bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Beyond Perrault's experiments: Repeatability, didactics and complexity
Authors: Barontini Stefano , Settura Matteo
Published: September 2019

Abstract. The studies conducted in the second half of the Sixteenth Century were crucial both for the birth of the modern hydrological science and for the modern epistemology. Thanks to quantitative observations and to the new experiment–based scientific approach, the Sun was about to be fully recognized as the engine of the hydrological cycle, instead of an endogenous engine within the Earth, originally conjectured by Aristotle to explain the water supply of great rivers. In this context of great vitality and rapid cultural changes, two works were published on the origin of springs. In 1663 Gaspar Schott published the Anatomia physico–hydrostatica fontium ac fluminum (Physical–hydrostatic anatomy of springs and rivers), deeply rooted in the Aristotelian epistemology and based on the ancient humanistic and dialectical method. In this book, Schott cited some observations recently made about the capability of the water to rise within a soil column. Pierre Perrault referred to these observations as a starting point to design the experiments reported in his classical opus De l'origine des fontaines (On the origin of springs), published in 1674. With this approach Perrault places himself in the perspective of a deeply renewed epistemology: only a decade passed between the publication of Schott's opus and Perrault's one, but their perspective is radically different. At the same time, the questions posed on the hydrological cycle and on the soil hydrology, which are hardly reproducible by means of a controlled laboratory model, severely tested the modern scientific approach at its beginning. Perrault seems to be aware of such difficulties and, after discussing the results of the experiments, he moves the point of view from the scale of the laboratory model, to that of the catchment. This choice makes him a progenitor of the contemporary epistemology of complexity, which is framed both on laboratory analysis and on cases study. Thus even if Perrault's conclusions went in the direction of the ancient opinion, his work is not only seminal for hydrology, but also it helps to enlighten some intricate features of scientific revolution. Aiming at contributing to understand the importance of Perrault's opus, we will discuss his epistemological relevance through the lens of the repeatability of the experiments, of the intriguing didactic aspects which, starting from his experiments, arise for modern teaching of hydrology, and of his attitude to face the complexity of the hydrological processes.
Using the maximum entropy production approach to integrate energy budget modelling in a hydrological model
Authors: Maheu Audrey , Hajji Islem , Anctil François , Nadeau Daniel F. , Therrien René
Published: September 2019

Abstract. Total terrestrial evaporation, also referred to as evapotranspiration, is a key process for
understanding the hydrological impacts of climate change given that warmer
surface temperatures translate into an increase in the atmospheric
evaporative demand. To simulate this flux, many hydrological models rely on
the concept of potential evaporation (PET), although large differences have
been observed in the response of PET models to climate change. The maximum entropy production (MEP) model of land surface fluxes offers an alternative
approach for simulating terrestrial evaporation in a simple way while
fulfilling the physical constraint of energy budget closure and providing a
distinct estimation of evaporation and transpiration. The objective of this
work is to use the MEP model to integrate energy budget modelling within a
hydrological model. We coupled the MEP model with HydroGeoSphere (HGS), an
integrated surface and subsurface hydrologic model. As a proof of concept,
we performed one-dimensional soil column simulations at three sites of the
AmeriFlux network. The coupled model (HGS-MEP) produced realistic simulations
of soil water content (root-mean-square error – RMSE – between 0.03 and 0.05 m3 m−3; NSE – Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency –
between 0.30 and 0.92) and terrestrial evaporation (RMSE between 0.31 and
0.71 mm d−1; NSE between 0.65 and 0.88) under semi-arid, Mediterranean
and temperate climates. At the daily timescale, HGS-MEP outperformed the
stand-alone HGS model where total terrestrial evaporation is derived from
potential evaporation, which we computed using the Penman–Monteith equation,
although both models had comparable performance at the half-hourly timescale. This research demonstrated the potential of the MEP model to improve
the simulation of total terrestrial evaporation in hydrological models,
including for hydrological projections under climate change.
SCAN-TO-BIM METHODOLOGY ADAPTED FOR DIFFERENT APPLICATION
Authors: Badenko V. , Fedotov A. , Zotov D. , Lytkin S. , Volgin D. , Garg R. D. , Liu M.
Published: September 2019

Abstract. In this paper we proposed a methodology that describes the major steps of a scan-to-BIM process. The methodology includes six steps: (1) classification of considered elements, (2) definition of required level of detail (GI), (3) scan data acquisition, (4) point cloud registration and segmentation, (5) as-built BIM creation and (6) analysis. The examples of the application of the proposed methodology are demonstrated by creation of as-built BIM models for existing industrial sites and historic buildings. As the results of these case studies have shown, the proposed methodology can be used for as-built BIMs without any prior information.
GEO-REGISTERING CONSECUTIVE DATASETS BY MEANS OF A REFERENCE DATASET, ELIMINATING GROUND CONTROL POINT INDICATION
Authors: Vincke S. , Vergauwen M.
Published: September 2019

Abstract. The architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry’s interest in more advanced ways of regular monitoring of construction site activities and the achieved building progress has been rising recently. This requires frequent recordings of the area. This is only feasible if the profound observations only require limited time, both for the actual capturing on-site as well as processing of the recorded data. Moreover, for monitoring purposes, it is vital that all datasets use a single, unique reference system. This allows for an easy comparison of various observations to determine both building progress as well as possible construction deviations or errors.In this work, a framework is proposed that facilitates a faster and more efficient way of co-registering or geo-registering consecutive datasets. It comprises three major stages, starting with the capturing of the surroundings of the construction site. By thoroughly adding numerous ground control points (GCPs) in a second phase, the processed result of this input data can be considered as a reference dataset. In a third stage, this known component is used as additional input for the processing of subsequently captured datasets. Using overlapping areas, the new observations can be immediately transferred to the correct reference system. This eliminates the indication of GCPs in subsequent datasets, which is known to be time-consuming and error-prone.Although in this work the focus of the proposed framework lies on a photogrammetric recording approach, it also is applicable for laser scanning. Its potential is showcased on a real-world apartment construction site in Ghent, Belgium. In the test case, the presented approach is shown to be efficient, with comparable accuracies as other current methods, however, requiring less time and effort.
Description of a new pseudocryptic species of Elysia Risso, 1818 (Heterobranchia, Sacoglossa) in the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Martín-Hervás M Rosario , Carmona Leila , Jensen Kathe R , Licchelli Cataldo , Vitale Fabio , Cervera J Lucas
Published: September 2019

A new sacoglossan species of the genus Elysia Risso, 1818 from southern Italy is described based on its external morphology, color pattern, radular teeth, and reproductive system. Specimens of this new species were previously attributed to Elysia viridis (Montagu, 1804)
because of morphological similarity, but maximum-likelihood and Bayesian analyses based on four genes (mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, 16S rRNA, nuclear 28S rRNA, Histone 3), including 28 additional species of Elysia from the Atlantic, showed that they are distinct.
In addition, to determine the identity of these specimens, different species delimitation analyses [Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD), General Mixed Yule Coalescent (GMYC), Bayesian Poisson Tree Processes, (bPTP)] were carried out. The molecular results support the validity of this new
species of Elysia from the Mediterranean Sea, named Elysia rubeni sp. nov. This new species is characterized by a bright light greenish surface color due to the abundance of kleptoplasts. It can be distinguished by its bright blue specks and minute sparkling yellow dots scattered
along the body, as well as its smooth and greyish rhinophores.
Functional Calculus on Real Interpolation Spaces for the Series Generators of C_0-groups
Authors: Joseph Simon , Juma Manal , Mukhtar Isra , Suoliman Nagat , Saeed Fatin
Published: September 2019

In this paper, discus functional calculus properties of C_0-groups on real interpolation spaces using transference principles. Obtain interpolation versions of the classical transference principle for bounded groups and of a recent transference principle for unbounded groups. Then showed in (Markus, H., & Jan, R. 2016) that all group sequence of generators on a Banach space has a bounded H_0^∞-calculus on real interpolation spaces. Additional results are derived from this.
Avaliação do sistema sanitário da Faculdade ITPAC/Porto
Authors: Silva Medson Dewictor Raphael Turibio Aguiar , Lima Diogo Pedreira , Sousa Rhaylla Cristielly Rêgo de
Published: September 2019

O saneamento básico é um instrumento fundamental para a saúde da população, qualidade de vida e para o meio ambiente. Do ponto de vista da engenharia civil, os sistemas sanitários são essenciais durante a fase de projetos de edifícios. Esses projetos de engenharia, voltados para a área de saneamento básico, são denominados de projetos hidrossanitários. Neste contexto, este trabalho traz a problemática: qual a importância da utilização de projetos sanitários na execução dos sistemas prediais coletores de esgoto? O objetivo principal deste trabalho é avaliar o sistema sanitário executado no Instituto Tocantinense Presidente Antônio Carlos de Porto Nacional (TO). A abordagem metodológica será através da avaliação do sistema hidrossanitário da faculdade ITPAC/PORTO, cujo não se utilizou nenhum projeto para implantação destes sistemas. Foram realizadas vistorias técnicas e levantamento de dados sobre as instalações para avaliação das possíveis interferências causadas pela falta dos projetos hidráulico e sanitário e proposição de um projeto sanitário ideal. Por fim, este trabalho ressalta a importância de se adotar um projeto bem elaborado nos sistemas sanitários prediais. Mesmo não exigido pelos órgãos públicos os projetos sanitários elaborados de acordo com as normas possibilitam o correto desempenho do sistema, evitando inconvenientes pós-obras, que podem gerar despesas adicionais com reparos e medidas corretivas.
Effects of Trichophyton mentagrophytes infection on the immune response of rabbits
Authors: Xiao Chenwen , Bao Guolian , Wei Qiang , Liu Yan , Wang Jiaoyu , Ji Quanan , Huang Yee
Published: September 2019

Background

Rabbit breeding has developed into a large-scale industry, and as such, the incidence of dermatophytosis in rabbits has become increasingly common. A rabbit model with Trichophyton mentagrophytes infection was established to study the changes within the immune responses after fungal infection.

Methods

After the T. mentagrophytes challenge on skin, pathogens on the skin were isolated from the rabbits in the fungal infection (FI) groups 20 days. Fungal observation under microscope were carried out. Identification of strains was achieved by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the CDR1 gene. The collected anticoagulant blood samples were analyzed for various blood cell parameters. The levels of antibodies, including IgM and IgA, cytokines, including IL-2, IL-6, and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), and soluble CD4 and CD8 in the serum of the FI group vs. the control group were determined independently. RNA isolation from blood samples and fluorescence-based quantitative PCR were carried out for the mRNA level of M-csf 20 days after fungal challenge.

Results

Our model resulted in typical symptoms of dermatophytosis on rabbit skin after challenged with fungus. Pathogens isolated from the infected rabbit skin were confirmed to be T. mentagrophytes by microscopic examination and PCR. The number of lymphocytes in the blood of the FI group was significantly decreased in comparison to the control group 2 days after the fungal challenge, but was significantly increased in comparison the control group 10 days after the fungal challenge (P < 0.01). Platelet counts of the FI group were significantly higher than in the control group at 2 (P < 0.05), 10 (P < 0.05), and 20 (P < 0.01) days after fungal challenge. The red blood cell distribution width of the FI group was significantly increased in comparison to that of the control group at 2, 10, and 20 days after fungal challenge (P < 0.01 for all days). The levels of antibodies (immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgA (P < 0.01)), cytokines (interleukin (IL)-6 (P < 0.01), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) (P < 0.05)), and soluble CD4 (P < 0.01) and CD8 (P < 0.01) in the serum were significantly different between the FI and control groups. Serum M-csf mRNA level of the FI group was significantly higher than the control group 20 days after fungal challenge (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates how the immune system responds to infection with T. mentagrophytes and provides potential targets for the prevention and treatment of dermatophytosis.
Prognostic Impact of Macroscopic Complete Resection and Inflammatory Status for Colorectal Cancer With Peritoneal Dissemination
Authors: Yamaguchi Satoru , Ihara Keisuke , Shida Yosuke , Yokoyama Haruka , Ogata Hideo , Nakajima Masanobu , Sasaki Kinro , Tsuchioka Takashi , Kato Hiroyuki
Published: September 2019

Objective:

To clarify the appropriate treatment policy for colorectal cancer with peritoneal metastasis, case series were analyzed retrospectively.

Summary of background data:

The frequency of colorectal cancer and peritoneal dissemination occurring simultaneously is 4% to 7%. The prevention of peritoneal metastasis and the development of a strategy for cure are considered important factors in improving the treatment outcome of colorectal cancer.

Methods:

A total of 60 patients with colorectal cancer with peritoneal dissemination were enrolled in this study. Tumor and host condition characteristics and treatment regimens affecting patient survival were tested by using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

Results:

Histologic type, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, macroscopic complete resection, and Glasgow Prognostic Score were found to be independent prognostic factors for overall survival.

Conclusions:

Peritoneal carcinomatosis can result in better patient prognoses in patients with well-differentiated carcinoma, less peritoneal spread, low levels of tumor markers, and a low Glasgow Prognostic Score. In these patients, curative resection of peritoneal metastases followed by intensive chemotherapy might be effective.
Laparoscopic Lavage Versus Suction Only in Complicated Acute Appendicitis: A Prospective Randomized Control Trial
Authors: Sardiwalla Imraan I. , Koto Modise Z.
Published: September 2019

Background:

Laparoscopic appendectomy for complicated appendicitis presents a challenge with concerns about pelvic collections. It is unclear whether lavage or if simple suctioning of pus influences complications.

Methods:

A prospective, single,-blinded, randomized control trial was conducted. Patients with suspected acute appendicitis were consented. Those found to have complicated appendicitis (perforation, localized pus, or four-quadrant pus) at laparoscopy were randomized to suction or lavage. Exclusions included conversions and drainage of abscess only. Lavage consisted of 3 liters of lavage. Intra-abdominal abscess that required reintervention (i.e., relook, percutaneous drainage) was the primary outcome. Hospital stay and return of bowel function were also recorded.

Results:

A total of 213 patients were assessed for eligibility. We excluded 157 patients, as they had simple appendicitis; 7 patients were converted to laparotomies; 5 had abscesses but the appendix was not removed. We analyzed 86 patients. The mean age was 26.6 years (14–74). We lavaged 42 (48.8%) patients and 44 (51.2%) were suctioned. Four-quadrant pus was present in 26 (30.2%) of the patients overall. Complications developed in 20 (47.5%) of the patients that were lavaged versus 12 patients (27.1%) with suction only. The difference did not reach significance due to sample size (P = 0.0739). Operative time was longer in the lavage group by 30 minutes (P = 0.086). If a complication developed, then the hospital stay was significantly prolonged 13.5 days versus 5 days (P < 0.001). The study was stopped by the internal review board due to the excess risk with lavage.

Conclusions:

This exploratory study into lavage versus suction only in complicated appendicitis revealed potential harm with lavage. The study was stopped prematurely by the internal review due to the excess risk experienced by the lavage group, thus the study did not reach statistical power. If a patient with complicated appendicitis developed any complication, hospital stay was longer.
3D‐printable lung phantom for distal falloff verification of proton Bragg peak
Authors: Koketsu Junichi , Kumada Hiroaki , Takada Kenta , Takei Hideyuki , Mori Yutaro , Kamizawa Satoshi , Hu Yuchao , Sakurai Hideyuki , Sakae Takeji
Published: September 2019

In proton therapy, the Bragg peak of a proton beam reportedly deteriorates when passing though heterogeneous structures such as human lungs. Previous studies have used heterogeneous random voxel phantoms, in which soft tissues and air are randomly allotted to render the phantoms the same density as human lungs, for conducting Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. However, measurements of these phantoms are complicated owing to their difficult‐to‐manufacture shape. In the present study, we used Voronoi tessellation to design a phantom that can be manufactured, and prepared a Voronoi lung phantom for which both measurement and MC calculations are possible. Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of this phantom as a new lung phantom for investigating proton beam Bragg peak deterioration. For this purpose, we measured and calculated the percentage depth dose and the distal falloff widths (DFW) passing through the phantom. For the 155 MeV beam, the measured and calculated DFW values with the Voronoi lung phantom were 0.40 and 0.39 cm, respectively. For the 200 MeV beam, the measured and calculated DFW values with the Voronoi lung phantom were both 0.48 cm. Our results indicate that both the measurements and MC calculations exhibited high reproducibility with plastinated lung sample from human body in previous studies. We found that better results were obtained using the Voronoi lung phantom than using other previous phantoms. The designed phantom may contribute significantly to the improvement of measurement precision. This study suggests that the Voronoi lung phantom is useful for simulating the effects of the heterogeneous structure of lungs on proton beam deterioration.
Comment deadline Wednesday on law enforcement NPRM
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: September 2019

A notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published Aug. 26 would allow law enforcement to have access to all patient records if it is investigating an alleged serious crime by one patient (see ADAW, Sept. 9). It would also change the definition of serious crime to include anything related to drugs. The NPRM, issued by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), has a comment period closing Sept. 25 — a very short time frame.
High Areal Capacitance of N‐Doped Graphene Synthesized by Arc Discharge
Authors: Pham Thang Viet , Kim Jeong‐Gil , Jung Jae Young , Kim Jun Hee , Cho Hyunjin , Seo Tae Hoon , Lee Hunsu , Kim Nam Dong , Kim Myung Jong
Published: September 2019

The lack of cost effective, industrial‐scale production methods hinders the widespread applications of graphene materials. In spite of its applicability in the mass production of graphene flakes, arc discharge has not received considerable attention because of its inability to control the synthesis and heteroatom doping. In this study, a facile approach is proposed for improving doping efficiency in N‐doped graphene synthesis through arc discharge by utilizing anodic carbon fillers. Compared to the N‐doped graphene (1–1.5% N) synthesized via the arc process according to previous literature, the resulting graphene flakes show a remarkably increased doping level (≈3.5% N) with noticeable graphitic N enrichment, which is rarely achieved by the conventional process, while simultaneously retaining high turbostratic crystallinity. The electrolyte ion storage of synthesized materials is examined in which synthesized N‐doped graphene material exhibits a remarkable area normalized capacitance of 63 µF cm−2. The surprisingly high areal capacitance, which is superior to that of most carbon materials, is attributed to the synergistic effect of extrinsic pseudocapacitance, high crystallinity, and abundance of exposed graphene edges. These results highlight the great potentials of N‐doped graphene flakes produced by arc discharge in graphene‐based supercapacitors, along with well‐studied active exfoliated graphene and reduced graphene oxide.
Supramolecular Assembly of Aminoethylene‐Lipopeptide PMO Conjugates into RNA Splice‐Switching Nanomicelles
Authors: Kuhn Jasmin , Klein Philipp M. , Al Danaf Nader , Nordin Joel Z. , Reinhard Sören , Loy Dominik M. , Höhn Miriam , El Andaloussi Samir , Lamb Don C. , Wagner Ernst , Aoki Yoshitsugu , Lehto Taavi , Lächelt Ulrich
Published: September 2019

Phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs) are oligonucleotide analogs that can be used for therapeutic modulation of pre‐mRNA splicing. Similar to other classes of nucleic acid‐based therapeutics, PMOs require delivery systems for efficient transport to the intracellular target sites. Here, artificial peptides based on the oligo(ethylenamino) acid succinyl‐tetraethylenpentamine (Stp), hydrophobic modifications, and an azide group are presented, which are used for strain‐promoted azide‐alkyne cycloaddition conjugation with splice‐switching PMOs. By systematically varying the lead structure and formulation, it is determined that the type of contained fatty acid and supramolecular assembly have a critical impact on the delivery efficacy. A compound containing linolenic acid with three cis double bonds exhibits the highest splice‐switching activity and significantly increases functional protein expression in pLuc/705 reporter cells in vitro and after local administration in vivo. Structural and mechanistic studies reveal that the lipopeptide PMO conjugates form nanoparticles, which accelerate cellular uptake and that the content of unsaturated fatty acids enhances endosomal escape. In an in vitro Duchenne muscular dystrophy exon skipping model using H2K‐mdx52 dystrophic skeletal myotubes, the highly potent PMO conjugates mediate significant splice‐switching at very low nanomolar concentrations. The presented aminoethylene‐lipopeptides are thus a promising platform for the generation of PMO‐therapeutics with a favorable activity/toxicity profile.
Advanced Nanotechnology Leading the Way to Multimodal Imaging‐Guided Precision Surgical Therapy
Authors: Wang Cong , Fan Wenpei , Zhang Zijian , Wen Yu , Xiong Li , Chen Xiaoyuan
Published: September 2019

Surgical resection is the primary and most effective treatment for most patients with solid tumors. However, patients suffer from postoperative recurrence and metastasis. In the past years, emerging nanotechnology has led the way to minimally invasive, precision and intelligent oncological surgery after the rapid development of minimally invasive surgical technology. Advanced nanotechnology in the construction of nanomaterials (NMs) for precision imaging‐guided surgery (IGS) as well as surgery‐assisted synergistic therapy is summarized, thereby unlocking the advantages of nanotechnology in multimodal IGS‐assisted precision synergistic cancer therapy. First, mechanisms and principles of NMs to surgical targets are briefly introduced. Multimodal imaging based on molecular imaging technologies provides a practical method to achieve intraoperative visualization with high resolution and deep tissue penetration. Moreover, multifunctional NMs synergize surgery with adjuvant therapy (e.g., chemotherapy, immunotherapy, phototherapy) to eliminate residual lesions. Finally, key issues in the development of ideal theranostic NMs associated with surgical applications and challenges of clinical transformation are discussed to push forward further development of NMs for multimodal IGS‐assisted precision synergistic cancer therapy.
Black Phosphorus–Graphene Oxide Hybrid Nanomaterials toward Advanced Lubricating Properties under Water
Authors: Guo Pengfei , Qi Shunshun , Chen Lin , Gou Chengxue , Lin Bo , Lu Zhibin , Wu Zhiguo , Zhang Guangan
Published: September 2019

2D hybrid nanomaterials show great potential in reducing friction and energy dissipation of dry sliding both theoretically and experimentally. However, the achievement of low friction by introducing the hybrid nanomaterials in a macroscopic water‐based environment remains a major challenge. Here, black phosphorus–graphene oxide (BP‐GO) hybrid nanomaterials with a 2D layered structure are synthesized successfully. As water‐based additives, the BP‐GO hybrid nanomaterials enable the significant reduction of friction and wear. The lubrication mechanism proposed involves the easy interlayer shear that originated from the hydrophilization and unique microscopic heterojunction stacking structure of the 2D BP‐GO hybrid nanomaterials. This study demonstrates the fascinating prospect of the 2D BP‐GO hybrid nanomaterials toward advanced macroscopic lubricating properties under water.
Multiple σ–π Conjugated Molecules with Selectively Enhanced Electrical Performance for Efficient Solution‐Processed Blue Electrophosphorescence
Authors: Li Huanhuan , Li Hui , Zhi Yibin , Wang Jun , Tang Lele , Tao Ye , Xie Guohua , Zheng Chao , Huang Wei , Chen Runfeng
Published: September 2019

Selectively and controllably regulating molecular functions of organic optoelectronic materials with high solubility for solution‐processible devices is highly desired but remains as one of the most significant challenges in material science. Here, a concise molecular design strategy is reported to achieve effective electronic communications using efficient d‐orbital participated σ–π conjugations between Si and π unit for purposely modulating the electrical properties of organic optoelectronic materials. Through a two‐step reaction in high yield, DSiDCzSi with the enhanced σ–π conjugation is facilely constructed by introducing multiple triphenylsilanes into carbazole unit. Impressively, DSiDCzSi demonstrates a largely increased d‐orbital participated extent of Si, which results in the selectively improved frontier orbital energy level, enhanced carrier injection and transportation ability, excellent solubility, and film‐forming property. Using DSiDCzSi as a host matrix, solution‐processed blue electrophosphorescence device exhibits a maximum external quantum efficiency up to 23.5%, which is among the best values of FIr6‐based blue phosphorescent organic light‐emitting diodes reported to date. This work, which reveals the vital role of d‐orbital participated σ–π conjugations in solving the inherent interference between optical and electrical properties of π‐conjugated materials, can provide an extensible and universal avenue for designing and constructing high‐performance organic optoelectronic materials for advanced device applications.
The Rise of Bioinspired Ionotronics
Authors: Wan Changjin , Xiao Kai , Angelin Alessandro , Antonietti Markus , Chen Xiaodong
Published: September 2019

Ionotronics is a concept which provides powerful tools and methods for narrowing the gap between conventional electronics and biological systems. Translational implementation of ionotronics gives birth to a wide range of novel and exciting paradigm breakers, which greatly innovates the development of the bio–technology interface. Herein, new trends and features of bioinspired ionotronics are presented, first introducing the basic mechanisms of ionotronic modulation and the essential building blocks. Despite its infancy, bioinspired ionotronics exhibit an unprecedented potential to advance a broad spectrum of applications such as robotics, neuromorphic engineering, and biosensing and readouts. Challenges and perspectives for the full exploitation of this concept for practical applications are also addressed. Leveraging bioinspired ionotronics shapes the interaction between human and machines in the future.
Dynamic Tuning of Optical Transmittance of 1D Colloidal Assemblies of Magnetic Nanostructures
Authors: Zhang Xiaoliang , Li Zhiwei , Feng Ji , Yang Fan , Wu Chaolumen , Fan Qingsong , Zhou Shuai , Yin Yadong
Published: September 2019

Smart materials with switchable optical properties may find interesting applications in designing advanced intelligent systems. Herein, the dynamic tuning of optical transmission is reported by controlling the orientation of 1D colloidal assemblies of magnetic nanostructures. Colloidal magnetic nanostructures of Fe3O4, including nanospheres, nanorods, and nanodiscs, are assembled into 1D chains under external magnetic fields. Magnetic tuning of the orientation of the nanochains results in a pronounced contrast in optical transmittance, which is strongly dependent on the size and shape of the primary nanostructures. Contrary to the intuitive expectation, the 1D chains of the nanospheres and nanorods exhibit lower transmittance when they are oriented parallel rather than perpendicular to the incident light, whereas the nanodisc counterpart responds oppositely due to the unique “edge‐to‐edge” assembly mode of the nanodiscs. The dynamic tuning of the optical transmittance through magnetic means is believed to have broad applications in the design of novel switchable optical devices. As an example, the incorporation of orientation‐dependent optical properties of 1D chains into the construction of intelligent polymer films with their transparency sensitive to rotation and bending is demonstrated.
Quantum Phase Properties of Photon Added and Subtracted Displaced Fock States
Authors: Malpani Priya , Thapliyal Kishore , Alam Nasir , Pathak Anirban , Narayanan Venkatakrishnan , Banerjee Subhashish
Published: September 2019

Quantum phase properties of photon added and subtracted displaced Fock states (and their limiting cases) are investigated from a number of perspectives, and it is shown that the quantum phase properties are dependent on the quantum state engineering operations performed. Specifically, the analytic expressions for quantum phase distributions and angular Q distribution as well as measures of quantum phase fluctuation and phase dispersion are obtained. The uniform phase distribution of the initial Fock states is observed to be transformed by the unitary operation (i.e., displacement operator) into non‐Gaussian shape, except for the initial vacuum state. It is observed that the phase distribution is symmetric with respect to the phase of the displacement parameter and becomes progressively narrower as its amplitude increases. The non‐unitary (photon addition/subtraction) operations make it even narrower in contrast to the Fock parameter, which leads to broadness. The photon subtraction is observed to be a more powerful quantum state engineering tool in comparison to the photon addition. Further, one of the quantum phase fluctuation parameters is found to reveal the existence of antibunching in both the engineered quantum states under consideration. Finally, the relevance of the engineered quantum states in the quantum phase estimation is also discussed.
Nature is the Cure: Engineering Natural Redox Cofactors for Biomimetic and Bioinspired Catalysis
Authors: Desage‐El Murr Marine
Published: September 2019

Metalloenzymes are nature's own catalysts and offer as such endless inspirational source for the chemists seeking selectivity in transformations. Metalloenzymes involved in oxidoreduction processes have specific subunits dedicated to electron and proton transfer, and these so‐called redox cofactors perform highly orchestrated redox events. This minireview offers a perspective on the development of biomimetic and bioinspired innovative approaches interfacing redox cofactors engineering with metal‐based catalysis, nanochemistry, light‐activation, supramolecular chemistry and artificial metalloenzymes to devise and build new synthetic systems using nature's finest electron transfer tools.
Targeting Histone Deacetylase 6 Reprograms Interleukin‐17‐Producing Helper T Cell Pathogenicity and Facilitates Immunotherapies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Qiu Weinan , Wang Bin , Gao Yanan , Tian Yuan , Tian Meijie , Chen Yuanying , Xu Li , Yao Tso‐Pang , Li Peng , Yang Pengyuan
Published: September 2019

Background and Aims

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often accompanied by resistance to immunotherapies despite the presence of tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes. We report that histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) represses interleukin‐17 (IL‐17)–producing helper T (TH17) cell pathogenicity and the antitumor immune response, dependent on its deacetylase activity.

Approach and Results

Adoptive transfer of HDAC6‐deficient TH17 cells impedes HCC growth, dependent on elevated IL‐17A, by enhancing the production of antitumor cytokine and cluster of differentiation 8–positive (CD8+) T cell–mediated antitumor responses. Intriguingly, HDAC6‐depleted T cells trigger programmed cell death protein 1 (PD‐1)–PD‐1 ligand 1 expression to achieve a strong synergistic effect to sensitize advanced HCC to an immune checkpoint blocker, while blockade of IL‐17A partially suppresses it. Mechanistically, HDAC6 limits TH17 pathogenicity and the antitumor effect through regulating forkhead box protein O1 (FoxO1). HDAC6 binds and deacetylates cytosolic FoxO1 at K242, which is required for its nuclear translocation and stabilization to repress retinoic acid–related orphan receptor gamma (RoRγt), the transcription factor of TH17 cell. This regulation of HDAC6 for murine and human TH17 cell is highly conserved.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate that targeting the cytosolic HDAC6–FoxO1 axis reprograms the pathogenicity and antitumor response of TH17 cells in HCC, with a pathogenicity‐driven responsiveness to facilitate immunotherapies
Health professional and at‐risk BRCA young adult perspectives about information needs: What does Gen Y need to know?
Authors: Young Alison Luk , Butow Phyllis N. , Tucker Katherine M. , Williams Rachel , Healey Emma , Wakefield Claire E.
Published: September 2019

Young adults at risk of a hereditary condition require the provision of accurate information to make an informed decision about genetic testing and risk management options. At‐risk young adults’ (18‐ to 40‐year olds) preferences for information and resources, and genetic‐related health professionals' (GHPs) views on young adults’ information needs, are largely unknown in the literature. This study aimed to clarify and compare the information needs of emerging (18‐ to 25‐year olds) and early (26‐ to 40‐year olds) adults. Resource preferences of young adults were also explored. Findings are drawn from two datasets: questionnaires and semi‐structured interviews with at‐risk young adults from BRCA1 or BRCA2 families (N = 32), and focus groups with GHPs (N = 73) working in Australian familial cancer clinics. Both datasets were analyzed using framework analysis. Emerging adults, particularly those who had not attended a clinic, wanted to know the rationale for genetic testing and basic genetic facts. Early adults were concerned about reproductive issues and cancer risk for future or current children. Information needs reported by young adults but not reported by GHPs include male cancer risk, finding reputable information, understanding test results (e.g., negative), and understanding risk terminology (e.g., lifetime cancer risk). Young adults’ satisfaction with current information received was suboptimal, yet uptake of genetic‐related resources was generally low. Getting information to this cohort remains a challenge for GHPs. Emerging adults showed a preference to obtain information through technologically‐based formats (e.g., websites, social media), whereas early adults used a wider range of formats (e.g., websites, booklets). Awareness of and access to genetic information prior to genetic clinic attendance is needed. A review of the utility of current resources available for at‐risk young adults would be helpful.
Highly accelerated vessel‐selective arterial spin labeling angiography using sparsity and smoothness constraints
Authors: Schauman S. Sophie , Chiew Mark , Okell Thomas W.
Published: September 2019

Purpose

To demonstrate that vessel selectivity in dynamic arterial spin labeling angiography can be achieved without any scan‐time penalty or noticeable loss of image quality compared with conventional arterial spin labeling angiography.

Methods

Simulations on a numerical phantom were used to assess whether the increased sparsity of vessel‐encoded angiograms compared with non‐vessel‐encoded angiograms alone can improve reconstruction results in a compressed‐sensing framework. Further simulations were performed to study whether the difference in relative sparsity between nonselective and vessel‐selective dynamic angiograms was sufficient to achieve similar image quality at matched scan times in the presence of noise. Finally, data were acquired from 5 healthy volunteers to validate the technique in vivo. All data, both simulated and in vivo, were sampled in 2D using a golden‐angle radial trajectory and reconstructed by enforcing image domain sparsity and temporal smoothness on the angiograms in a parallel imaging and compressed‐sensing framework.

Results

Relative sparsity was established as a primary factor governing the reconstruction fidelity. Using the proposed reconstruction scheme, differences between vessel‐selective and nonselective angiography were negligible compared with the dominant factor of total scan time in both simulations and in vivo experiments at acceleration factors up to R = 34. The reconstruction quality was not heavily dependent on hand‐tuning the parameters of the reconstruction.

Conclusion

The increase in relative sparsity of vessel‐selective angiograms compared with nonselective angiograms can be leveraged to achieve higher acceleration without loss of image quality, resulting in the acquisition of vessel‐selective information at no scan‐time cost.
One‐Step Synthesis of Monodispersed Mesoporous Carbon Nanospheres for High‐Performance Flexible Quasi‐Solid‐State Micro‐Supercapacitors
Authors: Qiu Yongting , Hou Mingzhen , Gao Jingchang , Zhai Haili , Liu Haimin , Jin Mengmeng , Liu Xiang , Lai Linfei
Published: September 2019

Cost‐effective synthesis of carbon nanospheres with a desirable mesoporous network for diversified energy storage applications remains a challenge. Herein, a direct templating strategy is developed to fabricate monodispersed N‐doped mesoporous carbon nanospheres (NMCSs) with an average particle size of 100 nm, a pore diameter of 4 nm, and a specific area of 1093 m2 g−1. Hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide and tetraethyl orthosilicate not only play key roles in the evolution of mesopores but also guide the assembly of phenolic resins to generate carbon nanospheres. Benefiting from the high surface area and optimum mesopore structure, NMCSs deliver a large specific capacitance up to 433 F g−1 in 1 m H2SO4. The NMCS electrodes–based symmetric sandwich supercapacitor has an output voltage of 1.4 V in polyvinyl alcohol/H2SO4 gel electrolyte and delivers an energy density of 10.9 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 14014.5 W kg−1. Notably, NMCSs can be directly applied through the mask‐assisted casting technique by a doctor blade to fabricate micro‐supercapacitors. The micro‐supercapacitors exhibit excellent mechanical flexibility, long‐term stability, and reliable power output.
Automation in cell and gene therapy manufacturing: from past to future
Authors: Moutsatsou P. , Ochs J. , Schmitt R. H. , Hewitt C. J. , Hanga M. P.
Published: September 2019

As more and more cell and gene therapies are being developed and with the increasing number of regulatory approvals being obtained, there is an emerging and pressing need for industrial translation. Process efficiency, associated cost drivers and regulatory requirements are issues that need to be addressed before industrialisation of cell and gene therapies can be established. Automation has the potential to address these issues and pave the way towards commercialisation and mass production as it has been the case for ‘classical’ production industries. This review provides an insight into how automation can help address the manufacturing issues arising from the development of large-scale manufacturing processes for modern cell and gene therapy. The existing automated technologies with applicability in cell and gene therapy manufacturing are summarized and evaluated here.
Shovelomics root traits assessed on the EURoot maize panel are highly heritable across environments but show low genotype-by-nitrogen interaction
Authors: Le Marié Chantal A. , York Larry M. , Strigens Alexandre , Malosetti Marcos , Camp Karl-Heinz , Giuliani Silvia , Lynch Jonathan P. , Hund Andreas
Published: September 2019

The need for sustainable intensification of agriculture in the coming decades requires a reduction in nitrogen (N) fertilization. One opportunity to reduce N application rates without major losses in yield is breeding for nutrient efficient crops. A key parameter that influences nutrient uptake efficiency is the root system architecture (RSA). To explore the impact of N availability on RSA and to investigate the impact of the growth environment, a diverse set of 36 inbred dent maize lines crossed to the inbred flint line UH007 as a tester was evaluated for N-response over 2 years on three different sites. RSA was investigated by excavating and imaging of the root crowns followed by image analysis with REST software. Despite strong site and year effects, trait heritability was generally high. Root traits showing the greatest heritability (> 0.7) were the width of the root stock, indicative of the horizontal expansion, and the fill factor, a measure of the density of the root system. Heritabilities were in a similar range under high or low N application. Under N deficiency the root stock size decreased, the horizontal expansion decreased and the root stock became less dense. However, there was little differential response of the genotypes to low N availability. Thus, the assessed root traits were more constitutively expressed rather than showing genotype-specific plasticity to low N. In contrast, strong differences were observed for ‘stay green’ and silage yield, indicating that these highly heritable traits are good indicators for responsiveness to low N.
Methods of Entering Where Access is Restricted
Authors: McLauchlan Anna , Noble Allyson F.
Published: September 2019

Where social occasions, in the context of nightclubs and music venues, are bounded, the space of the entrance is accomplished via regulation of attendees by workers. This regulation ensures: the venue stays within capacity; people have been invited or (if required) pay the fee; entry to ‘undesirables,’ such as drunks, is prohibited. This paper draws from experience of attending social occasions and being a doorperson to categorise and examine methods of entering where access is restricted. Often methods require attendees to engage in visible dialogue with the doorperson; where methods are invisible, attendees can circumvent access restrictions whilst a semblance of order is maintained.
On the Taut String Interpretation and Other Properties of the Rudin–Osher–Fatemi Model in One Dimension
Authors: Overgaard Niels Chr
Published: September 2019

We study the one-dimensional version of the Rudin–Osher–Fatemi (ROF) denoising model and some related TV-minimization problems. A new proof of the equivalence between the ROF model and the so-called taut string algorithm is presented, and a fundamental estimate on the denoised signal in terms of the corrupted signal is derived. Based on duality and the projection theorem in Hilbert space, the proof of the taut string interpretation is strictly elementary with the existence and uniqueness of solutions (in the continuous setting) to both models following as by-products. The standard convergence properties of the denoised signal, as the regularizing parameter tends to zero, are recalled and efficient proofs provided. The taut string interpretation plays an essential role in the proof of the fundamental estimate. This estimate implies, among other things, the strong convergence (in the space of functions of bounded variation) of the denoised signal to the corrupted signal as the regularization parameter vanishes. It can also be used to prove semi-group properties of the denoising model. Finally, it is indicated how the methods developed can be applied to related problems such as the fused lasso model, isotonic regression and signal restoration with higher-order total variation regularization.
Apelin abrogates the stimulatory effects of 17β-estradiol and insulin-like growth factor-1 on proliferation of epithelial and granulosa ovarian cancer cell lines via crosstalk between APLNR and ERα/IGF1R
Authors: Hoffmann Marta , Gogola Justyna , Ptak Anna
Published: September 2019

Apelin and chemerin are adipocytokines that play important roles in many physiological and pathological processes throughout the body. Our previous study demonstrated that these two adipokines are expressed and secreted by epithelial and granulosa cancer cell lines. 17β-estradiol (E2) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) are important regulators of ovarian functions, and their roles are well known. This study investigated whether apelin and chemerin regulate proliferation and apoptosis of epithelial (OVCAR-3) and granulosa (COV434) ovarian cancer cell lines by interacting with E2 and IGF-1. Apelin and chemerin did not affect caspase-3 activation in either cell line. However, apelin abrogated the stimulatory effects of E2 on proliferation of OVCAR-3 cells and of IGF-1 on proliferation of COV434 cells independently of ERK1/2 and PI3K via crosstalk of apelin receptor with estrogen receptor alpha and IGF-1 receptor, respectively.