bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geography of the appellate courts of general jurisdiction in Russia: problems of providing access to justice in revision of criminal cases
Authors: Abdulvaliev Almaz Firzyarovich
Published: May 2020

The subject of this research is the study of the work of appellate courts of general jurisdiction on revision of criminal cases in higher jurisdiction courts based on the position of their of their geographical location on the territory of the Russian Federation. The five newly formed appellate courts of general jurisdiction do not fully contribute to realization of such principle of criminal procedure as independence of judges, as well as adherence to the requirements on directness and oral nature of judicial proceedings. The goal of this article is to examine the positions of the current appellate courts of general jurisdiction from geographical perspective. For a deeper examination of the appellate peculiarity, the scientific research into this problem was carried out with consideration of the geographical specificity of the territory of Russia and its regions, and thus the level of development of logistical infrastructure in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. The scientific novelty consists in the original proposal for creation of twelve appellate courts of general jurisdiction throughout the territory of the Russian Federation with their permanent placement in cities not currently handled by other judicial institutions of higher jurisdiction. Such new approach should fully the citizens’ right to access justice, and also ensure the principle of independence of judges.
Property liability of expert witnesses (articulation of the problem)
Authors: Zatonova Daria
Published: May 2020

This article is dedicated to the search of the answer to the question of whether or not an expert witness carries civil legal (property) liability for providing flawed expert opinion that the court refuses to admit as the valid evidence in a case. An attempt is made to answer the question of whether compensation of the expert can be lowered; should the initial expert’s testimony be paid if the court requires second opinion; can the court refuse payment to the expert witness or a conclusion must be made that expert witnesses have immunity from property liability. Based on the results of analysis of arbitration court case law it is determined that in majority of the cases courts conclude that despite an ill-prepared expert testimony, compensation of the expert witness cannot be decreased or unpaid, while independent claim against the expert will not be satisfied. Such approach of the judicial system testifies that expert witnesses have de-facto immunity from civil liability, despite the fact that such immunity is not covered by the legislation. Moreover, there is a principle of general tort, according to which any damages, including those inflicted by an expert witness, are subject to compensation.
Development trends of the Russian constitutional law in post-Soviet time
Authors: Anichkin Evgenii Sergeevich
Published: May 2020

The subject of this research is the key, dominant and most consistent development trends of the national constitutional law in post-Soviet period (1990’s – present). The author examines the following trends: succession, reception, internationalization and cyclicity of the development of constitutional law, as well as expansion and conceptual changes in its content. Each trend is substantiated by the provisions of constitutional legal doctrine, current Constitution, legislation and constitutional practice. The main conclusions consist in the thesis that the determined trends are inherent namely to the modern constitutional law, rather than Soviet or prerevolutionary stages of its development. Moreover, if separate trends coincide with the modern constitutional law of foreign countries, in Russia they have peculiar content, justified by the specificity of state legal development of the country. The evolution of Russian modern constitutional law takes place at the intersection of constitutional distinctness and constitutional universalization. Constitutional distinctness implies the synthesis of succession, certain cyclicity in the constitutional legal sphere, and presence of the unique legal phenomena characteristic to the national constitutional legal system. The manifestations of universalization of the modern Russian constitutional law include its reception and internationalization. 
Writing Lived Experience – A Melancholy Elegy
Authors: Liu Ying
Published: May 2020

This paper explores the limitations of language in psychotherapeutic writing about lived experience and how psychanalytic concepts can help us both understand and work through the inevitable loss that results from these limitations. It is illustrated by the author’s experience of undertaking a doctoral research project in psychotherapy where the experience of narrative incoherence was explored through writing. Paralleled to the doctoral research project was the author’s challenges in writing the experience of incoherence. By reflecting on and analysing these challenges, this paper explores the sense of loss that is located at the core of writing lived experience through psychoanalytic concepts including the third position and melancholia. The limitations of language in capturing the fullness of lived experienced is shed light on. Connecting the psychoanalytic concept of melancholia to Romanyshyn’s (2013) writing as elegy, I propose writing lived experience as a melancholy elegy in which what is lost in language can be acknowledged and kept alive in the writer’s psyche. I argue for the creative potential brought by the continuous engagement with the sense of loss in writing lived experience.

 

Reference:

Romanyshyn, R.D. (2013). The wounded researcher: research with soul in mind. New Orleans, Louisiana: Spring Journal Books.
4D Printing Strain Self‐Sensing and Temperature Self‐Sensing Integrated Sensor–Actuator with Bioinspired Gradient Gaps
Authors: Chen Daobing , Liu Qingping , Han Zhiwu , Zhang Junqiu , Song HongLie , Wang Kejun , Song Zhengyi , Wen Shifeng , Zhou Yan , Yan Chunze , Shi Yusheng
Published: May 2020

Integrated sensor–actuators with exciting functionalities, such as action self‐sensing, position self‐sensing, posture self‐sensing, or active sensing, are promising for applications in biomedical device, human–machine interaction, intelligent self‐protection devices, and humanoid robots. Despite recent progress, it remains challenging to achieve a macroscopical integrated sensor–actuator in a material system with microstructures. To address this critical challenge, a 4D printing bioinspired microstructure strategy is reported to design a high‐performance integrated sensor–actuator capable of simultaneous actuation and sensation. Decoupled thermal stimulation and strain sensation is achieved by combining nanocarbon black/polylactic acid composites with bioinspired gradient microgap structures. As a result, printed integrated sensor–actuators can actively touch objects triggered by thermal stimulation and self‐sense the touching state through the resistance change. It is anticipated that the basic design principle underlying this behavior can be used to develop integrated sensor–actuators of various shapes and functionalities to meet desirable applications.
Stabilization Perspective on Metal Anodes for Aqueous Batteries
Authors: Wang Huaping , Tan Rou , Yang Zhengxuan , Feng Yuezhan , Duan Xiaochuan , Ma Jianmin
Published: May 2020

Aqueous electrolyte‐based batteries have attracted increasing attention because of nonflammability, low cost, high power density, and environmental friendliness. However, the low energy density of aqueous lithium‐ion batteries caused by the narrow stable electrochemical window of water and electrode materials with low capacity severely limits their further development. In this regard, the development of metal anodes with high specific capacity shows excellent prospects. For example, metal zinc and aluminum anodes have high theoretical specific capacity, rich resources, and environmental friendliness, and can be used as promising anodes for high‐energy‐density aqueous rechargeable metal batteries. Unfortunately, metal anodes usually face balance issues with regard to stability and activity associated with dendrite growth and undesired side reactions in water‐based electrolytes, which is still a great challenge for aqueous metal batteries. In this review, various aqueous metal batteries including aqueous rechargeable metal batteries and aqueous metal–air batteries are summarized and highlighted. Recent advances in the design of high‐safety aqueous electrolytes and the strategies for metal anode protection are comprehensively reviewed. In addition, emerging challenges and some perspectives on the development of high‐energy‐density aqueous metal batteries are included.
Heterogeneous Catalysts with Well‐Defined Active Metal Sites toward CO2 Electrocatalytic Reduction
Authors: Yang Deren , Ni Bing , Wang Xun
Published: May 2020

The global atmospheric CO2 concentration reached 147% of pre‐industrial levels in 2019, and is still increasing with an accelerated rate. A series of methods have been developed to convert CO2 to other non‐greenhouse molecules. Elelctrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) is one of the promising methods, since it could support renewable energy. Optimizing the CO2RR system requires finding highly efficient catalysts, as well as electrolysis systems. In this essay, the development of promising heterogeneous catalysts with well‐defined active metal sites is discussed. These catalysts could be prepared by immobilizing metal cations onto chemically well‐defined substrates, such as metal‐organic frameworks, covalent‐organic frameworks, polyoxometalates, or immobilizing well‐defined molecular catalysts on conducting substrates. A clear perspective on the catalyst's structures contributes to the understanding of structure‐reactivity correlations, which could, in turn, shed light on designing better catalysts. Some methods to assist the electrocatalysis process, such as coupling with solar or heat energy, are also briefly discussed.
Ecosystem service delivery by cover crop mixtures and monocultures is context dependent
Authors: Reiss Emily R. , Drinkwater Laurie E.
Published: May 2020

While cover crops and mixtures are increasingly used to provide ecosystem services in agroecosystems, some fundamental questions remain about how cover crop performance and composition vary in different conditions, limiting optimal cover crop use. We conducted a field experiment at a research farm in New York, including a subset of treatments in three working farm fields. We selected two common cover crops, hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), a legume, and common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), a grass, with multiple cultivars of each. We looked at the effect of cover crop composition spanning intraspecific and grass–legume mixtures on five ecosystem services: cover crop productivity, weed suppression, total biomass nitrogen, soil N retention, and long‐term N supply via legume fixed N. We did not find intraspecific diversity to have an effect on any ecosystem services we measured, nor was that response context dependent. We did observe significant ecosystem service improvements in the grass–legume mixture, though this was context dependent and the performance of the mixture varied relative to the monocultures at different farm sites. Regardless of this interaction however, the grass–legume mixture was as good as or better than either monoculture for all services and sites, except soil N accrual at one site. Consequently, increasing complexity in cover crops through grass–legume mixtures is a low risk practice that may have the potential to deliver ecosystem service outcomes greater than those of monocultures across a range of growing conditions.
NbO2 Memristive Neurons for Burst‐Based Perceptron
Authors: Bo Yeheng , Zhang Peng , Luo Ziqing , Li Shuai , Song Juan , Liu Xinjun
Published: May 2020

Neuromorphic computing using spike‐based learning has broad prospects in reducing computing power. Memristive neurons composed with two locally active memristors have been used to mimic the dynamical behaviors of biological neurons. Herein, the dynamic operating conditions of NbO2‐based memristive neurons and their transformation boundaries between the spiking and the bursting are comprehensively investigated. Furthermore, the underlying mechanism of bursting is analyzed, and the controllability of the number of spikes during each burst period is demonstrated. Finally, pattern classification and information transmitting in a perceptron neural network by using the number of spikes per bursting period to encode information is proposed. The results show a promising approach for the practical implementation of neuristor in spiking neural networks.
Moderne Konzepte der Nanobiotechnologie für mRNA‐Abgabesysteme
Authors: Wang Yue , Yu Chengzhong
Published: May 2020

Die Einführung von mRNA in Zellen hat in vielen Anwendungsbereichen starkes Interesse geweckt, doch für eine erfolgreiche Einführung sind spezifische Lösungen erforderlich. Technisch hergestellte Nanomaterialien wurden bereits als mRNA‐Nanoträger eingesetzt; ihre Funktionen wurden hauptsächlich als Boten konzipiert, aber nur selten auch für die Regulation der Proteintranslation. Jüngste Fortschritte in der Konzipierung von mRNA‐Nanoträgern gehen von einfachen Bereitstellungswerkzeugen zu komplexen Translationsmodulatoren über. In diesem Kurzaufsatz diskutieren wir moderne Konzepte von Nanomaterialien, welche die mRNA‐Translation regulieren, sowie neuere Fortschritte der mRNA‐Bereitstellung. Ebenfalls betrachtet werden spezifisch entwickelte, funktionelle Nanomaterialien für vielseitige mRNA‐Anwendungen, um Erkenntnisse für die Konzipierung von Nanomaterialien der nächsten Generation zu gewinnen, die die mRNA‐Technologie revolutionieren sollen.
Pt–S Bond‐Mediated Nanoflares for High‐Fidelity Intracellular Applications by Avoiding Thiol Cleavage
Authors: Qing Zhihe , Luo Guoyan , Xing Shuohui , Zou Zhen , Lei Yanli , Liu Juewen , Yang Ronghua
Published: May 2020

The Au−S bond is the classic way to functionalize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). However, cleavage of the bond by biothiols and other chemicals is a long‐standing problem hindering practical applications, especially in cells. Instead of replacing the thiol by a carbene or selenol for stronger adsorption, it is now shown that the Pt−S bond is much more stable, fully avoiding cleavage by biothiols. AuNPs were deposited with a thin layer of platinum, and an AuNP@Pt‐S nanoflare was constructed to detect the miRNA‐21 microRNA in living cells. This design retained the optical and cellular uptake properties of DNA‐functionalized AuNPs, while showing high‐fidelity signaling. It discriminated target cancer cells even in a mixed‐cell culture system, where the Au‐S based nanoflare was less sensitive. Compared to previous methods of changing the ligand chemistry, coating a Pt shell is more accessible, and previously developed methods for AuNPs can be directly adapted.
Embedding Functional Biomacromolecules within Peptide‐Directed Metal–Organic Framework (MOF) Nanoarchitectures Enables Activity Enhancement
Authors: Chen Guosheng , Huang Siming , Kou Xiaoxue , Zhu Fang , Ouyang Gangfeng
Published: May 2020

Rationally tailoring a robust artificial coating can enhance the life‐time of fragile biomacromolecules. However, the coating also can restrain the activity of the guest because of the decreased substrate accessibility. Herein, we report a peptide‐directed strategy that enables in situ tailoring of the MOF‐shrouded biohybrids into controllable nanoarchitectures. The MOF biohybrid can be shaped from different 3D microporous architectures into a 2D mesoporous layer by a peptide modulator. Using this mild strategy, we show that the nanoarchitectures of the MOF coatings significantly affect the biological functions of the contained biomacromolecules. The biomacromolecules entrapped within the novel 2D mesoporous spindle‐shaped MOFs (2D MSMOFs) have significantly increased bioactivity compared to when encased within the hitherto explored 3D microporous MOFs. The improvement results from the shortened diffusion path and enlarged pore channel in 2D MSMOFs. Meanwhile, the thin 2D MSMOF layer also can provide excellent protection of the hosted biomacromolecules or protein‐scaffolded biominerals through structural confinement.
Ordered Large‐Pore MesoMOFs Based on Synergistic Effects of TriBlock Polymer and Hofmeister Ion
Authors: Li Ke , Yang Jian , Huang Rong , Lin Shaoliang , Gu Jinlou
Published: May 2020

Ordered mesoporous metal–organic frameworks (mesoMOFs) were constructed with a uniform pore size up to about 10 nm and thick microporous walls, opening up the possibility for the mass diffusion of large‐size molecules through crystalline MOFs. The synergistic effects based on triblock copolymer templates and the Hofmeister salting‐in anions promote the nucleation of stable MOFs in aqueous phase and the in situ crystallization of MOFs around templates, rendering the generation of a microcrystal with periodically arranged large mesopores. The improved mass transfer benefiting from large‐pore channels, together with robust microporous crystalline structure, endows them as an ideal nanoreactor for the highly efficient digestion of various biogenic proteins. This strategy could set a guideline for the rational design of new ordered large‐pore mesoMOFs with a variety of compositions and functionalities and pave a way for their potential applications with biomacromolecules.
Chiral CuxCoyS Nanoparticles under Magnetic Field and NIR Light to Eliminate Senescent Cells
Authors: Li Si , Sun Maozhong , Hao Changlong , Qu Aihua , Wu Xiaoling , Xu Liguang , Xu Chuanlai , Kuang Hua
Published: May 2020

In the present study, chiral CuxCoyS nanoparticles (NPs) were developed to selectively induce apoptosis of senescent cells using both an alternating magnetic field (AMF) and near infrared (NIR) photon illumination. The chiral effects on living cells were investigated, and d‐CuxCoyS NPs showed about 2.5 times higher of internalized ability than l‐NPs. By modifying beta 2 macroglobulin (MG), senescent cells were effectively eliminated by d‐CuxCoyS NPs without damaging the activities of normal cells under AMF and photon illumination. Compared to the individual application of NIR illumination and AMF, their synergistic effect induced the production of caspase‐3 with a much shorter treatment time and higher efficiency due to the more serious photon‐induced cellular redox and mechanical damage of cellular skeleton. Moreover, the developed strategy was successfully used to remove senescent cells in vivo. This study developed a controllable way of regulating cell activities using chiral NPs, which will provide a valuable way for treating diseases and promoting health.
Stabilization of Highly Efficient and Stable Phase‐Pure FAPbI3 Perovskite Solar Cells by Molecularly Tailored 2D‐Overlayers
Authors: Liu Yuhang , Akin Seckin , Hinderhofer Alexander , Eickemeyer Felix T. , Zhu Hongwei , Seo Ji‐Youn , Zhang Jiahuan , Schreiber Frank , Zhang Hong , Zakeeruddin Shaik M. , Hagfeldt Anders , Dar M. Ibrahim , Grätzel Michael
Published: May 2020

As a result of their attractive optoelectronic properties, metal halide APbI3 perovskites employing formamidinium (FA+) as the A cation are the focus of research. The superior chemical and thermal stability of FA+ cations makes α‐FAPbI3 more suitable for solar‐cell applications than methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3). However, its spontaneous conversion into the yellow non‐perovskite phase (δ‐FAPbI3) under ambient conditions poses a serious challenge for practical applications. Herein, we report on the stabilization of the desired α‐FAPbI3 perovskite phase by protecting it with a two‐dimensional (2D) IBA2FAPb2I7 (IBA=iso‐butylammonium overlayer, formed via stepwise annealing. The α‐FAPbI3/IBA2FAPb2I7 based perovskite solar cell (PSC) reached a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of close to 23 %. In addition, it showed excellent operational stability, retaining around 85 % of its initial efficiency under severe combined heat and light stress, that is, simultaneous exposure with maximum power tracking to full simulated sunlight at 80 °C over 500 h.
A Predictive Model Towards Site‐Selective Metalations of Functionalized Heterocycles, Arenes, Olefins, and Alkanes using TMPZnCl⋅LiCl
Authors: Balkenhohl Moritz , Jangra Harish , Makarov Ilya S. , Yang Shu‐Mei , Zipse Hendrik , Knochel Paul
Published: May 2020

The development of a predictive model towards site‐selective deprotometalation reactions using TMPZnCl⋅LiCl is reported (TMP=2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidinyl). The pKa values of functionalized N‐, S‐, and O‐heterocycles, arenes, alkenes, or alkanes were calculated and compared to the experimental deprotonation sites. Large overlap (>80 %) between the calculated and empirical deprotonation sites was observed, showing that thermodynamic factors strongly govern the metalation regioselectivity. In the case of olefins, calculated frozen state energies of the deprotonated substrates allowed a more accurate prediction. Additionally, various new N‐heterocycles were analyzed and the metalation regioselectivities rationalized using the predictive model.
In‐situ Fabrication of Functional Materials inside Porous Fiber using Microwave Selective Heating
Authors: Miyakawa Masato , Shigaraki Chizuru , Nishioka Masateru
Published: May 2020

We developed a simple fabrication method, which can emplace functional materials inside porous fibers. In contrast to conventional impregnation methods or surface coating, various functions can be included inside of natural or synthetic fibers. This fabrication method has three steps. First, the raw material solution is absorbed to the fiber. Then the fiber is immersed and pressurized in immiscible liquids with the raw material solution. Finally, the functional particles are fabricated in‐situ inside of the fiber by a chemical reaction such as microwave selective heating. As a model reaction, we fabricated silver‐nanoparticle‐containing cotton fiber. The elemental silver was distributed inside of the fiber in a cross‐sectional distribution as confirmed by SEM‐EDS. Furthermore, we fabricated fibers with zeolite particles inside of porous PTFE fibers.
Bayesian interval mapping of count trait loci based on zero‐inflated generalized Poisson regression model
Authors: Chi Jinling , Zhou Ying , Chen Lili , Zhou Yajing
Published: May 2020

Count phenotypes with excessive zeros are often observed in the biological world. Researchers have studied many statistical methods for mapping the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) of zero‐inflated count phenotypes. However, most of the existing methods consist of finding the approximate positions of the QTLs on the chromosome by genome‐wide scanning. Additionally, most of the existing methods use the EM algorithm for parameter estimation. In this paper, we propose a Bayesian interval mapping scheme of QTLs for zero‐inflated count data. The method takes advantage of a zero‐inflated generalized Poisson (ZIGP) regression model to study the influence of QTLs on the zero‐inflated count phenotype. The MCMC algorithm is used to estimate the effects and position parameters of QTLs. We use the Haldane map function to realize the conversion between recombination rate and map distance. Monte Carlo simulations are conducted to test the applicability and advantage of the proposed method. The effects of QTLs on the formation of mouse cholesterol gallstones were demonstrated by analyzing an mouse data set.
Assessment of associations between clinical and immune microenvironmental factors and tumor mutation burden in resected nonsmall cell lung cancer by applying machine learning to whole‐slide images
Authors: Ono Akira , Terada Yukihiro , Kawata Takuya , Serizawa Masakuni , Isaka Mitsuhiro , Kawabata Takanori , Imai Toru , Mori Keita , Muramatsu Koji , Hayashi Isamu , Kenmotsu Hirotsugu , Ohshima Keiichi , Urakami Kenichi , Nagashima Takeshi , Kusuhara Masatoshi , Akiyama Yasuto , Sugino Takashi , Ohde Yasuhisa , Yamaguchi Ken , Takahashi Toshiaki
Published: May 2020

Background

It is unclear whether clinical factors and immune microenvironment (IME) factors are associated with tumor mutation burden (TMB) in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Materials and methods

We assessed TMB in surgical tumor specimens by performing whole exome sequencing. IME profiles, including PD‐L1 tumor proportion score (TPS), stromal CD8 tumor‐infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) density, and stromal Foxp3 TIL density, were quantified by digital pathology using a machine learning algorithm. To detect factors associated with TMB, clinical data, and IME factors were assessed by means of a multiple regression model.

Results

We analyzed tumors from 200 of the 246 surgically resected NSCLC patients between September 2014 and September 2015. Patient background: median age (range) 70 years (39‐87); male 37.5%; smoker 27.5%; pathological stage (p‐stage) I/II/III, 63.5/22.5/14.0%; histological type Ad/Sq, 77.0/23.0%; primary tumor location upper/lower, 58.5/41.5%; median PET SUV 7.5 (0.86‐29.8); median serum CEA (sCEA) level 3.4 ng/mL (0.5‐144.3); median serum CYFRA 21‐1 (sCYFRA) level 1.2 ng/mL (1.0‐38.0); median TMB 2.19/ Mb (0.12‐64.38); median PD‐L1 TPS 15.1% (0.09‐77.4); median stromal CD8 TIL density 582.1/mm2 (120.0‐4967.6);, and median stromal Foxp3 TIL density 183.7/mm2 (6.3‐544.0).

The multiple regression analysis identified three factors associated with higher TMB: smoking status: smoker, increase PET SUV, and sCEA level: >5 ng/mL (P < .001, P < .001, and P = .006, respectively).

Conclusions

The IME factors assessed were not associated with TMB, but our findings showed that, in addition to smoking, PET SUV and sCEA levels may be independent predictors of TMB. TMB and IME factors are independent factors in resected NSCLC.
Sulforaphane ameliorates serum starvation‐induced muscle atrophy via activation of the Nrf2 pathway in cultured C2C12 cells
Authors: Moon Jae Yun , Kim Da Jeong , Kim Hye Sun
Published: May 2020

Oxidative stress, an imbalance of redox homeostasis, contributes to the pathogenesis and progress of muscle atrophy. However, it is debated whether oxidative stress is a cause or consequence of muscle atrophy. In this study, we investigated the relationship between menadione‐induced oxidative stress and serum starvation‐induced muscle atrophy in C2C12 myotubes. We found that atrophic phenotypes including myotube diameter decrease, protein ubiquitination, and the expression of atrogenes were detected under oxidative stress as well as during serum starvation. Oxidative stress during serum starvation was assessed to confirm the correlation. Both intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and protein oxidation were increased in atrophic myotubes. These results indicate that menadione‐induced oxidative stress triggers muscle atrophy and vice versa. Nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key regulator of cellular response to oxidative stress and it is considered to have a cytoprotective role in the mitigation of muscle atrophy. Transcription of heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) and NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase‐1, target genes of Nrf2, was decreased during serum starvation, which is related to decreased nuclear translocation of Nrf2. Pre‐treatment of sulforaphane (SFN), a known Nrf2 inducer, before serum starvation showed a protective effect via Nrf2/HO‐1 upregulation. SFN can liberate Nrf2 from Keap1, enabling the nuclear translocation of Nrf2. Consequently, the expression of HO‐1 increased and intracellular ROS was significantly reduced by SFN pre‐treatment. These results demonstrate that oxidative stress mediates the pathophysiology of muscle atrophy, which can be improved via upregulation of the Nrf2‐mediated antioxidant response.
Effect of concomitant aortic regurgitation on early hypo‐attenuated leaflet thickening after transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis
Authors: Xiong Tian‐Yuan , Liao Yan‐Biao , Li Yi‐Jian , Chen Fei , Li Xi , Wang Zi‐Jie , Wang Xi , Ou Yuanweixiang , Li Qiao , Wei Jia‐Fu , Peng Yong , Meng Wei , Feng Yuan , Chen Mao
Published: May 2020

Objective

We hypothesize that different degree of pre‐existing aortic regurgitation (AR) may affect the presence of hypo‐attenuated leaflet thickening (HALT) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Background

The mechanism of the presence of HALT post‐TAVR is not fully understood.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated the post‐procedural multi‐slice computed tomography (MSCT) before discharge for evidence of HALT. Patients were grouped according to the degree of pre‐existing AR. Baseline, native anatomy and procedure details were compared, then multivariate regression was performed.

Results

MSCT analyzed was performed at a median of 6 days post‐TAVR in 179 patients. HALT was detected in 10.6% of patients. After adjusting for variables that were significantly different between groups, pre‐existing ≥ moderate AR was protective to the risk of HALT (OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.03–0.84, p = .03). Stratifying for factors that might explain the impact of pre‐existing AR on HALT, patients with a small Sinus of Valsalva, non‐eccentric remodeling and receiving a large bioprosthesis experienced a sevenfold higher risk for HALT (OR 7.16, 95% CI 2.05–25.08, p = .002).

Conclusions

Patients underwent TAVR with pre‐existing ≥ moderate AR appeared to experience a lower incidence of early HALT compared to those patients with less than moderate AR, which may be explained by a larger Sinus of Valsalva and a higher proportion of LV eccentric remodeling.
An unusual cause of difficulty in walking downstairs: Focal task‐specific dystonia in the lower limb
Authors: Hasegawa Takafumi
Published: May 2020

Stair‐specific FTSD in the lower limb is very rare. Most patients show dystonic posture when walking downstairs rather than upstairs.
Measuring transfer of training: Review and implications for future research
Authors: Schoeb Geneviève , Lafrenière‐Carrier Benjamin , Lauzier Martin , Courcy François
Published: May 2020

Research on transfer of training (training transfer) has flourished in recent years. Given the absence so far of any comprehensive review of the various transfer measurement instruments used, a systematic review of research to date was performed. Three main findings emerged from the 51 studies reviewed: (1) there is a divergence between the definitions of transfer described in the studies and the concept of transfer reflected in the measurement instruments; (2) there are many different kinds of measurement instruments; and (3) scant information has been published on the parameters of the training whose transfer is being measured. In light of these findings, a research agenda is proposed for evaluating training transfer.
Histological phenotypic subtypes predict recurrence risk and response to adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage III colorectal cancer
Authors: Roseweir Antonia K , Park James H , Hoorn Sanne ten , Powell Arfon GMT , Aherne Susan , Roxburgh Campbell SD , McMillan Donald C , Horgan Paul G , Ryan Elizabeth , Sheahan Kieran , Vermeulen Louis , Paul James , Harkin Andrea , Graham Janet , Sansom Owen , Church David N , Tomlinson Ian , Saunders Mark , Iveson Tim J , Edwards Joanne
Published: May 2020

Histological ‘phenotypic subtypes’ that classify patients into four groups (immune, canonical, latent and stromal) have previously been demonstrated to stratify survival in a stage I–III colorectal cancer (CRC) pilot cohort. However, clinical utility has not yet been validated. Therefore, this study assessed prognostic value of these subtypes in additional patient cohorts along with associations with risk of recurrence and response to chemotherapy. Two independent stage I–III CRC patient cohorts (internal and external cohort) were utilised to investigate phenotypic subtypes. The primary endpoint was disease‐free survival (DFS) and the secondary endpoint was recurrence risk (RR). Stage II–III patients, from the SCOT adjuvant chemotherapy trial, were utilised to further validate prognostic value and for exploratory analysis assessing associations with adjuvant chemotherapy. In an 893‐patient internal cohort, phenotypic subtype independently associated with DFS (p = 0.025) and this was attenuated in stage III patients (p = 0.020). Phenotypic subtype also independently associated with RR (p < 0.001) in these patients. In a 146‐patient external cohort, phenotypic subtype independently stratified patients by DFS (p = 0.028), validating their prognostic value. In 1343 SCOT trial patients, the effect of treatment type significantly depended on phenotypic subtype (pinteraction = 0.011). Phenotypic subtype independently associated with DFS in stage III patients receiving FOLFOX (p = 0.028). Furthermore, the immune subtype significantly associated with better response to FOLFOX compared to CAPOX adjuvant chemotherapy in stage III patients (p = 0.013). In conclusion, histological phenotypic subtypes are an effective prognostic classification in patients with stage III CRC that associates with risk of recurrence and response to FOLFOX adjuvant chemotherapy.
Variations on a theme: Morphological variation in the secondary eye visual pathway across the order of Araneae
Authors: Long Skye M.
Published: May 2020

Spiders possess a wide array of sensory‐driven behaviors and therefore provide rich models for studying evolutionary hypotheses about the relationship between brain morphology, sensory systems, and behavior. Despite this, only a handful of studies have examined brain variation across the order of Araneae. In this study, I present descriptions of the gross brain morphology for 19 families of spiders that vary in eye morphology. Spiders showed the most variation in the secondary eye visual pathway. Based on this variation, spiders could be categorized into four groups. Group 1 spiders had small, underdeveloped laminae, no medullae, and no mushroom bodies. Group 2 spiders had large laminae, no medullae and large mushroom bodies. Group 3 spiders had laminae and some evidence of reduced medullae and mushroom bodies. Group 4 spiders had the most complex systems, with large laminae, medullae formed from optical glomeruli, and robust mushroom bodies. Within groups, there was large variation in the shape and size of individual regions, indicating possible variation in neuronal organization. The possible evolutionary implications of the loss of a dedicated olfactory organ in spiders and its effects on the mushroom body are also discussed.
Ultralight, Highly Compressible Graphene Cellular Materials with Enhanced Mechanical and Electrical Performance
Authors: Qian Jiahao , Bi Hui , Wan Dongyun , Huang Fuqiang
Published: May 2020

Conventional three‐dimensional graphene cellular materials (GCMs) from chemically derived graphene oxide undergo low mechanical strength, severe plastic deformation and poor electrical conductivity. Herein, ultralight, ultraelastic, excellent mechanical and electrically conductive GCMs have been successfully prepared by the self‐assembly of graphene nanosheets by extensive hydrogen bonds generated from a glycolic acid crosslinker. Meanwhile, ethanol‐water solution is used to dramatically restrict the volume expansion of water converting into ice crystal during the freeze process. Eventually, the GCMs exhibit ultralow densities of about 4.3 mg cm−3, and can be fabricated on a large scale (volume of ∼350 cm3). The GCMs have a maximum reversible strain of ca. 90% in the whole density range from 4.3 mg cm−3 to 25.3 mg cm−3. Young's moduli (E) are from 13.7 kPa (ρ=4.3 mg cm−3) to 125.1 kPa (ρ=25.3 mg cm−3), with the scale of E∼ρ2.1, and the exponent n is less than the GCMs previously reported. The GCMs also have high electrical conductivities of about 98.1 S/m (ρ=25.3 mg cm−3). Our work provides a facile method for the fabrication of ultralight, highly compressible and conductive GCMs, paving the way towards future potential applications in energy storage and conversions, adsorbents for the environment, etc.
Highly Sensitive Upconverting Nanoplatform for Luminescent Thermometry from Ambient to Cryogenic Temperature
Authors: Mukhuti Kingshuk , Adusumalli V. N. K. B. , Koppisetti Heramba V. S. R. M. , Bansal Bhavtosh , Mahalingam Venkataramanan
Published: May 2020

Precise assessment of temperature is crucial in many physical, technological, and biological applications where optical thermometry has attracted considerable attention primarily due to fast response, contactless measurement route, and electromagnetic passivity. Rare‐earth‐doped thermographic phosphors that rely on ratiometric sensing are very efficient near and above room temperature. However, being dependent on the thermally‐assisted migration of carriers to higher excited states, they are largely limited by the quenching of the activation mechanism at low temperatures. In this paper, we demonstrate a strategy to pass through this bottleneck by designing a linear colorimetric thermometer by which we could estimate down to 4 K. The change in perceptual color fidelity metric provides an accurate measure for the sensitivity of the thermometer that attains a maximum value of 0.86 K−1. Thermally coupled states in Er3+are also used as a ratiometric sensor from room temperature to ∼140 K. The results obtained in this work clearly show that Yb3+−Er3+co‐doped NaGdF4microcrystals are a promising system that enables reliable bimodal thermometry in a very wide temperature range from ultralow (4 K) to ambient (290 K) conditions.
#FNAFriday: How cytopathologists learn, teach, and share knowledge on Twitter
Authors: Expósito‐Afonso Idaira J. , Alcaraz‐Mateos Eduardo , Labiano Tania , Pijuan Lara , Temprana‐Salvador Jordi , Fitzhugh Valerie , Fuller Maren , Madrigal Emilio , Walavalkar Vighnesh , Baloch Zubair W. , Jiang Xiaoyin (Sara)
Published: May 2020

Background

Twitter is an expanding social media network among cytopathologists to share knowledge. Tweets are made up of text which may also include images or video. All tweets labeled under a hashtag can be tracked. The #FNAFriday hashtag was created in 2015 by one of the authors (X.J.) to build a community of individuals, to educate and share interesting cases, and highlight a variety of diagnoses with FNA specimens.

Methods

We retrospectively extracted all tweets labeled with #FNAFriday from April 2015 to mid‐February 2019 (47 mo) using the Twitter search engine. The data point included: author, number of figures, type of cytology‐stain, use of immunocytochemistry, histochemistry or molecular techniques, and the subspeciality. The educational content was categorized as: live‐tweeting, training activities, and publication references. The number if comments, retweets and likes was also recorded.

Results

A total of 349 original tweets using #FNAFriday were tracked with an average of 7.43 tweets/month. We describe the “top three” countries with most tweets, active users and subspecialties. The most frequent stain was Papanicolau and part of the content of the tweets was using cellblock (14.04%), histologic correlation (10.03%), immunocytochemistry (8.60%), molecular tests (2.01%), gross pictures (4.58%), and radiologic pictures (3.4%).

Conclusion

The presence of cytopathologists on Twitter who want to share their cases has increased. The weekly FNAFriday label with other cytology hashtags is a specific keyword for those interested in the field.
Implement success strategies for supervising staff members working remotely
Authors: McCarthy Claudine
Published: May 2020

As more staff members find themselves having to adapt to working from home, supervisors also need to adjust by tweaking their strategies for keeping staff connected, motivated, and productive, while also promoting everyone's overall well‐being.
Evaluating cetacean body condition; a review of traditional approaches and new developments
Authors: Castrillon Juliana , Bengtson Nash Susan
Published: May 2020

The ability to accurately gauge the body condition of free‐swimming cetaceans is invaluable in population and conservation biology, due to the direct implications that this measure has on individual fitness, survival, and reproductive success. Furthermore, monitoring temporal change in body condition offers insight into foraging success over time, and therefore the health of the supporting ecosystem, as well as a species’ resilience. These parameters are particularly relevant in the context of widespread and accelerated, climate‐induced habitat change. There are, however, significant logistical challenges involved with research and monitoring of large cetaceans, which often preclude direct measure of body condition of live individuals. Consequently, a wide variety of indirect approaches, or proxies, for estimating energetic stores have been proposed over past decades. To date, no single, standardized, approach has been shown to serve as a robust estimation of body condition across species, age categories, and in both live and dead individuals. Nonetheless, it is clear that streamlining and advancing body condition measures would carry significant benefits for diverse areas of cetacean research and management. Here, we review traditional approaches and new applications for the evaluation of cetacean energetic reserves. Specific attention is given to the criteria of measure performance (sensitivity and accuracy), level of invasiveness, cost and effort required for implementation, as well as versatility e.g. applicability across different species, age groups, as well as living versus deceased animals. Measures have been benchmarked against these criteria in an effort to identify key candidates for further development, and key research priorities in the field.
Tail associations in ecological variables and their impact on extinction risk
Authors: Ghosh Shyamolina , Sheppard Lawrence W. , Reuman Daniel C.
Published: May 2020

Extreme climatic events (ECEs) are becoming more frequent and more intense due to climate change. Furthermore, there is reason to believe ECEs may modify "tail associations" between distinct population vital rates, or between values of an environmental variable measured in different locations. "Tail associations" between two variables are associations that occur between values in the left or right tails of the distributions of the variables. Two positively associated variables can be principally "left‐tail associated" (i.e., more correlated when they take low values than when they take high values) or "right‐tail associated" (more correlated when they take high than low values), even with the same overall correlation coefficient in both cases. We tested, in the context of non‐spatial stage‐structured matrix models, whether tail associations between stage‐specific vital rates may influence extinction risk. We also tested whether the nature of spatial tail associations of environmental variables can influence metapopulation extinction risk. For instance, if low values of an environmental variable reduce the growth rates of local populations, one may expect that left‐tail associations increase metapopulation extinction risks because then environmental "catastrophes" are spatially synchronized, presumably reducing the potential for rescue effects. For the non‐spatial, stage‐structured models we considered, left‐tail associations between vital rates did accentuate extinction risk compared to right‐tail associations, but the effect was small. In contrast, we showed that density dependence interacts with tail associations to influence metapopulation extinction risk substantially: For population models showing undercompensatory density dependence, left‐tail associations in environmental variables often strongly accentuated and right‐tail associations mitigated extinction risk, whereas the reverse was usually true for models showing overcompensatory density dependence. Tail associations and their asymmetries are taken into account in assessing risks in finance and other fields, but to our knowledge, our study is one of the first to consider how tail associations influence population extinction risk. Our modeling results provide an initial demonstration of a new mechanism influencing extinction risks and, in our view, should help motivate more comprehensive study of the mechanism and its importance for real populations in future work.
Functionalized Hexahydropyrrolo[2,1‐b]oxazoles from Catalyst‐Free Annulation of Δ1‐Pyrrolines with Electron‐Deficient Propargylic Alcohols
Authors: Oparina Ludmila A. , Shabalin Dmitrii A. , Mal'kina Anastasiya G. , Kolyvanov Nikita A. , Grishchenko Lyudmila A. , Ushakov Igor' A. , Vashchenko Alexander V. , Trofimov Boris A.
Published: May 2020

Electron‐deficient propargylic alcohols (EWG = CN, C(O)Ph, CO2Me, C(O)NH2) under catalyst‐free mild conditions are annulated with Δ1‐pyrrolines to afford functionalized hexahydropyrrolo[2,1‐b]oxazoles, mostly in 19–93 % yield. The synthesis is stereoselective with respect to disposition of functionalized ethenyl group relative to the condensed heterocyclic system thus formed in most cases. This methodology provides a simple one‐pot access to a novel family of synthetically and pharmaceutically prospective.
Hand tool handle size and shape determination based on hand measurements using a contour gauge
Authors: Wang Ching‐Yi , Cai Deng‐Chuan
Published: May 2020

The purpose of this study is to provide a novel approach to tool handle design and development based on measurements of hand shape using a contour gauge. In general, traditional design techniques, designing based on anthropometric data, and derived mathematical models do not incorporate enough subject data to design a customized product. First, anthropometric measurements on the right hand of 60 participants were collected with a contour gauge to manufacture matching handles. A curved handle fitting the human hand was constructed with common computer‐aided design software, and cylindrical handles and elliptical handles were added for comparison. All of the handles were used to record the participants' grip force to evaluate the operating efficiency of the handles. Finally, the participants completed a comfort‐rating questionnaire. The results show that contours based on the hand provided the highest operating performance and the best overall comfort‐rating compared to cylindrical handles and elliptical cylindrical handles. The newly developed handles in the grip force tasks have the highest push performance and the best comfort ratings compared to traditional cylindrical and elliptical handles. The developed handles could provide the hand tool industry information on developing and manufacturing many other similar handle designs (such as those for saws and electric screwdrivers).