bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A 25 cm2 Solar Redox Flow Cell: Facing the Engineering Challenges of Upscaling
Authors: da Silva Lopes Telmo , Dias Paula , Monteiro Ricardo , Vilanova António , Ivanou Dzmitry , Mendes Adélio 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe solar redox flow cell (SRFC) is an emerging technology that uses semiconductors to photocharge redox pairs, storing solar energy in electrochemical fuels and heat. Despite being in its infancy, significant efforts have been made in the development of high‐efficient materials and in understanding the fundamental processes. However, little attention has been given to device architecture and scalability, which may prove equally important in bringing this technology closer to commercialization. This work is the first attempt at upscaling SRFCs, proposing an innovative 25 cm2 photoactive‐area device: the SolarFlow25 cell. A computational fluid dynamics model is developed to implement design key features aiming at: maximizing light absorption by the semiconductor, ensuring effective diffusion and convection of redox species, and guaranteeing minimal electronic and ionic transport resistances. After being connected to a redox flow cell (RFC), the combined SRFC/RFC device is used to photocharge–discharge a ferrocyanide/anthraquinone (2,7‐AQDS) chemistry continuously. A nanostructured hematite (α‐Fe2O3) photoelectrode combined in series with a dye‐sensitized solar cell (DSSC) produces an unbiased photocurrent of ≈40 mA. The solar‐to‐output‐electricity‐efficiency remains stable at ≈0.44%, fourfold higher than any other reported hematite‐driven SRFC. The guidelines provided here are expected to help design and upscale future SRFC devices, making solar energy accessible in decentralized locations.
Changes in silage quality, bacterial community dynamics, and metabolic profiles in whole‐crop maize silage
Authors: Wang Siran , Li Junfeng , Zhao Jie , Dong Zhihao , Shao Tao 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate the silage quality, bacterial community, and predicted functional profiles during the ensiling of whole‐crop maize (Zea mays L.). Maize was harvested at dough stage and ensiled in laboratory‐scale silos (1‐L capacity). Triplicate silos were sampled after 1, 3, 7, 15, 30, and 60 d of ensiling. The bacterial communities on Day 3 and Day 60 were assessed through high throughput sequencing technology, and 16S rRNA gene‐predicted functional profiles were analyzed according to the KEGG using Tax4Fun. After 60 d of ensiling, the maize silages had large amounts of lactic acid (∼69.0 g dry matter [DM] kg–1), and low pH (∼3.64), butyric acid (∼1.31 g DM kg–1), and ammonia N (∼64.9 g total N kg–1). Lactobacillus was the most dominant genus during the early and late stages of fermentation. After ensiling, the metabolism of amino acid, energy, cofactors and vitamins was inhibited by 17.5, 16.3, and 16.0% respectively, whereas the metabolism of nucleotide and carbohydrate was enhanced by 37.1 and 10.3%, respectively. The promotion of 1‐phosphofructokinase and pyruvate kinase (65.9 and 32.5%, respectively) may stimulate the lactic acid fermentation, and the enhancement of arginine deiminase (61.8%) could help lactic acid bacteria to tolerate the acid environment. Overall, the high throughput sequencing technology, combined with 16S rRNA gene‐predicted functional analyses, revealed differences in maize silage related to shifts in the bacterial community consistent with increased abundance of inferred enzymatic pathways. This approach could provide comprehensive insights into bacterial community and functional profiles to further improve the silage quality.
Trapeziometacarpal joint mobility in gibbons (fam. Hylobatidae) and rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)
Authors: van Leeuwen Timo , Vanneste Maarten , D'Agostino Priscilla , Vereecke Evie E. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractObjectivesThe purpose of this study is to investigate the differences in 3D kinematics of the trapeziometacarpal (TMC) joint between gibbons (fam. Hylobatidae) and macaques (Macaca mulatta), two non‐human primate groups with a distinct locomotor behavior. Gibbons are highly arboreal species, while macaques are quadrupeds. Here, we investigate the mobility and structural constraints of the TMC joint in both these primates and evaluate the hypothesis that differences in locomotor mode are reflected in joint structure and function.Materials and methodsWe have developed an innovative software suite allowing for the quantification of in situ 3D kinematics based on medical imaging of the primate TMC joint using a unique sample of eight gibbons and seven macaques. These analyses are further supported by detailed dissection of the surrounding ligaments.ResultsThe data demonstrate distinct differences in TMC joint mobility between gibbons and macaques, with wide ranges of motion in the gibbon TMC joint and restricted movement in macaques. Furthermore, the dissections show little dissimilarity in ligament anatomy that could be associated with the differences in TMC joint capabilities.ConclusionWe conclude that gibbons possess a highly mobile TMC joint and the ball‐and‐socket morphology allows for large ranges of motion. This type of morphology, however, does not offer much inherent stabilization. Lack of structural joint reinforcement suggests that gibbons may have difficulty in performing any type of power grasp with high loads. Macaques, on the other hand, are shown to have a considerably reinforced TMC joint, which is likely related to the habitual loading of the thumb during locomotion.
Functional Characterization and Protein Engineering of a Triterpene 3‐/6‐/2′‐O‐Glycosyltransferase Reveal a Conserved Residue Critical for the Regiospecificity
Authors: Zhang Meng , Yi Yang , Gao Bai‐Han , Su Hui‐Fei , Bao Yang‐Oujie , Shi Xiao‐Meng , Wang Hai‐Dong , Li Fu‐Dong , Ye Min , Qiao Xue 
Published: December 2021

AbstractEngineering the function of triterpene glucosyltransferases (GTs) is challenging due to the large size of the sugar acceptors. In this work, we identified a multifunctional glycosyltransferase AmGT8 catalyzing triterpene 3‐/6‐/2′‐O‐glycosylation from the medicinal plantAstragalus membranaceus. To engineer its regiospecificity, a small mutant library was built based on semi‐rational design. Variants A394F, A394D, and T131V were found to catalyze specific 6‐O, 3‐O, and 2′‐Oglycosylation, respectively. The origin of regioselectivity of AmGT8 and its A394F variant was studied by molecular dynamics and hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry. Residue 394 is highly conserved as A/G and is critical for the regiospecificity of theC‐ andO‐GTs TcCGT1 and GuGT10/14. Finally, astragalosides III and IV were synthesized by mutants A394F, T131V and P192E. This work reports biocatalysts for saponin synthesis and gives new insights into protein engineering of regioselectivity in plant GTs.
A Lanthanum Ammonium Sulfate Double Salt with a Strong SHG Response and Wide Deep‐UV Transparency
Authors: Wu Chao , Jiang Xingxing , Hu Yilei , Jiang Chunbo , Wu Tianhui , Lin Zheshuai , Huang Zhipeng , Humphrey Mark G. , Zhang Chi 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe targeted synthesis of deep‐ultraviolet (deep‐UV) nonlinear optical (NLO) materials, especially those with non‐π‐conjugated sulfates, has experienced considerable difficulties due to the need to reconcile the oft‐competing requirements for deep‐UV transparency and strong second‐harmonic generation (SHG). We report herein the designed synthesis of the first rare‐earth metal‐based deep‐UV sulfate La(NH4)(SO4)2 by a double‐salt strategy involving introduction of complementary cations, together with optical studies that reveal a short‐wavelength deep‐UV absorption edge (below 190 nm) and the strongest SHG response among deep‐UV NLO sulfates (2.4×KDP). Theoretical calculations and crystal structure analysis suggest that the excellent balance between SHG response and deep‐UV transparency can be attributed to a synergistic interaction of the hetero‐cations La3+ and [NH4]+, which optimize alignment of the [SO4] tetrahedra and highly polarizable [LaO8] polyhedra.
Construction, expression, purification, characterization, and structural analysis of microbial transglutaminase variants
Authors: Song Xiaoping , Sheng Hefang , Zhou Yueqiao , Yu Yin , He Yingjiao , Wang Zihan 
Published: December 2021

AbstractMicrobial transglutaminase (MTG, EC 2.3.2.13) derived from Streptomyces mobaraensis is widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industry because of its ability to synthesize isopeptide bonds between the proteinogenic side chains of glutamine and lysine. The half‐life (t1/2) of the activated wild‐type enzyme at 60°C is 2 min. To improve the activity and thermostability of MTG for higher temperature application, three variants (Mut1, Mut2, and Mut3) were obtained by combining key amino acid mutations on the basis of previous research results. The best variant Mut2 with a specific combination of five of seven substitutions (S2P–S23V–Y24N–R215A–H289Y) shows a 10‐fold increased half‐life at 60°C (t1/2 = 27.6 min), and a 2.4‐fold increased specific enzyme activity (39.3 U/mg). As measured by circular dichroism, the curve of Mut2 was basically the same as that of MTG‐WT. The structural simulation of Mut2 shows that the overall structure is discoid with a crack, but the crack openings are wider than that of MTG‐WT. Furthermore, structural analysis of Mut2 showed that there were seven hydrogen bonds and one π‐anion interaction between Mut2 and its adjacent amino acids, and the number of hydrogen bonds was one more than that of MTG‐WT (six hydrogen bonds).
A highly selective fluorescent sensor for Cu2+ based on naphthalimide containing aza‐crown ether
Authors: Jeon Sumin , Lee Seongman , Choi Yeonghwan , Kim Mi‐Ra , Lee Songyi 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe development of a fluorogenic chemosensors with high sensitivity for copper ion (Cu2+) has been receiving great attention in recent years because of their potential application in clinical biochemistry and the environment studies. In the present study, we designed and synthesized a fluorescent probe, Np‐azaCE, with 1,8‐naphthalimides as a core structure and 1,4‐diaza‐9‐crown‐3‐ether as a copper ion tweeze, which showed selective and sensitive fluorometric change upon addition of a copper ion. The Np‐azaCE chemosensor was highly selective for Cu2+ over the other metal ions with fluorescent quenching. Finally, the Cu2+ detection limit and job's plot of Np‐azaCE were calculated using UV–visible spectrophotometer and fluorescence spectrophotometer.
Maturity‐onset diabetes of the young (MODY) due to PDX1 mutation in a sib‐pair diabetes family from Qatar
Authors: Haris Basma , Mohammed Idris , Syed Najeeb , Fakhro Khalid , Hussain Khalid 
Published: December 2021

AbstractMaturity‐onset diabetes of young (MODY) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder that causes insulin deficiency without autoimmunity. We present the first family with pancreatic duodenal homeobox 1 (PDX1) mutation causing diabetes from Qatar. Routine genetic screening of all antibody‐negative diabetic patients with diabetes should be offered to avoid misdiagnosis.
A rare giant gastric trichobezoar in a young female patient: Case report and review of the literature
Authors: Delimpaltadaki Dimitra G. , Gkionis Ioannis G. , Flamourakis Mathaios E. , Strehle Andreas F. , Bachlitzanakis Emmanouil N. , Giakoumakis Michail I. , Christodoulakis Manousos S. , Spiridakis Konstantinos G. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractA bezoar is an aggregate of undigested foreign materials that accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract and may cause serious symptoms or even life‐threatening complications. Trichobezoars, a subtype of bezoars, are a rare condition usually occurring in females with psychiatric disorders, with Rapunzel syndrome being an uncommon form of trichobezoar.
Diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma initially presenting with peritoneal dissemination
Authors: Hirata Risa , Tago Masaki , Tokushima Yoshinori 
Published: December 2021

AbstractA 62‐year‐old woman with a severely distended abdomen and no palpable superficial lymph nodes visited the hospital. Computed tomography with contrast enhancement revealed multiple fused and homogeneously contrasting masses filling the abdominal cavity. She was diagnosed with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma by ultrasound‐guided needle biopsy performed on admission.
µCT‐Based Topography Analysis of Inaccessible Surfaces Exemplified by a Biofouling‐Covered Plastic
Authors: Bittner Florian , Endres Hans‐Josef 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe measurement of surface topographies is usually restricted to surfaces that are directly accessible to tactile or optical sensing. With this paper, the application of micro‐computed tomography to measure characteristics of surfaces that are covered by solid films and thus not directly accessible is demonstrated. The method is first validated by comparative measurements of a plastic sample with µCT and conventional optical profilometry. Afterwards, the µCT‐based method is successfully applied to a polyhydroxybutyrate plastic sample covered by biofouling after exposure to marine environment, providing insight into the degradation processes.
High‐dose non‐sedating antihistamines are used insufficiently in chronic urticaria patients treated with omalizumab
Authors: Madsen Hanne , Mortz Charlotte G. , Bindslev‐Jensen Carsten , Reilev Mette , Hallas Jesper , Henriksen Daniel P. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe lifetime prevalence of chronic urticaria (CU) is 0.5%–1%. In some patients with CU, symptomatic control is not achieved with non‐sedating second‐generation H1 antihistamines (nsAH1) alone, even with quadrupled standard doses as recommended in international guidelines. In these cases, biological treatment with omalizumab can be added. Since omalizumab is expensive compared to antihistamines, lack of adherence to guidelines for high dose nsAH1 (up to four‐fold standard dose per day) may be associated with substantial unnecessary costs. The aim was to measure the use nsAH1 before and during omalizumab use for the first time in an omalizumab treated CU population.MethodsWe identified all Danish patients with CU who initiated omalizumab from March 2014 to December 2018 and evaluated new and ongoing nsAH1 treatments using the Danish nationwide registries.ResultsA total of 955 CU patients initiated treatment with omalizumab within the study period (median age 40 years [IQR 28–50], 74.5% females). During the 12 months prior to omalizumab initiation, 95.6% of the patients filled at least one prescription with nsAH1 at some point, while 84.7% filled at least one prescription during the three months before omalizumab. From 3 months before omalizumab initiation till 3 months after, the proportions of users of high‐dose nsAH1 was maximum 31.1%.ConclusionsOmalizumab was usually administered before sufficient nsAH1 treatment was tried. In despite of the labelling that omalizumab should be co‐administered with high dose nsAH1, this does not happen This may lead to substantial unnecessary costs.
Novel low‐power and stable memory cell design using hybrid CMOS and MTJ
Authors: Prasad Govind , Sahu Deeksha , Chandra Mandi Bipin , Ali Maifuz 
Published: December 2021

SummaryMemory is an essential component of any VLSI data storage system. Because of the shrinking of CMOS processing nodes, power consumption in conventional memory (SRAM and DRAM) increases. Traditional memory technologies also suffer several additional difficulties, such as limited scalability, low reliability, short data retention time, low durability, increased space, and latency, among others. As a result, new device technologies are critical for developing low‐power, high‐performance memory devices. Among the numerous developing nonvolatile (NV) memory technologies available today, STT‐MRAM is regarded as one of the most appealing and promising NV memory technologies for overcoming the limitations of traditional memories. STT‐MRAM is more efficient, quicker, NV, highly scalable, and readily integrated with CMOS technology. Because of the scalability of technology nodes below 45 nm, traditional STT‐MRAM cells have several difficulties, including high write power consumption, destructive read and write operation, prolonged write time, and so on. To address the issues associated with the writing operation of STT‐MRAM cells, this article presented an optimum STT‐MRAM cell design based on PMA‐MTJ. The write failure mitigation strategies are utilized to increase the proposed cell's write stability. A comparative analysis between conventional STT‐MRAM cell and the proposed cell is performed by concerning the write power consumption, write delay, and write stability. The experimental results indicate the performance superiority of the proposed cell architecture.
Flow cytometric analysis of myelodysplasia: Pre‐analytical and technical issues—Recommendations from the European LeukemiaNet
Authors: van der Velden Vincent H. J. , Preijers Frank , Johansson Ulrika , Westers Theresia M. , Dunlop Alan , Porwit Anna , Béné Marie C. , Valent Peter , te Marvelde Jeroen , Wagner‐Ballon Orianne , Oelschlaegel Uta , Saft Leonie , Kordasti Sharham , Ireland Robin , Cremers Eline , Alhan Canan , Duetz Carolien , Hobo Willemijn , Chapuis Nicolas , Fontenay Michaela , Bettelheim Peter , Eidenshink‐Brodersen Lisa , Font Patricia , Loken Michael R. , Matarraz Sergio , Ogata Kiyoyuki , Orfao Alberto , Psarra Katherina , Subirá Dolores , Wells Denise A. , Della Porta Matteo G. , Burbury Kate , Bellos Frauke , Weiß Elisabeth , Kern Wolfgang , van de Loosdrecht Arjan 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundFlow cytometry (FCM) aids the diagnosis and prognostic stratification of patients with suspected or confirmed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Over the past few years, significant progress has been made in the FCM field concerning technical issues (including software and hardware) and pre‐analytical procedures.MethodsRecommendations are made based on the data and expert discussions generated from 13 yearly meetings of the European LeukemiaNet international MDS Flow working group.ResultsWe report here on the experiences and recommendations concerning (1) the optimal methods of sample processing and handling, (2) antibody panels and fluorochromes, and (3) current hardware technologies.ConclusionsThese recommendations will support and facilitate the appropriate application of FCM assays in the diagnostic workup of MDS patients. Further standardization and harmonization will be required to integrate FCM in MDS diagnostic evaluations in daily practice.
Recent applications of phosphodiesterase (PDE5) inhibition assays for detecting adulterated sexual enhancement products
Authors: Santillo Michael F. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractConsumer products marketed for sexual enhancement are frequently adulterated with erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs and analogs; consuming these undisclosed adulterants can pose significant health hazards. Although ED drugs/analogs have unpredictable and diverse structures that pose challenges for detecting them, they all share the ability to inhibit phosphodiesterase‐5 (PDE5) activity, a pharmacological mechanism responsible for their effects. Consequently, several PDE5 inhibition assays have been recently applied as screening methods to detect ED drug/analogs in products. Here, the successes and challenges are highlighted for screening sexual enhancement products by PDE5 inhibition assays.
Of wolves and bears: Seasonal drivers of interference and exploitation competition between apex predators
Authors: Tallian Aimee , Ordiz Andrés , Metz Matthew C. , Zimmermann Barbara , Wikenros Camilla , Smith Douglas W. , Stahler Daniel R. , Wabakken Petter , Swenson Jon E. , Sand Håkan , Kindberg Jonas 
Published: December 2021

AbstractCompetition between apex predators can alter the strength of top‐down forcing, yet we know little about the behavioral mechanisms that drive competition in multipredator ecosystems. Interactions between predators can be synergistic (facilitative) or antagonistic (inhibitive), both of which are widespread in nature, vary in strength between species and across space and time, and affect predation patterns and predator–prey dynamics. Recent research has suggested that gray wolf (Canis lupus) kill rates decrease where they are sympatric with brown bears (Ursus arctos), however, the mechanisms behind this pattern remain unknown. We used data from two long‐term research projects in Scandinavia (Europe) and Yellowstone National Park (North America) to test the role of interference and exploitation competition from bears on wolf predatory behavior, where altered wolf handling and search time of prey in the presence of bears are indicative of interference and exploitation competition, respectively. Our results suggest the mechanisms driving competition between bears and wolves were dependent on the season and study system. During spring in Scandinavia, interference competition was the primary mechanism driving decreased kill rates for wolves sympatric with bears; handling time increased, but search time did not. In summer, however, when both bear and wolf predation focused on neonate moose, the behavioral mechanism switched to exploitation competition; search time increased, but handling time did not. Alternartively, interference competition did affect wolf predation dynamics in Yellowstone during summer, where wolves prey more evenly on neonate and adult ungulates. Here, bear presence at a carcass increased the amount of time wolves spent at carcasses of all sizes and wolf handling time for small prey, but decreased handling time for the largest prey. Wolves facilitate scavenging opportunities for bears, however, bears alter wolf predatory behavior via multiple pathways and are primarily antagonistic to wolves. Our study helps to clarify the behavioral mechanisms driving competition between apex predators, illustrating how interspecific interactions can manifest into population‐level predation patterns.
Maintenance of high diversity in mechanistic forest dynamics models of competition for light
Authors: Detto Matteo , Levine Jonathan M. , Pacala Stephen W. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractAlthough early theoretical work suggests that competition for light erodes successional diversity in forests, verbal models and recent numerical work with complex mechanistic forest simulators suggest that disturbance in such systems can maintain successional diversity. Nonetheless, if and how allocation trade‐offs between competitors interact with disturbance to maintain high diversity in successional systems remains poorly understood. Here, using mechanistic and analytically tractable models, we show that a theoretically unlimited number of coexisting species can be maintained by allocational trade‐offs such as investing in light‐harvesting organs versus height growth, investing in reproduction versus growth or survival versus growth. The models describe the successional dynamics of a forest composed of many patches subjected to random or periodic disturbance, and are consistent with physiologically mechanistic terrestrial ecosystem models, including the terrestrial components of recent Earth System Models. We show that coexistence arises in our models because species specialize in the successional time they best exploit the light environment and convert resources into seeds or contribute to advance regeneration. We also show that our results are relevant to non‐forested ecosystems by demonstrating the emergence of similar dynamics in a mechanistic model of competition for light among annual plant species. Finally, we show that coexistence in our models is relatively robust to the introduction of intraspecific variability that weakens the competitive hierarchy caused by asymmetric competition for light.