bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cedarwood Oil as a Substitute for Xylene in Histopathological Laboratories – A Systematic Review
Authors: Viswasini R. Deepa , Ramani Pratibha , Ramasubramanian Abhilasha 
Published: October 2021

Background: Xylene is an aromatic hydrocarbon that's extensively used as a deparaffinizing agent, and it's far extraordinarily biohazardous. It is proven to be the best chemical to be used in histopathological laboratories in spite of its carcinogenic potential.
Aim: The aim of this study is to do a systematic review on the efficacy of cedarwood oil as clearing agent and deparaffinizing agent alternative to xylene in histopathological laboratories.
Materials and Methods: The articles for this review were searched from PubMed, Google Scholar, Google search and manual search using the keywords cedarwood oil, natural substitute, natural alternative and xylene. The final of 3 articles were included in the review which compared the efficacy of cedarwood oil as a natural alternative with the gold standard xylene. Once the articles to be reviewed were finalized, data was collected, tabulated and was verified and interpreted.
Results: Three articles included in this review showed considerable and acceptable results with cedarwood oil as clearing and deparaffinizing agent.
Conclusion: Merits and demerits are equally found in both the reagents but compromising the time and cost in terms of cedarwood oil for health benefits hold good for the pathologists but bad for the patients. In case of xylene, compromising the health benefits of workers which results in quicker diagnosis hold good for the patients but not for the pathologists. Finally storage and disposal of these two reagents still remains questionable.
Investigating the Relationship between the Production Characteristics and Quality of Concrete Produced in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria
Authors: Ikechukwu Uche Felix , Emeka Opara Hyginus 
Published: October 2021

Quality of concrete explains considerably the state of affairs involved in the production of concrete in a particular area. The antecedents of the production process to a greater extent therefore have a way of predicting the expected quality of a product. Hence, the degree of relationship between the quality of concrete and its production characteristics is determined in the study. Field work adopted in the study comprises activity sampling and ex post facto experimental designs. These two different research designs were applied to obtain data for performance assessment of activities involved in the production procedures and laboratory tests of concrete produced at various sites in the study area respectively. The corresponding data obtained in the field work are in ordinance and ratio scales of measurement. Regression analysis was used to establish a casual relationship between the two variables - performance level of the production characteristics (x) and the compressive strength (y) of the concrete at various sites in the study area. A model relationship of simple regression analysis for the dependent and independent variables is established. Finding reveals that the better the ranking of sites in compliance with the standard practice of production characteristics, the higher the compressive strength property of the concrete produced on site; hence the linear relationship. The coefficient of determination shows that 93% of changes in the strength property of concrete are caused by the production characteristics. Although the highest value of compressive strength obtained as 10.80 N/mm2 goes with the best state of affairs of the production characteristics in the study, it does not meet the minimum stipulated specification for the strength. Hence, other critical factors such as; aggregate type, and mix design should be considered for desired quality of concrete in the study area. Besides, enforcement of uniformity in production process as standard practice by all the firms should as a matter of urgency be implemented formally by the government in the state for improved quality of concrete in general.
Bimetallic Janus Nanocrystals: Syntheses and Applications
Authors: Qiu Jichuan , Nguyen Quynh N. , Lyu Zhiheng , Wang Qiuxiang , Xia Younan 
Published: October 2021

AbstractBimetallic Janus nanocrystals have received considerable interest in recent years owing to their unique properties and niche applications. The side‐by‐side distribution of two distinct metals provides a flexible platform for tailoring the optical and catalytic properties of nanocrystals. First, a brief introduction to the structural features of bimetallic Janus nanocrystals, followed by an extensive discussion of the synthetic approaches, is given. The strategies and experimental controls for achieving the Janus structure, as well as the mechanistic understandings, are specifically discussed. Then, a number of intriguing properties and applications enabled by the Janus nanocrystals are highlighted. Finally, this article is concluded with future directions and outlooks with respect to both syntheses and applications of this new class of functional nanomaterials.
Bioinspired and Biomimetic Delivery Platforms for Cancer Vaccines
Authors: Liu Jing , Liew Si Si , Wang Jun , Pu Kanyi 
Published: October 2021

AbstractCancer vaccines aim at eliciting tumor‐specific responses for the immune system to identify and eradicate malignant tumor cells while sparing the normal tissues. Furthermore, cancer vaccines can potentially induce long‐term immunological memory for antitumor responses, preventing metastasis and cancer recurrence, thus presenting an attractive treatment option in cancer immunotherapy. However, clinical efficacy of cancer vaccines has remained low due to longstanding challenges, such as poor immunogenicity, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, tumor heterogeneity, inappropriate immune tolerance, and systemic toxicity. Recently, bioinspired materials and biomimetic technologies have emerged to play a part in reshaping the field of cancer nanomedicine. By mimicking desirable chemical and biological properties in nature, bioinspired engineering of cancer vaccine delivery platforms can effectively transport therapeutic cargos to tumor sites, amplify antigen and adjuvant bioactivities, and enable spatiotemporal control and on‐demand immunoactivation. As such, integration of biomimetic designs into delivery platforms for cancer vaccines can enhance efficacy while retaining good safety profiles, which contributes to expediting the clinical translation of cancer vaccines. Recent advances in bioinspired delivery platforms for cancer vaccines, existing obstacles faced, as well as insights and future directions for the field are discussed here.
A Facile Strategy of Boosting Photothermal Conversion Efficiency through State Transformation for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Li Jie , Wang Jianxing , Zhang Jianyu , Han Ting , Hu Xiyao , Lee Michelle M. S. , Wang Dong , Tang Ben Zhong 
Published: October 2021

AbstractImproving photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE) is critical to facilitate therapeutic performance during photothermal therapy (PTT). However, current strategies of prompting PCE always involve complex synthesis or modification of photothermal agents, thereby significantly inhibiting the practical applications and fundamental understanding of photothermal conversion. A facile strategy is herein present for boosting PCE by transforming photothermal agents from aggregated state to dispersed state. Compared to aggregated state, the developed photothermal agents with semiconducting nature can rotate freely in dispersed state, which allows for an efficient nonradiative dissipation through twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) effect, consequentially offering excellent photothermal performance. Noteworthy, the state transformation can be achieved by virtue of releasing photothermal molecules from nanoparticles on the basis of a pH‐responsive polymer nanocarrier, and the PCE is elevated from 43% to 60% upon changing the pH values from 7.4 to 5.0. Moreover, the nanoparticle disassembly and state transformation behaviors can also smoothly proceed in lysosome of cancer cells, demonstrating a distinct photothermal therapeutic performance for cancer ablation. It is hoped that this strategy of transforming state to boost PCE would be a new platform for practical applications of PTT technique.
Over 21% Efficiency Stable 2D Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Shao Ming , Bie Tong , Yang Lvpeng , Gao Yerun , Jin Xing , He Feng , Zheng Nan , Yu Yu , Zhang Xinliang 
Published: October 2021

AbstractOwing to their insufficient light absorption and charge transport, 2D Ruddlesden–Popper (RP) perovskites show relatively low efficiency. In this work, methylammonium (MA), formamidinum (FA), and FA/MA mixed 2D perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are fabricated. Incorporating FA cations extends the absorption range and enhances the light absorption. Optical spectroscopy shows that FA cations substantially increase the portion of 3D‐like phase to 2D phases, and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) studies reveal that FA‐based 2D perovskite possesses an oblique crystal orientation. Nevertheless, the ultrafast interphase charge transfer results in an extremely long carrier‐diffusion length (≈1.98 µm). Also, chloride additives effectively suppress the yellow δ‐phase formation of pure FA‐based 2D PSCs. As a result, both FA/MA mixed and pure FA‐based 2D PSCs exhibit a greatly enhanced power conversion efficiency (PCE) over 20%. Specifically, the pure FA‐based 2D PSCs achieve a record PCE of 21.07% (certified at 20%), which is the highest efficiency for low‐dimensional PSCs (n ≤ 10) reported to date. Importantly, the FA‐based 2D PSCs retain 97% of their initial efficiency at 85 °C persistent heating after 1500 h. The results unambiguously demonstrate that pure‐FA‐based 2D PSCs are promising for achieving comparable efficiency to 3D perovskites, along with a better device stability.
Genetic architecture of divergence: the selfing syndrome in Ipomoea lacunosa
Authors: Rifkin Joanna L. , Cao Gongyuan , Rausher Mark D. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractPremiseHighly selfing plant species frequently display a distinctive suite of traits termed the selfing syndrome. Here we tested the hypothesis that these traits are grouped into correlated evolutionary modules and determined the degree of independence between such modules.MethodsWe evaluated phenotypic correlations and QTL overlaps in F2 offspring of a cross between the morning glories Ipomoea lacunosa and I. cordatotriloba and investigated how traits clustered into modules at both the phenotypic and genetic level. We then compared our findings to other QTL studies of the selfing syndrome.ResultsIn the I. lacunosa selfing syndrome, traits grouped into modules that displayed correlated evolution within but not between modules. QTL overlap predicted phenotypic correlations, and QTLs affecting the same trait module were significantly physically clustered in the genome. The genetic architecture of the selfing syndrome varied across systems, but the pattern of stronger within‐ than between‐module correlation was widespread.ConclusionsThe genetic architecture we observe in the selfing syndrome is consistent with a growing understanding of floral morphological integration achieved via pleiotropy in clustered traits. This view of floral evolution is consistent with resource limitation or predation driving the evolution of the selfing syndrome, but invites further research into both the selective causes of the selfing syndrome and how genetic architecture itself evolves in response to changes in mating system.
Heat transfer enhancement using elliptical fin microchannel
Authors: Pallikonda Mahesh , Kupireddi Kiran Kumar , Balasubramanian Karthik , V.P Chandramohan , Lee Poh Seng , Kong Chui Chee 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThermal performance and fluid flow characteristics of elliptical fin microchannel are numerically investigated by varying fin orientation in the laminar flow region. Six distinctly oriented elliptical fins ranging 0°–12° along channel length are numerically examined for inlet Reynolds number (Re) ranging 174–748. The same is compared with the conventional straight fin microchannel. It is found that continuous straight fin when replaced with a series of short length elliptical fins leads to re‐establishment of the thermal boundary layer and results in thinning of boundary layer thickness. By varying the fin angle, fluid is directed from primary channel to secondary channel which finally flows into the primary channel. These secondary flows disrupt the boundary layer and show better fluid mixing in the channel. Among all the orientations considered, elliptical fin oriented at 2° yields better cooling performance ensuing an optimum average Nusselt number enhancement of 116% (7.68–16.64) with a very less pressure penalty (15%). Besides this, the rise in wall temperature is reduced by 25.39% in comparison to straight fin microchannel.
Dazed and confused: Behavioural constraints impose major challenges to fish passage in the neotropics
Authors: Lopes João de Magalhães , Alves Carlos Bernardo Mascarenhas , Peressin Alexandre , Pompeu Paulo Santos 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

The role of fish translocation upstream of dams, for the conservation of migratory species, is controversial. An important but still unaddressed question is whether migratory patterns are affected, after the translocation events, by a hydropower dam. In existing dams, a useful means to test this might be to compare the behaviour of translocated fish with those in undammed river segments in the same region.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of fish translocation in promoting access to spawning areas through a behavioural approach using Prochilodus costatus as a study model in the São Francisco River, south‐east Brazil.
The reservoir acted as a barrier to the dispersal of translocated individuals with only a small fraction of the population able to locate lotic stretches in the tributaries. Individuals translocated to undammed stretches of river upstream of the reservoir exhibited movement behaviour that was markedly different from that of individuals native to this region. Translocated individuals mainly displayed an erratic pattern of movement between upstream and downstream stretches of river with no specific route. In contrast, local individuals made long‐distance upstream spawning migrations and downstream return migrations to feeding sites during specific periods of the year.
The results indicate that translocating individuals upstream of Três Marias dam tends to be ineffective for the conservation of P. costatus in the region. The study showed that the behaviour of translocated individuals, a largely neglected factor for the tropical region, may be an additional barrier to the success of conservation programmes based on fish passage systems. For the population studied, the maintenance of a free‐flowing stretch where fish are able to complete their life cycle is a more viable and effective alternative for conservation.
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss in a post‐COVID‐19 patient
Authors: Pokharel Santoshi , Tamang Sumita , Pokharel Shankar , Mahaseth Rajeev Kumar 
Published: October 2021

AbstractA detailed history and diagnostic evaluation for recent or past COVID‐19 infection is vital in patients presenting with Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL) since SSNHL could be a sequelae of COVID‐19 and timely diagnosis and intervention could significantly improve hearing and quality of life.
Ventricular voltage‐gated ion channels: Detection, characteristics, mechanisms, and drug safety evaluation
Authors: Chen Lulan , He Yue , Wang Xiangdong , Ge Junbo , Li Hua 
Published: October 2021

AbstractCardiac voltage‐gated ion channels (VGICs) play critical roles in mediating cardiac electrophysiological signals, such as action potentials, to maintain normal heart excitability and contraction. Inherited or acquired alterations in the structure, expression, or function of VGICs, as well as VGIC‐related side effects of pharmaceutical drug delivery can result in abnormal cellular electrophysiological processes that induce life‐threatening cardiac arrhythmias or even sudden cardiac death. Hence, to reduce possible heart‐related risks, VGICs must be acknowledged as important targets in drug discovery and safety studies related to cardiac disease. In this review, we first summarize the development and application of electrophysiological techniques that are employed in cardiac VGIC studies alone or in combination with other techniques such as cryoelectron microscopy, optical imaging and optogenetics. Subsequently, we describe the characteristics, structure, mechanisms, and functions of various well‐studied VGICs in ventricular myocytes and analyze their roles in and contributions to both physiological cardiac excitability and inherited cardiac diseases. Finally, we address the implications of the structure and function of ventricular VGICs for drug safety evaluation. In summary, multidisciplinary studies on VGICs help researchers discover potential targets of VGICs and novel VGICs in heart, enrich their knowledge of the properties and functions, determine the operation mechanisms of pathological VGICs, and introduce groundbreaking trends in drug therapy strategies, and drug safety evaluation.
Targeting miR‐126 disrupts maintenance of myelodysplastic syndrome stem and progenitor cells
Authors: Wang Huafeng , Sun Jie , Zhang Bin , Zhao Dandan , Tong Hongyan , Wu Herman , Li Xia , Luo Yingwan , Dong Dan , Yao Yiyi , McDonald Tinisha , Stein Anthony S. , Al Malki Monzr M. , Pichiorri Flavia , Carlesso Nadia , Kuo Ya‐Huei , Marcucci Guido , Li Ling , Jin Jie 
Published: October 2021

AbstractBackgroundMyelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) arises from a rare population of aberrant hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). These cells are relatively quiescent and therefore treatment resistant. Understanding mechanisms underlying their maintenance is critical for effective MDS treatment.MethodsWe evaluated microRNA‐126 (miR‐126) levels in MDS patients’ sample and in a NUP98‐HOXD13 (NHD13) murine MDS model along with their normal controls and defined its role in MDS HSPCs’ maintenance by inhibiting miR‐126 expression in vitro and in vivo. Identification of miR‐126 effectors was conducted using biotinylated miR‐126 pulldown coupled with transcriptome analysis. We also tested the therapeutic activity of our anti‐miR‐126 oligodeoxynucleotide (miRisten) in human MDS xenografts and murine MDS models.ResultsmiR‐126 levels were higher in bone marrow mononuclear cells from MDS patients and NHD13 mice relative to their respective normal controls (P < 0.001). Genetic deletion of miR‐126 in NHD13 mice decreased quiescence and self‐renewal capacity of MDS HSPCs, and alleviated MDS symptoms of NHD13 mice. Ex vivo exposure to miRisten increased cell cycling, reduced colony‐forming capacity, and enhanced apoptosis in human MDS HSPCs, but spared normal human HSPCs. In vivo miRisten administration partially reversed pancytopenia in NHD13 mice and blocked the leukemic transformation (combination group vs DAC group, P < 0.0001). Mechanistically, we identified the non‐coding RNA PTTG3P as a novel miR‐126 target. Lower PTTG3P levels were associated with a shorter overall survival in MDS patients.ConclusionsMiR‐126 plays crucial roles in MDS HSPC maintenance. Therapeutic targeting of miR‐126 is a potentially novel approach in MDS.
Using plant traits to understand the contribution of biodiversity effects to annual crop community productivity
Authors: Engbersen Nadine , Stefan Laura , Brooker Rob W. , Schöb Christian 
Published: October 2021

AbstractIncreasing biodiversity generally enhances productivity through selection and complementarity effects not only in natural, but also in agricultural, systems. However, the quest to explain why diverse cropping systems are more productive than monocultures remains a central goal in agricultural science. In a mesocosm experiment, we constructed monocultures, two‐ and four‐species mixtures from eight crop species with or without fertilizer and both in temperate Switzerland and dry, Mediterranean Spain. We measured physical factors and plant traits and related these in structural equation models to selection and complementarity effects to explain seed yield differences between monocultures and mixtures. Increased crop diversity increased seed yield in Switzerland. This positive biodiversity effect was driven to almost the same extent by selection and complementarity effects, which increased with plant height and specific leaf area (SLA), respectively. Also, ecological processes driving seed yield increases from monocultures to mixtures differed from those responsible for seed yield increases through the diversification of mixtures from two to four species. Whereas selection effects were mainly driven by one species, complementarity effects were linked to larger leaf area per unit leaf weight. Seed yield increases due to mixture diversification were driven only by complementarity effects and were not mediated through the measured traits, suggesting that ecological processes beyond those measured in this study were responsible for positive diversity effects on yield beyond two‐species mixtures. By understanding the drivers of positive biodiversity–productivity relationships, we can improve our ability to predict species combinations that enhance ecosystem functioning and can promote sustainable agricultural production.
Can diet composition estimates using stable isotope analysis of feathers predict growth and condition in nestling mountain bluebirds (Sialia currucoides)?
Authors: White Aija F. , Dawson Russell D. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractInsectivorous birds breeding in seasonal environments provision their dependent young during periods when prey diversity and abundance vary. Consequently, the composition and nutritional value of diets parents feed to their offspring may differ within and among broods, potentially affecting the condition of nestlings. In a population of mountain bluebirds (Sialia currucoides), we used two methods to estimate diet composition for individual nestlings: direct observation of provisioning using video recordings at 5 and 9 days post‐hatch, and stable isotopes of the δ13C and δ15N in nestling feathers and prey followed by analysis with mixing models. We determined the macronutrient content (% fat and lean mass) and estimated the metabolized energy from each type of prey. We evaluated whether different methods of estimating diet composition would produce similar results, and whether the types of prey nestlings ate at one or both ages affected their morphology, growth rates, or blood ketone concentration. We found that bluebirds fed their young 5 main types of prey: beetles, cicadas, grasshoppers, insect larvae, and spiders. Both observational and mixing model estimates of diet composition indicated that larvae are traded off with grasshoppers and that fewer larvae are provided to nestlings as the season progresses. In evaluating how diet influences individual growth and condition, estimates from direct observations had greater explanatory power than those from mixing models, indicating that diets rich in the most energy‐dense prey (greatest fat content; cicadas and larvae) were associated with larger size and higher body condition, and faster rate of mass gain and growth of tarsus. Lower value prey had more limited, specific effects on nestlings, but may still be important dietary components. While isotopic methods produced estimates of diet composition that were generally informative, when applied to explain the growth and condition of nestlings they proved less useful.