bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic Biomaterial Approaches to Alleviate Chronic Limb Threatening Ischemia
Authors: Marsico Grazia , Martin‐Saldaña Sergio , Pandit Abhay 
Published: February 2021

AbstractChronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI) is a severe condition defined by the blockage of arteries in the lower extremities that leads to the degeneration of blood vessels and is characterized by the formation of non‐healing ulcers and necrosis. The gold standard therapies such as bypass and endovascular surgery aim at the removal of the blockage. These therapies are not suitable for the so‐called “no option patients” which present multiple artery occlusions with a likelihood of significant limb amputation. Therefore, CLTI represents a significant clinical challenge, and the efforts of developing new treatments have been focused on stimulating angiogenesis in the ischemic muscle. The delivery of pro‐angiogenic nucleic acid, protein, and stem cell‐based interventions have limited efficacy due to their short survival. Engineered biomaterials have emerged as a promising method to improve the effectiveness of these latter strategies. Several synthetic and natural biomaterials are tested in different formulations aiming to incorporate nucleic acid, proteins, stem cells, macrophages, or endothelial cells in supportive matrices. In this review, an overview of the biomaterials used alone and in combination with growth factors, nucleic acid, and cells in preclinical models is provided and their potential to induce revascularization and regeneration for CLTI applications is discussed.
Artificial SEI for Superhigh‐Performance K‐Graphite Anode
Authors: Liu Qian , Rao Apparao M. , Han Xu , Lu Bingan 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAlthough graphite with its merits of low cost, abundance, and environmental friendliness is a potential anode material for potassium ion batteries (PIBs), it suffers from a limited cycle life due to a severe decomposition of the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) in organic electrolytes. Herein, a simple and viable method is demonstrated for the first time through which an ultra‐thin, uniform, dense, and stable artificial inorganic SEI film can be prepared on commercial graphite anodes and used with traditional carbonate electrolytes to achieve PIBs with long‐cycle stability and high initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE). Specifically, such commercial graphite anodes exhibit a long‐term cycling stability for more than 1000 cycles at 100 mA g−1 (a reversible capacity of around 260 mAh g−1) and a high average CE (around 99.9%) in traditional carbonate electrolytes with no discernable decay in capacity. More importantly, the commercial graphite anodes with the artificial inorganic SEI film in traditional carbonate electrolytes can deliver a high ICE of 93% (the highest ICE ever reported for PIBs anodes until now), which improves the performance of the PIB full cell. Considering the high ICE and long cycle stability performance, this study can promote the rapid deployment of PIBs on a commercial scale.
Defect Induced Polarization Loss in Multi‐Shelled Spinel Hollow Spheres for Electromagnetic Wave Absorption Application
Authors: Qin Ming , Zhang Limin , Zhao Xiaoru , Wu Hongjing 
Published: February 2021

AbstractDefect engineering is an effective approach to manipulate electromagnetic (EM) parameters and enhance absorption ability, but defect induced dielectric loss dominant mechanism has not been completely clarified. Here the defect induced dielectric loss dominant mechanism in virtue of multi‐shelled spinel hollow sphere for the first time is demonstrated. The unique but identical morphology design as well as suitable composition modulation for serial spinels can exclude the disturbance of EM wave dissipation from dipolar/interfacial polarization and conduction loss. In temperature‐regulated defect in NiCo2O4 serial materials, two kinds of defects, defect in spinel structure and oxygen vacancy are detected. Defect in spinel structure played more profound role on determining materials’ EM wave dissipation than that of oxygen vacancy. When evaluated serial Co‐based materials as absorbers, defect induced polarization loss is responsible for the superior absorption performance of NiCo2O4‐based material due to its more defect sites in spinel structure. It is discovered that electron spin resonance test may be adopted as a novel approach to directly probe EM wave absorption capacities of materials. This work not only provides a strategy to prepare lightweight, efficient EM wave absorber but also illustrates the importance of defect engineering on regulation of materials’ dielectric loss capacity.
Quantum Dots‐Based Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Evolution from Water Splitting
Authors: Jin Lei , Zhao Haiguang , Wang Zhiming M. , Rosei Federico 
Published: February 2021

AbstractSolar‐driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen evolution is a promising and sustainable approach to convert solar energy into a fuel that can be stored. Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are increasingly used in PEC devices due to their broad composition/size/shape tunable absorption spectrum (from ultraviolet to near‐infrared, with significant overlap with the solar spectrum). Despite significant efforts and recent progress, several major challenges remain unresolved in this fast‐developing field. Here, the latest progress in tailoring the materials, structure, and performance of QDs‐based PEC H2 generation, including photoanodes, photocathodes, and tandem PEC systems, is summarized. In particular, recent strategies developed for PEC H2 generation are critically analyzed. Specific features of QDs (e.g., size/shape/composition‐tunable absorption band edge arising from quantum confinement, ease of fabrication through chemical approaches, and multiple exciton generation), charge generation, and charge transfer of photoelectrodes and their implications on the performance of PEC devices are discussed. Future challenges and opportunities working, toward high‐efficiency and stable QDs‐based PEC applications are discussed in the conclusion.
A‐Site Management Prompts the Dynamic Reconstructed Active Phase of Perovskite Oxide OER Catalysts
Authors: Sun Yu , Li Ran , Chen Xiaoxuan , Wu Jing , Xie Yong , Wang Xin , Ma Kaikai , Wang Li , Zhang Zheng , Liao Qingliang , Kang Zhuo , Zhang Yue 
Published: February 2021

AbstractPerovskites (ABX3) are promising oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts for their highly intrinsic activity. The in‐depth understanding and the adjustment of dynamic reconstruction of active phases for perovskites in OER are still a daunting challenge. Here, a refined A‐site management strategy is proposed for perovskite oxides, which facilitates the surface reconstruction of the B‐site element based active phase to enhance the OER performance. Electrocatalyst LaNiO3 displays a dynamic reconstruction feature during OER with the growth of a self‐assembled NiOOH active layer, based on the in situ electrochemical Raman technology. Precise A‐site Ce doping lowers the reconstruction potential for the active phase and the dynamic structure–activity correlation is well established. Theoretical calculations demonstrate that A‐site Ce substitution upshifts the O 2p level for greater structural flexibility with optimized oxygen vacancy content, thereby activating the B‐site atom and promoting the active phase reconstruction. These results suggest that A‐site management prompts the B‐site element based active phase dynamic reconstruction via engineered X‐site content as a bridge. Therefore, indicating the strong correlation of each‐site component in perovskite oxides during OER and deepening the understanding of the fundamental processes of the structural transformation and further benefiting the accurate design of high‐efficiency perovskite OER electrocatalysts.
Robust Cobalt Catalyst for Nitrile/Alkyne [2+2+2] Cycloaddition: Synthesis of Polyarylpyridines and Their Mechanochemical Cyclodehydrogenation to Nitrogen‐Containing Polyaromatics**
Authors: Wang Chang‐Sheng , Sun Qiao , García Felipe , Wang Chen , Yoshikai Naohiko 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe transition‐metal‐catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of nitriles and alkynes is an established synthetic approach to pyridines; however, these cycloadditions often rely on the use of tethered diynes or cyanoalkynes as one of the reactants. Thus, examples of efficient, fully intermolecular catalytic [2+2+2] pyridine synthesis, especially those employing unactivated nitriles and internal alkynes leading to pentasubstituted pyridines, remain scarce. Herein, we report on simple and inexpensive catalytic systems based on cobalt(II) iodide, 1,3‐bis(diphenylphosphino)propane, and Zn that promote [2+2+2] cycloaddition of various nitriles and diarylacetylenes for the synthesis of a broad range of polyarylated pyridines. DFT studies support a reaction pathway involving oxidative coupling of two alkynes, insertion of the nitrile into a cobaltacyclopentadiene, and C‐N reductive elimination. The resulting tetra‐ and pentaarylpyridines serve as precursors to hitherto unprecedented nitrogen‐containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons via mechanochemically assisted multifold reductive cyclodehydrogenation.
POSS‐inducedrheological and dielectric modification of polyethersulfone
Authors: Shankar Rahul , Kemp Lisa K. , Smith Nicholas A. , Cross Jacob A. , Chen Beibei , Nazarenko Sergei I. , Park Jin Gyu , Thornell Travis L. , Newman John K. , Morgan Sarah E. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractPolyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanostructured chemicals, when incorporated at low levels in thermoplastics, provide processability enhancement and viscosity reduction without compromising other bulk physical properties. POSS has been relatively unexplored in high performance polymers, and there is incomplete understanding of the mechanisms by which POSS produces flow improvements. In this study, polyethersulfone (PES) was melt‐blended with trisilanolphenyl (TSP)‐POSS and dodecaphenyl (DP)‐POSS; and rheological, dielectric spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy evaluations were conducted to identify structure/property/processing relationships. TSP‐POSS yielded greater processability improvements and viscosity reductions than DP‐POSS, suppressed low temperature relaxations to a larger extent, and displayed a greater degree of nanoscale dispersion in the polymer matrix. The findings are evaluated in terms of competing theories of POSS viscosity reduction.
A triple‐targeting inhibitory activity of Rose Bengal on polysaccharide biosynthesis of Burkholderia pseudomallei
Authors: Kim Suwon , Jo Seri , Kim Mi‐Sun , Shin Dong H. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractSugar nucleotidyltransferases (SNTs) participate in various biosynthesis pathways constructing polysaccharides in Gram‐negative bacteria. In this study, a triple‐targeting inhibitory activity of Rose Bengal against SNTs such as d‐glycero‐α‐d‐manno‐heptose‐1‐phosphate guanylyltransferase (HddC), d‐glycero‐β‐d‐manno‐heptose‐1‐phosphate adenylyltransferase (HldC), and 3‐deoxy‐d‐manno‐oct‐2‐ulosonic acid cytidylyltransferase (KdsB) from Burkholderia pseudomallei is provided. Rose Bengal effectively suppresses the nucleotidyltransferase activity of the three SNTs, and its IC50 values are 10.42, 0.76, and 5.31 µM, respectively. Interestingly, Rose Bengal inhibits the three enzymes regardless of their primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structural differences. The experimental results indicate that Rose Bengal possesses the plasticity to shape its conformation suitable to interact with the three SNTs. As HddC functions in the formation of capsular polysaccharides and HldC and KdsB produce building blocks to constitute the inner core of lipopolysaccharide, Rose Bengal is a potential candidate to design antibiotics in a new category. In particular, it can be developed as a specific antimelioidosis agent. As the mortality rate of the infected people caused by B. pseudomallei is quite high, there is an urgent need for specific antimelioidosis agents. Therefore, a further study is being carried out with derivatives of Rose Bengal.
Effects of the TNFRSF11B Mutation Associated With Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease in Osteoclastogenesis in a Murine Model
Authors: Mitton‐Fitzgerald Elizabeth , Gohr Claudia M. , Williams Charlene J. , Ortiz Amaryllis , Mbalaviele Gabriel , Rosenthal Ann K. 
Published: February 2021

ObjectiveThe gene TNFRSF11B encodes for osteoprotegerin (OPG) and was recently identified as the CCAL1 locus associated with familial calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPDD). While the CCAL1 OPG mutation (OPG‐XL) was originally believed to be a gain‐of‐function mutation, loss of OPG activity causes arthritis‐associated osteolysis in mice, which is likely related to excess subchondral osteoclast formation and/or activity. The purpose of the present study was to further explore the effect of OPG‐XL in osteoclastogenesis.MethodsThe effects of recombinant OPG‐XL and wild‐type (WT) OPG were determined in monoculture and coculture models of RANKL‐induced osteoclastogenesis. The effects of OPG‐XL on osteoclast survival as well as on TRAIL‐induced apoptosis were determined using standard in vitro assays and compared to WT OPG. The ability of OPG‐XL and WT OPG to bind to osteoblasts was measured with enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry using the osteoblastic MC3T3‐E1 cell line.ResultsOPG‐XL was less effective than WT OPG at blocking RANKL‐induced osteoclastogenesis in monoculture and coculture models. Osteoclast survival and inhibition of TRAIL‐induced apoptosis were similar in the presence of OPG‐XL and WT OPG. Compared to WT OPG, considerably less OPG‐XL bound to cells.ConclusionThese findings indicate that OPG‐XL is a loss‐of‐function mutation as it relates to RANKL‐mediated osteoclastogenesis, and thus may permit increased osteoclast numbers and heightened bone turnover. Further studies are necessary to demonstrate how this mutation contributes to arthritis in individuals carrying this mutation.
A new combined antegrade and retrograde approach for chronic total occlusion recanalization: Facilitated antegrade fenestration and re‐entry
Authors: Azzalini Lorenzo , Carlino Mauro 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWhile antegrade techniques remain the cornerstone of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), operators have often to resort to the retrograde approach in complex occlusions. In particular, lesions with proximal cap ambiguity, unclear vessel course and/or poor distal landing zone are difficult to tackle with either antegrade wiring or antegrade dissection and re‐entry (ADR), and often require the retrograde approach. After collateral channel crossing, the retrograde approach usually culminates with either reverse controlled antegrade and retrograde subintimal tracking (CART) or retrograde true lumen crossing. Both techniques usually involve the use of an externalization wire, which requires keeping a higher activate clotting time to prevent thrombosis of the retrograde channel and is potentially associated with risk for donor vessel injury. In 2018, we described antegrade fenestration and re‐entry (AFR), a targeted ADR technique in which fenestrations between the false and true lumen are created by antegrade balloon dilatation in the extraplaque space at the level of the distal cap, which are subsequently engaged by a polymer‐jacketed wire to achieve re‐entry. We hypothesized that AFR can also expedite antegrade crossing of the CTO after a wire has reached the distal vessel in a retrograde fashion. In this report, we present two cases in which we successfully achieved antegrade CTO crossing with AFR following retrograde advancement of a guidewire to the distal cap, in new variant of the technique, which we called “facilitated AFR”.
Interactions between cotton genotypes and Fusarium wilt race 4 isolates from Texas and resistance evaluation in cotton
Authors: Zhu Yi , Abdelraheem Abdelraheem , Wheeler Terry A. , Dever Jane K. , Wedegaertner Tom , Hake Kater D. , Zhang Jinfa 
Published: February 2021

AbstractFusarium wilt, caused by the soil‐borne fungusFusarium oxysporumf. sp.vasinfectum(FOV) race 4 (FOV4), is one of the most destructive diseases in cotton (Gossypiumspp.) in the southwestern and western Cotton Belt. However, the virulence of FOV4 is currently unknown. In this study, 17 FOV isolates collected in the Fabens, TX, area were determined to be FOV4 based on FOV4‐specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequence analysis of three genes encoding for translation elongation factor, β‐tubulin, and phosphate permease. A further multiplex PCR analysis determined that they all belonged to theTfo1/MULEMT genotype. Based on disease severity ratings (DSR) on two upland and two pima cotton lines in the greenhouse, virulence of the 17 FOV4 isolates differed but was overall congruent on the four lines, and differences among cotton genotypes accounted for 82% of the total variance. Variance in virulence due to FOV4 isolates and FOV4 isolate × cotton genotype interaction each accounted for only 8–11% of the total variance. A virulent MT FOV4 isolate was used to inoculate 104 entries representing 92 cultivars and elite lines in two tests at 21–23 °C. The combined ANOVA detected a significant genotypic variation in DSR with moderate broad‐sense heritability estimates (.62–.69). About 90–91% of the genotypes were susceptible to FOV4, including 100% mortality in 59–91% of the genotypes. Pima PHY 805 RF and three upland cultivars including FM 2334GLT, Acala 1517‐08, and Acala Daytona RF had similar resistance responses to the resistant check pima PHY 841 RF. This study demonstrated that cotton genotypes played a predominant role in determining FOV4 virulence, reinforcing the validity of using a representative isolate to screen cotton for FOV4 resistance.
Self‐reported hearing difficulty increases 3‐year risk of incident cognitive impairment: The role of leisure activities and psychological resilience
Authors: Chen Lele 
Published: February 2021

AbstractObjectiveAlthough hearing difficulty is associated with cognitive impairment, little is known about the potential mechanisms involved. This study assessed the mediating effects of leisure activities and psychological resilience on the association between hearing difficulty and cognitive impairment.MethodsTwo waves of Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (2011–2014) were used in the current analysis. Hearing difficulty, leisure activities and psychological resilience were measured at baseline. Cognitive function was assessed using the Chinese version of the Mini‐Mental State Examination. The data were analyzed using generalized structural equation modeling with adjustment for confounding factors.ResultsOf the 4267 participants at baseline, 33.5% (1430) reported hearing difficulty. The incidence of cognitive impairment was 15.3% (651) during the 3‐year follow‐up. Hearing difficulty increased the risk of cognitive impairment (odds ratio [OR] = 1.59, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.26–1.92). Leisure activities and psychological resilience partly mediated the association between hearing difficulty and cognitive impairment. Hearing difficulty was negatively related to leisure activities (β = −0.23, 95% CI: −0.41 to −0.05) and psychological resilience (β = −0.34, 95% CI: −0.57 to −0.11). Furthermore, leisure activities (OR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.89–0.96) and psychological resilience (OR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.93–0.98) would significantly decrease the risk of cognitive impairment.ConclusionsHearing difficulty was associated with the incidence of cognitive impairment in older adults. Leisure activities and psychological resilience mediated the relationship. Participation in leisure activity and promoting psychological resilience may be candidate interventions in preventing cognitive impairment among the individuals with hearing difficulty.
Instrumental variable‐based assessment of the effect of psychotherapy on suicide attempts, health, and economic outcomes in schizophrenia
Authors: Blæhr Emely Ek , Søgaard Rikke 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe literature on the effect of psychotherapy for schizophrenia is limited and characterized by small samples and possible bias from risk selection. We examined the effects of psychotherapy on suicide attempts and health and economic outcomes using an instrumental variable (IV) approach that exploits the variation in the propensities of hospital departments to prescribe psychotherapy. This was supplemented with naïve probit models as exogeneity could not be ruled out for all of the outcomes. The validity of the instrument was examined by distributional plots and various tests. The assumed randomness in referring patients to providers with high versus low propensities to psychotherapy appeared to be a critical aspect. Splitting the sample into homogeneous provider types did not substantially alter the results. Based on the IV results, we found no support for the effect of psychotherapy on suicide attempt, psychiatric readmission, assisted living, or labor market attachment. However, we cannot rule out smaller effects due to confidence intervals including the probit estimates. The main contribution of this study is new evidence on a broad range of outcomes and a large and representative population.
Cell‐by‐cell approximate Schur complement technique in preconditioning of meshfree discretized piezoelectric equations
Authors: Cao Yang , Neytcheva Maya 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe radial point interpolation meshfree discretization is a very efficient numerical framework for the analysis of piezoelectricity, in which the fundamental electrostatic equations governing piezoelectric media are solved without mesh generation. Due to the mechanical‐electrical coupling property and the piezoelectric constant, the discrete linear system is sparse, of generalized saddle point form and often very ill conditioned. In this work, we propose a technique for constructing a family of cell‐by‐cell approximate Schur complement matrices, to be used in preconditioning to accelerate the convergence of Krylov subspace iteration methods for such problems. The approximate Schur complement matrices are simply and cheaply constructed in the process of the meshfree discretization and have a sparse structure. It is proved that the so‐constructed approximate Schur complement matrices are spectrally equivalent to the exact Schur complement matrix, which leads to very fast convergence when used in preconditioning. In addition, nondimensionalization of the piezoelectric equations is considered to make the computations more stable. The robustness and the efficiency of the proposed preconditioners is illustrated numerically on two test problems, arising from a piezoelectric strip shear deformation problem and a piezoelectric strip bending problem. Numerical results show that the number of iterations to achieve a given tolerance is independent of the number of degrees of freedom as well as of the various problem parameters.