough Constrained Using Seismic and Aseismic Slip
Authors: Newton Tyler J. , Thomas Amanda M.
Published: June 2020

The strength of subduction thrust faults is key to understanding seismogenesis at the provenance of Earth's largest earthquakes. Earthquake focal mechanisms are routinely inverted to constrain the stress state at seismogenic depths. However, on some megathrusts, deformation is accommodated by both earthquakes and types of slow fault slip. We employ focal mechanisms of short‐term slow slip events (SSEs), a type of slow fault slip, and earthquakes in a regional stress inversion to investigate the stress state of the Nankai Trough megathrust and interpret the results in the context of regional tectonics Previous studies using earthquake‐only stress inversions found principal stress orientations in this region that are incompatible with thrust faulting on the megathrust. When both SSEs and earthquakes are considered, the stress state of the central and eastern Nankai Trough megathrust is well oriented for thrust faulting. Our results suggest that slow fault slip source regions may appear to have misoriented stress fields if slow fault slip constitutes a substantial proportion of fault slip and the stress field is not well constrained by earthquakes. In the SSE region, we find that faults are well oriented for failure, suggesting they have strengths similar to their surroundings. Combined with low Vp/Vs ratios and sensitivity to small stress changes, our results imply that the megathrust and surroundings operate at low deviatoric stresses in the SSE source region. Further, we show that the coefficient of friction for areas hosting SSEs is low (μ=0.19–0.50), implying frictionally weak materials in the SSE source region.
Unravelling Effects of the Pore‐Size Correlation Length on the Two‐Phase Flow and Solute Transport Properties: GPU‐based Pore‐Network Modeling
Authors: An Senyou , Hasan Sharul , Erfani Hamidreza , Babaei Masoud , Niasar Vahid
Published: June 2020

Continuum‐scale models for two‐phase flow and transport in porous media are based on the empirical constitutive relations that highly depend on the porous medium heterogeneity at multiple scales including the microscale pore‐size correlation length. The pore‐size correlation length determines the representative elementary volume and controls the immiscible two‐phase invasion pattern and fluids occupancy. The fluids occupancy controls not only the shape of relative permeability curves but also the transport zonation under two‐phase flow conditions, which results in the non‐Fickian transport. This study aims to quantify the signature of the pore‐size correlation length on two‐phase flow and solute transport properties such as the capillary pressure‐ and relative permeability‐saturation, dispersivity, stagnant saturation, and mass transfer rate. Given the capability of pore‐scale models in capturing the pore morphology and detailed physics of flow and transport, a novel graphics processing unit (GPU)‐based pore‐network model has been developed. This GPU‐based model allows us to simulate flow and transport in networks with multimillions pores, equivalent to the centimeter length scale. The impact of the pore‐size correlation length on all aforementioned properties was studied and quantified. Moreover, by classification of the pore space to flowing and stagnant regions, a simple semianalytical relation for the mass transfer between the flowing and stagnant regions was derived, which showed a very good agreement with pore‐network simulation results. Results indicate that the characterization of the topology of the stagnant regions as a function of pore‐size correlation length is essential for a better estimation of the two‐phase flow and solute transport properties.
Diphthamide-deficiency syndrome: a novel human developmental disorder and ribosomopathy
Authors: Hawer Harmen , Mendelsohn Bryce A. , Mayer Klaus , Kung Ann , Malhotra Amit , Tuupanen Sari , Schleit Jennifer , Brinkmann Ulrich , Schaffrath Raffael
Published: June 2020

We describe a novel type of ribosomopathy that is defined by deficiency in diphthamidylation of translation elongation factor 2. The ribosomopathy was identified by correlating phenotypes and biochemical properties of previously described patients with diphthamide biosynthesis gene 1 (DPH1) deficiencies with a new patient that carried inactivating mutations in both alleles of the human diphthamide biosynthesis gene 2 (DPH2). The humanDPH1syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder associated with developmental delay, abnormal head circumference (microcephaly or macrocephaly), short stature, and congenital heart disease. It is defined by variants with reduced functionality of theDPH1gene observed so far predominantly in consanguineous homozygous patients carrying identical mutant alleles ofDPH1. Here we report a child with a very similar phenotype carrying biallelic variants of the humanDPH2. The gene products DPH1 and DPH2 are components of a heterodimeric enzyme complex that mediates the first step of the posttranslational diphthamide modification on the nonredundant eukaryotic translation elongation factor 2 (eEF2). Diphthamide deficiency was shown to reduce the accuracy of ribosomal protein biosynthesis. Both DPH2 variants described here severely impair diphthamide biosynthesis as demonstrated in human and yeast cells. This is the first report of a patient carrying compound heterozygous DPH2 loss-of-function variants with aDPH1syndrome-like phenotype and implicates diphthamide deficiency as the root cause of this patient’s clinical phenotype as well as ofDPH1-syndrome. These findings define “diphthamide-deficiency syndrome” as a special ribosomopathy due to reduced functionality of components of the cellular machinery for eEF2-diphthamide synthesis.
Cyclophilin D binds to the acidic C-terminus region of α-Synuclein and affects its aggregation characteristics
Authors: Torpey James , Madine Jillian , Wood Amy , Lian Lu-Yun
Published: June 2020

Cyclophilin D (CypD) is a peptidyl-prolyl isomerase expressed in the nucleus and transported into the mitochondria where it is best associated with the regulation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP). There are, however, other possible roles of CypD in the mitochondria which may or may not be linked with the MPTP. Alpha synuclein (αSyn) is shown here to interact directly with CypD via its acidic proline-rich C-terminus region and binding at the putative ligand binding pocket of CypD. The study shows that CypD binding with soluble αSyn prevents its aggregation. Furthermore, the addition of CypD to preformed αSyn fibrils leads to the disassembly of these fibrils. Enzymatically-compromised mutants of CypD show reduced abilities to dissociate αSyn aggregates, suggesting that fibril disassembly is linked to the increased rate of peptidyl-prolyl isomerisation catalysed by CypD. Protein aggregation in the mitochondria is increasingly seen as the cause of neurodegeneration. However, protein aggregation is a reversible process but disaggregation requires help from other proteins such as isomerases and chaperones. The results here demonstrate a possible mechanism by which CypD achieves this and suggest that disaggregation could be one of the many functions of this protein.
A synergic approach to enhance long-term culture and manipulation of MiaPaCa-2 pancreatic cancer spheroids
Authors: Cavo Marta , Delle Cave Donatella , D’Amone Eliana , Gigli Giuseppe , Lonardo Enza , del Mercato Loretta L.
Published: June 2020

Tumour spheroids have the potential to be used as preclinical chemo-sensitivity assays. However, the production of three-dimensional (3D) tumour spheroids remains challenging as not all tumour cell lines form spheroids with regular morphologies and spheroid transfer often induces disaggregation. In the field of pancreatic cancer, the MiaPaCa-2 cell line is an interesting model for research but it is known for its difficulty to form stable spheroids; also, when formed, spheroids from this cell line are weak and arduous to manage and to harvest for further analyses such as multiple staining and imaging. In this work, we compared different methods (i.e. hanging drop, round-bottom wells and Matrigel embedding, each of them with or without methylcellulose in the media) to evaluate which one allowed to better overpass these limitations. Morphometric analysis indicated that hanging drop in presence of methylcellulose leaded to well-organized spheroids; interestingly, quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis reflected the morphometric characterization, indicating that same spheroids expressed the highest values of CD44, VIMENTIN, TGF-β1 and Ki-67. In addition, we investigated the generation of MiaPaCa-2 spheroids when cultured on substrates of different hydrophobicity, in order to minimize the area in contact with the culture media and to further improve spheroid formation.
Affective dimensions of pain and region -specific involvement of nitric oxide in the development of empathic hyperalgesia
Authors: Mohammadi Fatemeh , Kohlmeier Kristi Anne , Jeddi Sajad , Ahmadi-Zeidabadi Meysam , Shabani Mohammad
Published: June 2020

Empathy for pain depends on the ability to feel, recognize, comprehend and share painful emotional conditions of others. In this study, we investigated the role of NO in a rat model of empathic pain. Pain was socially transferred from the sibling demonstrator (SD) who experienced five formalin injection to the naïve sibling observer (SO) through observation. SO rats received L-NAME (a nonspecific NO synthase inhibitor) or L-arginine (a precursor of NO) prior to observing the SD. Nociception, and concentrations of NO metabolites (NOx) in the serum, left and right hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and cerebellum were evaluated. Nociceptive responses were significantly increased in the pain-observing groups. NOx levels measured 24 h after the last pain observation using the Griess method, were indicative of NOx concentration decreases and increases in the left hippocampus and cerebellum, respectively. There was an increase in tissue concentration of NOx in cerebellum and prefrontal cortex in both pain and observer groups 7 days after the fifth formalin injection. Our results suggest that NO is involved in development of empathic hyperalgesia, and observation of sibling’s pain can change NO metabolites in different brain regions in observer rats.
In-situ Raman analysis of hydrogenation in well-defined ultrathin molybdenum diselenide deposits synthesized through vapor phase deposition
Authors: Santiago Peter Joseph , Ramirez Francisco , Tavassol Hadi
Published: June 2020

We report on the synthesis, characterization and in-situ Raman spectroscopy analysis of hydrogenation in ultrathin crystalline MoSe2 deposits. We use a controllable vapor phase synthesis method using MoSe2 powder as the only precursor, to fabricate nano- to micro-size few layer thick MoSe2 deposits with tunable number densities on SiO2/Si substrates. We employ this controllable synthesis method to correlate characteristic Raman spectroscopy response of MoSe2 at ca. 242 cm−1 (A1g) and ca. 280 cm−1 (E2g1) with the thickness of the deposits acquired from atomic force microscopy (AFM). We also use this array of well-defined atomically thin MoSe2 deposits to study possible hydrogenation effects on select architectures using in-situ Raman spectroscopy. Interestingly, our analysis indicates that ultrathin MoSe2 deposits with exposed edges show a blue shift of 1–2 cm−1 when exposed to H2 flow at 150–250 sccm for 2–4 hours in a sealed reaction cell. Exposure to Ar flow under same condition reverses the observed shift in the A1g mode of the select MoSe2 deposits. Our measurements provide in-situ evidence for hydrogen adsorption on MoSe2 deposits at room temperature and insight into the possible active sites for hydrogen reactions on layered dichalcogenides at lower dimensions.
Author Correction: GPU-Accelerated GLRLM Algorithm for Feature Extraction of MRI
Authors: Zhang Hanyu , Hung Che-Lun , Min Geyong , Guo Jhih-Peng , Liu Meiyuan , Hu Xiaoye
Published: June 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Based on Histogram Analysis: ADCaqp Derived from Ultra-high b-Value DWI could be a Non-invasive Specific Biomarker for Rectal Cancer Prognosis
Authors: Zhang Guangwen , Ma Wanling , Dong Hui , Shu Jun , Hou Weihuan , Guo Yong , Wang Mian , Wei Xiaocheng , Ren Jialiang , Zhang Jinsong
Published: June 2020

Aquaporins (AQP) are not only water channel protein, but also potential prognostic indicator and therapeutic target for rectal cancer. Some previous studies have demonstrated the AQP expression could be estimated by ADCaqp value derived from ultra-high b-value diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). We aim to determine whether ADCaqp could be a new and specific biomarker for indicating the AQP expression and prognostic factors of rectal cancer. 76 untreated patients with rectal cancer confirmed by colonoscopy biopsy were enrolled. ADCaqp value was generated from ultra-high b-value DWI with five b-values (1700–3500 s/mm2). AQP (AQP1, 3 and 5)staining intensity was estimated by both of software (QuPath) and manual manner. The relationships between histogram features of ADCaqp and AQP staining intensity were analyzed. The correlations between histogram features of ADCaqp and differentiation degrees (good, moderate, poor), T stage (T1–2 vs T3–4), and lymph node status (N+ vs N−) were also evaluated respectively. The mean, 75th percentile and 97.5th percentile of ADCaqp were correlated with AQP1 staining intensity (r = 0.237, 0.323 and 0.362, respectively, all P < 0.05) . No correlation was found between the histogram features of ADCaqp and AQP3 or AQP5 staining intensity. The mean, 50th percentile, 75th percentile and 97.5th percentile of ADCaqp value exhibited significant differences between differentiation status (all P < 0.05). Histogram features of ADCaqp value showed no significant differences in two subgroups of T stage and lymph node status (all P > 0.05). Histogram analysis showed that the ADCaqp value derived from ultra-high b-value DWI of rectal cancer could reflect AQP1’s expression and rectal cancer’s malignancy degree. ADCaqp might be a new imaging biomarker for evaluating rectal cancer.
DREAM-in-CDM Approach and Identification of a New Generation of Anti-inflammatory Drugs Targeting mPGES-1
Authors: Zhou Shuo , Zhou Ziyuan , Ding Kai , Yuan Yaxia , Loftin Charles , Zheng Fang , Zhan Chang-Guo
Published: June 2020

Microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase-1 (mPGES-1) is known as an ideal target for next generation of anti-inflammatory drugs without the side effects of currently available anti-inflammatory drugs. However, there has been no clinically promising mPGES-1 inhibitor identified through traditional drug discovery and development route. Here we report a new approach, called DREAM-in-CDM (DrugRepurposingEffortApplying IntegratedModeling-invitro/vivo-ClinicalDataMining), to identify an FDA-approved drug suitable for use as an effective analgesic targeting mPGES-1. The DREAM-in-CDM approach consists of three steps: computational screening of FDA-approved drugs;in vitroand/orin vivoassays; and clinical data mining. By using the DREAM-in-CDM approach, lapatinib has been identified as a promising mPGES-1 inhibitor which may have significant anti-inflammatory effects to relieve various forms of pain and possibly treat various inflammation conditions involved in other inflammation-related diseases such as the lung inflammation caused by the newly identified COVID-19. We anticipate that the DREAM-in-CDM approach will be used to repurpose FDA-approved drugs for various new therapeutic indications associated with new targets.
Ring opening polymerization of α-amino acids: advances in synthesis, architecture and applications of polypeptides and their hybrids
Authors: Rasines Mazo Alicia , Allison-Logan Stephanie , Karimi Fatemeh , Chan Nicholas Jun-An , Qiu Wenlian , Duan Wei , O’Brien-Simpson Neil M. , Qiao Greg G.
Published: June 2020

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in the synthesis, architectural design and biomedical applications of polypeptides and their hybrids.
Hypoxia imaging in living cells, tissues and zebrafish with a nitroreductase-specific fluorescent probe
Authors: Fan Li , Zan Qi , Lin Bo , Wang Xiaodong , Gong Xiaojuan , Zhao Zhonghua , Shuang Shaomin , Dong Chuan , Wong Man Shing
Published: June 2020

We report a nitroreductase-specific fluorescent probe (NTNO) for hypoxia imaging in living cells, tissues and zebrafish.
Phosphorylcholine-based encoded hydrogel microparticles with enhanced fouling resistance for multiplex immunoassays
Authors: Roh Yoon Ho , Seo Jiae , Kim Ju Yeon , Kim Hyeon Ung , Mun Seok Joon , Seo Ji-Hun , Bong Ki Wan
Published: June 2020

Poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC)-based hydrogel microparticles were synthesized for multiplex immunoassays with enhanced fouling resistance properties.
Tunable plasmonics of hollow raspberry-like nanogold for the robust Raman scattering detection of antibiotics on a portable Raman spectrometer
Authors: Wu Yiping , Liu Yi , Tang Xuefei , Cheng Zhengzhong , Liu Honglin
Published: June 2020

Raspberry-like gold (R-like Au) with rough surface and partially hollow structure demonstrated high sensitivity and reproducibility for detection of antibiotics on portable Raman spectrometer.
A one-step molded microfluidic chip featuring a two-layer silver-PDMS microelectrode for dielectrophoretic cell separation
Authors: Zhang Zhongle , Luo Yuan , Nie Xiaofeng , Yu Duli , Xing Xiaoxing
Published: June 2020

Microelectrodes and flow sidewalls entirely made of AgPDMS by one-step replica molding process for dielectrophoretic cell separation and viability assay.
Precise imaging of mitochondria in cancer cells by real-time monitoring of nitroreductase activity with a targetable and activatable fluorescent probe
Authors: Zhu Ning , Xu Ge , Wang Rongchen , Zhu Tianli , Tan Jiahui , Gu Xianfeng , Zhao Chunchang
Published: June 2020

A probe with a targetable feature and ratiometric fluorescence as well as NIR emission light-up response to nitroreductase is presented for the precise imaging of mitochondria in cancer cells by real-time monitoring of nitroreductase activity.
Ligand-free ZnS nanoparticles: as easy and green as it gets
Authors: Dengo Nicola , Faresin Andrea , Carofiglio Tommaso , Maggini Michele , Wu Longfei , Hofmann Jan P. , Hensen Emiel J. M. , Dolcet Paolo , Gross Silvia
Published: June 2020

Water suspension of small ZnS nanoparticles from two easy water-based ligand-free approaches.
Intramolecularly stapled amphipathic peptidesviaa boron–sugar interaction
Authors: Kijewska Monika , Czerwińska Angelika , Al-Harthi Samah , Wołczański Grzegorz , Waliczek Mateusz , Emwas Abdul-Hamid , Jaremko Mariusz , Jaremko Łukasz , Stefanowicz Piotr , Szewczuk Zbigniew
Published: June 2020

The intramolecular interactions between the fructosyl moiety and phenylboronic acid incorporated into various positions of the peptide chain were investigated using mass spectrometry (MS), circular dichroism (CD), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).
Planar or tetrahedral? A ternary 17-electron CBe5H4+ cluster with planar pentacoordinate carbon
Authors: Guo Jin-Chang , Feng Lin-Yan , Barroso Jorge , Merino Gabriel , Zhai Hua-Jin
Published: June 2020

Planar or tetrahedral? Global searches discover a 17-electron CBe5H4+ cluster with planar pentacoordinate carbon. The 18-electron neutral features a tetrahedral carbon.
Aliphatic polyketones as classic yet new molecular ropes for structural diversity in organic synthesis
Authors: Inokuma Yasuhide , Yoneda Tomoki , Ide Yuki , Yoshioka Shota
Published: June 2020

Synthesis, reactivity, and recent chemistry developments regarding aliphatic polyketones are highlighted with respect to chain sequences. These classic compounds are still showing new research potentials.
Synthesis of dynamic imine macrocyclic supramolecular polymers via synchronized self-assembly based on dynamic covalent bonds and noncovalent interactions
Authors: He Zhenfeng , Huo Yufeng , Wang Chao , Pan Duo , Dong Binbin , Wang Mingli , Guo Li , Hu Zhuolin , Guo Zhanhu
Published: June 2020

The preparation of host imine macrocycles and the self-assembly aggregation process are merged into one single step for self-assembly to form dynamic imine macrocyclic supramolecular polymers.
(Para)magnetic hybrid nanocomposites for dual MRI detection and treatment of solid tumours
Authors: Vieira Rocha Cátia , Costa da Silva Milene , Bañobre-López Manuel , Gallo Juan
Published: June 2020

Novel paramagnetic hybrid nanocomposites combine dual-MRI imaging capabilities, to simplify diagnosis and monitoring, with chemo- and thermo-therapy against solid tumours.
Enhancement of the oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalytic activity of metallo-corroles using contracted cobalt(iii) CF3-corrole incorporated in a high surface area carbon support
Authors: Honig Hilah C. , Friedman Ariel , Zion Noam , Elbaz Lior
Published: June 2020

Molecular ORR catalysts based on metallo-corrole with the smallest meso-substituent reported to date, Co(iii)CF3-corrole, was synthesized and compared to the well-studied Co(iii)tpf-corrole when adsorbed on a high surface area carbon support.
Co–Pt bimetallic nanoparticles with tunable magnetic and electrocatalytic properties prepared by atomic layer deposition
Authors: Cao Yan-Qiang , Zi Tao-Qing , Liu Chang , Cui Da-Peng , Wu Di , Li Ai-Dong
Published: June 2020

Magnetism tuning and hydrogen evolution reaction activity optimization can be achieved for Co–Pt BMNPs prepared by ALD.
Self-assembly of three-dimensional oxalate-bridged alkali(i)–lanthanide(iii) heterometal–organic frameworks
Authors: Ponjan Nutcha , Kielar Filip , Dungkaew Winya , Kongpatpanich Kanokwan , Zenno Hikaru , Hayami Shinya , Sukwattanasinitt Mongkol , Chainok Kittipong
Published: June 2020

Three isostructural 3D oxalate bridged alkali(i)–lanthanide(iii) MOFs with a pcu net based on cubane-like [Ln4O4] clusters and their magnetic, CO2 adsorption, and photoluminescence sensing properties are presented.
Intriguing electronic and optical prospects of FCC bimetallic two-dimensional heterostructures: epsilon near-zero behavior in UV-Vis range
Authors: Maji Tuhin Kumar , Vaibhav Kumar , Hawaldar Ranjit , Adarsh K. V. , Pal Samir Kumar , Karmakar Debjani
Published: June 2020

Nanostructures of noble metals, Au and Ag, indicate the localization-induced correlated phenomena and epsilon-near-zero behaviour from first-principles investigations.
Two-dimensional type-II g-C3N4/SiP–GaS heterojunctions as water splitting photocatalysts: first-principles predictions
Authors: Hu Lei , Yi Wencai , Rao Tongde , Tang Jianting , Hu Chuanbo , Yin Huawei , Hao Haiyan , Zhang Lei , Li Chuanjiang , Li Tingzhen
Published: June 2020

The g-C3N4/SiP-α, -β and -γ heterojunctions are all visible-light-driven water splitting photocatalysts with a type-II band alignment.
Fractional and integer stages of lithium ion–graphite systems: the role of electrostatic and elastic contributions
Authors: Gavilán-Arriazu E. M. , Hümöller J. M. , Pinto O. A. , López de Mishima B. A. , Leiva E. P. M. , Oviedo O. A.
Published: June 2020

By including a parametric description of the elastic interactions using Monte Carlo simulations, the transition between stages II and I takes place without the presence of fractional stages.
Does the photoredox reaction affect the photorelease of anthraquinone protected benzaldehyde? A time-resolved spectroscopic study
Authors: Guo Yan , Xu Tongyu , Ma Jiani
Published: June 2020

Time-resolved spectroscopy studies coupled with the results from density functional theory (DFT) computations were utilized to unravel the photodeprotection reaction mechanism of Aqe-diol-PPG and the photoredox of photoproduct Aqe-diol.
Controlling the nanoscale friction by layered ionic liquid films
Authors: An Rong , Qiu Xiuhua , Shah Faiz Ullah , Riehemann Kristina , Fuchs Harald
Published: June 2020

A pronounced layered spatial distribution was found in the IL film and can be divided into 3 distinguishable regions. The nanofriction coefficient increases monotonically as the layering thickness decreases, no matter how thick the bulk IL is.
Intermolecular interactions of cn-716 and acyl-KR-aldehyde dipeptide inhibitors against Zika virus
Authors: Campos Daniel M. O. , Bezerra Katyanna S. , Esmaile Stephany C. , Fulco Umberto L. , Albuquerque Eudenilson L. , Oliveira Jonas I. N.
Published: June 2020

Structural representation and graphic panel showing the most relevant residues that contribute to the ZIKV NS2B–NS3–ligand complexes.
Strong chiroptical activity in Au25 clusters protected by mixed ligands of chiral phosphine and achiral thiolate
Authors: Nashimoto Takumi , Yao Hiroshi
Published: June 2020

We report the successful synthesis of a chiroptically active Au25 cluster protected by mixed ligands of chiral bidentate S-BINAP and achiral dodecanethiol (DDT), which can be formulated as [Au25(S-BINAP)4(DDT)5X4] (X = Cl or Br).
Benchmark ab initio characterization of the abstraction and substitution pathways of the OH + CH4/C2H6 reactions
Authors: Gruber Balázs , Czakó Gábor
Published: June 2020

We report benchmark ab initio stationary-point properties for the hydrogen-abstraction, hydrogen-substitution, and methyl-substitution pathways of the OH + CH4/C2H6 reactions.
Structural rearrangements as relaxation pathway for molecular negative ions formedviavibrational Feshbach resonance
Authors: Pshenichnyuk Stanislav A. , Asfandiarov Nail L.
Published: June 2020

Thermal electron attachment to small linear molecules generates long-lived (microseconds) molecular negative ions with pseudo-cyclic structures by internal rotations.
Mutual effects of silver nanoparticles and antimony(iii)/(v) co-exposed to Glycine max (L.) Merr. in hydroponic systems: uptake, translocation, physiochemical responses, and potential mechanisms
Authors: Cao Weicheng , Gong Jilai , Zeng Guangming , Song Biao , Zhang Peng , Li Juan , Fang Siyuan , Qin Lei , Ye Jun , Cai Zhe
Published: June 2020

Antimony (Sb) is a non-necessary metallic element to plants, which can get largely accumulated by terrestrial plants and potentially invade the food chain, leading to concerns with regard to food safety.
Design of auxiliary systems for spectroscopy
Authors: Vanzini Marco , Sottile Francesco , Reshetnyak Igor , Ciuchi Sergio , Reining Lucia , Gatti Matteo
Published: June 2020

In this contribution, we advocate the possibility of designing auxiliary systems with effective potentials or kernels that target only the specific spectral properties of interest and are simpler than the self-energy of many-body perturbation theory or the exchange–correlation kernel of time-dependent density-functional theory.
Strategies to build functionals of the density, or functionals of Green’s functions: what can we learn?
Authors: Aouina Ayoub , Gatti Matteo , Reining Lucia
Published: June 2020

The present work examines ways in which model systems are used to design approximate functionals of Green's functions or of the density. It advocates efforts to select and tabulate models that are more flexible than the homogeneous electron gas.
Environmentally friendly luminescent solar concentrators based on an optically efficient and stable green fluorescent protein
Authors: Carlos Carlota P. A. , Correia Sandra F. H. , Martins Margarida , Savchuk Oleksandr A. , Coutinho João A. P. , André Paulo S. , Nieder Jana B. , Ventura Sónia P. M. , Ferreira Rute A. S.
Published: June 2020

Green fluorescent protein was used to fabricate planar LSCs in liquid and solid state, yielding competitive power conversion efficiency values stating the potential of naturally-based molecules in the development of sustainable LSCs.
Paper-based human neutrophil elastase detection device for clinical wound monitoring
Authors: Yang Ting , Pan Shin-Chen , Cheng Chao-Min
Published: June 2020

In this study, we have developed a paper-based elastase detection device (PEDD) for clinical wound assessment that specifically examines human neutrophil elastase (HNE).
Microfluidic platform for 3D cell culture with live imaging and clone retrieval
Authors: Mulas Carla , Hodgson Andrew C. , Kohler Timo N. , Agley Chibeza C. , Humphreys Peter , Kleine-Brüggeney Hans , Hollfelder Florian , Smith Austin , Chalut Kevin J.
Published: June 2020

3D cell culture and microfluidic platform for monitoring biological process and single clone retrieval for downstream molecular or functional analysis.
Precipitation-based colorimetric multiplex immunoassay in hydrogel particles
Authors: Roh Yoon Ho , Lee Hyun Jee , Kim Ju Yeon , Kim Hyeon Ung , Kim Sun Min , Bong Ki Wan
Published: June 2020

High-performance colorimetric immunoassay based on hydrogel particles was developed by precipitation and amplification of coloured products inside hydrogel networks.
Novel star-shaped D–π–D–π–D and (D–π)2–D–(π–D)2 anthracene-based hole transporting materials for perovskite solar cells
Authors: Harikrishnan Muniyasamy , Murugesan Sepperumal , Siva Ayyanar
Published: June 2020

Three novel star shaped molecular architectures for D–π–D–π–D and (D–π)2–D–(π–D)2 anthracene based hole transporting materials are designed for organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells through Gaussian 09 computation.
Fluorescence detection of phosphonates in water by a naphthalimide-based receptor and its derived cryopolymers
Authors: Oshchepkov Aleksandr , Oshchepkov Maxim , Kamagurov Semen , Redchuk Anatoly , Oshchepkova Margarita , Popov Konstantin , Kataev Evgeny
Published: June 2020

The concentration of compound M in cryopolymers has a dramatic influence on the fluorescence response in the presence of phosphonates.
A reaction-type receptor for the multi-feature detection of Hg2+ in water and living cells
Authors: Zhao Mei , Shao Guang-Kui , Guo Yu-Shuang , Tang Yan-Ling , Liu Jian-Biao , Guo Dian-Shun
Published: June 2020

The first optical and redox-active receptor of reaction-type has been developed for efficiently multi-model survey of Hg2+.
Synthesis of hollow donut-like carbon nitride for the visible light-driven highly efficient photocatalytic production of hydrogen and degradation of pollutants
Authors: Liu Sihang , Song Xue-Zhi , Liu Guichao , Dai Zideng , Zhang Shenpeng , Hao Ce , Tan Zhenquan
Published: June 2020

Design and synthesis of highly effective, hollow, erythrocyte-like g-C3N4 photocatalysts towards the degradation of environmental pollutants.
Propulsion and energetics of a minimal magnetic microswimmer
Authors: Calero Carles , García-Torres José , Ortiz-Ambriz Antonio , Sagués Francesc , Pagonabarraga Ignacio , Tierno Pietro
Published: June 2020

We investigate the propulsion and energetic efficiency of a hybrid microswimmer composed of a ferromagnetic nanorod and a paramagnetic microsphere.
Surface forces and interaction mechanisms of soft thin films under confinement: a short review
Authors: Xiang Li , Zhang Jiawen , Gong Lu , Zeng Hongbo
Published: June 2020

Surface forces of soft thin films under confinement in fluids play an important role in diverse biological and technological applications, such as bio-adhesion, lubrication and micro- and nano-electromechanical systems.
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+): essential redox metabolite, co-substrate and an anti-cancer and anti-ageing therapeutic target
Authors: Griffiths Hollie B.S. , Williams Courtney , King Sarah J. , Allison Simon J.
Published: June 2020

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and its reduced form NADH are essential coupled redox metabolites that primarily promote cellular oxidative (catabolic) metabolic reactions. This enables energy generation through glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration to support cell growth and survival. In addition, many key enzymes that regulate diverse cell functions ranging from gene expression to proteostasis require NAD+ as a co-substrate for their catalytic activity. This includes the NAD+-dependent sirtuin family of protein deacetylases and the PARP family of DNA repair enzymes. Whilst their vital activity consumes NAD+ which is cleaved to nicotinamide, several pathways exist for re-generating NAD+ and sustaining NAD+ homeostasis. However, there is growing evidence of perturbed NAD+ homeostasis and NAD+-regulated processes contributing to multiple disease states. NAD+ levels decline in the human brain and other organs with age and this is associated with neurodegeneration and other age-related diseases. Dietary supplementation with NAD+ precursors is being investigated to counteract this. Paradoxically, many cancers have increased dependency on NAD+. Clinical efforts to exploit this have so far shown limited success. Emerging new opportunities to exploit dysregulation of NAD+ metabolism in cancers are critically discussed. An update is also provided on other key NAD+ research including perturbation of the NAD+ salvage enzyme NAMPT in the context of the tumour microenvironment (TME), methodology to study subcellular NAD+ dynamics in real-time and the regulation of differentiation by competing NAD+ pools.
Crop reproductive meristems in the genomic era: a brief overview
Authors: Caselli Francesca , Zanarello Fabio , Kater Martin M. , Battaglia Raffaella , Gregis Veronica
Published: June 2020

Modulation of traits beneficial for cultivation and yield is one of the main goals of crop improvement. One of the targets for enhancing productivity is changing the architecture of inflorescences since in many species it determines fruit and seed yield. Inflorescence shape and organization is genetically established during the early stages of reproductive development and depends on the number, arrangement, activities, and duration of meristems during the reproductive phase of the plant life cycle. Despite the variety of inflorescence architectures observable in nature, many key aspects of inflorescence development are conserved among different species. For instance, the genetic network in charge of specifying the identity of the different reproductive meristems, which can be indeterminate or determinate, seems to be similar among distantly related species. The availability of a large number of published transcriptomic datasets for plants with different inflorescence architectures, allowed us to identify transcription factor gene families that are differentially expressed in determinate and indeterminate reproductive meristems. The data that we review here for Arabidopsis, rice, barley, wheat, and maize, particularly deepens our knowledge of their involvement in meristem identity specification.