Unique Features Research Articles

Coupled Experimental-Theoretical Characterization of a Carbon Electrode in Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries using X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy.

Vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) have emerged as promising solutions for stationary grid energy storage due to their high efficiency, scalability, safety, near room-temperature operation conditions, and the ability to independently size power and energy capacities. The performance of VRFBs heavily relies on the redox couple reactions of V2+/V3+ and VO2+/VO2+ on carbon electrodes. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the surface functionality of carbon electrodes and their propensity for degradation during electrochemical cycles is crucial for designing VRFBs with extended lifespans. In this study, we present a coupled experimental-theoretical approach based on carbon K edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) to characterize carbon electrodes prepared under different conditions and identify relevant functional groups that contribute to unique spectroscopic features. Atomic models were created to represent functional groups, such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, methyl, and aldehyde, bonded to carbon atoms in either sp2 or sp3 environments. The interactions between functionalized carbon and various solvated vanadium complexes were modeled using density functional theory. A library of carbon K-edge XAS spectra was generated for distinct carbon atoms in different functional groups, both before and after interacting with solvated vanadium complexes. We demonstrate how these simulated spectra can be used to deconvolve ex situ experimental spectra measured from carbon electrodes and to track changes in the electrode composition following immersion in different electrolytes or extended cycling within a functional VRFB. By doing so, we identify the active species present on the carbon electrodes, which play a crucial role in determining their electrochemical performance.

The unique dual targeting of AGO1 by two types of PRMT enzymes promotes phasiRNA loading in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Arginine/R methylation (R-met) of proteins is a widespread post-translational modification (PTM), deposited by a family of protein arginine/R methyl transferase enzymes (PRMT). Regulations by R-met are involved in key biological processes deeply studied in metazoan. Among those, post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) can be regulated by R-met in animals and in plants. It mainly contributes to safeguard processes as protection of genome integrity in germlines through the regulation of piRNA pathway in metazoan, or response to bacterial infection through the control of AGO2 in plants. So far, only PRMT5 has been identified as the AGO/PIWI R-met writer in higher eukaryotes. We uncovered that AGO1, the main PTGS effector regulating plant development, contains unique R-met features among the AGO/PIWI superfamily, and outstanding in eukaryotes. Indeed, AGO1 contains both symmetric (sDMA) and asymmetric (aDMA) R-dimethylations and is dually targeted by PRMT5 and by another type I PRMT in Arabidopsis thaliana. We showed also that loss of sDMA didn't compromise AtAGO1 subcellular trafficking in planta. Interestingly, we underscored that AtPRMT5 specifically promotes the loading of phasiRNA in AtAGO1. All our observations bring to consider this dual regulation of AtAGO1 in plant development and response to environment, and pinpoint the complexity of AGO1 post-translational regulation.

Perceived urban green spaces and youth mental health in the post-COVID-19 era.

The urban green space (UGS) is one of the most significant urban spaces with unique visual and social features, including pleasant air, low noise, and vitality, making it a recreational place for citizens, especially the youth. According to previous studies, perceived green space and the interaction with it is associated with mental health and lower symptoms of anxiety and depression. Although the presence of urban and blue-green spaces in Isfahan has a long history, the UGSs have been out of reach, causing a significant impact on youth mental health due to the spread of COVID-19 and the forcing of the Iranian government to severe and long-term lockdown. This study investigates the relationship between the long-term isolation of youth and being away from UGSs on their mental health in Isfahan city. In September 2022, the youth (n = 273) in 12 neighborhoods with similar socio-economic status were asked to answer the online questionnaire. To investigate the correlation between perceived UGS and the mental health of the youth, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is done. The results show that the perceived UGSs negatively relate to the youth's fear of the reoccurrence of COVID-19 infection, anxiety, and depression. Moreover, the model shows that perceived UGS has an inverse correlation with anxiety (β = -0.24, p = 0.00), and no meaningful correlation exists with depression. These results point to a practical solution for designing UDGs in residential areas for youth according to their benefits for mental health during the epidemic era.

Use of high‐intensity ultrasound and micellar casein concentrate addition for improving whey Ricotta cheese production

The influence of high‐intensity ultrasound (E = 42.2 W*s/mL) and coprecipitation processes with micellar casein concentrate (0.5, 1.5% w/w) on improving whey protein recovery during Ricotta cheese elaboration was evaluated. Acid and sweet whey were used. Whey treatment (control, ultrasonicated whey, coprecipitation process and ultrasonication + coprecipitation) was used as the independent variable in a completely randomised design. Since neither acidification nor pH adjustment was required, sonication reduced processing time (~6.6%). Coprecipitation (1.5%) enhanced the cheese yield generating textural defects. Softer textures were obtained by using ultrasonication and coprecipitation, suggesting the possibility of producing ricotta cheeses with higher yields and unique technological features.

Biomimetic Diatom Biosilica and Its Potential for Biomedical Applications and Prospects: A Review.

Diatom biosilica is an important natural source of porous silica, with three-dimensional ordered and nanopatterned structures referred to as frustules. The unique features of diatom frustules, such as their high specific surface area, thermal stability, biocompatibility, and adaptable surface chemistry, render diatoms valuable materials for high value-added applications. These attributes make diatoms an exceptional cost-effective raw material for industrial use. The functionalization of diatom biosilica surface improves its biophysical properties and increases the potential applications. This review focuses on the potential uses of diatom biosilica including traditional approaches and recent progress in biomedical applications. Not only well-studied drug delivery systems but also promising uses on bone regeneration and wound healing are covered. Furthermore, considerable aspects and possible future directions for the use of diatom biosilica materials are proposed to develop biomedical applications and merit further exploration.

Conserved autophagy and diverse cell wall composition: unifying features of vascular tissues in evolutionarily distinct plants.

The formation of multifunctional vascular tissues represents a significant advancement in plant evolution. Differentiation of conductive cells is specific, involving two main pathways, namely protoplast clearance and cell wall modification. In xylogenesis, autophagy is a crucial process for complete protoplast elimination in tracheary elements, whose cell wall also undergoes strong changes. Knowledge pertaining to living sieve elements, which lose most of their protoplast during phloemogenesis, remains limited. We hypothesized that autophagy plays a crucial role, not only in complete cytoplasmic clearance in xylem but also in partial degradation in phloem. Cell wall elaborations of mature sieve elements are not so extensive. These analyses performed on evolutionarily diverse model species potentially make it possible to understand phloemogenesis to an equal extent to xylogenesis. We investigated the distribution of ATG8 protein, which is an autophagy marker, and cell wall components in the roots of ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms (monocots, dicot herbaceous plants and trees). Furthermore, we conducted a bioinformatic analysis of complete data on ATG8 isoforms for Ceratopteris richardii. The presence of ATG8 protein was confirmed in both tracheary elements and sieve elements; however, the composition of cell wall components varied considerably among vascular tissues in the selected plants. Arabinogalactan proteins and β-1,4-galactan were detected in the roots of all studied species, suggesting their potential importance in phloem formation or function. In contrast, no evolutionary pattern was observed for xyloglucan, arabinan or homogalacturonan. Our findings indicate that the involvement of autophagy in plants is universal during the development of tracheary elements that are dead at maturity and sieve elements that remain alive. Given the conserved nature of autophagy and its function in protoplast degradation for uninterrupted flow, autophagy might have played a vital role in the development of increasingly complex biological organizations, including the formation of vascular tissues. However, different cell wall compositions of xylem and phloem in different species might indicate diverse functionality and potential for substance transport, which is crucial in plant evolution.

Towards environmental sustainability: further evidences from decarbonization projects in Kenya’s Blue Economy

Kenya is committed to the global efforts on climate change mitigation and adaptation as seen through investments in various sustainable green and blue economy projects. In this review paper, we present the current status of what has been done, particularly on the blue carbon offset initiatives undertaken in the mangrove and seaweed ecosystems as well as the decarbonization activities at the port of Mombasa and which should form reference information for local, regional, bilateral/multilateral partners, scientists and other climate change stakeholders. The blue carbon offset projects involve mangrove conservation, reforestation and carbon credit sale as well as seaweed farming. The initiatives have several unique features amongst which are the community-led income generation systems that simultaneously act as an inducement for ecosystem preservation, co-management and benefits sharing which are recipes for economic, socio-cultural, and environmental sustainability. A notable project impact is the conferment of economic power to the locals, particularly the women and the youth The model used embraces a collaborative approach involving multisectoral engagements of both the government, multilateral organizations, NGOs, and local communities. This integrated top-down (government) and bottom-up (local community) method deliberately targets the strengthening of economic development while ensuring sustainability.

Health Physics Aspects Associated with Magnetic Confinement Fusion Power Facilities

Bevelacqua Resources, 7531 Flint Crossing Circle SE, Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763 USA bevelresou@aol.com Health physics aspects associated with magnetic confinement fusion are addressed. These aspects are investigated within the context of the operation of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor currently called ITER. ITER has health physics elements in common with existing fission facilities as well as unique fusion related features. Fusion facility neutron radiation is similar to that encountered in a low energy accelerator. The tritium hazard has radiation protection issues in common with the Canadian Deuterium reactor. Completion of the final ITER design, its performance characteristics, component lifetimes, and maintenance requirements will determine the actual health physics hazards. Numerous open issues are required to complete the design of ITER and resolution of these issues will affect the design as well as the health physics implications for occupationally exposed workers. Key Words: Fusion Power Facility, ITER, Magnetic Confinement, Radiological Characteristics

A systematic review of the literature on lesson study in Germany: a professional development approach under the radar of research?

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to systematically review the history and current state of lesson study (LS) in Germany. In particular, this paper describes the development of LS over time and its stakeholders.Design/methodology/approachConducting a systematic literature review, we searched three scientific databases and Google Scholar, examined 806 results and included 50 articles in our final sample, which we analyzed systematically.FindingsThe spread of LS in Germany can be divided into three phases, characterized by their own LS projects as well as their own ways of understanding LS. Although interest in LS has increased significantly in recent years, it is only present at a small number of schools and universities in Germany if compared internationally. Furthermore, this paper identifies the so-called learning activity curves as a tool frequently used for observation and reflection that appears to be unknown outside German-speaking countries.Originality/valueThis paper may act as an outline for countries without large-scale LS projects and with limited support from policymakers. The experience from Germany demonstrates the outcomes and challenges that can arise in such a situation and shows how unique LS features and proceedings have emerged.

Molecular Characterization and Subtyping of Breast Cancer Cell Lines Provide Novel Insights into Cancer Relevant Genes.

Continuous cell lines are important and commonly used in vitro models in breast cancer (BC) research. Selection of the appropriate model cell line is crucial and requires consideration of their molecular characteristics. To characterize BC cell line models in depth, we profiled a panel of 29 authenticated and publicly available BC cell lines by mRNA-sequencing, mutation analysis, and immunoblotting. Gene expression profiles separated BC cell lines in two major clusters that represent basal-like (mainly triple-negative BC) and luminal BC subtypes, respectively. HER2-positive cell lines were located within the luminal cluster. Mutation calling highlighted the frequent aberration of TP53 and BRCA2 in BC cell lines, which, therefore, share relevant characteristics with primary BC. Furthermore, we showed that the data can be used to find novel, potential oncogenic fusion transcripts, e.g., FGFR2::CRYBG1 and RTN4IP1::CRYBG1 in cell line MFM-223, and to elucidate the regulatory circuit of IRX genes and KLF15 as novel candidate tumor suppressor genes in BC. Our data indicated that KLF15 was activated by IRX1 and inhibited by IRX3. Moreover, KLF15 inhibited IRX1 in cell line HCC-1599. Each BC cell line carries unique molecular features. Therefore, the molecular characteristics of BC cell lines described here might serve as a valuable resource to improve the selection of appropriate models for BC research.

Study of the manufacture of high‐fired ceramics from Fujian (China) during the Shang and Zhou dynasties

AbstractIn recent years, some kiln sites from Shang and Zhou dynasties have been excavated in Fujian province in southeastern China, and substantial high‐quality ceramic shards were unearthed. The research conducted by archaeologists indicates that these shards are likely the earliest high‐fired ceramic products in this area, characterised by unique appearance features and are therefore valuable for exploring the development and manufacture of early high‐fired ceramics in Fujian. In this study, we gathered some proto‐celadon and stamped stoneware shards from three kiln sites dating back to the Shang and Western Zhou dynasties. We analysed the chemical composition of the ceramic body and glaze, firing temperature, and mineral phase to investigate the selection of raw materials, firing, and glazing technology of these early ceramic products. The results indicate that the bodies of these high‐fired ceramic shards were made of locally weathered porcelain stone, and the glazes are lime glaze. During the Western Zhou dynasty, the potter utilised different raw materials for proto‐celadon and stamped stoneware, which was not the case during the Shang Dynasty. The firing temperatures of the majority of shards exceeded 1,000°C, and the bodies had been completed phase transformation.

Age-related phenotypes in breast cancer: A population-based study.

Breast cancer in young (<40 years) is associated with a higher frequency of aggressive tumor types and poor prognosis. It remains unclear if there is an underlying age-related biology that contributes to the unfavorable outcome. We aim to investigate the relationship between age and breast cancer biology, with emphasis on proliferation. Clinico-pathologic information, immunohistochemical markers and follow-up data were obtained for all patients aged <50 (Bergen cohort-1; n = 355, not part of a breast screening program) and compared to previously obtained information on patients aged 50 to 69 years (Bergen cohort-2; n = 540), who participated in the Norwegian Breast Cancer Screening Program. Young breast cancer patients presented more aggressive tumor features such as hormone receptor negativity, HER2 positivity, lymph-node metastasis, the HER2-enriched and triple-negative subtypes and shorter survival. Age <40 was significantly associated with higher proliferation (by Ki67). Ki67 showed weaker prognostic value in young patients. We point to aggressive phenotypes and increased tumor cell proliferation in breast cancer of the young. Hence, tumors of young breast cancer patients may present unique biological features, also when accounting for screen/interval differences, that may open for new clinical opportunities, stratifying treatment by age.

Long-term day-by-day tracking of microvascular networks sprouting in fibrin gels: From detailed morphological analyses to general growth rules.

Understanding and controlling of the evolution of sprouting vascular networks remains one of the basic challenges in tissue engineering. Previous studies on the vascularization dynamics have typically focused only on the phase of intense growth and often lacked spatial control over the initial cell arrangement. Here, we perform long-term day-by-day analysis of tens of isolated microvasculatures sprouting from endothelial cell-coated spherical beads embedded in an external fibrin gel. We systematically study the topological evolution of the sprouting networks over their whole lifespan, i.e., for at least 14 days. We develop a custom image analysis toolkit and quantify (i) the overall length and area of the sprouts, (ii) the distributions of segment lengths and branching angles, and (iii) the average number of branch generations-a measure of network complexity. We show that higher concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) lead to earlier sprouting and more branched networks, yet without significantly affecting the speed of growth of individual sprouts. We find that the mean branching angle is weakly dependent on VEGF and typically in the range of 60°-75°, suggesting that, by comparison with the available diffusion-limited growth models, the bifurcating tips tend to follow local VEGF gradients. At high VEGF concentrations, we observe exponential distributions of segment lengths, which signify purely stochastic branching. Our results-due to their high statistical relevance-may serve as a benchmark for predictive models, while our new image analysis toolkit, offering unique features and high speed of operation, could be exploited in future angiogenic drug tests.

Practice Research Partnerships in Social Work: Addressing Impact and Credible Evidence

Purpose: This article builds on the Practice Research Collaboratives (PRCs) as an initiative that developed from the Fifth Conference on Practice Research to provide a platform for practice researchers to engage actively around impact and influence. Research question: The unique features of research activities that enable transformational impact in three cases in social work practice research involving long-term community and university research partnerships. Methodology: Literature review and comparison of case studies. Results: The cases show how the processes of implementation are not only seen as linear, but constantly evolving at the same time as intervention fidelity in social work is crucial to improving outcomes for people, which can have transformative impacts for individuals and systems alike. Conclusion: We conclude by describing the importance of understanding the feasibility of complex problems and complex social situation which requires meaningful communication between partners, transparency and involvement of all players throughout the process.

Migraine and pregnancy : Gender-specific aspects and current knowledge

Migraine, afrequent and debilitating neurological disease, shows gender-specific differences in prevalence and severity. Pregnancy is associated with numerous unique features in terms of migraine course, treatment options and differential diagnoses. How does pregnancy influence the course of migraine? What are the possible treatment options during pregnancy? Which differential diagnoses should be considered? Narrative review with summary and discussion of relevant studies and guidelines on migraine in pregnancy. During pregnancy up to three quarters of women experience improvement of their migraine; however, there may be arenewed increase in frequency after childbirth. Choosing an appropriate treatment during pregnancy requires acareful risk-benefit assessment. It is important to consider secondary causes of headache as these can occur more frequently during pregnancy and some can be life-threatening. Consideration of specific aspects of migraine in pregnancy is crucial to be able to develop the best possible treatment strategies for affected patients.

Pyrolysis-Free Covalent Organic Polymers Directly for Oxygen Electrocatalysis.

ConspectusOxygen electrode catalysis is crucial for the efficient operation of clean energy devices, such as proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and Zn-air batteries (ZABs). However, sluggish oxygen electrocatalysis kinetics in these infrastructures put forward impending requirements toward seeking efficient oxygen-electrode catalytic materials with a clear active-site configuration and geometrical morphology to study in depth the structure-property relationship of materials. Although transition-metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C) electrocatalysts have shown great prospects currently and potential in oxygen electrocatalysis as promising platinum group metal-free catalysts, the universal pyrolysis operation in the preparation process often inevitably brings about randomness and diversity of active sites, for which it is difficult to determine the structure-activity relationship, understand the catalytic mechanism, and further improve facilities performance.Covalent organic polymers (COPs) are a class of molecular geometric constructs linked by irreversible kinetic covalent bonds through reticular chemistry. Unique structural tailorability, diverse design principles, and inherent well-defined construction in pristine COPs naturally provide a great platform to study the structure-property relationship of active sites and exhibit unique features for application. In this Account, we afford an overview of our recent attempts toward the utilization of COP materials as free-pyrolysis oxygen electrode catalysts, enabling accurate construction of oxygen electrodes with clear active site and geometrical morphology characteristics in PEMFC and ZAB devices yet without enduring any high-temperature pyrolysis treatments. Starting from the needs of modern electrocatalysis, we discussed the unique properties for the design and development of pyrolysis-free pristine COPs as high-performance oxygen electrode catalytic materials in terms of intrinsic electronic structure properties and membrane-electrode-assembly (MEA) application distinguished from pyrolysis M-N-C catalysts. First, the pyrolysis-free COP catalysts provide a viable molecular model catalyst platform, which is conducive to mechanism comprehension for the relationship between catalyst activity and structure. Second, the simple and low-energy consumption synthesis process for pyrolysis-free catalysts lays the foundation for the large-scale production of catalysts, oxygen electrodes, and even the entire stack assembly without considering numerous complicated factors as traditional pyrolytic catalysts. Besides, most traditional COPs are difficult to dissolve and solution process due to their cross-linked skeleton. Our newly developed COP materials with solution processability bring about new opportunities to the process and assemble oxygen electrodes into device. These properties are unparalleled and have not been systematically reviewed and analyzed by any research reports so far. Here, we have clarified the specific advantage and potential of pyrolysis-free COP materials as oxygen electrodes applied in PEMFC and ZAB devices in response to the latest progress and requirements of current electrocatalytic research.

A Bioinformatics Tool for Identifying Intratumoral Microbes from the ORIEN Dataset.

Studying the tumor microbiome in high-throughput sequencing data is challenging because of the extremely sparse data matrices, heterogeneity, and high likelihood of contamination. We present a new deep learning tool, MEGA, to refine the organisms that interact with tumors.

Altered amyloid-β structure markedly reduces gliosis in the brain of mice harboring the Uppsala APP deletion

Deposition of amyloid beta (Aβ) into plaques is a major hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Different amyloid precursor protein (APP) mutations cause early-onset AD by altering the production or aggregation properties of Aβ. We recently identified the Uppsala APP mutation (APPUpp), which causes Aβ pathology by a triple mechanism: increased β-secretase and altered α-secretase APP cleavage, leading to increased formation of a unique Aβ conformer that rapidly aggregates and deposits in the brain. The aim of this study was to further explore the effects of APPUpp in a transgenic mouse model (tg-UppSwe), expressing human APP with the APPUpp mutation together with the APPSwe mutation. Aβ pathology was studied in tg-UppSwe brains at different ages, using ELISA and immunohistochemistry. In vivo PET imaging with three different PET radioligands was conducted in aged tg-UppSwe mice and two other mouse models; tg-ArcSwe and tg-Swe. Finally, glial responses to Aβ pathology were studied in cell culture models and mouse brain tissue, using ELISA and immunohistochemistry. Tg-UppSwe mice displayed increased β-secretase cleavage and suppressed α-secretase cleavage, resulting in AβUpp42 dominated diffuse plaque pathology appearing from the age of 5–6 months. The γ-secretase cleavage was not affected. Contrary to tg-ArcSwe and tg-Swe mice, tg-UppSwe mice were [11C]PiB-PET negative. Antibody-based PET with the 3D6 ligand visualized Aβ pathology in all models, whereas the Aβ protofibril selective mAb158 ligand did not give any signals in tg-UppSwe mice. Moreover, unlike the other two models, tg-UppSwe mice displayed a very faint glial response to the Aβ pathology. The tg-UppSwe mouse model thus recapitulates several pathological features of the Uppsala APP mutation carriers. The presumed unique structural features of AβUpp42 aggregates were found to affect their interaction with anti-Aβ antibodies and profoundly modify the Aβ-mediated glial response, which may be important aspects to consider for further development of AD therapies.

Comprehensive mapping of the exterior architecture of the dromedary camel brain

The morphological perspective of the camel brain remains largely unexplored. Therefore, studying the topography of the camel brain is of crucial importance. This study aimed to provide a detailed color-coded topographic representation of the camel brain's gross anatomy and nomenclature, showing its various gyri and sulci and their borders. We compared them to previously known information to develop a detailed description of camel brain exterior architecture. Our research identified distinctive gyri and sulci with discrete positions and surrounding structures, allowing us to define sulci boundaries and establish logical gyri nomenclature. This study uncovered previously overlooked gyri and sulci and improved descriptions of specific sulci. The ectomarginal sulcus, splenial sulcus, splenial gyrus, and ectogenual gyrus are a few examples. These findings highlight several unique anatomical features of the dromedary brain, which can guide future research. By providing a comprehensive examination of the distinctive exterior anatomical features of the camel brain, this study may serve as a point of convergence for all researchers, providing more accurate identification of the gyri and sulci.

Identifying unique features of Norway destination image: Evidence from user-generated content

While there has been considerable research on the concept of destination image, there is a notable gap in the literature regarding exploring Norway's destination image (DI) through User-Generated Content (UGC). This study uses content analysis to identify the key themes that appear in tourists’ UGC and are associated with satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Our research results demonstrated nine dominant themes in descriptions of Norway travel experiences: “Norway,” “places,” “train,” “hiking,” “rental,” “expensive,” “hotel,” “northern lights,” and “restaurants.” The themes used with negative comments were “train,” “rental,” and “expensive.” The benefits of incorporating UGC in tourist research are highlighted by the excellent insights acquired. The findings also provide a visual depiction of the primary themes and concepts in visitors' narratives, allowing for a better understanding of the key features of destination image.