bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome-wide analysis of RING-type E3 ligase family identifies potential candidates regulating high amylose starch biosynthesis in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Parveen Afsana , Rahim Mohammed Saba , Sharma Ankita , Mishra Ankita , Kumar Prashant , Fandade Vikas , Kumar Pankaj , Bhandawat Abhishek , Verma Shailender Kumar , Roy Joy
Published: June 2021

In ubiquitin-mediated post-translational modifications, RING finger families are emerged as important E3 ligases in regulating biological processes. Amylose and amylopectin are two major constituents of starch in wheat seed endosperm. Studies have been found the beneficial effects of high amylose or resistant starch on health. The ubiquitin-mediated post-translational regulation of key enzymes for amylose/amylopectin biosynthesis (GBSSI and SBEII) is still unknown. In this study, the genome-wide analysis identified 1272 RING domains in 1255 proteins in wheat, which is not reported earlier. The identified RING domains classified into four groups—RING-H2, RING-HC, RING-v, RING-G, based on the amino acid residues (Cys, His) at metal ligand positions and the number of residues between them with the predominance of RING-H2 type. A total of 1238 RING protein genes were found to be distributed across all 21 wheat chromosomes. Among them, 1080 RING protein genes were identified to show whole genome/segmental duplication within the hexaploid wheat genome. In silico expression analysis using transcriptome data revealed 698 RING protein genes, having a possible role in seed development. Based on differential gene expression and correlation analysis of 36 RING protein genes in diverse (high and low) amylose mutants and parent, 10 potential RING protein genes found to be involved in high amylose biosynthesis and significantly associated with two starch biosynthesis genes; GBSSI and SBEIIa. Characterization of mutant lines using next-generation sequencing method identified unique mutations in 698 RING protein genes. This study signifies the putative role of RING-type E3 ligases in amylose biosynthesis and this information will be helpful for further functional validation and its role in other biological processes in wheat.
p62 overexpression induces TDP-43 cytoplasmic mislocalisation, aggregation and cleavage and neuronal death
Authors: Foster A. D. , Flynn L. L. , Cluning C. , Cheng F. , Davidson J. M. , Lee A. , Polain N. , Mejzini R. , Farrawell N. , Yerbury J. J. , Layfield R. , Akkari P. A. , Rea S. L.
Published: June 2021

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) that exist on a spectrum of neurodegenerative disease. A hallmark of pathology is cytoplasmic TDP-43 aggregates within neurons, observed in 97% of ALS cases and ~ 50% of FTLD cases. This mislocalisation from the nucleus into the cytoplasm and TDP-43 cleavage are associated with pathology, however, the drivers of these changes are unknown. p62 is invariably also present within these aggregates. We show that p62 overexpression causes TDP-43 mislocalisation into cytoplasmic aggregates, and aberrant TDP-43 cleavage that was dependent on both the PB1 and ubiquitin-associated (UBA) domains of p62. We further show that p62 overexpression induces neuron death. We found that stressors (proteasome inhibition and arsenic) increased p62 expression and that this shifted the nuclear:cytoplasmic TDP-43 ratio. Overall, our study suggests that environmental factors that increase p62 may thereby contribute to TDP-43 pathology in ALS and FTLD.
Percolation and tortuosity in heart-like cells
Authors: Rabinovitch R. , Biton Y. , Braunstein D. , Aviram I. , Thieberger R. , Rabinovitch A.
Published: June 2021

In the last several years, quite a few papers on the joint question of transport, tortuosity and percolation have appeared in the literature, dealing with passage of miscellaneous liquids or electrical currents in different media. However, these methods have not been applied to the passage of action potential in heart fibrosis (HF), which is crucial for problems of heart arrhythmia, especially of atrial tachycardia and fibrillation. In this work we address the HF problem from these aspects. A cellular automaton model is used to analyze percolation and transport of a distributed-fibrosis inflicted heart-like tissue. Although based on a rather simple mathematical model, it leads to several important outcomes: (1) It is shown that, for a single wave front (as the one emanated by the heart's sinus node), the percolation of heart-like matrices is exactly similar to the forest fire case. (2) It is shown that, on the average, the shape of the transport (a question not dealt with in relation to forest fire, and deals with the delay of action potential when passing a fibrotic tissue) behaves like a Gaussian. (3) Moreover, it is shown that close to the percolation threshold the parameters of this Gaussian behave in a critical way. From the physical point of view, these three results are an important contribution to the general percolation investigation. The relevance of our results to cardiological issues, specifically to the question of reentry initiation, are discussed and it is shown that: (A) Without an ectopic source and under a mere sinus node operation, no arrhythmia is generated, and (B) A sufficiently high refractory period could prevent some reentry mechanisms, even in partially fibrotic heart tissue.
Exploring the most stable aptamer/target molecule complex by the stochastic tunnelling-basin hopping-discrete molecular dynamics method
Authors: Su Chia-Hao , Chen Hui-Lung , Ju Shin-Pon , You Tai-Ding , Lin Yu-Sheng , Tseng Ta-Feng
Published: June 2021

The stochastic tunnelling-basin hopping-discrete molecular dynamics (STUN-BH-DMD) method was applied to the search for the most stable biomolecular complexes in water by using the MARTINI coarse-grained (CG) model. The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM, PDB code: 4MZV) was used as an EpCAM adaptor for an EpA (AptEpA) benchmark target molecule. The effects of two adsorption positions on the EpCAM were analysed, and it is found that the AptEpAadsorption configuration located within the EpCAM pocket-like structure is more stable and the energy barrier is lower due to the interaction with water. By the root mean square deviation (RMSD), the configuration of EpCAM in water is more conservative when the AptEpAbinds to EpCAM by attaching to the pocket space of the EpCAM dimer. For AptEpA, the root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) analysis result indicates Nucleobase 1 and Nucleobase 2 display higher flexibility during the CGMD simulation. Finally, from the binding energy contour maps and histogram plots of EpCAM and each AptEpAnucleobase, it is clear that the binding energy adsorbed to the pocket-like structure is more continuous than that energy not adsorbed to the pocket-like structure. This study has proposed a new numerical process for applying the STUN-BH-DMD with the CG model, which can reduce computational details and directly find a more stable AptEpA/EpCAM complex in water.
Enhanced thin-film transistor driven high-aperture in-plane switching liquid crystal displays without common line and black matrix
Authors: Ando Masahiko , Yoneya Makoto
Published: June 2021

We developed active-matrix in-plane switching liquid crystal displays (IPS-LCDs) with a new vertical structure composed of thin-film transistors (TFTs) that have an aperture ratio of 60% to reduce energy consumption. The novel TFT has a channel and a back channel made of a hydrogenated amorphous-silicon semiconductor layer sandwiched by thin silicon oxide insulating layers. The transfer characteristics are enhanced by uniformly shifting the threshold voltage to be higher than the maximum LC driving voltage (typically > 5 V). The enhanced TFT characteristics provided with a new driving scheme and shielding electrodes enables both the common line and black matrix to be eliminated. We fabricated an IPS TFT-LCD panel with aperture and contrast ratios that are 160% those of the conventional pixel structure.
A selective cytotoxic adenovirus vector for concentration of pluripotent stem cells in human pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells
Authors: Hirai Takamasa , Kono Ken , Sawada Rumi , Kuroda Takuya , Yasuda Satoshi , Matsuyama Satoko , Matsuyama Akifumi , Koizumi Naoya , Utoguchi Naoki , Mizuguchi Hiroyuki , Sato Yoji
Published: June 2021

Highly sensitive detection of residual undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells is essential for the quality and safety of cell-processed therapeutic products derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). We previously reported the generation of an adenovirus (Ad) vector and adeno-associated virus vectors that possess a suicide gene, inducible Caspase 9 (iCasp9), which makes it possible to sensitively detect undifferentiated hiPSCs in cultures of hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. In this study, we investigated whether these vectors also allow for detection of undifferentiated hiPSCs in preparations of hiPSC-derived neural progenitor cells (hiPSC-NPCs), which have been expected to treat neurological disorders. To detect undifferentiated hiPSCs, the expression of pluripotent stem cell markers was determined by immunostaining and flow cytometry. Using immortalized NPCs as a model, the Ad vector was identified to be the most efficient among the vectors tested in detecting undifferentiated hiPSCs. Moreover, we found that the Ad vector killed most hiPSC-NPCs in an iCasp9-dependent manner, enabling flow cytometry to detect undifferentiated hiPSCs intermingled at a lower concentration (0.002%) than reported previously (0.1%). These data indicate that the Ad vector selectively eliminates hiPSC-NPCs, thus allowing for sensitive detection of hiPSCs. This cytotoxic viral vector could contribute to ensuring the quality and safety of hiPSCs-NPCs for therapeutic use.
Association between sleep habits/disorders and emotional/behavioral problems among Japanese children
Authors: Takeshima Masahiro , Ohta Hidenobu , Hosoya Tomoko , Okada Masakazu , Iida Yukako , Moriwaki Aiko , Takahashi Hidetoshi , Kamio Yoko , Mishima Kazuo
Published: June 2021

Actual sleep status and the association between sleep habits/disorders and emotional/behavioral problems among children in the development stage have not been fully clarified. A questionnaire survey was conducted on the sleep habits/disorders (Brief Child Sleep Questionnaire; BCSQ) and emotional/behavioral problems (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire; SDQ) of 87,548 children enrolled in ordinary classes in nine grade levels from the first grade of elementary school to the third grade of junior high school from December 2009 to April 2010. As school grade increased, children’s bedtimes were delayed and sleep duration was reduced by 2.0 h over the nine grade levels. Based on the BCSQ, 18.3% of children were judged to have some type of sleep disorder, and about 30% to 40% of children had sleep symptoms at bedtime, during sleep, and at wake time. Multiple regression analysis showed that emotional and behavioral problems were associated with presence of any sleep symptom, longer sleep latency, and longer awake time after sleep onset, whereas total sleep time was not. Sleep symptoms at wake time were most strongly associated with emotional and behavioral problems. Status of sleep habits/disorders should be considered when interpreting emotional/behavioral problems in school-age children.
Effect of age and body mass index on vitamin D level in children with asthma in Riyadh
Authors: Bindayel Iman Abdullah
Published: June 2021

Vitamin D deficiency prevalence in children has been rising. Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) levels contribute to poor asthma control in children. This study assessed 25(OH)D3 levels in children with asthma from Riyadh with respect to anthropometrics, dietary, and lifestyle variables. Children with asthma (n, 60; 2–17 years) were assessed for serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) level and body anthropometrics (weight, height, and body mass index [BMI]). Vitamin D dietary intake, sun exposure, and sociodemographic data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Thirty-one children (52%) had a 25(OH)D3 level < 50 nmol/L, 15 of whom (25%) had a level < 30 nmol/L. 25(OH)D3 level was significantly negatively correlated with age (P < 0.05), weight (P < 0.02), and height (P < 0.05). Children with a 25(OH)D3 level < 30 nmol/L had a significantly higher BMI than children with insufficient and sufficient vitamin D levels (P < 0.01). There was no significant effect of sex on 25(OH)D3 level. Higher 25(OH)D3 level was associated with a greater body area exposure to the sun. This study found that > 50% of the children with asthma had below sufficiency vitamin D levels. The vitamin D screening and supplementation of older and overweight children with asthma is recommended.
Reliability and efficacy of maximum fluorescein tear break-up time in diagnosing dry eye disease
Authors: Mou Yujie , Xiang Huan , Lin Lin , Yuan Kelan , Wang Xin , Wu Yaying , Min Jinjin , Jin Xiuming
Published: June 2021

This study aims to investigate the reliability and efficacy of maximum fluorescein tear break-up time (FTBUTmax) in diagnosing dry eye disease (DED). 147 participants were enrolled in this study. Ocular symptoms were assessed by Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). The fluorescein tear break-up time (FTBUT) examination, corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), and Schirmer I test were performed on both eyes. Each participant underwent 3 consecutive FTBUT tests, and five types of FTBUT values including FTBUTmax, the minimum FTBUT (FTBUTmin), the first FTBUT (FTBUT1), the average of three FTBUTs (FTBUT123) and the average of the first and second FTBUT (FTBUT12) were recorded. FTBUTmax was larger than the other FTBUT values, but no differences were found among the values of FTBUT1, FTBUT123, FTBUT12 and FTBUTmin. In the ROC analysis, FTBUTmax had the largest or the second largest area under the ROC (AUROC) in all three DED diagnostic criteria, while FTBUTmin had the least AUROC of them. ROC efficacy of FTBUTmax was significantly higher than that of FTBUT123, FTBUT12, FTBUT1 and FTBUTmin in the OSDI criteria and higher than that of FTBUT1 and FTBUTmin in Schirmer I test and CFS tests. FTBUTmax has a close correlation with OSDI, Schirmer I test and CFS, and is an effective tool for the DED diagnosis.
Systems biology approach highlights mechanistic differences between Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
Authors: Ruiz Castro Pedro A. , Yepiskoposyan Hasmik , Gubian Sylvain , Calvino-Martin Florian , Kogel Ulrike , Renggli Kasper , Peitsch Manuel C. , Hoeng Julia , Talikka Marja
Published: June 2021

The molecular mechanisms of IBD have been the subject of intensive exploration. We, therefore, assembled the available information into a suite of causal biological network models, which offer comprehensive visualization of the processes underlying IBD. Scientific text was curated by using Biological Expression Language (BEL) and compiled with OpenBEL 3.0.0. Network properties were analysed by Cytoscape. Network perturbation amplitudes were computed to score the network models with transcriptomic data from public data repositories. The IBD network model suite consists of three independent models that represent signalling pathways that contribute to IBD. In the “intestinal permeability” model, programmed cell death factors were downregulated in CD and upregulated in UC. In the “inflammation” model, PPARG, IL6, and IFN-associated pathways were prominent regulatory factors in both diseases. In the “wound healing” model, factors promoting wound healing were upregulated in CD and downregulated in UC. Scoring of publicly available transcriptomic datasets onto these network models demonstrated that the IBD models capture the perturbation in each dataset accurately. The IBD network model suite can provide better mechanistic insights of the transcriptional changes in IBD and constitutes a valuable tool in personalized medicine to further understand individual drug responses in IBD.
Author Correction: Serum immunoglobulin free light chains and their association with clinical phenotypes, serology and activity in patients with IgG4‑related disease
Authors: Martín‑Nares Eduardo , Saavedra‑González Vanessa , Fagundo‑Sierra Reynerio , Santinelli‑Núñez Blanca Estela , Romero‑Maceda Teresa , Calderón‑Vasquez Karla , Hernandez‑Molina Gabriela
Published: June 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Impacts of Atlantic multidecadal variability on the tropical Pacific: a multi-model study
Authors: Ruprich-Robert Yohan , Moreno-Chamarro Eduardo , Levine Xavier , Bellucci Alessio , Cassou Christophe , Castruccio Frederic , Davini Paolo , Eade Rosie , Gastineau Guillaume , Hermanson Leon , Hodson Dan , Lohmann Katja , Lopez-Parages Jorge , Monerie Paul-Arthur , Nicolì Dario , Qasmi Said , Roberts Christopher D. , Sanchez-Gomez Emilia , Danabasoglu Gokhan , Dunstone Nick , Martin-Rey Marta , Msadek Rym , Robson Jon , Smith Doug , Tourigny Etienne
Published: June 2021

Atlantic multidecadal variability (AMV) has been linked to the observed slowdown of global warming over 1998–2012 through its impact on the tropical Pacific. Given the global importance of tropical Pacific variability, better understanding this Atlantic–Pacific teleconnection is key for improving climate predictions, but the robustness and strength of this link are uncertain. Analyzing a multi-model set of sensitivity experiments, we find that models differ by a factor of 10 in simulating the amplitude of the Equatorial Pacific cooling response to observed AMV warming. The inter-model spread is mainly driven by different amounts of moist static energy injection from the tropical Atlantic surface into the upper troposphere. We reduce this inter-model uncertainty by analytically correcting models for their mean precipitation biases and we quantify that, following an observed 0.26 °C AMV warming, the equatorial Pacific cools by 0.11 °C with an inter-model standard deviation of 0.03 °C.
Creation of Mo/Tc@C60and Au@C60and molecular-dynamics simulations
Authors: Ohtsuki Tsutomu , Manjanath Aaditya , Ohno Kaoru , Inagaki Makoto , Sekimoto Shun , Kawazoe Yoshiyuki
Published: June 2021

The formation of Mo, Au-incorporated fullerenes was investigated using radionuclides produced by nuclear reactions and using AIMD simulations. The possibility of the formation of endohedral fullerenes containing Mo/Tc and Au atoms is verified.
A butterfly shaped organic heterojunction photocatalyst for effective photocatalytic CO2reduction
Authors: Hayat Asif , Sohail Muhammad , Taha T. A. , Alenad Asma M. , Irfan Ahmad , Shaishta Naghma , Hayat Ashiq , Mane Sunil Kumar Baburao , Khan Wasim Ullah
Published: June 2021

The modification of carbon nitride (CN) for visible light photocatalytic CO2reduction is an important issue to explore in the context of energy and environmental challenges.
Ag nanoparticle-decorated 2D/2D S-scheme g-C3N4/Bi2WO6 heterostructures for an efficient photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline
Authors: Dou Xincheng , Li Qiaoqiao , Shi Haifeng
Published: June 2021

The 2D/2D S-scheme Ag–g-C3N4–Bi2WO6 composite with efficient charge transfer, displayed a remarkable degradation activity of tetracycline under visible light irradiation.
Correction: Axially coordinated chiral salen Mn(iii) anchored onto azole onium modified ZnPS-PVPA as effective catalysts for asymmetric epoxidation of unfunctionalized olefins
Authors: Huang Jing , Fu Xiangkai , Wang Gang , Miao Qiang , Wang Guomin
Published: June 2021

Correction for ‘Axially coordinated chiral salen Mn(iii) anchored onto azole onium modified ZnPS-PVPA as effective catalysts for asymmetric epoxidation of unfunctionalized olefins’ by Jing Huang et al., Dalton Trans., 2012, 41, 10661–10669, DOI: 10.1039/C2DT30081H.
A high performance lithium metal anode enabled by CF4plasma treated carbon paper
Authors: Shen Fei , Zhang Fan , Yin Yuting , Chen Sile , Gao Jie , Li Jun , Han Xiaogang
Published: June 2021

CF4plasma modification has been employed to introduce the F element to the surface of a 3D carbon paper. High lithium storage capacity and stable cycling are achieved with the fluorinated carbon paper electrode.
Advanced nanomaterials for energy conversion and storage: current status and future opportunities
Authors: Ong Wee-Jun , Zheng Nanfeng , Antonietti Markus
Published: June 2021

Guest Editors Wee-Jun Ong, Nanfeng Zheng and Markus Antonietti introduce the Nanoscale themed collection on advanced nanomaterials for energy conversion and storage.
Reducing the dosage of the organic structure-directing agent in the crystallization of pure silica zeolite MFI (silicalite-1) for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) adsorption
Authors: Mi Zhenrui , Li Jing , Lu Tingting , Bai Pu , Zhang Jia-Nan , Yan Wenfu , Xu Ruren
Published: June 2021

Zeolite silicalite-1 (MFI) was synthesized with a lower amount of TPA+ but an appropriate amount of seed.
A stable mixed-valent uranium(v,vi) organic framework as a fluorescence thermometer
Authors: Gu Dongxu , Yang Weiting , Chen Huiping , Yang Yonghang , Qin Xudong , Chen Lu , Wang Song , Pan Qinhe
Published: June 2021

A stable mixed-valent uranium(v/vi) organic framework with a 3D interpenetrating structure was synthesized, which can be used as a dual-responsive fluorescence temperature sensor based on the fluorescence intensity and fluorescence lifetime.
Harnessing reversible dry adhesion using shape memory polymer microparticles
Authors: Li Wenbing , Liu Junhao , Wei Wanting , Qian Kun
Published: June 2021

Shape memory polymers can provide excellent bonding property because of their shape memory effects. This paper proposes an adhesive unit that is capable of repeatable smart adhesion and exhibits reversible adhesion under heating.
How do the doping concentrations of N and B in graphene modify the water adsorption?
Authors: Pham Thi Tan , Pham Thanh Ngoc , Chihaia Viorel , Vu Quang Anh , Trinh Thuat T. , Pham Trung Thanh , Van Thang Le , Son Do Ngoc
Published: June 2021

N and B doping content in graphene alters the microscopic geometrical structure and electronic properties of adsorbed water.
ZnO nanowire embedded TiO2 film as an electrode for perovskite CsPbI2Br solar cells
Authors: Zheng Liqiu , Page Gabrielle , Li Zhongrui
Published: June 2021

A comparative study was conducted to look into the impact of various electron transporting films on the performance of perovskite CsPbI2Br solar cells.
A nanostructured SnO2/Ni/CNT composite as an anode for Li ion batteries
Authors: Ambalkar Anuradha A. , Kawade Ujjwala V. , Sethi Yogesh A. , Kanade Sandip C. , Kulkarni Milind V. , Adhyapak Parag V. , Kale Bharat B.
Published: June 2021

SnO2/Ni/CNT nanocomposite approach has been demonstrated which confers shielding against volume expansion due to the use of optimum % of Ni & CNT exhibiting superior cycling stability and rate capabilities of the stable electrode structure.
N/O co-enriched graphene hydrogels as high-performance electrodes for aqueous symmetric supercapacitors
Authors: Zhang Yong , Wei Liang , Liu Xijun , Ma Wenhui , Wang Jiankai , Fan Shan
Published: June 2021

N/O co-enriched graphene hydrogel based supercapacitors were assembled. Owing to the synergistic effect between the heteroatoms (N, O), 3D porous structures and high specific surface area, they present excellent electrochemical properties.
Effects of pendant side groups on the properties of the silicon-containing arylacetylene resins with 2,5-diphenyl-[1,3,4]-oxadiazole moieties
Authors: Ma Manping , Liu Xiaotian , Li Chuan , Qiao Zhiyao , Yuan Qiaolong , Huang Farong
Published: June 2021

Silicon-containing arylacetylene resins with rigid conjugated structures in the main chain often exhibit poor processability and low mechanical properties.
Synthesis of tetrahydro-β-carbolines from 2-indolylmethyl azides and propargylic alcohols
Authors: Yin Haiting , Ma Qin , Wang Yushan , Gu Xiaoxia , Feng Zhijun , Wu Yunjun , Wang Ming , Wang Shaoyin
Published: June 2021

The synthesis of tetrahydro-β-carbolines from 2-indolylmethyl azides and propargylic alcohols via acid-catalyzed dehydrative [4 + 2]-annulation reaction is described.
Effect of pressure on the properties of a NASICON Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 nanofiber solid electrolyte
Authors: La Monaca Andrea , Girard Gabriel , Savoie Sylvio , Demers Hendrix , Bertoni Giovanni , Krachkovskiy Sergey , Marras Sergio , Mugnaioli Enrico , Gemmi Mauro , Benetti Daniele , Vijh Ashok , Rosei Federico , Paolella Andrea
Published: June 2021

A study on how the pressure applied to electrospun NASICON-like Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 nanofibers affects their purity, porosity and ionic conductivity.
Tuning interfacial chemical interaction for high-performance perovskite solar cell with PEDOT:PSS as hole transporting layer
Authors: Wu Fei , Yan Kangrong , Wu Haotian , Niu Benfang , Liu Zhixin , Li Yaokai , Zuo Lijian , Chen Hongzheng
Published: June 2021

The synergistic passivation effect of K+ and citrate from potassium citrate significantly boosts the PCE from 16.31% to 19.66%, which is among the highest MAPbI3 solar cells with PEDOT:PSS as HTL.
A thin and high-strength composite polymer solid-state electrolyte with a highly efficient and uniform ion-transport network
Authors: Shi Peiran , Ma Jiabin , Huang Yanfei , Fu Wenbo , Li Song , Wang Shuwei , Zhang Danfeng , He Yan-Bing , Kang Feiyu
Published: June 2021

We constructed a thin and high-strength composite polymer solid-state electrolyte that showed highly efficient and uniform ion-transport via micro-wetting with trace electrolyte vapor, allowing operation at room temperature.
Academic teaching during a pandemic: classical mechanics and special relativity at a distance
Authors: Oosten Dries van
Published: June 2021

In the spring of 2020, the schools and universities in the Netherlands were closed for the first time. Urgently and unexpectedly, teaching had to be organised differently. At the time, our students at Utrecht University were well in their third quarter already.
Mechanical characteristic and analytical model of novel air spring for ergonomic mattress
Authors: Chao Yao , Shen Li Ming , Liu Ming Peng
Published: June 2021

Conventional mattresses can not adjust precisely according to the individualized spinal alignment. In addition, there is no theoretical basis for quantitative design and adjustment of mattresses firmness. The purpose of this paper is to overcome deficiency of traditional air chambers for research of ergonomic mattresses in accordance with spinal alignment. A novel variable stiffness air spring was designed and static experiments were conducted to analyze its mechanical properties and its influence factors. An analytical model based on geometric parameters and initial internal pressure was established. The results showed that the air spring has nonlinear stiffness during the working process. Furthermore, the model can predict the load of the air spring accurately at any equilibrium position with an average error of 6.96%. The initial stiffness, volume and assembly height could be predicted by means of geometric parameters and initial internal pressure. The conclusions are that the novel air spring can obtain predictable stiffness compared with cubic and the rod-shaped air chambers, which provides a theoretical basis and possible solution for the study of stiffness adaptive ergonomic mattress according to spinal alignment.
Numerical investigations of the compressible Navier-Stokes system
Authors: Al-Taki Bilal , Atsou Kevin , Casanova Jean-Jéróme , Goudon Thierry , Lafitte Pauline , Lagoutière Frédéric , Minjeaud Sebastian
Published: June 2021

In this paper we write, analyze and experimentally compare three different numerical schemes dedicated to the one dimensional barotropic Navier-Stokes equations:

a staggered scheme based on the Rusanov one for the inviscid (Euler) system,

a staggered pseudo-Lagrangian scheme in which the mesh “follows” the fluid,

the Eulerian projection (on a fixed mesh) of the preceding scheme.

All these schemes only involve the resolution of linear systems (all the nonlinear terms are solved in an explicit way). We propose numerical illustrations of their behaviors on particular solutions in which the density has discontinuities (hereafter called Hoff solutions). We show that the three schemes seem to converge to the same solutions, and we compare the evolution of the amplitude of the discontinuity of the numerical solution (with the pseudo-Lagrangian scheme) with the one predicted by Hoff and observe a good agreement.
Simulation of complex free surface flows
Authors: Benyo Krisztian , Charhabil Ayoub , Debyaoui Mohamed-Ali , Penel Yohan
Published: June 2021

We study the Serre-Green-Naghdi system under a non-hydrostatic formulation, modelling incompressible free surface flows in shallow water regimes. This system, unlike the well-known (nonlinear) Saint-Venant equations, takes into account the effects of the non-hydrostatic pressure term as well as dispersive phenomena. Two numerical schemes are designed, based on a finite volume - finite difference type splitting scheme and iterative correction algorithms. The methods are compared by means of simulations concerning the propagation of solitary wave solutions. The model is also assessed with experimental data concerning the Favre secondary wave experiments [12].
Stability theory for some scalar finite difference schemes: validity of the modified equations approach
Authors: Dhaouadi Firas , Duval Emilie , Tkachenko Sergey , Vila Jean-Paul
Published: June 2021

In this paper, we discuss some limitations of the modified equations approach as a tool for stability analysis for a class of explicit linear schemes to scalar partial differential equations. We show that the infinite series obtained by Fourier transform of the modified equation is not always convergent and that in the case of divergence, it becomes unrelated to the scheme. Based on these results, we explain when the stability analysis of a given truncation of a modified equation may yield a reasonable estimation of a stability condition for the associated scheme. We illustrate our analysis by some examples of schemes namely for the heat equation and the transport equation.
Improved robust shortest paths by penalized investments
Authors: Pérez-Galarce Francisco , Candia-Véjar Alfredo , Maculan Guido , Maculan Nelson
Published: June 2021

Connectivity after disasters has become a critical problem in the management of modern cities. This comes from the need of the decision-makers to ensure urgent medical attention by providing access to health facilities and to other relevant services needed by the population. Managing congestion could help maintain some routes operative even in complex scenarios such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, protests, or riots. Recent advances in Humanitarian Logistics have handled this problem using different modeling approaches but have principally focused on the response phase. In this paper, firstly, we propose a penalized variant of an existing mathematical model for the robust s–t path problem with investments. With the aim of solving the robust several-to-one path problem with investments, and due to the high complexity of this new problem, a heuristic is proposed. Moreover, this approach allows us to improve travel times in both specific paths and in a set of routes in a systemic framework. The new problem and the proposed heuristic are illustrated by an example, which corresponds to a typical city network, that provides a concrete vision of the potential application of the framework. Lastly, some managerial insights are given by the analysis of results exhibited in the example network.
Faut-il se confronter à meilleur que soi ? Effets de l’intensité de la comparaison sociale ascendante sur l’évaluation de soi et la performance motrice
Authors: Charrier Maxime , Rascle Olivier , Le Foll David , Cabagno Geneviève
Published: June 2021

L’objectif de cette étude était d’observer l’influence de l’intensité d’un feedback de comparaison sociale ascendante sur l’évaluation de soi et la performance motrice d’élèves français lors d’une tâche d’équilibre. L’étude s’est déroulée en deux phases. La première était consacrée à la sélection des cibles de comparaison. Les participants, 76 élèves, 31 filles et 45 garçons (Mâge = 12,7 ans), devaient mentionner le nom des élèves avec lesquels ils avaient l’habitude de se comparer en éducation physique et sportive. Trois semaines plus tard, 35 élèves garçons (Mâge = 12,8 ans) ont participé à la phase 2. Au temps 1, ils réalisaient une première performance puis remplissaient une mesure d’évaluation de soi. La semaine suivante, au temps 2, ils étaient exposés à un feedback de comparaison ascendante (modérée, CAM, performance 1 de la cible de comparaison légèrement supérieure, 30 %, versus forte, CAF, 120 %). Il leur était alors demandé une seconde évaluation de soi, une mesure de leurs attentes de réussite ainsi qu’une seconde performance sur cette même tâche. Les résultats révèlent une diminution de l’évaluation de soi suite au feedback de CAF, ce qui n’est pas le cas dans la condition CAM.
Update Psychokardiologie
Authors: Sadlonova Monika , Herrmann-Lingen Christoph
Published: June 2021

Psychosomatische Effekte auf das Herz-Kreislauf-System Belastende Erlebnisse in Kindheit und Jugend erhöhen entlang der Lebenslinie das Risiko für Diabetes mellitus Typ II, KHK und Schlaganfälle. Optimismus, Sinnhaftigkeit/Zielstrebigkeit und Achtsamkeit zeigen sich als mögliche protektive Faktoren für die kardiovaskuläre Gesundheit.

Interventionen
Behandlung einer Nierenarterienperforation mit gecovertem Stent nach perkutaner Pankreaskopfbiopsie
Authors: Kersjes Wilhelm , Bengel Andreas , Jurczok Andreas
Published: June 2021

Anamnese und klinischer Befund Bei einer 67-jährigen Patientin mit Oberbauchschmerzen ergab sich computertomografisch der Nachweis einer teils verkalkten Auftreibung des Pankreaskopfes und einer Wandverdickung des Duodenums.

Untersuchungen Der stationär erhobene körperliche Untersuchungsbefund war unauffällig. Labortechnisch wurden erhöhte Pankreasenzyme (Amylase 210 U/l (Normbereich: 28–100 U/l), Lipase 2115 U/l (Normbereich: 23–300 U/l)) und Entzündungswerte (CRP 11,7 mg/l (Normbereich: < 5,0 mg/l)) ermittelt, sonst weitgehend unauffällige Laborparameter. In der Ösophagogastroduodenoskopie erfolgte eine Biopsie von geschwollenen, teils stenosierenden Schleimhautarealen im Duodenum.

Diagnose Die Histologie ergab eine partiell erosive Duodenitis, kein Nachweis eines malignen Tumors. Bei Verdacht auf eine chronisch-kalzifizierende Pankreatitis erfolgte zum Tumorausschluss eine sonografisch gesteuerte perkutane Biopsie des Pankreaskopfes.

Therapie und Verlauf Postbioptisch entwickelte die Patientin abdominelle Schmerzen und zeitweilige Kreislaufinstabilitäten mit Übelkeit/Erbrechen sowie einen Hb-Abfall auf 7,5 g/dl (Normbereich: 12,3–15,3 g/dl). Der sonografisch gestellte Verdacht auf ein retroperitoneales Hämatom wurde computertomografisch bestätigt. Ursächlich war eine Blutung aus einer Nierenarterienperforation rechts, die durch eine sofortige angiografische Intervention mit gecovertem Stent gestillt werden konnte.

Folgerung Nach perkutaner Biopsie muss immer auch an eine Gefäßperforation gedacht werden. Eine Computertomografie liefert die Diagnose zuverlässig und schnell. Die minimalinvasive perkutane Einbringung eines gecoverten Stents ist im Falle einer für Stents zugänglichen Nierenarterie die Therapie der Wahl.
Incidence and outcomes of poor healing and poor squamous regeneration after radiofrequency ablation therapy for early Barrett’s neoplasia
Authors: van Munster Sanne N. , Frederiks Charlotte N. , Nieuwenhuis Esther A. , Alvarez Herrero Lorenza , Bogte Auke , Alkhalaf Alaa , Schenk Boudewijn E. , Schoon Erik J. , Curvers Wouter L. , Koch Arjun D. , van de Ven Steffi E. M. , de Jonge Pieter J. F. , Tang Thjon J. , Nagengast Wouter B. , Peters Frans T. M. , Westerhof Jessie , Houben Martin H. M. G. , Bergman Jacques J. G. H. M. , Pouw Roos E. , Weusten Bas L. A. M.
Published: June 2021

Background Endoscopic eradication therapy with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is effective in most patients with Barrett’s esophagus (BE). However, some patients experience poor healing and/or poor squamous regeneration. We evaluated incidence and treatment outcomes of poor healing and poor squamous regeneration.

Methods We included all patients treated with RFA for early BE neoplasia from a nationwide Dutch registry based on a joint treatment protocol. Poor healing (active inflammatory changes or visible ulcerations ≥ 3 months post-RFA), poor squamous regeneration (< 50 % squamous regeneration), and treatment success (complete eradication of BE [CE-BE]) were evaluated.

Results 1386 patients (median BE C2M5) underwent RFA with baseline low grade dysplasia (27 %), high grade dysplasia (30 %), or early cancer (43 %). In 134 patients with poor healing (10 %), additional time and acid suppression resulted in complete esophageal healing, and 67/134 (50 %) had normal squamous regeneration with 97 % CE-BE. Overall, 74 patients had poor squamous regeneration (5 %). Compared with patients with normal regeneration, patients with poor squamous regeneration had a higher risk for treatment failure (64 % vs. 2 %, relative risk [RR] 27 [95 % confidence interval [CI] 18–40]) and progression to advanced disease (15 % vs. < 1 %, RR 30 [95 %CI 12–81]). Higher body mass index, longer BE segment, reflux esophagitis, and < 50 % squamous regeneration after baseline endoscopic resection were independently associated with poor squamous regeneration in multivariable logistic regression.

Conclusions In half of the patients with poor healing, additional time and acid suppression led to normal squamous regeneration and excellent treatment outcomes. In patients with poor squamous regeneration, however, the risk for treatment failure and progression to advanced disease was significantly increased.
Occupational gender segregation and gendered language in a language without gender: trends, variations, implications for social development in China
Authors: Su Qi , Liu Pengyuan , Wei Wei , Zhu Shucheng , Huang Chu-Ren
Published: June 2021

This paper proposes a textual analytics approach to the discovery of trends and variations in social development. Specifically, we have designed a linguistic index that measures the marked usage of gendered modifiers in the Chinese language; this predicts the degree of occupational gender segregation by identifying the unbalanced distribution of males and females across occupations. The effectiveness of the linguistic index in modelling occupational gender segregation was confirmed through survey responses from 244 participants, covering 63 occupations listed in the Holland Occupational Codes. The index was then applied to explore the trends and variations of gender equality in occupation, drawing on an extensive digital collection of materials published by the largest newspaper group in China for both longitudinal (from 1946 to 2018) and synchronic (from 31 provincial-level administrative divisions) data. This quantitative study shows that (1) the use of gendered language has weakened over time, indicating a decline in occupational gender stereotyping; (2) conservative genres have shown higher degrees of gendered language use; (3) culturally conservative, demographically stable, or geographically remote regions have higher degrees of gendered language use. These findings are discussed with consideration of historical, cultural, social, psychological, and geographical factors. While the existing literature on gendered language has been an important and useful tool for reading a text in the context of digital humanities, an innovative textual analytics approach, as shown in this paper, can prove to be a crucial indicator of historical trends and variations in social development.
Model-free adaptive sliding mode control with adjustable funnel boundary for robot manipulators with uncertainties
Authors: Wang Huaizhen , Fang Lijin , Song Tangzhong , Xu Jiqian , Shen Hesong
Published: June 2021

Considering that the nominal dynamics model or numerous parameters of robotics are usually unsuitable for real applications, a model-free adaptive sliding mode control with an adjustable funnel boundary is proposed for robot manipulators with uncertainties. First, time delay estimation (TDE) technique is utilized to estimate the unknown dynamics of the control system, which ensures an attractive model-free advantage. Furthermore, a modified funnel function is introduced to transform the trajectory tracking error fall within an adjustable funnel boundary strictly. Then, based on the transformed error variable, a novel funnel nonsingular fast terminal sliding mode control scheme is developed to enhance the transient and steady-state tracking performance of the closed-loop control system. To cope with the TDE error, an adaptive update method is designed with only one adaptive parameter, which is adaptively tuned according to the sliding surface. Finally, the simulation and experimental results are presented to illustrate the superiority and high-precision tracking performance of the proposed approach.
Surface engineering at the nanoscale: A way forward to improve coronary stent efficacy
Authors: Cherian Aleena Mary , Nair Shantikumar V. , Maniyal Vijayakumar , Menon Deepthy
Published: June 2021

Coronary in-stent restenosis and late stent thrombosis are the two major inadequacies of vascular stents that limit its long-term efficacy. Although restenosis has been successfully inhibited through the use of the current clinical drug-eluting stent which releases antiproliferative drugs, problems of late-stent thrombosis remain a concern due to polymer hypersensitivity and delayed re-endothelialization. Thus, the field of coronary stenting demands devices having enhanced compatibility and effectiveness to endothelial cells. Nanotechnology allows for efficient modulation of surface roughness, chemistry, feature size, and drug/biologics loading, to attain the desired biological response. Hence, surface topographical modification at the nanoscale is a plausible strategy to improve stent performance by utilizing novel design schemes that incorporate nanofeatures via the use of nanostructures, particles, or fibers, with or without the use of drugs/biologics. The main intent of this review is to deliberate on the impact of nanotechnology approaches for stent design and development and the recent advancements in this field on vascular stent performance.
High-performance complementary resistive switching in ferroelectric film
Authors: Zhang Pan , Zhai Wenjing , Yan Zhibo , Li Xiang , Li Yongqiang , Zheng Shuhan , Tang Yongsen , Lin Lin , Liu J.-M.
Published: June 2021

The complementary resistive switch (CRS) offers a promising logic-in-memory functionality and is a potential solution to the “von Neumann bottleneck” problem, but the CRS structure composed of two anti-serially connected bipolar resistive switching cells limits device application. In this work, we report a high-performance CRS in a single layer of ferroelectric LiTaO3 film. The device has continuous tunable steady-states, stable operating voltages, a maximum off/on ratio more than 102, good retention longer than 105 s, and a good endurance of over 107 cycles. Besides, the energy consumption of the CRS is tunable by defect engineering. Experiments suggest that the ferroelectric domain switching with charged domain walls possibly contributes to the stability of the CRS in LiTaO3 film.
One-step epitaxy of high-mobility La-doped BaSnO3 films by high-pressure magnetron sputtering
Authors: Zhang Ruyi , Li Xinyan , Bi Jiachang , Zhang Shunda , Peng Shaoqin , Song Yang , Zhang Qinghua , Gu Lin , Duan Junxi , Cao Yanwei
Published: June 2021

As unique perovskite transparent oxide semiconductors, high-mobility La-doped BaSnO3 films have been successfully synthesized by molecular beam epitaxy and pulsed laser deposition. However, it remains a big challenge for magnetron sputtering, a widely applied technique suitable for large-scale fabrication, to grow high-mobility La-doped BaSnO3 films. In this work, we developed a method to synthesize high-mobility epitaxial La-doped BaSnO3 films (with mobility up to 121 cm2 V−1 s−1 at the carrier density of ∼4.0 × 1020 cm−3 at room temperature) directly on SrTiO3 single crystal substrates using high-pressure magnetron sputtering. The structural and electrical properties of La-doped BaSnO3 films were characterized by combined high-resolution x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoemission spectroscopy, and temperature-dependent electrical transport measurements. The room-temperature electron mobility of La-doped BaSnO3 films achieved in this work is two to four times higher than the reported values of the films grown by magnetron sputtering. Moreover, in the high carrier density range (n > 3 × 1020 cm−3), the electron mobility value of 121 cm2 V−1 s−1 achieved in our work is among the highest values for all reported doped BaSnO3 films. It is revealed that high argon pressure during sputtering plays a vital role in stabilizing the fully relaxed films and inducing oxygen vacancies, which facilitates high mobility at room temperature. Our work provides an easy and economical way to massively synthesize high-mobility transparent conducting films for transparent electronics.
Disintegrating spatial networks based on region centrality
Authors: Wang Zhi-Gang , Deng Ye , Wang Ze , Wu Jun
Published: June 2021

Finding an optimal strategy at a minimum cost to efficiently disintegrate a harmful network into isolated components is an important and interesting problem, with applications in particular to anti-terrorism measures and epidemic control. This paper focuses on optimal disintegration strategies for spatial networks, aiming to find an appropriate set of nodes or links whose removal would result in maximal network fragmentation. We refer to the sum of the degree of nodes and the number of links in a specific region as region centrality. This metric provides a comprehensive account of both topological properties and geographic structure. Numerical experiments on both synthetic and real-world networks demonstrate that the strategy is significantly superior to conventional methods in terms of both effectiveness and efficiency. Moreover, our strategy tends to cover those nodes close to the average degree of the network rather than concentrating on nodes with higher centrality.
Interval support vector regression enables high-throughput machine learning predictions for dielectric constant of polymer dielectrics
Authors: Yi Y. , Wang L. M. , Yin F. H.
Published: June 2021

Accurate and rapid prediction of dielectric constant (ε) for polymer-based dielectrics at various frequencies remains challenging. We construct a dataset of dielectrics with an easily attainable numerical representation scheme. We propose an interval support vector regression with a particle swarm optimization to accelerate the ε prediction, discovery, and design of polymer dielectrics at various frequencies (spanning from 100 Hz to 1015 Hz). The key features affecting dielectric constant could be identified, and this is highly valuable to target the discovering of polymer dielectrics as high-throughput screening and tailor the desirable property.