bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of total hepatitis A antibody among 5 to 7 years old children and their mothers in Cambodia
Authors: Nagashima Shintaro , Ko Ko , Yamamoto Chikako , Bunthen E. , Ouoba Serge , Chuon Channarena , Ohisa Masayuki , Sugiyama Aya , Akita Tomoyuki , Hossain Md. Shafiqul , Ork Vichit , Mao Bunsoth , Tanaka Junko
Published: February 2021

This study determined the prevalence of total hepatitis A antibody (anti-HAV) among 5–7 years old children and their mothers in the whole Cambodia, using a nationwide study, and examined the differences between the two cohorts. A total of 4535 dried blood spot-driven (DBS) samples (2021 mothers and their 2514 children of 5–7 years old) and the concomitant 922 whole blood samples (subset of the whole participants) were collected using a multistage random sampling strategy throughout Cambodia in 2017. Total anti-HAV was detected using the chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay method. Compared to gold standard whole blood samples, the sensitivity and specificity of DBS mediated anti-HAV detection were 94.8% and 98%, respectively. Total anti-HAV prevalence among mothers was 91.2% (95%CI: 90.0–92.5%), and that of their children was 31.5% (95%CI: 29.7–33.3%). In our study, the low prevalence of total anti-HAV among children indicates the country’s improvement of safe water and food supply, hygiene and sanitation. If the hygiene and sanitation are consistently improved in Cambodia, the prevalence might be no longer increased when the children become adults.
Improved sensitivity of microperimetric outcomes for clinical studies in age-related macular degeneration
Authors: Barkana Yaniv , Pondorfer Susanne G. , Schmitz-Valckenberg Steffen , Russ Hermann , Finger Robert P.
Published: February 2021

To investigate sensitive outcome measures based exclusively on abnormal points in microperimetry testing of eyes with intermediate age-related macular degeneration (iAMD). 25 eyes of 25 subjects with iAMD had undergone 2 successive tests of mesopic microperimetry with the Macular Integrity Assessment Microperimeter (MAIA), using a custom grid of 33 points spanning the central 14 degrees of the macula. Each point was defined as abnormal if its threshold sensitivity was lower than 1.65 standard deviations (SD) (5%) or 2 SD (2.5%) than the expected threshold in healthy eyes according to the MAIA internal database. Among the 25 eyes there were 11.8 ± 9 and 8.4 ± 8.2 abnormal points at < 5% and < 2.5%, with mean deviation of thresholds from normal − 4.9 ± 1.2 dB and − 5.8 ± 1.5 dB, respectively. These deviations were greater, and their SD smaller, compared with the complete microperimetry grid, − 2.3 ± 2.0 dB. The 95% limits of agreement for average threshold between the 2 successive tests were smaller when only abnormal points were included. Analyzing only abnormal grid points yields an outcome parameter with a greater deviation from normal, a more homogenous dataset, and better test–retest variability, compared with analysis of all grid points. This parameter may thus be more sensitive to change, while moderately limiting the number of potential recruits. The proposed outcome measures should be further investigated as potential endpoints in clinical trials in iAMD.
Autophagy-enhancing drugs limit mucosal HIV-1 acquisition and suppress viral replication ex vivo
Authors: Cloherty Alexandra P. M. , van Teijlingen Nienke H. , Eisden Tracy-Jane T. H. D. , van Hamme John L. , Rader Anusca G. , Geijtenbeek Teunis B. H. , Schreurs Renée R. C. E. , Ribeiro Carla M. S.
Published: February 2021

Current direct-acting antiviral therapies are highly effective in suppressing HIV-1 replication. However, mucosal inflammation undermines prophylactic treatment efficacy, and HIV-1 persists in long-lived tissue-derived dendritic cells (DCs) and CD4+ T cells of treated patients. Host-directed strategies are an emerging therapeutic approach to improve therapy outcomes in infectious diseases. Autophagy functions as an innate antiviral mechanism by degrading viruses in specialized vesicles. Here, we investigated the impact of pharmaceutically enhancing autophagy on HIV-1 acquisition and viral replication. To this end, we developed a human tissue infection model permitting concurrent analysis of HIV-1 cellular targets ex vivo. Prophylactic treatment with autophagy-enhancing drugs carbamazepine and everolimus promoted HIV-1 restriction in skin-derived CD11c+ DCs and CD4+ T cells. Everolimus also decreased HIV-1 susceptibility to lab-adapted and transmitted/founder HIV-1 strains, and in vaginal Langerhans cells. Notably, we observed cell-specific effects of therapeutic treatment. Therapeutic rapamycin treatment suppressed HIV-1 replication in tissue-derived CD11c+ DCs, while all selected drugs limited viral replication in CD4+ T cells. Strikingly, both prophylactic and therapeutic treatment with everolimus or rapamycin reduced intestinal HIV-1 productive infection. Our findings highlight host autophagy pathways as an emerging target for HIV-1 therapies, and underscore the relevancy of repurposing clinically-approved autophagy drugs to suppress mucosal HIV-1 replication.
Quantitative modeling of multigenerational effects of chronic ionizing radiation using targeted and nontargeted effects
Authors: Shuryak Igor , Brenner David J.
Published: February 2021

Stress response signals can propagate between cells damaged by targeted effects (TE) of ionizing radiation (e.g. energy depositions and ionizations in the nucleus) and undamaged “bystander” cells, sometimes over long distances. Their consequences, called non-targeted effects (NTE), can substantially contribute to radiation-induced damage (e.g. cell death, genomic instability, carcinogenesis), particularly at low doses/dose rates (e.g. space exploration, some occupational and accidental exposures). In addition to controlled laboratory experiments, analysis of observational data on wild animal and plant populations from areas contaminated by radionuclides can enhance our understanding of radiation responses because such data span wide ranges of dose rates applied over many generations. Here we used a mechanistically-motivated mathematical model of TE and NTE to analyze published embryonic mortality data for plants (Arabidopsis thaliana) and rodents (Clethrionomys glareolus) from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident region. Although these species differed strongly in intrinsic radiosensitivities and post-accident radiation exposure magnitudes, model-based analysis suggested that NTE rather than TE dominated the responses of both organisms to protracted low-dose-rate irradiation. TE were predicted to become dominant only above the highest dose rates in the data. These results support the concept of NTE involvement in radiation-induced health risks from chronic radiation exposures.
Diffusion histology imaging differentiates distinct pediatric brain tumor histology
Authors: Ye Zezhong , Srinivasa Komal , Meyer Ashely , Sun Peng , Lin Joshua , Viox Jeffrey D. , Song Chunyu , Wu Anthony T. , Song Sheng-Kwei , Dahiya Sonika , Rubin Joshua B.
Published: February 2021

High-grade pediatric brain tumors exhibit the highest cancer mortality rates in children. While conventional MRI has been widely adopted for examining pediatric high-grade brain tumors clinically, accurate neuroimaging detection and differentiation of tumor histopathology for improved diagnosis, surgical planning, and treatment evaluation, remains an unmet need in their clinical management. We employed a novel Diffusion Histology Imaging (DHI) approach employing diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI) derived metrics as the input classifiers for deep neural network analysis. DHI aims to detect, differentiate, and quantify heterogeneous areas in pediatric high-grade brain tumors, which include normal white matter (WM), densely cellular tumor, less densely cellular tumor, infiltrating edge, necrosis, and hemorrhage. Distinct diffusion metric combination would thus indicate the unique distributions of each distinct tumor histology features. DHI, by incorporating DBSI metrics and the deep neural network algorithm, classified pediatric tumor histology with an overall accuracy of 85.8%. Receiver operating analysis (ROC) analysis suggested DHI’s great capability in distinguishing individual tumor histology with AUC values (95% CI) of 0.984 (0.982–0.986), 0.960 (0.956–0.963), 0.991 (0.990–0.993), 0.950 (0.944–0.956), 0.977 (0.973–0.981) and 0.976 (0.972–0.979) for normal WM, densely cellular tumor, less densely cellular tumor, infiltrating edge, necrosis and hemorrhage, respectively. Our results suggest that DBSI-DNN, or DHI, accurately characterized and classified multiple tumor histologic features in pediatric high-grade brain tumors. If these results could be further validated in patients, the novel DHI might emerge as a favorable alternative to the current neuroimaging techniques to better guide biopsy and resection as well as monitor therapeutic response in patients with high-grade brain tumors.
A state-space model to derive motorboat noise effects on fish movement from acoustic tracking data
Authors: Barcelo-Serra Margarida , Cabanellas Sebastià , Palmer Miquel , Bolgan Marta , Alós Josep
Published: February 2021

Motorboat noise is recognized as a major source of marine pollution, however little is known about its ecological consequences on coastal systems. We developed a State Space Model (SSM) that incorporates an explicit dependency on motorboat noise to derive its effects on the movement of resident fish that transition between two behavioural states (swimming vs. hidden). To explore the performance of our model, we carried out an experiment where free-living Serranus scriba were tracked with acoustic tags, while motorboat noise was simultaneously recorded. We fitted the generated tracking and noise data into our SSM and explored if the noise generated by motorboats passing at close range affected the movement pattern and the probability of transition between the two states using a Bayesian approach. Our results suggest high among individual variability in movement patterns and transition between states, as well as in fish response to the presence of passing motorboats. These findings suggest that the effects of motorboat noise on fish movement are complex and require the precise monitoring of large numbers of individuals. Our SSM provides a methodology to address such complexity and can be used for future investigations to study the effects of noise pollution on marine fish.
Tobacco use and age are associated with different morphologic features of anterior communicating artery aneurysms
Authors: Zhang Jian , Lai Pui Man Rosalind , Can Anil , Mukundan Srinivasan , Castro Victor M. , Dligach Dmitriy , Finan Sean , Gainer Vivian S. , Shadick Nancy A. , Savova Guergana , Murphy Shawn N. , Cai Tianxi , Weiss Scott T. , Du Rose
Published: February 2021

We present a cohort of patients with anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysms to investigate morphological characteristics and clinical factors associated with rupture of the aneurysms. 505 patients with ACoA aneurysms were identified at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital between 1990 and 2016, with available CT angiography (CTA). Three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions were performed to evaluate aneurysmal morphologic features, including location, projection, irregularity, the presence of daughter dome, height, height/width ratio, and relationships between surrounding vessels. Patient risk factors assessed included patient age, sex, tobacco use, alcohol use, and family history of aneurysms and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Logistic regression was used to build a predictive ACoA score for rupture. Morphologic features associated with ruptured ACoA aneurysms were the presence of a daughter dome (OR 21.4, 95% CI 10.6–43.1), smaller neck diameter (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.42–0.71), larger aspect ratio (OR 3.57, 95% CI 2.05–6.24), larger flow angle (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02–1.05), and smaller ipsilateral A2-ACoA angle (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97–1.00). Tobacco use was predominantly associated with morphological factors intrinsic to the aneurysm that were associated with rupture while younger age was also associated with morphologic features extrinsic to the aneurysm that were associated with rupture. The ACoA score had good predictive capacity for rupture with AUC = 0.92 using the 0.632 bootstrap cross-validation for correction of overfitting bias. Ruptured ACoA aneurysms were associated with morphological features that are simple to assess using a simple scoring system. Tobacco use and younger age were predominantly associated with intrinsic and extrinsic morphological features characteristic of rupture, respectively.
Oxygen extraction ratio to identify patients at increased risk of intradialytic hypotension
Authors: Rotondi Silverio , Tartaglione Lida , De Martini Natalia , Bagordo Domenico , Caissutti Sara , Pasquali Marzia , Muci Maria Luisa , Mazzaferro Sandro
Published: February 2021

Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is a hemodynamic phenomenon recently associated with decreased blood oxygen saturation (SO2). The ratio between peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) and central venous SO2 (ScvO2) or Oxygen Extraction Ratio (OER), which represents a roughly estimate of the amount of oxygen claimed by peripheral tissues, might be used to estimate haemodialysis (HD) related hypoxic stress. Aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the relationship between OER increments during dialysis sessions (ΔOER) and episodes of IDH. We enrolled chronic HD patients with permanent central venous catheter (CVC) and no fistula, in whom ScvO2 measurement is at hand. OER ([(SpO2 − ScvO2)/SpO2] × 100) was measured in three consecutive HD sessions (HD OER sessions) before HD, after 15′, 30′ and 60′ min and at the end of HD. Then, a one-year follow-up was planned to record the number of IDH episodes. In the 28 enrolled patients (age 74 ± 2.6 years), during 12 ± 1.2 months of follow up, incidence of IDH was 3.6%. We divided patients into two groups, above or below the median value of ΔOER at the end of HD, which was 36%. In these groups, the average incidence of IDH was 7% and 2% respectively (p < 0.01), while OER values before HD were not different. Notably, in the high ΔOER group the OER increment was evident since after 15′ and was significantly higher than in the low ∆OER group (∆OER-15′ = 19 ± 3.0% vs. 9.0 ± 3.0%; p < 0.05). By comparison, blood volume changes overlapped in the two groups (average change − 9 ± 0.8%). Values of ∆OER > 19% after only 15′ of HD treatment or > 36% at the end of the session characterize patients with higher rates of hypotension. Intradialytic ∆OER, a parameter of tissue hypoxic stress, identifies more fragile patients at greater risk of IDH.
Author Correction: PERK participates in cardiac valve development via fatty acid oxidation and endocardial-mesenchymal transformation
Authors: Shimizu Takashi , Maruyama Kazuaki , Kawamura Takeshi , Urade Yoshihiro , Wada Youichiro
Published: February 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Cardiac glycosides target barrier inflammation of the vasculature, meninges and choroid plexus
Authors: Jansson Deidre , Dieriks Victor Birger , Rustenhoven Justin , Smyth Leon C. D. , Scotter Emma , Aalderink Miranda , Feng Sheryl , Johnson Rebecca , Schweder Patrick , Mee Edward , Heppner Peter , Turner Clinton , Curtis Maurice , Faull Richard , Dragunow Mike
Published: February 2021

Neuroinflammation is a key component of virtually all neurodegenerative diseases, preceding neuronal loss and associating directly with cognitive impairment. Neuroinflammatory signals can originate and be amplified at barrier tissues such as brain vasculature, surrounding meninges and the choroid plexus. We designed a high content screening system to target inflammation in human brain-derived cells of the blood–brain barrier (pericytes and endothelial cells) to identify inflammatory modifiers. Screening an FDA-approved drug library we identify digoxin and lanatoside C, members of the cardiac glycoside family, as inflammatory-modulating drugs that work in blood–brain barrier cells. An ex vivo assay of leptomeningeal and choroid plexus explants confirm that these drugs maintain their function in 3D cultures of brain border tissues. These results suggest that cardiac glycosides may be useful in targeting inflammation at border regions of the brain and offer new options for drug discovery approaches for neuroinflammatory driven degeneration.
Voltage-gated proton channels from fungi highlight role of peripheral regions in channel activation
Authors: Zhao Chang , Tombola Francesco
Published: February 2021

Here, we report the identification and characterization of the first proton channels from fungi. The fungal proteins are related to animal voltage-gated Hv channels and are conserved in both higher and lower fungi. Channels from Basidiomycota and Ascomycota appear to be evolutionally and functionally distinct. Representatives from the two phyla share several features with their animal counterparts, including structural organization and strong proton selectivity, but they differ from each other and from animal Hvs in terms of voltage range of activation, pharmacology, and pH sensitivity. The activation gate of Hv channels is believed to be contained within the transmembrane core of the protein and little is known about contributions of peripheral regions to the activation mechanism. Using a chimeragenesis approach, we find that intra- and extracellular peripheral regions are main determinants of the voltage range of activation in fungal channels, highlighting the role of these overlooked components in channel gating.
A potential all-electronic route to the charge-density-wave phase in monolayer vanadium diselenide
Authors: Trott Matthew J. , Hooley Chris A.
Published: February 2021

The transition metal dichalcogenides offer significant promise for the tunable realisation and application of correlated electronic phases. However, tuning their properties requires an understanding of the physical mechanisms underlying their experimentally observed ordered phases, and in particular the extent to which lattice vibrations are a necessary ingredient. Here we present a potential mechanism for charge-density-wave formation in monolayers of vanadium diselenide in which the key role at low energies is played by a combination of electron–electron interactions and nesting. There is a competition between superconducting and density-wave fluctuations as sections of the Fermi surface are tuned to perfect nesting. This competition leads to charge-density-wave order when the effective Heisenberg exchange interaction is comparable to the effective Coulomb repulsion. When all effective interactions are purely repulsive, it results instead in d-wave superconductivity. We discuss the possible role of lattice vibrations in enhancing the effective Heisenberg exchange during the earlier stages of the renormalisation group flow.
Atomic-scale homogeneous plastic flow beyond near-theoretical yield stress in a metallic glass
Authors: Yu Jiaxin , Datye Amit , Chen Zheng , Zhou Chao , Dagdeviren Omur E. , Schroers Jan , Schwarz Udo D.
Published: February 2021

The onset of yielding and the related atomic-scale plastic flow behavior of bulk metallic glasses at room temperature have not been fully understood due to the difficulty in performing the atomic-scale plastic deformation experiments needed to gain direct insight into the underlying fundamental deformation mechanisms. Here we overcome these limitations by combining a unique sample preparation method with atomic force microscopy-based indentation, which allows study of the yield stress, onset of yielding, and atomic-scale plastic flow of a platinum-based bulk metallic glass in volumes containing as little as approximately 1000 atoms. Yield stresses markedly higher than in conventional nanoindentation testing were observed, surpassing predictions from current models that relate yield stress to tested volumes; subsequent flow was then established to be homogeneous without exhibiting collective shear localization or loading rate dependence. Overall, variations in glass properties due to fluctuations of free volume are found to be much smaller than previously suggested.
Luminescence mechanism in hydrogenated silicon quantum dots with a single oxygen ligand
Authors: Shen Hong , Yu Zhiyuan , Wang Jinjin , Lu Ming , Qiao Chong , Su Wan-Sheng , Zheng Yuxiang , Zhang Rongjun , Jia Yu , Chen Liangyao , Wang Caizhuang , Ho Kaiming , Wang Songyou
Published: February 2021

Upon excitation, electrons are strongly localized near the SiO site, which induces a faster radiative transition.
Plasmon–exciton coupling dynamics and plasmonic lasing in a core–shell nanocavity
Authors: Wang Ru , Xu Chunxiang , You Daotong , Wang Xiaoxuan , Chen Jinping , Shi Zengliang , Cui Qiannan , Qiu Teng
Published: February 2021

A semiconductor/metal (ZnO/Al) core–shell nanocavity without an insulator spacer is fabricated by simple magnetron sputtering. Both theoretical and experimental investigation presented the plasmonic lasing behavior and SP-exciton coupling dynamics.
Facile synthesis of CNT interconnected PVP-ZIF-8 derived hierarchically porous Zn/N co-doped carbon frameworks for oxygen reduction
Authors: Singla Gourav , Bhange Siddheshwar N. , Mahajan Mani , Kurungot Sreekumar
Published: February 2021

Preparation of hybrid catalyst by the coordination of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and monodisperse zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8), entangled by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) through the pyrolysis process.
Influences of copper–potassium ion exchange process on the optical bandgaps and spectroscopic properties of Cr3+/Yb3+ co-doped in lanthanum aluminosilicate glasses
Authors: Le T. H. , Phan Anh-Luan , Ty Nguyen Minh , Zhou Dacheng , Qiu Jianbei , Dan Ho Kim
Published: February 2021

Visible emission spectra of SALBK-1Cr2.5Yb-0Cu, SALBK-1Cr2.5Yb-15Cu, SALBK-1Cr2.5Yb-20Cu, SALBK-1Cr2.5Yb-25Cu, SALBK-1Cr2.5Yb-30Cu, and SALBK-1Cr2.5Yb-35Cu glass samples under excitation 343 nm.
Measuring the effectiveness of online preparation videos and questions in the second semester general chemistry laboratory
Authors: Altowaiji Sara , Haddadin Rakahn , Campos Priscilla , Sorn Shannon , Gonzalez Lizbeth , Villafañe Sachel M. , Groves Michael N.
Published: February 2021

Chemistry laboratory experiences provide students the opportunity to engage all three domains of learning: psychomotor, cognitive and affective. However, they are often stressful environments where students are expected to quickly learn new laboratory techniques, and collect data in a short amount of time. In principle, providing additional preparation activities should help students be better prepared to successfully complete the lab. These activities should lead to more meaningful interactions with the lab instructor and better performance on lab outcomes. In this study, we report the usefulness and effectiveness of online preparation activities for students that include video lectures demonstrating the labs that the students will participate in, and preparation questions that mimic data analysis for the lab. These online prelab activities were implemented in the second semester general chemistry laboratory at a large Hispanic serving institution in the southwestern United States. Over three semesters, students enrolled in this course were surveyed using the Meaningful Learning in the Laboratory Instrument (MLLI) to assess their lab expectations as well as author generated post-lab surveys to assess the usefulness of the prelab activities. Additionally, lab instructors were surveyed on their perception of the efficacy of the additional preparation activities. Findings suggest that both students and instructors agree that having access to these materials as a part of a portfolio of resources, including the lab manual, help them better prepare for the lab. Although students’ expectations on the cognitive domain decreased after a semester of instruction, questions related to comfort with lab equipment show improvements in the affective domain for students with access to the additional preparation activities. Lastly we found that both students and instructors see a lot of value and benefits in having these types of prelab activities available as a way to help prepare students for the upcoming laboratory sessions. In general, the potential benefits that prelab activities had on students outweigh the modest effort to create these materials.
Spatial velocity correlations in inertial systems of active Brownian particles
Authors: Caprini Lorenzo , Marini Bettolo Marconi Umberto
Published: February 2021

The velocity field of systems of active Brownian particles at high density shows large spatial coherent structures, a genuine non-equilibrium behavior. The effects of Peclet number, inertia and thermal diffusion on the ordering phenomenon are studied.
Performance of metal–organic frameworks in the electrochemical sensing of environmental pollutants
Authors: Tajik Somayeh , Beitollahi Hadi , Garkani Nejad Fariba , Sheikhshoaie Iran , Nugraha Asep Sugih , Jang Ho Won , Yamauchi Yusuke , Shokouhimehr Mohammadreza
Published: February 2021

Environmental pollution has been a known threat to our world due to the rapid urbanization, changing lifestyle of people, and modern industrialization.
Sodium storage with high plateau capacity in nitrogen doped carbon derived from melamine–terephthalaldehyde polymers
Authors: Ilic Ivan K. , Schutjajew Konstantin , Zhang Wuyong , Oschatz Martin
Published: February 2021

Carbons derived from melamine and terephthalaldehyde are prepared at different temperatures using one pot carbonization and the porosity is correlated with their electrochemical performance as sodium-ion battery anodes with high plateau capacity.
Electrode materials and device architecture strategies for flexible supercapacitors in wearable energy storage
Authors: Zhang Xinyu , Jiang Changzhong , Liang Jing , Wu Wei
Published: February 2021

Efficient strategies of electrode materials and the device architecture for wearable flexible supercapacitors have been systematically summarized.
Correction: Perspective on multi-scale simulation of thermal transport in solids and interfaces
Authors: Hu Ming , Yang Zhonghua
Published: February 2021

Correction for ‘Perspective on multi-scale simulation of thermal transport in solids and interfaces’ by Ming Hu et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2021, 23, 1785–1801, DOI: 10.1039/D0CP03372C.
Ultra-bright green-emitting phosphors with an internal quantum efficiency of over 90% for high-quality WLEDs
Authors: Li Yanyan , Yin Yuan , Wang Tianli , Wu Junxiao , Zhang Jia , Yu Shuaishuai , Zhang Meiguang , Zhao Lei , Wang Wenjie
Published: February 2021

Ultra-bright color-tunable phosphors of the form CaAl4O7:0.04Ce,zTb with high quantum efficiency were synthesized.
Carbon dots versus nano-carbon/organic hybrids – dramatically different behaviors in fluorescence sensing of metal cations with structural and mechanistic implications
Authors: Wang Ping , Meziani Mohammed J. , Fu Yingqiang , Bunker Christopher E. , Hou Xiaofang , Yang Liju , Msellek Hind , Zaharias Melina , Darby Jasmine P. , Sun Ya-Ping
Published: February 2021

Carbon dots of surface-functionalized small carbon nanoparticles are dramatically different from fluorescent samples from thermal carbonization of organic precursors in their fluorescence quenching-based sensing of copper cations in solution.
K2S2O8-mediated regio- and stereo-selective thiocyanation of enamides with NH4SCN
Authors: Gu Qingyun , Wang Qiyang , Dai Wenjing , Wang Xin , Ban Yingguo , Liu Tianqing , Zhao Yu , Zhang Yanan , Ling Yong , Zeng Xiaobao
Published: February 2021

Direct thiocyanation of enamides was developed to achieve a highly efficient synthesis of (E)-β-thiocyanoenamides, which could be further applied in the synthesis of sulfur-containing heterocycles.
Monofluorinated 5-membered rings via fluoromethylene transfer: synthesis of monofluorinated isoxazoline N-oxides
Authors: Sperga Arturs , Kazia Armands , Veliks Janis
Published: February 2021

Fluoromethylene transfer is a viable strategy to access monofluorinated 5-membered rings. Demonstrated for the first time by synthesis of monofluorinated isoxazoline-N-oxides in one step using 2-nitroacrylates and fluoromethylsuflonium reagents.
Correction: In situ surface modification of bulk or nano materials by cytochrome-c for active hydrogen evolution catalysis
Authors: Thakur Pallavi , Mannuthodikayil Jamsad , Kalita Golap , Mandal Kalyaneswar , Narayanan Tharangattu N.
Published: February 2021

Correction for ‘In situ surface modification of bulk or nano materials by cytochrome-c for active hydrogen evolution catalysis’ by Pallavi Thakur et al., Mater. Chem. Front., 2021, 5, 1295–1300, DOI: 10.1039/D0QM00627K.
Thickness control of 2D nanosheets assembled from precise side-chain giant molecules
Authors: Feng Fengfeng , Guo Dong , Shao Yu , Yan Xiang , Yue Kan , Pan Zhipeng , Li Xiangqian , Xiao Dongcheng , Jin Liang , Zhang Wen-Bin , Liu Hao
Published: February 2021

Thickness of self-assembled 2D nanosheets is not necessarily proportional to the contour length (or molecular weight) of the building blocks.
Correction: Metal chalcogenide-associated catalysts enabling CO2 electroreduction to produce low-carbon fuels for energy storage and emission reduction: catalyst structure, morphology, performance, and mechanism
Authors: Shao Xiaolin , Zhang Xurui , Liu Yuyu , Qiao Jinli , Zhou Xiao-Dong , Xu Nengneng , Malcombe Jamie L. , Yi Jin , Zhang Jiujun
Published: February 2021

Correction for ‘Metal chalcogenide-associated catalysts enabling CO2 electroreduction to produce low-carbon fuels for energy storage and emission reduction: catalyst structure, morphology, performance, and mechanism’ by Xiaolin Shao et al., J. Mater. Chem. A, 2021, 9, 2526–2559, DOI: 10.1039/D0TA09232K.
Combined effects of ion-pairing on multi-emissive properties of benzimidazolium salts
Authors: Di Carlo Gabriele , Forni Alessandra , Moretti Paola , Marinotto Daniele , Botta Chiara , Pizzotti Maddalena , Tessore Francesca , Cariati Elena
Published: February 2021

Strong ion-pairing in a benzimidazolium-based solid emitter impacts its photophysical properties by promoting fluorescence quenching, enhancing phosphorescence and boosting phosphorescence quantum efficiency under direct triplet-state population.
Role of protons in calcium signaling
Authors: Molinari Giuliano , Nervo Elsa
Published: February 2021

Thirty-six years after the publication of the important article by Busa and Nuccitelli on the variability of intracellular pH (pHi) and the interdependence of pHi and intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), little research has been carried out on pHi and calcium signaling. Moreover, the results appear to be contradictory. Some authors claim that the increase in [Ca2+]i is due to a reduction in pHi, others that it is caused by an increase in pHi. The reasons for these conflicting results have not yet been discussed and clarified in an exhaustive manner. The idea that variations in pHi are insignificant, because cellular buffers quickly stabilize the pHi, may be a limiting and fundamentally wrong concept. In fact, it has been shown that protons can move and react in the cell before they are neutralized. Variations in pHi have a remarkable impact on [Ca2+]i and hence on some of the basic biochemical mechanisms of calcium signaling. This paper focuses on the possible triggering role of protons during their short cellular cycle and it suggests a new hypothesis for an IP3 proton dependent mechanism of action.
Exploring the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza in diabetic nephropathy using network pharmacology and molecular docking
Authors: Zhang Lili , Han Lin , Wang Xinmiao , Wei Yu , Zheng Jinghui , Zhao Linhua , Tong Xiaolin
Published: February 2021

The mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) on diabetic nephropathy (DN) were examined using a systematic network pharmacology approach and molecular docking. The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database was used to screen active ingredients of SM. Targets were obtained using the SwissTargetPrediction and TCMSP databases. Proteins related to DN were retrieved from the GeneCards and DisGeNET databases. A protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using common SM/DN targets in the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING) database. The Metascape platform was used for Gene Ontology (GO) function analysis, and the Cytoscape plug-in ClueGO was used for Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Molecular docking was performed using iGEMDOCK and AutoDock Vina software. Pymol and LigPlos were used for network mapping. Sixty-six active ingredients and 189 targets of SM were found. Sixty-four targets overlapped with DN-related proteins. The PPI network revealed that AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1), VEGFA, interleukin 6 (IL6), TNF, mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1), tumor protein p53 (TP53), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (MAPK14), and JUN were the ten most relevant targets. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that the common targets of DN and SM were mainly involved in advanced glycation end-products, oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and immune regulation. Molecular docking revealed that potential DN-related targets, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF), NOS2, and AKT1, more stably bound with salvianolic acid B than with tanshinone IIA. In conclusion, the present study revealed the active components and potential molecular therapeutic mechanisms of SM in DN and provides a reference for the wide application of SM in clinically managing DN.
Gain‐scheduled steering control for autonomous vehicles
Authors: Kapsalis Dimitrios , Sename Olivier , Milanés Vicente , Martinez John J.
Published: February 2021

This study presents a linear parameter varying (LPV) approach for the lateral control of autonomous vehicles, in order to take into account the whole operating domain of longitudinal speeds, as well as the variation of the look‐ahead distance. Combining a dynamical vehicle model with look‐ahead dynamics, together with an identified actuator model including an input delay, the closed‐loop performances can be achieved and the tracking capabilities can be improved for every speed. This is obtained in particular through ad hoc representation of the look‐ahead time as a parameter‐dependent function. An LPV control problem is formulated considering parameter‐dependent weighting functions, allowing the control adaptation for all speeds. The synthesis is performed using the gridding approach, in order to account for varying parameter rate. The proposed steering control system has been implemented on a real electric Renault Zoe car. The performances are therefore assessed experimentally on a real test track with a varying longitudinal speed profile, and compared with a classical LPV polytopic controller, which proves the advanced lane‐tracking capabilities of the proposed methodology.
Multi‐scale feature fusion network for person re‐identification
Authors: Wang Yongjie , Zhang Wei , Liu Yanyan
Published: February 2021

Recently, it is becoming a challenging work for person re‐identification due to the problems of occlusion, blurring and posture. The key of effective person re‐identification is to capture sufficient detailed features of a person's appearance in images. Different from previous methods, our method mainly focuses on fusing different visual clues only depending on the features of different levels and scales without additional assistance. The major contributions of our paper are the mixed pooling strategy with different kernels and the mixed loss function. Firstly, we adopt ResNet50 as our backbone. We have slightly modified the backbone, which does not use the down‐sampling operation at the beginning of stage 4. Inspired by pyramid pooling structure, we pass the outputs of Res4 and Res5 through the average pooling layer and max pooling layer with different kernels and strides separately. Secondly, we combine the averaged triplet losses and the averaged softmax losses as the final loss of the whole network. Extensive experiments on three datasets (CUHK3, Market1501, DukeMTMC‐reID) show that compared with many state‐of‐the‐art methods in recent years, our model achieve higher accuracy.
Multi‐mode switching‐based model predictive control approach for longitudinal autonomous driving with acceleration estimation
Authors: Qu Ting , Zhao Junwu , Gao Huihua , Cai Kunyang , Chen Hong , Xu Fang
Published: February 2021

This study proposes a multi‐mode switching longitudinal autonomous driving system based on model predictive control (MPC) with acceleration estimation of proceeding vehicle. A hierarchical control framework composed of three layers is utilised. In the first layer, five longitudinal driving scenarios are defined based on emergency degree. In the second layer, the MPC for longitudinal autonomous driving is designed and serving as the upper controller. Among which a non‐linear tracking differentiator is used for acceleration estimation of preceding vehicle. In the third layer, the inverse longitudinal vehicle system dynamic model with strong non‐linearity is considered in the lower controller. Proportional–integral–derivative feedback and feedforward control are combined to track the desired acceleration. Simulation and hardware‐in‐loop test results show that the multi‐mode switching longitudinal autonomous driving system is feasible and effective, and has important value for engineering application.
Extraction of jet engine parameters from micro‐Doppler signatures using continuous wavelet transform
Authors: Ramakanth Shreya , Soundarresan Soundarya , Arumuganainar Dyana , Mamgain Reena , Kumaraswamy Hosadurga V.
Published: February 2021

Micro‐Doppler signatures in jet engine modulated (JEM) radar signals are used to extract jet engine features for automatic target recognition. Herein, a novel algorithm based on the continuous wavelet transform (CWT) is used to determine the spool rate and the number of blades of a jet engine. The return signal is represented at multiple scales to form a scalogram for time‐frequency analysis. Further, the energy of the scalogram across various scales is computed and salient local maxima in the energy plot are extracted. The signals are analysed at the corresponding scales of salient local maxima and are used to extract spool rate and chopping frequency. The algorithm is applied to the simulated JEM signals affected by noise and investigated using Coiflet and complex Morlet wavelets. In the presence of noise, the proposed algorithm using both the wavelets has shown better performance when compared with the modified Hilbert Huang Transform (HHT) algorithm.
Lifetime enhancement of wireless sensor network using solar energy harvesting technique
Authors: Kaur Harmandeep , Buttar Avtar Singh
Published: February 2021

The finite energy of batteries associated with wireless sensor networks is a major constraint, which limits its lifetime. One of the methods to overcome this major limitation is the energy harvesting (EH) systems. There are many energy sources available nowadays, but solar energy is flexible, mature and is an external power source; so, it is broadly utilised for EH in the wireless sensor network to enhance the life of the network. The solar EH technique along with the low energy adaptive clustering hierarchy protocol is applied. The charging and discharging curves of the battery and energy status of the nodes are propounded. The simulation results demonstrate that the lifetime of the battery and the network gets augmented after applying the solar EH technique.
Observations of Her X-1 in low states during SRG/eROSITA all-sky survey
Authors: Shakura N. I. , Kolesnikov D. A. , Medvedev P. S. , Sunyaev R. A. , Gilfanov M. R. , Postnov K. A. , Molkov S. V.
Published: February 2021

eROSITA (extended ROentgen Survey with an Imaging Telescope Array) instrument onboard the Russian-German ‘Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma’ (SRG) mission observed the Her X-1/HZ Her binary system in multiple scans over the source during the first and second SRG all-sky surveys. Both observations occurred during a low state of the X-ray source when the outer parts of the accretion disk blocked the neutron star from view. The orbital modulation of the X-ray flux was detected during the low states. We argue that the detected X-ray radiation results from scattering of the emission of the central source by three distinct regions: (a) an optically thin hot corona with temperature ~(2−4) × 106 K above the irradiated hemisphere of the optical star; (b) an optically thin hot halo above the accretion disk; and (c) the optically thick cold atmosphere of the optical star. The latter region effectively scatters photons with energies above 5–6 keV.
Distribution of ionized, atomic, and PDR gas around S 1 in ρ Ophiuchus
Authors: Mookerjea B. , Sandell G. , Veena V. S. , Güsten R. , Riquelme D. , Wiesemeyer H. , Wyrowski F. , Mertens M.
Published: February 2021

The early B star S 1 in the ρ Ophiuchus cloud excites an H II region and illuminates a large egg-shaped photon-dominated (PDR) cavity. The PDR is restricted to the west and southwest by the dense molecular ρ Oph A ridge, expanding more freely into the diffuse low-density cloud to the northeast. We analyzed new SOFIA GREAT, GMRT, and APEX data together with archival data from Herschel/PACS and JCMT/HARP to study the properties of the photo-irradiated ionized and neutral gas in this region. The tracers include [C II] at 158 μm, [O I] at 63 and 145 μm, the J = 6–5 transitions of CO and 13CO, HCO+ (4–3), the radio continuum at 610 and 1420 MHz, and H I at 21 cm. The PDR emission is strongly redshifted to the southeast of the nebula, and primarily blueshifted on the northwestern side. The [C II] and [O I]63 spectra are strongly self-absorbed over most of the PDR. By using the optically thin counterparts, [13C II] and [O I]145 respectively, we conclude that the self-absorption is dominated by the warm (>80 K) foreground PDR gas and not by the surrounding cold molecular cloud. We estimate the column densities of C+ and O0 of the PDR to be ~3 × 1018 and ~2 × 1019 cm−2, respectively. Comparison of stellar far-ultraviolet flux and reprocessed infrared radiation suggest enhanced clumpiness of the gas to the northwest. Analysis of the emission from the PDR gas suggests the presence of at least three density components consisting of high-density (106 cm−3) clumps, medium-density (104 cm−3) and diffuse (103 cm−3) interclump medium. The medium-density component primarily contributes to the thermal pressure of the PDR gas, which is in pressure equilibrium with the molecular cloud to the west. Emission velocities in the region suggest that the PDR is tilted and somewhat warped, with the southeastern side of the cavity being denser at the front and the northwestern side being denser at the rear.
L’intelligence artificielle au service des protocoles orthodontico-chirurgicaux
Authors: Makaremi Masrour , Bouletreau Pierre
Published: February 2021

Les applications de l’intelligence artificielle (IA) ont déjà envahi notre quotidien, et ces 10 dernières années ont vu l’émergence d’applications très prometteuses dans le domaine de la médecine. L’utilisation de l’IA semble particulièrement adaptée dans le cadre des protocoles chirurgico-orthhodontique. Son impact dans cette discipline risque d’être majeur dans les années à venir. Ces applications dans les protocoles chirurgico orthodontique pouvant être regroupées en quatre phases :1. imagerie maxillo-faciale, 2. planification du traitement, 3. appareils orthodontiques et chirurgicaux personnalisés, 4. suivi du traitement. L’IA est un outil très puissant et il est de la responsabilité de l’ensemble de la profession médicale de parvenir à une symbiose positive entre le sens clinique et l’IA.
PARP-Inhibition beim Prostatakarzinom
Authors: Krome Susanne
Published: February 2021

Der Verlust von DNA-Reparaturgenen führt in Kombination mit einer PARP-Inhibition zur Apoptose von Tumorzellen. Für das metastasierte, kastrationsresistente Prostatakarzinom kommen bei entsprechendem Mutationsnachweis die PARP-Inhibitoren Olaparib und Rucaparib in Frage. Cave: Wenn die Genalterationen aus der Liquid Biopsy diagnostiziert werden, ist Vorsicht geboten: Sogenannte CHIP-Mutationen (clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential) können zu falsch-positiven Resultaten führen.
Asymmetric Organocatalysis with Chiral Covalent Organic Frameworks
Authors: Yu Song-Chen , Cheng Liang , Liu Li
Published: February 2021

Inspired by Mother Nature, the use of chiral covalent organic frameworks as heterogeneous asymmetric organocatalysts has arisen over the last decade as a new method in enantioselective synthesis. In this Short Review, sophisticated design of these polymeric materials and their application in asymmetric organocatalysis will be discussed.
Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection Inhibits Fibrinolysis Leading to Changes in Viscoelastic Properties of Blood Clot: A Descriptive Study of Fibrinolysis in COVID-19
Authors: Hammer Stefanie , Häberle Helene , Schlensak Christian , Bitzer Michael , Malek Nisar P. , Handgretinger Rupert , Lang Peter , Hörber Sebastian , Peter Andreas , Martus Peter , Mirakaj Valbona , Gawaz Meinrad , Geisler Tobias , Althaus Karina , Rosenberger Peter , Bakchoul Tamam
Published: February 2021

Background Accumulating evidence indicates toward an association between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and procoagulatory state in blood. Thromboelastographic investigations are useful point-of-care devices to assess coagulation and fibrinolysis.

Objectives We investigated the hypothesis that the procoagulatory state in COVID-19 patients is associated with impaired fibrinolysis system.

Methods Altogether, 29 COVID-19 patients admitted to normal wards or to the intensive care unit (ICU) were included in this descriptive study. Whole blood samples were investigated by thromboelastography to assess coagulation and fibrinolysis. Additionally, standard routine coagulation testing and immunoassays for factors of fibrinolysis as plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activity and α2-antiplasmin (A2AP) were performed.

Results A significantly increased lysis resistance and a significantly longer time of lysis after adding tissue plasminogen activator were observed in blood samples from ICU COVID-19 patients compared with healthy controls (maximal lysis: 3.25 ± 0.56 vs. 6.20 ± 0.89%, p = 0.0127; lysis time: 365.7 ± 44.6 vs. 193.2 ± 16.3 seconds, p = 0.0014). PAI-1 activity was significantly higher in plasma samples of ICU COVID-19 patients (PAI-1: 4.92 ± 0.91 vs. 1.28 ± 0.33 U/mL, p = 0.001). A positive correlation between the activity of PAI-1 and lysis time of the formed clot (r = 0.70, p = 0.0006) was observed.

Conclusion Our data suggest that severe SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with impaired fibrinolytic activity in blood, where fibrinolytic inhibitors are elevated leading to an increased resistance to clot lysis. Thromboelastography could offer a tool to investigate the contribution of the fibrinolytic status to the procoagulatory condition in COVID-19.