bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Flexible and tandem quantum-dot light-emitting diodes with individually addressable red/green/blue emission
Authors: Su Qiang , Zhang Heng , Chen Shuming 
Published: March 2021

AbstractTandem quantum-dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) with multiple QLED elements vertically connected by the intermediate electrodes offer the advantages of high brightness and long lifetime. However, it is challenging to individually address each QLED element in conventional tandem structures. To address this challenge, here, transparent QLEDs built on flexible plastic substrates are developed as the building blocks for the tandem QLEDs. By vertically integrating a red, a green, and a blue transparent QLEDs with an ultraviolet glue, the resultant tandem QLED can emit separately controllable red/green/blue (R/G/B) emission with an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 12.0%/8.5%/4.5%, respectively. Enabled by the transparent and extractable IZO electrodes, the QLED elements can also be connected in series or in parallel with an EQE of 24.8% or 8.2%, respectively. Our work provides a new implementation strategy for the realization of tandem QLEDs with individually addressable R/G/B emission for both display and lighting applications.
The common YAP activation mediates corneal epithelial regeneration and repair with different-sized wounds
Authors: Li Yijian , Ge Lingling , Chen Xia , Mao Yumei , Gu Xianliang , Ren Bangqi , Zeng Yuxiao , Chen Min , Chen Siyu , Liu Jinhua , Yang Yuli , Xu Haiwei 
Published: March 2021

AbstractRegeneration/repair after injury can be endowed by adult stem cells (ASCs) or lineage restricted and even terminally differentiated cells. In corneal epithelium, regeneration after a large wound depends on ASCs (limbal epithelial stem cells, LESCs), whereas repair after a small wound is LESCs-independent. Here, using rat corneal epithelial wounds with different sizes, we show that YAP activation promotes the activation and expansion of LESCs after a large wound, as well as the reprogramming of local epithelial cells (repairing epithelial cells) after a small wound, which contributes to LESCs-dependent and -independent wound healing, respectively. Mechanically, we highlight that the reciprocal regulation of YAP activity and the assembly of cell junction and cortical F-actin cytoskeleton accelerates corneal epithelial healing with different-sized wounds. Together, the common YAP activation and the underlying regulatory mechanism are harnessed by LESCs and lineage-restricted epithelial cells to cope with corneal epithelial wounds with different sizes.
Firearms-related skeletal muscle trauma: pathophysiology and novel approaches for regeneration
Authors: Moriscot Anselmo , Miyabara Elen H. , Langeani Bruno , Belli Antonio , Egginton Stuart , Bowen T. Scott 
Published: March 2021

AbstractOne major cause of traumatic injury is firearm-related wounds (i.e., ballistic trauma), common in both civilian and military populations, which is increasing in prevalence and has serious long-term health and socioeconomic consequences worldwide. Common primary injuries of ballistic trauma include soft-tissue damage and loss, haemorrhage, bone fracture, and pain. The majority of injuries are of musculoskeletal origin and located in the extremities, such that skeletal muscle offers a major therapeutic target to aid recovery and return to normal daily activities. However, the underlying pathophysiology of skeletal muscle ballistic trauma remains poorly understood, with limited evidence-based treatment options. As such, this review will address the topic of firearm-related skeletal muscle injury and regeneration. We first introduce trauma ballistics and the immediate injury of skeletal muscle, followed by detailed coverage of the underlying biological mechanisms involved in regulating skeletal muscle dysfunction following injury, with a specific focus on the processes of muscle regeneration, muscle wasting and vascular impairments. Finally, we evaluate novel approaches for minimising muscle damage and enhancing muscle regeneration after ballistic trauma, which may have important relevance for primary care in victims of violence.
Electronic and optical properties of vacancy ordered double perovskites A2BX6 (A = Rb, Cs; B = Sn, Pd, Pt; and X = Cl, Br, I): a first principles study
Authors: Faizan Muhammad , Bhamu K. C. , Murtaza Ghulam , He Xin , Kulhari Neeraj , AL‐Anazy Murefah Mana , Khan Shah Haidar 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe highly successful PBE functional and the modified Becke–Johnson exchange potential were used to calculate the structural, electronic, and optical properties of the vacancy-ordered double perovskites A2BX6(A = Rb, Cs; B = Sn, Pd, Pt; X = Cl, Br, and I) using the density functional theory, a first principles approach. The convex hull approach was used to check the thermodynamic stability of the compounds. The calculated parameters (lattice constants, band gap, and bond lengths) are in tune with the available experimental and theoretical results. The compounds, Rb2PdBr6and Cs2PtI6, exhibit band gaps within the optimal range of 0.9–1.6 eV, required for the single-junction photovoltaic applications. The photovoltaic efficiency of the studied materials was assessed using the spectroscopic-limited-maximum-efficiency (SLME) metric as well as the optical properties. The ideal band gap, high dielectric constants, and optimum light absorption of these perovskites make them suitable for high performance single and multi-junction perovskite solar cells.
Lockdowns result in changes in human mobility which may impact the epidemiologic dynamics of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Kishore Nishant , Kahn Rebecca , Martinez Pamela P. , De Salazar Pablo M. , Mahmud Ayesha S. , Buckee Caroline O. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIn response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, unprecedented travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders were enacted around the world. Ultimately, the public’s response to announcements of lockdowns—defined as restrictions on both local movement or long distance travel—will determine how effective these kinds of interventions are. Here, we evaluate the effects of lockdowns on human mobility and simulate how these changes may affect epidemic spread by analyzing aggregated mobility data from mobile phones. We show that in 2020 following lockdown announcements but prior to their implementation, both local and long distance movement increased in multiple locations, and urban-to-rural migration was observed around the world. To examine how these behavioral responses to lockdown policies may contribute to epidemic spread, we developed a simple agent-based spatial model. Our model shows that this increased movement has the potential to increase seeding of the epidemic in less urban areas, which could undermine the goal of the lockdown in preventing disease spread. Lockdowns play a key role in reducing contacts and controlling outbreaks, but appropriate messaging surrounding their announcement and careful evaluation of changes in mobility are needed to mitigate the possible unintended consequences.
Identifying the causes of recurrent pregnancy loss in consanguineous couples using whole exome sequencing on the products of miscarriage with no chromosomal abnormalities
Authors: Najafi Kimia , Mehrjoo Zohreh , Ardalani Fariba , Ghaderi-Sohi Siavash , Kariminejad Ariana , Kariminejad Roxana , Najmabadi Hossein 
Published: March 2021

AbstractRecurrent miscarriages occur in about 5% of couples trying to conceive. In the past decade, the products of miscarriage have been studied using array comparative genomic hybridization (a-CGH). Within the last decade, an association has been proposed between miscarriages and single or multigenic changes, introducing the possibility of detecting other underlying genetic factors by whole exome sequencing (WES). We performed a-CGH on the products of miscarriage from 1625 Iranian women in consanguineous or non-consanguineous marriages. WES was carried out on DNA extracted from the products of miscarriage from 20 Iranian women in consanguineous marriages and with earlier normal genetic testing. Using a-CGH, a statistically significant difference was detected between the frequency of imbalances in related vs. unrelated couples (P < 0.001). WES positively identified relevant alterations in 11 genes in 65% of cases. In 45% of cases, we were able to classify these variants as pathogenic or likely pathogenic, according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines, while in the remainder, the variants were classified as of unknown significance. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to employ WES on the products of miscarriage in consanguineous families with recurrent miscarriages regardless of the presence of fetal abnormalities. We propose that WES can be helpful in making a diagnosis of lethal disorders in consanguineous couples after prior genetic testing.
High-fiber diets attenuate emphysema development via modulation of gut microbiota and metabolism
Authors: Jang Yoon Ok , Kim Ock-Hwa , Kim Su Jung , Lee Se Hee , Yun Sunmi , Lim Se Eun , Yoo Hyun Ju , Shin Yong , Lee Sei Won 
Published: March 2021

AbstractDietary fiber functions as a prebiotic to determine the gut microbe composition. The gut microbiota influences the metabolic functions and immune responses in human health. The gut microbiota and metabolites produced by various dietary components not only modulate immunity but also impact various organs. Although recent findings have suggested that microbial dysbiosis is associated with several respiratory diseases, including asthma, cystic fibrosis, and allergy, the role of microbiota and metabolites produced by dietary nutrients with respect to pulmonary disease remains unclear. Therefore, we explored whether the gut microbiota and metabolites produced by dietary fiber components could influence a cigarette smoking (CS)-exposed emphysema model. In this study, it was demonstrated that a high-fiber diet including non-fermentable cellulose and fermentable pectin attenuated the pathological changes associated with emphysema progression and the inflammatory response in CS-exposed emphysema mice. Moreover, we observed that different types of dietary fiber could modulate the diversity of gut microbiota and differentially impacted anabolism including the generation of short-chain fatty acids, bile acids, and sphingolipids. Overall, the results of this study indicate that high-fiber diets play a beneficial role in the gut microbiota-metabolite modulation and substantially affect CS-exposed emphysema mice. Furthermore, this study suggests the therapeutic potential of gut microbiota and metabolites from a high-fiber diet in emphysema via local and systemic inflammation inhibition, which may be useful in the development of a new COPD treatment plan.
Novel hole-pillar spacer design for improved hydrodynamics and biofouling mitigation in membrane filtration
Authors: Qamar Adnan , Kerdi Sarah , Ali Syed Muztuza , Shon Ho Kyong , Vrouwenvelder Johannes S. , Ghaffour Noreddine 
Published: March 2021

AbstractFeed spacers are the critical components of any spiral-wound filtration module, dictating the filtration performance. Three spacer designs, namely a non-woven commercial spacer (varying filament cross-section), a symmetric pillar spacer, and a novel hole-pillar spacer (constant filament diameter) were studied using Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS), 3-D printed and subsequently experimentally tested in a lab-scale ultrafiltration set-up with high biofouling potential feed water at various feed pressures. Independent of the applied pressure, the novel hole-pillar spacer showed initially the lowest feed channel pressure drop, the lowest shear stress, and the highest permeate flux compared to the commercial and pillar spacers. Furthermore, less biofilm thickness development on membrane surface was visualized by Optical Coherent Tomography (OCT) imaging for the proposed hole-pillar spacer. At higher feed pressure, a thicker biofilm developed on membrane surface for all spacer designs explaining the stronger decrease in permeate flux at high pressure. The findings systematically demonstrated the role of various spacer designs and applied pressure on the performance of pre-treatment process, while identifying specific shear stress distribution guidelines for engineering a new spacer design in different filtration techniques.
Powerful p-value combination methods to detect incomplete association
Authors: Yoon Sora , Baik Bukyung , Park Taesung , Nam Dougu 
Published: March 2021

AbstractMeta-analyses increase statistical power by combining statistics from multiple studies. Meta-analysis methods have mostly been evaluated under the condition that all the data in each study have an association with the given phenotype. However, specific experimental conditions in each study or genetic heterogeneity can result in “unassociated statistics” that are derived from the null distribution. Here, we show that power of conventional meta-analysis methods rapidly decreases as an increasing number of unassociated statistics are included, whereas the classical Fisher’s method and its weighted variant (wFisher) exhibit relatively high power that is robust to addition of unassociated statistics. We also propose another robust method based on joint distribution of ordered p-values (ordmeta). Simulation analyses for t-test, RNA-seq, and microarray data demonstrated that wFisher and ordmeta, when only a small number of studies have an association, outperformed existing meta-analysis methods. We performed meta-analyses of nine microarray datasets (prostate cancer) and four association summary datasets (body mass index), where our methods exhibited high biological relevance and were able to detect genes that the-state-of-the-art methods missed. The metapro R package that implements the proposed methods is available from both CRAN and GitHub (http://github.com/unistbig/metapro).
Amorphous nanoparticles in clays, soils and marine sediments analyzed with a small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) method
Authors: Tsukimura Katsuhiro , Miyoshi Youko , Takagi Tetsuich , Suzuki Masaya , Wada Shin-ichiro 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThis paper describes the amounts and size distributions of amorphous nanoparticles in clays, soils and marine sediments, and the effect of amorphous nanoparticles on the properties of clays, soils and marine sediments. So far aluminum–silicate amorphous nanoparticles such as allophane were observed only in soils of volcanic origin with a transmission electron microscope, and thus most people believed that aluminum–silicate amorphous nanoparticles were present only in soils of special origin. Recently, a method has been devised to quantify amorphous nanoparticles by using small angle X-ray scattering intensity. Using the method, we have quantified amorphous nanoparticles in clays, soils and marine sediments, and have found that all clays, soils and marine sediments measured in this study contain large amounts of amorphous nanoparticles. On the basis of this result, we have concluded that large amounts of amorphous nanoparticles are ubiquitously formed from rocks when the rocks are weathered or altered. We have also found that the amorphous nanoparticles affect the properties of clays, such as adsorption properties and plasticity. These findings show that amorphous nanoparticles play an important role in clays, soils and marine sediments.
Characterizing advanced breast cancer heterogeneity and treatment resistance through serial biopsies and comprehensive analytics
Authors: Li Allen , Keck Jamie M. , Parmar Swapnil , Patterson Janice , Labrie Marilyne , Creason Allison L. , Johnson Brett E. , Downey Molly , Thomas George , Beadling Carol , Heiser Laura M. , Kolodzie Annette , Guimaraes Alexander R. , Corless Christopher L. , Gray Joe W. , Mills Gordon B. , Bergan Raymond C. , Mitri Zahi I. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractMolecular heterogeneity in metastatic breast cancer presents multiple clinical challenges in accurately characterizing and treating the disease. Current diagnostic approaches offer limited ability to assess heterogeneity that exists among multiple metastatic lesions throughout the treatment course. We developed a precision oncology platform that combines serial biopsies, multi-omic analysis, longitudinal patient monitoring, and molecular tumor boards, with the goal of improving cancer management through enhanced understanding of the entire cancer ecosystem within each patient. We describe this integrative approach using comprehensive analytics generated from serial-biopsied lesions in a metastatic breast cancer patient. The serial biopsies identified remarkable heterogeneity among metastatic lesions that presented clinically as discordance in receptor status and genomic alterations with mixed treatment response. Based on our study, we highlight clinical scenarios, such as rapid progression or mixed response, that indicate consideration for repeat biopsies to evaluate intermetastatic heterogeneity (IMH), with the objective of refining targeted therapy. We present a framework for understanding the clinical significance of heterogeneity in breast cancer between metastatic lesions utilizing multi-omic analyses of serial biopsies and its implication for effective personalized treatment.
Development of deep learning algorithms for predicting blastocyst formation and quality by time-lapse monitoring
Authors: Liao Qiuyue , Zhang Qi , Feng Xue , Huang Haibo , Xu Haohao , Tian Baoyuan , Liu Jihao , Yu Qihui , Guo Na , Liu Qun , Huang Bo , Ma Ding , Ai Jihui , Xu Shugong , Li Kezhen 
Published: March 2021

AbstractApproaches to reliably predict the developmental potential of embryos and select suitable embryos for blastocyst culture are needed. The development of time-lapse monitoring (TLM) and artificial intelligence (AI) may help solve this problem. Here, we report deep learning models that can accurately predict blastocyst formation and usable blastocysts using TLM videos of the embryo’s first three days. The DenseNet201 network, focal loss, long short-term memory (LSTM) network and gradient boosting classifier were mainly employed, and video preparation algorithms, spatial stream and temporal stream models were developed into ensemble prediction models called STEM and STEM+. STEM exhibited 78.2% accuracy and 0.82 AUC in predicting blastocyst formation, and STEM+ achieved 71.9% accuracy and 0.79 AUC in predicting usable blastocysts. We believe the models are beneficial for blastocyst formation prediction and embryo selection in clinical practice, and our modeling methods will provide valuable information for analyzing medical videos with continuous appearance variation.
Acid is a potential interferent in fluorescent sensing of chemical warfare agent vapors
Authors: Fan Shengqiang , Dennison Genevieve H. , FitzGerald Nicholas , Burn Paul L. , Gentle Ian R. , Shaw Paul E. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractA common feature of fluorescent sensing materials for detecting chemical warfare agents (CWAs) and simulants is the presence of nitrogen-based groups designed to nucleophilically displace a phosphorus atom substituent, with the reaction causing a measurable fluorescence change. However, such groups are also basic and so sensitive to acid. In this study we show it is critical to disentangle the response of a candidate sensing material to acid and CWA simulant. We report that pyridyl-containing sensing materials designed to react with a CWA gave a strong and rapid increase in fluorescence when exposed to Sarin, which is known to contain hydrofluoric acid. However, when tested against acid-free diethylchlorophosphate and di-iso-propylfluorophosphate, simulants typically used for evaluating novel G-series CWA sensors, there was no change in the fluorescence. In contrast, simulants that had been stored or tested under a standard laboratory conditions all led to strong changes in fluorescence, due to acid impurities. Thus the results provide strong evidence that care needs to be taken when interpreting the results of fluorescence-based solid-state sensing studies of G-series CWAs and their simulants. There are also implications for the application of these pyridyl-based fluorescence and other nucleophilic/basic sensing systems to real-world CWA detection.
Down-regulation of STAT3 enhanced chemokine expression and neutrophil recruitment in biliary atresia
Authors: Fu Ming , Tan Ledong , Lin Zefeng , Lui Vincent C.H. , Tam Paul K.H. , Lamb Jonathan R. , Zhang Yan , Xia Huimin , Zhang Ruizhong , Chen Yan 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Biliary atresia (BA) is an immune-related disorder and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a key signalling molecule in inflammation. The present study was designed to clarify the function of STAT3 in BA. STAT3 expression was examined in patients and a mouse BA model in which STAT3 levels were further altered with a specific inhibitor or activator. Neutrophil accumulation and the levels of the neutrophil chemoattractants (C–X–C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1) and IL-8 were determined. The effects of STAT3 inhibition on IL-8 expression were examined in human biliary epithelial cell (BEC) cultures. Functional changes in liver STAT3+ neutrophils in the mouse model were analysed with 10× single cell RNA-seq methods. Results showed STAT3 and p-STAT3 expression was reduced in BA liver tissue compared with control samples. Administration of a STAT3 inhibitor increased jaundice and mortality and reduced body weight in BA mice. In contrast, the STAT3 activator ameliorated BA symptoms. Extensive neutrophil accumulation together with CXCL1 up-regulation, both of which were suppressed by an anti-CXCL1 antibody, were observed in the STAT3 inhibitor-treated group. Recombinant IL-8 administration increased disease severity in BA mice, and the STAT3 activator had the reverse effect. Inhibiting STAT3 increased apoptosis of human BECs together with up-regulated IL-8 expression. RNA-seq analysis revealed reduced the numbers of STAT3 expressing neutrophil in BA which was accompanied by marked enhanced interferon-related antiviral activities. In conclusion, STAT3 reduction, enhanced IL-8 and CXCL1 expression and promoted the accumulation of interferon-responsive neutrophils resulting in BEC damage in BA.
Compensation to Altered Auditory Feedback in Children With Developmental Language Disorder and Typical Development
Authors: Coughler Caitlin , Hamel Emily Michaela , Cardy Janis Oram , Archibald Lisa M. D. , Purcell David W. 
Published: March 2021

Purpose
Developmental language disorder (DLD), an unexplained problem using and understanding spoken language, has been hypothesized to have an underlying auditory processing component. Auditory feedback plays a key role in speech motor control. The current study examined whether auditory feedback is used to regulate speech production in a similar way by children with DLD and their typically developing (TD) peers.

Method
Participants aged 6–11 years completed tasks measuring hearing, language, first formant (F1) discrimination thresholds, partial vowel space, and responses to altered auditory feedback with F1 perturbation.

Results
Children with DLD tended to compensate more than TD children for the positive F1 manipulation and compensated less than TD children in the negative shift condition.

Conclusion
Our findings suggest that children with DLD make atypical use of auditory feedback.