bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tumor‐derived endomucin promotes colorectal cancer proliferation and metastasis
Authors: Huang Qi , Li Xue‐mei , Sun Jing‐ping , Zhou Yan
Published: August 2022

Background

Endomucin (EMCN) is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein and a mucin‐like component of the endothelial cell glycocalyx. The mechanism of EMCN action in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear.

Aims

Our aim was to explore the role of EMCN in the progression of CRC.

Materials & Methods

We examined EMCN expression in CRC tissues and normal para‐carcinoma tissues. The function and mechanisms of EMCN were checked in CRC cell lines and in mouse xenograft. Additionally, we used co‐immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry to identify the potential EMCN‐binding proteins. Functional annotation analysis showed where these genes were enriched.

Results

We found that EMCN was overexpressed in tumor tissues compared with that in normal para‐carcinoma tissues. We also found that overexpression of EMCN induced CRC proliferation and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. EMCN knockdown prevents epithelial‐mesenchymal transition in vitro. We identified 178 potential EMCN‐binding partners. Furthermore, functional annotation analysis indicated that these genes were considerably enriched in carcinogenic‐related functions and pathways. Collectively, the identification of EMCN‐binding partners enhanced our understanding of the mechanism of EMCN‐mediated malignant phenotypes, and this research may provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying CRC.

Conclusion

Tumor‐derived endomucin promotes colorectal cancer proliferation and metastasis. We identified 178 EMCN‐binding proteins and initially screened three potential EMCN‐interacting proteins: NALCN, and TPM2, ANKK1. Our study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying CRC development.
Single‐agent gemcitabine in patients with advanced, pre‐treated angiosarcoma: A multicenter, retrospective study
Authors: Watson Sarah , Verret Benjamin , Ropert Stanislas , Adam Julien , Bahleda Rastislav , Briand Sylvain , Cavalcanti Andrea , Chamseddine Ali N. , Court Charles , Fadel Elie , Faron Matthieu , Haddag‐Miliani Leila , Henon Clémence , Pechoux Cécile Le , Levy Antonin , Mercier Olaf , Ngo Carine , Honoré Charles , Cesne Axel Le , Mir Olivier
Published: August 2022

Gemcitabine has shown clinical activity against angiosarcoma in small series, alone, or combined with taxanes. We aimed to evaluate its activity as a single‐agent in a larger series of patients with advanced angiosarcoma. We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of consecutive adult patients with advanced angiosarcoma treated with single‐agent gemcitabine at our institutions from January 2010 to January 2021. Response was evaluated according to RECIST 1.1, and toxicity was graded according to NCI‐CTC v5.0. 42 patients were identified. 38 patients (90%) had received prior anthracyclines and weekly paclitaxel, and 9 (21%) had received pazopanib. The best tumor response was partial response (PR) in 16 patients (38%), or stable disease (10 patients, 24%). All 8 patients with cardiac angiosarcoma experienced a PR. Median PFS was 5.4 months (95%CI: 3.1–6.5), and median OS was 9.9 months (95%CI: 6.6–13.4). Single‐agent gemcitabine has clinically meaningful activity in advanced, heavily pre‐treated angiosarcoma.
CFD‐DPM‐based numerical simulation for char gasification in an entrained flow reactor: Effect of residence time distribution
Authors: Barik Hrusikesh , Bhattacharya Sankar , Bose Manaswita
Published: August 2022

The rate of conversion during gasification of char particles depends on the type of reagents, the concentration of reactants, and reactor temperature, among many other parameters; however, the overall conversion depends on the residence time distribution (RTD) of the particles in the reactor. The objective of the present work is to investigate the influence of gasifying agents, their concentration, and reactor wall temperature on the RTD of the char particles. The aim also includes studying the effect of mean residence time on the overall char conversion during gasification of Victorian brown coal in an entrained flow reactor. Two gasifying reagents, namely, CO2 and H2O, are selected in the present study. A discrete particle model (DPM) is coupled with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to simulate the solid phase dynamics. Gasification is modelled using a lumped approach. The mean residence time of the solid char particles, determined using three different methods, is observed to increase with the CO2 concentration and wall temperature but decrease in the H2O environment. The longer residence time leads to higher overall char conversion in a CO2 environment despite the higher reactivity of H2O compared to CO2 as a gasifying reagent.
Is survivorship an endless experience?
Authors: Dal Maso Luigino , Serraino Diego , Guzzinati Stefano
Published: August 2022

The study by Colonna and colleagues in this issue describes many epidemiologic investigations that have provided estimates of cancer cure. Evidence of the possibility of cancer cure grows and lays the groundwork to encourage clinicians to update cancer care plans and long‐term follow‐up.
Positive effects of running exercise on astrocytes in the medial prefrontal cortex in an animal model of depression
Authors: Huang Dujuan , Xiao Qian , Tang Jing , Liang Xin , Wang Jin , Hu Menglan , Jiang Yanhong , Liu Li , Qin Lu , Zhou Mei , Li Yue , Zhu Peilin , Deng Yuhui , Li Jing , Zhou Chunni , Luo Yanmin , Tang Yong
Published: August 2022

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses and seriously affects all aspects of life. Running exercise has been suggested to prevent or alleviate the occurrence and development of depression; however, the underlying mechanisms of these effects remain unclear. Independent studies have indicated that astrocytes play essential roles and that the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is an important brain region involved in the pathology underlying depression. However, it is unknown whether running exercise achieves antidepressant effects by affecting the number of astrocytes and glutamate transport function in the mPFC. Here, animal models of depression were established using chronic unpredictable stress (CUS), and depression‐like behavior was assessed by the sucrose preference test. After successfully establishing the depression model, experimental animals performed running exercise. Glial fibrillary acidic protein‐positive (GFAP+) cell number in the mPFC was precisely quantified using immunohistochemical and stereological methods, and the densities of bromodeoxyuridine‐positive (BrdU+) and BrdU+/GFAP+ cells in the mPFC were measured using a semiquantitative immunofluorescence assay. Changes in glutamate transporter gene expression in mPFC astrocytes were detected by mRNA sequencing and qRT–PCR. We found that running exercise reversed CUS‐induced decreases in sucrose preference, increased astrocyte number and the density of newborn astrocytes, and reversed decreases in gene expression levels of GFAP, S100b, and the glutamate transporters GLT‐1 and GLAST in the mPFC of CUS animals. These results suggested that changes in astrocyte number and glutamate transporter function may be potential meditators of the effects of running exercise in the treatment of depression.
Decolonial praxis: Teacher educators' perspectives on tensions, barriers, and possibilities of anti‐racist practice‐based Initial Teacher Education in England
Authors: Gabi Josephine , Olsson Rost Anna , Warner Diane , Asif Uzma
Published: August 2022

The impact of colonisation, cognitive imperialism, and Eurocentric modes of knowing, being and doing has had an effect on Higher Education, including teacher education. Colonial epistemologies, epistemicide, academic dependency, disempowerment and intellectual inferiority are challenged by liberatory pedagogies that present opportunities to reconceptualise ontological and epistemic foundations to inform antiracist practice and decolonial praxis. However, prevailing teacher education policies of standardisation in England raise difficult obstacles against decolonial and anti‐racist practices. By acknowledging the existence of institutionalised forms of coloniality, which includes the reproduction of colonial‐modernist‐western modes of thinking and doing, a re‐imagined decolonial reality can be envisioned. We argue that this process can engender humanising, antiracist, and epistemically liberating pedagogies within teacher education, which can encourage the co‐existence of a diverse plurality of forms of knowing, being and doing. Through conversational semi‐structured interviews with nine teacher educators, enriched by a critical analytic ethnographic study, the findings suggest perceptible evidence of teacher educators' growing curiosity and commitment to exposing ITE's complicity in the reproduction and sustenance of the logics of coloniality of knowledge and relational inequities.
Wear mechanism and life prediction of the ripper in a 9‐m‐diameter shield machine tunneling project of the Beijing new airport line in a sand‐pebble stratum
Authors: Jiang Hua , Zhu Jiachen , Zhang Xiaoyan , Zhang Jinxun , Li Hongliang , Meng Lingfeng
Published: August 2022

Tool wear is a noteworthy problem in the process of shield tunneling, and the degree of wear varies with stratum. The sand‐pebble strata in Beijing are typically mechanically unstable. However, many subways are buried wholly or partially in sand‐pebble strata. Taking the Beijing New Airport line tunneling project as research background, this study evaluated the wear characteristics of the multiconfiguration rippers of a 9‐m‐diameter spoke‐type shield tunneling machine in a sand‐pebble stratum. The wear values of five ripper teeth and ripper flanks were analyzed based on field‐measured data from the Beijing New Airport line project. As the analytical results show, the wear value generally increases as the installation radius enlarges with the rise of cutting trace length. The wear of the 190‐rippers was divided into five categories: pedestal wear, ripper teeth collapse, uniform wear, ripper teeth falling off and ripper flank wear. Uniform wear of the ripper teeth and ripper flank wear were the two abrasion types of the 190‐rippers. The teeth of the 155‐rippers mostly maintained their cutting capacity under the protection of the 190‐rippers. A wear prediction model of linear fitting field data was developed for a 190‐ripper face to obtain the optimum shield driving distance in the sand‐pebble stratum. The average wear coefficients of the 190‐ripper before and after replacement matched well, being 0.045 and 0.066 mm/km, respectively. The results of this study provide a theoretical reference for tool wear prediction in shield construction under similar geological conditions.
Wiring the senses: Factors that regulate peripheral axon pathfinding in sensory systems
Authors: Nomdedeu‐Sancho Gemma , Alsina Berta
Published: August 2022

Sensory neurons of the head are the ones that transmit the information about the external world to our brain for its processing. Axons from cranial sensory neurons sense different chemoattractant and chemorepulsive molecules during the journey and in the target tissue to establish the precise innervation with brain neurons and/or receptor cells. Here, we aim to unify and summarize the available information regarding molecular mechanisms guiding the different afferent sensory axons of the head. By putting the information together, we find the use of similar guidance cues in different sensory systems but in distinct combinations. In vertebrates, the number of genes in each family of guidance cues has suffered a great expansion in the genome, providing redundancy, and robustness. We also discuss recently published data involving the role of glia and mechanical forces in shaping the axon paths. Finally, we highlight the remaining questions to be addressed in the field.
Rapid isolation and quantification of extracellular vesicles from suspension‐adapted human embryonic kidney cells using capillary‐channeled polymer fiber spin‐down tips
Authors: Jackson Kaylan K. , Marcus R. Kenneth
Published: August 2022

Exosomes, a subset of extracellular vesicles (EVs, 30–200‐nm diameter), serve as biomolecular snapshots of their cell of origin and vehicles for intercellular communication, playing roles in biological processes, including homeostasis maintenance and immune modulation. The large‐scale processing of exosomes for use as therapeutic vectors has been proposed, but these applications are limited by impure, low‐yield recoveries from cell culture milieu (CCM). Current isolation methods are also limited by tedious and laborious workflows, especially toward an isolation of EVs from CCM for therapeutic applications. Employed is a rapid (<10 min) EV isolation method on a capillary‐channeled polymer fiber spin‐down tip format. EVs are isolated from the CCM of suspension‐adapted human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293), one of the candidate cell lines for commercial EV production. This batch solid‐phase extraction technique allows 1012 EVs to be obtained from only 100‐µl aliquots of milieu, processed using a benchtop centrifuge. The tip‐isolated EVs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, multi‐angle light scattering, absorbance quantification, an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay to tetraspanin marker proteins, and a protein purity assay. It is believed that the demonstrated approach has immediate relevance in research and analytical laboratories, with opportunities for production‐level scale‐up projected.
Recent advancement in the application of metal based nanoadditive in diesel/biodiesel fueled compression ignition engine: A comprehensive review on nanofluid preparation and stability, fuel property, combustion, performance, and emission characteristics
Authors: Hassan Tafsirul , Rahman Md. Mizanur , Rabbi Md. Sanaul , Rahman Md. Arafat , Meraz Redoy Masum
Published: August 2022

Biodiesel has emerged as a promising renewable fuel, which can help reduce dependency on fossil fuel and has potentiality to replace petrodiesel partially. Usage of biodiesel results in decreased carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, and particulate matter emission. However, it has some drawbacks such as increased nitrogen oxides (NOx) emission, lower calorific value, and poor engine performance, which restrict wide usage of biodiesel as a potential substitute in compression ignition engine. There is a scope to overcome these problems by applying metal based nanoparticles (NPs) as fuel additive. This article reviews the preparation and stability of nanofluid and the effect of metal based NPs on fuel properties, combustion, performance, and emission characteristics. It has been concluded that inclusion of nanoadditives increases cetane number and calorific value of blended fuel. According to the most authors, metal based NP doped biodiesel blend enhances ignition characteristics, improves engine performance, and reduces emissions including NOx compared to biodiesel blend without additive. However, some concerns and challenges identified in this article need to be addressed to make this technology feasible for commercial application in near future.
Fluid–solid coupled model for the internal erosion of gap‐graded soil–rock mixtures with different fines contents: Its verification and application
Authors: Cao Zhilin , Sun Weichen , Xie Qiang , Wu Zhihui , Fu Xiang , Fumagalli Alessio , Tian Dalang , Liang Li
Published: August 2022

Soil–rock mixtures are widely encountered in geotechnical engineering projects. Gap‐graded soil–rock mixtures are prone to internal erosion because the fine particles are easily removed by seepage flow within the large pores between the coarse particles. Internal erosion has been the focus of geological disaster research. As concluded from different studies, the fines content (FC) of gap‐graded soils is a crucial factor in controlling soil stability. For this reason, a fluid–solid coupled model with the computational fluid dynamics—the discrete element method, with an indoor physical permeability test, was conducted to study the evolution characteristics of internal erosion of gap‐graded soil–rock mixtures of different FCs. After the erosion test, the vertical section of the sample was divided into three areas according to changes in fine particles: top, middle uniform, and bottom loss areas. The study showed that a large number of particles in the bottom loss areas are lost at first and the top loss area will enter the middle uniform loss areas. The fine particles in the middle are affected by the fine particle content, from accumulation to equilibrium to loss. Fine particle loss occurred at different sample heights. The top particle loss is the most serious, followed by the bottom and then the middle, and this is consistent with the changes, from a particle‐size perspective. An FC of 35% may be the critical value of the coarse‐fine particle skeleton structure in the preset working conditions of coarse and fine particle diameters. There are apparent ‘island’ effects in the sample where FC = 40%. This can be analysed through strong force chain analysis, from the particle‐size perspective that ‘island’ effects continue to disappear under the influence of internal erosion.
The protective effects of escitalopram on synaptic plasticity in the CA1 region of chronically stressed and non‐stressed male rats
Authors: Farahbakhsh Zahra , Radahmadi Maryam
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Stress impairs cognitive processes and escitalopram affects them in various ways. The present study has compared the protective effects of two escitalopram doses on neural excitability and synaptic plasticity in the CA1 region of chronically stressed and non‐stressed male rats.

Methods

Forty‐nine rats were randomly allocated into seven groups: Control (Co), stress (St), sham (Sh), escitalopram 10 and 20 mg/kg (Esc10 and Esc20), and stress‐escitalopram 10 and 20 mg/kg (St‐Esc10 and St‐Esc20). Induction of restraint stress (6 h/day) and escitalopram injections were performed for 14 days. The fEPSP slope and amplitude were measured according to input–output functions and after the LTP induction in the hippocampal CA1 region. Also, serum corticosterone levels were evaluated in all experimental groups.

Results

The fEPSP slope and amplitude decreased significantly in the St group and increased significantly in the Esc10 group compared with the Co group. In non‐stressed states, significant increases in slope and amplitude occurred in the Esc10 group compared with the Esc20 group. Notably, these values were also significantly enhanced by both escitalopram doses under stressed conditions. Moreover, serum corticosterone levels significantly elevated in the St group although its levels decreased in both St‐Esc groups compared with the St.

Conclusion

Stress significantly attenuated neural excitability and long‐term plasticity in the CA1 area. Only escitalopram 10 mg/kg improved synaptic excitability, as well as LTP induction and maintenance in non‐stressed subjects even more than normal levels. However, under stress conditions, both escitalopram doses enhanced neural excitability and memory probably due to reduced serum corticosterone levels.
Evaluation of Spatial Attentive Deep Learning for Automatic Placental Segmentation on Longitudinal MRI
Authors: Liu Yongkai , Zabihollahy Fatemeh , Yan Ran , Lee Brian , Janzen Carla , Devaskar Sherin U. , Sung Kyunghyun
Published: August 2022

Background

Automated segmentation of the placenta by MRI in early pregnancy may help predict normal and aberrant placenta function, which could improve the efficiency of placental assessment and the prediction of pregnancy outcomes. An automated segmentation method that works at one gestational age may not transfer effectively to other gestational ages.

Purpose

To evaluate a spatial attentive deep learning method (SADL) for automated placental segmentation on longitudinal placental MRI scans.

Study type

Prospective, single‐center.

Subjects

A total of 154 pregnant women who underwent MRI scans at both 14–18 weeks of gestation and at 19–24 weeks of gestation, divided into training (N = 108), validation (N = 15), and independent testing datasets (N = 31).

Field Strength/Sequence

A 3 T, T2‐weighted half Fourier single‐shot turbo spin‐echo (T2‐HASTE) sequence.

Assessment

The reference standard of placental segmentation was manual delineation on T2‐HASTE by a third‐year neonatology clinical fellow (B.L.) under the supervision of an experienced maternal‐fetal medicine specialist (C.J. with 20 years of experience) and an MRI scientist (K.S. with 19 years of experience).

Statistical Tests

The three‐dimensional Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) was used to measure the automated segmentation performance compared to the manual placental segmentation. A paired t‐test was used to compare the DSCs between SADL and U‐Net methods. A Bland–Altman plot was used to analyze the agreement between manual and automated placental volume measurements. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

In the testing dataset, SADL achieved average DSCs of 0.83 ± 0.06 and 0.84 ± 0.05 in the first and second MRI, which were significantly higher than those achieved by U‐Net (0.77 ± 0.08 and 0.76 ± 0.10, respectively). A total of 6 out of 62 MRI scans (9.6%) had volume measurement differences between the SADL‐based automated and manual volume measurements that were out of 95% limits of agreement.

Data Conclusions

SADL can automatically detect and segment the placenta with high performance in MRI at two different gestational ages.

Level of Evidence

4

Technical Efficacy Stage

2
Large‐scale preparation of two minor polar polyphenols from Phyllanthus emblica Linn. by macroporous resin column chromatography and high‐temperature preparative high‐speed counter‐current chromatography
Authors: Song Zhibo , Chen Tao , Wang Shuo , Shen Cheng , Li Hongmei , Li Aijing , Li Peipei , Ma Yumei , Chen Zhi , Li Yulin
Published: August 2022

In the present study, an efficient strategy for the large‐scale preparation of two minor polar polyphenols from Phyllanthus emblica L. has been established by macroporous resin column chromatography and high‐temperature preparative high‐speed counter‐current chromatography. Macroporous resin column chromatography was used for the enrichment of the target polyphenols. The target polyphenols could be well enriched in the 10% ethanol fraction and the peak area proportion increased from 2.2% in the crude extract to 85.3% in the 10% ethanol fraction. Then, the 10% ethanol fraction was introduced to preparative high‐speed counter‐current chromatography for separation using an n‐butanol‐ethyl acetate‐water (17:3:20, v/v/v) solvent system. In order to improve the retention of the stationary phase, a high‐temperature preparative high‐speed counter‐current chromatography had been developed by using a 316 L stainless steel pipe as a column. A 50°C of column temperature was used and the retention rate of the stationary phase could reach 75%. Finally, 871 mg of compound Ⅰ and 534 mg of compound Ⅱ with purities higher than 98% were obtained from 4 g of the sample. The chemical structures were identified as corilagin and 1, 6‐di‐O‐galloyl‐β‐D‐glucoside by 1H‐NMR and 13C‐NMR.
Effects of secondary soil aggregates on threshold friction velocity and wind erosion
Authors: Pi Huawei , Webb Nicholas P. , Huggins David R. , Li Sisi
Published: August 2022

Secondary aggregates (clods) attenuate wind erosion and land degradation by increasing surface roughness and reducing wind friction velocities at the soil surface. However, aggregates with low stability are erodible and may increase dust emissions by particle abrasion under saltation bombardment relative to non‐erodible aggregates. It is still not clear exactly how different secondary aggregate properties reduce, and in the presence of saltators potentially increase, wind erosion and dust emission. The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of erodible soil aggregates on the threshold friction velocities (u*t), aerodynamic roughness length (zo), and soil loss of loessial soils in the inland Pacific Northwest (iPNW) of the United States. The impact of erodible secondary aggregates in attenuating wind erosion was evaluated in terms of secondary aggregate lateral cover and density. Secondary aggregates were tested in a wind tunnel using five levels of aggregate densities. Secondary aggregates appeared to restrain wind erosion as z0 and u*t increased with increasing aggregate cover, but may significantly change wind erosion patterns by releasing more fine dust particles by abrasion. We found that, while abrasion losses contributed up to 69.3% of total soil loss for a sandy loam, total soil loss still decreased for all soils. Aggregates with greater stability may reduce soil loss with increasing secondary aggregate densities, and the rate of reduction in soil loss was up to two times higher than that for soil aggregates with lower stability.
Extremely‐Fine Color Printing by 2D Materials with the Synergetic Effects of Fabry–Pérot Cavity and Exciton Absorption
Authors: Li Zhonglin , Yang Yutian , Fan Xiaoxuan , Guo Shuai , Li Zian , Liang Yao , Jiang Jie , Sun Xiaoyuan , Zhong Bo , Wang Yingying , Ni Zhenhua
Published: August 2022

Structural colors based on plasmonic and dielectric nanostructures have become attractive alternatives over adsorbed dyes or pigments in high resolution color printing. The color resolution is determined by the fine‐tuning in optical resonance peak of the nanoresonators, and is strongly restricted by the limited geometrical dimensions. Here, 2D materials including MoS2 and GaSe are demonstrated as unique materials which generate full color gamut, vivid, and extremely‐fine tuning colors. Attributed to the atomic thickness change in Fabry–Pérot cavity length and exciton‐induced additional absorption, the optical resonance peak could be tuned in the subnanometer level. As a result, the converted xy values from the reflection spectra on the CIE 1931 diagram show an average step of 0.0019 (0.0052) along x‐axis (y‐axis), with a resolution an order of magnitude higher than current plasmonic and dielectric nanoresonators. The suitability of 2D materials on submicrometer color printing is further demonstrated by fabricating color patterns using GaSe flakes and the printed image has resolutions of 50 800 lines‐per‐inch (LPI) and 25 400 dots‐per‐inch (DPI) without color mixing. The color patterns are selectively recognized by different visible light with a wavelength resolution of 20 nm. 2D materials provide new platforms for high‐resolution printing, anticounterfeiting, and high‐density spectrally encoded storage.
Electrode Material of PVA/PANI/GO‐PANI Hybrid Hydrogels through Secondary Induced Assembly In Situ Polymerization Method for Flexible Supercapacitors
Authors: Zhao Hailan , Zhang Weiying , Sun Pengju , Ying Xiaoguang , Huang Jianying , Li Xiao
Published: August 2022

As the core component of wearable electronic devices, flexible energy storage materials play an irreplaceable role. At present, it is still a challenge to prepare flexible electrode materials with high energy density. In this paper, a polyaniline‐based composite flexible conductive hydrogel (PPG‐P) with a two‐level conductive network is successfully prepared by a secondary induced assembly in situ polymerization method. The special conductive structure greatly promotes the efficiency of charge transfer and the utilization of electroactive substances, so that PPG‐P exhibits excellent electrochemical performance. In a three‐electrode system, PPG‐P has a mass‐specific capacitance as high as 989 F g−1 (0.5 A g−1). After 1000 charge and discharge cycles, the capacitance retention is 87%. Symmetrical flexible supercapacitors based on PPG‐P have high specific capacitance (176 F g−1/0.5 A g−1) and high energy density (15.6 Wh kg−1). After 1000 cycles of constant current charge and discharge, the capacitance maintains 78.1%. The preparation of PPG‐P with a hierarchical structure demonstrates the possibility of achieving high energy density in flexible electrode materials, which has great application potential in the development of energy storage elements in wearable devices.
Normalization, square roots, and the exponential and logarithmic maps in geometric algebras of less than 6D
Authors: De Keninck Steven , Roelfs Martin
Published: August 2022

Geometric algebras of dimension
are becoming increasingly popular for the modeling of 3D and 3 + 1D geometry. With this increased popularity comes the need for efficient algorithms for common operations such as normalization, square roots, and exponential and logarithmic maps. The current work presents a signature‐agnostic analysis of these common operations in all geometric algebras of dimension
and gives efficient numerical implementations in the most popular algebras
, and
, in the hopes of lowering the threshold for adoption of geometric algebra solutions by code maintainers.
Timing of diagnosis of fetal structural abnormalities after the introduction of universal cell‐free DNA in the absence of first‐trimester anatomical screening
Authors: Bardi Francesca , Beekhuis Anne Marie , Bakker Marian K. , Elvan‐Taşpınar Ayten , Bilardo Caterina Maddalena
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Since 2021, first‐trimester anatomical screening (FTAS) is offered in the Netherlands alongside genome‐wide cell‐free DNA (cfDNA). Previously, only second‐trimester anatomical screening (STAS) was offered. This study identifies structural abnormalities amenable to first‐trimester diagnosis detected at/after STAS in the period following cfDNA implementation and preceding FTAS introduction.

Methods

This retrospective cohort includes 547 fetuses referred between 2017 and 2020 because of suspected structural abnormalities before/at/after STAS. Additional prenatal investigations and postnatal follow‐up were searched. Abnormalities were classified into “always”, “sometimes”, and “never” detectable in the first‐trimester based on a previously suggested classification.

Results

Of the 547 pregnancies, 13 (2.6%) received FTAS and 534 (97.6%) received a dating ultrasound and STAS. In 492/534 (92.1%) anomalies were confirmed; 66 (13.4%) belonged to the “always detectable” group in the first trimester, 303 (61.6%) to the “sometimes detectable”, and 123 (25.0%) to the never detectable. Of the “always detectable” anomalies 29/66 (44%) were diagnosed during dating ultrasounds and 37 (56%) during STAS. The rate of termination of pregnancy for anomalies detected during FTAS and at/after STAS was 84.6% (n = 11/13) and 29.3% (n = 144/492) (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

When FTAS is not part of screening paradigms, most fetal anomalies remain undetected until the second trimester or later in pregnancy, including 56% of anomalies “always detectable” in the first trimester.
From money to culture: The practical indeterminacy of Bitcoin's values and temporalities
Authors: Yokoyama Yura
Published: August 2022

Bitcoin, regarded as a decentralized currency of the future as well as a digital gold, faces various challenges, such as scalability, the geographical concentration of mining, its politically informed design and history, its high market volatility, and inequalities in the proportion of accumulation. However, the number of Bitcoin owners has risen exponentially, and relevant socioeconomic and political groups have become increasingly diverse. Consequently, this article argues that what has contributed to the global diffusion of Bitcoin and its embeddedness in different human societies is its practical indeterminacy. Practical indeterminacy characterizes the fundamentally undefinable, indeterminate nature of Bitcoin's value, as it can change its form depending on who it encounters. In terms of temporality, practically indeterminate Bitcoin can urge potential owners and users to compare their pasts and futures, thus driving them to perceive, own, and use Bitcoin for their own purposes. By paying attention to the agency of Bitcoin, practical indeterminacy explains how individuals form their own relations with Bitcoin and how these relations lead to Bitcoin's further sociocultural embeddedness. The proliferation of such a wide range of human–Bitcoin relations shows that Bitcoin is not only monetary but also cultural, as it offers different meanings to users and owners.
Fabricating Black‐Phosphorus/Iron‐Tetraphosphide Heterostructure via a Solid‐Phase Solution‐Precipitation Method for High‐Performance Nitrogen Reduction
Authors: Bian Shi , Liu Qian , Zhang Xue , Ma Chao , Zhang Yanli , Cheng Ziqiang , Kang Yihong , Lu Wei , Chu Paul K. , Yu Xue‐Feng , Wang Jiahong
Published: August 2022

Although constructing heterostructures is considered as one of the most successful strategies to improve the activity of a catalyst, the heterostructures usually suffer from the cumbersome preparation treatments and low‐yield. Inspired by a solid‐phase solution‐precipitation (SPSP) process, an approach for interface intensive heterostructures with high yield is developed. Herein, a black‐phosphorus/iron‐tetraphosphide (BP/FeP4) heterostructure is prepared mechanochemically with high transient pressure by the solid‐phase ball milling approach. The BP/FeP4 heterostructure delivers excellent catalytic performance in the nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) as exemplified by an NH3 yield of 77.6 µg h−1 and Faradic efficiency of 62.9% (−0.2 V), which are superior to that of most NRR catalysts recently reported. Experimental investigation and density‐functional theory calculation indicate the importance of excess phosphorus in the heterostructures on the NRR activity, which assists the Fe atom to activate N2 via adsorbing the H atom. The results demonstrate the great potential of this new type of heterostructures prepared by the SPSP approach. Benefiting from the simple preparation process and low cost, the heterostructures offer a new insight into the development of highly efficient catalysts.
Catalase‐Like Nanozymes: Classification, Catalytic Mechanisms, and Their Applications
Authors: Xu Deting , Wu Liyuan , Yao Haodong , Zhao Lina
Published: August 2022

The field of nanozymes has developed rapidly over the past decade. Among various oxidoreductases mimics, catalase (CAT)‐like nanozyme, acting as an essential part of the regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), has attracted extensive research interest in recent years. However, CAT‐like nanozymes are not as well discussed as other nanozymes such as peroxidase (POD)‐like nanozymes, etc. Compared with natural catalase or artificial CAT enzymes, CAT‐like nanozymes have unique properties of low cost, size‐dependent properties, high catalytic activity and stability, and easy surface modification, etc., which make them widely used in various fields, especially in tumor therapy and disease treatment. Consequently, there is a great requirement to make a systematic discussion on CAT‐like nanozymes. In this review, some key aspects of CAT‐like nanozymes are deeply summarized as: 1) Typical CAT‐like nanozymes classified by different nanomaterials; 2) The catalytic mechanisms proposed by experimental and theoretical studies; 3) Extensive applications in regard to tumor therapy, cytoprotection and sensing. Therefore, it is prospected that this review will contribute to the further design of CAT‐like nanozymes and optimize their applications with much higher efficiency than before.
Identification of a genomic region containing genes involved in resistance to four pathotypes of Plasmodiophora brassicae in Brassica rapa turnip ECD02
Authors: Rahaman Mizanur , Strelkov Stephen E. , Hu Hao , Gossen Bruce D. , Yu Fengqun
Published: August 2022

Clubroot, caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae, is an important disease of brassica crops worldwide. Vegetable turnip (Brassica rapa L.) have proven to be a source of clubroot resistance genes effective against many pathotypes of P. brassicae. The F1 progeny from the cross B. rapa canola ACDC (susceptible, S) × B. rapa turnip ECD02 (resistant, R) were backcrossed with ACDC, then self‐pollinated to produce BC1S1 lines. All the F1 plants were resistant to four pathotypes (3A, 3D, 3H, and 5X) of P. brassicae. Segregation for R and S in BC1 to each pathotype was 1:1 and resistance reactions were highly correlated. From whole genome sequencing, 192.1 M sequences with 96% template coverage from ECD02, and 478.9 M sequences with 92% coverage from ACDC, were aligned with the reference genome of B. rapa. Genotyping‐by‐sequencing was performed on the BC1 population. The number of aligned short reads per plant in the BC1 ranged from 1.4 to 8.5 M sequences with 4–8% template coverage. We obtained 1,344 high‐quality single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci with a mean missing rate at 0.27% and distributed them on 10 chromosomes. A single co‐localized quantitative trait loci (QTL), designated as Rcr9ECD02 on chromosome A08, conferred resistance to the four pathotypes. The QTL explained 68.9–74.4% of phenotypic variation with the logarithm of the odds values of 24.3 to 31.1. Bulked segregant analysis was performed, and 14 SNP markers linked to the gene were developed using the Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR. Rcr9ECD02 was mapped into an interval of 2.2 cM, flanked by CF_A08_10664692 and CF_A08_12230973, which spanned 1.51 Mb on the chromosome and included 219 B. rapa genes. Four of these genes (BraA08g012910.3C, BraA08g012920.3C, BraA08g013130.3C, and BraA08g013630.3C) encoded disease resistance proteins.
Clinical findings and assessment of factors associated with survival in dogs presenting with hyperbilirubinaemia: 115 cases in Victoria, Australia (2015–2020)
Authors: Brough Abigail , Caraguel Charles , Ciaravolo Susan , Stickney Alison
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Hyperbilirubinaemia is an important clinicopathological finding in canine medicine. The objectives of this study were to describe the clinical presentation and outcome of dogs with hyperbilirubinaemia; also to identify factors associated with survival.

Materials and methods

Retrospective study of dogs with hyperbilirubinaemia from two referral centres in South Australia (2015–2020). Signalment, clinical signs, clinicopathological data, diagnosis and outcome were obtained from searching clinical records. Univariable analysis and logistic regression modelling were used to compare outcomes and overall survival.

Results

A total of 115 cases were included. The most common clinical signs were vomiting (63.5%), anorexia (62.6%), lethargy (55.7%) and pyrexia (18.3%). Pre‐hepatic icterus was diagnosed in 18 cases (15.7%), hepatic icterus in 51 cases (44.3%) and post‐hepatic icterus in 42 cases (36.5%). The median survival time across all cases was 40 days (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9–126 days). There was an increased risk of death in dogs with serum bilirubin greater than 60 μmol/L at diagnosis (odds ratio [OR] = 3.55; 95% CI: 1.53–8.22; p‐value = 0.003) and in dogs with pre‐hepatic icterus compared to hepatic (OR = 4.35; 95% CI: 1.18–16.0; p‐value = 0.027) and post‐hepatic icterus (OR = 6.52; 95% CI: 1.67–25.5; p‐value = 0.007).

Conclusions

Pre‐hepatic icterus was associated with a significantly higher risk of death than hepatic and post‐hepatic icterus. Serum bilirubin >60 μmol/L at diagnosis was associated with a significantly shorter median survival time. This cut‐off may be useful in discussions with owners regarding pursuing further diagnostic investigation and treatment. Further prospective studies are needed to prove the validity of this cut‐off.
Hydrogen economy in India: A status review
Authors: Kar Sanjay Kumar , Sinha Akhoury Sudhir Kumar , Harichandan Sidhartha , Bansal Rohit , Balathanigaimani Marriyappan Sivagnanam
Published: August 2022

India's rapid population growth and steady industrialization mean that energy demand will grow in industry, transport, electricity, and cooling. Due to greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, fossil fuels will be less preferred to meet energy demand and consumption. Significantly, the transport sector will move toward green fuel, including hydrogen. However, most hydrogen is now produced from fossil fuels through partial oxidation or steam reforming natural gas or coal gasification. This article examines the continuous progress of hydrogen regarding its production, storage, and commercialization in India. Given the versatility in nature, hydrogen shall play a crucial role in decarbonizing the Indian economy by 2050. India's hydrogen energy roadmap was envisioned for an operational hydrogen economy by 2020. The objectives of the hydrogen roadmap remained unfulfilled. We found that inadequate infrastructural developments, lack of proactive policies, insufficient investment in the hydrogen value chain, slow market readiness, and a shortage of public awareness have contributed to the hydrogen economy's derailment in India. The proposed National hydrogen energy mission aims to revive India's hydrogen economy. Stakeholders should focus on hydrogen research, development, value chain development, and hydrogen technology commercialization.

This article is categorized under:

Emerging Technologies > Hydrogen and Fuel Cells

Human and Social Dimensions > Social Acceptance

Policy and Economics > Energy Transitions
Public involvement, trust, and support for endangered species programs
Authors: Connelly Nancy A. , Bruce Lauber T. , Stedman Richard C.
Published: August 2022

The success of wildlife conservation, including endangered species programs, often depends on public support. We examined public support for threatened and endangered species management in New York State (NYS) and the factors influencing support. We surveyed 3 stakeholder groups important to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in 2017: residents of upstate New York, hunters, and anglers. We measured support in 2 ways: (1) the importance people placed on the government protecting threatened and endangered species in NYS, and (2) satisfaction with DEC's efforts to protect these species. Using structural equation modeling, we examined factors hypothesized to increase public support: trust in the agency, adequate public involvement in decision‐making, and the perceived importance of program outcomes. For hunters and anglers, we found that perceived adequacy of public involvement was positively related to program satisfaction, but only because it fostered perceptions of good management decisions. Although adequacy of public involvement also contributed to program satisfaction for upstate residents, we found no evidence that they were more satisfied because they thought public involvement led to better decisions. For all 3 groups the perception of adequate public involvement was directly related to trust in the agency, which in turn was positively related to belief in agency competency to protect threatened and endangered species. Our results suggest that wildlife managers can enhance public satisfaction with decisions and programs through public involvement, communication about how public involvement contributes to decisions, and building trust in the agency.
A context-dependent and disordered ubiquitin-binding motif
Authors: Dreier Jesper E. , Prestel Andreas , Martins João M. , Brøndum Sebastian S. , Nielsen Olaf , Garbers Anna E. , Suga Hiroaki , Boomsma Wouter , Rogers Joseph M. , Hartmann-Petersen Rasmus , Kragelund Birthe B.
Published: August 2022

Ubiquitin is a small, globular protein that is conjugated to other proteins as a posttranslational event. A palette of small, folded domains recognizes and binds ubiquitin to translate and effectuate this posttranslational signal. Recent computational studies have suggested that protein regions can recognize ubiquitin via a process of folding upon binding. Using peptide binding arrays, bioinformatics, and NMR spectroscopy, we have uncovered a disordered ubiquitin-binding motif that likely remains disordered when bound and thus expands the palette of ubiquitin-binding proteins. We term this motif Disordered Ubiquitin-Binding Motif (DisUBM) and find it to be present in many proteins with known or predicted functions in degradation and transcription. We decompose the determinants of the motif showing it to rely on features of aromatic and negatively charged residues, and less so on distinct sequence positions in line with its disordered nature. We show that the affinity of the motif is low and moldable by the surrounding disordered chain, allowing for an enhanced interaction surface with ubiquitin, whereby the affinity increases ~ tenfold. Further affinity optimization using peptide arrays pushed the affinity into the low micromolar range, but compromised context dependence. Finally, we find that DisUBMs can emerge from unbiased screening of randomized peptide libraries, featuring in de novo cyclic peptides selected to bind ubiquitin chains. We suggest that naturally occurring DisUBMs can recognize ubiquitin as a posttranslational signal to act as affinity enhancers in IDPs that bind to folded and ubiquitylated binding partners.
Spreading Equilibria Under Mildly Singular Potentials: Pancakes Versus Droplets
Authors: Durastanti Riccardo , Giacomelli Lorenzo
Published: August 2022

We study global minimizers of a functional modeling the free energy of thin liquid layers over a solid substrate under the combined effect of surface, gravitational, and intermolecular potentials. When the latter ones have a mild repulsive singularity at short ranges, global minimizers are compactly supported and display a microscopic contact angle of$$\pi /2$$π/2. Depending on the form of the potential, the macroscopic shape can either be droplet-like or pancake-like, with a transition profile between the two at zero spreading coefficient for purely repulsive potentials. These results generalize, complete, and give mathematical rigor to de Gennes’ formal discussion of spreading equilibria. Uniqueness and non-uniqueness phenomena are also discussed.
Linking mitochondrial dynamics and fertility: promoting fertility by phoenixin through modulation of ovarian expression of GnRH receptor and mitochondrial dynamics proteins DRP-1 and Mfn-2
Authors: Basha Eman H. , Eltokhy Amira K. B. , Eltantawy Asmaa Fawzy , Heabah Nehal A. E. , Elshwaikh Shereef Lotfy , El-Harty Yasmeen M.
Published: August 2022

Obesity is linked to reproductive disorders. Novel neuropeptide phoenixin demonstrated many therapeutic actions. In this study, we aim to evaluate phoenixin’s potential effect in obesity-induced infertility through modulating mitochondrial dynamics. Ninety adult female rats were divided to 4 groups: (I), fed with normal pellet diet; (II), given phoenixin; (III), fed with high-fat diet. Rats that developed obesity and infertility were divided to 2 groups: (III-A), received no further treatment; (III-B), given phoenixin. Our results showed that phoenixin treatment in obese infertile rats significantly decreased serum levels of insulin and testosterone and ovarian levels of dynamin-related protein1(Drp1),reactive oxygen species ROS, TNF-α, MDA, and caspase-3. Phoenixin treatment also significantly increased serum estrogen progesterone, LH, and FSH together with ovarian levels of GnRH receptor (GnRHR), mitofusin2(Mfn2), mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm), and electron transport chain (ETC) complex-I significantly when compared with obese group. Ovarian histopathological changes were similarly improved by phoenixin. Our data demonstrate phoenixin’s role in improving obesity-induced infertility.

Graphical abstract