bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic architecture of the high‐inorganic phosphate phenotype derived from a low‐phytate mutant in winter wheat
Authors: Venegas Jorge , Guttieri Mary J. , Boehm Jeffrey D. , Graybosch Robert , Bai Guihua , St. Amand Paul Craig , Palmer Nathan , Hussain Waseem , Blecha Sarah , Baenziger P. Stephen
Published: March 2022

Phytic acid (myo‐inositol 1,2,3,4,5,6‐hexakisphosphate) in grains and legumes reduces bioavailability and absorption of minerals in the gut via chelation of divalent minerals such as iron and zinc. In wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), a low‐phytate mutant (lpa1‐1), developed by ethyl methanesulfonate mutagenesis, was reported to reduce phytate in wheat grain by up to 35% and to elevate free inorganic phosphate (Pi). Little is known about the genetic architecture conditioning this high‐Pi (HIP) phenotype in wheat. Inheritance of the HIP phenotype was evaluated in three segregating populations developed with the lpa1‐1 derivative A02568WS‐A‐12‐10 as a common parent. Distinct genotypic classes were not identified in these populations. To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) and develop molecular markers for the HIP phenotype, 171 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from a winter wheat cross ‘Danby’ × A02568WS‐A‐12‐10 were phenotyped for Pi concentration and genotyped by reduced‐representation sequencing. A total of 1,246 nonredundant, high‐quality single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used to construct a linkage map spanning 3,272 cM. Two major‐effect QTL were identified on chromosomes 4D and 5A, accounting for 23 and 33% of the total phenotypic variation, respectively. Multiple interval mapping (MIM) identified synergistic additive × additive epistasis between these QTL, and the full MIM model accounted for 54% of the phenotypic variation in grain Pi. Ten candidate genes were identified within or in close proximity to the genomic locations of the QTL, five of which encode proteins within the inositol phosphate metabolism pathway. Site‐specific marker assays were developed for marker‐assisted breeding.
Issues and Opportunities Facing Aqueous Mn2+/MnO2‐based Batteries
Authors: Liu Zhexuan , Qin Liping , Lu Bingan , Wu Xianwen , Liang Shuquan , Zhou Jiang
Published: March 2022

Aqueous Mn2+/MnO2‐based batteries have attracted enormous attentions in aqueous energy storage fields, owing to their high working voltage and theoretical capacity (616 mAh g−1) brought by the two‐electron reaction (Mn2+/Mn4+). However, there are currently several tricky challenges facing Mn2+/MnO2‐based batteries: their complicated working mechanisms, existing issues, and optimization strategies. This Perspective aims to provide a mechanistic understanding and an overview of the insufficiency, optimization, and future development for Mn2+/MnO2‐based batteries. The existing issues and deficiency in Mn2+/MnO2‐based batteries have been systematically analyzed, and optimization strategies have also been rationally summarized and discussed with deep insights. Also, the often‐overlooked optimized objects and aspects have been highlighted with unique perspectives. The proposals of testing methods and performance assessment are presented, containing different degradation mechanisms. Based on the above points, this Perspective will provide guidance and contribute to the further development of aqueous Mn2+/MnO2‐based batteries.
Single‐cell RNA‐seq reveals clonal diversity and prognostic genes of relapsed multiple myeloma
Authors: He Haiyan , Li Zifeng , Lu Jing , Qiang Wanting , Jiang Sihan , Xu Yaochen , Fu Weijun , Zhai Xiaowen , Zhou Lin , Qian Maoxiang , Du Juan
Published: March 2022

Background

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a clinically and biologically heterogeneous plasma‐cell malignancy. Despite extensive research, disease heterogeneity and relapse remain a big challenge in MM therapeutics. We tried to dissect this disease and identify novel biomarkers for patient stratification and treatment outcome prediction by applying single‐cell technology.

Methods

We performed single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) and variable‐diversity‐joining regions‐targeted sequencing (scVDJ‐seq) concurrently on bone marrow samples from a cohort of 18 patients with newly diagnosed MM (NDMM; n = 12) or refractory/relapsed MM (RRMM; n = 6). We analysed the malignant clonotypes using scVDJ‐seq data and conducted data integration and cell‐type annotation through the CCA algorithm based on gene expression profiling. Furthermore, we identified disease status‐specific genes and modules by comparison of NDMM and RRMM datasets and explored the findings in a larger MM cohort from the MMRF CoMMpass study.

Results

We found that all the myeloma cells in either diagnosed or relapsed samples were dominated by a major clone, with a few subclones in several samples (n = 5). Next, we investigated the universal transcriptional features of myeloma cells and identified eight meta‐programs correlated with this disease, especially meta‐programs 1 and 8 (M1 and M8), which were the most significant and related to cell cycle and stress response, respectively. Furthermore, we classified the malignant plasma cells into eight clusters and found that the cell numbers in clusters 2/6/7 were exclusively higher in relapsed samples. Besides, we identified several attractive candidates for biomarkers (e.g. SMAD1 and STMN1) associated with disease progression and relapse in our dataset and related to overall survival in the CoMMpass dataset.

Conclusions

Our data provide insights into the heterogeneity of MM as well as highlight the relevance of intra‐tumour heterogeneity and discover novel biomarkers that might be a potent therapy.
A novel nano‐immunotherapeutic remodels the immune landscape of malignant pleural effusion: Insights into its mechanism of action through single‐cell RNA‐sequencing
Authors: Liu Yang , Zhao Dawen
Published: March 2022

Clinical evidence indicates that the microenvironment in malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is immunologically cold, which impairs tumour immunosurveillance and antitumor immune response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). In a recent issue of Nature Nanotechnology, Liu et al. demonstrate a new nanotechnological approach to effectively mitigate the immune cold MPE and provide insights into its mechanism of action through single‐cell RNA‐sequencing.
Benzimidazole‐carbamate anthelmintics: Perspective candidates for the anticancer drug development
Authors: Prasher Parteek , Sharma Mousmee
Published: March 2022

Cellular oncogenesis involves a complex interplay between the several synchronized, interdependent pathways that collectively determine the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of cancer. Limited therapeutic success with the existing anticancer drugs drew huge interest in the design and development of new pharmacophores with improved clinical efficacy, however despite huge investments in anticancer RD; the average number of Food and Drug Administration‐approved anticancer drugs declined since the 1990s. The contemporary anticancer medications possess high attrition rates, bear substantial costs, and experience low efficacy owing to the drug resistance expressed by the aggressive tumors. Mainly, the translation of novel candidate anticancer drugs into clinical practice, their commercialization, and transformation from the bench to bedside require a long timeframe of 10–15 years and capital worth millions of dollars. The repurposing strategy substantially accelerated the anticancer drug development regime as the approved drugs with tested safety and efficacy ensure a minimal risk of failure, and nominal R&D expenses as anticipated for the newly identified candidate drugs yet to enter the clinical trials. In addition, the repurposed drugs ensure a rapid clinical translation due to a validated clinical profile and their ability to target the identified hallmarks and hitherto unknown vulnerabilities of cancer. The flagship project “Repurposing Drugs in Oncology” (ReDO) identified 268 “hard repurposing” noncancer medications as candidate drugs with a promising anticancer profile (https://www.anticancerfund.org/en/redo-db). However, the generic profile of 84% of repurposed drugs in ReDO data set discourages the commercial sponsors from funding the repurposing trials, especially the Phase III efficacy trials that require significant capital.
A spectral analysis of stem bark for boreal and temperate tree species
Authors: Juola Jussi , Hovi Aarne , Rautiainen Miina
Published: March 2022

The woody material of forest canopies has a significant effect on the total forest reflectance and on the interpretation of remotely sensed data, yet research on the spectral properties of bark has been limited. We developed a novel measurement setup for acquiring stem bark reflectance spectra in field conditions, using a mobile hyperspectral camera. The setup was used for stem bark reflectance measurements of ten boreal and temperate tree species in the visible (VIS) to near‐infrared (NIR) (400–1000 nm) wavelength region. Twenty trees of each species were measured, constituting a total of 200 hyperspectral reflectance images. The mean bark spectra of species were similar in the VIS region, and the interspecific variation was largest in the NIR region. The intraspecific variation of bark spectra was high for all studied species from the VIS to the NIR region. The spectral similarity of our study species did not correspond to the general phylogenetic lineages. The hyperspectral reflectance images revealed that the distributions of per‐pixel reflectance values within images were species‐specific. The spectral library collected in this study contributes toward building a comprehensive understanding of the spectral diversity of forests needed not only in remote sensing applications but also in, for example, biodiversity or land surface modeling studies.
An ecological and methodological assessment of benthic gross primary production in northern lakes
Authors: Puts I. C. , Bergström A.‐K. , Verheijen H. A. , Norman S. , Ask J.
Published: March 2022

Benthic gross primary production (GPP) is often the most important part of aquatic food webs in northern lakes, which are gradually warming and receiving increased terrestrial colored dissolved organic carbon loadings due to global change. Yet, measurements of benthic GPP are fairly uncommon, and methods and unit dimensions of benthic GPP are unstandardized and rarely compared. In this study, we measured benthic GPP in 27 headwater lakes from three regions in northern Sweden and analyzed potential constraining drivers of benthic GPPz rates at discrete depths and estimates of benthic GPP averages across the whole lake, as well as across the littoral zone. We also compared in situ measurements of benthic GPP averages across the whole lake with modeled values using the “autotrophic structuring model.” We found that benthic GPPz rates were best explained by, and positively related to, available light (i.e., a function of depth and water color) and temperature. Benthic GPP averages across the whole lake, on the contrary, were best explained by the relative size of the littoral area, which is a measure that combines lake bathymetry and water color. The comparison between in situ measured and modeled estimates of benthic GPP averages across the whole lake revealed that (1) the autotrophic structuring model underestimates GPP at low values and overestimates GPP at high values compared with measured data, and that (2) measured values were related to temperature, which is not included as a variable in the autotrophic structuring model. Considering future predicted changes impacting northern latitude lakes, our results suggest that increased lake water temperatures can to some extent mitigate the negative impacts of reduced light availability from lake browning on benthic GPPz rates. The combined impact of these changes on benthic GPP averages across the whole lake will depend on, and be moderated by, lake bathymetry determining the relative size of the littoral area.
Indenyl and Allyl Palladate Complexes BearingN‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands: an Easily Accessible Class of New Anticancer Drug Candidates
Authors: Scattolin Thomas , Pessotto Ilenia , Cavarzerani Enrico , Canzonieri Vincenzo , Orian Laura , Demitri Nicola , Schmidt Claudia , Casini Angela , Bortolamiol Enrica , Visentin Fabiano , Rizzolio Flavio , Nolan Steven P.
Published: March 2022

The mechanochemical syntheses of allyl and indenyl palladate complexes are reported. All compounds were obtained in quantitative yields and microanalytically pure without the need of any workup. These complexes are stable in chlorinated and polar (DMSO or DMSO/H2O solutions) solvents. In chlorinated solvents, they appear as ionic pairs of which crystals suitable for single X‐ray diffraction studies have been obtained. Bonding and solvation properties are rationalized through scalar relativistic DFT calculations. Moreover, most complexes showed excellent cytotoxicity towards ovarian cancer cell lines, with IC50values comparable or lower than cisplatin. The potent anticancer activity of two IPrCland IPr*‐based palladate complexes was examined in a high‐grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) patient‐derived tumoroid. Moreover, the inhibition of the antioxidant enzyme thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) was noticed, and structure‐activity relationships could be derived, suggesting the ROS detoxifying system is involved in the mode of action.
Transfer Rates of Docosahexaenoic and Eicosapentaenoic Acids into Cow's Milk in Pasture Based and Feed‐Lot Management Systems
Authors: Gulati Suresh Kumar , Thomson Peter , Ha Woel‐Kyu , Lee Won‐Jae , Lee Ji‐Hong , Choi Jae‐Heung , Ko Ki‐Han , Park Sang‐Ik , Cox Geoff , Scott Trevor William
Published: March 2022

The aim of the research is to assess the transfer of docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) into cow's milk following supplementation with rumen protected fat supplements (rumen protected omega fat, RPOF). In pasture based and in feed‐lot management systems the transfer of DHA and EPA is 19–20% following supplementation with equal proportions of DHA and EPA (20–25 g/cow/day); the DHA and EPA level in milk are at 0.4% of the total fatty acids for each. There is no change in milk yield, protein, and fat content after 60 and 105 days of RPOF supplementation in pasture based and lot fed cows, respectively. The transfer of DHA into milk fat is around 25–32% when RPOF containing higher proportions of this fatty acid are fed (40.8 g/cow/day) and the DHA content in milk is about 1% of the total fatty acids.

Practical Applications: Significant quantity of omega 3 DHA and EPA can be transferred into cow's milk in pasture based and feedlot management systems, and there is no reduction in milk yield, fat, and protein content. Furthermore, omega 3 milk with varying proportions of DHA and EPA can be produced in different dairy enterprises.
Crystallization and Polymorphism of Cocoa Butter Equivalents from Blends of Palm Mid Fraction and Hard Stearins Produced by Enzymatic Acidolysis of High Oleic Sunflower Oil
Authors: Ray Joydeep , Smith Kevin W. , Bhaggan Krishnadath , Stapley Andrew G. F.
Published: March 2022

Cocoa butter equivalents (CBEs) are formulated by mixing palm mid fraction (PMF) with silica‐treated hard stearin fractions produced via enzymatic acidolysis of high oleic sunflower oil with various mixtures of stearic and palmitic acids. The CBE blends always contain ≈30% 1,3‐distearoyl‐2‐oleoyl‐sn‐glycerol, but vary in 1,3‐dipalmitoyl‐2‐oleoyl‐sn‐glycerol (POP; 40–45%) and rac‐1‐palmitoyl‐2‐oleoyl‐3‐stearoyl glycerol (POSt; 10‐16%) content. Overall symmetric disaturated monounsaturated (Sat‐O‐Sat) levels range from 81–86%. The effects of varying POP/POSt content on the non‐isothermal and isothermal crystallization (at 20 °C) of the CBEs are then studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), stop and return DSC, and X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and compared with CB. Four polymorphs (I/sub‐α, II/α, IV/β′, and V/β) are identified which appear at different stages. The addition of PMF (raising POP levels) slows crystallization rates compared to the original stearins, but higher levels of POP also produce a small amount of V/β in under 4 h at 20 °C via apparent transformation from II/α. This does not occur with (high POSt) CB samples. However, after storage at 20 °C for 7 days, CB demonstrates greater transformation to V/β (from IV/β′) as confirmed via XRD. Solid fat contents of CBE blends are higher than CB due to higher Sat‐O‐Sat levels.

Practical applications: The paper demonstrates a new route for formulating CBEs. The relative proportions of StOSt, POSt and POP in the formulation can be controlled by changing the proportions of palmitic and stearic acid used in the enzymatic acidolysis and the blend ratio with the PMF. This can then be used to fine‐tune the crystallization behavior.
A New Approach to Isoindolinones: Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed [3+2] Annulation Reactions of N‐Methoxybenzamides with Bis(tosylamido)methane
Authors: Fang Zhang , Shu Sai , Zhou Guanyu , Deng Zefeng , Huang Pengcheng , Li Bao , Zhao Yingsheng
Published: March 2022

A new approach to the synthesis of isoindolinones via direct coupling of N‐methoxybenzamides and bis(tosylamido)methane with rhodium(III) as catalyst has been developed. The reaction is performed under mild conditions without oxidant, and is compatible with various functional groups. Compared with the previously reported methods for constructing isoindolinone skeletons, this method involves a novel [3+2] cyclization, and affords a wide variety of isoindolinones in moderate to excellent yields.
A high‐performance SNP panel developed by machine‐learning approaches for characterizing genetic differences of Southern and Northern Han Chinese, Korean, and Japanese individuals
Authors: Gu Jia‐Qi , Zhao Hui , Guo Xiao‐Yuan , Sun Hao‐Yun , Xu Jing‐Yi , Wei Yi‐Liang
Published: March 2022

Population stratification analyses targeting genetically closely related East Asians have revealed that distinguishable differentiation exists between Han Chinese, Korean, and Japanese individuals, as well as between southern (S‐) and northern (N‐) Han Chinese. Previous studies offer a number of choices for ancestry informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (AISNPs) to discriminate East‐Asian populations. In this study, we collected and examined the efficiency of 1185 AISNPs using frequency and genotype data from various publicly available databases. With the aim to perform fine‐scale classification of S‐Han, N‐Han, Korean, and Japanese subjects, machine‐learning methods (Softmax and Random Forest) were used to screen a panel of highly informative AISNPs and to develop a superior classification model. Stepwise classification was implemented to increase and balance the discrimination in the process of AISNP selection, first discriminating Han, Korean, and Japanese individuals, and then characterizing stratification between S‐Han and N‐Han. The final 272‐AISNP panel is an alternative optimization of various previous works, which promises reliable and >90% accuracy in classification of the four East‐Asian groups. This AISNP panel and the machine‐learning model could be a useful and superior choice in medical genome‐wide association studies and in forensic investigations for unknown suspect identity.
NiS Cocatalyst–Modified ZnIn2S4 as Ohmic‐Junction Photocatalyst for Efficient Conversion of CO2
Authors: Wang Huiqin , Jiang Haopeng , Wang Huijie , Liu Qi , Huo Pengwei
Published: March 2022

Improved photogenerated carrier separation efficiency is of importance for improving photocatalytic activity. Herein, the photocatalytic CO2 reduction of a 3D/0D ZnIn2S4/NiS ohmic‐junction photocatalyst under simulated sunlight is studied. The ZnIn2S4–2%NiS sample has the best excellent photoreduction CO2 performance facilitated by triethanolamine (TEOA) reagents, the ZnIn2S4–2%NiS sample with a CO yield of 12.63 μmol g−1 h−1, which is two times that for pure ZnIn2S4 (6.37 μmol g−1 h−1). It is demonstrated that NiS nanoparticles not only improve the efficiency of electron generation and charge separation by constructing a tight contact ohmic‐junction, but also act as a cocatalyst to extend the photoreaction range and lower the reaction barrier, which effectively accelerates the photocatalytic reduction reaction. Additionally, the 3D structure of ZnIn2S4 has an excellent specific surface area that facilitates the dispersion of NiS. The generation, separation, and migration of photogenerated electron holes are studied from the kinetics perspective through transient photocurrent response, linear sweep voltammetry curve and photoluminescence spectroscopy. In situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is applied to study the CO2 photoreduction process. Herein, the important role of cocatalyst and ohmic‐junction in improving photocatalytic activity is revealed and a new idea for the construction of efficient photocatalysts is provided.
Reversible Sodiation of Electrochemically Deposited Binder‐ and Conducting Additive‐Free Si–O–C Composite Layers
Authors: Link Steffen , Dimitrova Anna , Krischok Stefan , Ivanov Svetlozar
Published: March 2022

Binder‐ and conducting additive‐free Si–O–C composite layers are deposited electrochemically under potentiostatic conditions from sulfolane‐based organic electrolyte. Quartz crystal microbalance with damping monitoring is used for evaluation of the layer growth and its physical properties. The sodiation–desodiation performance of the material is afterward explored in Na‐ion electrolyte. In terms of specific capacity, rate capability, and long‐term electrochemical stability, the experiments confirm the advantages of applying the electrochemically formed Si–O–C structure as anode for Na‐ion batteries. The material displays high (722 mAh g−1) initial reversible capacity at j = 70 mA g−1 and preserves stable long‐term capacity of 540 mAh g−1 for at least 400 galvanostatic cycles, measured at j = 150 mA g−1. The observed high performance can be attributed to its improved mechanical stability and accelerated Na‐ion transport in the porous anode structure. The origin of the material electroactivity is revealed based on X‐Ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis of pristine (as deposited), sodiated, and desodiated Si–O–C layers. The evaluation of the spectroscopic data indicates reversible activity of the material due to the complex contribution of carbon and silicon redox centers.
WHIRLY protein functions in plants
Authors: Taylor Rachel E. , West Christopher E. , Foyer Christine H.
Published: March 2022

Environmental stresses pose a significant threat to food security. Understanding the function of proteins that regulate plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses is therefore pivotal in developing strategies for crop improvement. The WHIRLY (WHY) family of DNA‐binding proteins are important in this regard because they fulfil a portfolio of important functions in organelles and nuclei. The WHY1 and WHY2 proteins function as transcription factors in the nucleus regulating phytohormone synthesis and associated growth and stress responses, as well as fulfilling crucial roles in DNA and RNA metabolism in plastids and mitochondria. WHY1, WHY2 (and WHY3 proteins in Arabidopsis) maintain organelle genome stability and serve as auxiliary factors for homologous recombination and double‐strand break repair. Our understanding of WHY protein functions has greatly increased in recent years, as has our knowledge of the flexibility of their localization and overlap of functions but there is no review of the topic in the literature. Our aim in this review was therefore to provide a comprehensive overview of the topic, discussing WHY protein functions in nuclei and organelles and highlighting roles in plant development and stress responses. In particular, we consider areas of uncertainty such as the flexible localization of WHY proteins in terms of retrograde signalling connecting mitochondria, plastids, and the nucleus. Moreover, we identify WHY proteins as important targets in plant breeding programmes designed to increase stress tolerance and the sustainability of crop yield in a changing climate.
Exploiting temporal dependency of RSS data with deep learning for IoT‐oriented wireless indoor localization
Authors: Ye Qianwen , Fan Xiaochen , Fang Gengfa , Bie Hongxia
Published: March 2022

With the ubiquitous demand for indoor location‐based services and the pervasive deployment of Wi‐Fi hotspots, wireless indoor localization has been widely studied by utilizing various Wi‐Fi signal measurements. Most existing schemes leverage the Received Signal Strength (RSS) of Wi‐Fi to conduct cost‐efficient indoor localization. However, the RSS data are not only prone to multi‐path effects, but also sensitive to time‐varying environmental dynamics, making it quite daunting to achieve robust indoor localization. In contrast to existing solutions that focus on spatial features of RSS, in this article, we exploit the temporal dependency of RSS time‐series data by integrating the Kalman filter with deep neural networks. In particular, to tame time‐varying noises and preserve valuable temporal features in RSS measurements, we propose a time‐varying RSS filtering algorithm based on the Kalman filter and a refined post‐processing module. Moreover, a deep learning model based on deep neural network (DNN) is further utilized for effective feature extraction on one‐dimension RSS fingerprints. The experiment results show that the proposed Kalman‐DNN model improves at least 25% localization accuracy in comparison with conventional DNN model. Furthermore, with the localization time as 0.02 ms, the Kalman‐DNN model outperforms the Kalman‐CNN model in localization accuracy by at least 10%.
Fall establishment of zoysiagrass on roadsides in the U.S. transition zone
Authors: Miller Grady , Gragg Ben , Pinnix Drew , McCauley Ray , Milla‐Lewis Susana
Published: March 2022

Vegetation management around roadsides and guardrails is time‐consuming and expensive for a department of transportation. These organizations desire dense vegetation that has slow vertical growth and minimal weed invasion once established, and zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) is a suitable species for this use. The objective of this study was to compare fall versus spring plantings for establishing zoysiagrass on North Carolina roadsides. ‘Crowne’ (sprigs) and ‘Compadre’ (sprigs and seed) zoysiagrasses (Zoysia japonica Steud.) were planted in fall 2017 (September, October, November) and spring 2018 (March, April, May) in Lenoir and Yadkin Counties, NC. Data collection was initiated in summer of 2018 and continued through July 2019. The mean percentage of zoysiagrass cover was recorded individually for each establishment timing and method. Zoysiagrass planted with seed achieved coverage quicker than sprigging for all monthly plantings. In Yadkin, March and May seedings achieved 95 and 98% coverage in September 2018, respectively; whereas Compadre's sprigging coverage was 67%. In Lenoir, seed planted in November 2017 and March 2018 achieved 32 and 35% cover by September 2018, respectively, whereas sprig plantings showed <6% coverage. Coverage was faster for spring‐planted materials, but after one calendar year, fall and spring seed planting had similar coverage. The results from this research suggest that zoysiagrass can be established with minimal inputs in fall as well as spring on North Carolina roadsides.
Decomposing planar graphs into graphs with degree restrictions
Authors: Cho Eun‐Kyung , Choi Ilkyoo , Kim Ringi , Park Boram , Shan Tingting , Zhu Xuding
Published: March 2022

Given a graph , a decomposition of is a partition of its edges. A graph is ‐decomposable if its edge set can be partitioned into a ‐degenerate graph and a graph with maximum degree at most . For , we are interested in the minimum integer such that every planar graph is ‐decomposable. It was known that , , and . This paper proves that , and .
A retrospective cohort review of prescribing in hospitalised patients with heart failure using Beers criteria and STOPP recommendations
Authors: Beezer Janine , Roe Lisa , Husband Andy
Published: March 2022

Background

With an ageing population and multimorbidity on the rise, polypharmacy is also increasing. Polypharmacy is common in patients with heart failure, possibly due to the application of evidence‐based therapy to improve prognosis and symptoms.

Objectives

To identify potentially inappropriate medications according to Beers criteria and the STOPP screening tool;

To assess if the recommendations generated from applying these tools could have potentially unintended harmful outcomes in the context of a heart failure diagnosis.

Method

Medications for 30 patients, aged ≥75 years with an existing diagnosis of reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) were extracted from the National Heart Failure Database. Patient medications were reviewed at the point of admission and recommendations documented and reviewed.

Results

Patients were prescribed an average of 11 medicines. Beers criteria generated 22 recommendations, of which 27% (6) could have potential detrimental effects on patient outcomes. STOPP screening generated 54 recommendations of which 65% (35) were considered to have potentially unintended harmful consequences in patients with heart failure.

Conclusions

Both guidelines for the review of potentially inappropriate medicines generated recommendations that could have potentially detrimental effects on heart failure management when considering patients with HFrEF.
Mechanism and kinetics of 1‐phenyl‐1,2‐ethanediol cleavage catalyzed by Cu/Beta zeolite
Authors: Wang Peng‐sen , Yang Bo‐lun , Perumal Emayavaramban , Wu Zhi‐qiang
Published: March 2022

To explore the feasibility of producing high‐value products from biomass, the copper‐supported off‐Al H‐Beta zeolite was prepared and used as a catalyst. The 1‐phenyl‐1,2‐ethanediol was chosen as a catalyst, a model molecule of biomass, the reaction mechanism and reaction path of the oxidative cleavage were studied. The variation of concentration for different components and products distribution were obtained under different temperatures. Based on these experimental results, a kinetic model of the reaction system was established, and the kinetic parameters were developed through optimization algorithms. Results show that Brønsted acid and Lewis acid have a synergistic role in the oxidative cleavage of 1,2‐diol. The adding of Cu species can regulate the acidity and acid amount of the catalyst and can effectively improve the C─C bond breaking ability of the catalyst. 1‐phenyl‐1,2‐ethanediol firstly underwent oxidative cleavage to produce benzaldehyde, which further underwent parallel tandem reactions to get benzyl alcohol (BP), methyl benzoate (MB), and benzaldehyde dimethyl acetal (BDA), respectively. The highest activation energy is required for the oxidative cleavage reaction in the reaction system, and a higher temperature thus will be needed.
A phase I/II trial of concurrent immunotherapy with chemoradiation in locally advanced larynx cancer
Authors: Frankart Andrew J. , Sadraei Nooshin Hashemi , Huth Brad , Redmond Kevin P. , Barrett William L. , Kurtzweil Nicky , Riaz Muhammad K. , Wise‐Draper Trisha , Rodriguez Cristina P. , Adelstein David J. , Takiar Vinita
Published: March 2022

Objectives

Cisplatin‐based chemoradiation is an established organ‐preserving strategy for locally advanced laryngeal cancer, but long‐term survival remains suboptimal. Immunotherapy has been studied in the metastatic and unresectable recurrent settings. However, additional data are needed to assess its role in organ preservation for locally advanced laryngeal cancer.

Methods

This trial was an open‐label, single‐arm, multi‐institutional study with a Phase I run‐in portion followed by a planned Phase II component, which closed early due to low accrual. Study patients had Stage III or IV (T2–3; N0–3; M0) laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and were candidates for larynx preservation. Pembrolizumab was given 2–3 weeks prior to chemoradiation and then, q21 days concurrently with high‐dose cisplatin and radiation prescribed to a total dose of 70 Gy. The primary endpoint of the trial was organ‐preservation rate (OPR) at 18 months.

Results

A total of nine patients were enrolled with a median follow‐up of 30.1 months. No patient required laryngectomy, resulting in 100% OPR at 18 months. The 12‐month overall survival (OS) rate was 77.8% and the median duration of OS was not reached. All acute Grade 4 (n = 3) toxicities occurred in a single patient with poorly controlled diabetes at baseline. One patient had late Grade 4 laryngeal edema requiring tracheostomy 8 months after chemoradiation, which self‐resolved.

Conclusion

UCCI‐HN‐15‐02 demonstrated the safety of the addition of immunotherapy to definitive chemoradiation and the patient outcomes suggest the potential for improving long‐term survival while minimizing negative impact from treatment. While results from this trial were promising, a randomized study with a larger number of patients and longer follow‐up is warranted to verify this treatment approach prior to wider adoption. NCT #: NCT02759575.

Level of evidence: 2b
Daily surface temperatures for 185,549 lakes in the conterminous United States estimated using deep learning (1980–2020)
Authors: Willard Jared D. , Read Jordan S. , Topp Simon , Hansen Gretchen J. A. , Kumar Vipin
Published: March 2022

The dataset described here includes estimates of historical (1980–2020) daily surface water temperature, lake metadata, and daily weather conditions for lakes bigger than 4 ha in the conterminous United States (n = 185,549), and also in situ temperature observations for a subset of lakes (n = 12,227). Estimates were generated using a long short‐term memory deep learning model and compared to existing process‐based and linear regression models. Model training was optimized for prediction on unmonitored lakes through cross‐validation that held out lakes to assess generalizability and estimate error. On the held‐out lakes with in situ observations, median lake‐specific error was 1.24°C, and the overall root mean squared error was 1.61°C. This dataset increases the number of lakes with daily temperature predictions when compared to existing datasets, as well as substantially improves predictive accuracy compared to a prior empirical model and a debiased process‐based approach (2.01°C and 1.79°C median error, respectively).
E‐Band Metasurface‐Based Orbital Angular Momentum Multiplexing and Demultiplexing
Authors: Chung Hyeongju , Kim Daeik , Choi Eunmi , Lee Jongwon
Published: March 2022

Orbital angular momentum (OAM) has received considerable attention regarding high‐capacity communication owing to its spatial orthogonality. However, it is still challenging to build a compact communication system that can generate multiple coaxial OAM beams and receive information from each. In this work, OAM multiplexing and demultiplexing at the E‐band frequency using a single metasurface structure is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. For OAM multiplexing, the metasurface used as a transceiver generates two orthogonal coaxial OAM beams for Gaussian incident beams with different incidence angles. For OAM demultiplexing, the same metasurface flipped 180° as a receiver forms a Gaussian beam in different off‐axis directions depending on the topological charge of the coaxially incident OAM beam. The Gaussian beam measured at the receiver end exhibits a high signal‐to‐noise ratio of more than 33 dB compared with the background OAM beam. OAM multiplexing and demultiplexing based on a single metasurface may provide a route for high‐capacity and compact free‐space communication systems.
Simultaneous Realization of Dynamic and Hybrid Multiplexed Holography via Light‐Activated Chiral Superstructures
Authors: Chen Peng , Shen Zhi‐Xiong , Xu Chun‐Ting , Zhang Yi‐Heng , Ge Shi‐Jun , Ma Ling‐Ling , Hu Wei , Lu Yan‐Qing
Published: March 2022

As a well‐recognized technology for optical data encoding and extracting, holography has faced an ever‐growing pursuit in the miniaturization, multifunctionality, and tunability for today's abundant information. Despite infusive achievements in metahologram, simultaneous realization of dynamic tunability and high‐dimensional multiplexing is critical yet lagging behind, which becomes one bottleneck for this emerging frontier. Here, an innovative solution is proposed by integrating the limited penetration depth of light in chiral liquid crystals and their intrinsic stimuli‐responsive characteristics. Based on a photoactive chiral dopant and the asymmetric photopatterning boundary confined self‐organization, light‐activated spectrally tunable, polarization‐ and direction‐dependent holograms are created simultaneously. As a promising example for information technology, an encrypted signal light is demonstrated, where the wavelength, propagation direction, helicity of light, and reaction duration serve as customized keys for information decryption. This work extends the construction of soft hierarchical superstructures and offers a satisfactory and open‐ended scheme for the intelligent holography, inspiring advanced display, security, and communication.
Tailoring Microstructure and Morphology via Sequential Fluorination to Enhance the Photovoltaic Performance of Low‐Cost Polymer Donors for Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Kini Gururaj P. , Han Yong Woon , Jeon Sung Jae , Lee Eui Jin , Lee Yoon Jae , Goh Munju , Moon Doo Kyung
Published: March 2022

For utilizing organic solar cells (OSCs) for commercial applications, reducing the overall cost of the photo absorbent materials is also very crucial. Herein, such a challenge is addressed by synergistically controlling the amount of fluorine (F)‐substituents (n = 2, 4) on a low‐cost wide‐bandgap molecular design involving alternate fluorinated‐thienyl benzodithiophene donor and 2,5‐difluoro benzene (2FBn) or 2,3,5,6 tetrafluorobenzene (4FBn) to form two new polymer donors PBDT‐2FBn and PBDT‐4FBn, respectively. As expected, sequential fluorination causes a lowering of the frontier energy levels and planarization of polymer backbone via F···S and C‐H···F noncovalent molecular locks, which results in more pronounced molecular packing and enhanced crystallinity from PBDT‐2FBn to PBDT‐4FBn. By mixing with IT‐4F acceptor, PBDT‐2FBn:IT‐4F‐based blend demonstrates favorable molecular orientation with shorter π–π stacking distance, higher carrier mobilities and desirable nanoscale morphology, hence delivering a higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 9.3% than PBDT‐2FBn:IT‐4F counterpart (8.6%). Furthermore, pairing PBDT‐2FBn with BTP‐BO‐4Cl acceptor further improved absorption range and promoted privileged morphology for efficient exciton dissociation and charge transport, resulting in further improvement of PCE to 10.2% with remarkably low energy loss of 0.46 eV. Consequently, this study provides valuable guidelines for designing efficient and low‐cost polymer donors for OSC applications.
Recent advances and applications of off‐axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy
Authors: Shao Ligang , Mei Jiaoxu , Chen Jiajin , Tan Tu , Wang Guishi , Liu Kun , Gao Xiaoming
Published: March 2022

The off‐axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy (OA‐ICOS) represents a suitable solution in many applications with a simple structure and high sensitivity. The off‐axis configuration allows the continuous spectrum output without cavity mode structure when a continuous wave laser is used while preserving the optical resonator's ability to enhance the optical path by tens of thousands of times. This review summarizes the recent advances and applications of OA‐ICOS in recent decades. The evolutionary process and basic principle of OA‐ICOS are introduced. Various approaches for improving the technical performance and enabling simultaneous multigas measurement are reported. Finally, the various field applications of OA‐ICOS technology and the potential development directions are discussed.
Modeling of Pretreatment and Combined Alkaline and Enzymatic Hydrolyses of Blue Agave Bagasse in Corotating Twin‐Screw Extruders
Authors: Morales‐Huerta Juan Carlos , Hernández‐Meléndez Oscar , Garcés‐Sandoval Fernando Iván , Montiel Carmina , Hernández‐Luna Martín Guillermo , Manero Octavio , Bárzana Eduardo , Vivaldo‐Lima Eduardo
Published: March 2022

A recently developed model for pretreatment and acid or alkaline hydrolyses of lignocellulosic biomasses, including blue agave bagasse (BAB), in twin‐screw corotating extruders is extended to the case where enzymes are incorporated into the formulation. The model describes the deconstruction and degradation of BAB, as well as the production of simple sugars at the end of the extrusion process. Experiments using NaOH for delignification and alkaline hydrolysis of BAB, H3PO4 for neutralization, and different enzymatic cocktails for bioextrusion are reported. The effects of temperature, NaOH concentration, enzymatic cocktail used and its concentration, residence time, and configuration of screw elements on degree of degradation and production of sugars are assessed. It turned out that temperature, NaOH concentration, and enzymatic cocktails are the key factors in the extraction and hydrolysis of hemicellulose (H) and cellulose (C) to produce glucose (G). Good agreement between experimental data and model predictions is observed.
Effective velocity of reflected wave in rock mass with different wave impedances of normal incidence of stress wave
Authors: Wang Lijuan , Wu Chengqing , Fan Lifeng , Wang Meng
Published: March 2022

The effective velocity of the reflected wave in rock mass is of significance to the detection of crustal structure and the geophysical seismic exploration. In this paper, the modified characteristic method was introduced to solve P‐wave reflection in rock mass with different wave impedances on two sides of the joint. Effective velocity was defined to characterize the propagation velocity of the reflected wave in jointed rock mass. The effects of incident frequency, joint stiffness and wave impedance ratio on the effective velocity were discussed. The results show that when the stress wave propagation in "hard‐to‐soft" rock mass, the effective velocity increases firstly and then decreases as the incident frequency and the joint stiffness increase, while the effective velocity always decreases as the wave impedance ratio increases; when the stress wave propagation in "soft‐to‐hard" rock mass, the effective velocity decreases as the incident frequency increases, increases as the joint stiffness increases and decreases as the wave impedance ratio increases. The wave impedance ratio has an important influence on the effective velocity. The effective velocity without considering wave impedance ratio is smaller than that of stress wave propagation in "soft‐to‐hard" rock mass, but larger than that of stress wave propagation in "hard‐to‐soft" rock mass.
The perils of a bureaucratic fad in Africa: Examining the effects of the agencification of the state apparatus in Gabon
Authors: Ofoulhast‐Othamot Gyldas A.
Published: March 2022

The paradigmatic ascent of the new public management (NPM) doctrine in the 1980s was a joyful moment for advocates of market‐led public sector reforms. Four decades later, following disappointing results, the NPM is no longer dominant. Pending the emergence of a new leading paradigm, however, NPM‐inspired reforms are still being pursued in several nations worldwide. The central African nation of Gabon is one of those. For 8 years, it pursued an unsuccessful program of agencification of the state apparatus reportedly to create a “modern” public bureaucracy that would support economic modernization. This article provides the first scholarly analysis of the effects of this program. It shows that agencification fundamentally undermined the fragile foundations of the Gabonese administrative state. The magnitude of the damage to the state apparatus stands as the key finding of this study. This outcome further strengthens the case against an uncritical adoption of exogenously‐developed public sector reforms.
Validation of actinic keratosis diagnosis and treatment codes among veterans living with HIV
Authors: Supapannachart Krittin J. , Kwon Chase W. , Tushe Sokol , Guest Jodie L. , Chen Suephy C. , Yeung Howa
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Actinic keratoses (AK) diagnosis, billing, and pharmacy codes have not been validated among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), preventing use in epidemiologic and clinical research. We aimed to calculate the positive predictive value (PPV) of AK diagnosis codes, procedural codes for destruction of pre‐malignant lesions, and pharmacy codes for topical 5‐fluorouracil.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with HIV within the Infectious Disease clinic at the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center from 1/1/2002 to 8/5/2017 were eligible. Patients were included if they had any of the following: encounters with a diagnosis for AK (International Classification of Diseases [ICD]‐9: 702.0; ICD‐10: L57.0), procedural codes for destruction of premalignant lesions (Current Procedural Terminology [CPT]: 17000, 17003, and 17004), and prescriptions for topical 5‐fluorouracil. PPV and binomial 95% confidence intervals were calculated.

Results

PPV was 91.9% (89.1–94.7) for 369 encounters with an AK diagnosis. For procedural codes, PPV was 52.6% (48.1–57.2) for 454 encounters with destruction of 1 pre‐malignant lesion, 63.7% (58.4–68.9) for 322 encounters with destruction of 2–14 lesions, and 57.7% (38.7–76.7) for 26 encounters with destruction of 15+ lesions. PPV was 72.9% (63.5–82.4) for 85 encounters with a prescription of topical 5‐fluorouracil.

Conclusion

AK diagnosis codes are appropriate to use in epidemiologic and health policy research among people living with HIV and may be more reliable than destruction of pre‐malignant lesion CPT codes.
Comparative proteomics analysis of human stem cells from dental gingival and periodontal ligament
Authors: Lei Tong , Wang Jian , Liu Yanyan , Zhang Xiaoshuang , Du Hongwu
Published: March 2022

Dental stem cells isolated from oral tissues have been shown to provide with high proliferation ability and multilineage differentiation potential. Gingival mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) and periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs), kinds of dental stem cells, can be used as substitutes for tissue repair materials because of their similar regenerative functions. In this study, we aim to explore the similarities and differences between the protein profiles of GMSCs and PDLSCs through quantitative proteomics. A total of 2821 proteins were identified and retrieved, of which 271 were upregulated and 57 were downregulated in GMSCs compared to PDLSCs. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis demonstrated that the 328 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) were involved in the regulation of gene expression, metabolism, and signal transduction in biological process, mainly distributed in organelles related to vesicle transport, and involved in the molecular function of binding protein. And Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that the DAPs were committed to regulating the synthesis of proteasome and spliceosome. Real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) results showed that ARPC1B, PDAP1, and SEC61B can be used as special markers to distinguish GMSCs from PDLSCs. This research contributes to explaining the molecular mechanism and promoting the clinical application of tissue regeneration of GMSCs and PDLSCs.
The role of ATP in solubilizing RNA‐binding protein fused in sarcoma
Authors: Aida Hayato , Shigeta Yasuteru , Harada Ryuhei
Published: March 2022

Intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) plays an important role in liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS). RNA‐binding protein fused in sarcoma (FUS) is a well‐studied IDP that induces LLPS since its low‐complexity core region (FUS‐LC‐core) is essential for droplet formation through contacts between FUS‐LC‐cores. Several experimental studies have reported that adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentrations modulate LLPS‐driven droplet formation through the dissolution of FUS. To elucidate the role of ATP in this dissolution, microsecond‐order all‐atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed for a crowded system of FUS‐LC‐cores in the presence of multiple ATP molecules. Our analysis revealed that the adenine group of ATP frequently contacted the FUS‐LC‐core, and the phosphoric acid group of ATP was exposed to the external solvent, which promoted both hydration and solubilization of FUS.