bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Heritage and Conservation of Nottingham Lace through Collaboration
Authors: Briggs-Goode Amanda , Outtram Tonya , Dean Deborah 
Published: May 2021

Nottingham is both the birthplace and the global centre of the machine-made lace industry and is home to the Nationally Designated collection of machine-made lace and machinery. In 2017 Lace Unravelled was launched with the aim to conserve the collection and connect with local ‘industry mentors’ to learn more about its objects. This led to wider collaborations and the exhibition ‘Lace Unarchived’, held at Nottingham Trent University intended to reveal the legacy of the art school, established in 1843, and its impact on the generations of lace designers it educated. This paper proposes to explore the project’s achievements, what it revealed, and what it has meant for the interpretation and understanding of the collection, and wider understanding of ‘Nottingham Lace’.
Native to designed: microbial α-amylases for industrial applications
Authors: Lim Si Jie , Oslan Siti Nurbaya 
Published: May 2021

Backgroundα-amylases catalyze the endo-hydrolysis of α-1,4-D-glycosidic bonds in starch into smaller moieties. While industrial processes are usually performed at harsh conditions, α-amylases from mainly the bacteria, fungi and yeasts are preferred for their stabilities (thermal, pH and oxidative) and specificities (substrate and product). Microbial α-amylases can be purified and characterized for industrial applications. While exploring novel enzymes with these properties in the nature is time-costly, the advancements in protein engineering techniques including rational design, directed evolution and others have privileged their modifications to exhibit industrially ideal traits. However, the commentary on the strategies and preferably mutated residues are lacking, hindering the design of new mutants especially for enhanced substrate specificity and oxidative stability. Thus, our review ensures wider accessibility of the previously reported experimental findings to facilitate the future engineering work.Survey methodology and objectivesA traditional review approach was taken to focus on the engineering of microbial α-amylases to enhance industrially favoured characteristics. The action mechanisms of α- and β-amylases were compared to avoid any bias in the research background. This review aimed to discuss the advances in modifying microbial α-amylases via protein engineering to achieve longer half-life in high temperature, improved resistance (acidic, alkaline and oxidative) and enhanced specificities (substrate and product). Captivating results were discussed in depth, including the extended half-life at 100 °C, pH 3.5 and 10, 1.8 M hydrogen peroxide as well as enhanced substrate (65.3%) and product (42.4%) specificities. These shed light to the future microbial α-amylase engineering in achieving paramount biochemical traits ameliorations to apt in the industries.ConclusionsMicrobial α-amylases can be tailored for specific industrial applications through protein engineering (rational design and directed evolution). While the critical mutation points are dependent on respective enzymes, formation of disulfide bridge between cysteine residues after mutations is crucial for elevated thermostability. Amino acids conversion to basic residues was reported for enhanced acidic resistance while hydrophobic interaction resulted from mutated hydrophobic residues in carbohydrate-binding module or surface-binding sites is pivotal for improved substrate specificity. Substitution of oxidation-prone methionine residues with non-polar residues increases the enzyme oxidative stability. Hence, this review provides conceptual advances for the future microbial α-amylases designs to exhibit industrially significant characteristics. However, more attention is needed to enhance substrate specificity and oxidative stability since they are least reported.
Microsatellite instability and Epstein-Barr virus combined with PD-L1 could serve as a potential strategy for predicting the prognosis and efficacy of postoperative chemotherapy in gastric cancer
Authors: Yang Na , Wu Yanhua , Jin Meishan , Jia Zhifang , Wang Yueqi , Cao Donghui , Qin Lili , Wang Xueying , Zheng Min , Cao Xueyuan , Jiang Jing 
Published: May 2021

Background
Microsatellite instability (MSI) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive molecular subtypes exhibit complex immune responses in gastric cancer (GC), and PD-L1 has emerged as a prognostic biomarker associated with the cancer immune microenvironment. This study aimed to determine the prognostic value of molecular subtypes and whether the addition of PD-L1 would accurately predict the prognosis and guide postoperative chemotherapy for GC patients.

Methods
We performed molecular subtyping of tissue microarray slides from 226 GC patients who were treated with radical gastrectomy. The MSI status and PD-L1 expression were evaluated through immunohistochemistry (IHC) and EBV status through situ hybridization. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was also performed on 50 cases to validate the accuracy of IHC in defining MSI status. Differences in overall survival (OS) were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression model.

Results
Among the 226 GC patients, 52 (23.2%) patients were classified as the MSI subtype, 11 (4.9%) were EBV+ subtype, and 161 (71.9%) were MSS (Microsatellite stable) /EBV− subtype according to TCGA analysis. Two patients were both positive for MSI and EBV infection. EBV+ cases showed higher PD-L1 positivity than MSI cases and MSS/EBV− cases (81.8% vs. 50.0% vs. 35.4%, P = 0.003). Compared with the non-MSS/EBV− (MSI or EBV+ cases) subgroup, GC patients with MSS/EBV− were associated with the worst outcomes (HR = 1.610, 95% CI [1.046–2.479], P = 0.031). MSS/EBV− GCs alone could benefit from postoperative chemotherapy (HR = 0.452, 95% CI [0.299–0.682], P < 0.001), and PD-L1-positive expression could also predict a better prognosis (HR = 0.612, 95% CI [0.389–0.962], P = 0.033) in this subgroup. Considering both chemotherapy efficacy and PD-L1 expression in the MSS/EBV− subgroup, chemotherapy could improve the prognosis for PD-L1-negative MSS/EBV− GCs (HR = 0.357, 95% CI [0.217–0.587], P < 0.001) but not PD-L1-positive MSS/EBV− GCs.

Conclusions
Molecular subtyping combined with PD-L1 expression could serve as a potential strategy to better predict prognosis and guide postoperative chemotherapy of GC patients.
Impact of Weed Management Practices on Yield Attributes, Economics and Phytotoxicity of Kharif Maize
Authors: Lavanya Y. , Srinivasan K. , Chinnamuthu C. R. , Arthanari P. Murali 
Published: May 2021

A field experiment was conducted during 2018 and 2019 at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Agriculture College and Research Institute, Coimbatore to study the impact of weed management practices on yield attributes, economics and phytotoxicity of kharif maize. Ten treatments were tested in randomized block design with three replications viz., pre emergence (PE) atrazine at 0.5 kg a.i. ha-1 fb hand weeding (HW) at 20 DAS, PE atrazine at 0.5 kg a.i. ha-1 fb power weeder (PW) at 20 DAS, PE atrazine at 0.5 kg a.i. ha-1 + pendimethalin at 1 kg a.i. ha-1 (Tank mix), PE atrazine at 0.5 kg a.i. ha-1 + pendimethalin at 1 kg a.i. ha-1 fb HW at 20 DAS, early post emergence (EPoE) topramezone at 25.2 g a.i. ha-1, PE atrazine at 0.5 kg a.i. ha-1 fb EPoE topramezone at 25.2 g a.i. ha-1, EPoE tembotrione at 122 g a.i. ha-1, PE atrazine 0.5 kg a.i. ha-1 fb EPoE tembotrione 122 g a.i. ha-1, hand weeding twice at 20 and 45 DAS and control (weedy check). Among the different weed management practices significantly higher yield attributes viz., cob length, cob girth, weight of cob, No. of grain rows cob-1, No. of grains cob-1, grain yield cob-1 was found with hand weeding twice at 20 and 45 DAS and it was at par with atrazine at 0.5 kg a.i. ha-1 as PE fb topramezone at 25.2 g a.i. ha-1 as EPoE and atrazine at 0.5 kg a.i. ha-1 as PE + tembotrione at 122 g a.i. ha-1 as EPoE. Maximum net return and B:C ratio were recorded under atrazine at 0.5 kg a.i. ha-1 as PE fb topramezone at 25.2 g a.i. ha-1 as EPoE followed by atrazine at 0.5 kg a.i. ha-1 as PE + tembotrione at 122 g a.i. ha-1 as EPoE. However, among the different herbicidal treatments used, all the herbicidal treatments were found to be safe to the maize crop without any caused phototoxic effect on maize during both the years of experimentation. Now-a-days, increased labour scarcity and costs are encouraging farmers to adopt labour and cost- saving options by using chemical method.
Building technique of the Theater at ancient Messene
Authors: Yoshitake Ryuichi 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThis paper reports and examines the building techniques of the recently excavated Messene Theater in Greece. In the Hellenistic period, both traditional building materials (porosand limestone) and methods (masonry, jointing, and transportation) were employed in the Messene Theater. The massive retaining wall of the auditorium and theskenothekewere built using limestone, but localporosstone was favored for use in the retaining wall of theparodosand other parts of the building. Traces of traditional joint and lifting techniques (dowels, clamps, lifting ropes, and lewis) have been observed. In the Roman imperial period, both Roman building materials (marble, granite, and brick) and local traditional masonry have been observed. The white and multi‐colored marble applied to thescaenaefronswas most likely delivered from quarries from both local and other provinces. Remarkably, the mason marks on the stone blocks of the Roman imperial period suggest a systematic modification by previous building materials. Similarly, the vaulting of the Roman scene building seems to have been built using cut‐stone voussoirs instead of fired‐brick. The observed building techniques of the Messene Theater suggest a conservative tendency in provincial Roman Greece.
Indicators Definition: Non Compensatory Methods
Authors: Ivaldi Enrico , Ciacci Andrea 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Talking about quantitative statistical methods, the difference between compensatory and noncompensatory methods is often debated in literature. The use of noncompensatory methods is increasing for how it concerns the analysis of multidimensional systems. The noncompensatory approach permits to overcome problems related to the nonsubstitutability of the selected indicators. This approach, inserted in a precise conceptual framework, allows to analyze a phenomenon in a less equivocal way.
However, it is not always clear when it is correct, from a theoretical point of view, to use a method of compensatory nature and what are the advantages and implications of applying a partially noncompensatory method. An attempt can be made to provide clear notions about the criteria for choosing partially noncompensatory methods.
Starting with the debate about compensatory and noncompensatory methods of analysis and their evolution over time in the first paragraph, in the second paragraph hints about noncompensatory applications to case studies are provided.
Tensors in Modern Statistical Learning
Authors: Sun Will Wei , Hao Botao , Li Lexin 
Published: May 2021

AbstractTensor learning is gaining increasing attention in recent years. This survey provides an overview of tensor analysis in modern statistical learning. It consists of four main topics, including tensor supervised learning, tensor unsupervised learning, tensor reinforcement learning, and tensor deep learning. This article emphasizes statistical models and properties as well as connections between tensors and other learning topics such as reinforcement learning and deep learning.
Lithiophilic MXene‐Guided Lithium Metal Nucleation and Growth Behavior
Authors: Ha Son , Kim Daesin , Lim Hyung‐Kyu , Koo Chong Min , Kim Seon Joon , Yun Young Soo 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe positive effects of a lithiophilic substrate on the electrochemical performance of lithium metal anodes are confirmed in several reports, while the understanding of lithiophilic substrate‐guided lithium metal nucleation and growth behavior is still insufficient. In this study, the effect of a lithiophilic surface on lithium metal nucleation and growth behaviors is investigated using a large‐area Ti3C2Tx MXene substrate with a large number of oxygen and fluorine dual heteroatoms. The use of the MXene substrate results in a high lithium‐ion concentration as well as the formation of uniform solid–electrolyte‐interface (SEI) layers on the lithiophilic surface. The solid–solid interface (MXene‐SEI layer) significantly affects the surface tension of the deposited lithium metal nuclei as well as the nucleation overpotential, resulting in the formation of uniformly dispersed lithium nanoparticles (≈10–20 nm in diameter) over the entire MXene surface. The primary lithium nanoparticles preferentially coalesce and agglomerate into larger secondary particles while retaining their primary particle shapes. Subsequently, they form close‐packed structures, resulting in a dense metal layer composed of particle‐by‐particle microstructures. This distinctive lithium metal deposition behavior leads to highly reversible cycling performance with high Columbic efficiencies > 99.0% and long cycle lives of over 1000 cycles.
An Overall Reaction Integrated with Highly Selective Oxidation of 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural and Efficient Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Xie Yanan , Zhou Zhaoyu , Yang Nianjun , Zhao Guohua 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThermodynamically favorable electrooxidation reactions of biomass derivatives integrated with hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) can simultaneously provide value‐added chemicals and hydrogen, and eventually meeting the need for clean and sustainable energy development. Herein, the integration of a six‐electron involved anodic half‐reaction‐selective electrooxidation of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural into 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) on a hierarchically layered double hydroxide (CoFe@NiFe) with a cathodic HER in a two‐chamber system is reported. The overall reaction reaches 38 mA cm−2 at 1.40 V and exhibits 100% selectivity to yield FDCA and a nearly 100% Faraday efficiency with hydrogen production of 901 µmol cm−2. Several operando techniques confirm that the trivalent nickel species in the CoFe@NiFe catalyst are mainly responsible for this 100%‐selective oxidation reaction. This integrated overall reaction is thus a new strategy to utilize cheap catalysts and biomass derivatives to simultaneously produce value‐added chemicals and sustainable energy materials, and eventually to solve current challenges of energy depletion and environmental pollution.
High Entropy Semiconductor AgMnGeSbTe4 with Desirable Thermoelectric Performance
Authors: Ma Zheng , Xu Tian , Li Wang , Cheng Yiming , Li Jinmeng , Zhang Dan , Jiang Qinghui , Luo Yubo , Yang Junyou 
Published: May 2021

AbstractA new p‐type high entropy semiconductor AgMnGeSbTe4 with a band gap of ≈0.28 eV is reported as a promising thermoelectric material. AgMnGeSbTe4 crystallizes in the rock‐salt NaCl structure with cations Ag, Mn, Ge, and Sb randomly disordered over the Na site. Thus, a strong lattice distortion forms from the large difference in the atomic radii of Ag, Mn, Ge, and Sb, resulting in a low lattice thermal conductivity of 0.54 W m−1 K−1 at 600 K. In addition, the AgMnGeSbTe4 exhibits a degenerate semiconductor behavior and a large average power factor of 10.36 µW cm−1 K−2 in the temperature range of 400–773 K. As a consequence, the AgMnGeSbTe4 has a peak figure of merit (ZT) of 1.05 at 773 K and a desirable average ZT value of 0.84 in the temperature range of 400–773 K. Moreover, the thermoelectric performance of AgMnGeSbTe4 can be further enhanced by precipitating of Ag8GeTe6, which acts as extra scatting centers for holes with low energy and phonons with medium wavelength. The simultaneous optimization in power factor and lattice thermal conductivity yields a peak ZT of 1.27 at 773 K and an average ZT of 0.92 (400–773 K) in AgMnGeSbTe4‐1 mol% Ag8GeTe6.
Spinning Beta Silks Requires Both pH Activation and Extensional Stress
Authors: Koeppel Andreas , Stehling Nicola , Rodenburg Cornelia , Holland Chris 
Published: May 2021

AbstractSynthetic silk production has undergone significant technological and commercial advances over the past 5 years, with fibers from most labs and companies now regularly matching the properties of natural silk by one metric or another. Yet the fundamental links between silk protein processing and performance remain largely unresolved and fiber optimization is commonly achieved through non‐natural methods. In an effort to address this challenge, data that closes this loop of processing and performance is presented by spinning a native silk feedstock ex vivo into a near‐native fiber using just two naturally occurring parameters; pH activation and extensional flow (i.e., spinning rate). This allows us to link previous experimental and modelling hypothesis surrounding silk's pH responsiveness directly to multiscale hierarchical structure development during spinning. Finally, fibers that match, and then exceed, natural silk's mechanical properties are spun and understood by rate of work input. This approach not only provides energetic insights into natural silk spinning and controlled protein denaturation, but is believed will help interpret and improve synthetic silk processing. Ultimately, it is hoped that these results will contribute towards novel bioinspired energy‐efficient processing strategies that are driven by work input optimization and where excellent mechanical properties are self‐emergent.
Acarid Suction Cup‐Inspired Rapid and Tunable Magnetic Adhesion
Authors: Hu Xiaocheng , Fu Yimou , Liu Yide , Liu Binhong , Qu Shaoxing 
Published: May 2021

AbstractAdhesion appears in nature as a kind of clinging strategy for living creatures to survive in a complex environment. Nevertheless, the artificial counterpart applications are limited by many factors, such as slow responding rate and high driving voltage. In this paper, a novel magnetic adhesion achieved by the actuation of Ecoflex embedded with iron particles is presented, which is demonstrated by a magnetic suction cup (MSC) that can switch the adhesion state within 500 ms. Compared with suction cups made of the dielectric elastomer in existing literature, the present work's driving voltage is safe for humans. Furthermore, a mechanical model is developed and verified to optimize the design of the MSCs. By applying an altering magnetic field, the adhesive force varying with time exhibits complex waveforms such as sinusoidal wave, triangle wave, square wave, and even pulse wave can be achieved. For some situations that large adhesion force is not necessarily considered while the adhesion requires to be accurately and quickly controlled, such as transfer printing and intelligent sensing, the magnetic adhesion demonstrated in this article will enrich the future available applications.
Stretchable and Transparent Paper Based on PDMS–CNC Composite for Direct Printing
Authors: Ryu Myeungwoo , Kim Jaeik , Lee Seungwoo , Kim Jeonghyun , Song Taeseup 
Published: May 2021

AbstractStretchable devices significantly expand the scope of applications such as flexible displays and wearable devices/sensors. To enable stretchable wearable electronics, methods for connecting unit devices and developing circuits are required. Previously, research was performed to manufacture circuits with 3D structures or patterns that remain intact when the flexible and stretchable substrates are deformed. A method for drawing a circuit directly on a substrate with a conductive ink pen is proposed, although it is limited by the surface properties of the substrate. Most existing transparent papers are not sufficiently stretchable for flexible and wearable electronics applications. Therefore, a polydimethylsiloxane–cellulose nanocrystals (PDMS–CNC) composite paper is developed that is both highly flexible and stretchable, while maintaining a high transmittance. The versatility of the composite paper is demonstrated as a suitable substrate for flexible devices by patterning with a conductive ink pen. The PDMS–CNC composite paper has an excellent transmittance of ≈70%, and can withstand over 800% tensile strain. The patterned circuits have only minor increase in resistance after a 50% deformation and recovery. The composite paper is a suitable technology for fabricating electrical components and devices for the Internet of Things and wearable and flexible electronics applications.
Recent Advances in Enhancing and Enriching the Optical Properties of Cl‐Based CsPbX3 Nanocrystals
Authors: Zhu Xun , Ge Lei , Wang Yang , Li Min , Zhang Runqi , Xu Mingchuan , Zhao Zhihao , Lv Wenzhen , Chen Runfeng 
Published: May 2021

AbstractCsPbCl3 nanocrystals (NCs) exhibit vast potential in high‐energy emission applications owing to their wide‐bandgap characteristics, that differ from those of CsPbBr3 and CsPbI3 NCs. Recently, significant developments related to CsPbCl3 NCs have been achieved with regard to tunable emission, luminescence efficiency, and stability, along with their use as hosts for the sensitization of transition metals or rare‐earth ions. This review describes the important factors that influence the optical properties of CsPbCl3 NCs based on factors such as crystal structure, defect compositions, and surface states. In addition, fundamental strategies for improving the performance of CsPbCl3 NCs are discussed, including direct synthesis, post‐treatment methods, and cation doping by either single‐ or co‐doping. The prospects of CsPbCl3 NCs for related optoelectronic applications are reviewed, with emphasis on practical hurdles that need to be overcome in the future.
Biomaterials and Oxygen Join Forces to Shape the Immune Response and Boost COVID‐19 Vaccines
Authors: Colombani Thibault , Eggermont Loek J. , Rogers Zachary J. , McKay Lindsay G. A. , Avena Laura E. , Johnson Rebecca I. , Storm Nadia , Griffiths Anthony , Bencherif Sidi A. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) has led to an unprecedented global health crisis, resulting in a critical need for effective vaccines that generate protective antibodies. Protein subunit vaccines represent a promising approach but often lack the immunogenicity required for strong immune stimulation. To overcome this challenge, it is first demonstrated that advanced biomaterials can be leveraged to boost the effectiveness of SARS‐CoV‐2 protein subunit vaccines. Additionally, it is reported that oxygen is a powerful immunological co‐adjuvant and has an ability to further potentiate vaccine potency. In preclinical studies, mice immunized with an oxygen‐generating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) cryogel‐based vaccine (O2‐CryogelVAX) exhibit a robust Th1 and Th2 immune response, leading to a sustained production of highly effective neutralizing antibodies against the virus. Even with a single immunization, O2‐CryogelVAX achieves high antibody titers within 21 days, and both binding and neutralizing antibody levels are further increased after a second dose. Engineering a potent vaccine system that generates sufficient neutralizing antibodies after one dose is a preferred strategy amid vaccine shortage. The data suggest that this platform is a promising technology to reinforce vaccine‐driven immunostimulation and is applicable to current and emerging infectious diseases.