Dynamic Research Field Research Articles

Metabolomics: Going Deeper, Going Broader, Going Further.

Metabolomics is a continuously dynamic field of research that is driven by demanding research questions and technological advances alike. In this review we highlight selected recent and ongoing developments in the area of mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. The field of view that can be seen through the metabolomics lens can be broadened by adoption of separation techniques such as hydrophilic interaction chromatography and ion mobility mass spectrometry (going broader). For a given biospecimen, deeper metabolomic analysis can be achieved by resolving smaller entities such as rare cell populations or even single cells using nano-LC and spatially resolved metabolomics or by extracting more useful information through improved metabolite identification in untargeted metabolomic experiments (going deeper). Integration of metabolomics with other (omics) data allows researchers to further advance in the understanding of the complex metabolic and regulatory networks in cells and model organisms (going further). Taken together, diverse fields of research from mechanistic studies to clinics to biotechnology applications profit from these technological developments.

New Dinitrophenyl Hydrazones as Colorimetric Probes for Anions

Anion sensing is a dynamic research field due to the biological and environmental importance of some organic or inorganic anions. Hydrazones show promising properties in the design of anion chemosensors due to the presence of proton donor and acceptor sites in their structure. In this work, two novel dinitrophenyl hydrazones, functionalized with a quinoline moiety, were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques. The interaction between the new compounds 3a–b with different organic and inorganic anions was assessed. The two compounds showed a change in color from light yellow to magenta in the presence of H2PO4−, CH3COO−, BzO−, CN−, and F−. The interactions were analyzed by spectrophotometric titrations and the stoichiometry of the interaction was assessed by the method of continuous variation. Compound 3b showed a remarkable sensitivity to CN−, with a limit of detection of 0.35 µM. The interaction of compound 3b with CN− and F− was also analyzed by 1H NMR titrations, showing that an increasing concentration of anions induce a deprotonation of the NH and OH groups.

2000-2019: Twenty Years of Highly Influential Publications in Molecular Plant Immunity.

Molecular plant immunity is a dynamic research field that broadly addresses how plants interact with their associated organisms and defend themselves against pests and pathogens. Here, we aimed at providing readers with a snapshot of influential molecular plant immunity research by identifying and analyzing 170 highly influential publications in molecular plant immunity (hereafter called HIPPYs) published in this field between 2000 and 2019. Our analysis draws a broad analytical knowledge of influential scientific advances in the field as well as of the research community that made them. We notably show that HIPPYs are shared by a small, structured, and connected research community. The HIPPYs address coherent research questions using a handful of key model objects (i.e., organisms or molecules) and report findings and concepts that contribute to our integrated understanding of the molecular interactions between plants and their associated organisms. Our 'HIP in' ('highly influential publication in' ...) method is easily transposable to other large research areas and may help early career researchers to gain a broader knowledge of their field of interest. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.

Five Common Myths Limiting Engagement in HIV-Related Implementation Research.

HIV-related implementation research holds great promise in achieving the potential of efficacious prevention and treatment tools in reducing the incidence of HIV and improving HIV treatment outcomes among people living with HIV. From the perspectives of HIV-related implementation research training and academia and through consultations with funders and investigators new to implementation research, we identified 5 myths that act as barriers to engagement in implementation research among new investigators. Prevailing myths broadly include (1) one must rigidly apply all aspects of an implementation framework for it to be valid, (2) implementation research limits the type of designs available to researchers, (3) implementation strategies cannot be patient-level or client-level approaches, (4) only studies prioritizing implementation outcomes are "true" implementation research, and (5) if not explicitly labeled implementation research, it may have limited impact on implementation. We offer pragmatic approaches to negotiate these myths with the goal of encouraging dialog, ensuring high-quality research, and fostering a more inclusive and dynamic field of implementation research. Ultimately, the goal of dispelling these myths was to lower the perceived bar to engagement in HIV-related implementation research while still ensuring quality in the methods and measures used.

Novel Models of Crohn's Disease Pathogenesis Associated with the Occurrence of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Intestinal Cells.

Crohn’s disease remains one of the challenging problems of modern medicine, and the development of new and effective and safer treatments against it is a dynamic field of research. To make such developments possible, it is important to understand the pathologic processes underlying the onset and progression of Crohn’s disease at the molecular and cellular levels. During the recent years, the involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction and associated chronic inflammation in these processes became evident. In this review, we discuss the published works on pathogenetic models of Crohn’s disease. These models make studying the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the disease pathogenesis possible and advances the development of novel therapies.

An Empirical Evaluation of Methodologies Used for Emotion Recognition via EEG Signals

ABSTRACT A goal of brain–computer-interface (BCI) research is to accurately classify participants’ emotional status via objective measurements. While there has been a growth in EEG-BCI literature tackling this issue, there exist methodological limitations that undermine its ability to reach conclusions. These include both the nature of the stimuli used to induce emotions and the steps used to process and analyze the data. To highlight and overcome these limitations we appraised whether previous literature using commonly used, widely available, datasets is purportedly classifying between emotions based on emotion-related signals of interest and/or non-emotional artifacts. Subsequently, we propose new methods based on empirically driven, scientifically rigorous, foundations. We close by providing guidance to any researcher involved or wanting to work within this dynamic research field.

2D Material‐Based Photodetectors for Infrared Imaging

As a dynamic research field, infrared (IR) detection and imaging presents broad prospect in spectra‐chemistry, biomedicine, and artificial intelligence. Due to the excellent properties, 2D materials are expected to overcome the serious manufacturing cost and integration problems of Si‐based photodetectors, providing opportunities for the universal application of IR imaging. Up to now, dozens of 2D materials are used to manufacture IR photodetectors. The ultrathin and flexible 2D material‐based optoelectronic devices, which are easy to machine and integrate, will demonstrate the application beyond imagination. In this review, first, the principle of IR detection and imaging is introduced, in which the single pixel and array imaging are discussed. Then the promising materials, toward broadband detection and special detection, are introduced in brief and the devices for imaging are summarized, including the mode based on light intensity and the strategy originated from polarization. Finally, it is prospected that the 2D materials have the capability to show the integral IR world, which contains large amount of valuable information such as molecular vibration spectra and significant applications such as artificial retina.

Selective world-building: Collaboration and regional specificities in the marine biodiversity field

Over the past two decades, the scientific study of marine biodiversity developed into one of the most dynamic research fields within environmental research in general and ocean science in particular. Marine biodiversity research spans a broad range of spatial and temporal scales, scientific disciplines, and infrastructures for assessing patterns of change in marine biodiversity with different topics and regions contributing to the abstract construction of the field. Yet, beneath the surface of these abstract constructions and attributions such as “big science” to assess the international, interdisciplinary and data-driven nature marine biodiversity research, patterns of scientific collaboration emerge that shape the contributions of different world regions to the field. Furthermore, legal, political and territorial orders shape scientific collaboration by determining access to the marine environment and the study thereof. To understand these dynamics, this study analyses scientific publications on marine biodiversity using topic modeling methodology. Our approach provides the opportunity not only to describe large clusters within the field of marine biodiversity, but also to show how these topical clusters differ in time and across regions. By looking at the temporal and regional level, we wish to contribute to a deeper understanding of collaboration and regional specificity in the emergence of new research fields and – what we call – “selective world-building” across time and space.

Notable Papers and New Directions in Sensors, Signals, and Imaging Informatics

SummaryObjective: To identify and highlight research papers representing noteworthy developments in signals, sensors, and imaging informatics in 2020. Method: A broad literature search was conducted on PubMed and Scopus databases. We combined Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms and keywords to construct particular queries for sensors, signals, and image informatics. We only considered papers that have been published in journals providing at least three articles in the query response. Section editors then independently reviewed the titles and abstracts of preselected papers assessed on a three-point Likert scale. Papers were rated from 1 (do not include) to 3 (should be included) for each topical area (sensors, signals, and imaging informatics) and those with an average score of 2 or above were subsequently read and assessed again by two of the three co-editors. Finally, the top 14 papers with the highest combined scores were considered based on consensus. Results: The search for papers was executed in January 2021. After removing duplicates and conference proceedings, the query returned a set of 101, 193, and 529 papers for sensors, signals, and imaging informatics, respectively. We filtered out journals that had less than three papers in the query results, reducing the number of papers to 41, 117, and 333, respectively. From these, the co-editors identified 22 candidate papers with more than 2 Likert points on average, from which 14 candidate best papers were nominated after intensive discussion. At least five external reviewers then rated the remaining papers. The four finalist papers were found using the composite rating of all external reviewers. These best papers were approved by consensus of the International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) Yearbook editorial board. Conclusions. Sensors, signals, and imaging informatics is a dynamic field of intense research. The four best papers represent advanced approaches for combining, processing, modeling, and analyzing heterogeneous sensor and imaging data. The selected papers demonstrate the combination and fusion of multiple sensors and sensor networks using electrocardiogram (ECG), electroencephalogram (EEG), or photoplethysmogram (PPG) with advanced data processing, deep and machine learning techniques, and present image processing modalities beyond state-of-the-art that significantly support and further improve medical decision making.

Screen Printing Carbon Nanotubes Textiles Antennas for Smart Wearables.

Electronic textiles have become a dynamic research field in recent decades, attracting attention to smart wearables to develop and integrate electronic devices onto clothing. Combining traditional screen-printing techniques with novel nanocarbon-based inks offers seamless integration of flexible and conformal antenna patterns onto fabric substrates with a minimum weight penalty and haptic disruption. In this study, two different fabric-based antenna designs called PICA and LOOP were fabricated through a scalable screen-printing process by tuning the conductive ink formulations accompanied by cellulose nanocrystals. The printing process was controlled and monitored by revealing the relationship between the textiles’ nature and conducting nano-ink. The fabric prototypes were tested in dynamic environments mimicking complex real-life situations, such as being in proximity to a human body, and being affected by wrinkling, bending, and fabric care such as washing or ironing. Both computational and experimental on-and-off-body antenna gain results acknowledged the potential of tunable material systems complimenting traditional printing techniques for smart sensing technology as a plausible pathway for future wearables.

Recent advances in biomedical, biosensor and clinical measurement devices for use in humans and the potential application of these technologies for the study of physiology and disease in wild animals.

The goal of achieving enhanced diagnosis and continuous monitoring of human health has led to a vibrant, dynamic and well-funded field of research in medical sensing and biosensor technologies. The field has many sub-disciplines which focus on different aspects of sensor science; engaging engineers, chemists, biochemists and clinicians, often in interdisciplinary teams. The trends which dominate include the efforts to develop effective point of care tests and implantable/wearable technologies for early diagnosis and continuous monitoring. This review will outline the current state of the art in a number of relevant fields, including device engineering, chemistry, nanoscience and biomolecular detection, and suggest how these advances might be employed to develop effective systems for measuring physiology, detecting infection and monitoring biomarker status in wild animals. Special consideration is also given to the emerging threat of antimicrobial resistance and in the light of the current SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, zoonotic infections. Both of these areas involve significant crossover between animal and human health and are therefore well placed to seed technological developments with applicability to both human and animal health and, more generally, the reviewed technologies have significant potential to find use in the measurement of physiology in wild animals. This article is part of the theme issue 'Measuring physiology in free-living animals (Part II)'.

Photocatalytic overall water splitting by graphitic carbon nitride

AbstractPhotocatalytic overall water splitting (OWS) without using any sacrificial reagent to realize H2 and O2 production in the stoichiometric ratio of 2:1 is viewed as the “holy grail” in the field of solar fuel production. Developing stable, low cost, and nontoxic photocatalysts that have satisfactory solar‐to‐hydrogen conversion efficiency is of significance but challenging for realizing the large‐scale use of this sustainable technology. Among various photocatalysts, graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) has shown great potential as an ideal candidate to fulfill the breakthrough in this dynamic research field due to its attractive physicochemical properties. Herein, for the first time, the state‐of‐the‐art research progress of GCN for photocatalytic OWS is reviewed. We first summarize the basic principle of photocatalytic OWS along with the advantages/challenges of GCN introduced. The strategies that have been used to modulate the OWS activity of GCN are then reviewed, including cocatalyst investigation, morphology modulation, atomic structure modification, crystallinity engineering, and heterostructure construction. Toward the end of the review, the concluding remarks and perspectives for the future development are presented, with our expectation to provide some new ideas for the design of advanced OWS photocatalysts.image

Freight on urban public transportation: A systematic literature review

Public transportation offers a promising opportunity for freight transportation in urban areas. Through the sharing of infrastructure, vehicles, or even space inside wagons, synergies can be realized which can lead to a more efficient and environmentally-friendly transportation of goods in cities. This paper conducts a comprehensive investigation of the state-of-the-art of freight on public transportation by means of a systematic literature review. We start by giving an overview of the various ways in which freight on public transportation can be realized. Then we analyze the identified references, classified into qualitative and quantitative approaches, regarding methodology, mode of transportation, shared aspects, underlying network, and utilized data. We find that freight on urban public transportation is a highly dynamic and diverse research field. Finally, we describe opportunities and barriers for freight on public transportation and identify the main fields for future research, among others the further inclusion of external costs and the more frequent application of stochastic and real-time data.

Literature as a Matter of Policy

Literature as a Matter of Policy

Epigenetics drive the evolution of sex chromosomes in animals and plants.

We review how epigenetics affect sex chromosome evolution in animals and plants. In a few species, sex is determined epigenetically through the action of Y-encoded small RNAs. Epigenetics is also responsible for changing the sex of individuals through time, even in species that carry sex chromosomes, and could favour species adaptation through breeding system plasticity. The Y chromosome accumulates repeats that become epigenetically silenced which leads to an epigenetic conflict with the expression of Y genes and could accelerate Y degeneration. Y heterochromatin can be lost through ageing, which activates transposable elements and lowers male longevity. Y chromosome degeneration has led to the evolution of meiotic sex chromosome inactivation in eutherians (placentals) and marsupials, and dosage compensation mechanisms in animals and plants. X-inactivation convergently evolved in eutherians and marsupials via two independently evolved non-coding RNAs. In Drosophila, male X upregulation by the male specific lethal (MSL) complex can spread to neo-X chromosomes through the transposition of transposable elements that carry an MSL-binding motif. We discuss similarities and possible differences between plants and animals and suggest future directions for this dynamic field of research. This article is part of the theme issue 'How does epigenetics influence the course of evolution?'

Computational Catalysis—Trends and Outlook

Computational catalysis has been one of the most dynamic research fields over the last decade, and it now represents a critical tool for the analysis of chemical mechanisms and active sites [...]

M-AR: A Visual Representation of Manual Operation Precision in AR Assembly

ABSTRACT The research of augmented reality physical tasks for human-computer collaboration is still an attractive dynamic research field. In recent years, AR Instruction supporting collaborative assembly has been developed, which can transfer graphic annotation between man and machine. However, there is little research on high precision manual assembly. This paper proposes a high-precision cognitive AR representation (M-AR) for manual operation guidance, which aims to transform a high-precision assembly relationship into a series of visual information to meet the user’s cognition of high-precision task intention. Using this representation, we conducted a within-subject case study to compare it with original AR representation (original AR) and low-precision cognitive AR representation. The results showed that there were significant differences in execution time and operation errors. The user’s subjective feedback also showed that M-AR supporting cognitive feedback can significantly improve a user’s cognitive experience in a physical task.

Liquid Biopsy: From Discovery to Clinical Application.

Over the past 10 years, circulating tumor cells (CTC) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) have received enormous attention as new biomarkers and subjects of translational research. Although both biomarkers are already used in numerous clinical trials, their clinical utility is still under investigation with promising first results. Clinical applications include early cancer detection, improved cancer staging, early detection of relapse, real-time monitoring of therapeutic efficacy, and detection of therapeutic targets and resistance mechanisms. Here, we propose a conceptual framework of CTC and ctDNA assays and point out current challenges of CTC and ctDNA research, which might structure this dynamic field of translational cancer research. SIGNIFICANCE: The analysis of blood for CTCs or cell-free nucleic acids called "liquid biopsy" has opened new avenues for cancer diagnostics, including early detection of tumors, improved risk assessment and staging, as well as early detection of relapse and monitoring of tumor evolution in the context of cancer therapies.

GaN FinFETs and trigate devices for power and RF applications: review and perspective

Gallium nitride (GaN) is becoming a mainstream semiconductor for power and radio-frequency (RF) applications. While commercial GaN devices are increasingly being adopted in data centers, electric vehicles, consumer electronics, telecom and defense applications, their performance is still far from the intrinsic GaN limit. In the last few years, the fin field-effect transistor (FinFET) and trigate architectures have been leveraged to develop a new generation of GaN power and RF devices, which have continuously advanced the state-of-the-art in the area of microwave and power electronics. Very different from Si digital FinFET devices, GaN FinFETs have allowed for numerous structural innovations based on engineering the two-dimensional-electron gas or p–n junctions, in both lateral and vertical architectures. The superior gate controllability in these fin-based GaN devices has not only allowed higher current on/off ratio, steeper threshold swing, and suppression of short-channel effects, but also enhancement-mode operation, on-resistance reduction, current collapse alleviation, linearity improvement, higher operating frequency, and enhanced thermal management. Several GaN FinFET and trigate device technologies are close to commercialization. This review paper presents a global overview of the reported GaN FinFET and trigate device technologies for RF and power applications, as well as provides in-depth analyses correlating device design parameters to device performance space. The paper concludes with a summary of current challenges and exciting research opportunities in this very dynamic research field.

Milestones in Personalized Medicine in Pemphigus and Pemphigoid.

Pemphigus and pemphigoid diseases are autoimmune bullous diseases characterized and caused by autoantibodies targeting adhesion molecules in the skin and/or mucous membranes. Personalized medicine is a new medical model that separates patients into different groups and aims to tailor medical decisions, practices, and interventions based on the individual patient`s predicted response or risk factors. An important milestone in personalized medicine in pemphigus and pemphigoid was achieved by verifying the autoimmune pathogenesis underlying these diseases, as well as by identifying and cloning several pemphigus/pemphigoid autoantigens. The latter has become the basis of the current, molecular-based diagnosis that allows the differentiation of about a dozen pemphigus and pemphigoid entities. The importance of autoantigen-identification in pemphigus/pemphigoid is further highlighted by the emergence of autoantigen-specific B cell depleting strategies. To achieve this goal, the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell technology, which is used for the treatment of certain hematological malignancies, was adopted, by generating chimeric autoantigen receptor (CAAR) T cells. In addition to these more basic science-driven milestones in personalized medicine in pemphigus and pemphigoid, careful clinical observation and epidemiology are again contributing to personalized medicine. The identification of clearly distinct clinical phenotypes in pemphigoid like the non-inflammatory and gliptin-associated bullous pemphigoid embodies a prominent instance of the latter. We here review these exciting developments in basic, translational, clinical, and epidemiological research in pemphigus and pemphigoid. Overall, we hereby aim to attract more researchers and clinicians to this highly interesting and dynamic field of research.