bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of cranberry juice consumption on gut and vaginal microbiota in postmenopausal women
Authors: Al Othaim Ayoub , Marasini Daya , Carbonero Franck
Published: May 2021

Cranberries have long been purported to provide protection against urinary tract infections. There is a line of evidence suggesting that causal pathogens might be seeded from the bacteria reservoirs in the intestinal and vaginal tracts. We tested the hypothesis whether cranberry intake would reshape bacteria taxa in the gut, as well as the vaginal ecosystem. A total of 25 postmenopausal women were enrolled into a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study. Stool samples and vaginal swabs were collected at baseline and after 15 days of consumption of placebo or cranberry beverages, microbiota analyses were performed by Illumina Miseq sequencing following a double‐index 16S rRNA gene amplicon. All baseline stool samples generally fell in theBacteroidesenterotype. Significant increases ofPrevotella(P = 0.04),ClostridiumXIVa members (P = 0.04),Eggerthella(P = 0.03), andBifidobacterium(P = 0.02) were shown following the cranberry juice intervention; this indicates modulation of the gut microbiota by cranberry components. Baseline vaginal microbiotas fell in three distinct patterns—Lactobacillusdominant, diversified microbiome, andStreptococcusdysbiosis. Compared with the placebo, the cranberry intervention significantly reduced the abundance of pathogenicStreptococcus(P = 0.04) in the dysbiosis group and increased commensal bacteriaAnaerococcus,Finegoldia,Actinomyces, andCorynebacteriumin the diversified microbiome and dysbiosis groups. Overall, these data suggest that cranberry consumption may improve vaginal microbiota composition in individuals with dysbiosis. Gut‐borne taxa stimulation by the combination of cranberry oligosaccharides and polyphenols present in the cranberry product potentially mediates these beneficial properties.
Synergistic effects of black ginseng and aged garlic extracts for the amelioration of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice
Authors: Jiang Guihun , Ramachandraiah Karna , Murtaza Mian Anjum , Wang Lili , Li Shanji , Ameer Kashif
Published: May 2021

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease that can lead to carcinoma, cirrhosis, and death. Since no approved medications are available, dietary interventions that include bioactive compounds have been recommended. This study investigated the effects of black ginseng extracts (BGE) and aged black garlic extracts (AGE) on high‐fat diet (HFD)‐induced obese mice. Micrograph of liver tissues of mice fed with BGE and AGE showed less lipid droplets. The BGE and AGE supplements individually and in combination lowered the marker enzymes, aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels indicating their hepatoprotective effects. Compared to the plants extracts alone, the combination of the extracts resulted in lower total cholesterol (TC) and low‐density lipoproteins cholesterol (LDL‐C), which are risk markers for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Diets with the combination of BGE and AGE supplements had higher superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) activities, and lower malondialdehyde indicating the synergistic effects of the extracts. Irrespective of the diet type, all treated groups showed lower tumor necrosis factor (TNF‐α) values as compared to HFD, which indicated overall immunomodulatory effect of both extracts. Therefore, the innovative formulation formed by the combination of BGE and AGE can provide hepatoprotective effects via modulating glycometabolism, lipometabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation in mice.
Characteristics and Prognosis of De Novo Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Sustained Virologic Response
Authors: Toyoda Hidenori , Hiraoka Atsushi , Uojima Haruki , Nozaki Akito , Shimada Noritomo , Takaguchi Koichi , Abe Hiroshi , Atsukawa Masanori , Matsuura Kentaro , Ishikawa Toru , Mikami Shigeru , Watanabe Tsunamasa , Itobayashi Ei , Tsuji Kunihiko , Arai Taeang , Yasuda Satoshi , Chuma Makoto , Senoh Tomonori , Tsutsui Akemi , Okubo Tomomi , Ehira Takuya , Kumada Takashi , Tanaka Junko
Published: May 2021

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can de novo develop in patients with chronic hepatitis C even after the achievement of sustained virologic response (SVR). We characterized de novo HCC after SVR, comparing it with HCC that developed in patients during persistent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Characteristics, survival rates, and recurrence rates after curative treatment in 178 patients who developed initial HCC after SVR diagnosed between 2014 and 2020 were compared with those of 127 patients with initial HCC that developed during persistent HCV infection diagnosed between 2011 and 2015; HCC was detected under surveillance in both groups. HCC was less advanced and liver function worsened less in patients with SVR than in patients with persistent HCV. The survival rate after diagnosis was significantly higher for patients with SVR than for patients with persistent HCV (1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year survival rates, 98.2%, 92.5%, and 86.8% versus 89.5%, 74.7%, and 60.8%, respectively; P < 0.001). By contrast, the recurrence rate after curative treatment was similar between groups (1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year recurrence rates, 11.6%, 54.6%, and 60.4% versus 24.0%, 46.7%, and 50.4%, respectively; P = 0.7484). Liver function improved between initial HCC diagnosis and recurrence in patients with SVR (P = 0.0191), whereas it worsened in the control group (P < 0.001). In addition, patients with SVR could receive curative treatment for recurrence more frequently than patients with persistent HCV (80.4% versus 47.8%, respectively; P = 0.0008). Conclusion: Survival of patients with de novo HCC after SVR was significantly higher than that of patients in whom HCC developed during persistent HCV infection, despite similar rates of recurrence after curative treatment. A higher prevalence of curative treatment for recurrent HCC and improved liver function contributed to this result.
Cascade embedding triethyltryptophanium iodide ionic liquid (TrpEt3+I−) on silicated titanomagnetite core (Fe3‐xTixO4‐SiO2@TrpEt3+I−): A novel nano organic–inorganic hybrid to prepare a library of 4‐substituted quinoline‐2‐carboxylates and 4,6‐disubstituted quinoline‐2‐carboxylates
Authors: Nikoofar Kobra , Molaei Yielzoleh Fatemeh
Published: May 2021

A library of substituted quinolone‐2‐carboxylates (4,6‐disubstituted quinolone‐2‐carboxylates, 6‐substituted quinoline dialkyl‐2,4‐dicarboxylates, and 6‐substituted 4‐[2‐methoxy‐2‐oxoethyl]quinoline‐2‐methylcarboxylates) was obtained through different scopes of one‐pot and one‐step MCRs such as (a) three‐component reaction of aromatic amines, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates, and terminal alkenes/ketones; (b) pseudo three‐component reaction of anilines and dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates; and (c) pseudo three‐component reaction of anilines and methyl propiolate under solvent‐free conditions at 100°C. The promoter of these annulation processes is a novel inorganic–organic core–shell that was obtained from silicated titanomagnetite, tryptophan amino acid, and ethyl iodide. The tryptophan embedded on the silicated titanomagnetite core (Fe3‐xTixO4‐SiO2) followed by alkylation with ethyl iodide subsequently result in in situ preparation of triethyltryptophanium iodide ionic liquid (TrpEt3+I−). The final nanohybrid (Fe3‐xTixO4‐SiO2@TrpEt3+I−) was characterized by field‐emission scanning electron microscope, EDAX, FT‐IR, TGA/DTG, vibrating sample magnetometer, and X‐ray fluorescence techniques. The highlighted features of the protocol are as follows: (a) synthesis of a vast range of substituted quinolines through a straightforward method from simple substrates under solvent‐free conditions, (b) utilizing various scopes of functionalities as substrates, (c) simple separation of the nano promoter via an external magnet, (d) regioselectivity in the cascade annulation procedure, and (e) recovery and reusability of the nanocomposite within three runs without significant activity loss.
The role of Twitter in dental education: A systematic review
Authors: van Schaijik Bede , Alshawa Aladdin , Hamadah Omar , Alshehri Mohammed , Kujan Omar
Published: May 2021

Background

The rapid growth of social media in recent years has highlighted uses beyond their original purposes, particularly in education. Twitter is a free, open access social network with high potential to enhance interactive learning. The use of Twitter in dental education has been far less investigated; therefore, the objective of this systematic review is to explore the current uses and to examine the impact of Twitter on dental education, and to analyze and predict potential models of Twitter for future application in dental training, education, and teaching.

Methods

Five databases (PubMed, Embase, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science) and the gray literature using keywords related to Twitter and dental education were searched. Articles were screened for inclusion, and two researchers independently extracted the data using a standardized data collection template and analyzed the quality of the included articles using the Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument.

Results

Of the 121 articles identified from the initial search, 68 remained after duplications were removed. Article screening removed 61 articles leaving 7 eligible for inclusion and data extraction. Five studies were cross‐sectional and two were cohort studies, and all involved survey‐based designs with 998 respondents in total. Quality assessment gave a score range between 8 and 12.5 out of a total of 18 points.

Conclusions

Our study supports the potential for Twitter as a useful learning tool in dental education. Features, including the open access nature of Twitter as well as the low level of ads and free registration, make it appealing to students as well as a useful tool for interactive learning. However, there are significant barriers to its use, including privacy and concerns about professionalism. Higher quality and greater impact research is required.
Modeling population‐wide testing of SARS‐CoV‐2 for containing COVID‐19 pandemic in Okinawa, Japan
Authors: Shimizu Kazuki , Kuniya Toshikazu , Tokuda Yasuharu
Published: May 2021

To break the chains of SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission and contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, population‐wide testing has been practiced in various countries. However, scant research has addressed this topic in Japan. In this modeling exercise, we extracted the number of daily reported cases of COVID‐19 in Okinawa from October 1 to November 30, 2020, and explored possible scenarios for decreasing COVID‐19 incidence by combining population‐wide screening and/or social distancing policy. We reveal that permanent lockdown can be theoretically replaced by mass testing but sufficient target population at an adequate frequency must be mobilized. In addition, solely imposing a circuit breaker will not bring a favorable outcome in the long run, and mass testing presents implications for minimizing a period of lockdown. Our results highlight the importance of incentivizing citizens to join the frequent testing and ensure their appropriate isolation. This study also suggests that early containment of COVID‐19 will be feasible in prefectures where the mobility is low and/or can be easily controlled for its geographic characteristics. Rigorous investment in public health will be manifestly vital to contain COVID‐19.
Development of a core set of single nucleotide polymorphism markers for genetic diversity analysis and cultivar fingerprinting in cowpea
Authors: Wu Xinyi , Wang Baogen , Wu Suqi , Li Sujuan , Zhang Yan , Wang Ying , Li Yanwei , Wang Jian , Wu Xiaohua , Lu Zhongfu , Li Guojing
Published: May 2021

Cowpea is an important legume crop worldwide. However, the diversity and relationship of current accessions remain unclear due to a lack of robust genetic information. A set of 40,089 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) adapted to the Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) SNP genotyping platform were developed from the existing Illumina Cowpea iSelect Consortium Array for cowpea germplasm genetic diversity assessment and variety identification. Using the genotypic data of 299 cowpea accessions obtained from this SNP assay, a precore pool of 434 SNPs and 50 informative core SNPs was selected and validated for use in future genetic diversity analyses of cowpea germplasm. By further genotyping 75 commercial cultivars using the set of 50 core SNPs, pairwise genotype alignment and dendrogram analysis both showed that each cultivar could be uniquely identified by this core set of markers. The KASP markers developed in this study provide a flexible marker resource for both basic and applied research of cowpea. The precore SNP pool and the core SNP set also provide valuable tools for genetic variation assessment and variety rights protection for cowpea breeders.
Taste‐strip gustometry in cochlear implanted patients
Authors: Beutner Dirk , Vent Julia , Seehawer Julia , Luers Jan Christoffer , Lang‐Roth Ruth , Wrobel Christian
Published: May 2021

Objective

Investigation of the gustatory function in a large cohort of cochlear implanted patients using lateralized taste‐strip tests.

Patients and Methods

One hundred and seven unilaterally or bilaterally profoundly hearing impaired or deaf patients who received cochlear implants (n = 113) were included in this study. Data on gustometry, subjective gustatory dysfunction, and the detailed surgical procedure were acquired retrospectively. Gustatory function, assessed using lateralized taste‐strip tests, was performed the day before, 3 days after cochlear implantation, and on the day of the initial CI adjustment (39 days ±7.3 SD).

Results

Averaged taste‐strip scores of the cohort declined significantly from preoperatively 12.3 [11.8; 12.7] (mean [95% confidence intervals]) to 10.5 [9.7; 11.2] on the implanted side about 6 weeks after surgery. Patients with intraoperatively exposed and rerouted, or a severed, chorda tympani nerve (CTN) showed significantly reduced unilateral postoperative scores (10.1 [8.8; 11.4] and 9.3 [8.1; 10.5], respectively), when compared to not exposing or to leaving a bony layer over the CTN. Total taste‐strip test scores showed a significant decline 6 weeks postoperatively in CI‐patients expressing a subjective gustatory dysfunction (from 23.6 [21.4; 25.8] to 17.5 [14.2; 20.8]), as opposed to patients with a documented subjectively normal taste.

Conclusion

We consider postoperative gustatory dysfunction as a relevant side effect post cochlear implantation, at least within the first month. Taste‐strip based gustometry is a suitable diagnostic tool to assess taste function in CI patients and is recommended to be performed routinely.

Level of Evidence

3, retrospective, nonrandomized follow‐up study.
Association between subjective well‐being and perception of medical care system among patients with Marfan syndrome: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Shimizu Tomoko , Shimizu Yasuko
Published: May 2021

Background

This study investigated the association between subjective well‐being and perception for collaboration among clinical departments of adult Marfan syndrome (MFS) patients.

Methods

We performed a self‐administered questionnaire survey to ask about current medical treatment and support systems and subjective well‐being for 114 patients with MFS aged 18–64 years. It was hypothesized that patients’ perception of collaboration between clinical departments would raise their subjective well‐being. Mean value differences were predicted by a multiple regression analysis model, with supportive medical staff, age, sex, aorta dissection, family history, marriage status, and educational background adjusted.

Results

Patients’ perception of collaboration between clinical departments and being married raised SWLS scores (mean difference for patients’ perception of collaboration versus not = 3.41, 95% CI = 0.28, 6.53, p = .03; for married versus single = 5.22, 95% CI = 1.75, 8.69, p = .003).

Conclusion

Our results have suggested that it is necessary to maintain and enhance the medical treatment system with the patients for improving the subjective well‐being of MFS patients. In addition, the result indicated the need for intervention to the patients themselves and also their family so that it allows patients to receive physical and emotional support from people close to them.
A novel missense variant in cathepsin C gene leads to PLS in a Chinese patient: A case report and literature review
Authors: Yu Hui , He Xun , Liu Xiangqin , Zhang Houbin , Shen Zhu , Shi Yi , Liu Xiaoqi
Published: May 2021

Background

Papilon‐Lefevre syndrome (PLS; OMIM 245000) is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by aggressive periodontitis and palmoplantar keratoderma. The prevalence of PLS in the general population is one to four cases per million. Although the etiology and pathogenic mechanisms underlying PLS remain largely unclear, existing evidence shows loss‐of‐function mutations of the cathepsin C gene (CTSC; OMIM 602365) could cause PLS. Here we found a novel variant of the CTSC gene in a Chinese PLS family and predicted the effect of the variant on the physic–chemical characters and tertiary structure of the protein.

Methods

The 1–7 coding exons and exon–intron boundaries of CTSC gene of the proband and her family were amplified and sequenced directly, and Chromas was used to read sequencing files. Furthermore, the PolyPhen‐2, PROVEAN, and Mutation Taster were utilized to predict the pathogenicity of the variant. Besides, the physic–chemical and structural characters of the protein were analyzed by ProtParam, ProtScale, and SWISS‐MODEL.

Results

Our study identified a novel homozygous variant c.763T>C (p.Cys255Arg) in exon 6 of the CTSC gene, and it was a likely pathogenic variant as predicted by PolyPhen‐2, PROVEAN, and Mutation Taster. Moreover, ProtParam and Protscale revealed the variant increased the isoelectric point and hydrophilicity of the protein, and the SWISS‐MODEL analysis suggested the variant was located in a critical domain for protein activity.

Conclusion

Our study analyzed a Chinese family with PLS and identified a novel missense variant in the CTSC gene. Besides, this study retrospectively summarized 113 variants of CTSC in the world and highlighted the features of 27 CTSC variants in Chinese PLS patients. In addition, this study paid much particular attention to the relationship between CTSC variants and different phenotypes.
Review of laser‐diode pumped Ti:sapphire laser
Authors: Liu Han , Sun Sijia , Zheng Li , Wang Geyang , Tian Wenlong , Zhang Dacheng , Han Hainian , Zhu Jiangfeng , Wei Zhiyi
Published: May 2021

Ti:sapphire laser has an important position in ultrashort pulse generation and wavelength tuning. The use of expensive frequency‐doubled diode‐pumped solid‐state laser as the pump source limits the promotion of its application to a certain extent. With the maturity of high‐power blue‐green laser diodes (LDs), low‐cost LD directly pumped Ti:sapphire laser becomes possible. After more than 10 years of development, the output parameters of LD pumped Ti:sapphire lasers have been greatly improved. Moreover, the lasers have been applied to optical frequency combs, multiphoton microscopy imaging, and so forth, both of which have achieved impressive results.
The influence of family social support on quality of life of informal caregivers of cancer patients
Authors: García‐Carmona Margarita , García‐Torres Francisco , Jacek Jabłoński Marcin , Gómez Solís Ángel , Jaén‐Moreno María José , Moriana Juan A. , Moreno‐Díaz María José , Aranda Enrique
Published: May 2021

Aim

Caregivers of cancer patients are at high risk of experiencing impairments in terms of anxiety, depression and quality of life. This study examines the mediation capacity that perceived emotional support can have after diagnosis and six months later between depression and anxiety after diagnosis and quality of life in informal caregivers of cancer patients.

Design

A sample of 67 informal caregivers of cancer patients was used. This study is longitudinal, ex post facto prospective, with convenience sampling.

Methods

Participants completed the Medical Outcomes Study 36‐Item Short Form (SF‐36), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Berlin Social Support Scale (BSSS) and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Data were collected between March 2017 and November 2018.

Results

Spearman's correlation analysis showed that anxiety, depression and perceived emotional support were related to quality of life. The mediation analysis showed that the relationship between depression after diagnosis and quality of life six months later was mediated by perceived emotional support.
The lived experiences of frontline nurses during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic in Qatar: A qualitative study
Authors: Villar Ralph C. , Nashwan Abdulqadir J. , Mathew Rejo G. , Mohamed Ahmed S. , Munirathinam Sathish , Abujaber Ahmad A. , Al‐Jabry Mahmood M. , Shraim Mujahed
Published: May 2021

Aim

This study aims to explore the lived experiences of frontline nurses providing nursing care for COVID‐19 patients in Qatar.

Design

Qualitative, Phenomenological.

Methods

Nurses were recruited from a designated COVID‐19 facility using purposive and snowball sampling. The participants were interviewed face‐to‐face using semi‐structured interview questions from 6 September–10 October 2020. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological method.

Result

A total of 30 nurses were interviewed; (76.7%) were deployed for >6 months. Three major themes were drawn from the analysis: (a) Challenges of working in a COVID‐19 facility (subthemes: working in a new context and new working environment, worn out by the workload, the struggle of wearing protective gear, fear of COVID‐19, witnessing suffering); (b) Surviving COVID‐19 (subthemes: keeping it safe with extra measures, change in eating habits, teamwork and camaraderie, social support); and (c) Resilience of Nurses (subthemes: a true calling, a sense of purpose).
Numerical approximations of chromatographic models
Authors: Bozorgnia Farid , Seyed Allaei Sonia
Published: May 2021

A numerical scheme based on modified method of characteristics with adjusted advection (MMOCAA) is proposed to approximate the solution of the system liquid chromatography with multi components case. For the case of one component, the method preserves the mass. Various examples and computational tests numerically verify the accuracy and efficiency of the approach.
Ageing contributes to phenotype transition in a mouse model of periodic paralysis
Authors: Suetterlin Karen J. , Tan S. Veronica , Mannikko Roope , Phadke Rahul , Orford Michael , Eaton Simon , Sayer Avan A. , Grounds Miranda D. , Matthews Emma , Greensmith Linda , Hanna Michael G.
Published: May 2021

Background

Periodic paralysis (PP) is a rare genetic disorder in which ion channel mutation causes episodic paralysis in association with hyper‐ or hypokalaemia. An unexplained but consistent feature of PP is that a phenotype transition occurs around the age of 40, in which the severity of potassium‐induced muscle weakness declines but onset of fixed, progressive weakness is reported. This phenotype transition coincides with the age at which muscle mass and optimal motor function start to decline in healthy individuals. We sought to determine if the phenotype transition in PP is linked to the normal ageing phenotype transition and to explore the mechanisms involved.

Methods

A mouse model of hyperkalaemic PP was compared with wild‐type littermates across a range of ages (13–104 weeks). Only male mice were used as penetrance is incomplete in females. We adapted the muscle velocity recovery cycle technique from humans to examine murine muscle excitability in vivo. We then examined changes in potassium‐induced weakness or caffeine contracture force with age using ex vivo muscle tension testing. Muscles were further characterized by either Western blot, histology or energy charge measurement. For normally distributed data, a student's t‐test (± Welch correction) or one‐ or two‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to determine significance. For data that were not normally distributed, Welch rank test, Mann Whitney U test or Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA was performed. When an ANOVA was significant (P < 0.05), post hoc Tukey testing was used.

Results

Both WT (P = 0.009) and PP (P = 0.007) muscles exhibit increased resistance to potassium‐induced weakness with age. Our data suggest that healthy‐old muscle develops mechanisms to maintain force despite sarcolemmal depolarization and sodium channel inactivation. In contrast, reduced caffeine contracture force (P = 0.00005), skeletal muscle energy charge (P = 0.004) and structural core pathology (P = 0.005) were specific to Draggen muscle, indicating that they are caused, or at least accelerated by, chronic genetic ion channel dysfunction.

Conclusions

The phenotype transition with age is replicated in a mouse model of PP. Intrinsic muscle ageing protects against potassium‐induced weakness in HyperPP mice. However, it also appears to accelerate impairment of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium release, mitochondrial impairment and the development of core‐like regions, suggesting acquired RyR1 dysfunction as the potential aetiology. This work provides a first description of mechanisms involved in phenotype transition with age in PP. It also demonstrates how studying phenotype transition with age in monogenic disease can yield novel insights into both disease physiology and the ageing process itself.
Trajectory tracking of nonholonomic mobile robots by geometric control on special Euclidean group
Authors: He Xiaodong , Geng Zhiyong
Published: May 2021

This article studies the trajectory tracking of nonholonomic mobile robots by using geometric control methods, with extension to consensus tracking and formation tracking. Different from the system model given in the Euclidean space, we establish the dynamics of mobile robots on the tangent bundle of the Lie group, which is a global and unique description independent of local coordinates. Firstly, the tracking control of one leader with one follower is considered, which is converted to the stabilization of two relative subsystems by designing an adjoint system. Then, the controller is extended to consensus tracking of multiple robots connected by a directed acyclic graph, where the convex combination on nonlinear manifolds is introduced to construct a virtual leader for each follower. Next, the relation between consensus control and formation control is established, and a new transformed system is constructed so as to derive the formation tracking controller from the consensus result. Finally, simulation examples are presented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed controllers.
Copper‐Oxone Promoted Oxidative C−H Functionalization: Synthesis of 2‐Aminobenzothiazoles and Evaluation of Their Antimicrobial Activities
Authors: Doğan Şengül Dilem , Gündüz Miyase Gözde , Uğur Sümeyye Buran , Doğan Hilal , Özkul Ceren , Çetinkaya Yasin
Published: May 2021

Benzothiazole is one of the most important heterocyclic scaffolds existing in both natural and synthetic compounds. This prominent ring is of undoubted interest due to its broad range of therapeutic benefits as well as chemical reactivity in organic reactions. Therefore, we developed a convenient, rapid and efficient methodology for the ring closure reaction of thioureas to form 2‐aminobenzothiazole derivatives. We optimized the reaction conditions by trying various catalysts and oxidants. Copper iodide/oxone catalysis provided the best conditions for the preparation of benzothiazoles. The regioselectivity observed in the ring closure reaction of the naphthyl thiourea derivative was investigated and the obtained experimental results were supported by theoretical calculations. In vitro antimicrobial effects of the compounds were tested against various bacterial and fungal strains. Finally, molecular docking studies were carried out to rationalize the achieved biological results and suggest molecular modifications to design new benzothiazole derivatives.
Bioinspired AgNPs: Effective and Recyclable Catalysts towards the One‐Pot Synthesis of Hexahydroquinoline Derivatives via Three‐Component Coupling Reaction
Authors: Bera Partha Sarathi , Mondal Shyam Sundar , Das Rima , Ghosal Subhas , Saha Tanmoy Kumar
Published: May 2021

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was carried out using aqueous bark extract of Shorea robusta(Sal tree) as the reducing and capping agent. AgNPs were characterized using modern characterization tools like UV‐Vis, PXRD, FT‐IR, SEM, and HR‐TEM. The catalytic application of the prepared AgNPs in three‐component coupling reaction of aldehyde, malononitrile, and cyclic enamino ketone resulted in good to excellent yields of hexahydroquinoline derivatives. Moreover, the catalyst can be recycled up to 5 times without compromising too much yield. The mechanistic pathway was investigated employing GC‐Mass spectroscopy and supported through the Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. A two‐step mechanism has been proposed for the coupling reaction, and the presence of electron‐withdrawing group in the aldehyde component is found to be more favorable than electron‐releasing one in terms of yield with lesser time.
Synthesis of 1H‐Pyrazolo[3,4‐b]quinoxaline Derivatives by Modification of the Regiospecific Reaction – the Influence of the Microwave Field
Authors: Wojtasik Katarzyna , Danel Andrzej , Wojtasik Michał , Lukasiewicz Marcin
Published: May 2021

The microwave‐assisted reductive cyclization reaction with the use of triphenylphosphine as a reducing agent in the synthesis of 1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐b]quinoxaline derivatives was investigated. Contrary to the conventional method of conducting the reaction, the process in the reactor takes 25 minutes with moderate yields (30–38 %). This procedure was used to obtain three new 1,3‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐b]quinoxaline derivatives with substituents at position 6 of different donor‐acceptor character, which were used to determine the basic photophysical properties (UV‐Vis absorption spectra, fluorescence emission spectra) and the quantum yields of fluorescence were appointed. The measurement results indicate the possible use of new compounds as materials for OLEDs. The conducted research brings new knowledge in the field of 1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐b]quinoxaline derivative systems and provides an alternative to conventional synthesis of pyrazoloquinoxalines.
Composite of Cobalt‐C3N4 on TiO2 Nanorod Arrays as Co‐catalyst for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting
Authors: Li Yuangang , Shang Weike , Li Huajing , Yang Mengru , Shi Shaosen , Li Jin , Huang Chenyu , Zhou Anning
Published: May 2021

TiO2@Co‐C3N4 nanorod arrays were prepared by drop coating and hydrothermal method. The Photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance of TiO2@Co‐C3N4 nanorod arrays can be tuned by the amount of Co‐C3N4 coated. When the amount of Co‐C3N4 reached about 0.75 μg/cm2, the PEC performance of TiO2@Co‐C3N4 reached the maximum. The results show that the photocurrent density of TiO2@Co‐C3N4 nanorod array reaches 1.79 mA/cm2 at 1.23 VRHE, which is about 2.3 times of that from TiO2@g‐C3N4. And the PEC device has good stability and the photocurrent density remains no decline after 10 hours of continuous operation. Co atoms coordinated with g‐C3N4 could act as a co‐catalyst for water oxidation, and a possible mechanism is proposed for water oxidation based on careful analysis of the detailed results. The holes photogenerated by excited electrons oxidize Co atoms from CoII to CoIII and CoIV, and then these high‐valence cobalt species accelerate the kinetics of water oxidation. In addition, Co‐C3N4 not only can promote the charge transfer but also improve the overall energy conversion efficiency of the PEC device.
Tempering and Intercritical Annealing of Air‐Hardening 4 wt% Medium Manganese Steels
Authors: Gramlich Alexander , Bleck Wolfgang
Published: May 2021

The mechanical properties after tempering and intercritical annealing of medium manganese steels with 4 wt% Mn for forging applications are presented. After forging with subsequent air cooling, heat treatments were performed, specifically tempering from 250 and 450 °C and intercritical annealing between 600 and 675 °C. Tensile properties, Charpy V‐notch impact toughness, and hardness were determined and compared with microstructural features characterized by metallography and synchrotron measurements, leading to the classification of six different heat treatment stages for medium manganese steels. Furthermore, the effects of different alloying additions (boron 0.0016–0.0057 wt%, molybdenum 0.2 wt%, and aluminum 0.5 wt%) are discussed with respect to the mechanical properties. It is shown that boron increases the impact toughness more effectively in the tempering regime, while the molybdenum alloyed samples exhibit higher toughness after intercritical annealing. Most of the materials and heat treatment states follow the inverse relationship between toughness and strength, while the aluminum alloyed samples show a superior toughness after tempering.
Death by political party: The relationship between COVID‐19 deaths and political party affiliation in the United States
Authors: Gao Jingjing , Radford Benjamin J.
Published: May 2021

This study explored social factors that are associated with the US deaths caused by COVID‐19 after the declaration of economic reopening on May 1, 2020 by President Donald Trump. We seek to understand how county‐level support for Trump interacted with social distancing policies to impact COVID‐19 death rates. Overall, controlling for several potential confounders, counties with higher levels of Trump support do not necessarily experience greater mortality rates due to COVID‐19. The predicted weekly death counts per county tended to increase over time with the implementation of several key health policies. However, the difference in COVID‐19 outcomes between counties with low and high levels of Trump support grew after several weeks of the policy implementation as counties with higher levels of Trump support suffered relatively higher death rates. Counties with higher levels of Trump support exhibited lower percentages of mobile staying at home and higher percentages of people working part time or full time than otherwise comparable counties with lower levels of Trump support. The relative negative performance of Trump‐supporting counties is robust after controlling for these measures of policy compliance. Counties with high percentages of older (aged 65 and above) persons tended to have greater death rates, as did more populous counties in general. This study indicates that policymakers should consider the risks inherent in controlling public health crises due to divisions in political ideology and confirms that vulnerable communities are at particularly high risk in public health crises.
The potential versatility of RNA catalysis
Authors: Wilson Timothy J. , Lilley David M. J.
Published: May 2021

It is commonly thought that in the early development of life on this planet RNA would have acted both as a store of genetic information and as a catalyst. While a number of RNA enzymes are known in contemporary cells, they are largely confined to phosphoryl transfer reactions, whereas an RNA based metabolism would have required a much greater chemical diversity of catalysis. Here we discuss how RNA might catalyze a wider variety of chemistries, and particularly how information gleaned from riboswitches could suggest how ribozymes might recruit coenzymes to expand their chemical range. We ask how we might seek such activities in modern biology.

This article is categorized under:

RNA‐Based Catalysis > Miscellaneous RNA‐Catalyzed Reactions

Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > Riboswitches

RNA Structure and Dynamics > RNA Structure, Dynamics and Chemistry
Doubled Haploids in Rice Improvement: Approaches, Applications, and Future Prospects
Authors: Samantaray Sanghamitra , Ali Jauhar , Nicolas Katrina L. C. , Katara Jawahar Lal , Verma Ram Lakhan , Parameswaran C. , Devanna B. N. , Kumar Awadhesh , Dash Byomkesh , Bhuyan Sudhansu Sekhar
Published: May 2021

Exploitation of biotechnological tools in conventional breeding strategies is the need of the hour for overcoming limitations in rice production and productivity. In addition, improvement in quantity and quality along with resistance to climatic and disease stress in rice require immediate attention. Anther culture has proven its efficiency by instantaneously fixing homozygosity through diploidization of regenerated haploid plants. Therefore, androgenesis provides an efficient platform for developing inbred lines in a short period of time. Although anther culture shows its efficiency in speeding up breeding in several crop species, including rice, associated limitations still prevent the exploitation of its optimum potential. Although anther culture is well exploited in japonica rice breeding, its application in indica rice is limited because of inherent recalcitrant genetic backgrounds. The success of anther culture is determined by several factors that limit the efficiency of androgenesis. Identified constraints are early anther necrosis, poor-callus response, and proliferation, and low green-plant regeneration, along with the most frustrating albinism associated with indica rice, which has been considerably clarified. This chapter details the method of androgenesis and scope for improving the applicability of anther culture producing doubled haploids of rice in order to use it as a complementary tool for precision breeding.
Zinc-Biofortified Rice: A Sustainable Food-Based Product for Fighting Zinc Malnutrition
Authors: Calayugan Mark Ian C. , Swamy B. P. Mallikarjuna , Nha Chau Thanh , Palanog Alvin D. , Biswas Partha S. , Descalsota-Empleo Gwen Iris , Min Yin Myat Myat , Inabangan-Asilo Mary Ann
Published: May 2021

The lack of dietary diversity among poor communities has led to nutritional consequences, particularly zinc deficiency. An adequate intake of mineral- and vitamin-rich food is necessary for achieving and maintaining good health. Zinc is one of the micronutrients considered essential to improve human health and decrease the risk of malnutrition. Biofortification of rice through breeding is a cost-effective and sustainable strategy to solve micronutrient malnutrition. The Biofortification Priority Index prepared by HarvestPlus clearly identified several countries in Asia with an immediate need for Zn biofortification. The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and its national partners in target countries are making efforts to develop Zn-biofortified rice varieties. The first set of high-Zn rice varieties has been released for commercial cultivation in Bangladesh, India, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Efforts have begun to mainstream grain Zn to ensure that the Zn trait becomes an integral part of future varieties. Huge scope exists to apply advanced genomics technologies such as genomic selection and genome editing to speed up high-Zn varietal development. An efficient rice value chain for Zn-biofortified varieties, quality control, and promotion are essential for successful adoption and consumption. The development of next-generation high-Zn rice varieties with higher grain-Zn content, stacking of multiple nutrients, along with good grain quality and acceptable agronomic traits has to be fast-tracked. Healthier rice has a large demand from all stakeholders, so we need to keep up the pace of developing nutritious rice to meet the demand and to achieve nutritional security.
Correction to: Conceptual Background of Transformative Social-Ecological Innovation
Authors: Huntjens Patrick
Published: May 2021

Inadvertently, the book was published with an incorrect citation of Fig. 4.5 in page 100. The citation has been now corrected to read as below,
S-duality and correlation functions at large R-charge
Authors: Hellerman Simeon , Maeda Shunsuke , Orlando Domenico , Reffert Susanne , Watanabe Masataka
Published: May 2021

Abstract

We study the ratio of pairs of adjacent correlators of Coulomb-branch operators in SU(2) $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 sqcd with four flavors within the framework of the large quantum number expansion. Capitalizing on the order-by-order S-duality invariance of the large-R-charge expansion, we compute ab initio the dependence of the leading large-"Image missing" behavior on the marginal coupling τ and we find excellent agreement with numerical estimates from localization.
Improved axion haloscope search analysis
Authors: Ahn S. , Lee S. , Choi J. , Ko B. R. , Semertzidis Y. K.
Published: May 2021

Abstract

One of the most significant and practical figures of merit in axion haloscope searches is the scanning rate, because of the unknown axion mass. Under the best experimental parameters, the only way to improve the figure of merit is to increase the experimentally designed signal to noise ratio in the axion haloscope search analysis procedure. In this paper, we report an improved axion haloscope search analysis using the data taken by the CAPP-8TB haloscope. By correcting for the background biased by the background parametrizations in the presence of axion signals, we realized a signal to noise ratio efficiency of about 100%. Given the axion haloscope search analyses to date, the scanning rate can be improved by 21%, with about a 10% improvement in the signal to noise ratio. This improvement is another low cost innovation in axion haloscope searches, where all the experimental parameters are currently at their best.
Long-lived biνo at the LHC
Authors: Gehrlein Julia , Ipek Seyda
Published: May 2021

Abstract

We examine the detection prospects for a long-lived biνo, a pseudo-Dirac bino which is responsible for neutrino masses, at the LHC and at dedicated long-lived particle detectors. The biνo arises in U(1)R-symmetric supersymmetric models where the neutrino masses are generated through higher dimensional operators in an inverse seesaw mechanism. At the LHC the biνo is produced through squark decays and it subsequently decays to quarks, charged leptons and missing energy via its mixing with the Standard Model neutrinos. We consider long-lived biνos which escape the ATLAS or CMS detectors as missing energy and decay to charged leptons inside the proposed long-lived particle detectors FASER, CODEX-b, and MATHUSLA. We find the currently allowed region in the squark-biνo mass parameter space by recasting most recent LHC searches for jets+ "Image missing". We also determine the reach of MATHUSLA, CODEX-b and FASER. We find that a large region of parameter space involving squark masses, biνo mass and the messenger scale can be probed with MATHUSLA, ranging from biνo masses of 10 GeV-2 TeV and messenger scales 102−11 TeV for a range of squark masses.
Minimal inverse-seesaw mechanism with Abelian flavour symmetries
Authors: Câmara H. B. , Felipe R. G. , Joaquim F. R.
Published: May 2021

Abstract

We study the phenomenology of the minimal (2, 2) inverse-seesaw model supplemented with Abelian flavour symmetries. To ensure maximal predictability, we establish the most restrictive flavour patterns which can be realised by those symmetries. This setup requires adding an extra scalar doublet and two complex scalar singlets to the Standard Model, paving the way to implement spontaneous CP violation. It is shown that such CP-violating effects can be successfully communicated to the lepton sector through couplings of the scalar singlets to the new sterile fermions. The Majorana and Dirac CP phases turn out to be related, and the active-sterile neutrino mixing is determined by the active neutrino masses, mixing angles and CP phases. We investigate the constraints imposed on the model by the current experimental limits on lepton flavour-violating decays, especially those on the branching ratio BR(μ → eγ) and the capture rate CR(μ − e, Au). The prospects to further test the framework put forward in this work are also discussed in view of the projected sensitivities of future experimental searches sensitive to the presence of heavy sterile neutrinos. Namely, we investigate at which extent upcoming searches for μ → eγ, μ → 3e and μ − e conversion in nuclei will be able to test our model, and how complementary will future high-energy collider and beam-dump experiments be in that task.
Subsystem complexity after a global quantum quench
Authors: Di Giulio Giuseppe , Tonni Erik
Published: May 2021

Abstract

We study the temporal evolution of the circuit complexity for a subsystem in harmonic lattices after a global quantum quench of the mass parameter, choosing the initial reduced density matrix as the reference state. Upper and lower bounds are derived for the temporal evolution of the complexity for the entire system. The subsystem complexity is evaluated by employing the Fisher information geometry for the covariance matrices. We discuss numerical results for the temporal evolutions of the subsystem complexity for a block of consecutive sites in harmonic chains with either periodic or Dirichlet boundary conditions, comparing them with the temporal evolutions of the entanglement entropy. For infinite harmonic chains, the asymptotic value of the subsystem complexity is studied through the generalised Gibbs ensemble.
State counting on fibered CY 3-folds and the non-Abelian weak gravity conjecture
Authors: Cota Cesar Fierro , Klemm Albrecht , Schimannek Thorsten
Published: May 2021

Abstract

We extend the dictionary between the BPS spectrum of Heterotic strings and the one of F-/M-theory compactifications on K3 fibered Calabi-Yau 3-folds to cases with higher rank non-Abelian gauge groups and in particular to dual pairs between Heterotic CHL orbifolds and compactifications on Calabi-Yau 3-folds with a compatible genus one fibration. We show how to obtain the new supersymmetric index purely from the Calabi-Yau geometry by reconstructing the Noether-Lefschetz generators, which are vector-valued modular forms. There is an isomorphism between the latter objects and vector-valued lattice Jacobi forms, which relates them to the elliptic genera and twisted-twined elliptic genera of six- and five-dimensional Heterotic strings. The meromorphic Jacobi forms generate the dimensions of the refined cohomology of the Hilbert schemes of symmetric products of the fiber and allow us to refine the BPS indices in the fiber and therefore to obtain, conjecturally, actual state counts. Using the properties of the vector-valued lattice Jacobi forms we also provide a mathematical proof of the non-Abelian weak gravity conjecture for F-/M-theory compactified on this general class of fibered Calabi-Yau 3-folds.
On the stress tensor light-ray operator algebra
Authors: Belin Alexandre , Hofman Diego M. , Mathys Grégoire , Walters Matthew T.
Published: May 2021

Abstract

We study correlation functions involving generalized ANEC operators of the form $$ \int {dx}^{-}{\left({x}^{-}\right)}^{n+2}{T}_{--}\left(\overrightarrow{x}\right) $$
∫

dx
−

x
−

n
+
2

T

−
−

x
→

in four dimensions. We compute two, three, and four-point functions involving external scalar states in both free and holographic Conformal Field Theories. From this information, we extract the algebra of these light-ray operators. We find a global subalgebra spanned by n = {−2, −1, 0, 1, 2} which annihilate the conformally invariant vacuum and transform among themselves under the action of the collinear conformal group that preserves the light-ray. Operators outside this range give rise to an infinite central term, in agreement with previous suggestions in the literature. In free theories, even some of the operators inside the global subalgebra fail to commute when placed at spacelike separation on the same null-plane. This lack of commutativity is not integrable, presenting an obstruction to the construction of a well defined light-ray algebra at coincident $$ \overrightarrow{x} $$

x
→

coordinates. For holographic CFTs the behavior worsens and operators with n ≠ −2 fail to commute at spacelike separation. We reproduce this result in the bulk of AdS where we present new exact shockwave solutions dual to the insertions of these (exponentiated) operators on the boundary.