bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatiotemporal patterns and ecological consequences of a fragmented landscape created by damming
Authors: Hu Guang , Wilson Maxwell , Zhou Bing-Bing , Shang Chenwei , Yu Mingjian , Wu Jianguo
Published: May 2021

Background

Damming disrupts rivers and destroys neighboring terrestrial ecosystems through inundation, resulting in profound and long-lasting impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem processes far beyond the river system itself. Archipelagos formed by damming are often considered ideal systems for studying habitat fragmentation.

Methods

Here we quantified the island attributes and landscape dynamics of the Thousand Island Lake (TIL) in China, which is one of the several long-term biodiversity/fragmentation research sites around the world. We also synthesized the major findings of relevant studies conducted in the region to further ecological understanding of damming and landscape fragmentation.

Results

Our results show that the vegetations on islands and the neighboring mainland were both recovering between 1985 and 2005 due to reforestation and natural succession, but the regeneration was partly interrupted after 2005 because of increasing human influences. While major changes in landscape composition occurred primarily in the lakefront areas and near-lakeshore islands, landscape patterns became structurally more complex and fragmented on both islands and mainland. About 80 studies from the TIL region show that the genetic, taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity on these islands were mainly influenced by island area at the patch scale, but fragmentation per se also affected species composition and related ecological processes at patch and landscape scales. In general, islands had lower species diversity but a steeper species-area relationship than the surrounding mainland. Fragmentation and edge effects substantially hindered ecological succession towards more densely vegetated forests on the islands. Environmental heterogeneity and filtering had a major impact on island biotic communities. We hypothesize that there are multiple mechanisms operating at different spatial scales that link landscape fragmentation and ecological dynamics in the TIL region, which beg for future studies. By focusing on an extensive spatiotemporal analysis of the island-mainland system and a synthesis of existing studies in the region, this study provides an important foundation and several promising directions for future studies.
Gestalt Theory’s Less Known Studies: Memory
Authors: Mungan Esra
Published: May 2021

This article is a sequel to “Gestalt Theory: Its Past, its Stranding, and its Future..”. It focuses on what Gestalt theory proposed and produced within the area of memory, which unfortunately are almost unknown. It is typically believed that Gestalt theory is a theory about perception only. This, however, is not true. The aim of this article is to bring to daylight the conceptual and empirical contributions of Gestalt theory within the field of memory. The first part of the article discusses some critical proposals about memory processes in Kurt Koffka’s Principles of Gestalt (1936) book. These involve Koffka’s proposal about the involvement and effects of memory processes in the perception of successive Gestalts; a discussion of the similarities and differences between percepts and memory traces; Koffka’s reference to research suggesting that memory traces are dynamic such that depending on their Prägnanz they will or will not change during storage; that the type of change can even be predicted in some cases. The article will then review one of the most powerful empirical studies on memory within a Gestalt framework, i. e., Hedwig von Restorff’s 1933 dissertation demonstrating how figure-ground effects are at play not only in perception but also in memory. In the final part of this article, I will present Erich Goldmeier’s very original and interesting memory work, which seemed utterly ignored by mainstream cognitive psychology. Keywords: Gestalt theory, figure-ground, Prägnanz & dynamic memory traces, Kurt Koffka, Hedwig von Restorff, Erich Goldmeier
Как построить дом, не выходя из дома. Минералогическая сказка, "Природа"
Authors: Расцветаева Р.К.
Published: May 2021

Кислородные соединения фосфора — фосфаты — широко распространены в природе. Эти минералы разнообразны не только по составу, они различаются и по структуре — в зависимости от того, с чем объединяются высокозарядные тетраэдры фосфора: с другими тетраэдрами (более низкой валентности), с октаэдрами мелких и средних по размеру катионов или с полиэдрами крупных катионов. Конечно, существуют также минералы с гетерополиэдрическими структурами, содержащими все эти типы полиэдров. Мы уже рассказывали в «Природе» о фосфатах со структурами из тетраэдров, а также с участием октаэдров. В данной сказке рассматриваются фосфатные минералы на основе крупных катионов.
Научная школа Эрнеста Резерфорда, "Природа"
Authors: Щербаков Р.Н.
Published: May 2021

Эрнест Резерфордард (1871–1937) — выдающийся английский ученый, основоположник ядерной физики, внесший весомый вклад в исследование радиоактивности, изучение строения атома и искусственного превращения элементов; он предсказал существование трансурановых элементов. Член (1903) и президент (1925–1930) Лондонского королевского общества. Лауреат Нобелевской премии по химии за 1908 г. Профессор Макгиллского университета в Квебеке (Канада), затем профессор Манчестерского университета, а с 1919 г. профессор Кембриджского университета. Его научная деятельность была связана с научной школой, которую составили ученые разных стран, в том числе СССР.
Interspecific-Competition Strongly Constrains Species-Richness and Species-Abundance Evenness in a Tropical Marine Molluscan Community Inhabiting Caulerpa Beds, as Compared to Coral-Reefs
Authors: Béguinot Jean
Published: May 2021

Increasing species-richness at the local scale (within species communities) is accommodated, first, by the diversification of the niches respectively associated to species. Yet, in case of excessive supply in colonizing species issued from the regional pool, the corresponding increase in the number of solicited niches may lead to some “niche-overcrowding” resulting in significant niche-overlaps. Then, second, strong interspecific competition for shared resource can arise, triggered by the density in individuals among those species co-occurring at niche-overlaps. Accordingly, the accommodation of species-richness within a local community involves a balance between (i) the positive contribution of improved niche-diversification and (ii) the negative consequence of induced interspecific-competition at increasing niche-overlaps once the number of colonizing species becomes too large. This balance can strongly differ according to the local ecological conditions, since the latter are expected to strongly influence the range of “overcrowding-free” diversification of niches. So that, concretely, each community requires a specific analysis, in order to disentangle and quantify the respective contributions of the niche-diversification and the intensity of interspecific-competition to this balance. And, in particular, their respective roles upon both the species-richness and the degree of unevenness of species abundance within community. Beyond its speculative interest, this deeper understanding of the process involved in the hierarchic-like organization of species within community also answers more practical concerns, in particular the stability of species-richness, partly dependent on the intensity of interspecific-competition.

In this perspective, we quantify and compare how species-richness accommodation proceeds in two major taxonomic groups, Bivalves and Gastropods respectively, both belonging to a same molluscan community inhabiting Caulerpa beds, in the intertidal-zone of Siquijor Island (Philippines). Then, after having compared these two different taxonomic groups, the influence of environmental conditions on species-richness accommodation is addressed, showing that “Caulerpa-beds” habitat features far-less rewarding to Gastropods communities than can be the classical “coral-reef” habitat.
Sectoral Impacts of Flash Flood in Tanguar Haor in Sunamganj of Bangladesh
Authors: Khan Md. Shohel , Apu Mizanur Rahman , Begum Sameena , Billah Mohammad Maruf
Published: May 2021

Sunamganj is a north-eastern district of Bangladesh is considered a highly flood-prone haor area. Uttar Shreepur Union of Taherpur Upazila of Sunamganj District was selected to conduct the study to find out the causes behind the flash flood, situation analysis during and post-flood and different sectoral impacts of flash flood because these areas were flooded almost every year. Six focus group discussions (FGD) along with a total of 162 households were evenly targeted from six selected villages and a semi-structured self-explorative questionnaire was used to collect primary data. The study revealed that heavy rainfall (92.5%) and low land (53.13%) were the main causes of flood. The study also showed that transportation (84.37%) and agricultural (82.5%) sectors were the most affected, followed by water and sanitation (60%), housing (51.25%), and health (36.62%), respectively; among these, crops (89.37%) and animal husbandry (33.13%) were the most affected part of agriculture, followed by health sector, children (89.37%) and aged people (69.23%) were the most affected and the people were mainly suffered from cold and fever (98.13%), diarrhoea (80.63%), typhoid (27.5%), and dysentery (33.13%), respectively because of the crisis of pure drinking water and poor sanitation system. About 85% respondents stored normal food, followed by dry food (30%), medicine (25%) and water (0.63%), respectively to meet up post-flood food crisis. 62% respondents received flood warning signals by mobile phone (54.37%) followed by, radio/TV (41.87%), relatives (41.25%) and Upazila/Union Parisad (13.75%), respectively. However, various initiatives were taken by GOs and NGOs to build back a better immediate post-flood period. Finally, it is suggested that proper long-term steps should be taken to strengthen resilience and coping capacity for hydrological disasters in the study area.
Direct and Residual Effect of Integrated Nitrogen Management on Productivity of Rice-maize Cropping System
Authors: Deekshitha D. K. D. , Rao Ch. Sujani , Subbaiah P. V. , Luther M. Martin , Rao V. Srinivasa
Published: May 2021

Aim: To find out the direct and residual effect of application of organics, inorganics and their combination on yield and yield parameters of rice-maize cropping system.

Study Design: The experiment was laid out in randomized block design during kharif season and split plot design during rabi.

Place and duration of Study: At Agricultural college farm, Bapatla during 2018-19 and 2019-20.

Methodology: After the preliminary layout, paddy was sown in kharif and maize was sown in rabi season. Vermicompost and green leaf manure were applied two weeks before sowing of paddy. Treatments applied for paddy were considered as main plots and each main plot was divided into two sub plots during rabi.

Results: Higher grain yield, straw yield, drymatter production at tillering stage were recorded with the application of 50% RDN through vermicompost +50% RDN through inorganics (T9) during both the years of study. However, in succeeding maize, the kernel yield, straw yield and yield attributing characters (drymatter, cob length and test weight) were significantly highest in the treatment which received 75% RDN through green leaf manure+ 25% RDN through inorganic (T5). Among the fertilizer levels applied to maize, S2 (100% RDF) recorded significantly higher dry matter production over S1 (50% RDF) at all the stages of crop growth and during two years of experimentation.

Conclusion: Substitution of 50 % N through vermicompost improved rice yield and yield attributes whereas substitution of 75% N through GLM have shown better residual effect in terms of improvement of yield and yield attributing characters of maize. Among the subplots application of 100% RDF significantly increased the yield when compared to 50% RDF.
Culture-Based Characterization of Bacteria Associated with Fish Pond Wastewater Undergoing Treatment Using Plants
Authors: Niyi-David C. C. , Wemedo S. A. , Akani N. P. , Douglas S. I.
Published: May 2021

Fish pond wastewater management is one of the problems having the greatest impact on the environment. This untreated fish pond waste water contains organic materials, pathogenic microorganisms, nutrients and toxic compounds, which when discharged into the environment and it runs off into the water bodies in excess could cause algal bloom (eutrophication) of the receiving waters. Port Harcourt is a riverine area, many of the fish farmers discharge their wastewater direct into the water bodies or into drainages that flows into the water bodies and this act is harmful to humans and the environment as a whole.

The determination of the microbiological and physicochemical characteristics and remediation of fish wastewater using Eichhornia crassipes and Pistia stratiotes were investigated. The physicochemical and microbiological parameters of fish pond wastewater were monitored at intervals from 1-70days. Fish wastewater samples were collected from twelve fish ponds (6 plastic tanks and 6 concrete tanks) using standard procedures.  Identification of bacteria was carried out using colonial morphological and biochemical characteristics of the isolates. A total of 194 bacterial isolates belonging to eleven genera were identified from the twelve fish ponds with 6 concrete tanks having  total heterotrophic bacteria, coliform counts, Salmonella Shigella counts, feacal coliform count, Vibro count,  and Pseudomonad count that ranged from 4.78 ± 0.5×104 to 5.74 ± 0.39×105, 4.06 ± 0.06 ×104, to 5.8 ± 0.43 ×105, 4.3 ± 0.24×104 to 4.99 ±0.42 ×104, 4.18 ± 0.39 ×104 to 5.08 ± 0.43 ×105 , 4.08±0.35 x 105 to 5.24±0.46 x 105 and 4.1 ± 0.3× 104 to 5.15 ± 0.44 ×104 cfu/ml, respectively and 6 plastic tanks having  total heterotrophic bacteria, coliform counts, Salmonella Shigella counts, feacal coliform count, Vibro count,  and pseudomonad count that ranged from 4.55 ± 0.46×104 to 5.74 ± 0.4×105, 4.43 ± 0.23 ×104, to 5.78 ± 0.36 ×105, 4.00 ± 0.5×104 to 5.00 ±0.47 ×105, 4.18 ± 0.39 ×104 to 5.17 ± 0.45 ×105 , 3.78±0.35x103 to 5.24 ± 0.46x105 and 3.81 ± 0.26× 103 to 5.15 ± 0.44 ×105 cfu/ml, respectively. The bacteria isolates were Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, Bacillus, Enterococcus, Proteus, Pseudomonas, E. coli, Salmonella, Klebsiella, Vibrio and Shigella sp. The presence of these organisms is an indication of lack of qualitative pond management which could become harmful to both fishes andhumans in the food web systems. Therefore, there is the need to protect our water sources for aquaculture purposes and sustainable development through the detection of aquatic infectious substances and possible control of these microbes.
Tumor mutational burden and purity adjustment before and after treatment with temozolomide in 27 paired samples of glioblastoma: a prospective study
Authors: Schou Nørøxe Dorte , Flynn Aidan , Westmose Yde Christina , Østrup Olga , Cilius Nielsen Finn , Skjøth‐Rasmussen Jane , Brennum Jannick , Hamerlik Petra , Weischenfeldt Joachim , Skovgaard Poulsen Hans , Lassen Ulrik
Published: May 2021

Treatment of glioblastoma (GBM) remains a challenging task, with limited treatment options, none offering a cure. Immune therapy has proven effective across different cancers with remarkable response rates. Tumor mutational burden (TMB) is a marker of response, but technical and methodological differences in TMB estimates have made a proper assessment and comparison challenging. Here, we analyzed a prospective collection of paired samples from 35 patients with newly diagnosed GBM, all of whom were wild‐type (WT) for isocitrate dehydrogenase, before and after treatment with radiotherapy and temozolomide. Seven patients (20%) had O6‐methylguanine‐DNA methyltransferase‐methylated tumors. Six patients (17%) had two relapse surgeries, and tissue from all three surgeries was collected. We found that accurate evaluation of TMB was confounded by high variability in the cancer cell fraction of relapse samples. To ameliorate this, we developed a model to adjust for tumor purity based on the relative density distribution of variant allele frequencies in each primary–relapse pair. Additionally, we examined the mutation spectra of shared and private mutations. After tumor purity adjustment, we found TMB comparison reliable in tumors with tumor purity between 15% and 40%, resulting in 27/35 patients (77.1%). TMB remained unchanged from 0.65 mutations per megabase (Mb) to 0.67/Mb before and after treatment, respectively. Examination of the mutation spectra revealed a dominance of C > T transitions at CpG sites in both shared and relapse‐private mutations, consistent with cytosine deamination and the clock‐like mutational signature 1. We present and apply a cellularity correction approach that enables more accurate assessment of TMB in paired tumor samples. We did not find a significant increase in TMB after correcting for cancer cell fraction. Our study raises significant concerns when determining TMB. Although a small sample size, corrected TMB can have a clinical significance when stratifying patients to experimental treatment, for example, immune checkpoint therapy.
Upregulated functional gene expression programmes in tumour pericytes mark progression in patients with low‐grade glioma
Authors: Oudenaarden Clara , Sjölund Jonas , Pietras Kristian
Published: May 2021

Pericytes conceivably play important roles in the tumour microenvironment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) by allowing for an aberrant vasculature and acting as a component in the perivascular niche that supports glioma stem‐like cells. However, a lack of specific markers has hampered in‐depth elucidation of the functional contribution of pericytes to GBM. This study provides a comprehensive computational biology approach to annotate pericyte marker genes in the GBM vasculature through integration of data from single‐cell RNA‐sequencing studies of both mouse and human tissue, as well as bulk tumour and healthy tissue gene expression data from patients with GBM. We identified distinct vascular‐ and immune‐related gene expression programmes in tumour pericytes that we assessed for association with GBM characteristics and patient survival. Most compellingly, pericyte gene signatures that were upregulated in tumours compared with normal brain tissue were indicative of progression of low‐grade gliomas into high‐grade glioma, suggested by a markedly shorter overall survival. Our results underline the functional importance of tumour pericytes in low‐grade glioma and may serve as a starting point for efforts for precision targeting of pericytes.
Central registries, Part 3: The patient perspective
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: May 2021

Zac Talbott, president and chairman of the board of the National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery, presented at the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) virtual meeting in April. We covered Parts 1 (see Central registries: What are they? Part 1, ADAW April 26, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adaw.33042) and 2 (see Central registries, Part 2: The role of a national registry, ADAW May 3, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adaw.33053). For Part 3, the patient perspective, Talbott, who is also a provider of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and formerly office‐based opioid treatment with prescribed buprenorphine, laid out the concerns of patients.
Low‐Cost Nucleophilic Organic Bases as n‐Dopants for Organic Field‐Effect Transistors and Thermoelectric Devices
Authors: Wei Huan , Chen Ping‐An , Guo Jing , Liu Yu , Qiu Xincan , Chen Huajie , Zeng Zebing , Nguyen Thuc‐Quyen , Hu Yuanyuan
Published: May 2021

Doping is a powerful technique for tuning the electrical properties of organic semiconductors (OSCs). Although numerous studies are performed on OSC doping, thus far only a few n‐type dopants have been developed. Herein, two low‐cost nucleophilic organic bases are reported, namely 1,5,7‐Triazabicyclo [4.4.0] dec‐5‐ene (TBD) and 1,5‐Diazabicyclo [4.3.0] non‐5‐ene (DBN) for n‐doping of OSCs. The two dopants are found to significantly enhance the electrical conductivity of OSCs. In particular, compared to the classic n‐dopant 4‐(2,3‐Dihydro‐1,3‐dimethyl‐1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl)‐N, N‐dimethylbenzylamine (N‐DMBI), DBN results in significantly higher conductivity and also lower activation energy in N2200 films, indicating its high doping performance. The utilization of the n‐dopants for improving device performance and controlling the device polarity of organic field‐effect transistors are demonstrated. Furthermore, these dopants are employed for fabricating organic thermoelectric devices, and the power factor value of DBN‐doped N2200 films is found to be about 1.6 times higher than that of N‐DMBI‐doped films. These results show the feasibility of using low‐cost organic bases as efficient n‐dopants and demonstrate their promising applications in organic electronics.
Nanotechnology: Breaking the Current Treatment Limits of Lung Cancer
Authors: Li Shilin , Xu Shanshan , Liang Xiaoyu , Xue Yueguang , Mei Jie , Ma Yongfu , Liu Yang , Liu Ying
Published: May 2021

Lung cancer is one of the most rapidly growing malignancies in terms of morbidity and mortality. Although traditional treatments have been used for more than 50 years, it is still far from solving the problems of postoperative risks and systemic toxicity. Emerging targeting and immunotherapy are developing continuously and are gaining recognition; eventually, they face the inevitable challenge of drug resistance. Nanotechnology has several important effects on lung cancer treatment, owing to its unique properties. Several nanoparticle‐based treatments have successfully become cancer treatments. Good biocompatibility with higher specific surface area can carry substantial amounts of lung cancer treatment medications while avoiding medication toxicity; editable and modified characteristics give rise to multifunctional nanomedicines; excellent photoelectric effects make lung cancer a multimodal treatment. This article summarizes the breakthroughs achieved by nanotechnology, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, reflecting the importance and necessity of nanotechnology in the treatment of lung cancer.
Guiding the Patterned Growth of Neuronal Axons and Dendrites Using Anisotropic Micropillar Scaffolds
Authors: Fan Shengying , Qi Lei , Li Jiawen , Pan Deng , Zhang Yiyuan , Li Rui , Zhang Cong , Wu Dong , Lau Pakming , Hu Yanlei , Bi Guoqiang , Ding Weiping , Chu Jiaru
Published: May 2021

The patterning of axonal and dendritic growth is an important topic in neural tissue engineering and critical for generating directed neuronal networks in vitro. Evidence shows that artificial micro/nanotopography can better mimic the environment for neuronal growth in vivo. However, the potential mechanisms by which neurons interact with true three dimensional (3D) topographical cues and form directional networks are unclear. Herein, 3D micropillar scaffolds are designed to guide the growth of neural stem cells and hippocampal neurons in vitro. Discontinuous and anisotropic micropillars are fabricated by femtosecond direct laser writing to form patterned scaffolds with various spacings and heights, which are found to affect the branching and orientation of axons and dendrites. Interestingly, axons and dendrites tend to grow on an array of 3D micropillar scaffolds of the same height and form functionally connected neuronal networks, as reflected by synchronous neuronal activity visualized by calcium imaging. This method may represent a promising tool for studying neuron behavior and directed neuronal networks in a 3D environment.
Soft Wearable Healthcare Materials and Devices
Authors: Lyu Quanxia , Gong Shu , Yin Jialiang , Dyson Jennifer M. , Cheng Wenlong
Published: May 2021

In spite of advances in electronics and internet technologies, current healthcare remains hospital‐centred. Disruptive technologies are required to translate state‐of‐art wearable devices into next‐generation patient‐centered diagnosis and therapy. In this review, recent advances in the emerging field of soft wearable materials and devices are summarized. A prerequisite for such future healthcare devices is the need of novel materials to be mechanically compliant, electrically conductive, and biologically compatible. It is begun with an overview of the two viable design strategies reported in the literatures, which is followed by description of state‐of‐the‐art wearable healthcare devices for monitoring physical, electrophysiological, chemical, and biological signals. Self‐powered wearable bioenergy devices are also covered and sensing systems, as well as feedback‐controlled wearable closed‐loop biodiagnostic and therapy systems. Finally, it is concluded with an overall summary and future perspective.
Enhanced Reactant Activation and Transformation for Efficient Photocatalytic Acetone Degradation on SnO2 via Hf Doping
Authors: Li Xiaofang , Li Jieyuan , Zhang Guo , Yang Wenjia , Yang Lin , Shen Yu , Sun Yanjuan , Dong Fan
Published: May 2021

Intensified photocatalytic performance through reducing the recombination of electron–hole pairs and enhancing the oxidation capacity is a key challenge in the field of photocatalytic removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Acetone, as one of the emblematical contaminants VOCs, is a general solvent and widely applied in the pharmaceutical industry, contributing severely to air pollution. Most studies of photocatalysis have focused on the photocatalyst efficiency toward pollutant degradation, but the detailed mechanisms of charge separation as well as transfer and photocatalytic acetone oxidation pathways are not revealed clearly. In this work, it is found that hafnium metal doping on the n‐type semiconductor SnO2 can modify the electronic structures, restrain the recombination of electron–hole pairs, where the hafnium metal ion acts as the activation site, leading to improved oxidation ability to realize efficient acetone degradation. In addition, the specific path toward the acetone degradation is revealed by closely combined active radical detection, in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy and theoretical calculation methods. It provides a new perspective about the detailed and comprehensive reaction mechanism of photocatalytic acetone degradation and carriers transfer between pollutants and photocatalysts, which is expected to promote the practical usage of photocatalytic technology for the expeditious removal VOCs.
Moiré Perovskite Photodetector toward High‐Sensitive Digital Polarization Imaging
Authors: Song Qian , Wang Yang , Vogelbacher Florian , Zhan Yan , Zhu Danlei , Lan Yangjie , Fang Wenzhong , Zhang Zemin , Jiang Lang , Song Yanlin , Li Mingzhu
Published: May 2021

Perovskite (PVK) photodetectors (PDs) have emerged as highly‐efficient versatile optoelectrical devices due to their highly efficient and simple solution‐processable preparation method. Meanwhile, optical structures offer an efficient and facile strategy to improve the light‐harvesting performance of devices and introduce extra optical activity such as polarization sensitivity. Here, an efficient moiré perovskite photodetector with a stacked dual shallow grating structure is designed and fabricated, and sensitive digital polarization imaging is realized. The moiré PVK presents superior ability in light harvesting through the synergistic effects of feedback reflection, diffraction, and excitation of waveguide modes in the dual grating structure. Additionally, the highly crystalline PVK is fabricated through the imprint lithography process. Consequently, excellent device performance is achieved by taking advantage of highly‐efficient light‐harvesting and the good electrical properties of large grain PVK crystals. The responsivity (R) and detectivity (D*) of the moiré PVK PD are up to 15.62 A W and 5.58 × 1013 Jones, which are 6.7 and 7.8 times larger than that of the flat perovskite photodetector, respectively. The on/off ratio reaches 2.7 × 104. The nanograting array introduces good polarization sensitivity to the moiré PVK PD achieving a peak‐to‐valley ratio of 1.58. Excellent polarization images are obtained using a 576 pixel sensor array.
An approach to rapid characterization of DMD copy number variants for prenatal risk assessment
Authors: Chin Hui‐Lin , O'Neill Kieran , Louie Kristal , Brown Lindsay , Schlade‐Bartusiak Kamilla , Eydoux Patrice , Rupps Rosemarie , Farahani Ali , Boerkoel Cornelius F. , Jones Steven J. M.
Published: May 2021

Prenatal detection of structural variants of uncertain significance, including copy number variants (CNV), challenges genetic counseling, and creates ambiguity for expectant parents. In Duchenne muscular dystrophy, variant classification and phenotypic severity of CNVs are currently assessed by familial segregation, prediction of the effect on the reading frame, and precedent data. Delineation of pathogenicity by familial segregation is limited by time and suitable family members, whereas analytical tools can rapidly delineate potential consequences of variants. We identified a duplication of uncertain significance encompassing a portion of the dystrophin gene (DMD) in an unaffected mother and her male fetus. Using long‐read whole genome sequencing and alignment of short reads, we rapidly defined the precise breakpoints of this variant in DMD and could provide timely counseling. The benign nature of the variant was substantiated, more slowly, by familial segregation to a healthy maternal uncle. We find long‐read whole genome sequencing of clinical utility in a prenatal setting for accurate and rapid characterization of structural variants, specifically a duplication involving DMD.
The impact of water released from boehmite nanoparticles during curing in epoxy‐based nanocomposites
Authors: Waniek Tassilo , Braun Ulrike , Silbernagl Dorothee , Sturm Heinz
Published: May 2021

The enhancing effect on mechanical properties of boehmite (γ‐AlOOH) nanoparticles (BNP) in epoxy‐based nanocomposites on the macroscopic scale encouraged recent research to investigate the micro‐ and nanoscopic properties. Several studies presented different aspects relatable to an alteration of the epoxy polymer network formation by the BNP with need for further experiments to identify the mode of action. With FTIR‐spectroscopic methods this study identifies interactions of the BNP with the epoxy polymer matrix during the curing process as well as in the cured nanocomposite. The data reveals that not the BNP themselves, but the water released from them strongly influences the curing process by hydrolysis of the anhydride hardener or protonation of the amine accelerator. The changes of the curing processes are discussed in detail. The changes of the curing processes enable new explanation for the changed material properties by BNP discussed in recent research like a lowered glass transition temperature region (Tg) and an interphase formation.
Effect of metal oxides added onto polyvinyl alcohol via pulsed underwater plasma on their thermal, electrical and dielectric properties
Authors: Khlyustova Anna , Sirotkin Nikolay , Kraev Anton , Agafonov Alexander , Titov Valery
Published: May 2021

Flexible electronics require materials with high breakdown strength, high dielectric constant, and thermal stability. These conditions are met by composites based on polymers and metal oxides. In this article, we present a new one‐step method for producing composites based on water‐soluble polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and metal oxides (AlOOH, CuO, and ZnO). The source of oxides is underwater plasma. The oxides are introduced into the polymer matrix when plasma is exposed to the polymer solution. The results of X‐ray, IR, and SEM analysis showed that metal oxides are embedded in the polymer. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements have shown that the glass transition temperature depends on the oxide being incorporated. The electrical properties of polymer composites were studied by current–voltage characteristics. Dielectric properties were measured in the range of 25–106 Hz. The properties of obtained PVA + metal oxide showed that using underwater plasma is a suitable method for producing composites for electronic devices.
Workflow models for aggregating cultural heritage data on the web: A systematic literature review
Authors: Siqueira Joyce , Martins Dalton Lopes
Published: May 2021

In recent years, different cultural institutions have made efforts to spread culture through the construction of a unique search interface that integrates their digital objects and facilitates data retrieval for lay users. However, integrating cultural data is not a trivial task; therefore, this work performs a systematic literature review on data aggregation workflows, in order to answer five questions: What are the projects? What are the planned steps? Which technologies are used? Are the steps performed manually, automatically, or semi‐automatically? Which perform semantic search? The searches were carried out in three databases: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations, Scopus and Web of Science. In Q01, 12 projects were selected. In Q02, 9 stages were identified: Harvesting, Ingestion, Mapping, Indexing, Storing, Monitoring, Enriching, Displaying, and Publishing LOD. In Q03, 19 different technologies were found it. In Q04, we identified that most of the solutions are semi‐automatic and, in Q05, that most of them perform a semantic search. The analysis of the workflows allowed us to identify that there is no consensus regarding the stages, their nomenclatures, and technologies, besides presenting superficial discussions. But it allowed to identify the main steps for the implementation of the aggregation of cultural data.
Benchmarking and optimization of a high‐throughput sequencing based method for transgene sequence variant analysis in biotherapeutic cell line development
Authors: Groot Joost , Zhou Yizhou , Marshall Eric , Cullen Patrick , Carlile Thomas , Lin Dongdong , Xu Chong‐Feng , Crisafulli Justin , Sun Chao , Casey Fergal , Zhang Baohong , Alves Christina
Published: May 2021

In recent years, High‐Throughput Sequencing (HTS) based methods to detect mutations in biotherapeutic transgene products have become a key quality step deployed during the development of manufacturing cell line clones. Previously we reported on a higher throughput, rapid mutation detection method based on amplicon sequencing (targeting transgene RNA) and detailed its implementation to facilitate cell line clone selection. By gaining experience with our assay in a diverse set of cell line development programs, we improved the computational analysis as well as experimental protocols. Here we report on these improvements as well as on a comprehensive benchmarking of our assay. We evaluated assay performance by mixing amplicon samples of a verified mutated antibody clone with a non‐mutated antibody clone to generate spike‐in mutations from ∼60% down to ∼0.3% frequencies. We subsequently tested the effect of 16 different sample and HTS library preparation protocols on the assay's ability to quantify mutations and on the occurrence of false‐positive background error mutations (artifacts). Our evaluation confirmed assay robustness, established a high confidence limit of detection of ∼0.6%, and identified protocols that reduce error levels thereby significantly reducing a source of false positives that bottlenecked the identification of low‐level true mutations.
Cell‐surface binding domains from Clostridium cellulovorans can be used for surface display of cellulosomal scaffoldins in Lactococcus lactis
Authors: Tarraran Loredana , Gandini Chiara , Luganini Anna , Mazzoli Roberto
Published: May 2021

Engineering microbial strains combining efficient lignocellulose metabolization and high‐value chemical production is a cutting‐edge strategy towards cost‐sustainable 2nd generation biorefining. Here, protein components of the Clostridium cellulovorans cellulosome were introduced in Lactococcus lactis IL1403, one of the most efficient lactic acid producers but unable to directly ferment cellulose. Cellulosomes are protein complexes with high cellulose depolymerization activity whose synergistic action is supported by scaffolding protein(s) (i.e., scaffoldins). Scaffoldins are involved in bringing enzymes close to each other and often anchor the cellulosome to the cell surface. In this study, three synthetic scaffoldins were engineered by using domains derived from the main scaffoldin CbpA and the Endoglucanase E (EngE) of the C. cellulovorans cellulosome. Special focus was on CbpA X2 and EngE S‐layer homology (SLH) domains possibly involved in cell‐surface anchoring. The recombinant scaffoldins were successfully introduced in and secreted by L. lactis. Among them, only that carrying the three EngE SLH modules was able to bind to the L. lactis surface although these domains lack the conserved TRAE motif thought to mediate binding with secondary cell wall polysaccharides. The synthetic scaffoldins engineered in this study could serve for assembly of secreted or surface‐displayed designer cellulosomes in L. lactis.
Allophonic perception of VOT contrasts in Spanish children with dyslexia
Authors: Serniclaes Willy , López‐Zamora Miguel , Bordoy Soraya , L. Luque Juan
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Previous studies have evidenced a different mode of speech perception in dyslexia, characterized by the use of allophonic rather than phonemic units. People with dyslexia perceive phonemic features (such as voicing) less accurately than typical readers, but they perceive allophonic features (i.e., language‐independent differences between speech sounds) more accurately.

Method

In this study, we investigated the perception of voicing contrasts in a sample of 204 Spanish children with or without dyslexia. Identification and discrimination data were collected for synthetic sounds varying along three different voice onset time (VOT) continua (ba/pa, de/te, and di/ti). Empirical data will be contrasted with a mathematical model of allophonic perception building up from neural oscillations and auditory temporal processing.

Results

Children with dyslexia exhibited a general deficit in categorical precision; that is, they discriminated among phonemically contrastive pairs (around 0‐ms VOT) less accurately than did chronological age controls, irrespective of the stimulus continuum. Children with dyslexia also exhibited a higher sensitivity in the discrimination of allophonic features (around ±30‐ms VOT), but only for the stimulus continuum that was based on a nonlexical contrast (ba/pa).

Conclusion

Fitting the neural network model to the data collected for this continuum suggests that allophonic perception is due to a deficit in “subharmonic coupling” between high‐frequency oscillations. Relationships with “temporal sampling framework” theory are discussed.
A population study of screening history and diagnostic outcomes of women with invasive cervical cancer
Authors: Benard Vicki B. , Jackson J. Elizabeth , Greek April , Senkomago Virginia , Huh Warner K. , Thomas Cheryll C. , Richardson Lisa C.
Published: May 2021

Background

Despite advances to prevent and detect cervical cancer, national targets for screening have not been met in the United States. Previous studies suggested that approximately half of women who developed cervical cancer were not adequately screened. This study aimed to provide an updated examination of women's screening and diagnostic practices five years prior to an invasive cervical cancer diagnosis.

Methods

The study included women age 21 years and older diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer in 2013–2016 from three population‐based state cancer registries in the United States. Medical records abstraction identified screening history and diagnostic follow‐up. A mailed survey provided sociodemographic data. Screening was a Pap or human papillomavirus (HPV) test between 6 months and 5 years before diagnosis. Adequate follow‐up was defined per management guidelines.

Results

Of the 376 women, 60% (n = 228) had not been screened. Among women who received an abnormal screening result (n = 122), 67% (n = 82) had adequate follow‐up. Predictors of: (a) being screened were younger age, having a higher income, and having insurance; (b) adequate follow‐up were having a higher income, and (c) stage 1 cervical cancer were being screened and younger age.

Conclusion

Unlike other cancer patterns of care studies, this study uses data obtained from medical records supplemented with self‐report information to understand a woman's path to diagnosis, her follow‐up care, and the stage of her cervical cancer diagnosis. This study provides findings that could be used to reach more unscreened or under screened women and to continue lowering cervical cancer incidence in the United States.
Is titanium alloy Ti‐6Al‐4 V cytotoxic to gingival fibroblasts—A systematic review
Authors: Willis Jonathan , Li Siwei , Crean St John , Barrak Fadi N.
Published: May 2021

Objectives

Grade V titanium alloy (Ti‐6Al‐4 V) is a well‐recognized metallic biomaterial for medical implants. There has been some controversy regarding the use of this alloy in medical devices in relation to the toxicity of vanadium. In Dentistry, Ti‐6Al‐4 V remains prevalent. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effects of Ti‐6Al‐4 V on cells relevant to oral environments such as gingival fibroblasts.

Materials and methods

A literature search was undertaken for relevant English language publications in the following databases: Dental and Oral Science, Medline and Web of Science. The electronic search was supplemented with a search of references.

Results

After application of inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of eight papers are included in this review. These papers were all in vitro studies and were categorized into whole implant, discs, or implant particles based on the type of test materials used in the studies.

Conclusion

Based on the analyses of the eight included studies in this review, if Ti‐6Al‐4 V as a material is unchallenged, i.e., as a whole implant in pH neutral environments, there appears to be little effect on fibroblasts. If Ti‐6Al‐4 V is challenged through corrosion or wear (particle release), the subsequent release of vanadium and aluminium particles has an increased cytotoxic effect in vitro in comparison to commercially pure titanium, hence concerns should be raised in the clinical setting.
The association of atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude a high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, hyperchromatic crowded groups and high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions involving endocervical glands
Authors: Selvaggi Suzanne M.
Published: May 2021

Background

Hyperchromatic crowded groups (HCGs) are often classified as atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude a high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (ASC‐H) on ThinPrep Pap tests. This study reports on the association of HCG's with high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) involving endocervical glands.

Methods

Over a 3‐year period (January 1, 2018–December 31, 2020), 115 (0.2%) of 63,817 Pap tests were diagnosed as ASC‐H. Histologic follow‐up was available in 76 (66%) cases; 42 (55%) cervical biopsies; and 34 (45%) cervical cones/LEEPs.

Results

Based on the histologic results, 49 ASC‐H cases showed HSIL/CIN 3 and form the basis of this study. ThinPrep Pap tests showed two cell patterns; atypical immature squamous metaplastic cells and HCGs, each of which was difficult to distinguish from HSIL. On histologic correlation all 10 ASC‐H Pap Tests with individual atypical immature squamous metaplastic cells showed HSIL/CIN 3 without endocervical gland involvement and 37 (95%) of the 39 Pap Tests with HCGs showed HSIL/CIN 3 with endocervical gland involvement.

Conclusion

The results of this study support the premise that a subset of HCGs represent endocervical gland involvement by HSIL as opposed to a glandular lesion; in particular endocervical adenocarcinoma in‐situ.
Elevated HbA1c levels in pre‐Covid‐19 infection increases the risk of mortality: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Prattichizzo Francesco , de Candia Paola , Nicolucci Antonio , Ceriello Antonio
Published: May 2021

Aims

Diabetes is emerging as a risk factor for coronavirus disease (COVID)‐19 prognosis. However, contradictory findings have been reported regarding the impact of glycaemic control on COVID‐19 outcome. The aim of this meta‐analysis was to explore the impact of hospital pre‐admission or at‐admission values of HbA1c on COVID‐19 mortality or worsening in patients with diabetes.

Materials and Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase and Scopus up to 30th December 2020. Eligibility criteria for study selection were the following: (1)enrolling patients with any form of diabetes mellitus and hospitalized for COVID‐19 and (2) reporting data regarding HbA1c values before infection or at hospital admission in relation to COVID‐19 mortality or worsening. Descriptive statistics, HbA1c values, odds ratios (ORs) and hazard ratios were extracted from seven observational studies and generic inverse variance (random effects) of OR was used to estimate the effect of HbA1c on COVID‐19 outcome.

Results

HbA1c was linearly associated with an increased COVID‐19 mortality or worsening when considered as a continuous variable (OR 1.01 [1.01, 1.01]; p < 0.00001). Similarly, when analysing studies providing the number of events according to the degree of glycaemic control among various strata, a significantly increased risk was observed with poor glycaemic control (OR 1.15 [1.11, 1.19]; p < 0.00001), a result corroborated by sensitivity analysis.

Conclusions

Notwithstanding the large heterogeneity in study design and patients' characteristics in the few available studies, data suggest that patients with diabetes and poor glycaemic control before infection might have an increased risk of COVID‐19 related mortality.
Restoration and meteorological variability highlight nested water supplies in middle altitude/latitude peatlands: Towards a hydrological conceptual model of the Frasne peatland, Jura Mountains, France
Authors: Lhosmot Alexandre , Collin Louis , Magnon Geneviève , Steinmann Marc , Bertrand Catherine , Stefani Vanessa , Toussaint Marie‐Laure , Bertrand Guillaume
Published: May 2021

Peatlands and associated ecosystem services are sensitive to climate changes and anthropogenic pressures such as drainage. This study illustrates these effects on the Forbonnet bog (7 ha), belonging to the Frasne peatland complex (~300 ha, French Jura Mountain), and shows how they can inform about the ecohydrological functioning of peatlands. The southern part of the Forbonnet bog was restored in 2015–2016 by backfilling of artificial drains dating from the end of the 19th century. Piezometric data from 2014 to 2018 allow to evaluate the restoration effect on the water table depth (WTD) and highlight the reactivation of lateral inflows from the surrounding raised peatland complex. Vertical electrical conductivity (EC) profiles permit to identify three main peat compartments depending on different water supplies arguing for a nested hydrological functioning. This involves (1) one‐off karst groundwater inputs at the substratum/peat interface supplying the deepest peat layer, (2) lateral seepage inputs from the neighbouring raised wooded peatlands sustaining the intermediate peat level and (3) direct rainfall infiltrating the most superficial peat layer. This nested multi‐reservoir model operates at various spatio‐temporal scales and is consistent with the complex seasonal hydrological and physico‐chemical response at the bog outlet, which will be increasingly affected by climate change in the coming decades.