bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Directional Growth of Human Neuronal Axons in a Microfluidic Device with Nanotopography on Azobenzene‐Based Material
Authors: Ristola Mervi , Fedele Chiara , Hagman Sanna , Sukki Lassi , Kapucu Fikret Emre , Mzezewa Ropafadzo , Hyvärinen Tanja , Kallio Pasi , Priimagi Arri , Narkilahti Susanna
Published: May 2021

Axonal dysfunction and degeneration are important pathological features of central nervous system (CNS) diseases and traumas, such as Alzheimer's disease, traumatic brain injury, ischemic stroke and spinal cord injury. Engineered microfluidic chips combined with human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)‐derived neurons provide valuable tools for targeted in vitro research on axons to improve understanding of disease mechanisms and enhance drug development. Here, a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic chip integrated with a light patterned substrate is utilized to achieve both isolated and unidirectional axonal growth of hPSC‐derived neurons. The isolation of axons from somas and dendrites and robust axonal outgrowth to adjacent, axonal compartment, is achieved by optimized cross‐sectional area and length of PDMS microtunnels in the microfluidic device. In the axonal compartment, the photoinscribed nanotopography on a thin film of azobenzene‐containing molecular glass efficiently guides the growth of axons. Integration of nanotopographic patterns with a compartmentalized microfluidic chip creates a human neuron‐based model that supports superior axonal alignment in an isolated microenvironment. The practical utility of the chip by studying oxygen‐glucose deprivation‐induced damage for the isolated and aligned axons is demonstrated here. The created chip model represents a sophisticated platform and a novel tool for enhanced and long‐term axon‐targeted in vitro studies.
Recent Progresses in Metal–Organic Frameworks Based Core–shell Composites
Authors: Dai Shan , Tissot Antoine , Serre Christian
Published: May 2021

Encapsulation of active guest compounds inside metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) architectures is one of the most promising routes to reach properties beyond those of the bare MOFs and/or guest species. In contrast with the conventional host/guest composites that rely on the encapsulation of guest species into MOF cavities, core–shell composites display a better accessibility to the pores ensuring an optimal diffusion of the substrate while presenting a unique structure that prevents the aggregation and the runoff of the active guests and ensures a tight interaction between core and shell, leading to synergistic effects. Herein, the recent advances in this field are summarized. The main synthetic strategies are first discussed before highlighting a few potential applications, such as heterogeneous environmental catalysis, gas separation, and sensing, while others (bio‐applications…) are briefly mentioned. This review is concluded by a critical perspective in order to promote new generations of MOFs based composites for energy‐related applications.
“Sauna” Activation toward Intrinsic Lattice Deficiency in Carbon Nanotube Microspheres for High‐Energy and Long‐Lasting Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Zhang Yongguang , Li Gaoran , Wang Jiayi , Luo Dan , Sun Zhenghao , Zhao Yan , Yu Aiping , Wang Xin , Chen Zhongwei
Published: May 2021

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) battery technology offers one of the most promising replacement strategies for conventional lithium‐ion batteries, but for several serious obstacles remain, such as the notorious polysulfide shuttling and their sluggish reaction kinetics. In this work, it is demonstrated that these problems can be significantly ameliorated via intrinsic lattice defect engineering in carbon‐based sulfur host materials. Specifically, porous carbon nanotube microspheres (ePCNTM) are developed through a scalable spray drying method, followed by a critical water‐steam etching under high temperature. Such “sauna” activation constructs abundant intrinsic topological defects in the carbon lattice, endowing ePCNTM with enhanced sulfur adsorbability and catalytic activity in sulfur redox reactions. In addition, the interwoven and highly porous architecture renders favorable conductivity, homogeneous sulfur distribution, and massive host–guest interactive surfaces. As a result, the ePCNTM‐based sulfur electrodes achieve excellent cyclability with an ultralow capacity attenuation rate of 0.046% per cycle upon 500 cycles, excellent rate capability up to 3 C, and decent areal capacity retention of 3.2 mAh cm−2 after 50 cycles under raised high sulfur loading. Thus, this synergistic approach, combining composite nanostructuring and intrinsic defect engineering, yields highly competitive Li–S batteries, which is also expected to inform advanced material development in related energy fields.
Progress of Perovskite Solar Modules
Authors: Kim Hyung-Joon , Kim Hui-Seon , Park Nam-Gyu
Published: May 2021

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) reached 25.5% of certified power conversion efficiency (PCE) in 2020. A remarkable PCE of PSCs has urged scalable technologies to grow for manufacturing modules. Therefore, scalable technology is rapidly developing though the performance of perovskite solar modules (PSMs) is still far behind that of PSCs. Herein, the recent progress in scalable technologies is reviewed with addressing important parameters in each process. In addition, the performance measurement protocols for PSMs are specifically discussed based on International Electrotechnical Commission to be prepared from the industrial point of view. Finally, the environmental hazard impact by accidental lead leakage and the introduction of green solvent to replace of current toxic solvent are described.
Use of Pigments Present in the Crude Aqueous Extract of the Spinach for the Simultaneous Solar Power and Storage at Natural Sun Intensity
Authors: Koli Pooran , Sharma Urvashi
Published: May 2021

The photogalvanic (PG) solar cell technique discussed in the present study has potential for both solar energy conversion and solar power storage at a time. The harvesting of the solar energy using costly, polluting, and synthetic dye sensitizers cannot be a sustainable method. Furthermore, the sensitizers including the natural sensitizers must be capable of showing simultaneous solar energy and conversion at natural sunlight intensity. With this aim, therefore, the PG cell using cheap and easily obtainable aqueous crude spinach extract for harvesting natural sunlight for solar power generation and storage is fabricated and studied. Herein, it is shown that this extract can also be an efficient sensitizer in the PG cell technique for harvesting energy from the natural sunlight by following the same cell fabrication principles as applicable for the synthetic dye photosensitizers at artificial and low illumination intensity. A very good open‐circuit potential (1.088 V), steady‐state current (50 mA cm−2), power output (13.05 mW cm−2), and efficiency obtainable (≈13%) at a peculiar external load resistance (322.2 Ω) are observed during the natural sunlight illumination.
Evaluating cover crops forage nutritive value in Oklahoma winter wheat systems
Authors: Horn Kyle M. , Rocateli Alexandre C. , Warren Jason G. , Turner Kenneth E. , Antonangelo João A.
Published: May 2021

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a valuable crop in the southern Great Plains that grows from fall to spring, with fields then typically fallowed through the summer. Adding grazeable cover crops to the fallow period could increase farm profitability. The objective of this study was to determine eight different cover crops’ nutritive value and simulated stocker calf performance. Cover crops were established in late spring 2016 and 2017 in Chickasha and Perkins, OK. At 6 wk after planting, two simulated grazing regimes based on cutting height were used: severe (≤2.5 cm) and recommended (7.5 cm). Legumes had the highest nutritive value in comparison to warm‐season grasses and grass–legume mixtures. Legumes resulted in higher simulated daily steer gain (DSG) and total steer gain per area (TSGA) values than grasses and mixtures at Perkins. At this location, legumes had superior forage nutritive value, compensating for lower yields. At Chickasha, grasses and mixtures had higher TSGA values (246.7 ± 6.9 kg ha–1) and lower DSG (0.17 ± 0.04 kg steer–1 d–1) values than legumes (131.6 ± 25.3 kg ha–1 and 0.48 ± 0.02 kg steer–1 d–1). This finding implied that grasses and mixtures with lower individual DSG required much higher stocking rates than legumes to achieve higher TSGA values. This increment in stocking rates could increase costs, drastically decreasing profits. Consequently, legumes might be a viable option due to their balanced forage yield and nutritive value relationship. However, consideration must be given to supplemental energy to better balance the TDN/protein ratio requirements of the stocker calf.
Craniofacial features of 3q29 deletion syndrome: Application of next‐generation phenotyping technology
Authors: Mak Bryan C. , Sanchez Russo Rossana , Gambello Michael J. , Fleischer Nicole , Black Emily D. , Leslie Elizabeth , Murphy Melissa M. ,   The Emory 3q29 Project, Mulle Jennifer Gladys
Published: May 2021

3q29 deletion syndrome (3q29del) is a recurrent deletion syndrome associated with neuropsychiatric disorders and congenital anomalies. Dysmorphic facial features have been described but not systematically characterized. This study aims to detail the 3q29del craniofacial phenotype and use a machine learning approach to categorize individuals with 3q29del through analysis of 2D photos. Detailed dysmorphology exam and 2D facial photos were ascertained from 31 individuals with 3q29del. Photos were used to train the next‐generation phenotyping algorithm DeepGestalt (Face2Gene by FDNA, Inc, Boston, MA) to distinguish 3q29del cases from controls and all other recognized syndromes. Area under the curve of receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC‐ROC) was used to determine the capacity of Face2Gene to identify 3q29del cases against controls. In this cohort, the most common observed craniofacial features were prominent forehead (48.4%), prominent nose tip (35.5%), and thin upper lip vermillion (25.8%). The FDNA technology showed an ability to distinguish cases from controls with an AUC‐ROC value of 0.873 (p = 0.006) and led to the inclusion of 3q29del as one of the supported syndromes. This study found a recognizable facial pattern in 3q29del, as observed by trained clinical geneticists and next‐generation phenotyping technology. These results expand the potential application of automated technology such as FDNA in identifying rare genetic syndromes, even when facial dysmorphology is subtle.
Hypoxia: A teratogen underlying a range of congenital disruptions, dysplasias, and malformations
Authors: Adam Aaron P. , Payton Kurlen S. E. , Sanchez‐Lara Pedro A. , Adam Margaret P. , Mirzaa Ghayda M.
Published: May 2021

In this review, we explore evidence that hypoxia in the developing human fetus can lead not only to the more commonly accepted disruptive‐type defects, but also patterns of anomalies that suggest that hypoxia can exert a more classic teratogenic effect, using the brain as one example. We review neuropathology in the context of intrauterine hypoxia, particularly as it relates to carbon monoxide poisoning, in utero strokes, and homozygous alpha‐thalassemia. In general, the associated brain injuries resemble those seen with other causes of hypoxic–ischemic injury. Fetal strokes during development usually lead to loss of brain tissue in areas that do not follow a typical embryologic pattern, and therefore are considered disruptions. However, there is also evidence that fetal brain ischemia can cause more classically recognized patterns of abnormal embryonic neuronal migration and organization such as polymicrogyria, cortical dysplasia, or dysgenesis, including select types of focal cortical dysplasia. This study summarizes available literature and evidence to raise clinicians' awareness regarding the association between hypoxia and congenital anomalies, including brain malformations.
Fine‐Tuning of Chiral Microenvironments within Triple‐Stranded Helicates for Enhanced Enantioselectivity
Authors: Jiao Jingjing , Dong Jinqiao , Li Yingguo , Cui Yong
Published: May 2021

Here we report the formation of an unexpected and unique family of chiral helicates. Crystal structures show that these triple‐stranded ZnII2L3 complexes are held together by subcomponent assembly of axially chiral diamine‐functionalized 1,1′‐biphenol ditopic with 2‐formylpyridine and ZnII. Specifically, the molecular helicity of the complexes can be controlled by the absolute configurations of the bimetallic vertices, which has been shown to be homoconfiguration (ΔΔ) or mesomeric configuration (ΔΛ), depending critically on the bulky groups and length of the spacers. Fascinatingly, in this system we can engineer the space‐restricted chiral microenvironments with varied polar and apolar moieties, which profoundly influence the binding affinities and chiral discrimination properties of the helicates, leading to highly enantio‐ and helix‐sense‐selective recognition for chiral amino alcohols (up to 9.35). This work reveals the transformation of single‐molecule chirality to global supramolecular chirality within well‐defined helicates and demonstrates that their chiral discrimination are highly dependent on the superior microenvironments.
Tricyanidoferrates(−IV) and Ruthenates(−IV) with Non‐Innocent Cyanido Ligands
Authors: Jach Franziska , Wagner Frank R. , Amber Zeeshan H. , Rüsing Michael , Hunger Jens , Prots Yurii , Kaiser Martin , Bobnar Matej , Jesche Anton , Eng Lukas M. , Ruck Michael , Höhn Peter
Published: May 2021

Exceptionally electron‐rich, nearly trigonal‐planar tricyanidometalate anions [Fe(CN)3]7− and [Ru(CN)3]7− were stabilized in LiSr3[Fe(CN)3] and AE3.5[M(CN)3] (AE=Sr, Ba; M=Fe, Ru). They are the first examples of group 8 elements with the oxidation state of −IV. Microcrystalline powders were obtained by a solid‐state route, single crystals from alkali metal flux. While LiSr3[Fe(CN)3] crystallizes in P63/m, the polar space group P63 with three‐fold cell volume for AE3.5[M(CN)3] is confirmed by second harmonic generation. X‐ray diffraction, IR and Raman spectroscopy reveal longer C−N distances (124–128 pm) and much lower stretching frequencies (1484–1634 cm−1) than in classical cyanidometalates. Weak C−N bonds in combination with strong M−C π‐bonding is a scheme also known for carbonylmetalates. Instead of the formal notation [Fe−IV(CN−)3]7−, quantum chemical calculations reveal non‐innocent intermediate‐valent CN1.67− ligands and a closed‐shell d10 configuration for Fe, that is, Fe2−.
Automatic drug infusion control based on metaheuristic H2 optimal theory for regulating the mean arterial blood pressure
Authors: Pachauri Nikhil , K Ghousiya Begum
Published: May 2021

The primary intent of this article is to explicate the development of an efficient control strategy to enhance the automated drug infusion technique and thereby, regulating the mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) in both surgical and post‐surgical clinical scenarios. To simplify the already existing design techniques that are mathematically very complicated, a governed drug management system is required to normalize the MABP. This manuscript introduces a two degrees of freedom (2‐DOF) H2 optimal PI controller whose parameters are optimized by using dragonfly optimization (DA). The performance of the proposed method is compared with the conventional DA tuned PI and 2‐DOF‐PI control technique to prove the efficacy of the designed technique. The proposed control technique gives better results quantified by performance metrics in nominal case as well as in the presence of parametric uncertainties and noise. The resultant novel controller is verified on a diverse category of patient's responses (ideal, insensitive, and sensitive) to the effect of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) drug injected into the patient's body and thus investigating whether the pressure is at the preferred level.
Changes in snow depth under elevation‐dependent warming over the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Shen Liucheng , Zhang Yuqing , Ullah Safi , Pepin Nick , Ma Qianrong
Published: May 2021

Snow plays an essential role in regulating climate change, the hydrological cycle, and various biological processes. Passive microwave snow depth data and gridded data from the Climate Research Unit (CRU_TS4.04) are utilized in this study to investigate spatiotemporal variations of snow depth over the Tibetan Plateau (TP), with special focus on the vertical dimension. The response of snow to elevation‐dependent warming (EDW) is determined accordingly. High mountains experience more rapid warming than lower elevations. During 1980–2014, the total snow depth over the TP decreased; areas with the most significant decreasing trends are mainly concentrated in the northwestern and southwestern parts of the TP. The plateau‐wide decrease in snow depth (−0.24 cm/decade) is mainly affected by increasing temperature (0.30°C/decade). The reduction in snow depth trend intensifies as sub‐regional mean elevation increases from 3,332 m (IID2) to 5,074 m (ID1). A stronger snow depth decrease in high‐elevation sub‐regions generally corresponds to higher warming rates, which demonstrates EDW. The most pronounced correlation between snow depth decrease rate and elevation occurs in the southeastern TP, which covers the largest elevation range on the plateau (from 2,000 to 6,000 m).
Utility Tips for Maintaining Financial Resilience During and After a Pandemic
Authors: Karnovitz Alan , Johns Grace , Kiefer Jack C.
Published: May 2021

Key Takeaways

Many water and wastewater utilities effectively took a “triage” approach to addressing initial COVID‐19–related disruptions but should reassess practices to ensure long‐term financial resilience.

Although the short‐term financial effects of the pandemic varied widely among utilities, related economic and financial uncertainties will likely persist, with potentially long‐term impacts.

Utilities should implement a phased post‐pandemic strategy encompassing scenario planning, rate structures, consumer assistance programs, staffing and training, debt structuring, and smart technologies.

Regardless of its financial impact, the COVID‐19 pandemic has demonstrated the vulnerabilities of all sectors, including the water sector, to large disruptive events; stronger financial resilience is recommended.
Engineering Cyber–Physical Resilience
Authors: Ohrt Andrew , Groves Daniel A. , Cox Joel , Bochman Andy , Cunningham Charley , Hildick‐Smith Andrew , Kuczynski Thomas L.
Published: May 2021

Key Takeaways

There's no denying the countless benefits of technology for water industry operations. But with technological advances come increased potential for malicious, damaging attacks.

Utilities owe it to themselves and their customers to have a proactive cybersecurity practice in place by taking “cyber hygiene” seriously and evolving with technology.

CCE, or consequence‐driven, cyber‐informed engineering, adds another layer to cybersecurity strategies and helps utilities establish organizational and engineering practices that ensure resilience.
Public Engagement on Water Reuse Beyond Community Surveys
Authors: Distler Lauren N. , Scruggs Caroline E. , Cruz Maurice P. , Rumsey Kellin N.
Published: May 2021

Key Takeaways

Wastewater reuse and other nontraditional water supply options may become necessary for communities facing extended drought due to population shifts and climate change.

A community survey and subsequent analyses uncovered misconceptions and gaps in public knowledge surrounding water resources and water reuse.

Surveys are useful for understanding public knowledge and opinions but must be supplemented with meaningful education and outreach.

Without genuine public engagement and trust‐building, water infrastructure projects might not align with a community's values and interests.
Visible Labour? Productive Forces and Imaginaries of Participation in European Insect Studies, ca. 1680–1810**
Authors: Hünniger Dominik
Published: May 2021

The practice of early modern natural history depended on the collective collecting activities of a great variety of people. Among them, artisans played a major role in acquiring and distributing knowledge about the natural world and they contributed significantly to the scholarly labour in natural history. This distributed labour was both acknowledged by contemporaries as well as hidden from sight, reflecting the period′s dominant norms for class and gender. By combining an interpretation of the visual representation of labour in European insect studies with an examination of written sources about natural history practices from about 1680 to 1810, this article decodes the often‐codified frontispieces and other more symbolic illustrations to offer new insights into the labour of natural history. Those who identified as scholars and artisans (or both) conceptualised their own intellectual and practical engagement with natural history within the semantic field of work. Some seemed to have even envisioned a new social role for academics as well as artisans. This article analyses the diversity of the “productive forces” in insect studies as they changed over time and it reconstructs what I will call the social imaginaries of participation.
Safety and efficacy of intravenous thrombolytic treatment in wake‐up stroke: Experiences from a single center
Authors: Wiśniewski Adam
Published: May 2021

Objectives

Wake‐up stroke is an important clinical problem that may account for a quarter of all ischemic strokes. This study aimed to establish the safety and efficacy of intravenous thrombolytic treatment of wake‐up strokes by comparing it to the standard thrombolysis treatment in strokes with clear onsets and wake‐up strokes that did not receive reperfusion therapy.

Methods

This retrospective study enrolled 95 patients with ischemic strokes who underwent thrombolytic treatment with alteplase, including nine patients with wake‐up strokes. The safety profile (mortality and intracranial bleeding) and efficacy (clinical and functional outcomes on admission, discharge, and 90 days after stroke onset) were evaluated.

Results

When assessed using the modified Rankin scale (mRs), the patients with wake‐up strokes had significantly more favorable functional outcomes on discharge when compared to those who received standard thrombolysis (p = .0289). No significant differences were noted when the favorable outcome rate (mRs score = 0–2) at three months post‐thrombolysis (Odds ratio [OR] = 2.07; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.41–10.6; p = .3807) and safety outcomes (death during hospitalization: OR = 0.49; 95% CI = 0.03–9.11; p = .6295 and intracranial bleeding 24 hr after treatment: OR = 0.43; 95% CI = 0.02–7.58; p = .5707) were compared between the two groups. The Cochran–Mantel–Haenchel shift analysis showed a significantly more favorable distribution of the mRs scores at three months after the stroke onset in the patients with wake‐up strokes who were treated with alteplase compared to those who did not receive thrombolysis (OR = 1.42; 95% CI = 1.01–1.82; p = .0426).

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated that in patients who awaken with stroke symptoms, intravenous thrombolytic treatment is a safe procedure that may lead to favorable outcomes. Further studies should be performed to increase the size of the group of patients with wake‐up strokes who can be treated with reperfusion therapy.
DNA methylome analysis identifies BMI‐related epigenetic changes associated with non‐small cell lung cancer susceptibility
Authors: Li Guyanan , Meng Hua , Bai Yansen , Wei Wei , Feng Yue , Li Mengying , Li Hang , He Meian , Zhang Xiaomin , Wei Sheng , Li Yangkai , Guo Huan
Published: May 2021

Background

Body mass index (BMI) has been reported to be inversely associated with incident risk of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of DNA methylation in the relationship between BMI and NSCLC.

Methods

We carried out a genome‐wide DNA methylation study of BMI in peripheral blood among 2266 Chinese participants by using Illumina Methylation arrays. For the BMI‐related DNA methylation changes, their associations with NSCLC risk were further analyzed and their mediation effects on BMI‐NSCLC association were also evaluated.

Results

The methylation levels of four CpGs (cg12593793, cg17061862, cg11024682, and cg06500161, annotated to LMNA, ZNF143, SREBF1, and ABCG1, respectively) were found to be significantly associated with BMI. Methylation levels of cg12593793, cg11024682, and cg06500161 were observed to be inversely associated with NSCLC risk [OR (95%CI) =0.22 (0.16, 0.31), 0.39 (0.30, 0.50), and 0.66 (0.53, 0.82), respectively]. Additionally, cg11024682 in SREBF1 and cg06500161 in ABCG1 mediated 45.3% and 19.5% of the association between BMI and decreased NSCLC risk, respectively.

Conclusions

In this study, we identified four DNA methylation sites associated with BMI in the Chinese populations at the genome‐wide significant level. We also found that the BMI‐related methylations of SREBF1 and ABCG1 could mediate about a quintile‐to‐half of the effect of BMI on reduced NSCLC risk, which adds a potential mechanism underlying this association.
Endohedral Mixed Aggregates: Sodium Alkoxide Cages with Organic or Inorganic Central Anions and Variable Hull
Authors: Cebi Erkam , Klett Jan
Published: May 2021

Alkali metal alkoxides are widely used in chemistry due to their Brønsted basic and nucleophilic properties. Potassium alkoxides assist alkyllithium in the metalation of hydrocarbons in Lochmann‐Schlosser‐bases. Both compounds form mixed aggregates, which enhance the thermal stability, solubility, and the basic reactivity of these mixtures. A very unusual spherical mixed alkoxy aggregate was discovered by Grützmacher et al., where a central dihydrogen phosphide anion is surrounded by a highly dynamic shell of thirteen sodium atoms and a hull of twelve tert‐butoxide groups. This structural motif can be reproduced by a reaction of trimethylsilyl compounds of methane, halogens, or pseudo‐halogens with excess sodium tert‐butoxide. A nucleophilic substitution releases the corresponding anion, which is then encapsulated by the sodium alkoxide units. The compounds are soluble in hydrocarbon solvents, enabling studies of solutions by high‐resolution NMR spectroscopy and IR/Raman studies of the crystalline materials.
Bio‐inspired and Eco‐friendly Synthesis of 3D Spongy Meso‐Microporous Carbons from CO2 for Supercapacitors
Authors: Yu Ao , Ma Guoming , Jiang Jintian , Hu Yajing , Su Mingming , Long Wangtao , Gao Shixin , Hsu Hsien‐Yi , Peng Ping , Li Fang‐Fang
Published: May 2021

Inspired by the spongy bone structures, three‐dimensional (3D) sponge‐like carbons with meso‐microporous structures are synthesized through one‐step electro‐reduction of CO2 in molten carbonate Li2CO3−Na2CO3−K2CO3 at 580 °C. SPC4‐0.5 (spongy porous carbon obtained by electrolysis of CO2 at 4 A for 0.5 h) is synthesized with the current efficiency of 96.9 %. SPC4‐0.5 possesses large electrolyte ion accessible surface area, excellent wettability and electronical conductivity, ensuring the fast and effective mass and charge transfer, which make it an advcanced supercapacitor electrode material. SPC4‐0.5 exhibits a specific capacitance as high as 373.7 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, excellent cycling stability (retaining 95.9 % of the initial capacitance after 10000 cycles at 10 A g−1), as well as high energy density. The applications of SPC4‐0.5 in quasi‐solid‐state symmetric supercapacitor and all‐solid‐state flexible devices for energy storage and wearable piezoelectric sensor are investigated. Both devices show considerable capacitive performances. This work not only presents a controllable and facile synthetic route for the porous carbons but also provides a promising way for effective carbon reduction and green energy production.
Influence of Fine Ligand Substitution Modification of the Isocyanidometal Bridge on Metal‐to‐Metal Charge Transfer Properties in Class II–III Mixed Valence Complexes
Authors: Xu Qing‐Dou , Zhang Lin‐Tao , Zeng Chen , Yang Yu‐Ying , Su Shao‐Dong , Hu Sheng‐Min , Wu Xin‐Tao , Sheng Tian‐Lu
Published: May 2021

The synthesis and characterization of Class II–III mixed valence complexes have been an interesting topic due to their special intermediate behaviour between localized and delocalized mixed valence complexes. To investigate the influence of the isocyanidometal bridge on metal‐to‐metal charge transfer (MMCT) properties, a family of new isocyanidometal‐bridged complexes and their one‐electron oxidation products cis‐[Cp(dppe)Fe−CN−Ru(L)2‐NC−Fe(dppe)Cp][PF6]n (n=2, 3) (Cp=1,3‐cyclopentadiene, dppe=1,2‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, L=2,2’‐bipyridine (bpy, 1[PF6]n), 5,5’‐dimethyl‐2,2’‐bipyridyl (5,5’‐dmbpy, 2[PF6]n) and 4,4’‐dimethyl‐2,2’‐bipyridyl (4,4’‐dmbpy, 3[PF6]n)) have been synthesized and fully characterized. The experimental results suggest that all the one‐electron oxidation products may belong to Class II–III mixed valence complexes, supported by TDDFT calculations. With the change of the substituents of the bipyridyl ligand on the Ru centre from H, 5,5’‐dimethyl to 4,4’‐dimethyl, the energy of MMCT for the one‐electron oxidation complexes changes in the order: 13+<23+<33+, and that for the two‐electron oxidation complexes decreases in the order 14+>34+>24+. The potential splitting (ΔE1/2(2)) between the two terminal Fe centres for N[PF6]2 are the largest potential splitting for the cyanido‐bridged complexes reported so far. This work shows that the smaller potential difference between the bridging and the terminal metal centres would result in the more delocalized mixed valence complex.
Developing Bright Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)‐like Fluorogens for Live‐Cell Imaging with Nonpolar Protein−Chromophore Interactions
Authors: Chen Cheng , Tachibana Sean R. , Baleeva Nadezhda S. , Myasnyanko Ivan N. , Bogdanov Alexey M. , Gavrikov Alexey S. , Mishin Alexander S. , Malyshevskaya Kseniya K. , Baranov Mikhail S. , Fang Chong
Published: May 2021

Fluorescence‐activating proteins (FAPs) that bind a chromophore and activate its fluorescence have gained popularity in bioimaging. The fluorescence‐activating and absorption‐shifting tag (FAST) is a light‐weight FAP that enables fast reversible fluorogen binding, thus advancing multiplex and super‐resolution imaging. However, the rational design of FAST‐specific fluorogens with large fluorescence enhancement (FE) remains challenging. Herein, a new fluorogen directly engineered from green fluorescent protein (GFP) chromophore by a unique double‐donor‐one‐acceptor strategy, which exhibits an over 550‐fold FE upon FAST binding and a high extinction coefficient of approximately 100,000 M−1 cm−1, is reported. Correlation analysis of the excited state nonradiative decay rates and environmental factors reveal that the large FE is caused by nonpolar protein−fluorogen interactions. Our deep insights into structure‐function relationships could guide the rational design of bright fluorogens for live‐cell imaging with extended spectral properties such as redder emissions.
Cs4B4O3F10: First Fluorooxoborate with [BF4] Involving Heteroanionic Units and Extremely Low Melting Point
Authors: Xia Ming , Mutailipu Miriding , Li Fuming , Yang Zhihua , Pan Shilie
Published: May 2021

Herein, a new congruently melting mixed‐anion compound Cs4B4O3F10 has been characterized as the first fluorooxoborate with [BF4] involving heteroanionic units. Compound Cs4B4O3F10 possesses two highly fluorinated anionic clusters and therefore its formula can be expressed as Cs3(B3O3F6) ⋅ Cs(BF4). The influence of [BF4] units on micro‐symmetry and structural evolution was discussed based on the parent compound. More importantly, Cs4B4O3F10 shows the lowest melting point among all the available borates and thus sets a new record for such system. This work is of great significance to enrich and tailor the structure of borates using perfluorinated [BF4] units.
A biomolecule chiral interface base on BSA for electrochemical recognition of amine enantiomers
Authors: Lu Qiuna , Chen Lei , Meng Qi , Jiang Yan , Xie Licheng
Published: May 2021

A composite chiral interface (BSA‐MB‐MWCNTs) was prepared from bovine serum albumin (BSA), methylene blue (MB), and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for chiral recognition of amine enantiomers (1S, 2S)‐N,N′‐dimethyl‐1,2‐cyclohexanediamine and (1R, 2R)‐N,N′‐dimethyl‐1,2‐cyclohexanediamine. The BSA‐based composite was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis). The electrochemical responses towards the two enantiomers were analyzed via cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical AC impedance method (EIS), and differential‐pulse voltammetry (DPV). The experimental results showed that the combination of MWCNTs and BSA could effectively improve the overall identification efficiency, and the peak current displayed by the S‐enantiomer is larger, indicating that the prepared chiral surface has stronger interaction with the R‐enantiomer. Under optimized condition, the current value of the oxidation peak of the chiral modified electrode showed a good linear relationship towards the amine concentration in the range of 5.0 × 10−3 to 5.0 × 10−5 mmol·L−1. The proposed electrochemical chiral interface is easy to handle and provides a promising electrochemical sensing platform that can be used to identify chiral amine enantiomers.
Estimation of linear, ring, and star polyethylene viscosity through proper orthogonal decomposition and Voronoi tessellation analysis of molecular dynamics data
Authors: Wong Chi Pui Jeremy , Choi Phillip
Published: May 2021

We carried out molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on polyethylene (PE) with linear, ring, and four‐arm symmetrical star structures at various molecular weights (420 − 5700 g ⋅ mol−1) and temperatures (410−450 K). We then analyzed the MD data using the technique of proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) to obtain the time correlation functions of different eigenmodes, thereby calculating the viscosity of the aforementioned macromolecules. The time correlation functions show that the ring and star PEs relax much faster than their linear counterpart. Free volume size distributions and the mean fractional free volume of the equilibrated PE melts were determined by Voronoi tessellation (VT). The mean fractional free volume and the corresponding effective pressure were then used to calculate viscosity using a polymer free volume theory recently developed in our lab. The POD and VT approaches yielded similar viscosity values. Furthermore, they both successfully predicted the crossover in the molecular weight dependence of viscosity. It is interesting to note that the difference in the free volume parameters (ϕ+ − F) of various structures always fall within the range of 0.02−0.06. Here, F and ϕ+ signify the probability of a bead having enough free volume for the activation of diffusive motion or momentum transfer and the minimum required fraction of such beads, respectively. The temperature dependence of viscosity as obtained from the POD and VT approaches gave comparable apparent activation energy () values of 5.8−6.4 and 5.4−6.4 kcal ⋅ mol−1, respectively, for the three structures.
Cyclic Dipeptide: A Privileged Molecular Scaffold to Derive Structural Diversity and Functional Utility
Authors: Balachandra Chenikkayala , Padhi Dikshaa , Govindaraju Thimmaiah
Published: May 2021

Cyclic dipeptides (CDPs) are the simplest form of cyclic peptides with a wide range of applications from therapeutics to biomaterials. CDP is a versatile molecular platform endowed with unique properties such as conformational rigidity, intermolecular interactions, structural diversification through chemical synthesis, bioavailability and biocompatibility. A variety of natural products with the CDP core exhibit anticancer, antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral activities. The inherent bioactivities have inspired the development of synthetic analogues as drug candidates and drug delivery systems. CDP plays a crucial role as conformation and molecular assembly directing core in the design of molecular receptors, peptidomimetics and fabrication of functional material architectures. In recent years, CDP has rapidly become a privileged scaffold for the design of advanced drug candidates, drug delivery agents, bioimaging, and biomaterials to mitigate numerous disease conditions. This review describes the structural diversification and multifarious biomedical applications of the CDP scaffold, discusses challenges, and provides future directions for the emerging field.
Ketogenic diet treatment in diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma in children: Retrospective analysis of feasibility, safety, and survival data
Authors: Perez Alexandre , van der Louw Elles , Nathan Janak , El‐Ayadi Moatasem , Golay Hadrien , Korff Christian , Ansari Marc , Catsman‐Berrevoets Coriene , von Bueren Andre O.
Published: May 2021

Background

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is one of the most devastating diseases among children with cancer, thus novel strategies are urgently needed.

Aims

We retrospectively evaluated DIPG patients exposed to the carbohydrate restricted ketogenic diet (KD) with regard of feasibility, safety, and overall survival (OS).

Methods and results

Searches of MEDLINE and Embase identified five hits meeting the search criteria (diagnosis of DIPG and exposure to KD). One additional case was identified by contact with experts. Individual patient data were extracted from publications or obtained from investigators. The inclusion criteria for analysis of the data were defined as DIPG patients who were exposed to the KD for ≥3 months. Feasibility, as described in the literature, was the number of patients able to follow the KD for 3 months out of all DIPG patients identified. OS was estimated by the Kaplan‐Meier method.

Five DIPG patients (males, n = 3; median age 4.4 years; range, 2.5‐15 years) meeting the inclusion criteria were identified. Analysis of the available data suggested that the KD is generally relatively well tolerated. Only mild gastro‐intestinal complaints, one borderline hypoglycemia (2.4 mmol/L) and one hyperketosis (max 7.2 mmol/L) were observed. Five out of six DIPG patients identified adhered for ≥3 months (median KD duration, 6.5 months; range, 0.25‐2 years) to the diet. The median OS was 18.7 months.

Conclusion

Our study provides evidence that it may be feasible for pediatric DIPG patients to adhere for at least 3 months to KD. In particular cases, diet modifications were done. The clinical outcome and OS appear not to be impacted in a negative way. KD might be proposed as adjuvant therapy when large prospective studies have shown feasibility and safety. Future studies might ideally assess the impact of KD on clinical outcome, quality of life, and efficacy.
Recommendations for streamlining precision medicine in breast cancer care in Latin America
Authors: Alvarado‐Cabrero Isabel , Doimi Franco , Ortega Virginia , de Oliveira Lima Jurema Telles , Torres Rubén , Torregrosa Lilian
Published: May 2021

Background

The incidence of breast cancer (BC) in LMICs has increased by more than 20% within the last decade. In areas such as Latin America (LA), addressing BC at national levels evoke discussions surrounding fragmented care, limited resources, and regulatory barriers. Precision Medicine (PM), specifically companion diagnostics (CDx), links disease diagnosis and treatment for better patient outcomes. Thus, its application may aid in overcoming these barriers.

Recent findings

A panel of LA experts in fields related to BC and PM were provided with a series of relevant questions to address prior to a multi‐day conference. Within this conference, each narrative was edited by the entire group, through numerous rounds of discussion until a consensus was achieved. The panel proposes specific, realistic recommendations for implementing CDx in BC in LA and other LMIC regions. In these recommendations, the authors strived to address all barriers to the widespread use and access mentioned previously within this manuscript.

Conclusion

This manuscript provides a review of the current state of CDx for BC in LA. Of most importance, the panel proposes practical and actionable recommendations for the implementation of CDx throughout the Region in order to identify the right patient at the right time for the right treatment.
An in vivo comparison of wound healing characteristics of two commercial acellular dermal matrices
Authors: Couto Sophie R. , Luan Xianghong , Rossmann Jeffrey A. , Stenberg William V. , Yen Karen , Atwi Sarah , Svoboda Kathy K.
Published: May 2021

Objectives

Many acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) are available for use in periodontal surgical procedures. However, few studies exist evaluating their in vivo healing properties. The objectives of this study were to compare the wound healing and remodeling of two ADMs used for gingival augmentation procedures in the rat model.

Materials and methods

This was a nonrandomized controlled split‐mouth study. Envelope flaps were surgically created in the maxillary quadrants of 24 Sprague Dawley rats. Each received either (a) AlloDerm Regenerative Tissue Matrix, or (b) OrACELL. Gingival tissue from one mandibular quadrant served as the untreated control. Six male and six female rats were treated for 7 or 21 days. Biopsies were processed for histologic analysis (H&E, Picro‐sirius red, Verhoeff's solution) or RNA analysis (RT‐PCR) to analyze the expression of type I collagen (Col1a1), fibronectin (Fn‐1) and VEGF‐A (Vegf‐A).

Results

There was a greater density of fibroblasts in OrACELL compared to AlloDerm at both timepoints. There was a greater density of elastin present in AlloDerm compared to OrACELL at 7 days but no differences at 21 days. There were no differences between test groups in the percentage of birefringent collagen or in the expression of Vegf‐A or Fn‐1. At 7 days, there were significantly more fibroblasts for males in the OrACELL group compared to females. At 21 days, there was a significantly greater expression of Col1a1 for males in the OrACELL group compared to females.

Conclusions

Early wound healing and remodeling of OrACELL appeared to occur more rapidly than AlloDerm and was accelerated in male rats. Whether these results have clinical implications for soft tissue grafting procedures in humans remains to be determined.
Lightweight secure communication system based on Message Queuing Transport Telemetry protocol for e‐healthcare environments
Authors: Naresh Vankamamidi S. , Reddi Sivaranjani , Allavarpu V. V. L. Divakar
Published: May 2021

In recent years, with the advent of communication technologies, healthcare sensing and remote monitoring have undergone a significant evolution to addressing almost all current e‐health challenges. In view of this, the Internet of medical things (IoMT)‐based applications are evolved. However, security and privacy are the primary concern as vast numbers of devices are connected and communicated through the wireless environment. The direct involvement of humans in IoMT‐based healthcare applications made robust and secure communication among the sensors, actuators, and patients significant. In this direction, we proposed a novel security framework for Message Queuing Transport Telemetry (MQTT) protocol based on publish/subscribe messages, which is suitable for constrained and small devices in IoMT. In this paper, we proposed a lightweight hyper elliptic curve‐multiple shared key algorithm to derive session keys in order to encrypt/decrypt health readings from the sensors connected to the patient body. The comparative analysis of performance shows that the proposed method outperforms different existing techniques in terms of computational time by reducing the computational times of broker and producer/subscriber by 0.084 and 0.0168, respectively, than the best performed existing method (Malina et al.). Finally, the security analysis shows that the proposed framework is secure against physical attacks, key control, machine‐in‐the‐middle (MITM), non‐repudiation, replay, and naming based attacks.
Do children with recurrent abdominal pain grow up to become adolescents who control their weight by fasting? Results from a UK population‐based cohort
Authors: Stein Kate , Warne Naomi , Heron Jon , Zucker Nancy , Bould Helen
Published: May 2021

Objective

Gastrointestinal (GI) problems are common in eating disorders, but it is unclear whether these problems predate the onset of disordered eating. Recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) is the most prevalent GI problem of childhood, and this study aimed to explore longitudinal associations between persistent RAP (at ages 7 and 9) and fasting for weight control at 16.

Method

The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) is a UK population cohort of children. Childhood RAP was reported by mothers and defined as RAP 5+ (5 pain episodes in the past year) in our primary analysis, and RAP 3+ (3 pain episodes) in our sensitivity analysis. Fasting for weight control was reported by adolescents at 16. We used logistic regression models to examine associations, with adjustments for potential confounders.

Results

After adjustments, we found no association between childhood RAP 5+ and adolescent fasting for weight control at 16 (OR 1.30 (95% Confidence Intervals [CI] 0.87, 1.94) p = .197). However, we did find an association between RAP 3+ and later fasting, in the fully adjusted model (OR 1.50 [95% CI 1.16, 1.94] p = .002), and after excluding those with pre‐existing anxiety (OR 1.52 [95% CI 1.17, 1.97] p = .002).

Discussion

Our findings suggest a possible independent contribution of RAP to later risk of fasting for weight control, and RAP should be enquired about in the assessment of eating disorders. However, frequency of childhood abdominal pain (as captured by ALSPAC) may be less important to long‐term outcomes than functional impairment.
An open spatial capture–recapture model for estimating density, movement, and population dynamics from line‐transect surveys
Authors: Gowan Timothy A. , Crum Nathan J. , Roberts Jason J.
Published: May 2021

The purpose of many wildlife population studies is to estimate density, movement, or demographic parameters. Linking these parameters to covariates, such as habitat features, provides additional ecological insight and can be used to make predictions for management purposes. Line‐transect surveys, combined with distance sampling methods, are often used to estimate density at discrete points in time, whereas capture–recapture methods are used to estimate movement and other demographic parameters. Recently, open population spatial capture–recapture models have been developed, which simultaneously estimate density and demographic parameters, but have been made available only for data collected from a fixed array of detectors and have not incorporated the effects of habitat covariates. We developed a spatial capture–recapture model that can be applied to line‐transect survey data by modeling detection probability in a manner analogous to distance sampling. We extend this model to a) estimate demographic parameters using an open population framework and b) model variation in density and space use as a function of habitat covariates. The model is illustrated using simulated data and aerial line‐transect survey data for North Atlantic right whales in the southeastern United States, which also demonstrates the ability to integrate data from multiple survey platforms and accommodate differences between strata or demographic groups. When individuals detected from line‐transect surveys can be uniquely identified, our model can be used to simultaneously make inference on factors that influence spatial and temporal variation in density, movement, and population dynamics.