bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Achieving Uniform Li Plating/Stripping at Ultrahigh Currents and Capacities by Optimizing 3D Nucleation Sites and Li2Se‐Enriched SEI
Authors: Cao Jiaqi , Xie Yonghui , Yang Yang , Wang Xinghui , Li Wangyang , Zhang Qiaoli , Ma Shun , Cheng Shuying , Lu Bingan
Published: January 2022

Lithium (Li) has garnered considerable attention as an alternative anodes of next‐generation high‐performance batteries owing to its prominent theoretical specific capacity. However, the commercialization of Li metal anodes (LMAs) is significantly compromised by non‐uniform Li deposition and inferior electrolyte–anode interfaces, particularly at high currents and capacities. Herein, a hierarchical three‐dimentional structure with CoSe2‐nanoparticle‐anchored nitrogen‐doped carbon nanoflake arrays is developed on a carbon fiber cloth (CoSe2–NC@CFC) to regulate the Li nucleation/plating process and stabilize the electrolyte–anode interface. Owing to the enhanced lithiophilicity endowed by CoSe2–NC, in situ‐formed Li2Se and Co nanoparticles during initial Li nucleation, and large void space, CoSe2–NC@CFC can induce homogeneous Li nucleation/plating, optimize the solid electrolyte interface, and mitigate volume change. Consequently, the CoSe2–NC@CFC can accommodate Li with a high areal capacity of up to 40 mAh cm–2. Moreover, the Li/CoSe2–NC@CFC anodes possess outstanding cycling stability and lifespan in symmetric cells, particularly under ultrahigh currents and capacities (1600 h at 10 mA cm−2/10 mAh cm−2 and 5 mA cm−2/20 mAh cm−2). The Li/CoSe2–NC@CFC//LiFePO4 full cell delivers impressive long‐term performance and favorable flexibility. The developed CoSe2–NC@CFC provides insights into the development of advanced Li hosts for flexible and stable LMAs.
Highly Efficient and Stable Iridium Oxygen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalysts Based on Porous Nickel Nanotube Template Enabling Tandem Devices with Solar‐to‐Hydrogen Conversion Efficiency Exceeding 10%
Authors: Nam Yungi , Kim Daehan , Chu Jinwoo , Park Na‐Yeon , Kim Tae Gun , Kim Kyung Joong , Kim Soo‐Hyun , Shin Byungha
Published: January 2022

Ir is one of the most efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts; however, it is also one of the rarest and most expensive elements. Therefore, it is highly desirable to develop Ir catalysts with nanostructures that reduce Ir consumption by maximizing the surface‐to‐volume ratio without limiting the mass transport of reactants and products of reactions. Ir OER catalysts on a template that consisted of porous nanotubes (PNTs) based on Ni are fabricated. The Ir/Ni PNTs offer multiple benefits, including high catalytic performance (potential of 1.500 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) at an operating current density of 10 mA cm−2 and Tafel slope of 44.34 mV decade−1), minimal use of Ir (mass activity of 3273 A g−1 at 1.53 V vs RHE), and facile mass transport through the NT‐sidewall pores (stable operation for more than 10 h). The Ir/Ni PNTs are also applied to a tandem device, consisting of a Cu(In,Ga)Se2‐based photocathode and halide perovskite photovoltaic cell, for unassisted water splitting. A solar‐to‐hydrogen conversion efficiency that exceeded 10% is also demonstrated, which is nearly 1% point greater than when a planar Ir film is used as the anode instead of Ir/Ni PNTs.
Highly Efficient and Stable CsPbTh3 (Th = I, Br, Cl) Perovskite Solar Cells by Combinational Passivation Strategy
Authors: Wang Kang , Ma Simin , Xue Xiaoyang , Li Tong , Sha Simiao , Ren Xiaodong , Zhang Jingru , Lu Hui , Ma Jinfu , Guo Shengwei , Liu Yucheng , Feng Jiangshan , Najar Adel , Liu Shengzhong (Frank)
Published: January 2022

The distorted lead iodide octahedra of all‐inorganic perovskite based on triple halide‐mixed CsPb(I2.85Br0.149Cl0.001) framework have made a tremendous breakthrough in its black phase stability and photovoltaic efficiency. However, their performance still suffers from severe ion migration, trap‐induced nonradiative recombination, and black phase instability due to lower tolerance factor and high total energy. Here, a combinational passivation strategy to suppress ion migration and reduce traps both on the surface and in the bulk of the CsPhTh3 perovskite film is developed, resulting in improved power conversion efficiency (PCE) to as high as 19.37%. The involvement of guanidinium (GA) into the CsPhTh3 perovskite bulk film and glycocyamine (GCA) passivation on the perovskite surface and grain boundary synergistically enlarge the tolerance factor and suppress the trap state density. In addition, the acetate anion as a nucleating agent significantly improves the thermodynamic stability of GA‐doped CsPbTh3 film through the slight distortion of PbI6 octahedra. The decreased nonradiative recombination loss translates to a high fill factor of 82.1% and open‐circuit voltage (VOC) of 1.17 V. Furthermore, bare CsPbTh3 perovskite solar cells without any encapsulation retain 80% of its initial PCE value after being stored for one month under ambient conditions.
Autonomous Visualization of Damage in Polymers by Metal‐Free Polymerizations of Microencapsulated Activated Alkynes
Authors: Han Ting , Chen Shusheng , Wang Xinnan , Fu Xinyao , Wen Haifei , Wang Zaiyu , Wang Dong , Qin Anjun , Yang Jinglei , Tang Ben Zhong
Published: January 2022

The development of autonomous materials with desired performance and built‐in visualizable sensing units is of great academic and industrial significance. Although a wide range of damage indication methods have been reported, the “turn‐on” sensing mechanism by damaging events based on microcapsule systems, especially those relying on chemical reactions to elicit a chromogenic response, are still very limited. Herein, a facile and metal‐free polymerization route with an interesting reaction‐induced coloration effect is demonstrated. Under the catalysis of 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO), the polymerizations of difunctional or trifunctional activated alkynes proceed very quickly at 0 °C in air. A series of polymers composed of stereoregular enyne structure (major unit) and divinyl ether structure (minor unit) are obtained. Both the catalyst and monomers are colorless while the polymerized products are deep‐colored. This process can be applied for the damage visualization of polymers using the microencapsulation technique. Microcapsules containing the reactive alkyne monomer are prepared and mixed in a DABCO‐dispersed polymer film. Both the external and internal damage regions of this composite film can be readily visualized once the reaction is initiated from the ruptured microcapsules. Moreover, the newly formed polymer automatically seals the cracks with an additional protection function.
Performance and pressure drop ofCO2absorption into task‐specific and halide‐free ionic liquids in a microchannel
Authors: Ma Daofan , Zhu Chunying , Fu Taotao , Ma Youguang , Yuan Xigang
Published: January 2022

The gas–liquid two‐phase flow pattern, absorption rate and pressure drop of CO2absorbed into the aqueous solution of the task‐specific ionic liquids (1‐aminopropyl‐3‐methylimidazole tetrafluoroborate [Apmim][BF4] and 1‐hydroxyethyl‐3‐methylimidazole tetrafluoroborate [OHemim][BF4]) and halide‐free ionic liquid 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium methylsulfate [Bmim][CH3SO4] were investigated in a microreactor. The absorption mechanism of the three ionic liquids was analyzed employing the13C NMR spectroscopy. The [Apmim][BF4] was found to have the best ability of CO2capture compared with the other two ionic liquids, as chemical absorption occurred between [Apmim][BF4] and CO2, while only physical absorption took place between [OHemim][BF4]/[Bmim][CH3SO4] and CO2. The sequence of CO2absorption rate in three ionic liquids aqueous solutions is: [Apmim][BF4] > [Bmim][CH3SO4] > [OHemim][BF4]. Furthermore, the effects of gas–liquid flow rate and ionic liquids concentration on CO2absorption rate and pressure drop were studied, the pressure drop models based on various flow patterns were proposed.
Capturing the effects of particle heterogeneity on adsorption in a fixed bed
Authors: Pollard Zoe A. , Cannon Andrew , Ryan Emily M. , Goldfarb Jillian L.
Published: January 2022

To efficiently design new adsorption systems, industrial scale fixed beds are often scaled down to bench‐top experiments and/or modeled using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). While there has been considerable work exploring adsorption of volatile organics onto activated carbon fixed beds in the literature, this article attempts to reckon with the high variability of adsorption capacities observed at small scales and improve small‐scale experiments for industrial scale reactor design. This study integrates experimental results with CFD simulations, which can explicitly model system heterogeneities and their influence on adsorption by resolving local packing densities and flow paths. Activated carbon physical properties were determined through surface area analysis, proximate analysis, and toluene adsorption (measured via mass spectroscopy). Variability in the small‐scale systems was not attributed to surface area or carbon content, as is often stated, but instead was due to local packing density variations and the heterogeneity of particle size distributions.
Emerging Applications of Mass Spectrometry‐Based Metabolic Fingerprinting in Clinics
Authors: Cao Jing , Wang Yuning , Zhang Yong , Qian Kun
Published: January 2022

A number of recently developed mass spectrometry (MS)‐based metabolic fingerprinting analyses are promoting metabolic analysis systems into practical clinical applications, including but not limited to disease diagnosis. Herein, recent cutting‐edge research on mass spectrometry‐based metabolic fingerprinting analytical methodology and clinical applications are described. These developments resolve challenges regarding the practical clinical applications of MS‐based metabolic fingerprinting analysis systems, such as rapid signal readout, high throughput and direct MS analysis, and intelligent data mining of complex biological samples.
Dominance and social interaction patterns in brown capuchin monkey (Cebus [Sapajus] apella) social networks
Authors: Gazes Regina Paxton , Schrock Allie E. , Leard Corinne N. , Lutz Meredith C.
Published: January 2022

Strong, stable social bonds in primates are characterized by high levels of social affiliation, low levels of aggression, minimal stress, and affiliative reciprocity within the dyad. In relatively well‐studied catarrhine monkeys, these bonds tend to form most frequently between kin, animals close in age, and animals close in rank. This results in patterns of affiliation in which kin, similarly aged animals, and like‐ranked animals tend to affiliate and patterns of aggression and submission where animals tend to aggress more toward nonkin and closely ranked animals, and submit more toward distantly ranked animals. However, literature on how affiliative and agonistic relationships are organized in platyrrhine primate species like brown capuchin monkeys is limited and conflicting. In this study, we used social network analyses to characterize how age, sex, maternal kinship, and dominance rank relate to the patterns of submissive, aggressive, contact, and grooming interactions in a group of captive brown capuchin monkeys. Like catarrhine monkeys, brown capuchin monkeys showed a steep linear dominance hierarchy, tended to affiliate with kin, similarly aged animals, and like‐ranked animals, and tended to aggress more toward nonkin. However, our monkeys showed a pattern of affiliation and grooming down the hierarchy that is inconsistent with grooming up the hierarchy patterns often seen in catarrhine monkey groups, suggesting that brown capuchins do not compete for access to higher ranking social partners. Higher ranking monkeys were most central to the aggression network, and lower ranking monkeys were most central to the submission network. Mid‐ranking monkeys were the most central to the contact network, suggesting that they may play an important role in the affiliative cohesion of the group. These results inform our understanding of brown capuchin social behavior specifically, and of how demographic factors relate to social organization in platyrrhine primates generally.
Cortical Correlates of Gait Compensation Strategies in Parkinson Disease
Authors: Tosserams Anouk , Weerdesteyn Vivian , Bal Tess , Bloem Bastiaan R. , Solis‐Escalante Teodoro , Nonnekes Jorik
Published: January 2022

Objective

Gait impairment in persons with Parkinson disease is common and debilitating. Compensation strategies (eg, external cues) are an essential part of rehabilitation, but their underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Using electroencephalography (EEG), we explored the cortical correlates of 3 categories of strategies: external cueing, internal cueing, and action observation.

Methods

Eighteen participants with Parkinson disease and gait impairment were included. We recorded 126‐channel EEG during both stance and gait on a treadmill under 4 conditions: (1) uncued, (2) external cueing (listening to a metronome), (3) internal cueing (silent rhythmic counting), and (4) action observation (observing another person walking). To control for the effects of sensory processing of the cues, we computed relative power changes as the difference in power spectral density between walking and standing for each condition.

Results

Relative to uncued gait, the use of all 3 compensation strategies induced a decrease of beta band activity in sensorimotor areas, indicative of increased cortical activation. Parieto‐occipital alpha band activity decreased with external and internal cueing, and increased with action observation. Only internal cueing induced a change in frontal cortical activation, showing a decrease of beta band activity compared to uncued gait.

Interpretation

The application of compensation strategies resulted in changed cortical activity compared to uncued gait, which could not be solely attributed to sensory processing of the cueing modality. Our findings suggest there are multiple routes to control gait, and different compensation strategies seem to rely on different cortical mechanisms to achieve enhanced central motor activation in persons with Parkinson disease. ANN NEUROL 2022;91:329–341
Inverse Vulkanisierung von Norbornenylsilanen: Lösliche Polymere mit kontrollierbaren molekularen Eigenschaften durch Siloxanbindungen
Authors: Scheiger Johannes M. , Hoffmann Maxi , Falkenstein Patricia , Wang Zhenwu , Rutschmann Mark , Scheiger Valentin W. , Grimm Alexander , Urbschat Klara , Sengpiel Tobias , Matysik Jörg , Wilhelm Manfred , Levkin Pavel A. , Theato Patrick
Published: January 2022

Bei der inversen Vulkanisation werden Polymere mit hohem Schwefelgehalt aus Alkenen und elementarem Schwefel hergestellt. Die Kontrolle über Eigenschaften wie die Molmasse oder die Löslichkeit der Polymere ist nicht etabliert. Bestehenden Strategien mangelt es an Vorhersagbarkeit oder sie erfordern große Variationen der Zusammensetzung der Polymere. Systematische Prinzipien zur Variation der Polymereigenschaften sind daher gesucht, um eine gezielte Materialentwicklung zu ermöglichen. Wir berichten über die inverse Vulkanisation von Norbornenylsilanen (NBS) mit einer unterschiedlichen Anzahl hydrolysierbarer Gruppen am Siliziumatom. Die inverse Vulkanisation von NBS‐Mischungen mit anschließender Polykondensation ergab lösliche Copolymere mit hohem Schwefelgehalt (50 Masse‐% S) und mit kontrollierbarer mittlerer Molmasse (MW), Polydispersität (Đ), Glasübergangstemperatur (TG) oder Null‐Scher‐Viskosität (η0). Die Polykondensation wurde in der Schmelze mit HCl als Katalysator durchgeführt, so dass kein Lösungsmittel erforderlich war. Die Reinigung durch Fällung ergab Polymere mit stark reduziertem Anteil an niedermolekularen Spezies.
Dynamic Timing Control over Multicolor Molecular Emission by Temporal Chemical Locking
Authors: Zong Zezhou , Zhang Qi , Qiu Shu‐Hai , Wang Qian , Zhao Chengxi , Zhao Cai‐Xin , Tian He , Qu Da‐Hui
Published: January 2022

Dynamic control over molecular emission, especially in a time‐dependent manner, holds great promise for the development of smart luminescent materials. Here we report a series of dynamic multicolor fluorescent systems based on the time‐encoded locking and unlocking of individual vibrational emissive units. The intramolecular cyclization reaction driven by adding chemical fuel acts as a chemical lock to decrease the conformational freedom of the emissive units, thus varying the fluorescence wavelength, while the resulting chemically locked state can be automatically unlocked by the hydrolysis reaction with water molecules. The dynamic molecular system can be driven by adding chemical fuels for multiple times. The emission wavelength and lifetime of the locking states can be readily controlled by elaborating the molecular structures, indicating this strategy as a robust and versatile way to modulate multi‐color molecular emission in a time‐encoded manner.
Efficient aerobic oxidation of 5‐hydroxymethyl‐2‐furfural into 2, 5‐diformylfuran by Cu2V2O7‐Al2O3 spherical beads
Authors: Jia Chuanqi , Wang Kang , Feng Yi , Wang Xitao
Published: January 2022

Novel copper pyrovanadate (Cu2V2O7)‐Al2O3 spherical beads were prepared by alginate‐assisted sol–gel method using ammonium vanadate, copper nitrate, and pseudo boehmite as precursors, characterized by X‐Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Transmission electron microscope (TEM), X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Brunner−Emmet−Teller (BET), X‐Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and nitrogen adsorption–desorption technologies and used as catalysts for the selective oxidation of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5‐diformylfuran (DFF). The effects of calcination temperature on catalyst structure, morphology, and catalytic activity were investigated. The results showed that the formation of Cu2V2O7 crystalline phase at a high temperature can improve the catalyst activity significantly. Under the optimal reaction conditions, Cu2V2O7‐Al2O3‐700 exhibited an HMF conversion of 99.9% and DFF selectivity of 99.8%, respectively. After a five‐run recycling test, the activity of the catalyst can remain about 80%.
A survey of the uncinate bone and other poorly known ossicles associated with the lacrimal/ectethmoid complex of the avian skull
Authors: Mayr Gerald
Published: January 2022

In several taxa of Neornithes (crown group birds), the lacrimal/ectethmoid complex exhibits small bones, the comparative osteology of which is poorly studied. Some of these ossicles—which are commonly known as uncinate bones (ossa uncinata or ossa lacrimopalatina)—were already described two centuries ago, but knowledge of their distribution and morphological variability in higher level clades is incomplete. In the present study, a detailed survey of the occurrence of uncinate bones is given, and these ossicles are for the first time reported in the gruiform Psophiidae, some Rallidae, and in the Otidiformes. Their presence in the latter taxon is of particular interest, because in current molecular analyses, the Otidiformes result as close relatives of the Musophagiformes, in which the uncinate bone is particularly large. The uncinate bones of most other neornithine clades, however, appear to have evolved multiple times independently through parallel evolution from the same ligamentous structures. A few earlier authors assumed that the uncinate bone is homologous to the ectopterygoid of non‐avian theropods. Although this remains a viable hypothesis, more data on the occurrence of the ectopterygoid in Mesozoic birds are needed for well‐supported conclusions. Here, it is noted that the ontogenetic development of the uncinate bone appears to be correlated with that of the ectethmoid, which is another bone in the skull of neornithine birds that is of unknown origin.
Technologies for valorization of municipal solid wastes
Authors: Ghumra Dishit P. , Rathi Ojaswi , Mule Tejal A. , Khadye Vishwanath S. , Chavan Anand , Barba Fernando Climent , Main Shilpa , Odaneth Annamma , Thorat Bhaskar N.
Published: January 2022

Municipal solid waste (MSW) consists of the waste obtained from various sources like households, industries, municipalities and other commercial areas. Common landfill and incineration strategies are insufficient to process the waste generated on daily basis. Municipal solid waste contains significant amounts of organic carbon (50–60%) that has great potential for the production of fuels and value‐added products. This review discusses the composition of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and waste processing strategies that enable organic carbon recovery compared with conventional methods. Changes in the composition of MSW worldwide and the factors influencing it in various regions are discussed in this study. The processing of diverse OFMSW through thermochemical methods such as incineration, gasification, pyrolysis, torrefaction and hydrothermal carbonization is discussed here with the results of densification or gasification of the organic carbon, enabling its chemical transformation. Additionally, the combined methods, where OFMSW is pre‐treated followed by enzymatic hydrolysis for the conversion of OFMSW to monomeric sugars have also been described. Globally, to ensure sustainable solid waste management and efficient carbon recycling, combined methodologies seem more appropriate. The study also attempts to list the different attempts across the globe that highlight this concept of the transformation of waste into materials and chemicals, improving its commercial value. The commercial success of such OFMSW processing attempts can provide momentum for establishing sustainable treatment technologies and reaping profits, laying the groundwork for a strong and complete carbon‐recycling environment and circular carbon‐based economy. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
State of the art of bone biomaterials and their interactions with stem cells: Current state and future directions
Authors: Shao Ruyi , Dong Yongqiang , Zhang Songou , Wu Xudong , Huang Xiaogang , Sun Bin , Zeng Bin , Xu Fangming , Liang Wenqing
Published: January 2022

Background

There has been a rapid increase in bone tissue regeneration since the concept of “tissue engineering.” Stem cell‐based biomaterials have revolutionized the field of tissue regeneration. Biomaterials play an essential part in bone regeneration through their crucial substratum for cell differentiation, cohesion, and proliferation by manipulating cells. Numerous studies have been carried out in order to create a biomaterial with diverse biological and physical characteristics. Furthermore, they developed a cell microenvironment with the desired pore magnitude to stimulate stem cells to transform them from artificial to biological microenvironments.

Purpose and scope

The current review aims to give a comprehensive overview of stem cells and biomaterials in bone tissue regeneration.

Initially, bone biology and its interaction with stem cells and biomaterials are briefly explained. Following that, the behavior and mechanism of biomaterials influencing the stem cells during bone tissue regeneration are emphasized. Lastly, the future outlook for tackling the current challenges for designing biomaterials/stem cell materials for bone tissue engineering (TE) is discussed.

Conclusion

Compatible biomaterial for bone regeneration requires evaluating the structure, matrix, composition, flexibility, and nature of native bone tissue defects. The concept of TE offers a platform for designing biologically, physically, and chemically biocompatible biomaterials for stem cells to proliferate and differentiate. Currently, stem cells are increasingly used for TE with a promising outcome due to their self‐renewal and differentiation potential. Furthermore, they can secrete biological‐active compounds and modulate the fate and behavior of other cells in native tissues. Bone TE may flourish more rapidly and efficiently using stem cells.
Characterization of essential elements for improved episomal expressions in Kluyveromyces marxianus
Authors: Wu Pingping , Zhou Jungang , Yu Yao , Lu Hong
Published: January 2022

Kluyveromyces marxianus is a promising cell factory for producing heterologous proteins. Essential components including partition element, copy number control element, promoter, and terminator in multicopy plasmids applicable for K. marxianus are not extensively characterized. The pKD1 is an endogenous multicopy plasmid identified in K. lactis, and the pKD1‐based plasmid is the only multicopy plasmid successfully applied in K. marxianus. The circular plasmid pKD1 contains three major open reading frames, namely A, B, and C. Here, we showed that the A gene was responsible for maintaining the high‐copy number of pKD1‐based plasmid in K. marxianus. Deletion of the B or C gene impaired the stable propagation of pKD1‐based plasmid in K. marxianus, and this defect could not be rescued by the trans expression of B and C genes. In a quantitative analysis of a series of promoters and terminators, AFT1 promoter from Pichia pastoris, OM45 promoter and INU1 terminator from K. marxianus, and a set of synthetic terminators, supported high‐level expressions. A combination of AFT1 or OM45 promoter with INU1 terminator in a pKD1‐based plasmid achieved high‐level expressions of four different heterologous proteins. Our study provides valuable elements for high‐level episomal expressions in K. marxianus.
Cell fate‐inducing CARs orthogonally control multiple signaling pathways
Authors: Nakajima Kyoko , Nakabayashi Hideto , Kawahara Masahiro
Published: January 2022

While chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) has been clinically applied in T cell‐mediated cancer therapy, CARs that combinatorially control general cell fates have yet to be practical. In this study, we aim to control multiple cell fates simultaneously by combinatorial activation of multiple cell fate‐inducing CARs (cfiCARs). We construct CARs that transduce two different signals using two antigen‐specific CARs. The CARs are co‐expressed pairwise on the cell surface to let the two antigens act alone or in combination, thus arbitrarily control multiple cell fates. We utilize signaling domains derived from natural receptors (gp130, receptor activator of nuclear factor κB [RANK], c‐Fms, and Fas) and tyrosine motif‐engineered artificial signaling domains that preferentially recruit target signaling molecules (Shc and STAT3) for inducing specific cell fates by the CARs. Consequently, the signaling molecules downstream of these receptors are activated orthogonally by the corresponding CAR‐specific antigens. Furthermore, two completely different cell fates (proliferation and death) are successfully controlled simultaneously or sequentially over time by adding the two antigens, demonstrating proliferation‐ and apoptosis‐inducing CARs (piCAR and aiCAR). Thus, cfiCARs will be applied for delineating the basic principle of cell fate control and improving the efficacy of cell therapy, which would significantly contribute to cell biology and future medicine.
Assessing the potential of Schizochytrium sp. HX‐308 for microbial lipids production from corn stover hydrolysate
Authors: Wang Ling‐Ru , Zhang Zi‐Xu , Wang Yu‐Zhou , Li Zi‐Jia , Huang Peng‐Wei , Sun Xiao‐Man
Published: January 2022

Schizochytrium sp. has received increasing attention as promising commercial resource for the sustainable production of lipids, due to their fast growth rate and high lipid content. However, the price of glucose represents a significant proportion of the total substrate cost. Therefore, in this study, the lignocellulosic hydrolysate of corn stover hydrolysate (CSH) was used as low‐cost culture medium to replace glucose in Schizochytrium sp. fermentation. When Schizochytrium sp. HX‐308 was fermented with 20% glucose from CSH and 80% of glucose from pure glucose, the lipid production reached 21.2 g L−1, which is lower than that of using 100% of pure glucose. However, the shifts of fatty acid composition indicated that CSH has great potential to enhance the percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in total lipids. However, as the second largest carbon source in CSH, xylose was not utilized by the Schizochytrium sp. HX‐308, and further analysis showed that probably because it does not possess a functional xylulose kinase. In addition, the degradation products in lignocellulosic hydrolysate have a strong inhibitory effect on cell growth, so it is necessary to investigate the tolerance of Schizochytrium sp. HX‐308 to degradation products. Here, the effects of five typical degradation products on the growth and lipid synthesis were further investigated. Schizochytrium sp. HX‐308 showed good tolerance to furan derivatives and organic acids, but low tolerance to phenolic compounds. Furthermore, in order to improve the lipid accumulation using CSH, the two‐stage fermentation strategy was developed, resulting in a 54.8% increase compared to that of the one‐stage strategy. In summary, this study provides a reference for further fermentation engineering with cheap lignocellulosic biomass as substrate.
Improved synthesis of dietary triglycerides by using lipase supported on clay carriers
Authors: Pacheco Bruna Jeanne Soares , Domingues Otávio , Reina Mariana Prado , Neto Álvaro de Baptista , Andrade Grazielle Santos Silva , de Paula Ariela Veloso
Published: January 2022

Background

In the search for healthier and more functional foods, dietary triglycerides (TAGs) have played a prominent role in the food industry. The objective of this work was to evaluate new clay supports to immobilize lipase fromRhizopus oryzaeand use it in the synthesis of TAGs.

Main methods and major results

The immobilization of lipase by physical adsorption was carried out, determining the hydrolytic activity, esterification, immobilization yield, thermal stability, and kinetic and thermodynamic parameters. Afterwards, acidolysis was carried out and the product characterized as to composition, acidity index (AI), peroxide index (PI), and analysis of the sn‐2 position. The mean hydrolytic activity of free lipase was 23,568.43 ± 559.20 U g−1and for lipase immobilized in acidified kaolin and diatomite, 1409.04 ± 51.07 and 1235.67 ± 9.56 U g–1; immobilization yield of 23.78% and 20.21% and esterification activity of 1827.99 and 1722.66 U g–1, respectively, maintaining more than 60% of the relative activity after 8 h of incubation at different temperatures. The reaction using the derivative immobilized in acidified diatomite resulted in the degree of incorporation (DI) 41.53% ± 3.99%.

Conclusions and implications

From the results, the potential of diatomite and kaolin as support in the immobilization of lipase for the synthesis of dietary TAGs was verified.
A computational learning paradigm to targeted discovery of biocatalysts from metagenomic data: A case study of lipase identification
Authors: Shahraki Mehdi F. , Atanaki Fereshteh F. , Ariaeenejad Shohreh , Ghaffari Mohammad R. , Norouzi‐Beirami Mohammad H. , Maleki Morteza , Salekdeh Ghasem H. , Kavousi Kaveh
Published: January 2022

The growing adoption of enzymes as biocatalysts in various industries has accentuated the demand for acquiring access to the great natural diversity and, in the meantime, the advent and advancements of metagenomics and high‐throughput sequencing technologies have offered an unprecedented opportunity to explore this extensive resource. Lipases, enzymes responsible for the biological turnover of lipids, are among the most commercialized biocatalysts with numerous applications in different domains and therefore are of high industrial value. The relatively costly and time‐consuming wet‐lab experimental pipelines commonly used for novel enzyme discovery, highlight the necessity of agile in silico approaches to keep pace with the exponential growth of available sequencing data. In the present study, an in‐depth analysis of a tannery wastewater metagenome, including taxonomic and enzymatic profiling, was performed. Using sequence homology‐based screening methods and supervised machine learning‐based regression models aimed at prediction of lipases' pH and temperature optima, the metagenomic data set was screened for lipolytic enzymes, which led to the isolation of alkaline and highly thermophilic novel lipase. Moreover, MeTarEnz (metagenomic targeted enzyme miner) software was developed and made freely accessible (athttps://cbb.ut.ac.ir/MeTarEnz) as a part of this study. MeTarEnz offers several functions to automate the process of targeted enzyme mining from high‐throughput sequencing data. This study highlights the competence of computational approaches in exploring vast biodiversity within environmental niches, while providing a set of practical in silico tools as well as a generalized methodology to facilitate the sequence‐based mining of biocatalysts.
A novel fabrication process of up‐scalable microfiber‐shaped tendon‐like tissue with high cell density for uniformed macroscale assembly
Authors: Fukada Keisuke , Tachibana Koji , Kurashina Yuta , Kaneko Yosuke , Matsumoto Tatsuaki , Miyamoto Takeshi , Niki Yasuo , Nakamura Masaya , Onoe Hiroaki
Published: January 2022

This paper describes up‐scalable microfiber‐shaped tissues for macroscale tendon tissue reconstruction in vitro. C3H10T1/2 cells were encapsulated in a calcium alginate hydrogel microfiber that was fabricated via a double coaxial microfluidic device. The C3H10T1/2 cells gradually merged to construct the microfiber‐shaped tendon‐like tissue. Our microfiber‐shaped tendon‐like tissues were alive and maintained their microfiber‐shaped morphology over 600 days. Immunostaining and real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses showed that our fabricated microfiber‐shaped tendon‐like tissue properly expressed tenomodulin and the orientation of the filaments of actin, which are one of the characteristics of tendon tissue in vivo. Furthermore, a macroscale tendon tissue assembly with ∼1 cm in length and ∼200 µm in thickness was successfully constructed by bundling the microfiber‐shaped tendon‐like tissues together. This feature enabled us to fabricate a macroscale tendon tissue with uniform cell distribution. We believe that our fabricated microfiber‐shaped tendon‐like tissue would be a suitable strategy to reconstruct tendon tissue in vitro for the treatments of tendon‐related injuries.
Synthesis and biological evaluation of 2‐benzylaminoquinazolin‐4(3H)‐one derivatives as a potential treatment for SARS‐CoV‐2
Authors: Lee Jun Young , Shin Young Sup , Jeon Sangeun , Lee Se In , Cho Jung‐Eun , Myung Subeen , Jang Min Seong , Kim Seungtaek , Song Jong Hwan , Kim Hyoung Rae , Park Chul Min
Published: January 2022

Despite the continuing global crisis caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), there is still no effective treatment. Therefore, we designed and synthesized a novel series of 2‐benzylaminoquinazolin‐4(3H)‐one derivatives and demonstrated that they are effective against SARS‐CoV‐2. Among the synthesized derivatives, 7‐chloro‐2‐(((4‐chlorophenyl)(phenyl)methyl)amino)quinazolin‐4(3H)‐one (Compound 39) showed highest anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 activity, with a half‐maximal inhibitory concentration value greater than that of remdesivir (IC50 = 4.2 μM vs. 7.6 μM, respectively), which gained urgent approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In addition, Compound 39 showed good results in various assays measuring metabolic stability, human ether a‐go‐go, Cytochromes P450 (CYPs) inhibition, and plasma protein binding (PPB), and showed better solubility and pharmacokinetics than our previous work.
Diagnostic utility of GDF15 in neurodegenerative diseases: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Xue Xin‐Hong , Tao Lin‐Lin , Su Dao‐Qing , Guo Cun‐Ju , Liu Hong
Published: January 2022

Introduction

GDF15 may be a potential biomarker for neurodegenerative diseases. In this analysis, we aimed to quantitative analysis the levels of GDF15 in patients with neurological diseases and in health control, and then to determine its potential diagnostic utility.

Methods

Two researchers separately conducted a systematic search of the relevant studies up to January 2021 in Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science. Effect sizes were estimated to use the standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Sensitivity and specificity were calculated by the summary receiver operating characteristics curve (SROC) method. The sensitivity analysis was performed by the “one‐in/one‐out” approach. Considering the considerable heterogeneity among studies, random‐effects model was used for the meta‐analysis investigation.

Results

A total of eight articles were included in this meta‐analysis and systematic review. The pooled results of the random effect model indicated GDF15 levels were significantly higher in patients with neurodegenerative disease than healthy people (SMD = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.44–1.40, Z = 3.75, p < 0.001). Sensitivity and specificity of biomarker of GDF15 were 0.90 (95% CI: 0.75–0.97), 0.77 (95% CI: 0.67–0.65), and AUC = 0.87 (95% CI: 0.84–0.90), respectively.

Conclusions

GDF15 levels were higher in patients with neurodegenerative disease than healthy people. And serum levels of GDF15 were a better marker for diagnostic utility of neurodegenerative disease.
Helicobacter pylori‐negative extra‐nodal marginal zone B‐cell lymphoma of Mucosa‐Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT) type following Roux‐en‐Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB)
Authors: Eagle Zachary R. , Essien Francis , Zibert Kimberly , Miller Charles , Van Dellen Melissa , Eden Rina , Pinson Ross
Published: January 2022

Gastric MALT lymphoma is a common type of non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma that has the potential for cure in patients found to have concomitant Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. This case report explores the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of H. pylori‐negative MALT lymphoma in a patient with a history of a RYGB.
Calcitonin‐secreting pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor in a patient with elevated thyroid fine‐needle aspirate calcitonin washout: A case report and review of the literature
Authors: Mason Darryl , Leimbach Robert , Kitz Robert , Vietor Robert , Vietor Nicole
Published: January 2022

We report the unique case of a patient with previously proven non‐functional PanNET and Graves' disease with thyroid nodules. The patient had elevated intranodular calcitonin, but no MTC or c‐cell hyperplasia on thyroidectomy. They were found to have calcitonin secreting PanNET. This case presents a false‐positive intranodular calcitonin.
Unusual extension of a dental abscess through the pterygomandibular space in subcutaneous maxillofacial tissue
Authors: Foutzitzi Soultana , Frigkas Konstantinos , Vitsa Despoina , Deftereos Savas P.
Published: January 2022

Infections of maxillary teeth commonly spread to the buccal space, whereas infections originating in the mandible usually spread to the submandibular, pterygomandibular, and buccal spaces. The pterygomandibular space may serve as a path for spread to zygomatic areas and thus must always be a part of imaging evaluations.
Hydrogen Production from Water Splitting through Photocatalytic Activity of Carbon‐Based Materials
Authors: Reza M. Sumon , Ahmad Nurnazurah Binti Haji , Afroze Shammya , Taweekun Juntakan , Sharifpur Mohsen , Azad Abul Kalam
Published: January 2022

Hydrogen is a free, limitless, and environmentally friendly resource. To enhance the production performance of hydrogen by photocatalytic water splitting, its preparation and application was investigated using carbon‐based materials (graphene, graphite, carbon nanotubes, activated carbon). Photocatalytic hydrogen processing is among the most promising strategies for ensuring long‐term energy stability and preventing further environmental degradation. The selection of co‐catalysts and sacrificial agents to support the main catalyst is crucial for increasing hydrogen production. Several analyses were conducted to examine the characteristics as well as the use of various parameters to determine how carbonaceous materials would improve hydrogen production.
Computational Insights into the Allosteric Effect and Dynamic Structural Features of the SARS‐COV‐2 Spike Protein
Authors: Xue Qiao , Liu Xian , Pan Wenxiao , Zhang Aiqian , Fu Jianjie , Jiang Guibin
Published: January 2022

Invited for the cover of this issue are Aiqian Zhang, Jianjie Fu, Guibin Jiang, and co‐workers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The image depicts the molecular recognition of human angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 by the SARS‐COV‐2 spike protein. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.202104215.
Zero‐inflated Poisson model with clustered regression coefficients: Application to heterogeneity learning of field goal attempts of professional basketball players
Authors: Hu Guanyu , Yang Hou‐Cheng , Xue Yishu , Dey Dipak K.
Published: January 2022

Although basketball is a dynamic process sport, played between two sides of five players each, learning some static information is essential for professional players, coaches, and team managers. In order to have a deep understanding of field goal attempts among different players, we propose a zero‐inflated Poisson model with clustered regression coefficients to learn the shooting habits of different players over the court and the heterogeneity among them. Specifically, the zero‐inflated model captures a large portion of the court with zero field goal attempts, and the mixture of finite mixtures model captures the heterogeneity among different players based on clustered regression coefficients and inflated probabilities. Both theoretical and empirical justification through simulation studies validate our proposed method. We apply our proposed model to data from the National Basketball Association (NBA), for learning players' shooting habits and heterogeneity among different players over the 2017–2018 regular season. This illustrates our model as a way of providing insights from different aspects.
Exploring links from sensory perception to movement and behavioral motivation in the caudal nidopallium of female songbirds
Authors: Bloomston Natalie A , Zaharas Kristina , Lawley Koedi , Fenn Thomas , Person Emily , Huber Holly , Zhang Zhaojie , Prather Jonathan F
Published: January 2022

Decision making resides at the interface between sensory perception and movement production. Female songbirds in the context of mate choice are an excellent system to define neural circuits through which sensory perception influences production of courtship behaviors. Previous experiments by our group and others have implicated secondary auditory brain sites, including the caudal nidopallium (NC), in mediating behavioral indicators of mate choice. Here, we used anterograde tracer molecules to define projections that emerge from NC in female songbirds, identifying pathways through which NC influences downstream sites implicated in signal processing and decision making. Our results reveal that NC sends projections into the arcopallium, including the ventral intermediate arcopallium (AIV). Previous work revealed that AIV also receives input from another auditory area implicated in song preference and mate choice (caudal mesopallium, CM), suggesting that convergent input from multiple auditory areas may play important roles in initiating mate choice behaviors. In the present results, NC projects to an area implicated in postural and locomotory control (dorsal arcopallium, Ad), suggesting that NC may play a role in directing those forms of copulatory behavior. NC projections also systematically avoid a vocal motor region of the arcopallium that is innervated by CM (robust nucleus of the arcopallium). These results suggest a model in which both NC and CM project to arcopallial pathways implicated in behavioral motivation. These brain regions may exert different influences on pathways through which auditory information can direct different facets of behavioral responses to information detected in those auditory signals.
Impact of COVID‐19 social distancing measures on routine mental health care provision and treatment outcome for common mental disorders in the Netherlands
Authors: de Beurs Edwin , Blankers Matthijs , Peen Jaap , Rademacher Clara , Podgorski Alicja , Dekker Jack
Published: January 2022

Objective

The uptake of digital interventions in mental health care (MHC) has been slow, as many therapists and patients believe that in‐person contact is essential for establishing a good working relationship and good outcomes in treatment. The public health policies regarding social distancing during the coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic forced an abrupt transformation of MHC provisions for outpatients: Since mid‐March 2020, nearly all in‐person contact was replaced with videoconferencing. The COVID‐19 crisis offered a unique opportunity to investigate whether MHC with videoconferencing yields inferior results as compared to in‐person interventions.

Method

In a large urban MHC facility in the Netherlands, measurement‐based care is routine practice. Outcome data are regularly collected to support shared decision making and monitor patient progress. For this study, pretest and post‐test data were used to compare outcomes for three cohorts: treatments performed prior to, partially during and entirely during the COVID‐19 lockdown. Outcomes were compared in two large data sets: Basic MHC (N = 1392) and Specialized MHC (N = 1040).

Results

Therapeutic outcomes appeared robust for COVID‐19 conditions across the three cohorts: No differences in outcomes were found between treatments that were conducted during lockdown compared to in‐person treatments prior to COVID‐19, or treatments which started in‐person, but needed to be continued by means of videoconferencing.

Discussion

Videoconferencing care during the COVID‐19 pandemic had similar outcomes compared to traditional in‐person care. These real‐world results corroborate findings of previous randomized controlled studies and meta‐analyses in which videoconferencing and in‐person care has been directly compared in terms of clinical effectiveness.
A Simple Method for Fabrication of Self‐sharpened Silicon Tips for Atomic Force Microscopy Applications
Authors: Bagur Rudrappa Deepu , Bhat Venkatramana Venu , Ahmed Saleem , Sharma Avnish , Purakkat Savitha , Yeriyur Basavaiah Basavaraju
Published: January 2022

A simple and high yield method is presented for the bulk generation of atomic force microscopy (AFM) probes with self‐sharpened silicon tips. The experimental setup includes a controlled chemical etching environment at a constant temperature with continuous recirculation and filtration. A KOH solution is considered cost‐effective as the etchant and stabilized to the required concentration (55%, v/v) and temperature (40 °C), so as to provide an etch rate of 40 nm min−1 and yield a smooth etch profile. A high density of silicon tips is fabricated, with yield up to 90%, and a consistent tip radius of ≈12.73 ± 1.51 nm. These tips can be successfully integrated with AFM cantilevers, resulting in AFM probes. Further, such AFM‐probes are well characterized using laser Doppler vibrometry and scanning electron microscopy. The result shows a resonance frequency of 1.2–1.4 MHz and a high‐quality factor of ≈708.8. In addition, the AFM probes produced images are comparable in quality to those obtained from commercially available probes.
A variable fractional‐order inductor design
Authors: Zhang Li , Kartci Aslihan , Bagci Hakan , Salama Khaled N.
Published: January 2022

Recently, interest in fractional‐order inductors (FOIs) has increased since they allow for accurate and robust models of dynamical systems to be designed. However, practical implementation of these models has not been possible due to the lack of single FOI realizations. To address this challenge, in this work, we propose a simple‐to‐realize fractional‐order inductor design with variable constant phase angle (CPA). The design relies on characteristics of transverse electromagnetic (TEM) mode propagating on a coaxial structure filled with conductive material, more specifically NaCl‐water solution and flour‐based mixtures. The CPA of the resulting FOI can be tuned by changing the conductivity of the dough mixture. Analysis of the proposed FOI design show that the CPA can vary in a range from 0° to 90°. Two of these CPA values are verified against experiments in the frequency band changing from 1 to 10 MHz.