bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A positive pressure workstation for semi‐automated peptide purification of complex proteomic samples
Authors: Schelletter Louise , Hertel Oliver , Antar Shareef Jarvi , Scherling Christian , Lättig Jens , Noll Thomas , Hoffrogge Raimund 
Published: June 2020

RationaleHigh‐throughput reliable data generation has become a substantial requirement in many “omics” investigations. In proteomics the sample preparation workflow consists of multiple steps adding more bias to the sample with each additional manual step. Especially for label‐free quantification experiments, this drastically impedes reproducible quantification of proteins in replicates. Here, a positive pressure workstation was evaluated to increase automation of sample preparation and reduce workload as well as consumables.MethodsDigested peptide samples were purified utilizing a new semi‐automated sample preparation device, the Resolvex A200, followed by nanospray liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization (nLC/ESI) Orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) measurements. In addition, the sorbents Maestro and WWP2 (available in conventional cartridge and dual‐chamber narrow‐bore extraction columns) were compared with Sep‐Pak C18 cartridges. Raw data was analyzed by MaxQuant and Perseus software.ResultsThe semi‐automated workflow with the Resolvex A200 workstation and both new sorbents produced highly reproducible results within 10–300 μg of peptide starting material. The new workflow performed equally as well as the routinely conducted manual workflow with similar technical variability in MS/MS‐based identifications of peptides and proteins. A first application of the system to a biological question contributed to highly reliable results, where time‐resolved proteomic data was separated by principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering.ConclusionsThe new workstation was successfully established for proteolytic peptide purification in our proteomic workflow without any drawbacks. Highly reproducible results were obtained in decreased time per sample, which will facilitate further large‐scale proteomic investigations.
Intrauterine administration of platelet‐rich plasma improves embryo implantation by increasing the endometrial thickness in women with repeated implantation failure: A single‐arm self‐controlled trial
Authors: Kusumi Maki , Ihana Tatsuji , Kurosawa Takako , Ohashi Yasuo , Tsutsumi Osamu 
Published: June 2020

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of intrauterine administration of platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) in frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycle in Japanese patients with a thin endometrium.MethodA prospective single‐arm self‐controlled trial was conducted in Japan. PRP administration was performed in 36 of the 39 eligible patients with a thin endometrium (≤7 mm). Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with estrogen was performed for 2 menstrual cycles, and PRP was administrated on the 10th and 12th days of the second HRT cycle. The endometrial thickness was evaluated on transvaginal ultrasonography by two physicians at every visit, one an attending physician and the other a specialist physician blinded to the date and timing of the sonography. FET was performed during the second HRT cycle after PRP administration.ResultsAfter PRP administration, the mean (SD) endometrial thickness on the 14th day was significantly increased by 1.27 mm (P < .001) and 0.72 mm (P = .001) on the basis of the unblinded and blinded measurements, respectively. Of the 36 patients, 32 (88.9%) underwent FET. The clinical pregnancy rate was 15.6%. No adverse events occurred.ConclusionsPRP therapy was safe and effective in increasing endometrial thickness improving possibly pregnancy rate.
A brief review of interplay between vitamin D and angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2: Implications for a potential treatment for COVID‐19
Authors: Malek Mahdavi Aida 
Published: June 2020

SummaryThe novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is rapidly expanding and causing many deaths all over the world with the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring a pandemic in March 2020. Current therapeutic options are limited and there is no registered and/or definite treatment or vaccine for this disease or the causative infection, severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 syndrome (SARS‐CoV‐2). Angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a part of the renin‐angiotensin system (RAS), serves as the major entry point into cells for SARS‐CoV‐2 which attaches to human ACE2, thereby reducing the expression of ACE2 and causing lung injury and pneumonia. Vitamin D, a fat‐soluble‐vitamin, is a negative endocrine RAS modulator and inhibits renin expression and generation. It can induce ACE2/Ang‐(1‐7)/MasR axis activity and inhibits renin and the ACE/Ang II/AT1R axis, thereby increasing expression and concentration of ACE2, MasR and Ang‐(1‐7) and having a potential protective role against acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Therefore, targeting the unbalanced RAS and ACE2 down‐regulation with vitamin D in SARS‐CoV‐2 infection is a potential therapeutic approach to combat COVID‐19 and induced ARDS.
Effects of seining effort and site length on variability of small‐bodied fish catch‐rates in a sand‐bed river
Authors: Archdeacon Thomas P. , Reale Justin K. , Gonzales Eric J. , Grant Joshua D. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractSeines are a common sampling gear for monitoring small‐bodied fishes in wadeable, sand‐bed rivers. However, sampling effort within a site can vary among time and space, even within the same monitoring program. Determining and standardizing an adequate or optimal amount of effort within a site is an important step for designing fisheries monitoring programs. If budgets are limited, sampling intensity at a site is often a trade‐off between less intense sampling at a greater number of locations or more intense sampling at fewer locations. Inadequate sampling at survey sites could introduce variability into estimates of density, species richness, or relative abundance because of within‐site variability. We evaluated how variability of mean catch‐rates of five species of small‐bodied fishes changed with increasing effort at a fixed number of sites, and how variability changed as more sites were sampled. Focal species were Rio Grande silvery minnow, flathead chub, red shiner, fathead minnow, and western mosquitofish. We sampled 20 sites with 20 hauls in 200 m, 40 hauls in 200 m, and 40 hauls in 400 m. We observed little decrease in variability around expected catch‐per‐unit‐effort [] when 40 seine hauls were performed per site compared to 20 hauls per site, regardless of site length or species, though a 25% increase in labour was required. However, we observed considerable variability aroundwhen ≤5 seine hauls were performed at each site. We recommend a minimum of 10 seine hauls per 200 m site. Our results provide guidance and starting point for monitoring programs that use seining to collect information on small fishes.
Relationship of in‐season soil nitrogen concentration with corn yield and potential nitrogen losses
Authors: Preza‐Fontes Giovani , Nafziger Emerson D. , Christianson Laura E. , Pittelkow Cameron M. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractNew process‐based tools for predicting in‐season soil nitrogen (N) levels has the potential to provide timely information for N management decisions for corn (Zea mays L.) production systems in the U.S. There is, however, little published data supporting the assumption that soil mineral N (SMN, NH4‐N + NO3‐N at 0–60 cm) is correlated with yield response at different vegetative growth stages. Moreover, the degree to which changes in SMN influence the risk of N losses is uncertain. Data from 32 site‐years of field experiments in Illinois (2015–2018)—that included 12 combinations of N fertilizer rate, timing, and source—were used to evaluate the relationship between SMN concentration and grain yields across vegetative growth stages and estimate the exceedance probability of N losses. Overall, SMN across vegetative growth explained 46–61% of the variation in grain yield. Critical level of SMN that optimized yield decreased from 23.4 mg kg−1 at V5‐V7 to 9.1 mg kg−1 at VT‐R1 growth stage, but it was consistent, ranging from 14.7 to 16.3 mg kg−1, among sampling periods between V8 and V16 stages. While increasing SMN from deficiency (below critical levels) to sufficiency (at critical levels) increased yields by 22% (11.8 vs. 14.4 Mg ha−1), it also increased the probability of environmental N losses throughout vegetative growth, indicating a clear tradeoff between production and sustainability goals. These results help guide the development of sustainable in‐season N management strategies by illustrating the importance of incorporating risks of environmental N losses when trying to reach optimum grain yield levels.
Photoactivatable RNA N6‐Methyladenosine Editing with CRISPR‐Cas13
Authors: Zhao Jie , Li Bing , Ma Jianxiong , Jin Weilin , Ma Xinlong 
Published: June 2020

AbstractRNA has important and diverse biological roles, but the molecular methods to manipulate it spatiotemporally are limited. Here, an engineered photoactivatable RNA N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) editing system with CRISPR‐Cas13 is designed to direct specific m6A editing. Light‐inducible heterodimerizing proteins CIBN and CRY2PHR are fused to catalytically inactive PguCas13 (dCas13) and m6A effectors, respectively. This system, referred to as PAMEC, enables the spatiotemporal control of m6A editing in response to blue light. Further optimization of this system to create a highly efficient version, known as PAMECR, allows the manipulation of multiple genes robustly and simultaneously. When coupled with an upconversion nanoparticle film, the optogenetic operation window is extended from the visible range to tissue‐penetrable near‐infrared wavelengths, which offers an appealing avenue to remotely control RNA editing. These results show that PAMEC is a promising optogenetic platform for flexible and efficient targeting of RNA, with broad applicability for epitranscriptome engineering, imaging, and future therapeutic development.
Efficient Laser‐Induced Construction of Oxygen‐Vacancy Abundant Nano‐ZnCo2O4/Porous Reduced Graphene Oxide Hybrids toward Exceptional Capacitive Lithium Storage
Authors: Li Li , Xie Zhengjun , Jiang Gaoxue , Wang Yijing , Cao Bingqiang , Yuan Changzhou 
Published: June 2020

AbstractRecently, binary ZnCo2O4 has drawn enormous attention for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) as attractive anode owing to its large theoretical capacity and good environmental benignity. However, the modest electrical conductivity and serious volumetric effect/particle agglomeration over cycling hinder its extensive applications. To address the concerns, herein, a rapid laser‐irradiation methodology is firstly devised toward efficient synthesis of oxygen‐vacancy abundant nano‐ZnCo2O4/porous reduced graphene oxide (rGO) hybrids as anodes for LIBs. The synergistic contributions from nano‐dimensional ZnCo2O4 with rich oxygen vacancies and flexible rGO guarantee abundant active sites, fast electron/ion transport, and robust structural stability, and inhibit the agglomeration of nanoscale ZnCo2O4, favoring for superb electrochemical lithium‐storage performance. More encouragingly, the optimal L‐ZCO@rGO‐30 anode exhibits a large reversible capacity of ≈1053 mAh g−1 at 0.05 A g−1, excellent cycling stability (≈746 mAh g−1 at 1.0 A g−1 after 250 cycles), and preeminent rate capability (≈686 mAh g−1 at 3.2 A g−1). Further kinetic analysis corroborates that the capacitive‐controlled process dominates the involved electrochemical reactions of hybrid anodes. More significantly, this rational design holds the promise of being extended for smart fabrication of other oxygen‐vacancy abundant metal oxide/porous rGO hybrids toward advanced LIBs and beyond.
Ratiometric Nanoparticle Probe Based on FRET‐Amplified Phosphorescence for Oxygen Sensing with Minimal Phototoxicity
Authors: Ashokkumar Pichandi , Adarsh Nagappanpillai , Klymchenko Andrey S. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractLuminescent oxygen probes enable direct imaging of hypoxic conditions in cells and tissues, which are associated with a variety of diseases, including cancer. Here, a nanoparticle probe that addresses key challenges in the field is developed, it: i) strongly amplifies room temperature phosphorescence of encapsulated oxygen‐sensitive dyes; ii) provides ratiometric response to oxygen; and iii) solves the fundamental problem of phototoxicity of phosphorescent sensors. The nanoprobe is based on 40 nm polymeric nanoparticles, encapsulating ≈2000 blue‐emitting cyanine dyes with fluorinated tetraphenylborate counterions, which are as bright as 70 quantum dots (QD525). It functions as a light‐harvesting nanoantenna that undergoes efficient Förster resonance energy transfer to ≈20 phosphorescent oxygen‐sensitive platinum octaethylporphyrin (PtOEP) acceptor dyes. The obtained nanoprobe emits stable blue fluorescence and oxygen‐sensitive red phosphorescence, providing ratiometric response to dissolved oxygen. The light harvesting leads to ≈60‐fold phosphorescence amplification and makes the single nanoprobe particle as bright as ≈1200 PtOEP dyes. This high brightness enables oxygen detection at a single‐particle level and in cells at ultra‐low nanoprobe concentration with no sign of phototoxicity, in contrast to PtOEP dye. The developed nanoprobe is successfully applied to the imaging of a microfluidics‐generated oxygen gradient in cancer cells. It constitutes a promising tool for bioimaging of hypoxia.
High Performance Quasi‐2D Perovskite Sky‐Blue Light‐Emitting Diodes Using a Dual‐Ligand Strategy
Authors: Wang Fuzhi , Wang Zhenye , Sun Wenda , Wang Zhibin , Bai Yiming , Hayat Tasawar , Alsaedi Ahmed , Tan Zhan’ao 
Published: June 2020

AbstractFor quasi‐2D perovskite light‐emitting diodes, the introduction of insulating bulky cation reduces the charge transport property, leading to lowered brightness and increased turn‐on voltage. Herein, a dual‐ligand strategy is adopted to prepare perovskite films by using an appropriate ratio of i‐butylammonium (iBA) and phenylethylammonium (PEA) as capping ligands. The introduction of iBA enhances the binding energy of the ligands on the surface of the quasi‐2D perovskite, and effectively controls the proportion of 2D perovskite to allow more efficient energy transfer, resulting in the great enhancement of the electric and luminescent properties of the perovskite. The photoluminescence (PL) mapping of the perovskite films exhibits that enhanced photoluminescence performance with better uniformity and stronger intensity can be achieved with this dual‐ligand strategy. By adjusting the proportion of the two ligands, sky‐blue perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs) with electroluminescence (EL) peak located 485 nm are achieved with a maximum luminance up to 1130 cd m−2 and a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) up to 7.84%. In addition, the color stability and device stability are significantly enhanced by using a dual‐ligand strategy. This simple and feasible method paves the way for improving the performance of quasi‐2D PeLEDs.
Atomic‐Distributed Coordination State of Metal‐Phenolic Compounds Enabled Low Temperature Graphitization for High‐Performance Multioriented Graphite Anode
Authors: Shin Min Chang , Kim Jae Ho , Nam Seunghoon , Oh Yun Ji , Jin Hyoung‐Joon , Park Chong Rae , Zhang Qiang , Yang Seung Jae 
Published: June 2020

AbstractContinuous efforts have been made to achieve nanostructured carbon materials with highly ordered graphitic structures using facile synthetic methods. 3D graphite nanoballs (GNBs) are synthesized by the low‐temperature pyrolysis of a non‐graphitizable precursor, tannic acid (TA). Abundant phenol groups on TA bind to Ni2+ to form metal‐phenolic coordination, which renders each Ni cation to be atomically distributed by the TA ligands. Even at low temperatures (1000 °C), highly ordered graphitic structure is promoted by the distributed Ni nanoparticles that act as a graphitization catalyzer. The crystallinity of the GNB is fully corroborated by the intense 2D peak observed in Raman spectroscopy. In particular, the graphitic layers have orientations pointing toward multidirections, which are beneficial for the rapid transport of Li‐ions into graphite grains. The resulting materials exhibit outstanding electrochemical performance (120 mAh g−1 at 5 C and 282 mAh g−1 at 0.5 C after 500 cycles) when evaluated as a fast‐chargeable negative electrode for lithium ion batteries.
Vibration suppression of a floating hydrostatic wind turbine model using bidirectional tuned liquid column mass damper
Authors: Wei Xing , Zhao Xiaowei 
Published: June 2020

AbstractWe propose to mitigate the barge pitch and roll motions of floating hydrostatic wind turbine (HWT) by combining the advantages of the bidirectional tuned liquid column damper (BTLCD) and the tuned mass damper (TMD). This is achieved by enabling the container of the BTLCD to move freely, connecting it to the main structure through springs and dampers, creating what we call a bidirectional tuned liquid column mass damper (BTLCMD). The BTLCMD is made by the hydraulic reservoir of the HWT, saving costs by avoiding the addition of extra mass and fluids. The HWT simulation model is obtained by replacing the geared drivetrain of the NREL 5‐MW barge wind turbine model with a hydrostatic transmission drivetrain. The dynamics of the BTLCMD are then incorporated into the HWT. Two simplified mathematical models, describing the barge pitch and roll motions of the HWT‐BTLCMD coupled system, are used to obtain the optimal parameters of the BTLCMD. Simulation results demonstrate that the BTLCMD is very effective in mitigating the barge pitch motion, barge roll motion, and the tower base load. The BTLCMD also largely outperforms the BTLCD in suppressing barge motions.
Microwave‐enforced green synthesis of novel magnetic nano composite adsorbents based on functionalization of wood sawdust for fast removal of calcium hardness from water samples
Authors: Soliman Ezzat M. , Ahmed Salwa A. , Fadl Aliaa A. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractDeveloping new generation of adsorbents for water treatment to reduce calcium hardness and producing high quality water is important and continuous trend. This manuscript is devoted with this direction. Thus, two novel magnetic nanocomposite adsorbents were synthesized by covalently binding of tartaric acid (TA) and citric acid (CA) to wood sawdust coated magnetic nanoparticles (WSD@Fe3O4NPs) using green microwave solvent‐less technique. The adsorbents thus prepared WSD@Fe3O4NPs‐TA and WSD@Fe3O4NPs‐CA were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Preliminary batch experiments were performed to evaluate percentage of Ca(II) adsorbed by the bare WSD@Fe3O4NPs and its functionalized forms by TA and CA, as a function of pH (initial concentration 80 mg/L), indicated 59.5%, 84.70%, and 99.29%, respectively, at pH 7 as optimal value. To attain maximum adsorption capacity, effect of adsorbent dosage and contact time were also optimized for the two modified adsorbents. Accordingly, Ca(II) adsorption capacity was determined to be 18.4 mg/g as exhibited by WSD@Fe3O4NPs‐TA. However, WSD@Fe3O4NPs‐CA showed higher capacity value recorded to be 27.2 mg/g. The novel adsorbents were successfully applied for fast reduction of calcium hardness from real water samples, during 15–20 min and via two consecutive in situ batch operations.Practitioner pointsThis manuscript aims to minimize Ca(II) hardness in aqueous solutions by performing magnetic separation under external magnetic field.WSD was magnetized using Fe3O4then modified by using safe organic modifiers using of the benefits of solvent‐less microwave radiation technique for adsorbent synthesis and functionalization.Two novel environmentally magnetic nanocomposites WSD@Fe3O4NPs‐TA and WSD@Fe3O4NPs‐CA were checked on real water samples.
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) increase triglyceride levels and decrease cholesterogenic gene expression in human HepaRG liver cells
Authors: Louisse Jochem , Rijkers Deborah , Stoopen Geert , Janssen Aafke , Staats Martijn , Hoogenboom Ron , Kersten Sander , Peijnenburg Ad 
Published: June 2020

AbstractPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are omnipresent in the environment, food chain, and humans. Epidemiological studies have shown a positive association between serum levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and increased serum cholesterol and, in some cases, also triglyceride levels. However, causality has been questioned, as animal studies, as well as a human trial, showed a decrease in serum cholesterol and no effects or a decrease in plasma triglycerides. To obtain more insight into the effects of PFASs on these processes, the present study investigated the effects of PFOA, PFOS, and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) on intracellular triglyceride and cholesterol levels in human HepaRG liver cells. DNA microarray analyses were performed to provide insight into underlying mechanisms. All PFASs induced an increase in cellular triglyceride levels, but had no effect on cholesterol levels. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) of the microarray data indicated that gene sets related to cholesterol biosynthesis were repressed by PFOA, PFOS, and PFNA. Other gene sets commonly affected by all PFAS were related to PERK/ATF4 signaling (induced), tRNA amino-acylation (induced), amino acid transport (induced), and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis (repressed). Moreover, numerous target genes of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) were found to be upregulated. Altogether, the present study shows that PFOA, PFOS, and PFNA increase triglyceride levels and inhibit cholesterogenic gene expression in HepaRG cells. In addition, the present study indicates that PFASs induce endoplasmic reticulum stress, which may be an important mechanism underlying some of the toxic effects of these chemicals.
Choice of y-axis can mislead readers
Authors: Erdogan Betül R. , Vollert Jan , Michel Martin C. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractUsing two examples from the non-scientific literature, we show how choice of unit of measure and scaling of y-axis can caused a biased perception of data, a phenomenon we propose to call perception bias. We recommend to pre-specify unit of measure or how it will be determined, whether outcome variables will be shown as absolute or relative/normalized changes, and to typically start y-axis at 0 for ratio variables.