bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Facile Preparation of a Porous Nanosheet PX‐Doped Fe Bi‐Functional Catalyst with Excellent OER and HER Electrocatalytic Activity
Authors: Ju Yan , Feng Suyang , Wang Xuanbing , Li Min , Wang Li , Xu Ruidong , Wang Junli 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe principal factor restricting large‐scale hydrogen production via water electrolysis is the development of inexpensive and efficient catalysts that attain high current densities to produces hydrogen at low potentials. In this study, a series of iron‐based phosphide catalysts (denoted as: PX‐doped Fe/NF) were prepared via one‐step electrodeposition from a eutectic solvent to examine their oxygen evolution reaction (OER) or hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance. Notably, P30‐doped Fe/NF forms a porous interconnected nanosheet structure, providing a large active surface areas, abundant active sites and low charge transfer resistance. P30‐doped Fe/NF attained the lowest OER (284.15 mV) and HER (158.17 mV) overpotentials at 10 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH of all the tested catalysts. When used in overall water splitting, the catalyst displayed outstanding adaptability to a range of potentials and current densities. This study provides a facile route for the synthesis of bifunctional transition‐metal phosphide catalysts for the electrolysis of water.
Trifunctional Electrocatalytic Activities of Nitrogen‐Doped Graphitic Carbon Nanofibers Synthesized by Chemical Vapor Deposition
Authors: Todankar Bhagyashri , Desai Pradeep , Ranade Ajinkya K. , Narayanan Tharangattu N. , Tanemura Masaki , Kalita Golap 
Published: May 2021

AbstractHigh performance multifunctional electrocatalysts are attracting significant importance for application in energy storage, energy conversion and various other electrochemical reactions. In this prospect, we report on the effective trifunctional electrocatalytic properties of nitrogen (N) doped graphitic carbon nanofibers (CNFs). The CNFs were synthesized on a nichrome (NiCr) foil by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. Incorporation of Ni and Cr was observed in the N doped CNFs sample from microscopic and spectroscopic analysis. The metal nanoparticles can be significant in boosting the trifunctional electrocatalytic behavior. The effective oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activities were obtained for the CNFs sample with relatively good overpotential values. The electron transfer number per O2 molecule calculated from Koutecky‐Levich (K‐L) plot was found to be 2e− for the ORR reaction. The OER activity of the CNFs is comparable to commercially available iridium oxide (IrO2), signifying the effectiveness of the developed catalyst. Our study revealed that N doped CNFs with incorporation of metal particles synthesized on a binary metal substrate can be significant as ORR, OER, HER trifunctional electrocatalyst.
DNA‐Directed Assembly of a Cell‐Responsive Biohybrid Interface for Cargo Release
Authors: Sun Pengchao , Scharnweber Tim , Wadhwani Parvesh , Rabe Kersten S. , Niemeyer Christof M. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe development of a DNA‐based cell‐responsive biohybrid interface that can be used for spatially confined release of molecular cargo is reported. To this end, tailored DNA–protein conjugates are designed as gatekeepers that can be specifically cleaved by matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), which are secreted by many cancer cells. These gatekeepers can be installed by DNA hybridization on the surface of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs). The MSNs display another orthogonal DNA oligonucleotide that can be exploited for site‐selective immobilization on solid glass surfaces to yield micropatterned substrates for cell adhesion. Using the human fibrosarcoma cell line HT1080 that secretes MMPs, it is demonstrated that the biohybrid surface is specifically modified by the cells to release both MSN‐bound gatekeeper proteins and the encapsulated cargo peptide KLA. In view of the enormously high modularity of the system presented here, this approach promising for applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, or other areas of nanobiotechnology is considered.
High‐Voltage and Super‐Stable Aqueous Sodium–Zinc Hybrid Ion Batteries Enabled by Double Solvation Structures in Concentrated Electrolyte
Authors: Ao Huaisheng , Zhu Weiduo , Liu Mengke , Zhang Wanqun , Hou Zhiguo , Wu Xiaojun , Zhu Yongchun , Qian Yitai 
Published: May 2021

AbstractAqueous sodium–zinc hybrid ion batteries are attracting extensive attention due to high energy density, low cost, and environmental friendliness. Unfortunately, there are still some drawbacks associated with the low voltage and cycle performance degradation that limit their practical application. Here, a concentrated aqueous electrolyte with solvation‐modulated Zn2+ is reported that reduces the hydrogen evolution reaction on the surface of Zn metal, avoiding the generation of ZnO and uneven deposition. Accordingly, the Zn anode exhibits 1600 h Zn plating/stripping and ≈99.96% Coulombic efficiency after 700 cycles. In addition, solvation‐modulated Na+ promotes the excellent structural stability of zinc hexacyanoferrate (ZnHCF) due to the rhombohedral–rhombohedral rather than rhombohedral–cubic phase transition. A ZnHCF//Zn full cell delivers an average voltage of 1.76 V and 98% capacity retention after 2000 cycles at 5 C rates.
In Vitro Effects of Stachyose on the Human Gut Microbiota
Authors: Zhao Zhonglin , Liu Wei , Pi Xionge 
Published: May 2021

AbstractGut microbiota plays an important role in human health. Stachyose, an oligosaccharide, modulates the gut microbiota composition in animals. However, the role of stachyose in promoting the proliferation of probiotics and whether it inhibits pathogenic micro‐organisms in human gut microbiota has not been explored. Therefore, in this study, the effects of stachyose on the gut microbiota and its metabolites in humans are explored. Three concentrations of stachyose are used as the sole carbon source for in vitro fermentation. Results show that stachyose improves beta diversity and increases the concentration of short‐chain fatty acid (SCFAs), mainly acetic acid and butyric acid. Stachyose is found to promote the relative abundance of Bifidobacteria, Faecalibacterium, Lactobacillus, and Prevotella genera in the gut microbiota. Besides, stachyose significantly reduces the relative abundance of Bacteroides and Escherichia‐Shigella genera. The findings show that stachyose increases beneficial microbiota, therefore, it is a useful prebiotic which modulates the composition of the gut microbiota.
Directed differentiation and direct reprogramming: Applying stem cell technologies to hearing research
Authors: Roccio Marta 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Hearing loss is the most widely spread sensory disorder in our society. In the majority of cases, it is caused by the loss or malfunctioning of cells in the cochlea: the mechanosensory hair cells, which act as primary sound receptors, and the connecting auditory neurons of the spiral ganglion, which relay the signal to upper brain centers. In contrast to other vertebrates, where damage to the hearing organ can be repaired through the activity of resident cells, acting as tissue progenitors, in mammals, sensory cell damage or loss is irreversible. The understanding of gene and cellular functions, through analysis of different animal models, has helped to identify causes of disease and possible targets for hearing restoration. Translation of these findings to novel therapeutics is, however, hindered by the lack of cellular assays, based on human sensory cells, to evaluate the conservation of molecular pathways across species and the efficacy of novel therapeutic strategies. In the last decade, stem cell technologies enabled to generate human sensory cell types in vitro, providing novel tools to study human inner ear biology, model disease, and validate therapeutics. This review focuses specifically on two technologies: directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cells and direct reprogramming of somatic cell types to sensory hair cells and neurons. Recent development in the field are discussed as well as how these tools could be implemented to become routinely adopted experimental models for hearing research.
Activin A-derived human embryonic stem cells show increased competence to differentiate into primordial germ cell-like cells
Authors: Mishra Swati , Taelman Jasin , Popovic Mina , Tilleman Laurentijn , Duthoo Evi , Jeught Margot , Deforce Dieter , Nieuwerburgh Filip , Menten Björn , Sutter Petra , Boel Annekatrien , Chuva De Sousa Lopes Susana M. , Heindryckx Björn 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Protocols for specifying human primordial germ cell-like cells (hPGCLCs) from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) remain hindered by differences between hESC lines, their derivation methods, and maintenance culture conditions. This poses significant challenges for establishing reproducible in vitro models of human gametogenesis. Here, we investigated the influence of activin A (ActA) during derivation and maintenance on the propensity of hESCs to differentiate into PGCLCs. We show that continuous ActA supplementation during hESC derivation (from blastocyst until the formation of the post-inner cell mass intermediate [PICMI]) and supplementation (from the first passage of the PICMI onwards) is beneficial to differentiate hESCs to PGCLCs subsequently. Moreover, comparing isogenic primed and naïve states prior to differentiation, we showed that conversion of hESCs to the 4i-state improves differentiation to (TNAP [tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase]+/PDPN [podoplanin]+) PGCLCs. Those PGCLCs expressed several germ cell markers, including TFAP2C (transcription factor AP-2 gamma), SOX17 (SRY-box transcription factor 17), and NANOS3 (nanos C2HC-type zinc finger 3), and markers associated with germ cell migration, CXCR4 (C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4), LAMA4 (laminin subunit alpha 4), ITGA6 (integrin subunit alpha 6), and CDH4 (cadherin 4), suggesting that the large numbers of PGCLCs obtained may be suitable to differentiate further into more mature germ cells. Finally, hESCs derived in the presence of ActA showed higher competence to differentiate to hPGCLC, in particular if transiently converted to the 4i-state. Our work provides insights into the differences in differentiation propensity of hESCs and delivers an optimized protocol to support efficient human germ cell derivation.
Engineering-inspired approaches to study β-cell function and diabetes
Authors: Lewis Phillip L. , Wells James M. 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Strategies to mitigate the pathologies from diabetes range from simply administering insulin to prescribing complex drug/biologic regimens combined with lifestyle changes. There is a substantial effort to better understand β-cell physiology during diabetes pathogenesis as a means to develop improved therapies. The convergence of multiple fields ranging from developmental biology to microfluidic engineering has led to the development of new experimental systems to better study complex aspects of diabetes and β-cell biology. Here we discuss the available insulin-secreting cell types used in research, ranging from primary human β-cells, to cell lines, to pluripotent stem cell-derived β-like cells. Each of these sources possess inherent strengths and weaknesses pertinent to specific applications, especially in the context of engineered platforms. We then outline how insulin-expressing cells have been used in engineered platforms and how recent advances allow for better mimicry of in vivo conditions. Chief among these conditions are β-cell interactions with other endocrine organs. This facet is beginning to be thoroughly addressed by the organ-on-a-chip community, but holds enormous potential in the development of novel diabetes therapeutics. Furthermore, high throughput strategies focused on studying β-cell biology, improving β-cell differentiation, or proliferation have led to enormous contributions in the field and will no doubt be instrumental in bringing new diabetes therapeutics to the clinic.
A mechanoresponsive PINCH-1-Notch2 interaction regulates smooth muscle differentiation of human placental mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Su Jie , Guo Ling , Wu Chuanyue 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness plays an important role in the decision making process of smooth muscle differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Here we show that a signaling axis consisting of PINCH-1 and Notch2 is critically involved in mediating the effect of ECM stiffness on smooth muscle differentiation of MSCs. Notch2 level is markedly increased in ECM stiffness-induced smooth muscle differentiation of human placental MSCs. Knockdown of Notch2 from human placental MSCs effectively inhibits ECM stiffness-induced smooth muscle differentiation, whereas overexpression of North intracellular domain (NICD2) is sufficient to drive human placental MSC differentiation toward smooth muscle cells. At the molecular level, Notch2 directly interacts with PINCH-1. The interaction of Notch2 with PINCH-1 is significantly increased in response to ECM stiffness favoring smooth muscle differentiation. Furthermore, depletion of PINCH-1 from human placental MSCs reduces Notch2 level and consequently suppresses ECM stiffness-induced smooth muscle differentiation. Re-expression of PINCH-1, but not that of a Notch2-binding defective PINCH-1 mutant, in PINCH-1 knockdown human placental MSCs restores smooth muscle differentiation. Finally, overexpression of NICD2 is sufficient to override PINCH-1 deficiency-induced defect in smooth muscle differentiation. Our results identify an ECM stiffness-responsive PINCH-1-Notch2 interaction that is critically involved in ECM stiffness-induced smooth muscle differentiation of human placental MSCs.
The Science of Reading Comprehension Instruction
Authors: Duke Nell K. , Ward Alessandra E. , Pearson P. David 
Published: May 2021

AbstractDecades of research offer important understandings about the nature of comprehension and its development. Drawing on both classic and contemporary research, in this article, we identify some key understandings about reading comprehension processes and instruction, including these: Comprehension instruction should begin early, teaching word‐reading and bridging skills (including graphophonological semantic cognitive flexibility, morphological awareness, and reading fluency) supports reading comprehension development, reading comprehension is not automatic even when fluency is strong, teaching text structures and features fosters reading comprehension development, comprehension processes vary by what and why we are reading, comprehension strategy instruction improves comprehension, vocabulary and knowledge building support reading comprehension development, supporting engagement with text (volume reading, discussion and analysis of text, and writing) fosters comprehension development, and instructional practices that kindle reading motivation improve comprehension. We present a visual depiction of this model, emphasizing the layered nature of impactful comprehension instruction.
Picturebook Biography Read‐Alouds and Standards for Mathematical Practice
Authors: Young Terrell A. , Monroe Eula Ewing , Roth‐McDuffie Amy 
Published: May 2021

AbstractRead‐alouds of picturebook biographies offer children engaging windows into the lives and work of famous (and sometimes not‐so‐famous) mathematicians to observe and discuss their ways of learning and doing mathematics—their mathematical practices. The Standards for Mathematical Practice (SMPs), although generally embodied in the work of successful mathematicians throughout the ages, were only recently identified and prescribed for US mathematics curricula. The authors provide a rationale for using the context of story to introduce the SMPs to elementary students and share picturebook Read‐Aloud Lesson Ideas as samples for inviting discussions about selected Standards. Three figures list additional biographies in the categories of Computer Science and Coding, Space Exploration, and Other Related Mathematics Fields and provide an analysis of two selected SMPs for each book.
Synthesis of Palladium complexes derived from Amido linked N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes and their use in Suzuki cross coupling reactions
Authors: Chauhan Rohit Singh , Nagar Suryakant , Chatterjee Sucheta , Goswami Dibakar , Cordes David B. , Slawin Alexandra M. Z. , Tawde Trupti 
Published: May 2021

AbstractTreatment of 1‐(n‐butyl)‐3‐N‐(2‐Ar)acetamido‐1, 3‐imidazolium chloride (Ar=furylmethyl,phenylmethyl) with excess K2CO3 and [PdCl2(L−L)] (L−L=2 PPh3, dppf) afforded orange compounds of composition [(1‐(n‐butyl)‐3‐N‐(2‐Ar)acetamido‐1,3‐imidazol‐2‐ylidene)]2Pd (Ar=furylmethyl; phenylmethyl). These complexes were characterized by NMR (1H and 13C{1H} NMR), IR and micro‐analysis data. Subsequently, the catalytic efficiency of these complexes for cross coupling reactions between 4‐haloarenens (halo=Br, I) and phenylboronic acid was studied under different solvents (acetonitrile, THF and DMF), temperatures with different catalyst loadings. The molecular structure of [(1‐(n‐butyl)‐3‐N‐(2‐furylmethyl)acetamido‐1, 3‐imidazol‐2‐ylidene)]2Pd was established by single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis.
Symplectic resolutions of quiver varieties
Authors: Bellamy Gwyn , Schedler Travis 
Published: May 2021

AbstractIn this article, we consider Nakajima quiver varieties from the point of view of symplectic algebraic geometry. We prove that they are all symplectic singularities in the sense of Beauville and completely classify which admit symplectic resolutions. Moreover we show that the smooth locus coincides with the locus of canonically $$\theta $$
θ
-polystable points, generalizing a result of Le Bruyn; we study their étale local structure and find their symplectic leaves. An interesting consequence of our results is that not all symplectic resolutions of quiver varieties appear to come from variation of GIT.
$$L^p$$-trace-free version of the generalized Korn inequality for incompatible tensor fields in arbitrary dimensions
Authors: Lewintan Peter , Neff Patrizio 
Published: May 2021

AbstractFor$$n\ge 3$$n≥3and$$1<p<\infty $$1<p<∞, we prove an$$L^p$$Lp-version of the generalized trace-free Korn-type inequality for incompatible,p-integrable tensor fields$$P:\Omega \rightarrow \mathbb {R}^{n\times n}$$P:Ω→Rn×nhavingp-integrable generalized$${\text {Curl}}_{n}$$Curlnand generalized vanishing tangential trace$$P\,\tau _l=0$$Pτl=0on$$\partial \Omega $$∂Ω, denoting by$$\{\tau _l\}_{l=1,\ldots , n-1}$${τl}l=1,…,n-1a moving tangent frame on$$\partial \Omega $$∂Ω. More precisely, there exists a constant$$c=c(n,p,\Omega )$$c=c(n,p,Ω)such that$$\begin{aligned} \Vert P \Vert _{L^p(\Omega ,\mathbb {R}^{n\times n})}\le c\,\left( \Vert {\text {dev}}_n {\text {sym}}P \Vert _{L^p(\Omega ,\mathbb {R}^{n \times n})}+ \Vert {\text {Curl}}_{n} P \Vert _{L^p\left( \Omega ,\mathbb {R}^{n\times \frac{n(n-1)}{2}}\right) }\right) , \end{aligned}$$‖P‖Lp(Ω,Rn×n)≤c‖devnsymP‖Lp(Ω,Rn×n)+‖CurlnP‖LpΩ,Rn×n(n-1)2,where the generalized$${\text {Curl}}_{n}$$Curlnis given by$$({\text {Curl}}_{n} P)_{ijk} :=\partial _i P_{kj}-\partial _j P_{ki}$$(CurlnP)ijk:=∂iPkj-∂jPkiand "Equation missing"denotes the deviatoric (trace-free) part of the square matrixX. The improvement towards the three-dimensional case comes from a novel matrix representation of the generalized cross product.
Phase II study of trifluridine/tipiracil (TAS-102) therapy in elderly patients with colorectal cancer (T-CORE1401): geriatric assessment tools and plasma drug concentrations as possible predictive biomarkers
Authors: Takahashi Masanobu , Sakamoto Yasuhiro , Ohori Hisatsugu , Tsuji Yasushi , Kuroki Michio , Kato Satoshi , Otsuka Kazunori , Komine Keigo , Takahashi Masahiro , Takahashi Shin , Shirota Hidekazu , Ouchi Kota , Takahashi Yoshikazu , Imai Hiroo , Shibata Hiroyuki , Yoshioka Takashi , Tanaka Masaki , Yamaguchi Hiroaki , Yamaguchi Takuhiro , Shimodaira Hideki , Ishioka Chikashi 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Purpose
The current study aimed to determine the efficacy of trifluridine/tipiracil for elderly patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

Methods
This single-arm, open-label, multicenter, phase II study included elderly patients aged 65 years or more who had fluoropyrimidine-refractory advanced colorectal cancer and received trifluridine/tipiracil (70 mg/m2, days 1–5 and 8–12, every 4 weeks). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), while secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR), toxicities, association between efficacy and geriatric assessment scores, and association between toxicity and plasma drug concentrations.

Results
A total of 30 patients with a mean age of 73 years were enrolled. Median PFS was 2.3 months (95% confidence interval, 1.9–4.3 months), while median OS was 5.7 months (95% confidence interval, 3.7–8.9 months). Patients had an ORR of 0%, with 57% having stable disease. Grade 4 neutropenia was observed in 13% of the patients. Patients with a higher G8 score (15 or more) showed longer PFS than those with a lower G8 score (median 4.6 vs. 2.0 months; p = 0.047). Moreover, patients with grade 3 or 4 neutropenia showed higher maximum trifluridine concentrations than those with grade 1 or 2 neutropenia (mean 2945 vs. 2107 ng/mL; p = 0.036).

Discussion
The current phase II trial demonstrated that trifluridine/tipiracil was an effective and well-tolerated option for elderly patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Moreover, geriatric assessment tools and/or plasma drug concentration monitoring might be helpful in predicting the efficacy and toxicities in elderly patients receiving this drug.

Trial registration number
UMIN000017589, 15/May/2015 (The University Hospital Medical Information Network)