bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of PRKDC mutations and association with response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in solid tumors
Authors: Chen Yu , Li Yi , Guan Yanfang , Huang Yingying , Lin Jing , Chen Lizhu , Li Jin , Chen Gang , Pan Leong Kin , Xia Xuefeng , Xu Ning , Chang Lianpeng , Guo Zengqing , Pan Jianji , Yi Xin , Chen Chuanben 
Published: June 2020

Predictive biomarkers of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) help to identify cancer patients who will benefit from immunotherapy. Protein kinase, DNA‐activated, catalytic subunit (PRKDC) is an important gene for DNA double‐strand break (DSB) repair and central T‐cell tolerance. We aimed to investigate the association between PRKDC mutations and tumor mutation burden (TMB), tumor microenvironment (TME), and response to ICI. Whole‐exome sequencing data of 4023 solid tumor samples from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and panel‐based sequencing data of 3877 solid tumor samples from Geneplus‐Beijing, China, were used to analyze the TMB. The mRNA expression data of 3541 solid tumor samples from TCGA were used to explore the effect of PRKDC mutations on the TME. Four ICI‐treated cohorts were analyzed for verifying the correlation between PRKDC mutations and the response to ICI. In both the TCGA and Geneplus datasets, we found that the TMB in PRKDC mutation samples was significantly higher than in PRKDC wild‐type samples (P < 0.05 and P < 0.0001, respectively). Further, TCGA datasets showed that PRKDC mutation samples were associated with a significantly increased expression of CD8+ T cells, NK cells, immune checkpoint, chemokines, etc. compared to PRKDC wild‐type samples (P < 0.05). In ICI‐treated cohorts, we also found the PRKDC mutations were associated with increased survival (median PFS, not reached vs. 6.8 months, HR, 0.2893; 95% CI, 0.1255–0.6672; P = 0.0650, Hellmann cohort; median OS, 1184 days vs. 250 days, HR, 0.5126; 95% CI, 0.2715–0.9679; P = 0.1020, Allen cohort), and the increase was significant in multivariate analysis (HR, 0.361; 95% CI, 0.155–0.841; P = 0.018, Allen cohort; HR, 0.240 95% CI, 0.058–0.998; P = 0.050, Hellmann cohort). In summary, we found that PRKDC mutation often appeared to co‐exist with deficiency in some other DNA damage repair mechanism and is nonetheless one of the important factors associated with increased TMB, inflamed TME, and better response to ICI.
Safeguarding the genetic integrity of native pollinators requires stronger regulations on commercial lines
Authors: Bartomeus Ignasi , Molina Francisco P. , Hidalgo‐Galiana Amparo , Ortego Joaquín 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Every year more than 1 million commercial bumblebee colonies are deployed in greenhouses worldwide for their pollination services. While commercial pollinators have been an enormous benefit for crop production, their use is emerging as an important threat. Commercial pollinators have been linked to pathogen spillover, and their introduction outside their native area has had devastating effects on native pollinators. A more pervasive but underappreciated threat is their potential impact on the genetic integrity of native pollinators.
We set up a sampling and genotyping‐plus‐phenotyping protocol to evaluate the presence and extent of hybridization between commercial and native individuals of Bombus terrestris in south‐western Spain, a region experiencing a huge propagule pressure of non‐native genotypes due to the massive use of commercial colonies for crop pollination.
Our genomic data show clear evidence of generalized hybridization between native and introduced commercial bumblebee lineages in southern Spain. Only 19% of analysed individuals were assigned with high confidence to the pure native genetic cluster and >45% of sampled specimens were first‐generation hybrids or backcrosses between native and commercial genotypes, indicating that genetic introgression is pervasive in southern Spain.
Although the frequency of commercial genotypes sharply declined with the distance to greenhouses, non‐native alleles have introgressed into native populations inhabiting protected natural parks >60 km away from commercial bumblebee release areas.
As pollination services demand will increase in the coming years, only a more restrictive regulation of commercial lines could mitigate their negative impacts on the genetic integrity of native pollinators, avoid processes of genetic homogenization, and prevent the potential disruption of local adaptations.
Catalytic Conversion of Polysulfides on Single Atom Zinc Implanted MXene toward High‐Rate Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Zhang Di , Wang Shuai , Hu Riming , Gu Jianan , Cui Yanglansen , Li Bin , Chen Weihua , Liu Chuntai , Shang Jiaxiang , Yang Shubin 
Published: June 2020

AbstractAlthough lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are one of the most promising energy storage devices owing to their high energy densities, the sluggish reaction kinetics and severe shuttle effect of the sulfur cathodes hinder their practical applications. Here, single atom zinc implanted MXene is introduced into a sulfur cathode, which can not only catalyze the conversion reactions of polysulfides by decreasing the energy barriers from Li2S4 to Li2S2/Li2S but also achieve strong interaction with polysulfides due to the high electronegativity of atomic zinc on MXene. Moreover, it is found that the homogenously dispersed zinc atoms can also accelerate the nucleation of Li2S2/Li2S on MXene layers during the redox reactions. As a result, the sulfur cathode with single atom zinc implanted MXene exhibits a high reversible capacity of 1136 mAh g−1. After electrode optimization, a high areal capacity of 5.3 mAh cm−2, high rate capability of 640 mAh g−1 at 6 C, and good cycle stability (80% capacity retention after 200 cycles at 4 C) can be achieved.
Infrared Permittivity of the Biaxial van der Waals Semiconductor α‐MoO3 from Near‐ and Far‐Field Correlative Studies
Authors: Álvarez‐Pérez Gonzalo , Folland Thomas G. , Errea Ion , Taboada‐Gutiérrez Javier , Duan Jiahua , Martín‐Sánchez Javier , Tresguerres‐Mata Ana I. F. , Matson Joseph R. , Bylinkin Andrei , He Mingze , Ma Weiliang , Bao Qiaoliang , Martín José Ignacio , Caldwell Joshua D. , Nikitin Alexey Y. , Alonso‐González Pablo 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe biaxial van der Waals semiconductor α‐phase molybdenum trioxide (α‐MoO3) has recently received significant attention due to its ability to support highly anisotropic phonon polaritons (PhPs)—infrared (IR) light coupled to lattice vibrations—offering an unprecedented platform for controlling the flow of energy at the nanoscale. However, to fully exploit the extraordinary IR response of this material, an accurate dielectric function is required. Here, the accurate IR dielectric function of α‐MoO3 is reported by modeling far‐field polarized IR reflectance spectra acquired on a single thick flake of this material. Unique to this work, the far‐field model is refined by contrasting the experimental dispersion and damping of PhPs, revealed by polariton interferometry using scattering‐type scanning near‐field optical microscopy (s‐SNOM) on thin flakes of α‐MoO3, with analytical and transfer‐matrix calculations, as well as full‐wave simulations. Through these correlative efforts, exceptional quantitative agreement is attained to both far‐ and near‐field properties for multiple flakes, thus providing strong verification of the accuracy of this model, while offering a novel approach to extracting dielectric functions of nanomaterials. In addition, by employing density functional theory (DFT), insights into the various vibrational states dictating the dielectric function model and the intriguing optical properties of α‐MoO3 are provided.
Selectively Suppressing Tumor Angiogenesis for Targeted Breast Cancer Therapy by Genetically Engineered Phage
Authors: Li Yan , Qu Xuewei , Cao Binrui , Yang Tao , Bao Qing , Yue Hui , Zhang Liwei , Zhang Genwei , Wang Lin , Qiu Penghe , Zhou Ningyun , Yang Mingying , Mao Chuanbin 
Published: June 2020

AbstractAntiangiogenesis is a promising approach to cancer therapy but is limited by the lack of tumor‐homing capability of the current antiangiogenic agents. Angiogenin, a protein overexpressed and secreted by tumors to trigger angiogenesis for their growth, has never been explored as an antiangiogenic target in cancer therapy. Here it is shown that filamentous fd phage, as a biomolecular biocompatible nanofiber, can be engineered to become capable of first homing to orthotopic breast tumors and then capturing angiogenin to prevent tumor angiogenesis, resulting in targeted cancer therapy without side effects. The phage is genetically engineered to display many copies of an identified angiogenin‐binding peptide on its side wall and multiple copies of a breast‐tumor‐homing peptide at its tip. Since the tumor‐homing peptide can be discovered and customized virtually toward any specific cancer by phage display, the angiogenin‐binding phages are thus universal “plug‐and‐play” tumor‐homing cancer therapeutics.
Artificial Chemist: An Autonomous Quantum Dot Synthesis Bot
Authors: Epps Robert W. , Bowen Michael S. , Volk Amanda A. , Abdel‐Latif Kameel , Han Suyong , Reyes Kristofer G. , Amassian Aram , Abolhasani Milad 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe optimal synthesis of advanced nanomaterials with numerous reaction parameters, stages, and routes, poses one of the most complex challenges of modern colloidal science, and current strategies often fail to meet the demands of these combinatorially large systems. In response, an Artificial Chemist is presented: the integration of machine‐learning‐based experiment selection and high‐efficiency autonomous flow chemistry. With the self‐driving Artificial Chemist, made‐to‐measure inorganic perovskite quantum dots (QDs) in flow are autonomously synthesized, and their quantum yield and composition polydispersity at target bandgaps, spanning 1.9 to 2.9 eV, are simultaneously tuned. Utilizing the Artificial Chemist, eleven precision‐tailored QD synthesis compositions are obtained without any prior knowledge, within 30 h, using less than 210 mL of total starting QD solutions, and without user selection of experiments. Using the knowledge generated from these studies, the Artificial Chemist is pre‐trained to use a new batch of precursors and further accelerate the synthetic path discovery of QD compositions, by at least twofold. The knowledge‐transfer strategy further enhances the optoelectronic properties of the in‐flow synthesized QDs (within the same resources as the no‐prior‐knowledge experiments) and mitigates the issues of batch‐to‐batch precursor variability, resulting in QDs averaging within 1 meV from their target peak emission energy.
Perovskite Single‐Crystal Microwire‐Array Photodetectors with Performance Stability beyond 1 Year
Authors: Li Shun‐Xin , Xu Yi‐Shi , Li Cheng‐Long , Guo Qi , Wang Gong , Xia Hong , Fang Hong‐Hua , Shen Liang , Sun Hong‐Bo 
Published: June 2020

AbstractCompared with thin‐film morphology, 1D perovskite structures such as micro/nanowires with fewer grain boundaries and lower defect density are very suitable for high‐performance photodetectors with higher stability. Although the stability of perovskite microwire‐based photodetectors has been substantially enhanced in comparison with that of photodetectors based on thin‐film morphology, practical applications require further improvements to the stability before implementation. In this study, a template‐assisted method is developed to prepare methylammonium lead bromide (MAPbBr3) micro/nanowire structures, which are encapsulated in situ by a protective hydrophobic molecular layer. The combination of the protective layer, high crystalline quality, and highly ordered microstructures significantly improve the stability of the MAPbBr3 single‐crystal microwire arrays. Consequently, these MAPbBr3 single‐crystal microwire‐array‐based photodetectors exhibit significant long‐term stability, maintaining 96% of the initial photocurrent after 1 year without further encapsulation. The lifetime of such photodetectors is hence approximately four times longer than that of the most stable previously reported perovskite micro/nanowire‐based photodetector; this is thought to be the most stable perovskite photodetector reported thus far. Furthermore, this work should contribute further toward the realization of perovskite 1D structures with long‐term stability.
Glycosaminoglycan‐Induced Emissive J‐Aggregate Formation in a meso‐Ester BODIPY Dye
Authors: Kim Dami , Lee Uisung , Bouffard Jean , Kim Youngmi 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe analyte‐directed formation of emissive J‐aggregates of a meso‐ester BODIPY dye is explored in the design of fluorescence “light‐up” probes. The heparin‐specific pyridinium‐functionalized meso‐ester BODIPY dye C10‐Py+ self‐assembles in aqueous buffer into spherical aggregated nanostructures with spectroscopic features indistinguishable from the monomeric dye (signal off). In the presence of heparin, the aggregated assemblies rearrange and associate with heparin through charge‐pairing interactions, triggering the spontaneous formation of emissive J‐type aggregates (signal on). The heparin‐induced J‐aggregate formation of C10‐Py+ provides an excellent “turn‐on” signal with large spectral shifts. The response is highly selective for heparin over other closely related glycosaminoglycan (GAG) analogues, sensitive, fast, and operationally simple. Assays for heparin in human serum, and for the adulterant OSCS in heparin are demonstrated, confirming the reliability and robustness of the J‐aggregation approach using meso‐ester BODIPY dyes in the design of aggregation‐induced emission (AIE)‐based fluorogenic probes.
Supramolecular Artificial Light‐Harvesting Systems with Aggregation‐Induced Emission
Authors: Hu Yi‐Xiong , Li Wei‐Jian , Jia Pei‐Pei , Wang Xu‐Qing , Xu Lin , Yang Hai‐Bo 
Published: June 2020

AbstractOver the past few years, the fabrication of artificial light‐harvesting systems with aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) has attracted significant attention because of the wide applications of these systems in organic chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, energy chemistry, and even materials science. This progress report focuses on recent advances in the design and preparation of artificial light‐harvesting systems with AIE. In addition, the properties, functions, and applications of these systems are discussed.
Cell Membrane Penetration without Pore Formation: Chameleonic Properties of Dendrimers in Response to Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Environments
Authors: de Luca Sergio , Seal Prasenjit , Parekh Harendra S. , Tupally Karnaker R. , Smith Sean C. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe mechanism by which cell‐penetrating peptides and antimicrobial peptides cross plasma membranes is unknown, as is how cell‐penetrating peptides facilitate drug delivery, mediating the transport of small molecules. Once nondisruptive and nonendocytotic pathways are excluded, pore formation is one of the proposed mechanisms, including toroidal, barrel‐stave, or carpet models. Spontaneous pores are observed in coarse‐grained simulations and less often in molecular dynamics simulations. While pores are widely assumed and inferred, there is no unambiguous experimental evidence of the existence of pores. Some recent experimental studies contradict the mechanistic picture of pore formation, however, highlighting the possibility of a direct translocation pathway that is both nondisruptive and nonendocytotic.In this work, a model is proposed a model for peptide (linear and dendritic) translocation which does not require the presence of pores and which potentially accords with such experiments. It is suggested that a charged peptide, as it experiences an increasingly hydrophobic environment within the membrane surface, can utilize a proton chain transfer mechanism to shed its protons to counter ions or potentially phospholipid head groups in the membrane skin region, thereby becoming compatible with the hydrophobic interior of the membrane. This increases the likelihood to move into the highly hydrophobic core of the membrane and ultimately reach the opposite leaflet to re‐acquire protons again, suggesting a potential “chameleon” mechanism for non‐disruptive and non‐endocytotic membrane translocation. The molecular dynamics simulations reveal stability of peptide bridges joining two membrane leaflets and demonstrate that this can facilitate cross‐membrane transport of small drug molecules.
Pump‐Color Selective Control of Ultrafast All‐Optical Switching Dynamics in Metaphotonic Devices
Authors: Hu Yuze , You Jie , Tong Mingyu , Zheng Xin , Xu Zhongjie , Cheng Xiangai , Jiang Tian 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIncorporating active materials into metamaterials is expected to yield exciting advancements in the unprecedented versatility of dynamically controlling optical properties, which sheds new light on the future optoelectronics. The exploration of emerging semiconductors into terahertz (THz) meta‐atoms potentially allows achieving ultrafast nanodevices driven by various applications, such as biomedical sensing/imaging, ultrawide‐band communications and security scanners. However, ultrafast optical switching of THz radiation is currently limited to a single level of tuning speed, which is a main hurdle to achieve multifunctionalities. Here, a hybrid metadevice which can realize the pump‐wavelength controlled ultrafast switching response by the functionalization of double photoactive layers is demonstrated experimentally. A whole cycle of electromagnetically induced transparency switching with a half‐recovery state changes from 0.78 ns to 8.8 ps as pump wavelength varies from near infrared to near ultraviolet regions. The observed pump‐color selective switching speed changing from nanosecond scale to picosecond scale is ascribed to the wavelength‐dependent penetration length of Ge and the contrasting defect states between noncrystalline Ge and epitaxial Si layers. It is believed that the schemes regarding pump‐color controllable ultrafast switching behavior introduced here can inspire more innovations across the field of ultrafast photonics and can boost the reconfigurable metamaterial applications.
Nitrogen affecting switchgrass yield, nitrogen removal, and use efficiency
Authors: Massey Joshua R. , Antonangelo Joao A. , Zhang Hailin 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBest management practices for switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) fertilization in the production of biofuel feedstock and forage hay are variable depending on climate, harvest timing, and variety. A study of N fertilization was conducted to evaluate the yield response, nutrient removal, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in 12 yr old switchgrass stands in Stillwater, OK. Seven rates of N fertilizer were applied ranging from 0 to 235.2 kg N ha−1 for 3 consecutive years (2008, 2009, and 2010). Positive linear trends in yield with increasing rates of N fertilizer (P < .05) were observed in two out of three years. Differences in N removal due to N fertilization were found in all studied years although responses were inconsistent. Nitrogen concentration in harvested biomass increased as N rates and biomass yield increased. Nitrogen use efficiency increased with N rate (P < .05) although many NUE values were negative up to application rate of 100.8 kg N ha−1. Better understanding of nutrient uptake and use efficiency, removal with harvests, and cycling within the plant could provide more refined fertilization practices in switchgrass production.
Morbidity in Klinefelter syndrome and the effect of testosterone treatment
Authors: Chang Simon , Skakkebæk Anne , Davis Shanlee M , Gravholt Claus H 
Published: June 2020

AbstractKlinefelter syndrome (KS; 47,XXY) is the most common sex chromosome abnormality in males (150 per 100,000 males). The condition leads to hypergonadotropic hypogonadism and ever since the condition was described approximately 80 years ago, testosterone treatment has been the cornerstone in care for individuals with KS. However, KS is associated with an array of health‐related and socioeconomic challenges and it is becoming progressively clear that proper care for boys and men with KS reaches far beyond simply supplementing with testosterone. There are no widely implemented guidelines for KS care, and studies investigating crucial aspects of testosterone treatment in individuals with KS, including both beneficial and potentially adverse effects, have only begun to emerge during the last decades. For this descriptive review, we present an overview of literature describing health‐related outcomes of testosterone treatment in KS and outline the clinical applications of testosterone treatment in KS. Collectively, beneficial effects of testosterone treatment on overall health in KS are described with few apparent adverse effects. However, larger randomized studies in adult and pediatric patients are warranted to elucidate key aspects of treatment. We stress the implementation of centralized multidisciplinary clinics and the need for a dedicated international guideline to ensure optimal care of boys and men with KS.
Synthesis of C9‐C13 and C15‐C21 Subunits of Discodermolide
Authors: Si Debjani , Kaliappan Krishna P. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractA new synthetic strategy for the construction of two polypropionate subunits of discodermolide, a highly potent anticancer natural product, is reported. The strategy relies on two key reactions: a Shimizu non‐aldol reaction, a stereoselective hydrogenolysis of alkenyl epoxides, to generate the syn hydroxy‐methyl moiety and a NaBH4‐BF3.OEt2 mediated hydride addition reaction. By utilizing this strategy, two different fragments of discodermolide, C9‐C13 subunit and C15‐C21 subunit have been successfully synthesized.
Impact of a dedicated emergency surgical service on appendicitis outcomes
Authors: Goh Serene Si Ning , Cheok Sabrina Hui Xian , Lim Woan Wui , Tan Kok Yang , Goo Tiong Thye 
Published: June 2020

AimThe Emergency Surgery and Trauma (ESAT) team is a dedicated consultant‐led service to streamline the emergency surgical workload in Singapore. As acute appendicitis is one of the most common acute surgical conditions, we aim to compare outcomes of patients with appendicitis in the ESAT model as compared to the traditional on‐call model.MethodsA retrospective review of patients admitted to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore, with acute appendicitis between two periods: May–October 2014 (6 months pre‐ESAT) versus January–June 2017 (post‐ESAT). Patient demographics, operative details, efficiency, clinical outcomes, and hospital bill savings were evaluated.ResultsThere were 192 patients in the pre‐ESAT period and 179 patients in the post‐ESAT period. Patient demographics and comorbidities were comparable (P > 0.05). Time from emergency department referral to surgical review was significantly reduced in the ESAT period: 77.8 ± 46.9 min versus 127 ± 102 in the pre‐ESAT period (P = 0.002). Time from case booking to operating theatre was significantly shorter in the ESAT period: 72.4 ± 55.2 min compared to 157.3 ± 209.1 (P < 0.01). More cases were carried out in the daytime during the ESAT period, 50.2% versus 39.1% (P = 0.029). The majority underwent laparoscopic appendectomy 156/179 (87.2%) in the ESAT period, with fewer open appendectomies 3/179 (1.7%) as compared to the pre‐ESAT period (P = 0.062). There were higher intraoperative consultant supervision rates during the ESAT period, 38/166 (22.9%) as compared to 12/166 (6.7%) in the pre‐ESAT period (P = 0.001). There were fewer complications (Clavien–Dindo grade II and above) in the ESAT period, 1 (0.6%) as compared to 6 (3.4%) pre‐ESAT (P = 0.07).ConclusionThe ESAT service is associated with better efficiency outcomes for patients with acute appendicitis.