bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Significant correlation between HSPA4 and prognosis and immune regulation in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Shang Bing-Bing , Chen Jun , Wang Zhi-Guo , Liu Hui 
Published: October 2021

Background
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an inflammation-associated tumor involved in immune tolerance and evasion in the immune microenvironment. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are involved in the occurrence, progression, and immune regulation of tumors. Therefore, HSPs have been considered potential therapeutic targets. Here, we aimed to elucidate the value of HSP family A (Hsp70) member 4 (HSPA4) in the diagnosis and predicting prognosis of HCC, and its relationship with immune cell infiltration, immune cell biomarkers, and immune checkpoints. Gene mutation, DNA methylation, and the pathway involved in HCC were also analyzed.

Methods
The gene expression omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases were used to compare HSPA4 expression, and the results were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining of clinical samples. R package was used to analyze the correlation between HSPA4 and cancer stage, and to establish receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of diagnosis, time-dependent survival ROC curve, and a nomogram model. cBioPortal and MethSurv were used to identify genetic alterations and DNA methylation, and their effect on prognosis. The Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) was used to analyze immune cell infiltration, immune cell biomarkers, and immune checkpoints. The STRING database was used to analyze protein–protein interaction network information. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed to investigate the functions of HSPA4 and its functional partner genes.

Results
Overexpression of HSPA4 was identified in 25 cancers. Overexpression of HSPA4 considerably correlated with cancer stage and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level in HCC. Patients with higher HSPA4 expression showed poorer prognosis. HSPA4 expression can accurately identify tumor from normal tissue (AUC = 0.957). The area under 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival ROCs were above 0.6. The HSPA4 genetic alteration rate was 1.3%. Among the 14 DNA methylation CpG sites, seven were related to the prognosis of HCC. HSPA4 was positively related to immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoints (PD-1 and CTLA-4) in HCC. The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed HSPA4 enrichment in antigen processing and presentation together with HSPA8 and HSP90AA1. We verified the value of HSPA4 in the diagnosis and predicting prognosis of HCC. HSPA4 may not only participate in the occurrence and progression but also the immune regulation of HCC. Therefore, HSPA4 can be a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker and a therapeutic target for HCC.
Single Stem Rouging of Banana Xanthomonas Wilt Infected Plants for Orchard Rehabilitation
Authors: Kisera Kwach Johnson , Nyakomitta Peter Sungu , Muthomi James Wanjohi , Ndayitegeye Olivier , Okoko Evelyn Nasambu 
Published: October 2021

Banana Xanthomonas Wilt (BXW), caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum (Xcm), a devastating disease, causes up to 100% loss and affects all banana varieties. The disease is widespread in East and Central Africa region. Study objective was to evaluate the performance of single stem rouging options for rehabilitation of severely affected banana orchard. Five single stem rouging options were implemented in banana orchard with 80% BXW severity in Western Kenya. The options included rouging of infected banana plants; uprooting, cutting at the base, injecting 20 ml of glyphosate herbicide at the soil base of the pseudostem, uprooting the whole stool and control leaving the infected stools. Initial visual assesment before implementation of the orchard was over 80% infection. Later samples were collected for diagnosis of ten plants per treatment from different plant parts and were subjected to ELISA and PCR procedures for confirmion of the presence of Xcm. Rouging options was implemented for one year. During and after experimentation periodic visual assesment of BXW incidence and severity reduced. Results of ELISA assays and PCR results indicated Xanthomonas was present on banana plants. Rouging the infected banana stems by cutting at the base, uprooting and injection of herbicide reduced BXW incidence within six months. Xanthomonas, an inhibiting bacteria cannot surve without host and by killing the banana plant the Xanthomonas dies. Yields were recovered from the rehabilitated orchard within one year. Banana orchard highly infected with BXW was effectively rehabilitated.
Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy
Authors: Amemiya Shigeru 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) enables the high‐resolution imaging and measurement of electrochemical, chemical, and biological reactions at various interfaces. The power of SECM originates from the versatility based on the highly accurate and precise positioning of a micrometer‐ or nanometer‐sized ultramicroelectrode tip near the surface of substrates including nanomaterials and biological cells. The current response of the SECM tip (and that of the substrate when needed) is monitored to quantitatively probe the dynamics of a targeted reaction
in situ
and in real‐time. This article is concerned about the fundamental principle and recent progress of SECM for both imaging and nonimaging applications. Major progress was made through the development of specific instrumentation and protocols to transition nanoscale SECM into a reliable and powerful scientific tool. Nanoscale SECM can image and characterize single molecules and single nanostructures, quantitatively address the kinetics of otherwise unmeasurably fast reactions, and dynamically resolve a complicated reaction into multiple steps. Further technological advancement will find the wide and routine applications of nanoscale SECM. By contrast, microscale SECM is broadly used as an established method in various research areas including biology, corrosion, energy, and materials science to gain deeper insights into the mechanisms of important processes such as electrocatalysis and cellular activity and signaling. The ever‐lasting development of SECM during the last three decades manifested that the fundamental concept of SECM far exceeded and preceded our research needs and technological capabilities, which have not matched yet to fully realize the high potentials of this already remarkable methodology.
Scanning Ion‐Conductance Microscopy
Authors: Marcuccio Fabio , Actis Paolo 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Scanning ion‐conductance microscopy (SICM) is a scanning probe technique employing a glass nanopipette to reconstruct topographical information of a sample immersed in an electrolyte solution. The feedback mechanism relies on the measurement of the ion current flowing through a nanoscale pore at the tip of the nanopipette whose amplitude depends on the nanopipette‐sample separation. We present the principle of functioning of the various scanning modalities and highlight the key applications for each of them.
The noncontact nature of the SICM feedback together with the possibility to operate in physiological buffers makes it particularly suitable for application in cell biology and particularly for live‐cell imaging. Since its inception in 1989, SICM has been deployed for a variety of applications other than topographical mapping and we present the most creative recent applications in biosensing, nanosurgery, electrochemistry, 3D printing, and nanomechanical mapping.
Nanoconfinement Measurement: Nanopore Electrochemistry
Authors: Long Yi‐Tao , Yu Ru‐Jia , Lu Si‐Min 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Nanopore measurement has been proposed since 1996 and has been expanding greatly over the past two decades. The pore‐based nanoconfinement measurement enables many significant new insights and opportunities, leading a new direction in electrochemistry. In this article, we first begin with the construction of nanopores, including the biological nanopore, solid‐state nanopore, and the glass nanopore. Furthermore, the principles of nanopore measurement and the wide‐ranging applications are discussed, mainly the resistive‐pulse‐based measurement, ion current rectification‐based measurement, nanopore‐based sampling and delivery, and the nanopore‐extended electron‐transfer measurement.
Electrochemistry in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells
Authors: Bhunia Prasenjit , Dutta Kingshuk 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) are being considered as one of the highly valued renewable energy sources, as evident from enormous work being carried out on the development of these devices over the past three decades. DMFCs are devices that directly transform the stored chemical energy of methanol into usable electrical energy. For this purpose, the fuel methanol gets oxidized at the anode of a DMFC, and oxygen gets reduced at the cathode in the presence of suitable electrocatalysts. Both the electrooxidation and electroreduction processes require involvement of protons and electrons. These electrode reactions, along with the transport of protons through the membrane electrolyte separator, are the backbone of DMFC operation, and the efficiencies of these phenomena are critical in the ultimate performance of the DMFC device. Keeping this in mind, this article has been completely dedicated to discussion and analysis of in‐depth fundamental electrochemistry involved within the membrane electrode assembly of DMFCs. In this regard, the involved electrochemical reactions in both acidic and alkaline media have been systematically described, with precise emphasis on the methanol oxidation reaction and the oxygen reduction reaction. In addition, the membrane characteristics and the mixed potential arising due to methanol crossover through the membrane have also been explained. Finally, the fundamental electrochemical aspects of DMFCs have been discussed systematically for easy understanding of the readers.
Microfluidic Fuel Cells
Authors: Gurrola M. P. , Escalona‐Villalpando R. A. , Arjona N. , Ledesma‐García J. , Arriaga L. G. 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
This chapter provides an overview of the challenges and developments in microfluidics fuel cells, as well as a description of fundamental principles, components, electrodes, enzymatic and abiotics electrocatalysts, designs, stacks and representative results and perspectives of microfluidics energy conversion electrochemical systems as fuel cells.
Chalcogen Tailoring of Cobalt‐Based Electrocatalytic Materials
Authors: Zhong Haihong , Alonso‐Vante Nicolas 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThis article summarizes the latest developments on cobalt‐based chalcogenide nanostructured materials including sulfides, selenides, and tellurides. This materials family presents an interesting perspective in devices for energy conversion and storage. The main electrochemical processes are the fuel‐cell reactions oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) as well as the electrolyzer reactions oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The various design strategies and undertaken chemical routes of synthesis have been summarized. This approach gives an idea of the challenging tasks, explored so far in various laboratories devoted to nonprecious metal centers electrocatalysts in the world, to obtain highly active and stable materials in combination with the nature of the catalysts' supports.
Performance optimization of a tri‐hybrid method for estimation of patient scatter into the EPID
Authors: Guo Kaiming , Ingleby Harry , Van Uytven Eric , Elbakri Idris , Van Beek Timothy , McCurdy Boyd 
Published: October 2021

AbstractOn‐treatment EPID images are contaminated with patient‐generated scattered photons. If this component can be accurately estimated, its effect can be removed, and therefore a corresponding in vivo patient dose estimate will be more accurate. Our group previously developed a "tri‐hybrid" (TH) algorithm to provide fast but accurate estimates of patient‐generated photon scatter. The algorithm uses an analytical method to solve for singly‐scattered photon fluence, a modified Monte Carlo hybrid method to solve for multiply‐scattered photon fluence, and a pencil beam scatter kernel method to solve for electron interaction generated scattered photon fluence. However, for efficient clinical implementation, spatial and energy sampling must be optimized for speed while maintaining overall accuracy.In this work, the most significant sampling issues were examined, including spatial sampling settings for the patient voxel size, the number of Monte Carlo histories used in the modified hybrid MC method, scatter order sampling for the hybrid method, and also a range of energy spectrum sampling (i.e., energy bin sizes).The total predicted patient‐scattered photon fluence entering the EPID was compared with full MC simulation (EGSnrc) for validation. Three phantoms were tested with 6 and 18 MV beam energies, field sizes of 4 × 4, 10 × 10, and 20 × 20 cm2, and source‐to‐imager distance of 140 cm to develop a set of optimal sampling settings.With the recommended sampling, accuracy and precision of the total‐scattered energy fluence of the TH patient scatter prediction method are within 0.9% and 1.2%, respectively, for all test cases compared with full MC simulation results. For the mean energy spectrum across the imaging plane, comparison of TH with full MC simulation showed 95% overlap.This study has optimized sampling settings so that they have minimal impact on patient scatter prediction accuracy while maintaining maximum execution speed, a critical step for future clinical implementation.
Local Delivery of Senolytic Drug Inhibits Intervertebral Disc Degeneration and Restores Intervertebral Disc Structure
Authors: Lim Songhyun , An Seong Bae , Jung Mungyo , Joshi Hari Prasad , Kumar Hemant , Kim Cheesue , Song Seuk Young , Lee Ju‐Ro , Kang Mikyung , Han Inbo , Kim Byung‐Soo 
Published: October 2021

AbstractIntervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IVDD) is a leading cause of chronic low back pain. There is a strong clinical demand for more effective treatments for IVDD as conventional treatments provide only symptomatic relief rather than arresting IVDD progression. This study shows that senolytic therapy with local drug delivery can inhibit IVDD and restore IVD integrity. ABT263, a senolytic drug, is loaded in poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PLGA‐ABT) and intradiscally administered into injury‐induced IVDD rat models. The single intradiscal injection of PLGA‐ABT may enable local delivery of the drug to avascular IVD, prevention of potential systemic toxicity caused by systemic administration of senolytic drug, and morbidity caused by repetitive injections of free drug into the IVD. The strategy results in the selective elimination of senescent cells from the degenerative IVD, reduces expressions of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and matrix proteases in the IVD, inhibits progression of IVDD, and even restores the IVD structure. This study demonstrates for the first time that local delivery of senolytic drug can effectively treat senescence‐associated IVDD. This approach can be extended to treat other types of senescence‐associated degenerative diseases.
Personalized and Programmable Microneedle Dressing for Promoting Wound Healing
Authors: Wang Yuqiu , Lu Huihui , Guo Maoze , Chu Jianlin , Gao Bingbing , He Bingfang 
Published: October 2021

AbstractMicroneedle (MN) dressings, with the ability of transdermal drug delivery, have played an essential role in the field of wound healing. However, patients may still feel uncomfortable when sensitive unhealing wounds are pieced by strong needles. Here, inspired by the structure of mosquito mouthparts, which possess a fixation part and a liquid‐transferring part, we present a novel MN wound dressing with superfine needle tips, personalized pattern design, programmable needle length, and multiple mechanical strengths for intelligent and painless drug delivery. By simply stretching the silicone rubber (Ecoflex) molds before engraving, superfine MNs can be formed in the restored molds. Meanwhile, by utilizing intelligent image recognition, precise treatment for irregular wounds is achieved. Notably, combined with temperature‐responsive N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) hydrogel and inverse opal (IO) photonic crystals (PCs), a controllable drug release system has been achieved on MN dressings. Moreover, the performance of the MN dressing in facilitating wound recovery has been demonstrated by full‐thickness skin wounds of a mouse model. These results indicate that novel personalized and programmable MN wound dressings are of considerable value in the field of wound management.
Defective Bimetallic Selenides for Selective CO2 Electroreduction to CO
Authors: Wang Jiajun , Zheng Xuerong , Wang Guangjin , Cao Yanhui , Ding Wenlong , Zhang Jinfeng , Wu Han , Ding Jia , Hu Huilin , Han Xiaopeng , Ma Tianyi , Deng Yida , Hu Wenbin 
Published: October 2021

AbstractCO2 electroreduction (CO2RR) to CO is promising for the carbon cycle but still remains challenging. Au is regarded as the most selective catalyst for CO2RR, but its high cost significantly hinders its industrial application. Herein, the bimetallic CuInSe2 is found to exhibit an Au‐like catalytic feature: i) the interaction of Cu and In orbitals induces a moderate adsorption strength of CO2RR intermediates and favors the reaction pathway; and ii) the hydrogen evolution is energetically unfavorable on CuInSe2, as a surface reconstruction along with high energy change will occur after hydrogen adsorption. Furthermore, the Se vacancy is found to induce an electron redistribution, slightly tune the band structure, and optimize the CO2RR route of bimetallic selenide. Consequently, the Se‐defective CuInSe2 (V‐CuInSe2) achieves a highly selective CO production ability that is comparable to noble metals in aqueous electrolyte, and the V‐CuInSe2 cathode shows a satisfactory performance in an aqueous Zn–CO2 cell. This work demonstrates that designing cost‐effective catalysts with noble‐metal‐like properties is an ideal strategy for developing efficient electrocatalysts. Moreover, the class of transition bimetallic selenides has shown promising prospects as active and cost‐effective electrocatalysts owing to their unique structural, electronic, and catalytic properties.
Contamination‐Assisted Rather Than Metal Catalyst‐Free Bottom‐Up Growth of Silicon Nanowires
Authors: Dashtestani Ashkan Djaberi , Moeinian Ardeshir , Biskupek Johannes , Strehle Steffen 
Published: October 2021

AbstractWell‐established metal‐catalyzed vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) growth represents still undoubtedly the key technology for bottom‐up synthesis of single‐crystalline silicon nanowires (SiNWs). Although various SiNW applications are demonstrated, electrical and optical properties are exposed to the inherent risk of electronic deep trap state formation by metal impurities. Therefore, metal catalyst‐free growth strategies are intriguing. The oxid‐assisted SiNW synthesis is explored and it is shown that contamination control is absolutely crucial. Slightest metal impurities, such as iron, are sufficient to trigger SiNW growth, calling into question true metal catalyst‐free SiNW synthesis. Therefore, the term contamination‐assisted is rather introduced and it is shown that contamination‐assisted SiNW growth is determined by the chemical surface treatment (e.g., with KOH solution), but also by the crystal orientation of a silicon substrate. SiNWs are grown in this regards in a reproducible manner, but so far with a distinct tapering, using a conventional gas‐phase reactor system at temperatures of about 680 °C and monosilane (SiH4) as the precursor gas. The synthesized SiNWs show convincing electrical properties compared to Au‐catalyzed SiNWs. Nevertheless, contamination‐assisted growth of SiNWs appears to be an important step toward bottom‐up synthesis of high‐quality SiNWs with a lower risk of metal poisoning, such as those needed for CMOS and other technologies.
Fine Tuning the Morphology of Spinel as Ultra‐Stable Catalyst Support in Propane Dehydrogenation
Authors: Xie Jiyang , Jiang Haoqing , Qian Ying , Wang Hongqin , An Nihong , Chen Shuai , Dai Yunsheng , Guo Shuailong 
Published: October 2021

AbstractRecently, the propane dehydrogenation (PDH) to propylene has become one of the most promising and attractive techniques for the production of propylene because the success of the large‐scale exploitation of shale gas can supply an abundance of cheap propane for this process. Al2O3 is usually used as a support for PtSn catalysts to withstand the harsh reaction environment in the PDH process. However, due to the formation of coke and thermal agglomeration of metal particles, the PtSn catalyst suffers severe deactivation. Therefore, spinel supports are rationally designed with different morphologies (sphere, sheet, and rod) to stabilize the PtSn catalyst in the PDH. Specifically, the rod‐like spinel support exhibits a larger pore size and suitable interaction with PtSn nanoparticles shows an excellent C3H8 conversion rate of 43.2% and a C3H6 selectivity of 95.0% with an extremely low deactivation rate of 0.005 h−1 for the cycle test, standing as one of the best PDH catalysts reported to date and outperforming the commercial PtSn/Al2O3 catalysts. Besides, this catalyst is compatible with the industrial process to achieve scalable production.
Silicon isotope fractionation with a low‐silica rice mutant reflects plant uptake strategy in response to different silicon supply levels
Authors: Zhou Jingjie , Si Linlin , Xiao Han , Sun Yan , Ma Qingxu , Liu Mengjiao , Xu Meng , Wang Jun , Ni Liang , Wu Lianghuan 
Published: October 2021

AbstractPlants may modulate uptake pathways when the nutrient concentration varies. The identified transporters Lsi1 and Lsi2 belong to low‐affinity systems; however, it is unknown whether a high‐affinity system responsible for silicon (Si) transport exists or how plants modulate Si uptake pathways. We aimed at developing isotope fractionation as a novel tool for nutrient uptake and cycling in plants. We grew the wild‐type rice ‘Oochikara’ and its mutant lsi1 under low (Si‐L: 0.17 mM) and high (Si‐H: 1.70 mM) Si supply levels and evaluated Si isotope fractionation between different Si pools. The isotope fractionations between Oochikara and nutrient solution were –0.15 and –0.63‰ at Si‐L and Si‐H, respectively; between lsi1 and nutrient solution they were –0.18 and –1.33‰ at Si‐L and Si‐H, respectively. The qualitative isotope fractionation caused by Lsi1 were –0.09 and –0.49‰ at Si‐L and Si‐H, respectively. We thus verified the hypothesis that Lsi1 preferred 28Si transport over 30Si and that this preference was independent of Si supply levels. Changes in Δ30Siplant‐solution suggested that a high‐affinity system exists and that plants may regulate Si uptake strategy by changing the participation of low‐affinity and high‐affinity pathways. Another root–shoot translocation that favors 28Si has been found in Si‐H‐lsi1 that previously occurred in banana (Musa spp.), which suggested that Si xylem loading is related to the different Si transport abilities of Lsi1 and Lsi2. Our results demonstrated that Si isotope fractionation can shed light on plants’ response to variable nutrient conditions.