bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intelligent Silk Fibroin Ionotronic Skin for Temperature Sensing
Authors: Liu Jialin , Chen Qianying , Liu Qiang , Zhao Bohua , Ling Shengjie , Yao Jinrong , Shao Zhengzhong , Chen Xin 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe emergence of ionotronic materials has substantially extended the applications of artificial skins by allowing intimate interfaces between electronics and biological/bionic surfaces toward achieving improved sensing and communication with surrounding stimuli. However, ionotronic skins are intrinsically temperature dependent, since water molecules play crucial roles in regulating both mechanical and ionic conductivity of the materials. Hence, most of the ionotronic skins will fail at temperatures below 0 °C. In this study, a highly sensitive ionotronic skin that can be used in the entire natural environmental temperature range (−30–80 °C) is developed by using silk fibroin and Ca(II) ions as starting materials. In such a system, silk fibroin serves as both structural supports and ion capture agent to provide structural stability, mechanical flexibility, and interfacial adhesion ability, while Ca(II) ions work as ionic conductor, hygroscopic agent, and deicing salt to offer highly stable ionic conductivity at a temperature range from −30 to 80 °C. These synergetic merits, together with favorable advances of silk fibroin ionotronic skins in biocompatibility, transparency, and self‐healing, allow them to be used in multiple emerging fields, such as regenerative medicine, implantable electronics, and human–machine interface.
Maltotriose Conjugated Metal–Organic Frameworks for Selective Targeting and Photodynamic Therapy of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells and Tumor Associated Macrophages
Authors: Sakamaki Yoshie , Ozdemir John , Diaz Perez Alda , Heidrick Zachary , Watson Olivia , Tsuji Miu , Salmon Christopher , Batta‐Mpouma Joseph , Azzun Anthony , Lomonte Valerie , Du Yuchun , Stenken Julie , Kim Jin‐Woo , Beyzavi M. Hassan 
Published: June 2020

AbstractMetal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are a well‐suited platform for drug delivery systems that can affect photodynamic therapy (PDT). A well‐designed PDT delivery system to treat cancer can overcome some problems of current PDT such as prolonged photosensitivity and tumor specificity. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is difficult to treat with existing chemotherapy and often requires surgery because it quickly metastasizes throughout the body. Tumor associated macrophages (TAM) are known to be M2‐like macrophages, which are involved in processes of cancer progression, such as angiogenesis, matrix remodeling, and metastases. These roles are brought on by the expression of the CD206 (mannose receptor) on the surface of the macrophage. MOF nanoparticles around 50 nm are synthesized by a solvothermal reaction of Mn(III)‐tetrakis(4‐carboxyphenyl) porphyrin, tetrakis(4‐carboxyphenyl) porphyrin, and ZrOCl2. Through postsynthetic modification, Zn(II) is incorporated into the tetrakis(4‐carboxyphenyl) porphyrin sites and potassium maltotrionate is conjugated with the empty coordination sites on the Zr6O4(OH)4 clusters. The resultant maltotriose‐PCN‐224‐0.1Mn/0.9Zn is able to specifically target tumor cells and TAM. Upon irradiation by a light‐emitting diode (LED) source, TNBC and the TAM cells were selectively targeted by MA‐PCN‐224‐0.1Mn/0.9Zn via the glucose transporter (GLUT) and CD206 receptors. The MA‐PCN‐224‐0.1Mn/0.9Zn shows no toxicity toward normal cell lines and no dark toxicity.
Investigation of Plasmonic Detection of Human Respiratory Virus
Authors: Das Chandreyee Manas , Guo Yan , Kang Lixing , Ho Ho‐pui , Yong Ken‐Tye 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe COVID‐19 virus has been recently identified as a new species of virus that can cause severe infections such as pneumonia. The sudden outbreak of this disease is being considered a pandemic. Given all this, it is essential to develop smart biosensors that can detect pathogens with minimum time delay. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors make use of refractive index (RI) changes as the sensing parameter. In this work, based on actual data taken from previous experimental works done on plasmonic detection of viruses, a detailed simulation of the SPR scheme that can be used to detect the COVID‐19 virus is performed and the results are extrapolated from earlier schemes to predict some outcomes of this SPR model. The results indicate that the conventional Kretschmann configuration can have a limit of detection (LOD) of 2E‐05 in terms of RI change and an average sensitivity of 122.4 degRIU−1 at a wavelength of 780 nm.
Polymyxins Bind to the Cell Surface of Unculturable Acinetobacter baumannii and Cause Unique Dependent Resistance
Authors: Zhu Yan , Lu Jing , Han Mei‐Ling , Jiang Xukai , Azad Mohammad A. K. , Patil Nitin A. , Lin Yu‐Wei , Zhao Jinxin , Hu Yang , Yu Heidi H. , Chen Ke , Boyce John D. , Dunstan Rhys A. , Lithgow Trevor , Barlow Christopher K. , Li Weifeng , Schneider‐Futschik Elena K. , Wang Jiping , Gong Bin , Sommer Bjorn , Creek Darren J. , Fu Jing , Wang Lushan , Schreiber Falk , Velkov Tony , Li Jian 
Published: June 2020

AbstractMultidrug‐resistant Acinetobacter baumannii is a top‐priority pathogen globally and polymyxins are a last‐line therapy. Polymyxin dependence in A. baumannii (i.e., nonculturable on agar without polymyxins) is a unique and highly‐resistant phenotype with a significant potential to cause treatment failure in patients. The present study discovers that a polymyxin‐dependent A. baumannii strain possesses mutations in both lpxC (lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis) and katG (reactive oxygen species scavenging) genes. Correlative multiomics analyses show a significantly remodeled cell envelope and remarkably abundant phosphatidylglycerol in the outer membrane (OM). Molecular dynamics simulations and quantitative membrane lipidomics reveal that polymyxin‐dependent growth emerges only when the lipopolysaccharide‐deficient OM distinctively remodels with ≥ 35% phosphatidylglycerol, and with “patch” binding on the OM by the rigid polymyxin molecules containing strong intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Rather than damaging the OM, polymyxins bind to the phosphatidylglycerol‐rich OM and strengthen the membrane integrity, thereby protecting bacteria from external reactive oxygen species. Dependent growth is observed exclusively with polymyxin analogues, indicating a critical role of the specific amino acid sequence of polymyxins in forming unique structures for patch‐binding to bacterial OM. Polymyxin dependence is a novel antibiotic resistance mechanism and the current findings highlight the risk of ‘invisible’ polymyxin‐dependent isolates in the evolution of resistance.
User‐Interactive Thermotherapeutic Electronic Skin Based on Stretchable Thermochromic Strain Sensor
Authors: Lee Giwon , Bae Geun Yeol , Son Jong Hyun , Lee Siyoung , Kim Seong Won , Kim Daegun , Lee Seung Goo , Cho Kilwon 
Published: June 2020

AbstractUser‐interactive electronic skin (e‐skin) with a distinguishable output has enormous potential for human–machine interfaces and healthcare applications. Despite advances in user‐interactive e‐skins, advances in visual user‐interactive therapeutic e‐skins remain rare. Here, a user‐interactive thermotherapeutic device is reported that is fabricated by combining thermochromic composites and stretchable strain sensors consisting of strain‐responsive silver nanowire networks on surface energy‐patterned microwrinkles. Both the color and heat of the device are easily controlled through electrical resistance variation induced by applied mechanical strain. The resulting monolithic device exhibits substantial changes in optical reflectance and temperature with durability, rapid response, high stretchability, and linear sensitivity. The approach enables a low‐expertise route to fabricating dynamic interactive thermotherapeutic e‐skins that can be used to effectively rehabilitate injured connective tissues as well as to prevent skin burns by simultaneously accommodating stretching, providing heat, and exhibiting a color change.
A High‐Rate Aqueous Proton Battery Delivering Power Below −78 °C via an Unfrozen Phosphoric Acid
Authors: Jiang Heng , Shin Woochul , Ma Lu , Hong Jessica J. , Wei Zhixuan , Liu Yusung , Zhang Suoying , Wu Xianyong , Xu Yunkai , Guo Qiubo , Subramanian Mas A. , Stickle William F. , Wu Tianpin , Lu Jun , Ji Xiulei 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe sluggish ion diffusion and electrolyte freezing with volumetric changes limit the low‐temperature performance of rechargeable batteries. Herein, a high‐rate aqueous proton battery (APB) operated at and below −78 °C via a 62 wt% (9.5 m) H3PO4 electrolyte is reported. The APB is a rocking‐chair battery that operates with protons commuting between a Prussian blue cathode and an MoO3 anode. At −78 °C, the APB full cells exhibit stable cycle life for 450 cycles, high round‐trip efficiency of 85%, and appreciable power performance. The APB delivers 30% of its room‐temperature capacity even at −88 °C. The proton storage mechanism is investigated by ex situ synchrotron XRD, XAS, and XPS. The APB pouch cells demonstrate no capacity fading at −78 °C, and thus offers a safe and reliable candidate for high‐latitude applications.
Changing the Criminal Justice System Response to Sexual Assault: An Empirical Study of a Participatory Action Research Project
Authors: Campbell Rebecca , Fehler‐Cabral Giannina , Pierce Steven J. , Sharma Dhruv B. , Shaw Jessica , Horsford Sheena , Feeney Hannah 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn jurisdictions throughout the United States, thousands of sexual assault kits (SAKs; also known as a “rape kits”) have not been submitted by the police for forensic DNA testing. DNA evidence may be helpful to sexual assault investigations and prosecutions by identifying perpetrators, revealing serial offenders through DNA matches across cases, and exonerating those who have been wrongly accused. This paper describes a longitudinal action research project conducted in Detroit, Michigan after that city discovered approximately 11,000 untested sexual assault kits in a police department storage facility. We conducted a root cause analysis to examine individual, organizational, community, and societal factors that contributed to the development of the rape kit backlog in Detroit. Based on those findings, we implemented and evaluated structural changes to increase staffing, promote kit testing, and retrain police and prosecutors so that cases could be reopened for investigation and prosecution. As we conducted this work, we also studied how this action research project impacted the Detroit criminal justice system. Participating in this project changed stakeholders’ attitudes about the utility of research to address community problems, the usefulness of DNA evidence in sexual assault cases, and the impact of trauma on survivors. The results led to new protocols for SAK testing and police investigations, and new state legislation mandating SAK forensic DNA testing.
Curculigo recurvata W.T.Aiton exhibits anti‐nociceptive and anti‐diarrheal effects in Albino mice and an in silico model
Authors: Ahmad Shabbir , Nasrin Mst. Samima , Reza A. S. M. Ali , Chakrabarty Nishan , Hoque Md. Akramul , Islam Sanjida , Hafez Kabir Mohammad Shah , Tareq Syed Mohammed , Alam A. H. M. Khurshid , Haque Md. Areeful , Arman Md. Saiful Islam 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundCurculigo recurvata (C. recurvata) is an enthnomedicinally important herb reported to have significant medicinal values. The present study aimed to explore the in vivo and in silico anti‐nociceptive and anti‐diarrheal effects of a C. recurvate rhizome methanol extract (Me‐RCR).MethodsThe analgesic effects of Me‐RCR were assessed using acetic acid‐induced writhing and the formalin‐induced flicking test. The drugs were administered intraperitoneally (IP) at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight (bw). Anti‐diarrheal activity was evaluated by assessing intestinal motility, hypersecretion, and fecal score in mice at oral doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg·bw. Computer facilitated analyses for anti‐nociceptive and anti‐diarrheal activities of three isolated compounds from C. recurvata were undertaken to identify the best‐fit phytoconstituents.ResultsThe Me‐RCR showed significant (P < .05) peripheral anti‐nociception at the highest dose. The extract inhibited both early and late phases of nociception in the formalin‐induced writhing test. In the castor oil‐induced diarrhoea model, the extract significantly (P < .05) prolonged the onset time of diarrhoea, inhibited percentage of diarrhoea, and decreased both the volume and weight of intestinal contents. Rates of intestinal fluid accumulation inhibition were (33.61 ± 1.00)% and (46.44 ± 0.89)% at Me‐RCR doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg·bw, respectively. Moreover, a significant (P < .05) reduction in gastrointestinal motility was observed. An absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and/or toxicity (ADME/T) test showed that the selected compounds yielded promising results, satisfying Lipinski's rule of five for predicting drug‐like potential. Notably, of the three phytoconstituents curculigine and isocurculigine possessed the highest affinity for the COX‐1 and COX‐2. Isocurculigine was also identified as the most effective anti‐diarrheal compound in the computer‐facilitated model.ConclusionAn extract of the plant C. recurvata showed potential analgesic and anti‐diarrheal activity due to the presence of one or more active secondary metabolite(s).
Influence of the COVID‐19 pandemic on an emergency medical service system: a population‐based, descriptive study in Osaka, Japan
Authors: Katayama Yusuke , Kiyohara Kosuke , Kitamura Tetsuhisa , Hayashida Sumito , Shimazu Takeshi 
Published: June 2020

AimNovel coronavirus infection (COVID‐19) was confirmed in Wuhan, China in December 2019, and the COVID‐19 pandemic has spread around the world. However, no clinical studies on the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on emergency medical service (EMS) systems have been carried out.MethodsThis was a retrospective study with a study period from 1 January 2020 to 14 April 2020. We included the patients transported by ambulance for acute diseases and traffic accidents in Osaka city, Japan. The main outcome of this study was the difficulty in hospital acceptance. We calculated the rate of difficulty of hospital acceptance for each month for acute diseases and traffic accidents.ResultsBetween 1 January and 14 April 2020, 36,981 patients were transported to hospitals by ambulance for acute diseases and 3,096 patients for traffic accidents. There was no difference in the proportion of the difficulty in hospital acceptance due to traffic accidents between 2019 and 2020, but there was an increase in the proportion of the difficulty in hospital acceptance due to acute disease after the 13th week (25–31 March) of 2020 compared to that of 2019. The odds ratio in April was 2.17 (95% confidence interval, 1.84–2.58) for acute disease.ConclusionWe assessed the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the EMS system in Osaka City, Japan and found that, since April 2020, the EMS system in Osaka City has been facing difficulty in terms of hospital acceptance of patients transported to hospital for acute diseases.
Numerical simulations of Carreau‐model fluid flows past a circular cylinder
Authors: Ohta Mitsuhiro , Toyooka Takashi , Matsukuma Yosuke 
Published: June 2020

AbstractNumerical simulations of shear‐thinning and shear‐thickening fluid flows past a circular cylinder are performed using a lattice Boltzmann method. In this study, the property of shear‐thinning and shear‐thickening fluids is expressed by the Carreau model. We focus on the definition of an effective (representative) Reynolds number for describing the flow of shear‐thinning and shear‐thickening fluids past a circular cylinder. The fluid flows and viscosity profiles are clearly shown for fluids flowing across a circular cylinder depending on the Reynolds and Carreau numbers and the power index. A large value of Carreau number lead to the formation of low‐viscosity regions for shear‐thinning and high‐viscosity regions for shear‐thickening around a circular cylinder. Meanwhile, the change in the viscosity around the cylinder is not remarkable for a small Carreau number. The formulation of the effective Reynolds number defined using effective shear rate and viscosity is proposed in order to organize and understand the flow of Carreau‐model fluids across a circular cylinder. The effective Reynolds number counseled in this study allows one to completely describe the flow state of Carreau‐model fluids past a circular cylinder on an equal footing with Newtonian fluid flows. The usefulness of the effective Reynolds numbers is discussed, and the feature of Carreau‐model fluid flows past a circular cylinder is considered in terms of the effective Reynolds number.
Ensemble learning of daily river discharge modeling for two watersheds with different climates
Authors: Xu Jingwen , Zhang Qun , Liu Shuang , Zhang Shaojie , Jin Shengjie , Li Dongyu , Wu Xiaobo , Liu Xiaojing , Li Ting , Li Hao 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn order to reduce the uncertainties and improve the river discharge modeling accuracy, several topography‐based hydrological models (TOPMODEL), generated by different combinations of parameters, were incorporated into an ensemble learning framework with the boosting method. Both the Baohe River Basin (BRB) with humid climate, and the Linyi River Basin (LRB) with semi‐arid climate were chosen for model testing. Observed daily precipitation, pan evaporation and stream flow data were used for model development and testing. Different Nash‐Sutcliffe efficiency coefficients, the coefficient of determination and the Root Mean Square Error were adopted to implement a comprehensive assessment on model performances. Testing results indicated that ensemble learning method could improve the modeling accuracy by comparing with the best single TOPMODEL. During the validation periods, the boosting method could increase the modeling accuracy by 9 and 16% for BRB and LRB, respectively. The ensemble method significantly narrowed the gap of model performances over watersheds with different climatic conditions. Hence, using the ensemble learning to enhance the feasibility of hydrological models for different climatic regions is promising.
Carbon‐dot‐based ratiometric fluorescent probe of intracellular zinc ion and persulfate ion with low dark toxicity
Authors: Bu Dandan , Song Huanhuan , Li Zhanxian , Wei Liuhe , Zhang Hongyan , Yu Mingming 
Published: June 2020

AbstractMetal ions and anions play significant roles in biological systems and industrial processes, therefore it is important to develop good fluorescent probes to detect metal ions and anions. Here, N,O‐co‐doped carbon quantum dots (CDs) that could detect Zn2+ via a ratiometric fluorescence method were fabricated. The reaction between the as‐prepared CDs and zinc acetate gave the composite CDs–Zn, in which fluorescence changed ratiometrically upon addition of S2O82−. With change in excitation light, the emission peaks of the CDs and CDs–Zn were kept fixed while intensity changed. CDs and CDs–Zn exhibited good photostability, thermal stability, selectivity, and strong anti‐interference ability. In addition, CDs and CDs–Zn displayed low dark toxicity under physiological temperatures. Ratiometric fluorescence imaging of intracellular Zn2+ and S2O82− was carried out in living HeLa cells for both of these probes. Compared with reported ratiometric fluorescent hybrid nanosensors based on organic dyes and inorganic nanomaterials, the as‐prepared CDs and CDs–Zn had low toxicity, and were easy to synthesize.
Biologically synthesized ZnS quantum dots as fluorescent probes for lead (II) sensing
Authors: Jacob Jaya Mary , Rajan Reju , Kurup Gayathri G. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThis manuscript presents a robust strategy for selective Pb(II) sensing based on a fluorescence turn‐off mechanism using ZnS quantum dots (QDs) biosynthesized using Aspergillus sp. The biogenic nanoprobe displayed marked sensing efficiency in the presence of Pb ions over concentration ranges from 5 to 100 μM with limits of detection of around 2.45 μM. Performance optimization studies revealed that the maximum fluorescence quenching efficiency was obtained in the presence of [ZnS NPs] at 4 mg/ml, and alkaline pH of 10 recorded under stable ambient temperature for approximately 5 min for the quenching process. Advanced morphological analysis indicated that the bio‐sensing mechanism was essentially a surface‐based phenomenon in which the Pb ions were in very close proximity to the QDs and formed stable ground‐state Pb–ZnS complexes, resulting in a quenched fluorescence of the QDs. Simultaneously, a larger fraction of Pb ions interacted via collisions with the excited ZnS QDs and resulted in an effective energy transfer from the excited QDs to the Pb ions, therefore resulting in an obvious decrease in QD fluorescence. These insights were well supported by theoretical analysis using Stern–Volmer plots and sphere‐of‐action models.
Comparison of gross target volumes based on four‐dimensional CT, positron emission tomography‐computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging in thoracic esophageal cancer
Authors: Li Huimin , Li Fengxiang , Li Jianbin , Zhu Youzhe , Zhang Yingjie , Guo Yanluan , Xu Min , Shao Qian , Liu Xijun 
Published: June 2020

AbstractPurposeThe application value of 18F‐FDG PET‐CT combined with MRI in the radiotherapy of esophageal carcinoma was discussed by comparing the differences in position, volume, and the length of GTVs delineated on the end‐expiration (EE) phase of 4DCT, 18F‐FDG PET‐CT, and T2W‐MRI.MethodsA total of 26 patients with thoracic esophageal cancer sequentially performed 3DCT, 4DCT, 18F‐FDG PET‐CT, and MRI simulation for thoracic localization. All images were fused with the 3DCT images by deformable registration. GTVCT and GTV50% were delineated on 3DCT and the EE phase of 4DCT images, respectively. The GTV based on PET‐CT images was determined by thresholds of SUV ≥ 2.5 and designated as GTVPET2.5. The images of T2‐weighted sequence and diffusion‐weighted sequence were referred as GTVMRI and GTVDWI, respectively. The length of the abnormality seen on the 4DCT, PET‐CT, and DWI was compared.ResultsGTVPET2.5 was significantly larger than GTV50% and GTVMRI (P = .000 and 0.008, respectively), and the volume of GTVMRI was similar to that of GTV50% (P = .439). Significant differences were observed between the CI of GTVMRI to GTV50% and GTVPET2.5 to GTV50% (P = .004). The CI of GTVMRI to GTVCT and GTVPET2.5 to GTVCT were statistically significant (P = .039). The CI of GTVMRI to GTVPET2.5 was significantly lower than that of GTVMRI to GTV50%, GTVMRI to GTVCT, GTVPET2.5 to GTV50%, and GTVPET2.5 to GTVCT (P = .000‐0.021). Tumor length measurements by endoscopy were similar to the tumor length as measured by PET and DWI scan (P > .05), and there was no significant difference between the longitudinal length of GTVPET2.5 and GTVDWI (P = .072).ConclusionThe volumes of GTVMRI and GTV50% were similar. However, GTVMRI has different volumes and poor spatial matching compared with GTVPET2.5.The MRI imaging could not include entire respiration. It may be a good choice to guide target delineation and construction of esophageal carcinoma by combining 4DCT with MRI imaging. Utilization of DWI in treatment planning for esophageal cancer may provide further information to assist with target delineation. Further studies are needed to determine if this technology will translate into meaningful differences in clinical outcome.