bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Prevention of Breast Tumor Metastasis by Nanoparticle‐Delivered Vitamin E in Combination with Interferon‐Gamma
Authors: Wu Yilun , Liu Jianping , Movahedi Fatemeh , Gu Wenyi , Xu Tiefeng , Xu Zhi Ping 
Published: February 2020

AbstractPreventing cancer metastasis is one of the remaining challenges in cancer therapy. As an efficient natural product, alpha‐tocopheryl succinate (α‐TOS), the most effective form of vitamin E, holds great anticancer potential. To improve its efficacy and bioavailability, lipid‐coated calcium carbonate/phosphate (LCCP) nanoparticles (NPs) with folic acid and PEG modification are synthesized for efficient delivery of α‐TOS to 4T1 cancer cells. The optimized LCCP‐FA NPs (NP‐TOS15) show an α‐TOS loading efficiency of around 60%, and enhanced uptake by 4T1 metastatic cancer cells. Consequently, NP‐TOS15 significantly enhance the anticancer effect in combination with interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) in terms of apoptosis facilitation and migration inhibition. Importantly, NP‐TOS15 upregulate the anticancer immunity via downregulating program death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) expression that is initially induced by IFN‐γ, and remarkably prevent the lung metastasis, particularly in combination with IFN‐γ. Further investigation reveals that this combination therapy also modulates the cytotoxic lymphocyte infiltration into the tumor microenvironment for tumor elimination. Taken together, the NP delivery of α‐TOS in combination with IFN‐γ provides an applicable strategy for cancer therapy.
Boron Monolayer Doping: Role of Oxide Capping Layer, Molecular Fragmentation, and Doping Uniformity at the Nanoscale
Authors: Tzaguy Avra , Karadan Prajith , Killi Krushnamurty , Hazut Ori , Amit Iddo , Rosenwaks Yossi , Yerushalmi Roie 
Published: February 2020

AbstractDoping methodologies using monolayers offer controlled, ex situ doping of nanowires (NWs), and 3D device architectures using molecular monolayers as dopant sources with uniform, self‐limiting characteristics. Comparing doping levels and uniformity for boron‐containing monolayers using different methodologies demonstrates the effects of oxide capping on doping performances following rapid thermal anneal (RTA). Strikingly, for noncovalent monolayers of phenylboronic acid (PBA), highest doping levels are obtained with minimal thermal budget without applying oxide capping. Monolayer damage and entrapment of molecular fragments in the oxide capping layer account for the lower performance caused by thermal damage to the PBA monolayer, which results in transformation of the monolayer source to a thin solid source layer. The impact of the oxide capping procedure is demonstrated by a series of experiments. Details of monolayer fragmentation processes and its impact on doping uniformity at the nanoscale are addressed for two types of surface chemistries by applying Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM). These results point at the importance of molecular decomposition processes for monolayer‐based doping methodologies, both during preanneal capping step and during rapid thermal processing step. These are important guidelines to be considered for future developments of appropriate surface chemistry used in monolayer doping applications.
Hydrodynamics and Heat Transfer Characteristics of a Double Gradient Microchannel Porous Model: Fixed Gradients and Variable Gradients Structures
Authors: Chen Xiangyang , Liu Jie , Fan Yanbin 
Published: February 2020

AbstractHydrogen production from fluid fuel catalytic reaction is currently a hot research topic and catalyst carriers are the core of the hydrogen production process. The relationship between variable gradient structure and fixed gradient structure is still unclear. The hydrodynamics and heat transfer characteristics of double gradient and fixed gradient microchannel porous models are investigated. A strategy of using a uniform interpolation method to investigate the laws of a continuity equation is developed. There are three major findings. First, the internal fluid velocity of the variable gradient model is greater than the internal fluid velocity of the fixed gradient model. Second, the overall temperature change of the variable gradient structure is greater than the temperature change of the control group. Third, the formula of the macroscopic average temperature change of the area‐based fluid is found to be theoretically reliable. These findings may contribute to improving the catalytic efficiency of microchannel porous catalytic supports.
Solution‐Processed Faraday Rotators Using Single Crystal Lead Halide Perovskites
Authors: Sabatini Randy P , Liao Chwenhaw , Bernardi Stefano , Mao Wenxin , Rahme Matthew S. , Widmer‐Cooper Asaph , Bach Udo , Huang Shujuan , Ho‐Baillie Anita W. Y. , Lakhwani Girish 
Published: February 2020

AbstractLead halide perovskites (LHPs) have become a promising alternative for a wide range of optoelectronic devices, thanks to their solution‐processability and impressive optical and electrical properties. More recently, LHPs have been investigated in magneto‐optic studies and have exhibited spin‐polarized emission, photoinduced magnetization, and long spin lifetimes. Here, the viability of methylammonium lead bromide (MAPbBr3) single crystals as solution‐processed Faraday rotators is demonstrated. Compared to terbium gallium garnet, the industry standard in the visible, it is found that MAPbBr3 exhibits Verdet constants (i.e., strength of Faraday effect) of similar or greater magnitude (up to 2.5x higher), with lower temperature dependence. Due to its low trap absorption, it is calculated that an optical isolator made from MAPbBr3, with appropriate antireflection coatings, should reach ≈95% transmission and achieve 40 dB isolation for incoming powers of over 2 W. It is also shown that the Verdet constant of MAPbBr3 can be calculated accurately from its dispersion in refractive index, allowing the possibility to predict similar effects in other perovskite materials.
Nondestructive Identification of Rare Trophoblastic Cells by Endoplasmic Reticulum Staining for Noninvasive Prenatal Testing of Monogenic Diseases
Authors: Huang Yifang , Situ Bo , Huang Liping , Cao Yingsi , Sui Hong , Ye Xinyi , Jiang Xiujuan , Liang Aifen , Tao Maliang , Luo Shihua , Zhang Ye , Zhong Mei , Zheng Lei 
Published: February 2020

AbstractNoninvasive prenatal detection of monogenic diseases based on cell‐free DNA is hampered by challenges in obtaining a sufficient fraction and adequate quality of fetal DNA. Analyzing rare trophoblastic cells from Papanicolaou smears carrying the entire fetal genome provides an alternative method for noninvasive detection of monogenic diseases. However, intracellular labeling for identification of target cells can affect the quality of DNA in varying degrees. Here, a new approach is developed for nondestructive identification of rare fetal cells from abundant maternal cells based on endoplasmic reticulum staining and linear discriminant analysis (ER‐LDA). Compared with traditional methods, ER‐LDA has little effect on cell quality, allowing trophoblastic cells to be analyzed on the single‐cell level. Using ER‐LDA, high‐purity of trophoblastic cells can be identified and isolated at single cell resolution from 60 pregnancies between 4 and 38 weeks of gestation. Pathogenic variants, including –SEA/ deletion mutation and point mutations, in 11 fetuses at risk for α‐ or β‐thalassemia can be accurately detected by this test. The detection platform can also be extended to analyze the mutational profiles of other monogenic diseases. This simple, low‐cost, and noninvasive test can provide valuable fetal cells for fetal genotyping and holds promise for prenatal detection of monogenic diseases.
Activity of Sub‐Band Gap States in Ferroelectric Pb(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3 Thin Films
Authors: Ramakrishnegowda Niranjan , Yun Yeseul , Knoche David S. , Mühlenbein Lutz , Li Xinye , Bhatnagar Akash 
Published: February 2020

AbstractDefect or intermediate states within the band gap of ferroelectric oxides are known to impact functional characteristics such as saturated polarization. However, depending upon their respective position, such levels can also induce a substantial photoelectrical response under appropriate illumination and severely impact the conduction mechanism of an otherwise highly insulating material system. Sub‐band‐gap illumination is used to highlight the activity of these levels in epitaxially grown and ferroelectric Pb(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3 thin films. Large transient effects are observed in relation to ferroelectric polarization and conductivity after illumination. In the case of polarization, light induces a “leaky” character, which eventually decays over a period of nearly 1.5 h. In conjunction, persistent photoconductivity is observed as the enhanced conductivity attained under illumination gradually decays over several minutes after removal of illumination. Thermally stimulated currents are measured to probe the presence of sub‐band gap states and analyze their effect over a wide range of temperature. The trapping nature of the states and their role in the conduction is found to be the underlying origin.
Defect and Dopant Mediated Thermoelectric Power Factor Tuning in β‐Zn4Sb3
Authors: Karthikeyan Vaithinathan , Li Tan , Medasani Bharat , Luo Caiqin , Shi Dongliang , Wong Joseph C. K. , Lam Kwok‐Ho , Ling Francis C. C. , Roy Vellaisamy A. L. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe presence of defects in thermoelectric materials plays a significant role in the modification their properties by influencing the behavior of electrons and phonons. Dopants with a unique f‐orbital can directly cause distortions in electronic density of states (eDOS) and phonon transport mechanism by intentionally inducing defects in their lattice. The theoretical and experimental outcomes of engineered vacancy defects are investigated by intentional doping of f‐block rare earth elements in β‐Zn4Sb3. Thermoelectric behavior breaks down the inverse relation and results in a parallel increase in Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity for β‐(Zn0.997Ce0.003)4Sb3 and β‐(Zn0.997Er0.003)4Sb3. This synergistic response triples the power factor of a thermoelectric β‐Zn4Sb3 system realized by the impurity induced resonant distortion in eDOS. From first principle GGA + U calculations, the above‐mentioned unconventional properties are attributed to the effect of doping induced vacancy formation and the formation of resonant impurity levels. Hence, it is postulated that defect engineering can be a broad strategy to improve the power factor of the system and can be extended to other thermoelectric materials.
Electroforming‐Free Artificial Synapses Based on Proton Conduction in α‐MoO3 Films
Authors: Wang Zhe , Yang Rui , Huang He‐Ming , He Hui‐Kai , Shaibo Jamal , Guo Xin 
Published: February 2020

AbstractArtificial synapses based on oxides are essential for constructing brain‐inspired computation systems, due to their dynamically tunable defect concentrations. However, defects in the pristine state of most oxides are usually not sufficient, unavoidably resulting in an irreversible electroforming process, which usually produces undesired side effects, such as device variations and failures. Electroforming‐free memristive devices are realized with single‐phase α‐MoO3 films. By introducing protons into α‐MoO3 through annealing in H2/Ar atmosphere, the destructive electroforming process is avoided, which results in uniform switching behavior with high yield and minimal spatial/temporal variations. In addition, synaptic functions such as short‐term memory and long‐term memory are successfully emulated with the device, and the image memorizing function is embodied by memorizing the letter “Y” out of three letters “X, Y, Z” in a 5 × 5 array.
Solid‐State Prelithiation Enables High‐Performance Li‐Al‐H Anode for Solid‐State Batteries
Authors: Pang Yuepeng , Wang Xitong , Shi Xinxin , Xu Fen , Sun Lixian , Yang Junhe , Zheng Shiyou 
Published: February 2020

AbstractLithium alanates exhibit high theoretical specific capacities and appropriate lithiation/delithiation potentials, but suffer from poor reversibility, cycling stability, and rate capability due to their sluggish kinetics and extensive side reactions. Herein, a novel and facile solid‐state prelithiation approach is proposed to in situ prepare a Li3AlH6‐Al nanocomposite from a short‐circuited electrochemical reaction between LiAlH4 and Li with the help of fast electron and Li‐ion conductors (C and P63mc LiBH4). This nanocomposite consists of dispersive Al nanograins and an amorphous Li3AlH6 matrix, which enables superior electrochemical performance in solid‐state cells, as much higher specific capacity (2266 mAh g−1), Coulombic efficiency (88%), cycling stability (71% retention in the 100th cycle), and rate capability (1429 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1) are achieved. In addition, this nanocomposite works well in the solid‐state full cell with LiCoO2 cathode, demonstrating its promising application prospects. Mechanism analysis reveals that the dispersive Al nanograins and amorphous Li3AlH6 matrix can dramatically enhance the lithiation and delithiation kinetics without side reactions, which is mainly responsible for the excellent overall performance. Moreover, this solid‐state prelithiation approach is general and can also be applied to other Li‐poor electrode materials for further modification of their electrochemical behavior.
The soil microbial community alters patterns of selection on flowering time and fitness‐related traits in Ipomoea purpurea
Authors: Chaney Lindsay , Baucom Regina S. 
Published: February 2020

PremisePlant flowering time plays an important role in plant fitness and thus evolutionary processes. Soil microbial communities are diverse and have a large impact, both positive and negative, on the host plant. However, owing to few available studies, how the soil microbial community may influence the evolutionary response of plant populations is not well understood. Here we sought to uncover whether belowground microbial communities act as an agent of selection on flowering and growth traits in the common morning glory, Ipomoea purpurea.MethodsWe performed a controlled greenhouse experiment in which genetic lines of I. purpurea were planted into either sterilized soils or in soils that were sterilized and inoculated with the microbial community from original field soil. We could thus directly test the influence of alterations to the microbial community on plant growth, flowering, and fitness and assess patterns of selection in both soil microbial environments.ResultsA more complex soil microbial community resulted in larger plants that produced more flowers. Selection strongly favored earlier flowering when plants were grown in the complex microbial environment than compared to sterilized soil. We also uncovered a pattern of negative correlational selection on growth rate and flowering time, indicating that selection favored different combinations of growth and flowering traits in the simplified versus complex soil community.ConclusionsTogether, these results suggest the soil microbial community is a selective agent on flowering time and ultimately that soil microbial community influences important plant evolutionary processes.
Sexual and natural selection on pollen morphology in Taraxacum
Authors: Lynn Austin , Piotter Emelyn , Harrison Ellie , Galen Candace 
Published: February 2020

PremiseSpiny pollen has evolved independently in multiple entomophilous lineages. Sexual selection may act on exine traits that facilitate male mating success by influencing the transfer of pollen from the anther to the body of the pollinator, while natural selection acts to increase pollen survival. We postulated that relative to sexual congeners, apomictic dandelions undergo relaxed selection on traits associated with male mating success.MethodsWe explored sexual selection on exine traits by measuring the propensity for Taraxacum spp. pollen to attach to hairs of flower‐visiting bumblebees (Bombus spp.) or flies (Diptera: Syrphidae and Muscoidea) and assessed natural selection by testing whether pollen traits defend against consumption.ResultsPollen picked up by bumblebees exhibited a narrower subset of spine‐spacing phenotypes, consistent with stabilizing selection. Flies picked up larger pollen from flowers than expected at random. Surveys of corbiculae (pollen basket) contents from foraging bumblebees and feces of flies showed that pollen grains consumed by both kinds of visitors are similar in spine characteristics and size to those produced by the donor. When bees visit inflorescences of apomictic T. officinale, they pick up pollen with spine‐spacing phenotypes above the mean and shifted toward those of sexual T. ceratophorum.ConclusionsWe demonstrate that traits under sexual selection during pollen pickup vary among pollinators, while natural selection for pollen defense is nil in T. ceratophorum. In hybrid zones between apomictic and sexual dandelions, pollen traits place apomictic donors at a dispersal disadvantage, potentially reinforcing reproductive isolation.
Age‐related prevalence and clinical significance of neutropenia ‐ isolated or combined with other cytopenias: Real world data from 373 820 primary care individuals
Authors: Palmblad Jan , Siersma Volkert , Lind Bent , Bjerrum Ole Weis , Hasselbalch Hans , Andersen Christen Lykkegaard 
Published: February 2020

AbstractNeutropenia (NP), that is, an absolute blood neutrophil count (ANC) <1.5 g/L, accompanies various diseases. However, the clinical significance of NP, detected in routine complete blood cell counts (CBC) in primary care, is poorly characterized. Here, from a primary care resource with ANCs from >370 000 individuals, we identified and followed neutropenic subjects for the next 4 years for novel ICD‐10 based diagnoses of viral infections and hematological malignancies (ie, previously identified major outcomes in NP individuals) in Danish nationwide health registers. Risk estimates were assessed for children/adolescents (1‐18 years) and adults (19‐90 years) in relation to NP severity, and for isolated NP, bi‐ or pancytopenias. We found that NP was observed in 4.9% of children and in 1.9% of adults. The lower the ANC, the likelier was a diagnosis of viral infections or hematological malignancies established during the ensuing 4 years. Among neutropenic children, unspecified viral infections predominated, followed by mononucleosis (with other cytopenias in only 7% and 25% of the cases, respectively). All NP children with acute leukemia presented with bi‐ or pancytopenia from start of follow‐up. In NP adults, hepatitis, followed by HIV, were the most common infections, and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) the predominating hematological malignancies. Adult NP patients, subsequently diagnosed with hepatitis, HIV or AML, MDS, were bi‐ or pancytopenic in 42%, 47%, 90% and 91% of cases, respectively. Thus, presence of NP in even one CBC may be the first sign of a latent viral or hematological disorder requiring careful follow‐up.
Urelumab alone or in combination with rituximab in patients with relapsed or refractory B‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Timmerman John , Herbaux Charles , Ribrag Vincent , Zelenetz Andrew D. , Houot Roch , Neelapu Sattva S. , Logan Theodore , Lossos Izidore S. , Urba Walter , Salles Gilles , Ramchandren Radhakrishnan , Jacobson Caron , Godwin John , Carpio Cecilia , Lathers Deanne , Liu Yali , Neely Jaclyn , Suryawanshi Satyendra , Koguchi Yoshinobu , Levy Ronald 
Published: February 2020

AbstractUrelumab, a fully human, non‐ligand binding, CD137 agonist IgG4 monoclonal antibody, enhances T‐cell and natural killer‐cell antitumor activity in preclinical models, and may enhance cytotoxic activity of rituximab. Here we report results in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL), and other B‐cell lymphomas, in phase 1 studies evaluating urelumab alone (NCT01471210) or combined with rituximab (NCT01775631). Sixty patients received urelumab (0.3 mg/kg IV Q3W, 8 mg IV Q3W, or 8 mg IV Q6W); 46 received urelumab (0.1 mg/kg, 0.3 mg/kg, or 8 mg IV Q3W) plus rituximab 375 mg/m2 IV QW. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of urelumab was determined to be 0.1 mg/kg or 8 mg Q3W after a single event of potential drug‐induced liver injury occurred with urelumab 0.3 mg/kg. Treatment‐related AEs were reported in 52% (urelumab: grade 3/4, 15%) and 72% (urelumab + rituximab: grade 3/4, 28%); three led to discontinuation (grade 3 increased AST, grade 4 acute hepatitis [urelumab]; one death from sepsis syndrome [urelumab plus rituximab]). Objective response rates/disease control rates were 6%/19% (DLBCL, n = 31), 12%/35% (FL, n = 17), and 17%/42% (other B‐cell lymphomas, n = 12) with urelumab and 10%/24% (DLBCL, n = 29) and 35%/71% (FL, n = 17) with urelumab plus rituximab. Durable remissions in heavily pretreated patients were achieved; however, many were observed at doses exceeding the MTD. These data show that urelumab alone or in combination with rituximab demonstrated manageable safety in B‐cell lymphoma, but the combination did not enhance clinical activity relative to rituximab alone or other current standard of care.
Secular trends in age at menarche in 20th century Mexico: Differences by ethnicity, area of residency, and socioeconomic status
Authors: Marván María Luisa , Castillo‐López Rosa Lilia , del‐Callejo‐Canal Diana Donají , Canal‐Martínez Margarita Edith , Núñez‐de la Mora Alejandra 
Published: February 2020

AbstractObjectivesThis study aims to assess the secular trend in age at menarche (AAM) in Mexico over the 20th century, and compare the patterns according to area of residence (rural/urban), socioeconomic status (SES), and ethnicity (indigenous/nonindigenous).MethodsData on AAM from 24 380 women aged ≥20 years born between 1906 and 1986 were obtained from the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey 2006. Birth cohorts were compared to test for a secular trend and differences in mean AAM by area of residence, SES, and ethnicity were evaluated using the Welch test for heterogeneous variances followed by Tamhane T2 for post hoc comparisons.ResultsMean AAM declined from 13.3 years among Mexican women born before the 1940s to 12.56 years among those born in the 1980s. Across birth cohorts, urban women had significantly earlier AAM than their rural counterparts. Nonindigenous urban women reached menarche the earliest and rural indigenous women the latest of all groups. Nonindigenous urban residents experienced a comparatively earlier decline, while that for the indigenous rural women occurred last. High SES women reached menarche the earliest and low SES women the latest. The historical decline in AAM for high and medium SES groups occurred relatively early, whereas that for the low SES occurred last.ConclusionsMean AAM was associated with area of residence, ethnicity, and SES. Our findings indirectly suggest that advances in living conditions experienced in Mexico during the 20th century appear to have been insufficient to overcome the social and biological inequalities accumulated over centuries in some groups.