bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and Evaluation of Corn Milk Based Fermented Milk Inoculated with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum
Authors: Tshering Samten , Angadi Viswanatha , Ramkumar C , Purushotham K
Published: November 2024

In the present study, the fermented drink is based on the corn milk and the bovine milk which got enormous nutritional and health benefits. In the mixture of pasteurized corn milk and bovine milk, mother culture containing the 2% of pure probiotic strain of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum was inoculated aseptically and allowed to ferment at 37℃ for 6–8 hrs. Fermented mixture was then sweetened with honey and flavoured with vanilla essence for its final tuning of the flavour. Sensory evaluation was carried out to study the consumer acceptance of the product. Results for microbiological parameters were found in compliance with the microbial safety standard of food products. Product had 15.47% protein, 3.83% total sugar and 1.47% total lipids. The initial values for the pH were recorded at 4.9 ± 0.02 and titratable acidity at 0.319 % lactic acid. Shelf- life study of the product was conducted by examining the variation of  Lactobacillus counts on MRS agar plates. Lactic acid produced from the Lactobacillus bacteria metabolism causes variation in titratable acidity and pH. These variations also indicated shelf life of the product.
Evaluation of the Effects of Rhizobia on Nodulation, Yield and Yield Components of Faba Bean
Authors: Mebrahtu Samrawit
Published: November 2024

Leguminous plants are able to establish nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with certain Gram-negative bacteria, collectively known as rhizobia. Rhizobia are indeed highly efficient bacterial symbionts in legumes, playing a crucial role in biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). However, in the Tahtay Maychew area in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, no research has been done on the inoculation of grain legumes with rhizobium bacteria and the addition of phosphorus fertilizer. Therefore, during the 2015 rainy season, a study was carried out to investigate the effects of phosphorus fertilizer and rhizobium strains on the phenological parameters, nodulation, growth, yield, and yield-components of faba beans. A randomized complete block design with three replications was used to set up seven treatments: uninoculated, Strain1035, Strain1018, Strain EAL110, Strain1035 + 50 kg DAP ha-1, Strain1018 + 50 kg DAP ha-1, and Strain EAL110 + 50 kg DAP ha-1.The data analysis showed that, almost in comparison to the other treatments, the combined effects of EAL110 and 50 kg ha-1 DAP fertilizer produced a considerably larger difference in effective nodule number per plant, plant height, pod number per plant, and grain yield. The combination of 50 kg ha-1 DAP fertilizer with faba bean EAL110 strain increased grain yield by 52.17% compared to the control treatment. Hence, EAL110 and 50 kg ha-1 DAP fertilizer are recommended for use in the study area and other similar locations.
Assessment of Yield and Quality Traits of Tomato Hybrids Across Varied Planting Dates in Southern Telangana, India
Authors: Chaitanya Kadarla , Kumar A. Kiran , Cheena J. , Naik B. Balaji , Mahadevappa S.G. , Kumar K. Avil , Devi M. Uma
Published: November 2024

This study evaluates the yield and quality traits of three tomato hybrids—US-440, PHS-448, and Heemsona—across varying planting dates under semi-arid conditions in Southern Telangana. Conducted at the Water Technology Centre, PJTSAU, Hyderabad, the research employed a Factorial Randomized Block Design, focusing on eight transplanting dates between March and October 2020. Significant differences were observed in several parameters, including average fruit weight, number of fruits per plant, total yield, and quality traits such as total soluble solids (TSS) and ascorbic acid content. The mid-October planting (D7) resulted in the highest average fruit weight (66.12 g) and yield (61.94 t ha⁻¹), highlighting this period as the most favorable for optimal productivity. Hybrid Heemsona consistently outperformed the others, achieving the highest yield (47.96 t ha⁻¹) and TSS (3.99° Brix), demonstrating its potential for both quantity and quality. However, the study revealed a trade-off between quality traits and yield, with TSS and ascorbic acid content inversely related to yield performance. Additionally, higher nitrogen uptake and dry matter production were linked to the D7 planting, stressing the importance of nutrient management during this critical planting window. The findings underscore the significance of selecting the appropriate planting date to enhance tomato production in semi-arid regions, providing valuable insights for growers aiming to balance yield and quality. This research offers practical guidance for optimizing tomato cultivation through strategic planting and hybrid selection.
A Review on Role of Root Exudates in Shaping Plant-Microbe-Pathogen Interactions
Authors: Hiremath Shivanand S. , Prasanna Narsing Laxmi , S Sudhakar , M Arvind , C.K. Akshaya , Nigam Rashmi , Kumar Sanjay , Elangovan Marimuthu
Published: November 2024

Root exudates are diverse compounds secreted by plant roots that significantly influence the rhizosphere-where complex interactions among plants, microbes, and pathogens occur. These exudates include sugars, amino acids, organic acids, phenolics, and volatile organic compounds, which collectively shape the microbial community structure in the soil. By attracting beneficial microbes like rhizobia, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), root exudates enhance nutrient acquisition, promote plant growth, and improve resistance to environmental stresses. Exudates can directly inhibit pathogens through the release of antimicrobial compounds such as benzoxazinoids and phenolics or indirectly by priming plant immune responses and inducing systemic resistance. Environmental factors like nutrient availability, soil pH, texture, and abiotic stressors (e.g., drought, salinity, and heavy metals) profoundly impact the composition and quantity of root exudates, thereby influencing their ecological functions. Phosphorus and iron deficiencies trigger the secretion of organic acids to mobilize these nutrients, while drought and salinity alter exudation patterns to recruit drought-tolerant microbes. Despite their potential, studying root exudates presents technical challenges, such as isolating exudates in natural soil systems and analyzing them with sufficient precision. Knowledge gaps also exist regarding the temporal dynamics of exudation and how these compounds influence multi-species plant-microbe interactions under field conditions. Future research should focus on breeding crops with optimized root exudate profiles for enhanced nutrient uptake, pathogen resistance, and resilience to climate change. Leveraging root exudates in developing biofertilizers, biostimulants, and integrated pest management (IPM) strategies can reduce the reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, promoting sustainable agriculture. By manipulating root exudates, we can improve soil health, increase crop productivity, and support sustainable farming practices in a changing climate. As global agriculture faces challenges from soil degradation, climate variability, and food security demands, root exudates offer an eco-friendly approach to enhancing soil fertility, boosting plant resilience, and reducing agricultural inputs, thus contributing to more sustainable and resilient agroecosystems.
Helicobacter pylori Infection in Children with Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding at Tanta University Hospital, Egypt
Authors: Shoeib Hadeer Mamdoh , Amin Saleh Mohamed , Shareef Mohamed Moustafa , Ata Dina Shawky
Published: November 2024

Background: In children, upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a potentially dangerous and fatal clinical disease. The fact that the majority of risk factors for infection are strongly associated with substandard living circumstances provides evidence in favour of the oral-oral or fecal-oral pathways of H. pylori transmission. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection in kids who had been diagnosed with UGIB and to compare the results of the endoscopy with the infection.
Methods: This prospective, case-control cross- sectional study was carried out on 70 children aged <18 years old, both sexes, with upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) bleeding in the form of hematemesis, melena, or both and 30 healthy children as control. Gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed on each patient, and stool samples were tested for the H. pylori antigen. Results: Patients with H. pylori infection were positively correlated with age, and older patients had a considerably higher presentation rate of H. pylori infection.
Low socio-economic standard level, large family members, family history and epigastric abdominal pain were significantly high in h. pylori positive group. The history of umbilical catheterization, percentage of splenomegaly and hepatosplenomegaly was significantly higher in variceal group. Mean hemoglobin level, total serum protein and serum albumin was significantly lower in variceal group.
Conclusions: 26 (37%) cases with upper GI bleeding had H. pylori infection. H. pylori-infected patients were older, had larger family size, family history of H. pylori infection and lower standard of living than H. pylori-negative patients. They had lower serum hemoglobin level and presenting with abdominal pain(epigastric). H. pylori infected patients had endoscopic findings mostly gastritis (56%) and peptic ulcer (53%).
Research and Applications of Knowledge Graphs in the Power Sector: A Review
Authors: Guo Tong
Published: November 2024

With the rapid development of science and technology, power system has become the lifeblood of modern society, an increasingly large power system complicates the management, operation, and maintenance of the grid. In order to effectively use a large number of operating data and prior knowledge of power system, the knowledge graph is introduced into the field of power systems. This paper introduces the research and application of knowledge graph in power system and emphasizes the importance of knowledge graphs in addressing the increasing complexity of power systems and the rising demand for intelligence, the knowledge graph integrates heterogeneous data in a structured way, which helps to improve the technical level of power system management and control, especially in fault diagnosis, equipment monitoring and market transactions. This paper first introduces the basic concept, construction method and main application scenarios of knowledge graph in power system, including data management, equipment operation and maintenance, power system operation management and decision support, Through specific examples, such as a question-answering system for identifying defects in power equipment based on knowledge graphs, the identification method of transmission line missing bolts, intelligent planning of distribution network, etc., the paper shows knowledge graph can effectively improve the operation efficiency and management level of power system. Finally, the paper looks forward to the future development trend of knowledge graph in power system, points out its broad application prospects in smart grid construction, multidisciplinary cross integration and other fields, and emphasizes the importance of knowledge graph for promoting the intelligent development of power system.
Assessment of Dairy Farmers' Knowledge Regarding Good Dairy Farming Practices in Uttar Pradesh, India
Authors: Singh Awadhesh Kumar , Shelar Rohit , Naik Boda Mahesh , Singh Arun Kumar
Published: November 2024

Dairy farming is essential for households with low and moderate-income, serving as a crucial component of both subsistence and commercial farming. The dairy sector holds significant potential and offers ample opportunities to enhance the socio-economic status of farmers due to its ability to generate higher productivity and profits within a shorter timeframe compared to other businesses. The study was conducted to measure dairy farmers' knowledge level regarding good dairy farming practices in Uttar Pradesh. Being the highest milk-producing state in India, Uttar Pradesh was selected purposively for the study. Further selection of districts, blocks, and villages for two each was done randomly. While selecting respondents, 10 percent of dairy farmers from the total household of each village were considered under a proportionate random sampling method. The criteria of the respondents were the dairy farmers should have at least one lactating dairy animal at the time of investigation. From the study, it was observed that 64.85 percent of respondents had knowledge about how many days is the colostrum-free milk available from animals and 81.21 percent of respondents knew about animals going to repeat their heat cycle. The majority (97.88%) of respondents had knowledge about colostrums feeding to newborn calves and 62.42 percent respondents had knowledge about special bedding for newborn calves. 84.24 percent of respondents had knowledge about ill animals and 56.36 percent of respondents had knowledge about the proper disposal of dung. 94.24 percent of respondents knew how many workers manage 5 animals on their farm. 48.79 percent of respondents had overall knowledge about good dairy farming practices. Study identified require a clear strengthening of extension services through targeted training programs to improve the knowledge of key practices among the farming community. Another low awareness is about schemes by the government on support to farmers in terms of finances and technical means. This can be improved through better communication channels by working with local cooperatives and NGOs.
CIGE – INSPIRAÇÃO, AFETOS E FORMAÇÃO INVESTIGATIVA: COMO O FEMINISMO NO NEIM SE PROJETA PARA O FUTURO
Authors: Silva Sandra Maria Cerqueira da , Cruz Izaura Santiago da , Lima e Souza Ângela Maria Freire de
Published: November 2024

Este texto-colcha é composto de recortes emocionados de vida. As narrativas apresentadas nesse artigo “costuram” 10 anos de existência do Grupo de Pesquisa em Ciência, Gênero e Educação, o nosso CIGE. Utilizando de agulhas das opressões, linhas que costuram saberes e retalhos das epistemologias feministas estabelecemos para este caminhar conjunto uma forma particular de fazer ciência. Para essa costura entrelaçamos os depoimentos das pessoas que dão corpo ao grupo nos dias de hoje. Emerge do bordar de palavras críticas aos modos de produção e de transmissão de conhecimento da ciência moderna e novas proposições de lentes para ver o mundo. Para combinar ‘pedaços’ e acolher diferenças, dialogamos com autoras e autores em torno da ideia de “escritas de si”. Isto, com a expectativa de produzir narrativas que deem relevo às experiências partilhadas pelas partes-pessoas dentro de um processo de formação compartilhada de pesquisadoras/es em um contexto fundamentalmente feminista.
OS DEBATES HISTORIOGRÁFICOS SOBRE OS FEMINISMOS DA ‘SEGUNDA ONDA’ NA CONTEMPORANEIDADE
Authors: Rosalen Eloisa , Pedro Joana Maria
Published: November 2024

Este artigo tem como objetivo refletir sobre os debates historiográficos, as interconexões dos feminismos e as contribuições teóricas na contemporaneidade, no que tange ao período das década de 1970 e 1980 ou aquilo que foi definido como feminismo de ‘segunda onda’. As análises serão feitas a partir de uma perspectiva histórica que busca considerar as descontinuidades, as rupturas e as relações de poder existentes no interior do próprio movimento social e as novas contribuições narrativas sobre o passado no Brasil. Dialoga-se com as epistemologias feministas e busca-se, de forma didática, apresentar um panorama de como os debates têm sido (re)constituídos, questionados e (re)analizados a partir dos novos contextos historiográficos.
FEMINISMO ESTATAL REPRESENTATIVO: UM CONCEITO ÚTIL PARA A ANÁLISE DAS INTERAÇÕES ENTRE OS MOVIMENTOS FEMINISTAS E O LEGISLATIVO
Authors: Rodrigues Sanchez Beatriz
Published: November 2024

O objetivo do presente artigo, de caráter teórico, é desenvolver um conceito útil para a análise das interações entre os movimentos sociais e o poder Legislativo, a partir do estudo de caso da relação entre os movimentos feministas e o Congresso Nacional no Brasil. Para isso, parto de três conceitos já existentes na literatura (feminismo estatal, ativismo institucional e encaixes institucionais), e proponho o conceito de feminismo estatal representativo. Assim, filio-me a uma crescente produção acadêmica que tem se dedicado a alargar e aprofundar as lentes teóricas dos estudos sobre a institucionalização dos movimentos sociais no Estado, indo além da dicotomia contestação versus cooptação.
POR UMA NARRATIVA FEMININA NA HISTÓRIA DO ROCK
Authors: De Almeida Patrícia Matos
Published: November 2024

Este texto tem como objetivo evidenciar as trajetórias de algumas artistas que foram importantes para o nascimento e constituição do gênero musical rock, em níveis internacional e nacional. O nosso problema partiu da inquietação acerca das narrativas que contam a história desta musicalidade que, quase sempre, evidenciaram apenas as contribuições masculinas. Muitas trajetórias femininas, especialmente de artistas negras, foram silenciadas e acreditamos que esta questão precisa ser debatida. Desta forma, este texto deseja provocar uma disputa de narrativa acerca da história do rock and roll para que as artistas femininas tenham suas contribuições reconhecidas. E que isto se expanda para além da música, mas para tudo o que envolve a sociedade cujas simetrias de gênero se encontram presentes. Palavras chaves: rock; história; narrativas; artistas femininas.
APRENDE QUEM ENSINA” E “O CANTO É CORAL”: VOZES FEMININAS EM CONTEXTOS MUSICAIS E PANDÊMICOS
Authors: Cavalcanti Vanessa Ribeiro Simon , Rocha da Silva Cunha Bruna
Published: November 2024

Tendo como marcadores as categorias juventudes, educação e direitos humanos, as duas últimas décadas foram de intensificação de agendas públicas para o cenário brasileiro e baiano. De caráter interdisciplinar e empírica, objetiva-se investigar o acesso aos Direitos Humanos de participantes jovens dos Núcleos Estaduais de Orquestras Juvenis e Infantis da Bahia (NEOJIBA), em contextos familiares e sociais. Em abordagem qualitativa e multirreferencial, a fundamentação está atrelada às Epistemologias Feministas, sendo a metodologia elaborada e executada em etapas: observação espontânea; observação e aproximação participante; acompanhamento e coleta através de netnografias qualitativas, com base na formação educativa e "encontro com famílias" e, por último, entrevistas semiestruturadas individuais realizadas a partir de uma amostragem representativa de experiências múltiplas com dez integrantes (mães e jovens). Os resultados encontrados sugerem que participantes do programa identificam e reconhecem integração social e familiar, bem como acessibilidade às dimensões dos direitos humanos (com destaque à educação, à cidadania e à justiça social).
DIREITOS HUMANOS DAS MULHERES E PODER POLÍTICO NA BOLÍVIA: CONTRADIÇÕES NO CONTEXTO HISTÓRICO DO NOVO CONSTITUCIONALISMO LATINO-AMERICANO
Authors: HARDT SCHREINER FLAVIA
Published: November 2024

O presente artigo delineia o contexto de conquistas em direitos humanos e políticos para as mulheres bolivianas a partir da transição para o novo constitucionalismo latino-americano em contraposição aos constantes episódios públicos de violências de gênero e política contra esses mesmos corpos. Trata-se de um estudo desenvolvido a partir de pesquisa bibliográfica e de bases teóricas advindas das teorias críticas e descoloniais do direito, bem como dos estudos de gênero. A partir dessa reflexão, questiona-se o campo da conquista formal de direitos para as mulheres em uma análise conceitual e empírica, fazendo-se um recorte de violência de gênero de cunho político ocorrida em meio aos protestos de 2019 na Bolívia. Esse episódio demonstra resquícios históricos da violência dos períodos de autoritarismo da região e revela estruturas coloniais e patriarcais em plena vigência no Estado Plurinacional.
Direct Ink Writing of High Performance Architectured Polyimides with Low Dimensional Shrinkage
Authors: Guo Yuxiong , Xu Jiawen , Yan Changyou , Chen Yanqiu , Zhang Xiaoqin , Jia Xin , Liu Yu , Wang Xiaolong , Zhou Feng
Published: February 2019

Despite of the outstanding chemical‐resistance, thermal and thermomechanical properties, and dielectric performance of three dimensional (3D) printed polyimides, the high dimensional shrinkage (more than 45%) between the as‐printed and final imidized objects may become the biggest obstacle on its practical applications. In this work, the authors present a two‐state curing strategy for realizing 3D printing of high performance polyimides via UV‐assisted direct ink writing (DIW) of poly (amide acid) (PAA) followed by thermal imidization. More specifically, PAA precursors modified with hydroxyethyl methacrylate are printed and thermally imidized at an elevated temperature to form 3D objects, which demonstrate a dimensional shrinkage less than 6%. The outstanding performances regarding thermal resistance, solvent‐proofing, and mechanical strength are comprehensively characterized, and some attracting polyimide functional 3D devices, such as polyimide spring and enameled wire, are readily achieved. Their DIW strategy realizes three‐dimensional polyimide architectures with low volume shrinkage and provides a tremendous potential for 3D printing of polyimides in many fields including aerospace, automobile, microelectronics, and engineering.
Phase Transformations in MgH2–TiH2 Hydrogen Storage System by High‐Pressure Torsion Process
Authors: Kitabayashi Kouki , Edalati Kaveh , Li Hai‐Wen , Akiba Etsuo , Horita Zenji
Published: February 2019

Magnesium hydride (MgH2) and titanium hydride (TiH2) are two potential candidates for solid‐state hydrogen storage, but strong hydride formation energy in these hydrides undesirably results in their high dehydrogenation temperature. First‐principles calculations show that the metastable hydrides in the MgH2–TiH2 system have low hydrogen binding energy, which makes them more appropriate for low‐temperature hydrogen storage. In this study, severe plastic deformation (SPD) via the high‐pressure torsion (HPT) method is applied to the MgH2–TiH2 system to synthesize metastable hydrides. While MgH2 transforms to a high‐pressure orthorhombic γ phase, TiH2 does not exhibit any cubic‐to‐tetragonal phase transformation even by HPT processing at cryogenic temperature. Application of large strains by 400 HPT turns to the immiscible MgH2/TiH2 composite results in atomic‐scale mixing and formation of nanostructured ternary Mg–Ti–H hydride with the metastable FCC structure and lower dehydrogenation temperature than TiH2.
Polarization‐Sensitive Ultraviolet Photodetection of Anisotropic 2D GeS2
Authors: Yang Yusi , Liu Shun‐Chang , Wang Xia , Li Zongbao , Zhang Yun , Zhang Gengmin , Xue Ding‐Jiang , Hu Jin‐Song
Published: February 2019

Polarization‐sensitive photodetection in the UV region is highly indispensable in many military and civilian applications. UV‐polarized photodetection usually relies on the use of wide bandgap semiconductors with 1D nanostructures requiring complicated nanofabrication processes. Although the emerging anisotropic 2D semiconductors shed light on the detection of polarization with a simple device architecture, bandgaps of such reported 2D semiconductors are too small to be applied for visible–blind UV‐polarized photodetection. Here, germanium disulfide (GeS2), the widest bandgap (>3 eV) in the family of in‐plane anisotropic 2D semiconductors explored to date, is introduced as an ideal candidate for UV‐polarized photodetection. The structural, vibrational, and optical anisotropies of GeS2 are systematically investigated from theory to experiment. GeS2‐based photodetectors show a strong polarization‐dependent photoresponse in the UV region. GeS2 with a wide bandgap and high in‐plane anisotropy not only enriches the family of anisotropic 2D semiconductors but also expands the polarized photodetection from the current visible and near‐infrared to the brand‐new UV region.
Transition‐Metal‐Doped RuIr Bifunctional Nanocrystals for Overall Water Splitting in Acidic Environments
Authors: Shan Jieqiong , Ling Tao , Davey Kenneth , Zheng Yao , Qiao Shi‐Zhang
Published: February 2019

The establishment of electrocatalysts with bifunctionality for efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic environments is necessary for the development of proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzers for the production of clean hydrogen fuel. RuIr alloy is considered to be a promising electrocatalyst because of its favorable OER performance and potential for HER. Here, the design of a bifunctional electrocatalyst with greatly boosted water‐splitting performance from doping RuIr alloy nanocrystals with transition metals that modify electronic structure and binding strength of reaction intermediates is reported. Significantly, Co‐RuIr results in small overpotentials of 235 mV for OER and 14 mV for HER (@ 10 mA cm−2 current density) in 0.1 m HClO4 media. Therefore a cell voltage of just 1.52 V is needed for overall water splitting to produce hydrogen and oxygen. More importantly, for a series of M‐RuIr (M = Co, Ni, Fe), the catalytic activity dependence at fundamental level on the chemical/valence states is used to establish a novel composition‐activity relationship. This permits new design principles for bifunctional electrocatalysts.
Carbon Nanotube‐Modified Fabric for Wearable Smart Electronic‐skin with Exclusive Normal‐Tangential Force Sensing Ability
Authors: Song Yuanqiang , Huang Wutong , Mu Chunhong , Chen Xiaoxi , Zhang Qinghong , Ran Ao , Peng Ziru , Sun Rujie , Xie Weihua
Published: February 2019

It reports a fabric‐based flexible electronic skin (e‐skin) that differentiates normal pressure from tangential force with opposite resistance response. The e‐skin, which is based on multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) anchored on the fabric surface, is synthesized using a roll‐to‐roll method by dipping wrinkled fabric into a diluted MWNT/Polydimethylsiloxane dispersion. Normal pressing causes a decrease in resistance (gauge factor of −1.4 KPa−1 at 30–610 Pa), while tangential force leads to an increase in resistance (gauge factor of 1.13 N−1 under a pressure loading of 1 KPa), with good durability observed at over 5000 times of cyclic pressing and tangential force loading. The e‐skin is especially insensitive to both bending (<100°) and elongation deformation (<10%) due to the wrinkled surficial structure. For potential applications, the e‐skin can not only monitor wrist pulse, sense slight brush friction, but it can also work in a non‐contacting mode to detect human breath. Furthermore, because the e‐skin can produce opposite resistive responses to both pressure and friction, it can be applied to capture the complete force loading details during the process of picking up an object, which enables potential application for gentle grasping and manipulation of objects on artificial fingertips.
Transformer Hydrogels: A Review
Authors: Erol Ozan , Pantula Aishwarya , Liu Wangqu , Gracias David H.
Published: February 2019

Hydrogels, which are hydrophilic soft porous networks, are an important class of materials of broad relevance to bioanalytical chemistry, soft‐robotics, drug delivery, and regenerative medicine. Transformer hydrogels are micro‐ and mesostructured hydrogels that display a dramatic transformation of shape, form, or dimension with associated changes in function, due to engineered local variations such as in swelling or stiffness, in response to external controls or environmental stimuli. This review describes principles that can be utilized to fabricate transformer hydrogels such as by layering, patterning, or generating anisotropy, and gradients. Transformer hydrogels are classified based on their responsivity to different stimuli such as temperature, electromagnetic fields, chemicals, and biomolecules. A survey of the current research progress suggests applications of transformer hydrogels in biomimetics, soft robotics, microfluidics, tissue engineering, drug delivery, surgery, and biomedical engineering.
Wireless Communications through a Simplified Architecture Based on Time‐Domain Digital Coding Metasurface
Authors: Dai Jun Yan , Tang Wan Kai , Zhao Jie , Li Xiang , Cheng Qiang , Ke Jun Chen , Chen Ming Zheng , Jin Shi , Cui Tie Jun
Published: February 2019

Tailoring the electromagnetic responses by metasurface greatly expands one's capabilities to manipulate light in a controlled manner. Either amplitude or phase of the incident wave can be altered during the light–matter interaction, and thus opens the possibility of information modulation without conventional analog or digital circuits. A prototype of quadrature phase‐shift keying (QPSK) wireless communication based on time‐domain digital coding metasurface, whose reflection properties can be varied within different time slots by changing the biasing voltages of varactor diodes in specially designed meta‐atoms, is developed here. As the information is transformed into binary bit streams and mapped to pulse sequences of the biasing voltage, the baseband digital signal is directly modulated to the carrier wave through the digital coding metasurface. Compared to the earlier version of binary frequency‐shift keying architecture based on digital coding metasurface, the proposed QPSK system has a much higher data‐transmission rate for wireless communications. A proof‐of‐concept experiment is conducted to prove the real‐time transmission ability of this system, where a video is delivered between the transmitter and receiver with high accuracy and date rate. The presented work is promising in the development of next‐generation wireless communication technologies.
CD146‐Targeted Multimodal Image‐Guided Photoimmunotherapy of Melanoma
Authors: Wei Weijun , Jiang Dawei , Ehlerding Emily B. , Barnhart Todd E. , Yang Yunan , Engle Jonathan W. , Luo Quan‐Yong , Huang Peng , Cai Weibo
Published: February 2019

For melanoma resistant to molecularly targeted therapy and immunotherapy, new treatment strategies are urgently needed. A molecularly targeted theranostic pair may thus be of importance, where the diagnostic probe facilitates patient stratification and the therapeutic companion treats the selected cases. For this purpose, flow cytometry is used to assess the CD146 level in melanoma cells. Based on YY146, a CD146‐specific monoclonal antibody, an imaging probe 89Zr‐Df‐YY146 is synthesized and its diagnostic performance is evaluated by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Furthermore, a photoimmunotherapy (PIT) agent IR700‐YY146 is developed and the therapeutic effect of IR700‐YY146 PIT is assessed comprehensively. CD146 is highly expressed in A375 and SK‐MEL‐5 cells. 89Zr‐Df‐YY146 PET readily detects CD146‐positive A375 melanomas. Tumor accumulation of 89Zr‐Df‐YY146 peaks at 72 h with an uptake value of 26.48 ± 3.28%ID g−1, whereas the highest uptake of the nonspecific 89Zr‐Df‐IgG is 4.80 ± 1.75%ID g−1. More importantly, IR700‐YY146 PIT effectively inhibits the growth of A375 tumors, owing to production of reactive oxygen species, decreased glucose metabolism, and reduced expression of CD146. To conclude, 89Zr‐Df‐YY146 and IR700‐YY146 are a promising theranostic pair with the former revealing CD146 expression in melanoma as a PET probe and the latter specifically treating CD146‐positive melanoma as an effective PIT agent.
Nanosized ReS2 Monolayers Embedded in Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Nanotubes for High‐Rate Capacitive Lithium Storage
Authors: Lv Yinhua , Lei Wanwan , Liu Sheng , Zhang Wen‐Hua
Published: February 2019

The expected approach to improve the electrochemical performance of layered transition metal dichalcogenides is to thin them down to monolayer for minimizing the barrier of lithium‐ion intercalation and diffusion. In this work, a distinct nanocomposite constructed from nanosized ReS2 monolayers uniformly embedded in nitrogen‐doped carbon nanotubes is synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method followed by calcination. When evaluated as anode materials for lithium ion batteries, the robust nanocomposites exhibit a reversible capacity of 825 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1 after 100 cycles with an initial Coulombic efficiency as high as 83%, and more importantly, retain an outstanding capacity of 612 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 after 500 cycles with an excellent capacity retention of 80%. Kinetics analysis of the redox reactions reveals that 86% of the charge storage is controlled by a capacitive behavior, leading to both high‐rate and long‐life lithium storage performances. The design of the nanocomposites offers a promising strategy to achieve extra power over batteries by capacitive energy storage.
Scalable 3D Ta:SiOx Memristive Devices
Authors: Jiang Hao , Li Can , Lin Peng , Pi Shuang , Yang Jianhua Joshua , Xia Qiangfei
Published: February 2019

A highly reliable memristive device based on tantalum‐doped silicon oxide is reported, which exhibits high uniformity, robust endurance (≈1 × 109 cycles), fast switching speed, long retention, and analog conductance modulation. Devices with junction areas ranging from microscale to as small as 60 × 15 nm2 are fabricated and electrically characterized. ON‐/OFF‐ conductance and reset current show weak area dependence when the device is relatively large, and they become proportional to the device area when further scaled down. Two‐layer devices with repeatable switching behavior are achieved. The current study shows the potentials of Ta:SiO2‐based 3D vertical devices for memory and computing applications. It also suggests that doping of the switching layer is an efficient approach to engineer the performance of memristive devices.
An In Situ Interface Reinforcement Strategy Achieving Long Cycle Performance of Dual‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Han Xiaoqi , Xu Gaojie , Zhang Zhonghua , Du Xiaofan , Han Pengxian , Zhou Xinhong , Cui Guanglei , Chen Liquan
Published: February 2019

Dual‐ion batteries (DIBs) with high operation voltage offer promising candidates for low‐cost clean energy chemistries. However, there still exist tough issues, including structural collapse of the graphite cathode due to solvent co‐intercalation and electrolyte decomposition on the electrode/electrolyte interface, which results in unsatisfactory cyclability and fast battery failure. Herein, Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) modified mesocarbon microbeads (MCMBs) are proposed as a cathode material. The LTO layer functions as a skeleton and offers electrocatalytic active sites for in situ generation of a favorable and compatible cathode electrolyte interface (CEI) layer. The synergetic LTO‐CEI network can change the thermodynamic behavior of the PF6− intercalation process and maintain the structural integrity of the graphite cathode, as a “Great Wall” to protect the cathode from structural collapse and electrolyte decomposition. Such LTO‐CEI reinforced cathode exhibits a prolonged cyclability with 85.1% capacity retention after 2000 cycles even at cut‐off potential of 5.4 V versus Li+/Li. Moreover, the LTO‐modified MCMB (+)//prelithiated MCMB (−) full cell exhibits a high energy density of ≈200 Wh kg−1, remarkably enhanced cyclability with 93.5% capacity retention after 1000 cycles. Undoubtedly, this work offers in‐depth insight into interface chemistry, which can arouse new originality to boost the development of DIBs.
Umpolung Reactivity of Fluoroalkylselenotoluenesulfonates: Towards a Versatile Reagent
Authors: Ghiazza Clément , Kataria Alex , Tlili Anis , Toulgoat Fabien , Billard Thierry
Published: February 2019

Fluoroalkylselenotoluenesulfonates, which have already been described as selenolating reagents in electrophilic and radical reactions, can also be reduced by an organic electron donor (namely tetrakis(dimethylamino) ethylene or TDAE) to generate the corresponding fluoroalkylselenolate anions. Thus, the in‐situ‐formed anions react with various alkyl halides in a metal‐free nucleophilic substitution. Trifluoromethyl‐ and higher perfluroalkylselenolated compounds have been obtained in modest to good yields.
Consideration of Molecular Structure in the Excited State to Design New Luminogens with Aggregation‐Induced Emission
Authors: Kokado Kenta , Sada Kazuki
Published: February 2019

Aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) is a photoluminescence phenomenon in which an AIE luminogen (AIEgen) exhibits intense emission in the aggregated or solid state but only weak or no emission in the solution state. Understanding the mechanism of AIE requires consideration of excited state molecular geometry (for example, a π twist). This Minireview examines the history of AIEgens with a focus on the representative AIEgen, tetraphenylethylene (TPE). The mechanisms of solution‐state quenching are reviewed and the crucial role of excited‐state molecular transformations for AIE is discussed. Finally, recent progress in understanding the relationship between excited state molecular transformations and AIE is overviewed for a range of different AIEgens.
Tuning the morphology of PVDF membranes using inorganic clusters for oil/water separation
Authors: Muthukumar Krishnan , Jacob Kaleekkal Noel , Lakshmi D. Shanthana , Srivastava Showena , Bajaj Hari
Published: February 2019

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes with modified membrane morphology were prepared by phase inversion process using iron alkoxide as a novel pore‐forming additive (PFA). Higher pure water flux was observed for PVDF/PFA (iron alkoxide) membranes treated with 5% HCl, due to higher porosity produced by the leaching out of the iron alkoxide additive. The untreated membrane containing 0.04% iron alkoxide showed ~99% efficiency oil removal from a surfactant‐stabilized oil–water emulsion. After acid treatment, there was a slight decrease in the rejection efficiency (~96.5%); however, this membrane still exhibited the highest emulsion flux. The fouling propensity of the membrane with 0.04 wt % iron alkoxide tested in a crossflow condition decreases indicating a lower amount of oil adsorbed onto the surface and a greater flux recovery ratio. The treated membranes showed appreciable anti‐biofouling property when the membranes were challenged with Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis obtained from freshwater and/or seawater. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47641.
Improving antifouling performance for the harvesting of Scenedesmus acuminatus using Fe2O3 nanoparticles incorporated PVC nanocomposite membranes
Authors: Liu Qingling , Demirel Elif , Chen Yong , Gong Ting , Zhang Xuezhi , Chen Yongsheng
Published: February 2019

Membrane filtration provided a potential solution to get high quality microalgae biomass and recyclable medium. However, the fouling of membrane by microalgae cells and organic matter greatly affects membrane harvesting efficiency. In this study, membrane performance was tested in terms of flux declining and backwashing recovery for microalgal harvesting. Compared with the unmodified poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane, the membrane with 1.0% Fe2O3 incorporation had a 66% increase in average flux, reaching 138 L m− h−1. Foulants on the membrane surface were characterized using attenuated total reflection‐Fourier transform infrared (ATR‐FTIR) and confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM), as well as sodium hydroxide extraction followed by total organic carbon (TOC) quantification and fluorescence excitation–emission matrix (FEEM) identification of organic components. FEEM and TOC analysis of the extracted foulants revealed that the surface of 1.0% Fe2O3 incorporated membrane had less fouling than the unmodified PVC membrane, which may be attributed to its hydrophilicity after Fe2O3 incorporation. CLSM analysis and ATR‐FTIR analysis of the fouled membrane surface further revealed that the protein substance on the 1.0% Fe2O3 incorporated PVC membrane was lower than those in the unmodified membrane, which further confirmed the enhanced antifouling performance of the 1.0% Fe2O3 incorporated PVC membrane. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47685.
Simple and rapid analysis of tocilizumab using HPLC‐fluorescence detection method
Authors: Takada Makoto , Ohba Yoshihito , Kamiya Seitaro , Kabashima Tsutomu , Nakashima Kenichiro
Published: February 2019

We developed a novel assay using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection for the determination of tocilizumab (TCZ), after it has undergone a facile and rapid pretreatment. TCZ belongs to the same subclass as IgG1 (Immunoglobulin G subclass 1), and we could separate TCZ from IgG1 without antigen–antibody reactions, with the novel detection method. The separation of these antibodies was achieved by pretreatment with an organic solvent containing a base, such as trimethylamine and triethylamine. The effect of these bases on the separation of TCZ is related to the hydrophobicity of the base rather than the electrostatic charge. The results indicated that the surface charge of antibodies changed because of the structural change, even though the difference in the amino acid sequences of the antibodies was very low. Our method is available for the separation of the antibody subclasses, and it would be useful to assay TCZ in blood.
Room temperature photoluminescence of PbS quantum dots: Capping agent and thermal effect
Authors: Kong Ha‐Sung , Kim Byoung‐Ju , Kang Kwang‐Sun
Published: February 2019

The most efficient method for obtaining high concentration, monodispersed quantum dots is the sol gel method. This manuscript reports room temperature photoluminescence (PL) of lead sulfide (PbS) quantum dots with the effect of a capping agent. Lead sulfide quantum dots were prepared from a waveguide sol gel material with an organic–inorganic capping agent. The quantum dots were made using silica, a photoreactive methylmethacrylate group and a zirconia sol gel solution to give various concentrations of PbS quantum dots. UV–visible absorption spectra linearly increased with increasing PbS quantum dot concentration up to 10 649 ppm, after which increase was nonlinear. At room temperature, strong photoluminescence was achieved with a weak excitation light source, and the intensity increased almost linearly. This indicated that the quantum dots were distributed uniformly in the sol gel matrix. The thermal process slightly reduced the luminescence intensity. A red shift due to band gap energy was observed from 1.55 eV to 1.49 eV.
Polymerization of Horseradish Peroxidase by a Laccase‐Catalyzed Tyrosine Coupling Reaction
Authors: Permana Dani , Minamihata Kosuke , Tatsuke Tsuneyuki , Lee Jae M. , Kusakabe Takahiro , Goto Masahiro , Kamiya Noriho
Published: February 2019

The polymerization of proteins can create newly active and large bio‐macromolecular assemblies that exhibit unique functionalities depending on the properties of the building block proteins and the protein units in polymers. Herein, the first enzymatic polymerization of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is reported. Recombinant HRPs fused with a tyrosine‐tag (Y‐tag) through a flexible linker at the N‐ and/or C‐termini are expressed in silkworm, Bombyx mori. Trametes sp. laccase (TL) is used to activate the tyrosine of Y‐tagged HRPs with molecular O2 to form a tyrosyl‐free radical, which initiates the tyrosine coupling reaction between the HRP units. A covalent dityrosine linkage is also formed through a HRP‐catalyzed self‐crosslinking reaction in the presence of H2O2. The addition of H2O2 in the self‐polymerization of Y‐tagged HRPs results in lower activity of the HRP polymers, whereas TL provides site‐selectivity, mild reaction conditions and maintains the activity of the polymeric products. The cocrosslinking of Y‐tagged HRPs and HRP‐protein G (Y‐HRP‐pG) units catalyzed by TL shows a higher signal in enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) than the genetically pG‐fused HRP, Y‐HRP‐pG, and its polymers. This new enzymatic polymerization of HRP promises to provide highly active and functionalized polymers for biomedical applications and diagnostics probes.
Steps Toward High‐Performance PLA: Economical Production of d‐Lactate Enabled by a Newly Isolated Sporolactobacillus terrae Strain
Authors: Han Xiao , Huang Kaiming , Tang Hongzhi , Ni Jun , Liu Jiongqin , Xu Ping , Tao Fei
Published: February 2019

Optically pure d‐lactate production has received much attention for its critical role in high‐performance polylactic acid production. However, the current technology can hardly meet the comprehensive demand of industrialization on final titer, productivity, optical purity, and raw material costs. Here, an efficient d‐lactate producer strain, Sporolactobacillus terrae (S. terrae) HKM‐1, is isolated for d‐lactate production. The strain HKM‐1 shows extremely high d‐lactate fermentative capability by using peanut meal, soybean meal, or corn steep liquor powder as a sole nitrogen source; the final titers (205.7 g L−1, 218.9 g L−1, and 193.9 g L−1, respectively) and productivities (5.56 g L−1 h−1, 5.34 g L−1 h−1, and 3.73 g L−1 h−1, respectively) of d‐lactate reached the highest level ever reported. A comparative genomic analysis between S. terrae HKM‐1 and previously reported d‐lactate high‐producing Sporolactobacillus inulinus (S. inulinus) CASD is conducted. The results show that many unrelated genetic features may contribute to the superior performance in d‐lactate production of S. terrae HKM‐1. This d‐lactate producer HKM‐1, along with its fermentation process, is promising for sustainable d‐lactate production by using agro‐industrial wastes.
Liposome permeability probed by laser light scattering
Authors: Silverstein Todd P. , Williamson J. Charles
Published: February 2019

We have developed a laboratory project in which students prepare liposomes, expose them to hyperosmotic and hypoosmotic solutions, and follow the resulting shrinking and swelling (respectively) with laser light scattering. Each light intensity transient can be fit to an exponential decline or rise, with the decay constant (k) and the amplitude (ΔVmax) being indirectly related to the kinetics and thermodynamics (respectively) of transmembrane osmotic flux. Students vary the experimental system by changing the types and concentrations of osmolytes such as alcohols, amides, and salts. Students then compare how these changes alter the rate and extent of osmotic flux. This upper division biochemistry laboratory project is a challenging and rewarding one that exposes students to a biomolecule (lipid) and a spectroscopic technique (laser spectroscopy) that are not commonly used in the undergraduate laboratory setting. © 2019 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 47(3):239–246, 2019.
Prediction of human intestinal absorption using micellar liquid chromatography with an aminopropyl stationary phase
Authors: Shokry Dina S. , Waters Laura J. , Parkes Gareth M.B. , Mitchell John C.
Published: February 2019

The extent of human intestinal absorption (HIA) for a drug is considered to be an important pharmacokinetic parameter which must be determined for orally administered drugs. Traditional experimental methods relied upon animal testing and are renowned for being time consuming and expensive as well as being ethically unfavourable. As a result, the development of alternative methods to evaluate a drug's pharmacokinetics is crucial. Micellar liquid chromatography is considered to be one of these methods that can replace the use of animals in the prediction of HIA. In this study, the combination of an aminopropyl column with the biosurfactant sodium deoxycholate bile salt was used in the experimental determination of micelle–water partition coefficients (log Pmw) for a group of compounds. Multiple linear regression was then used for the prediction of HIA using the experimentally determined log Pmw along with other molecular descriptors, leading to the construction of a model equation of R2 = 85% and a prediction power represented by R2Pred. = 72%. The use of micellar liquid chromatography with an aminopropyl column in combination with sodium deoxycholate was found to be a good method for the prediction of human intestinal absorption, providing data for a far wider range of compounds compared with previous studies.