bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Water‐Soluble Cross‐Linking Functional Binder for Low‐Cost and High‐Performance Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Sun Ruimin , Hu Jun , Shi Xuxu , Wang Jing , Zheng Xiangyi , Zhang Yuxiang , Han Bo , Xia Kaisheng , Gao Qiang , Zhou Chenggang , Mai Liqiang 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBinders play an important role in battery systems. The lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries have poor cycling performance owing to large volume alteration of sulfur and shuttle effect. Herein, a novel water‐soluble functional binder (named GN‐BA) is prepared by the cross‐linking effect between gelatin and boric acid. The excellent binder can effectively maintain the integrated electrode stable, buffer the volume changes, prevent active materials exfoliation from current collectors, and anchor polysulfides by chemical bonding. Sulfur electrodes in this binder also exhibit a loosely stacked porous structure, which is advantageous to the electrolyte permeation and fast ion diffusion. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations further verified that the binder can anchor polysulfides by forming BOLi, COLi, and CNLi chemical bonds. At 0.5 C, a high initial capacity of 980 mA h g−1 can be obtained, which is higher than those sulfur cathodes with traditional poly(vinylidene fluoride) binder. When the sulfur loading is up to 5.0 mg cm−2, a high areal specific capacity of 5.7 mA h cm−2 and excellent cycling stability are achieved. This study proposes an economical and environmentally friendly strategy for the construction of advanced binders and promotes the practical application of high‐energy Li–S batteries.
Intrinsic Defect Limit to the Growth of Orthorhombic HfO2 and (Hf,Zr)O2 with Strong Ferroelectricity: First‐Principles Insights
Authors: Wei Jinchen , Jiang Lilai , Huang Menglin , Wu Yuning , Chen Shiyou 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIt is believed that promoting the fraction of ferroelectric orthorhombic phase (o‐phase) through O‐poor growth conditions can increase the spontaneous polarization of HfO2 and (Hf,Zr)O2 thin films. However, the first‐principles calculations show that the growth may be limited by the easy formation of point defects in the orthorhombic and tetragonal phases of HfO2, ZrO2, and (Hf,Zr)O2. Their dominant defects, O interstitial (Oi) under O‐rich conditions and O vacancy (VO) under O‐poor condition, have low formation energies and quite high density (1016–1019 cm−3 for 800–1400 K growth temperature). Especially, Oi has negative formation energy in tetragonal HfO2 under O‐rich condition, causing non‐stoichiometry and limiting the crystalline‐seed formation during o‐phase growth. High‐density defects can cause disordering of dipole moments and increase leakage current, both diminishing the polarization. These results explain the experimental puzzle that the measured polarization is much lower than the ideal value even in O‐poor thin films and highlight that controlling defects is as important as promoting the o‐phase fraction for enhancing ferroelectricity. The O‐intermediate condition (average of O‐rich and O‐poor conditions) and low growth temperature are proposed for fabricating HfO2 and (Hf,Zr)O2 with fewer defects, lower leakage current, and stronger ferroelectricity, which challenges the belief that O‐poor condition is optimal.
Interfacial Instability as Shaping Mechanism for Polystyrene Particles with Tunable Surface Texture
Authors: vom Stein Helena , Volkmer Dirk 
Published: July 2021

AbstractSurfactant‐driven interfacial instability of emulsion droplets has recently emerged as a means for shaping polymeric particles with controllable surface texture. This paper presents a suspension polymerization‐based method to produce surface‐textured polystyrene particles by inducing an instability at the interface of prepolymerized emulsion droplets followed by rapid cooling. The interaction of two surface‐active components, i.e., arachidic acid and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) at the phase boundary triggers the interfacial deformation at a specific point in time. Rapid cooling freezes the deformed emulsion droplets in a nonequilibrium state. Viscosity is proposed as the key parameter influencing the particle morphology, which can be controlled by easily adjustable factors such as initiator concentration, temperature, time, and cooling rate. Contact angle hysteresis measurements of particle thin layers spread on a flat substrate reveal a strong influence of the particle surface texture on the wetting behavior. The presented particle synthesis method requires no specialized equipment and has a high potential for upscaling, making it promising for various applications including hydrophobic coatings, catalyst supports, separation technology, tissue engineering, or drug delivery.
Speech‐in‐noise hearing impairment is associated with an increased risk of incident dementia in 82,039 UK Biobank participants
Authors: Stevenson Jonathan S. , Clifton Lei , Kuźma Elżbieta , Littlejohns Thomas J. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIntroductionLittle is known about the association between speech‐in‐noise (SiN) hearing impairment and dementia.MethodsIn 82,039 dementia‐free participants aged ≥60 years were selected from the UK Biobank. Cox proportional‐hazards models were used to investigate whether SiN hearing impairment is associated with an increased risk of incident dementia.ResultsOver 11 years of follow‐up (median = 10.1), 1285 participants developed dementia. Insufficient and poor SiN hearing were associated with a 61% (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.61, 95% confidence [CI] 1.41–1.84) and 91% (HR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.55–2.36) increased risk of developing dementia, respectively, compared to normal SiN hearing. The association remained similar when restricting to follow‐up intervals of ≤3, >3 to <6, >6 to <9, and >9 years. There was limited evidence for mediation through depressive symptoms and social isolation.DiscussionSiN hearing impairment is independently associated with incident dementia, providing further evidence for hearing impairment as a potential modifiable dementia risk factor.
Subicular Caspase‐1 Contributes to Pharmacoresistance in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Authors: Xu Cenglin , Zhang Shuo , Gong Yiwei , Nao Jiazhen , Shen Yujia , Tan Bei , Xu Shuheng , Cui Sunliang , Ruan Yeping , Wang Shuang , Wang Yi , Chen Zhong 
Published: July 2021

ObjectiveUnidentified mechanisms largely restrict the viability of effective therapies in pharmacoresistant epilepsy. Our previous study revealed that hyperactivity of the subiculum is crucial for the genesis of pharmacoresistance in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), but the underlying molecular mechanism is not clear.MethodsHere, we examined the role of subicular caspase‐1, a key neural pro‐inflammatory enzyme, in pharmacoresistant TLE.ResultsWe found that the expression of activated caspase‐1 in the subiculum, but not the CA1, was upregulated in pharmacoresistant amygdaloid‐kindled rats. Early overexpression of caspase‐1 in the subiculum was sufficient to induce pharmacoresistant TLE in rats, whereas genetic ablation of caspase‐1 interfered with the genesis of pharmacoresistant TLE in both kindled rats and kainic acid‐treated mice. The pro‐pharmacoresistance effect of subicular caspase‐1 was mediated by its downstream inflammasome‐dependent interleukin‐1β. Further electrophysiological results showed that inhibiting caspase‐1 decreased the excitability of subicular pyramidal neurons through influencing the excitation/inhibition balance of presynaptic input. Importantly, a small molecular caspase‐1 inhibitor CZL80 attenuated seizures in pharmacoresistant TLE models, and decreased the neuronal excitability in the brain slices obtained from patients with pharmacoresistant TLE.InterpretationThese results support the subicular caspase‐1‐interleukin‐1β inflammatory pathway as a novel alternative mechanism hypothesis for pharmacoresistant TLE, and present caspase‐1 as a potential target. ANN NEUROL 2021;90:377–390
Postictal Psychosis in Epilepsy: A Clinicogenetic Study
Authors: Braatz Vera , Martins Custodio Helena , Leu Costin , Agrò Luigi , Wang Baihan , Calafato Stella , Rayner Genevieve , Doyle Michael G. , Hengsbach Christian , Bisulli Francesca , Weber Yvonne G. , Gambardella Antonio , Delanty Norman , Cavalleri Gianpiero , Foong Jacqueline , Scheffer Ingrid E. , Berkovic Samuel F. , Bramon Elvira , Balestrini Simona , Sisodiya Sanjay M. 
Published: July 2021

ObjectivePsychoses affecting people with epilepsy increase disease burden and diminish quality of life. We characterized postictal psychosis, which comprises about one quarter of epilepsy‐related psychoses, and has unknown causation.MethodsWe conducted a case–control cohort study including patients diagnosed with postictal psychosis, confirmed by psychiatric assessment, with available data regarding epilepsy, treatment, psychiatric history, psychosis profile, and outcomes. After screening 3,288 epilepsy patients, we identified 83 with psychosis; 49 had postictal psychosis. Controls were 98 adults, matched by age and epilepsy type, with no history of psychosis. Logistic regression was used to investigate clinical factors associated with postictal psychosis; univariate associations with a p value < 0.20 were used to build a multivariate model. Polygenic risk scores for schizophrenia were calculated.ResultsCases were more likely to have seizure clustering (odds ratio [OR] = 7.59, p < 0.001), seizures with a recollected aura (OR = 2.49, p = 0.013), and a family history of psychiatric disease (OR = 5.17, p = 0.022). Cases showed predominance of right temporal epileptiform discharges (OR = 4.87, p = 0.007). There was no difference in epilepsy duration, neuroimaging findings, or antiseizure treatment between cases and controls. Polygenic risk scores for schizophrenia in an extended cohort of postictal psychosis cases (n = 58) were significantly higher than in 1,366 epilepsy controls (R2 = 3%, p = 6 × 10−3), but not significantly different from 945 independent patients with schizophrenia (R2 = 0.1%, p = 0.775).InterpretationPostictal psychosis occurs under particular circumstances in people with epilepsy with a heightened genetic predisposition to schizophrenia, illustrating how disease biology (seizures) and trait susceptibility (schizophrenia) may interact to produce particular outcomes (postictal psychosis) in a common disease. ANN NEUROL 2021;90:464–476
A Borondifluoride‐Complex‐Based Photothermal Agent with an 80 % Photothermal Conversion Efficiency for Photothermal Therapy in the NIR‐II Window
Authors: Jiang Zhiyong , Zhang Changli , Wang Xiaoqing , Yan Ming , Ling Zongxin , Chen Yuncong , Liu Zhipeng 
Published: July 2021

AbstractSmall organic photothermal agents (SOPTAs) that absorb in the second near‐infrared (NIR‐II, 1000–1700 nm) window are highly desirable in photothermal therapy for their good biocompatibility and deeper tissue penetration. However, the design of NIR‐II absorbing SOPTAs remains a great challenge. Herein, we report that molecular engineering of BF2 complex via strengthening the donor‐acceptor conjugation and increasing the intramolecular motions is an efficient strategy to achieve NIR‐II absorbing SOPTAs with high photothermal performance. Based on this strategy, a BF2 complex, BAF4, was designed and synthesized. BAF4 exhibits an intense absorption maximum at 1000 nm and negligible fluorescence. Notably, the nanoparticles of BAF4 achieve a high photothermal conversion efficiency value of 80 % under 1064 nm laser irradiation (0.75 W cm−2). In vitro and in vivo studies reveal the great potential of BAF4 nanoparticles in photoacoustic imaging‐guided photothermal therapy in the NIR‐II window.
Cell‐Permeable Nanobodies Allow Dual‐Color Super‐Resolution Microscopy in Untransfected Living Cells
Authors: Schneider Anselm F. L. , Benz Laila S. , Lehmann Martin , Hackenberger Christian P. R. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractSuper‐resolution microscopy in living cells can be restricted by the availability of small molecule probes, which only exist against few targets and genetically encoded tags. Here, we expand the applicability of live‐cell STED by engineering cell‐permeable and highly fluorescent nanobodies as intracellular targeting agents. To ensure bright fluorescent signals at low concentrations we used the concept of intramolecular photostabilization by ligating a fluorophore along with the photostabilizer trolox to the nanobody using expressed protein ligation (EPL). Furthermore, these semi‐synthetic nanobodies are equipped with a cleavable cell‐penetrating peptide for efficient cellular entry, which enables super‐resolution imaging of GFP and mCherry, as well as two endogenous targets, nuclear lamins and the DNA replication and repair protein PCNA. We monitored cell division and DNA replication via confocal and STED microscopy thus demonstrating the utility of these new intracellular tools for functional analysis.
Engineered acetoacetate‐inducible whole‐cell biosensors based on the AtoSC two‐component system
Authors: Rutter Jack W. , Dekker Linda , Fedorec Alex J. H. , Gonzales David T. , Wen Ke Yan , Tanner Lewis E. S. , Donovan Emma , Ozdemir Tanel , Thomas Geraint M. , Barnes Chris P. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractWhole‐cell biosensors hold potential in a variety of industrial, medical, and environmental applications. These biosensors can be constructed through the repurposing of bacterial sensing mechanisms, including the common two‐component system (TCS). Here we report on the construction of a range of novel biosensors that are sensitive to acetoacetate, a molecule that plays a number of roles in human health and biology. These biosensors are based on the AtoSC TCS. An ordinary differential equation model to describe the action of the AtoSC TCS was developed and sensitivity analysis of this model used to help inform biosensor design. The final collection of biosensors constructed displayed a range of switching behaviours at physiologically relevant acetoacetate concentrations and can operate in several Escherichia coli host strains. It is envisaged that these biosensor strains will offer an alternative to currently available commercial strip tests and, in future, may be adopted for more complex in vivo or industrial monitoring applications.
Engineering analysis of multienzyme cascade reactions for 3ʹ‐sialyllactose synthesis
Authors: Schelch Sabine , Eibinger Manuel , Gross Belduma Stefanie , Petschacher Barbara , Kuballa Jürgen , Nidetzky Bernd 
Published: July 2021

AbstractSialo‐oligosaccharides are important products of emerging biotechnology for complex carbohydrates as nutritional ingredients. Cascade bio‐catalysis is central to the development of sialo‐oligosaccharide production systems, based on isolated enzymes or whole cells. Multienzyme transformations have been established for sialo‐oligosaccharide synthesis from expedient substrates, but systematic engineering analysis for the optimization of such transformations is lacking. Here, we show a mathematical modeling‐guided approach to 3ʹ‐sialyllactose (3SL) synthesis from N‐acetyl‐
d‐neuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) and lactose in the presence of cytidine 5ʹ‐triphosphate, via the reactions of cytidine 5ʹ‐monophosphate‐Neu5Ac synthetase and α2,3‐sialyltransferase. The Neu5Ac was synthesized in situ from N‐acetyl‐
d‐mannosamine using the reversible reaction with pyruvate by Neu5Ac lyase or the effectively irreversible reaction with phosphoenolpyruvate by Neu5Ac synthase. We show through comprehensive time‐course study by experiment and modeling that, due to kinetic rather than thermodynamic advantages of the synthase reaction, the 3SL yield was increased (up to 75%; 10.4 g/L) and the initial productivity doubled (15 g/L/h), compared with synthesis based on the lyase reaction. We further show model‐based optimization to minimize the total loading of protein (saving: up to 43%) while maintaining a suitable ratio of the individual enzyme activities to achieve 3SL target yield (61%–75%; 7–10 g/L) and overall productivity (3–5 g/L/h). Collectively, our results reveal the principal factors of enzyme cascade efficiency for 3SL synthesis and highlight the important role of engineering analysis to make multienzyme‐catalyzed transformations fit for oligosaccharide production.
Social inclusion and the circular economy: The case of a fashion textiles manufacturer in Vietnam
Authors: Clube Rebecca K. M. , Tennant Mike 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThere has been significant growth in interest in the circular economy (“CE”) concept as a transformative solution to the prevailing linear economy, helping to solve various economic, environmental and social challenges. Nevertheless, pertinent issues such as societal inclusion, well‐being and equity remain peripheral in the contemporary CE debate. Fulfilling human needs has been recognised as a prerequisite for sustainable development and was implicitly and explicitly prevalent in parts of the seminal material on which the CE is based. However, the contemporary use of the concept by business has left it bereft of any convincing evidence that a CE will satisfy needs in a radically different way to the existing linear economy. As a result, there are few practical cases for business learning, and even fewer in a developing world context. This study explores a unique business venture implemented by a Vietnam‐based denim manufacturer, which simultaneously tackles two key development challenges: The inclusion of vulnerable communities and sustainable resource use. The venture employs persons with disabilities and utilises textile by‐products from the core production to produce a range of upcycled items (e.g., bags, cushion covers etc). This forms part of a broader company‐wide social sustainability and CE strategy. We utilise Max‐Neef's Human‐Scale Development proposal as a lens explore how the venture can support need satisfaction of these employees while being environmentally sustainable. We seek to provide a compelling practical case to illustrate how social impact and circularity can be simultaneously enhanced at the micro‐level.
Probing morphological, genetic and metabolomic changes of in vitro embryo development in a microfluidic device
Authors: Mancini Vanessa , McKeegan Paul J. , Schrimpe‐Rutledge Alexandra C. , Codreanu Simona G. , Sherrod Stacy D. , McLean John A. , Picton Helen M. , Pensabene Virginia 
Published: July 2021

AbstractAssisted reproduction technologies for clinical and research purposes rely on a brief in vitro embryo culture which, despite decades of progress, remain suboptimal in comparison to the physiological environment. One promising tool to improve this technique is the development of bespoke microfluidic chambers. Here we present and validate a new microfluidic device in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) for the culture of early mouse embryos. Device material and design resulted embryo compatible and elicit minimal stress. Blastocyst formation, hatching, attachment and outgrowth formation on fibronectin‐coated devices were similar to traditional microdrop methods. Total blastocyst cell number and allocation to the trophectoderm and inner cell mass lineages were unaffected. The devices were designed for culture of 10–12 embryos. Development rates, mitochondrial polarization and metabolic turnover of key energy substrates glucose, pyruvate and lactate were consistent with groups of 10 embryos in microdrop controls. Increasing group size to 40 embryos per device was associated with increased variation in development rates and altered metabolism. Device culture did not perturb blastocyst gene expression but did elicit changes in embryo metabolome, which can be ascribed to substrate leaching from PDMS and warrant further investigation.
Clinical presentation and survival outcomes of well‐differentiated thyroid cancer in Filipinos
Authors: Megwalu Uchechukwu C. , Ma Yifei , Osazuwa‐Peters Nosayaba , Orloff Lisa A. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundFilipinos have higher recurrence rates compared to other racial/ethnic groups, which might suggest a higher propensity for aggressive disease. The goal of this study was to perform a population‐based analysis of disease extent at diagnosis and survival outcomes in Filipino patients with well‐differentiated thyroid cancer relative to other racial/ethnic groups.MethodsThe study cohort comprised adult patients with well‐differentiated thyroid cancer diagnosed between 2004 and 2015, identified in the California Cancer Registry. Rates of extrathyroidal extension, nodal metastasis, and distant metastasis were compared between Filipinos, Non‐Filipino Asians, and Non‐Asians using multilevel logistic regression models. Survival outcomes were compared using Cox regression models, utilizing a sequential modeling approach.ResultsFilipino ethnicity was associated with extrathyroidal extension (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.11–1.63) compared with non‐Asians and non‐Filipino Asians. Filipino ethnicity was also associated with nodal metastasis (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.18–1.46), and with worse OS (Hazard Ratio [HR] 1.45, 95% CI 1.20–1.75) and DSS (HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.12–2.04). After adjusting for demographic and clinical factors, Filipino ethnicity was no longer associated with OS (HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.84–1.25) or DSS (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.68–1.28).ConclusionFilipino patients with thyroid cancer are more likely to present with locoregionally advanced disease compared with non‐Filipino Asians and non‐Asians. Furthermore, Filipino patients have worse survival outcomes compared with non‐Filipino Asians and non‐Asians. However, this appears to be driven by the higher rates of locoregionally advanced disease in Filipino patients.
Ultrastructural heterogeneity of the mitochondrial population in rat embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Suldina Lyubov A. , Sorokina Anastasiya E. , Morozova Ksenia N. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractEven though rats are popular model animals, the ultrastructure of their pluripotent cells, that is, embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), remains unexplored, although fine structure of pluripotent stem cells of mice and humans and its changes during differentiation have been investigated well. In the present study, we carried out ultrastructural and morphometric analyses of three lines of rat ESCs and two lines of rat iPSCs. The rat pluripotent stem cells were found to have the main typical morphological features of pluripotent cells: large nuclei of irregular or nearly round shape, scanty cytoplasm with few membrane organelles, and a poorly developed Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum. The cytoplasm of the rat pluripotent cells contains clusters of glycogen, previously described in human ESCs. To identify possible differences between rat ESCs and iPSCs, we performed a morphometric analysis of cell parameters. The mean area of cells and nuclei, the nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, distributions of glycogen and diversity of mitochondria showed marked variations among the lines of rat pluripotent stem cells and were more pronounced than variations between rat ESCs and iPSCs as separate types of pluripotent stem cells. We noted morphological heterogeneity of the mitochondrial population in the rat pluripotent stem cells. The cells contained three types of mitochondria differing in the structure of cristae and in matrix density, and our morphometric analysis revealed differences in cristae structure.
A closer look at discordant placental echogenicity: two cases under the microscope
Authors: Lanna Mariano M. , Toto Valentina , Faiola Stefano , Casati Daniela , Bulfamante Gaetano P. , Cetin Irene , Rustico Maria Angela 
Published: July 2021

AbstractDiscordant placental echogenicity is observed in MC pregnancies complicated with twin anemia‐polycythemia sequence, but could also belong to complicated singleton gestation.