bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Compound heterozygous KCNV2 variants contribute to cone dystrophy with supernormal rod responses in a Chinese family
Authors: Liu Man , Zhu Yingchuan , Huang Lian , Jiang Wenhao , Wu Na , Song Yue , Lu Yilu , Ma Yongxin
Published: September 2021

Background

Cone dystrophy with supernormal rod response (CDSRR) is an autosomal recessive retinal disorder characterized by myopia, dyschromatopsia, nyctalopia, photophobia, and nystagmus. CDSRR is caused by mutations in KCNV2, the gene encoding for an electrically silent Kv subunit (Kvs) named Kv8.2.

Methods

A Chinese CDSRR family was recruited. Complete ophthalmology clinical examinations were performed to clarify the phenotype. Genetic examination was underwent using whole exome sequencing (WES). In addition, a candidate gene was validated by Sanger sequencing. Expression analysis in vitro including immunoblotting, quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR), and co‐immunoprecipitation experiments was performed to investigate the pathogenic mechanism of the identified gene variants.

Results

WES identified two KCNV2 heterozygous mutations from the proband. Sanger sequencing validated that the patient's parents had, respectively, carried those two mutations. Further in vitro functional experiments indicated that the mutated alleles had led the Kv8.2 proteins to fail in expressing and interacting with the Kv2.1 protein, respectively.

Conclusions

This study expanded the KCNV2 mutation spectrum. It can also be deduced that CDSRR has a broad heterogeneity. It is further confirmed that the inability expression of Kv8.2 proteins and the failure of Kv8.2 proteins to interact with Kv2.1 may have accounted for the etiology of CDSRR based on previous studies and this study.
Experience in reconstruction of esophagus, epiglottis, and upper trachea due to caustic injuries in pediatric patients and establishment of algorithm
Authors: Aksoyler Dicle , Ercan Alp , Losco Luigi , Chen Shih‐Heng , Chen Hung‐Chi
Published: September 2021

Background

Unintentional swallowing of corrosive agents cause problems in the pediatric population. Swallowing dysfunction can be seen after injuring the pharynx and/or epiglottis which leads to the obstruction of esophagus. An algorithm was established taking into account the injury to the epiglottis and restoring gastrointestinal continuity with isolated or combine free and or supercharged jejunum flap, or supercharged colon transposition flap.

Methods

Seventeen patients between the ages of 3 and 16 (mean age: 7.7) were treated between 1985 and 2019. Three different procedures were performed based on endoscopic findings; for patients with no or minimal damage to epiglottis, pedicled colon transposition was done in 12 cases. For patients with epiglottic scarring or edema, a two‐stage reconstruction was performed. In the first stage, free jejunum flap was implemented to the pharynx to facilitate food passage, followed by a pedicled jejunum in two cases, or a pedicled colon transposition in two cases to provide gastrointestinal continuity. For one patient with severe epiglottic scarring, a free jejunal flap was used as a diversion conduit in the first stage, followed by supercharged colon transposition to restore gastrointestinal continuity.

Results

Supercharged intestinal flaps were harvested with 3–4 cm of extra intestinal tissue than the measured thoracic portion in each individual in order to reach the hypopharyngeal region. The size of the free jejunal flaps were 10 cm.

Oral feeding was initiated on the eighth postoperative day. Partial loss of the anterior wall of the jejunal flap was seen in one case, in which a free anterolateral thigh–vastus lateralis musculocutaneous flap was used for reconstruction. The mean follow‐up time was 5.1 years and there was no stricture in the final outcome.

Conclusion

A competent epiglottis is essential for proper swallowing reflex. Meticulous microsurgical dissection and performing supercharged intestinal flaps provide a complication‐free end result.
Global well‐posedness and asymptotics of full compressible non‐resistive magnetohydrodynamics system with large external potential forces
Authors: Yang Wanrong , Zhao Xiaokui
Published: September 2021

We consider the global well‐posedness and asymptotic behavior of compressible viscous, heat‐conductive, and non‐resistive magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) fluid in a field of external forces over three‐dimensional periodic thin domain
. The unique existence of the stationary solution is shown under the adhesion and the adiabatic boundary conditions. Then, we prove that a solution to the initial boundary value problem with the same boundary and periodic conditions uniquely exists globally in time and converges to the stationary solution as time tends to infinity. Moreover, if the external forces are small or disappeared in an appropriate Sobolev space, then δ can be a general constant. Our proof relies on the two‐tier energy method for the reformulated system in Lagrangian coordinates and the background magnetic field which is perpendicular to the flat layer. Compared to the work of Tan and Wang (2018, 10.1137/16M1088156), we not only overcome the difficulties caused by temperature but also consider the big external forces.
27Al NMR diffusometry of Al13 Keggin nanoclusters
Authors: Graham Trent R. , Chun Jaehun , Schenter Gregory K. , Zhang Xin , Clark Sue B. , Pearce Carolyn I. , Rosso Kevin M.
Published: September 2021

Although nanometer‐sized aluminum hydroxide clusters (i.e., ϵ‐Al13, [Al13O4(OH)24(H2O)12]7+) command a central role in aluminum ion speciation and transformations between minerals, measurement of their translational diffusion is often limited to indirect methods. Here, 27Al pulsed field gradient stimulated echo nuclear magnetic resonance (PFGSTE NMR) spectroscopy has been applied to the AlO4 core of the ϵ‐Al13 cluster with complementary theoretical simulations of the diffusion coefficient and corresponding hydrodynamic radii from a boundary element‐based calculation. The tetrahedral AlO4 center of the ϵ‐Al13 cluster is symmetric and exhibits only weak quadrupolar coupling, which results in favorable T1 and T2 27Al NMR relaxation coefficients for 27Al PFGSTE NMR studies. Stokes–Einstein relationship was used to relate the 27Al diffusion coefficient of the ϵ‐Al13 cluster to the hydrodynamic radius for comparison with theoretical simulations, dynamic light scattering from literature, and previously published 1H PFGSTE NMR studies of chelated Keggin clusters. This first‐of‐its‐kind observation proves that 27Al PFGSTE NMR diffusometry can probe symmetric Al environments in polynuclear clusters of greater molecular weight than previously considered.
Patterns of communicating care and caring in the intensive care unit
Authors: Al‐Shamaly Hanan Subhi
Published: September 2021

Aim

To explore the perceptions and experiences of nurses in communicating the care and caring in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Design

A focused ethnography.

Methods

This study was conducted in an Australian metropolitan hospital, in which data were gathered from multiple sources: participant observations, document reviews, interviews, and participant's additional written information ‐ over

six months (April‐September, 2014). The data were analysed thematically.

Findings

This study addressed inclusively communicating care and caring to patients, families, nurses and other health professionals in ICU. The findings identified main themes concerning the changing patterns of communicating the care and caring in ICU, various patterns of communication used, enablers and barriers of communicating care and caring, and significant issues in communicating care and caring in ICU. Documentation of patients’ psychological and emotional needs, and nurses’ caring behaviours are crucial. These findings need further consideration from all stakeholders.
Consider the recruitment benefits of on‐campus child care
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: September 2021

Making sure that families and children are accommodated on campus can make a big difference in the life of the university, Michael Lindstrom, Founder and Principal at studioMLA Architects, said. And during the COVID‐19 pandemic, ensuring that adequate resources are provided to your students, faculty, and staff to minimize disruption and maximize focus on education is more crucial than ever.
Dean executes enrollment strategy rooted in social justice
Authors: Enos Gary A.
Published: September 2021

Demands for higher quality and a deep‐seated drive for social justice fuel the efforts of Mildred Lewis, Ed.D., as Dean of Enrollment Services at Laney College in Oakland, California. The community college has taken a more strategic approach to enrollment management over the past four years, making sure prospective and incoming students have the tools necessary to know that Laney is a fit and that their journey will go smoothly when they get there.
Pattern selection in the Schnakenberg equations: From normal to anomalous diffusion
Authors: Khudhair Hatim K. , Zhang Yanzhi , Fukawa Nobuyuki
Published: September 2021

Pattern formation in the classical and fractional Schnakenberg equations is studied to understand the nonlocal effects of anomalous diffusion. Starting with linear stability analysis, we find that if the activator and inhibitor have the same diffusion power, the Turing instability space depends only on the ratio of diffusion coefficients . However, smaller diffusive powers might introduce larger unstable wave numbers with wider band, implying that the patterns may be more chaotic in the fractional cases. We then apply a weakly nonlinear analysis to predict the parameter regimes for spot, stripe, and mixed patterns in the Turing space. Our numerical simulations confirm the analytical results and demonstrate the differences of normal and anomalous diffusion on pattern formation. We find that in the presence of superdiffusion the patterns exhibit multiscale structures. The smaller the diffusion powers, the larger the unstable wave numbers, and the smaller the pattern scales.
Characterization of chemically treated new natural cellulosic fibers from peduncle of Cocos nucifera L. Var typica
Authors: Bright Brailson Mansingh , Joseph Selvi Binoj , Abu Hassan Shukur , Mustapha Jaafar Mariatti , Siengchin Suchart , Mavinkere Rangappa Sanjay , Liu Yucheng , Padmavathy Saji Raveendran
Published: September 2021

The aim of this study is to look into the effect of chemical treatments on fibers extracted from the unbranched portion of the peduncle of the coconut tree (Cocos nucifera L. Var typica) for use as reinforcement in polymer composites. The extracted coconut tree peduncle (CTP) fibers were treated with 5% alkali, 6% benzoyl peroxide, 0.5% potassium permanganate, and 1% stearic acid. The chemical composition, surface morphology, mechanical properties, crystallinity, and thermal decomposition of chemically treated CTP fibers were thoroughly investigated. The chemical analysis shows that fibers treated with 0.5% potassium permanganate had a maximum cellulose content of 58.05 wt% after hemicellulose, lignin, and wax were removed from the fiber. This has been due to the chemically treated fiber's improved crystallinity index, crystalline size, tensile strength, kinetic activation energy, and thermal stability. The existence of chemical functional groups is confirmed by Fourier transform infra‐red analysis, and major elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen are quantified by energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy analysis in chemically treated fibers. The surface of the fibers has become roughened as a result of chemical treatments, as shown by the morphological analysis performed using scanning electron microscopy. Among the chemical treatments tested, fibers treated with 0.5% potassium permanganate demonstrated superior thermo‐mechanical properties for use as bio‐reinforcement in high performance polymer composites.
Effect of silane coupling treatments on mechanical properties of epoxy based high‐strength carbon fiber regular (2 x 2) braided fabric composites
Authors: Eryilmaz Oguz , Sancak Erhan
Published: September 2021

Braiding technique is one of the most cost‐effective and versatile methods to manufacture braided preforms for producing textile reinforced composites. Carbon fiber is one of the most common reinforcing fibers having high strength and modulus used in high‐performance composites. In this study, epoxy resin was modified with 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and 3‐aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane (APMDMS) in order to enhance interfacial adhesion between matrix and carbon fiber. Composites were produced by vacuum‐assisted resin infusion method using braided fabrics which were manufactured from a high‐strength standard modulus type of carbon fiber (T700S) by using a radial braiding machine. Epoxy resin was treated with silane at different concentrations from 0.0% to 1.0%. According to the mechanical results, the ideal (optimum) concentration of APTES and APMDMS for the matrix modification has been around 0.5 wt% of the epoxy system. Also, the mechanical properties of APTES‐treated epoxy composites are slightly higher than those of APMDMS‐treated epoxy composites at the same concentration. When it is compared to silane untreated composite, 0.5 wt% of APTES/APMDMS silane treated epoxy/carbon braided composites have led to an increase of 7.71/6.16% and 7.65/6.05% in tensile and flexural strength while the corresponding increase has resulted in 17.48/13.51% and 16.63/13.33% in terms of tensile and flexural modulus, respectively. Impact testing results indicate that 0.5 wt% of APTES and APMDMS composites are improved 6.87% and 4.31% compared to untreated composites, respectively.
Constitutive expression and discovery of antimicrobial peptides in Zygogramma bicolorata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
Authors: Jain Vijaylakshmi , Mishra Pankaj Kishor , Mishra Meenakshi , Prakash Veeru
Published: September 2021

The expression, identification, and discovery of less toxic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are significant in managing infectious pathogens. AMPs triggered in response to the immune system have evolved to defend against pathogens and wounding. The protein composition of Zygogramma bicolorata hemolymph is of diagnostic importance as the open circulatory systems of the insects involve signaling through hemolymph. They have conserved many ancestral vertebrate genes that may help better understand the evolution of innate immunity. The present work describes the isolation, purification, identification, and bioinformatics analysis of AMPs from the immunized hemolymph of Z. bicolorata. Thirty‐nine peptides were isolated from reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography and sequenced via mass spectrometry analysis. The immunization process recorded a threefold higher protein concentration in immunized hemolymph when compared with nonimmunized one. For the first time, the proteomic study on Z. bicolorata hemolymph unveils the three novel proteins in the family Chrysomelidae with no homology in the database, indicating its novelty and the expression of the rest of 36 well‐known proteins, including heat‐shock, immune, structural, signaling proteins, and others speak for its method validity. Combining the expression of novel AMPs, detoxifying enzymes, hemolytic, and cytotoxic assays, and this work can elucidate new pathways to immune response mechanisms. Its molecular basis also holds the potential applicability in the future drug development process against pathogenic fungi such as Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans.
Phosphorylation in the accessory domain of yeast histone chaperone protein 1 exposes the nuclear export signal sequence
Authors: Ashida Sho , Morita Rikuri , Shigeta Yasuteru , Harada Ryuhei
Published: September 2021

Histone chaperone proteins assist in the formation of the histone octamers, the scaffold proteins that facilitate the packing of DNA into nucleosomes in the cell nucleus. One such histone chaperone protein is yeast nucleosome assembly protein 1 (yNap1), the crystal structure of which has been determined and found to have a nuclear export signal (NES) sequence within its long α‐helix. Experimental evidence obtained from mutagenesis studies of the budding yeast suggests that the NES is necessary for the transport of yNap1 from the cell nucleus to the cytosol. However, the NES sequence is masked by an accessory domain, the exact role of which has not yet been elucidated, especially in nucleocytoplasmic transport. To clarify the role of the accessory domain, we focused on its phosphorylation, because proteomic experiments have identified multiple phosphorylation sites on yNap1. To study this phenomenon computationally, all‐atom molecular dynamics simulations of the non‐phosphorylated yNap1 (Nap1‐nonP) and phosphorylated yNap1 (Nap1‐P) systems were performed. Specifically, we addressed how the NES sequence is exposed to the protein surface by measuring its solvent‐accessible surface area (SASA). It was found that the median of the SASA distribution of Nap1‐P was greater than that of Nap1‐nonP, indicating that phosphorylation in the accessory domain exposes the NES, resulting in its increased accessibility. In conclusion, yNap1 might modulate the accessibility of the NES by dislocating the accessory domain through its phosphorylation.
Effect of Carbon Doping on F‐Type Defects in YAG and YAG:Ce Crystals
Authors: Jia Lingchun , Zhu Jiajie , Boyaryntseva Yanina , Gerasymov Iaroslav , Grynyov Borys , Sidletskiy Oleg
Published: September 2021

Ce‐doped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) is among the efficient rare‐earth garnet scintillators and phosphors. Herein, a computational and experimental study of complex F‐type defect centers formed in YAG by doping with cerium and carbon is addressed. The formation energies determined by ab initio calculations of different defects and atomic chemical potentials in YAG:Ce,C are discussed in O‐poor and O‐rich conditions corresponding to the crystal growth under Ar+CO reducing atmosphere, and postgrowth annealing in air, respectively. It is shown that as‐grown crystals contain numerous positively charged defects responsible for F‐type center formation, whereas mainly negative‐charged defects are remained after the annealing in air. The negatively charged defects located nearby Ce luminescence center occupying Y site may stabilize cerium in the tetravalent state and promote a hole transport to this luminescence center. This describes a high scintillation efficiency of Ce,C‐doped garnets. Furthermore, YAG:C and YAG:Ce,C with a high carbon concentration, in addition to luminescence peaked at 400 ns ascribed to F+‐type centers, possess a fast luminescence peaked around 650 nm that may be attributed to the complex defect centers. These unveiled features of the luminescence process in rare‐earth garnets may contribute to the development of efficient luminescence materials.
Soil bacterial community composition following cover crops and corn nitrogen management
Authors: Rutan Jeff , Rosenzweig Noah , Steinke Kurt
Published: September 2021

Utilizing cover crops (CC) prior to corn (Zea mays L.) creates opportunities to increase plant diversity and influence soil bacterial communities, but data are scarce when CC are combined with corn N fertilizer management. Field studies were conducted in 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 to evaluate corn N strategies following daikon radish [Raphanus sativus (L.)], forage oat [Avena sativa (L.)], or no CC on soil bacterial community composition. Nitrogen strategies consisted of 179 kg N ha–1 applied pre‐plant incorporated as urea, slowly‐available poultry litter (61 kg N ha–1) plus sidedress (SID) N at V11, starter N (45 kg N ha–1) applied 5 cm beside and 5 cm below the furrow (5 × 5) plus SID at V4, V11, or 50:50 (split) V4 and V11, and a zero N control. Each year, soil bacterial community composition was variably influenced by CC and N management. With excessive May–June rainfall, radish and oat CC residues shaped community structure and membership differently regardless of soil sampling zone (between‐row or in‐row), but these residues influenced operational taxonomic units (OTUs) less under deficit May–June rainfall. Soil disturbance associated with coulter‐injection of V4 SID placement influenced bulk soil community structure between‐rows, whereas in 1 of 2 yr, the 5 × 5 N placement appeared to induce an in‐row corn rhizosphere response resulting in OTU membership differences from other N strategies. Including slowly‐available organic N as part of a well‐balanced fertility program may stabilize the impact of inorganic N fertilizer to soil bacterial communities.
Minimum dataset and metadata guidelines for soil‐test correlation and calibration research
Authors: Slaton Nathan A. , Lyons Sarah E. , Osmond Deanna L. , Brouder Sylvie M. , Culman Steve W. , Drescher Gerson , Gatiboni Luciano C. , Hoben John , Kleinman Peter J. A. , McGrath Joshua M. , Miller Robert O. , Pearce Austin , Shober Amy L. , Spargo John T. , Volenec Jeff J.
Published: September 2021

Soil‐test correlation and calibration data are essential to modern agriculture, and their continued relevance is underscored by the expansion of precision farming and the persistence of sustainable soil management priorities. In support of transparent, science‐based fertilizer recommendations, we seek to establish a core set of required and recommended information for soil‐test P and K correlation and calibration studies, a minimum dataset, building on previous research. The Fertilizer Recommendation Support Tool (FRST) project team and collaborators are developing a national database that will support a soil‐test‐based nutrient management decision aid tool. The FRST team includes over 80 scientists from 37 land‐grant universities, two state universities, one private university, three federal agencies, two private not‐for‐profit organizations, and one state department of agriculture. The minimum dataset committee developed and vetted a robust set of factors fo minimum dataset consideration that includes information on soil sample collection and processing, soil chemical and physical properties, experimental design and statistical analyses, and metadata about the trial, production system, and field management. The minimum dataset provides guidelines for essential information to meet the primary objective of knowledge synthesis, including meta‐analysis and systemic reviews, but permits researchers the flexibility to satisfy local, state, and regional objectives. Ultimately, this consensus‐driven effort seeks to establish a standard that ensures the maximum utility and impact of modern correlation and calibration studies for developing crop nutrition recommendations that improve productivity and profitability for the crop producer, while reducing environmental impacts of nutrient losses.
An efficientk‐modes algorithm for clustering categorical datasets
Authors: Dorman Karin S. , Maitra Ranjan
Published: September 2021

Mining clusters from data is an important endeavor in many applications. Thek‐means method is a popular, efficient, and distribution‐free approach for clustering numerical‐valued data, but does not apply for categorical‐valued observations. Thek‐modes method addresses this lacuna by replacing the Euclidean with the Hamming distance and the means with the modes in thek‐means objective function. We provide a novel, computationally efficient implementation ofk‐modes, called Optimal Transfer Quick Transfer (OTQT). We prove that OTQT finds updates to improve the objective function that are undetectable to existingk‐modes algorithms. Although slightly slower per iteration due to algorithmic complexity, OTQT is always more accurate and almost always faster (and only barely slower on some datasets) to the final optimum. Thus, we recommend OTQT as the preferred, default algorithm fork‐modes optimization.
The Heterogeneity of Megakaryocytes and Platelets and Implications for Ex Vivo Platelet Generation
Authors: Liu Cuicui , Huang Baiming , Wang Hongtao , Zhou Jiaxi
Published: September 2021

Platelets, the chief effector of hemostasis, are small anucleate blood cells generated from megakaryocytes (MKs), and the defects in platelet production or function lead to a variety of bleeding complications. Emerging evidence indicates that MKs and platelets are much more diverse than previously appreciated and involved in many physiological and pathological processes besides hemostasis, such as innate and adaptive immune responses, angiogenesis, and tumor metastasis, while the ontogenic variations in MK and platelet function have also become a focus in the field. However, whether MKs and platelets fulfill these distinct functions by utilizing distinct subpopulations remains poorly understood. New studies aimed at deciphering the MK transcriptome at the single-cell level have provided some key insights into the functional heterogeneity of MKs. In this review, we will discuss some of the recent discoveries of functional and developmental heterogeneity of MKs and its potential link to the heterogeneity of platelets. We will also discuss the implications of these findings while focusing on the ex vivo generation of platelets from human pluripotent stem cells. The improved understanding of the heterogeneity underlying human MK development and platelet production should open new avenues for future platelet regeneration and clinical treatment of related diseases.
The Effect of Biosimilar Administration on Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Adalimumab-Controlled Psoriasis
Authors: Panahi M. , Skelly Y. , Zaman R.
Published: September 2021

Background

Adalimumab is an anti-tumour necrosis factor administered for the management of severe psoriasis. Previously limited to Humira, new biosimilar medications have now emerged including Amgevita. To date, there have been no comparison studies of adalimumab biosimilar use on different types of psoriasis.

Objective

To investigate the implications of biosimilar medications and patient specific factors on clinical outcomes, including Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores.

Methods

A clinical notes review was performed for all dermatology patients with adalimumab-controlled psoriasis at our centre. Demographic profile, psoriasis subtype and changes in clinical patterns as demonstrated by PASI and DLQI were extracted and analysed.

Results

Of 91 records identified, 70 patients met the inclusion criteria. 21 patients (30%) demonstrated significant increase in PASI and DLQI scores with Amgevita. Scores improved to baseline once Humira was restarted. Findings reveal no difference in pre-adalimumab disease severity or mean age between the groups. Patients responding only to Humira had a greater proportion of females, and were likelier to have psoriatic arthritis (odds ratio [OR]: 10.63; p < 0.0002) and nail involvement (OR: 6.13, p < 0.02), compared with patients well controlled with Amgevita.

Conclusions

This audit of a single dermatology centre suggests switching to a biosimilar adalimumab may exacerbate symptoms of psoriasis. Future studies should investigate whether findings are restricted to our study population, and consider the influence of other factors, such as disease subtypes and medication formulations.
Application programming interface recommendation according to the knowledge indexed by app feature mined from app stores
Authors: Liu Lei , Li Xun , Liu Yuzhou , Liu Huaxiao
Published: September 2021

Application programming interfaces (APIs) play an important role in the increasingly competitive mobile application development industry, as they can greatly improve the efficiency of app development. However, finding proper APIs is often time‐consuming for the gap between the knowledge of APIs and app features. To solve this problem, we give an approach to summarize the wisdom of developers contained in the products in app stores and establish the system of API knowledge indexed by app features for the API recommendation. First, we extract features from the app descriptions and define the feature framework. Second, we parse the APK files of apps to gain the methods in code and APIs called by them and further introduce such API knowledge into the feature framework by utilizing method names as bridges. Finally, according to features in developers' queries, we locate corresponding feature nodes in the API knowledge system and recommend related API knowledge to developers. We conduct experiments based on 38,952 apps from five categories on Google Play, and the experimental results show that our approach has a good recommendation effect for the queries on app features.
Large‐Area MoS2 via Colloidal Nanosheet Ink for Integrated Memtransistor
Authors: Nguyen Duc Anh , Park Dae Young , Duong Ngoc Thanh , Lee Kang‐Nyeoung , Im Hyunsik , Yang Heejun , Jeong Mun Seok
Published: September 2021

2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) exhibit intriguing properties for applications in optoelectronics and electronics, among which memtransistors received extensive attention as multifunctional devices. For practical applications of 2D TMDs, large‐area fabrication of the materials via reliable processes, which is in trade‐off with their quality, has been a long‐standing issue. Here, a simple and effective way is proposed to fabricate large‐area and high‐quality molybdenum disulfide thin films using MoS2 colloidal ink through a spray coating, followed by a postsulfurization process. High‐quality MoS2 thin films exhibit excellent optical and electrical properties that can be utilized in field‐effect transistors (FETs) and memtransistor arrays. The MoS2 FETs show an average on/off ratio of 5 × 106 and a high electron mobility of 10.34 cm2 V−1 s−1, which can be understood by the healing of sulfur vacancies, recrystallization, and the removal of the carbon contamination of the MoS2. These MoS2‐based memtransistors present stable operations with a high switching ratio tuned by back gate and light illumination, which is promising for multiple‐levels memory and complex neuromorphic computing. This study demonstrates a new strategy to fabricate 2D TMDs with large‐area and high quality for integrated optoelectronic and memory device applications.
Development of an Integrated Flow Stress and Roll Force Models for Plate Rolling of Microalloyed Steel
Authors: Thakur Suman Kant , Das Alok Kumar , Jha Bimal Kumar
Published: September 2021

The hot deformation behavior of Nb–V–Ti containing high‐strength steel is studied using compression test. Based on the data generated during hot compression tests, a deep neural network (DNN) flow stress model is developed for the experimental microalloyed steel. The predicted flow stress by the DNN model is compared with flow stress predicted by conventional strain‐compensated Arrhenius constitutive equation. Results using the DNN model are found to be superior to the constitutive equation with overall correlation coefficient (R) greater than 99.8%. The accuracy of the developed DNN flow stress model finds to be significantly higher even at higher strain rates. A DNN roll force model is also developed for the plate rolling of the experimental steel. The predicted flow stress from the DNN flow stress model for the given rolling condition is also used as an input to the roll force model. It is found that DNN model is able to predict the roll force accurately by >98.4% as it takes care of various nonlinear process variable which cannot be accounted mathematically. It also validates the accuracy of DNN flow stress model.
Proper background checks reduce risks for everyone involved in hiring process
Authors: McCarthy Claudine
Published: September 2021

When you need to fill an opening, you're likely focused on getting that seemingly ideal new candidate on board as quickly as possible to lighten the load for your overworked staff. But in your rush to speed up the process, don't even think about taking shortcuts when it comes to the background check process.
Registrar heeded lessons in servant leadership
Authors: Enos Gary A.
Published: September 2021

The education and dialogues Alexander Wolniak has been exposed to via his involvement over several years in the New England Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers completely altered his thinking about what it means to be a leader and a supervisor. Now serving as President of the regional association, Wolniak applies what he has learned to his role as Registrar at Urban College of Boston.
Prevalence and multilocus sequence typing of Clostridium perfringens isolated from retail chicken products and diseased chickens in Tai'an region, China
Authors: Xu Wenping , Zhang Huining , Hu Zixin , Miao Zengmin , Zhang Yuanrui , Wang Hairong
Published: September 2021

Background

Clostridium perfringens is an important zoonotic microorganism, which can cause diseases in animals and humans under suitable conditions. Contamination of C. perfringens in chicken products has been reported worldwide, but the genetic diversity and relationship of isolates were seldom analyzed.

Objectives

The current study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of C. perfringens from retail chicken products and sick chickens with suspected necrotic enteritis (NE) in Tai'an area, China.

Methods

In total, 295 samples were collected from Tai'an large poultry retail market and veterinary hospital in 2018, then the isolates were tested for toxin genes, drug resistance and multilocus sequence typing (MLST).

Results

Overall, 138 (46.78%) samples were determined to be positive for C. perfringens, and 99.37% of the isolates were identified as C. perfringens type A, with the remaining isolates being type F; 18.99% of the isolates were positive for cpb2 gene. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that 52.27% of the isolates from poultry retail market and diseased chickens showed multiple antibiotic resistance. MLST results showed that 50 analyzed isolates can be divided into 39 sequences types (STs), clustered in three clonal complexes (CCs) and 23 singletons. Although most of the isolates belong to type A, considerable genetic diversity can be observed, with the Simpson's diversity index up to 0.9181. MLST results and phylogenetic analysis showed that a portion of the isolates from humans and chickens were assigned to the same clusters in the phylogenetic tree or found to be in the same CCs, indicating the chicken isolates and the human isolates are related in certain stratification.

Conclusions

This study showed that the contamination rate of C. perfringens in the local retail chicken products was relatively high. Most of the isolates exhibit broad‐spectrum antimicrobial resistance. The high antibiotic resistance of C. perfringens isolates and the relationship between isolates from human and chicken indicated potential public health risks.
Challenges, opportunities, and a research roadmap for downwind wind turbines
Authors: Bortolotti Pietro , Ivanov Hristo , Johnson Nick , Barter Garrett E. , Veers Paul , Namura Nobuo
Published: September 2021

This study investigates the challenges and opportunities presented by downwind wind turbines and offers a roadmap of future research pathways to maximize their potential. Multidisciplinary design, analysis, and optimization comparison studies between upwind and downwind configurations on a modern 10‐MW offshore wind turbine are presented to support the discussion. On one hand, the downwind rotor is found to consistently have a smaller swept area under loading. As a result, the downwind design produces less annual energy production (−1.2%). On the other hand, lighter blades for the downwind configuration lead to lower capital costs (−1.7%), so there is little difference in the levelized cost of energy between the two. Key ultimate and fatigue loads are compared, with some values increasing in the downwind configuration, while others decrease. The impact of a downwind configuration on the tower and the impacts of cone and tilt angles and free‐yaw system on the levelized cost of energy are also investigated. The results show a mix of some advantages and disadvantages. Given these results, four areas of research in advanced controls, highly tilted rotors, higher fidelity aerodynamic models, and floating wind are proposed for downwind wind turbines.
An Ordered Alite Cement Clinker Phase (Ca3SiO5, aP162) from Flux Synthesis
Authors: Utrap André , Pielmeier Markus R. P. , Lange Tobias , Gädt Torben , Nilges Tom
Published: September 2021

Calcium silicates are the main components in cement clinkers. Alite, the nesosilicate or island silicate Ca3SiO5, also named C3S in cement chemistry notation, represents the main phase in Portland cement clinkers. Due to the metastability of Alite at room temperature, quenching from high temperatures is mandatory for phase preservation and impurities are important structure directing factors. Those two aspects result in a plethora of published polymorphs. Many Alite polymorphs described in the literature are characterized by various degrees of disorder within the Si−O substructure which is a direct consequence of afore mentioned features (i. e. quenching and presence of impurities). Here we report on the CaCl2‐flux mediated synthesis and structural characterization of an aP162 Alite featuring a fully‐ordered [SiO4] tetrahedron substructure. The orientation of the [SiO4] tetrahedron substructure is discussed based on the Nishi and Takéuchi nomenclature and is equivalent to the Golovastikov model reported in 1975. Rietveld analyses of a synthetic clinker and three commercial CEM I clinker substantiate that the aP162 model can successfully be applied for clinker phase analysis. Besides the structural characterization, quantum chemical band structure calculations based on Density Functional Theory methods illustrate the expected electrically isolating character of Ca3SiO5.
The recurrent missense mutation p.(Arg367Trp) in YARS1 causes a distinct neurodevelopmental phenotype
Authors: Averdunk Luisa , Sticht Heinrich , Surowy Harald , Lüdecke Hermann-Josef , Koch-Hogrebe Margarete , Alsaif Hessa S. , Kahrizi Kimia , Alzaidan Hamad , Alawam Bashayer S. , Tohary Mohamed , Kraus Cornelia , Endele Sabine , Wadman Erin , Kaplan Julie D. , Efthymiou Stephanie , Najmabadi Hossein , Reis André , Alkuraya Fowzan S. , Wieczorek Dagmar
Published: September 2021

Pathogenic variants in aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARS1) cause a diverse spectrum of autosomal recessive disorders. Tyrosyl tRNA synthetase (TyrRS) is encoded by YARS1 (cytosolic, OMIM*603,623) and is responsible of coupling tyrosine to its specific tRNA. Next to the enzymatic domain, TyrRS has two additional functional domains (N-Terminal TyrRSMini and C-terminal EMAP-II-like domain) which confer cytokine-like functions. Mutations in YARS1 have been associated with autosomal-dominant Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) neuropathy type C and a heterogenous group of autosomal recessive, multisystem diseases. We identified 12 individuals from 6 families with the recurrent homozygous missense variant c.1099C > T;p.(Arg367Trp) (NM_003680.3) in YARS1. This variant causes a multisystem disorder with developmental delay, microcephaly, failure to thrive, short stature, muscular hypotonia, ataxia, brain anomalies, microcytic anemia, hepatomegaly, and hypothyroidism. In silico analyses show that the p.(Arg367Trp) does not affect the catalytic domain responsible of enzymatic coupling, but destabilizes the cytokine-like C-terminal domain. The phenotype associated with p.(Arg367Trp) is distinct from the other biallelic pathogenic variants that reside in different functional domains of TyrRS which all show some common, but also divergent clinical signs [(e.g., p.(Phe269Ser)—retinal anomalies, p.(Pro213Leu)/p.(Gly525Arg)—mild ID, p.(Pro167Thr)—high fatality)]. The diverse clinical spectrum of ARS1-associated disorders is related to mutations affecting the various non-canonical domains of ARS1, and impaired protein translation is likely not the exclusive disease-causing mechanism of YARS1- and ARS1-associated neurodevelopmental disorders.

Key messages

The missense variant p.(Arg367Trp) in YARS1 causes a distinct multisystem disorder.

p.(Arg367Trp) affects a non-canonical domain with cytokine-like functions.

Phenotypic heterogeneity associates with the different affected YARS1 domains.

Impaired protein translation is likely not the exclusive mechanism of ARS1-associated disorders.
Diabetic pregnancy as a novel risk factor for cardiac dysfunction in the offspring—the heart as a target for fetal programming in rats
Authors: Schütte Till , Kedziora Sarah M. , Haase Nadine , Herse Florian , Alenina Natalia , Müller Dominik N. , Bader Michael , Schupp Michael , Dechend Ralf , Golic Michaela , Kräker Kristin
Published: September 2021

Aims/hypothesis

The impact of diabetic pregnancy has been investigated extensively regarding offspring metabolism; however, little is known about the influence on the heart. We aimed to characterise the effects of a diabetic pregnancy on male adult offspring cardiac health after feeding a high-fat diet in an established transgenic rat model.

Methods

We applied our rat model for maternal type 2 diabetes characterised by maternal insulin resistance with hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia. Diabetes was induced preconceptionally via doxycycline-induced knock down of the insulin receptor in transgenic rats. Male wild-type offspring of diabetic and normoglycaemic pregnancies were raised by foster mothers, followed up into adulthood and subgroups were challenged by a high-fat diet. Cardiac phenotype was assessed by innovative speckle tracking echocardiography, circulating factors, immunohistochemistry and gene expression in the heart.

Results

When feeding normal chow, we did not observe differences in cardiac function, gene expression and plasma brain natriuretic peptide between adult diabetic or normoglycaemic offspring. Interestingly, when being fed a high-fat diet, adult offspring of diabetic pregnancy demonstrated decreased global longitudinal (−14.82 ± 0.59 vs −16.60 ± 0.48%) and circumferential strain (−23.40 ± 0.57 vs −26.74 ± 0.34%), increased relative wall thickness (0.53 ± 0.06 vs 0.37 ± 0.02), altered cardiac gene expression, enlarged cardiomyocytes (106.60 ± 4.14 vs 87.94 ± 1.67 μm), an accumulation of immune cells in the heart (10.27 ± 0.30 vs 6.48 ± 0.48 per fov) and higher plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels (0.50 ± 0.12 vs 0.12 ± 0.03 ng/ml) compared with normoglycaemic offspring on a high-fat diet. Blood pressure, urinary albumin, blood glucose and body weight were unaltered between groups on a high-fat diet.

Conclusions/interpretation

Diabetic pregnancy in rats induces cardiac dysfunction, left ventricular hypertrophy and altered proinflammatory status in adult offspring only after a high-fat diet. A diabetic pregnancy itself was not sufficient to impair myocardial function and gene expression in male offspring later in life. This suggests that a postnatal high-fat diet is important for the development of cardiac dysfunction in rat offspring after diabetic pregnancy. Our data provide evidence that a diabetic pregnancy is a novel cardiac risk factor that becomes relevant when other challenges, such as a high-fat diet, are present.

Graphical abstract
Problems associated with the use of the term “antibiotics”
Authors: Seifert Roland , Schirmer Bastian
Published: September 2021

The term “antibiotics” is a broadly used misnomer to designate antibacterial drugs. In a recent article, we have proposed to replace, e.g., the term “antibiotics” by “antibacterial drugs”, “antibiosis” by “antibacterial therapy”, “antibiogram” by “antibacteriogram”, and “antibiotic stewardship” by “antibacterial stewardship” (Seifert and Schirmer Trends Microbiol, 2021). In the present article, we show that many traditional terms related to antibiotics are used much more widely in the biomedical literature than the respective scientifically precise terms. This practice should be stopped. Moreover, we provide arguments to end the use of other broadly used terms in the biomedical literature such as “narrow-spectrum antibiotics” and “reserve antibiotics”, “chemotherapeutics”, and “tuberculostatics”. Finally, we provide several examples showing that antibacterial drugs are used for non-antibacterial indications and that some non-antibacterial drugs are used for antibacterial indications now. Thus, the increasing importance of drug repurposing renders it important to drop short designations of drug classes such as “antibiotics”. Rather, the term “drug” should be explicitly used, facilitating the inclusion of newly emerging indications such as antipsychotic and anti-inflammatory. This article is part of an effort to implement a new rational nomenclature of drug classes across the entire field of pharmacology.
European Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus L.) as a Reservoir of Dermatophytes in Poland
Authors: Gnat Sebastian , Łagowski Dominik , Dyląg Mariusz , Nowakiewicz Aneta
Published: September 2021

The European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus Linnaeus) frequently colonises areas located close to human life in cities, as these are more suitable nest sites offering an abundance of food and allowing avoidance of predators. However, urbanisation has a significant impact on the epidemiology of infectious diseases, including dermatophytoses, the primary source of which are wild animals. In this study, we determined the spectrum of dermatophytes isolated from the European hedgehog and assessed their susceptibility profile to antifungal drugs. Symptomatic and asymptomatic dermatophyte infections were observed in 7.7% and 8% of the 182 examined free-living hedgehogs, respectively. In the pool of the isolated dermatophyte strains, Trichophyton erinacei was dominant (29.9%), followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes (17.9%), Trichophyton benhamiae (13.4%), Nannizzia gypsea (11.9%), Microsporum canis (10.4%), Nannizzia nana (7.5%), Paraphyton cookei (6.0%), and Nannizzia fulva (3.0%). Susceptibility tests revealed the highest activity of luliconazole and the lowest of activity fluconazole among the azole drugs applied. Although terbinafine generally exhibited high efficacy, two Trichophyton mentagrophytes isolates showed resistance to this drug (MIC = 2 µg/ml) resulting from missense mutations in the SQLE gene corresponding to the amino acid substitution Leu393Phe. Summarising, our study has also revealed that such wildlife animals as hedgehogs can be a reservoir of pathogenic human dermatophytes, including harmful strains resistant to commonly used antifungal drugs.

Graphical Abstract
Marine dissolved organic matter: a vast and unexplored molecular space
Authors: Catalá Teresa S. , Shorte Spencer , Dittmar Thorsten
Published: September 2021

Marine dissolved organic matter (DOM) comprises a vast and unexplored molecular space. Most of it resided in the oceans for thousands of years. It is among the most diverse molecular mixtures known, consisting of millions of individual compounds. More than 1 Eg of this material exists on the planet. As such, it comprises a formidable source of natural products promising significant potential for new biotechnological purposes. Great emphasis has been placed on understanding the role of DOM in biogeochemical cycles and climate attenuation, its lifespan, interaction with microorganisms, as well as its molecular composition. Yet, probing DOM bioactivities is in its infancy, largely because it is technically challenging due to the chemical complexity of the material. It is of considerable interest to develop technologies capable to better discern DOM bioactivities. Modern screening technologies are opening new avenues allowing accelerated identification of bioactivities for small molecules from natural products. These methods diminish a priori the need for laborious chemical fractionation. We examine here the application of untargeted metabolomics and multiplexed high-throughput molecular-phenotypic screening techniques that are providing first insights on previously undetectable DOM bioactivities.

Key points

• Marine DOM is a vast, unexplored biotechnological resource.

• Untargeted bioscreening approaches are emerging for natural product screening.

• Perspectives for developing bioscreening platforms for marine DOM are discussed.