bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Solubility Limit of Carbon in Alumina at 1,600°C
Authors: Cohen Li-or , Ghosh Priyadarshini , Berner Alex , Marder Rachel , Kaplan Wayne D.
Published: September 2022

The solubility limit of carbon in α-Al2O3 (alumina) equilibrated at 1,600°C under He in a graphite furnace was measured by wavelength-dispersive spectroscopy. Undoped alumina and alumina containing carbon at a concentration resulting in the precipitation of a second phase were prepared and equilibrated at 1,600°C. The undoped alumina was used to quantify the amount of carbon deposited on the surface of samples because of hydrocarbon contamination in the electron microscope, and this background level was removed from the signal measured from carbon-doped samples. The solubility limit of carbon in alumina was found to be 5,300 ± 390 at. ppm, and it is believed that carbon substitutes oxygen as an anion and is charge-compensated by oxygen vacancies. Doping alumina with carbon at concentrations below the solubility limit does not impede densification and reduces grain growth. Doping above the solubility limit hinders densification during sintering.
Lysistrata in Kleindeutschland: The German-American Reception of Schubert's Die Verschworenen (D. 787)
Authors: MacCarthy Evan A.
Published: September 2022

Franz Schubert's final attempt at a Singspiel was Die Verschworenen (The Conspirators, D. 787), a loose adaptation of three comedies by Aristophanes: Lysistrata, Ecclesiazusae (Assemblywomen) and Thesmophoriazusae (Women at the Thesmophoria). Composed in 1823, but not premiered until 1861 (in Vienna), the work was successfully revived for its United States premiere 18 months later, in Hoboken, New Jersey, for a thriving German-American cultural community at the time of the American Civil War. The historical conditions of early performances in Hoboken and the Kleindeutschland neighbourhood of Manhattan, and the reasons for the work's programming by its conductor, Friedrich Adolf Sorge, a prominent German-American political and labour leader who wanted the arts to ‘shake up the people’, are addressed. Schubert's Singspiel had several layers of meaning for its audiences of mostly German immigrants living in the New York City area: as an adaptation of Aristophanes’s Lysistrata, set in the Crusades, it was a comic plea for peace both in the early years of the Civil War and amid the violent political strife on the path toward German unification. Its use of parts of Aristophanes’s Ecclesiazusae suggested relevance to labour disputes that Sorge had been involved in since the 1850s and would eventually lead himself after establishing the New York Section of the International Workingmen's Association. In this context, Schubert's work becomes both Germanic and Hellenic, medieval and modern, thereby becoming an assurance of Old-World culture for its varied German-American audiences.
The Association Between Problematic Use of Alcohol and Drugs and Repeat Self-Harm and Suicidal Ideation
Authors: Chitty Kate M. , Cvejic Rachael C. , Heintze Teresa , Srasuebkul Preeyaporn , Morley Kirsten , Dawson Andrew , Carter Gregory , Dinh Michael , Buckley Nicholas A. , Trollor Julian N.
Published: September 2022

Abstract. Aims: We investigated the association between problematic use of alcohol and/or drugs (PUAD) and the incidence, urgency, and mode of discharge for a subsequent episode of self-harm (SH) or suicidal ideation (SI). Methods: This was a retrospective population-based cohort study of individuals admitted to hospital for an index episode of SH/SI (2010–2014) using linked data from hospital admissions and emergency department (ED) presentations. The outcome variables were (1) subsequent presentation to the ED for SH/SI, (2) triage category, and (3) mode of departure. Key predictors were PUAD. Results: In total, 23,007 individuals were admitted to hospital for an index SH/SI, of whom 8% had a subsequent presentation to an ED for SH/SI within a year. The odds of subsequent presentation was increased in those with problematic alcohol use (AOR 1.62, 95% CI 1.36, 1.92), drug use (AOR 1.28, 95% CI 1.07, 1.53), and mental health diagnoses (AOR 1.63, 95% CI 1.44, 1.85). Those with problematic alcohol use were more likely to be assigned to the most urgent triage categories (AOR 1.84, 95% CI 1.32, 2.56). Limitations: Defining SH and PUAD using administrative data is challenging, and the true prevalence is likely to be underestimated. Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of drug health intervention as a key component of self-harm prevention.
Solar Activity Driven 27‐Day Signatures in Ionospheric Electron and Molecular Oxygen Densities
Authors: Schmölter Erik , von Savigny Christian
Published: September 2022

The complex interactions in the upper atmosphere, which control the height‐dependent ionospheric response to the 27‐day solar rotation period, are investigated with the superposed epoch analysis technique. 27‐day signatures describing solar activity are calculated from a solar proxy (F10.7) and wavelength‐dependent extreme ultraviolet (EUV) fluxes (Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics/Solar EUV Experiment), and the corresponding 27‐day signatures describing ionospheric conditions are calculated from electron density profiles (Pruhonice ionosonde station) and O2 density profiles (Global‐scale Observations of the Limb and Disk). The lag analysis of these extracted signatures is applied to characterize the delayed ionospheric response at heights from 100 to 300 km and the impact of major absorption processes in the lower (dominated by O2) and upper ionosphere (dominated by O) is discussed. The observed variations of the delay in these regions are in good agreement with model simulations in preceding studies. Additionally, the estimated significance and the correlation of the delays based on both ionospheric parameters are good. Thus, variations such as the strong shift in 27‐day signatures for the O2 density at low heights are also reliably identified (up to half a cycle). The analysis confirms the importance of ionospheric and thermospheric coupling to understand the variability of the delayed ionospheric response and introduces a method that could be applied to additional ionosonde stations in future studies. This would allow to describe the variability of the delayed ionospheric response spatially, vertically and temporally and therefore may contribute further to the understanding of processes and improve ionospheric modeling.
Biomarker correlates with response to NY-ESO-1 TCR T cells in patients with synovial sarcoma
Authors: Gyurdieva Alexandra , Zajic Stefan , Chang Ya-Fang , Houseman E. Andres , Zhong Shan , Kim Jaegil , Nathenson Michael , Faitg Thomas , Woessner Mary , Turner David C. , Hasan Aisha N. , Glod John , Kaplan Rosandra N. , D’Angelo Sandra P. , Araujo Dejka M. , Chow Warren A. , Druta Mihaela , Demetri George D. , Van Tine Brian A. , Grupp Stephan A. , Fine Gregg D. , Eleftheriadou Ioanna
Published: September 2022

Autologous T cells transduced to express a high affinity T-cell receptor specific to NY-ESO-1 (letetresgene autoleucel, lete-cel) show promise in the treatment of metastatic synovial sarcoma, with 50% overall response rate. The efficacy of lete-cel treatment in 45 synovial sarcoma patients (NCT01343043) has been previously reported, however, biomarkers predictive of response and resistance remain to be better defined. This post-hoc analysis identifies associations of response to lete-cel with lymphodepleting chemotherapy regimen (LDR), product attributes, cell expansion, cytokines, and tumor gene expression. Responders have higher IL-15 levels pre-infusion (p = 0.011) and receive a higher number of transduced effector memory (CD45RA- CCR7-) CD8 + cells per kg (p = 0.039). Post-infusion, responders have increased IFNγ, IL-6, and peak cell expansion (p < 0.01, p < 0.01, and p = 0.016, respectively). Analysis of tumor samples post-treatment illustrates lete-cel infiltration and a decrease in expression of macrophage genes, suggesting remodeling of the tumor microenvironment. Here we report potential predictive and pharmacodynamic markers of lete-cel response that may inform LDR, cell dose, and strategies to enhance anticancer efficacy.
IFITM3 restricts virus-induced inflammatory cytokine production by limiting Nogo-B mediated TLR responses
Authors: Clement M. , Forbester J. L. , Marsden M. , Sabberwal P. , Sommerville M. S. , Wellington D. , Dimonte S. , Clare S. , Harcourt K. , Yin Z. , Nobre L. , Antrobus R. , Jin B. , Chen M. , Makvandi-Nejad S. , Lindborg J. A. , Strittmatter S. M. , Weekes M. P. , Stanton R. J. , Dong T. , Humphreys I. R.
Published: September 2022

Interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3) is a restriction factor that limits viral pathogenesis and exerts poorly understood immunoregulatory functions. Here, using human and mouse models, we demonstrate that IFITM3 promotes MyD88-dependent, TLR-mediated IL-6 production following exposure to cytomegalovirus (CMV). IFITM3 also restricts IL-6 production in response to influenza and SARS-CoV-2. In dendritic cells, IFITM3 binds to the reticulon 4 isoform Nogo-B and promotes its proteasomal degradation. We reveal that Nogo-B mediates TLR-dependent pro-inflammatory cytokine production and promotes viral pathogenesis in vivo, and in the case of TLR2 responses, this process involves alteration of TLR2 cellular localization. Nogo-B deletion abrogates inflammatory cytokine responses and associated disease in virus-infected IFITM3-deficient mice. Thus, we uncover Nogo-B as a driver of viral pathogenesis and highlight an immunoregulatory pathway in which IFITM3 fine-tunes the responsiveness of myeloid cells to viral stimulation.
Multi-pathway DNA-repair reporters reveal competition between end-joining, single-strand annealing and homologous recombination at Cas9-induced DNA double-strand breaks
Authors: van de Kooij Bert , Kruswick Alex , van Attikum Haico , Yaffe Michael B.
Published: September 2022

DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) are repaired by multiple distinct pathways, with outcomes ranging from error-free repair to mutagenesis and genomic loss. DSB-repair pathway cross-talk and compensation is incompletely understood, despite its importance for genomic stability, oncogenesis, and genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9. To address this, we constructed and validated three fluorescent Cas9-based reporters, named DSB-Spectrum, that simultaneously quantify the contribution of multiple DNA repair pathways at a DSB. DSB-Spectrum reporters distinguish between DSB-repair by error-free canonical non-homologous end-joining (c-NHEJ) versus homologous recombination (HR; reporter 1), mutagenic repair versus HR (reporter 2), and mutagenic end-joining versus single strand annealing (SSA) versus HR (reporter 3). Using these reporters, we show that inhibiting the c-NHEJ factor DNA-PKcs increases repair by HR, but also substantially increases mutagenic SSA. Our data indicate that SSA-mediated DSB-repair also occurs at endogenous genomic loci, driven by Alu elements or homologous gene regions. Finally, we demonstrate that long-range end-resection factors DNA2 and Exo1 promote SSA and reduce HR, when both pathways compete for the same substrate. These new Cas9-based DSB-Spectrum reporters facilitate the comprehensive analysis of repair pathway crosstalk and DSB-repair outcome.
A central arctic extreme aerosol event triggered by a warm air-mass intrusion
Authors: Dada Lubna , Angot Hélène , Beck Ivo , Baccarini Andrea , Quéléver Lauriane L. J. , Boyer Matthew , Laurila Tiia , Brasseur Zoé , Jozef Gina , de Boer Gijs , Shupe Matthew D. , Henning Silvia , Bucci Silvia , Dütsch Marina , Stohl Andreas , Petäjä Tuukka , Daellenbach Kaspar R. , Jokinen Tuija , Schmale Julia
Published: September 2022

Frequency and intensity of warm and moist air-mass intrusions into the Arctic have increased over the past decades and have been related to sea ice melt. During our year-long expedition in the remote central Arctic Ocean, a record-breaking increase in temperature, moisture and downwelling-longwave radiation was observed in mid-April 2020, during an air-mass intrusion carrying air pollutants from northern Eurasia. The two-day intrusion, caused drastic changes in the aerosol size distribution, chemical composition and particle hygroscopicity. Here we show how the intrusion transformed the Arctic from a remote low-particle environment to an area comparable to a central-European urban setting. Additionally, the intrusion resulted in an explosive increase in cloud condensation nuclei, which can have direct effects on Arctic clouds’ radiation, their precipitation patterns, and their lifetime. Thus, unless prompt actions to significantly reduce emissions in the source regions are taken, such intrusion events are expected to continue to affect the Arctic climate.
Regulation associated modules reflect 3D genome modularity associated with chromatin activity
Authors: Zheng Lina , Wang Wei
Published: September 2022

The 3D genome has been shown to be organized into modules including topologically associating domains (TADs) and compartments that are primarily defined by spatial contacts from Hi-C. There exists a gap to investigate whether and how the spatial modularity of the chromatin is related to the functional modularity resulting from chromatin activity. Despite histone modifications reflecting chromatin activity, inferring spatial modularity of the genome directly from the histone modification patterns has not been well explored. Here, we report that histone modifications show a modular pattern (referred to as regulation associated modules, RAMs) that reflects spatial chromatin modularity. Enhancer-promoter interactions, loop anchors, super-enhancer clusters and extrachromosomal DNAs (ecDNAs) are found to occur more often within the same RAMs than within the same TADs. Consistently, compared to the TAD boundaries, deletions of RAM boundaries perturb the chromatin structure more severely (may even cause cell death) and somatic variants in cancer samples are more enriched in RAM boundaries. These observations suggest that RAMs reflect a modular organization of the 3D genome at a scale better aligned with chromatin activity, providing a bridge connecting the structural and functional modularity of the genome.
Never-homozygous genetic variants in healthy populations are potential recessive disease candidates
Authors: Schmenger Torsten , Diwan Gaurav D. , Singh Gurdeep , Apic Gordana , Russell Robert B.
Published: September 2022

The rapid pace with which genetic variants are now being determined means there is a pressing need to understand how they affect biological systems. Variants from healthy individuals have previously been used to study blood groups or HLA diversity and to identify genes that can apparently be nonfunctional in healthy people. These studies and others have observed a lower than expected frequency of homozygous individuals for potentially deleterious alleles, which would suggest that several of these alleles can lead to recessive disorders. Here we exploited this principle to hunt for potential disease variants in genomes from healthy people. We identified at least 108 exclusively heterozygous variants with evidence for an impact on biological function. We discuss several examples of candidate variants/genes including CCDC8, PANK3, RHD and NLRP12. Overall, the results suggest there are many, comparatively frequent, potentially lethal or disease-causing variants lurking in healthy human populations.
Enhancing quantum cryptography with quantum dot single-photon sources
Authors: Bozzio Mathieu , Vyvlecka Michal , Cosacchi Michael , Nawrath Cornelius , Seidelmann Tim , Loredo Juan C. , Portalupi Simone L. , Axt Vollrath M. , Michler Peter , Walther Philip
Published: September 2022

Quantum cryptography harnesses quantum light, in particular single photons, to provide security guarantees that cannot be reached by classical means. For each cryptographic task, the security feature of interest is directly related to the photons’ non-classical properties. Quantum dot-based single-photon sources are remarkable candidates, as they can in principle emit deterministically, with high brightness and low multiphoton contribution. Here, we show that these sources provide additional security benefits, thanks to the tunability of coherence in the emitted photon-number states. We identify the optimal optical pumping scheme for the main quantum-cryptographic primitives, and benchmark their performance with respect to Poisson-distributed sources such as attenuated laser states and down-conversion sources. In particular, we elaborate on the advantage of using phonon-assisted and two-photon excitation rather than resonant excitation for quantum key distribution and other primitives. The presented results will guide future developments in solid-state and quantum information science for photon sources that are tailored to quantum communication tasks.
Model-informed experimental design recommendations for distinguishing intrinsic and acquired targeted therapeutic resistance in head and neck cancer
Authors: Cárdenas Santiago D. , Reznik Constance J. , Ranaweera Ruchira , Song Feifei , Chung Christine H. , Fertig Elana J. , Gevertz Jana L.
Published: September 2022

The promise of precision medicine has been limited by the pervasive resistance to many targeted therapies for cancer. Inferring the timing (i.e., pre-existing or acquired) and mechanism (i.e., drug-induced) of such resistance is crucial for designing effective new therapeutics. This paper studies cetuximab resistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) using tumor volume data obtained from patient-derived tumor xenografts. We ask if resistance mechanisms can be determined from this data alone, and if not, what data would be needed to deduce the underlying mode(s) of resistance. To answer these questions, we propose a family of mathematical models, with each member of the family assuming a different timing and mechanism of resistance. We present a method for fitting these models to individual volumetric data, and utilize model selection and parameter sensitivity analyses to ask: which member(s) of the family of models best describes HNSCC response to cetuximab, and what does that tell us about the timing and mechanisms driving resistance? We find that along with time-course volumetric data to a single dose of cetuximab, the initial resistance fraction and, in some instances, dose escalation volumetric data are required to distinguish among the family of models and thereby infer the mechanisms of resistance. These findings can inform future experimental design so that we can best leverage the synergy of wet laboratory experimentation and mathematical modeling in the study of novel targeted cancer therapeutics.
Event-triggered STED imaging
Authors: Alvelid Jonatan , Damenti Martina , Sgattoni Chiara , Testa Ilaria
Published: September 2022

Monitoring the proteins and lipids that mediate all cellular processes requires imaging methods with increased spatial and temporal resolution. STED (stimulated emission depletion) nanoscopy enables fast imaging of nanoscale structures in living cells but is limited by photobleaching. Here, we present event-triggered STED, an automated multiscale method capable of rapidly initiating two-dimensional (2D) and 3D STED imaging after detecting cellular events such as protein recruitment, vesicle trafficking and second messengers activity using biosensors. STED is applied in the vicinity of detected events to maximize the temporal resolution. We imaged synaptic vesicle dynamics at up to 24 Hz, 40 ms after local calcium activity; endocytosis and exocytosis events at up to 11 Hz, 40 ms after local protein recruitment or pH changes; and the interaction between endosomal vesicles at up to 3 Hz, 70 ms after approaching one another. Event-triggered STED extends the capabilities of live nanoscale imaging, enabling novel biological observations in real time.
Cenozoic origins of the genus Calliarcys (Insecta, Ephemeroptera) revealed by Micro-CT, with DNA barcode gap analysis of Leptophlebiinae and Habrophlebiinae
Authors: Godunko Roman J. , Alba-Tercedor Javier , Grabowski Michal , Rewicz Tomasz , Staniczek Arnold H.
Published: September 2022

Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) are among the oldest pterygote insects, with the earliest fossils dating back to the Late Carboniferous. Within mayflies, Leptophlebiidae are a highly diverse and widespread group, with approximately 140 genera and 640 species. Whereas taxonomy, systematics, and phylogeny of extant Leptophlebiidae are in the focus of extensive studies, little is known about leptophlebiid fossil taxa. Because fossil remains of Ephemeroptera in sedimentary rocks are relatively rare, inclusions of mayflies in amber are a unique source of information on their evolution and diversity in the past. Leptophlebiidae found in Cenozoic resins mostly belong to the subfamilies Leptophlebiinae (in Eocene Baltic amber) and Atalophlebiinae (in Miocene Dominican and Mexican ambers). In the present contribution, we confirm the first finding of the genusCalliarcysfrom Eocene Baltic amber by using Micro-CT, which allowed confirming its generic placement by visualizing diagnostic key characters otherwise hidden by a cloud of turbidity. Additionally, we present first molecular data on the extant speciesCalliarcys humilisEaton, 1881 from the Iberian Peninsula and the barcode gap analysis for Leptophlebiinae and Habrophlebiinae.
Temperature evolution of dense gold and diamond heated by energetic laser-driven aluminum ions
Authors: Song C. , Lee S. , Bang W.
Published: September 2022

Recent studies have shown that energetic laser-driven ions with some energy spread can heat small solid-density samples uniformly. The balance among the energy losses of the ions with different kinetic energies results in uniform heating. Although heating with an energetic laser-driven ion beam is completed within a nanosecond and is often considered sufficiently fast, it is not instantaneous. Here we present a theoretical study of the temporal evolution of the temperature of solid-density gold and diamond samples heated by a quasimonoenergetic aluminum ion beam. We calculate the temporal evolution of the predicted temperatures of the samples using the available stopping power data and the SESAME equation-of-state tables. We find that the temperature distribution is initially very uniform, which becomes less uniform during the heating process. Then, the temperature uniformity gradually improves, and a good temperature uniformity is obtained toward the end of the heating process.
Vaccination willingness in association with personality traits in patients with multiple sclerosis in the course of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
Authors: Heidler Felicita , Baldt Julia , Frahm Niklas , Langhorst Silvan Elias , Mashhadiakbar Pegah , Streckenbach Barbara , Burian Katja , Zettl Uwe Klaus , Richter Jörg
Published: September 2022

Vaccination is a key strategy for controlling the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Acceptance of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines by chronically ill patients, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, plays an important role in prevention of complicated disease course. This longitudinal, prospective, multi-centre-study of German MS-patients aimed to detect socio-demographic, clinical, or psychological determinants of attitudes towards standard vaccines, SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, and governmental measures before/during the pandemic. Exactly 404 MS-patients were investigated by standardized questionnaires and structured interviews on socio-demographic, clinical-neurological, and psychological characteristics, vaccination status, and vaccination from June 2019. Data on SARS-CoV-2 vaccination willingness were collected in two follow-up assessments (1st: June to July 2020, before SARS-CoV-2 vaccine availability, N = 200; 2nd: March to May 2021, after SARS-CoV-2 vaccine availability, N = 157). Age, sex, MS course type, depression, and personality characteristics (Extraversion, Novelty seeking, Self-directedness, and Cooperativeness) were significantly associated with vaccination willingness. Although the majority of MS-patients showed SARS-CoV-2 vaccination willingness at both follow-ups (1st: 60%, 2nd: 61%), a substantial proportion had concerns and were undecided or opposed to vaccination. Socio-demographic variables like age and sex, psychopathological status, and various personality characteristics might influence vaccination willingness and should be considered when discussing with MS-patients about SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.
Preferential growth of (001)-oriented Bi2SiO5 thin films deposited on (101)-oriented rutile substrates and their ferroelectric and dielectric properties
Authors: Kodera Masanori , Ishihama Keisuke , Shimizu Takao , Funakubo Hiroshi
Published: September 2022

Ferroelectric thin films are important because of their great potential for use in various electric devices such as ferroelectric random-access memory. It was expected that Bi2SiO5, a Si-containing ferroelectric material, would show improved ferroelectricity by targeting a film with the (001)-orientation (polar-axis) on the substrate. Although there was a narrow process window for the deposition of the (010)/(001)-oriented Bi2SiO5 thin film, it was successfully prepared on a (101)-oriented TiO2 single substrate using the pulsed layer deposition technique. The optimum film deposition conditions and film thickness were found, and in this material, the volume fraction of the (001)-oriented domain reached about 70%. By controlling film orientation to the polar axis, the remanent polarization value of this film was 4.8 μC cm−2, which is the highest value among reported Bi2SiO5.
Deep learning based optimal energy management for photovoltaic and battery energy storage integrated home micro-grid system
Authors: Alam Md. Morshed , Rahman Md. Habibur , Ahmed Md. Faisal , Chowdhury Mostafa Zaman , Jang Yeong Min
Published: September 2022

The development of the advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) enable electrical systems to actively engage in smart grid systems. Smart homes with energy storage systems (ESS) and renewable energy sources (RES)-known as home microgrids-have become a critical enabling technology for the smart grid. This article proposes a new model for the energy management system of a home microgrid integrated with a battery ESS (BESS). The proposed dynamic model integrates a deep learning (DL)-based predictive model, bidirectional long short-term memory (Bi-LSTM), with an optimization algorithm for optimal energy distribution and scheduling of a BESS-by determining the characteristics of distributed resources, BESS properties, and the user’s lifestyle. The aim is to minimize the per-day electricity cost charged by time-of-use (TOU) pricing while considering the day-basis peak demand penalty. The proposed system also considers the operational constraints of renewable resources, the BESS, and electrical appliances. The simulation results from realistic case studies demonstrate the validation and responsibility of the proposed system in reducing a household’s daily electricity cost.
A novel finding of intra-genus inhibition of quorum sensing in Vibrio bacteria
Authors: Hoang Huong Thanh , Nguyen Thuy Thu Thi , Do Ha Minh , Nguyen Thao Kim Nu , Pham Hai The
Published: September 2022

Quorum sensing is the process by which microbial cells sense and respond to the co-presence of others in their surrounding, through the detection of their autoinducers associated with gene expression regulation and thereby controlling many physiological processes, such as biofilm formation and/or bioluminescence, etc. In Vibrio bacteria, where quorum sensing is relatively well understood with three commonly known autoinducers (HAI-1, AI-2 and CAI-1), both intra-species and inter-species cell–cell communications occur but no inter-Vibrio-species quorum sensing inhibition has been reported. In this study, by screening bacterial isolated from soil and mud samples in a northern province in Vietnam, we discovered a strain that reduced more than 75% of the bioluminescence of a Vibrio harveyi, with evidence showing that such an inhibition might be associated with quorum sensing inhibition. The strain, designated as XTS1.2.9, was identified to be a Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacterium based on its morphological, physiological, biochemical and phylogenetic characteristics. We also tested XTS1.2.9 for its bioluminescence inhibition against different mutants lacking different quorum sensing autoinducers by using plate assays. The results showed that XTS1.2.9 inhibited the bioluminescence of the mutants having sensor 1, especially the one detecting CAI-1, and lacking sensor for AI-2; while it did not inhibit the mutants having only sensor for AI-2 and lacking sensor 1. Therefore, we propose an intra-genus quorum sensing inhibition mechanism involving CAI-1 to explain for such interactions between Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio harveyi. This phenomenon is reported for the first time and may have certain scientific and application implications.
Increased probability of mood disorders after age-related macular degeneration: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Lee Chia-Yi , Chen Hung-Chi , Huang Jing-Yang , Lai Chi-Chun , Lin Hung-Yu , Yang Shun-Fa , Wu Wei-Chi
Published: September 2022

We aim to investigate the association of mood disorders with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This retrospective cohort study used data from 2000 and 2016 from National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan. Patients with AMD diagnosis formed the exposed group, and an age- and sex-matched group without AMD served as the nonexposed group. Main outcomes were the incidence of mood disorders including psychological counseling, behavior therapy, sleep or anxiety-related disorders, and major depressive disorders (MDDs) in the exposed and non-exposed groups. The Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to evaluate the incidence and adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of mood disorders. A total of 5916 and 11,832 individuals with and without AMD were enrolled into the exposed and nonexposed groups. There were 1017 (17.19%) and 1366 (11.54%) episodes of mood disorders occurred in the exposed and nonexposed groups, respectively. The aHRs of any psychological counseling, behavioral therapy, sleep or anxiety-related disorders, and MDD were significantly higher in patients with AMD than in those without AMD (all P < 0.05). Besides, patients with dry-AMD, participants aged 50–70 years, and women with AMD had a higher incidence of mood disorders (all P < 0.05) than did non-AMD individuals, patients > 70 years, and women without AMD. In conclusion, AMD occurrence leads to an increased rate of mood disorders, particularly among those with dry-AMD, middle aged participants (aged 50–70), and women.
Piracema: a Phishing snapshot database for building dataset features
Authors: Gomes de Barros Julio Cesar , Revoredo da Silva Carlo Marcelo , Candeia Teixeira Lucas , Torres Fernandes Bruno José , Lorenzato de Oliveira Joao Fausto , Luzeiro Feitosa Eduardo , Pinheiro dos Santos Wellington , Ferraz Arcoverde Henrique , Cardoso Garcia Vinicius
Published: September 2022

Phishing is an attack characterized by attempted fraud against users. The attacker develops a malicious page that is a trusted environment, inducing its victims to submit sensitive data. There are several platforms, such as PhishTank and OpenPhish, that maintain databases on malicious pages to support anti-phishing solutions, such as, for example, block lists and machine learning. A problem with this scenario is that many of these databases are disorganized, inconsistent, and have some limitations regarding integrity and balance. In addition, because phishing is so volatile, considerable effort is put into preserving temporal information from each malicious page. To contribute, this article built a phishing database with consistent and balanced data, temporal information, and a significant number of occurrences, totaling 942,471 records over the 5 years between 2016 and 2021. Of these records, 135,542 preserve the page’s source code, 258,416 have the attack target brand detected, 70,597 have the hosting service identified, and 15,008 have the shortener service discovered. Additionally, 123,285 records store WHOIS information of the domain registered in 2021. The data is available on the websitehttps://piracema.io/repository.
Association between phthalate exposure and accelerated bone maturation in Chinese girls with early puberty onset: a propensity score-matched case–control analysis
Authors: Huang Shurong , Su Zhe , Su Huiping , Jiao Yanhua , Su Qiru , Yao Yao , Zhou Li , Zheng Xiuxin , Zhang Xingliang
Published: September 2022

Estrogen can promote the acceleration of bone maturation and phthalate esters (PAEs) have estrogen-mimicking effects. We investigated whether PAEs are associated with the acceleration of bone age (BA) in girls with early onset of puberty (EOP). This case–control study enrolled 254 girls with EOP from the Endocrinology Department at Shenzhen Children’s Hospital between December 2018 and August 2019. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry were used to analyze the 10 metabolites of PAEs (mPAEs) in urine samples. BA was measured using an artificial intelligence system. BA exceeding the chronological age (CA) by > 2 years (BA-CA ≥ 2 years) was referred to as significant BA advancement. Participants were divided into groups A (BA-CA ≥ 2 years; case group) and B (BA-CA < 2 years; control group). Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed for both groups in a 1:2 ratio with a caliper of 0.25. To identify potential dose–response relationships between PAEs exposure and BA advancement, we grouped the participants after PSM according to the tertiles of the mPAE concentrations. After PSM, 31 and 62 girls in groups A and B were selected. The concentration of Mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP) in group A was significantly higher than in group B (11.83 μg/g vs. 7.11 μg/g, P < 0.05); there was no significant difference in the levels of other mPAEs between the groups. The degree of BA advancement and proportion of significantly advanced BA in the lowest, middle, and highest tertiles of the MEP sequentially increased, as well as in the lowest, middle, and highest tertiles of Mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate; however, these were only statistically different between the highest and lowest MEP tertiles (both P < 0.05). For the remaining mPAEs, differences in the degree of BA advancement among the lowest, middle, and highest tertiles, as well as differences in the proportion of significantly advanced BA among the lowest, middle, and highest tertiles, were not significant (all P > 0.05). Our findings suggested that MEP was positively associated with BA advancement in girls with EOP. Exposure to PAEs may promote accelerated bone maturation.
Numerical study on the impact of wall structure on the thermal performance of double-channel porous solar wall
Authors: Qi Xuejun , Lin Shuang , Tao Shuyan , Patchigolla Kumar
Published: September 2022

With the improvement of people’s living standards, they have higher requirements for indoor thermal comfort in the cold season. Solar wall utilizing solar energy for heating can reduce carbon emissions and achieve carbon neutrality. In the aspect of solar wall research, the influence of wall structure on the thermal performance of double-channel porous solar wall is limitedly investigated. In fact, the optimization design of wall structure is important for the thermal performance of solar wall and its applications. Therefore, a simplified three dimensional room model is built to study the influence of the wall structure on the thermal performance of porous solar wall by numerical simulation. With this model, different channel spacing and thickness of porous walls were used to determine the optimal design for a double-channel porous solar wall in terms of enhancing the heat storage. Moreover, the influence of the surface emissivity on the characteristics of heating and temperature field of double-channel porous solar wall are studied based on the optimal structure. The CFD simulation results indicate that the optimal structure parameters should include spacing of 0.08 m for channel 1, the porous wall thickness should be 0.08 m, and the air channel 2 spacing should be 0.06 m. The temperature of air channel 1 and air channel 2, the indoor temperature, and the heat storage of porous wall decrease with the increase of the surface emissivity of the porous wall. In order to improve the heat storage performance of double-channel porous solar wall, the outer surface of the porous wall should use a lower emissivity material. The outer surface emissivity of porous wall has a significant impact on the heat storage of the porous wall and little effect on the thermal storage wall. The temperature of porous wall is always higher than that of outdoor environment temperature.
Responsiveness of the new index muscular echotexture in women with metastatic breast cancer: an exercise intervention study
Authors: Escriche-Escuder Adrian , Trinidad-Fernández Manuel , Pajares Bella , Iglesias-Campos Marcos , Alba Emilio , García-Almeida José Manuel , Roldán-Jiménez Cristina , Cuesta-Vargas Antonio I.
Published: September 2022

Ultrasound imaging texture analyses may provide information on tissue homogeneity changes in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) through second-order analyzes based on the gray-level co-occurrence matrix. This study aimed to analyze the responsiveness and correlations of biomarkers of muscular and fat echotexture after an exercise intervention in women with MBC. A 12-week exercise intervention was conducted in 2019, including aerobic and strength training. Echotexture variables were obtained at baseline and after intervention from the quadriceps (Q) and biceps brachii and brachialis. Mean differences were calculated using the T-Student parametric test for dependent samples of the differences in the means (P = 0.05; 95% CI). Data obtained from 13 MBC women showed significant differences in some echotexture variables after the intervention. QLQ-BR23 questionnaire correlated with several echotexture variables from muscle and subcutaneous fat. PFS-R scale correlated positively with the Q Subcutaneous Fat Non-Contraction Homogeneity (R = 0.43,P < 0.05). Q Muscle Non-Contraction Energy and Q Muscle Non-Contraction Textural Correlation explained 90% of the variance of QLQ-BR23. Some muscle and subcutaneous fat echotexture biomarkers showed good responsiveness after the exercise intervention. Additionally, some muscle and subcutaneous fat variables correlated with QLQ-BR23 and cancer-related fatigue measured by PFS-R scale in MBC patients.

Trial registration: NCT03879096
Deep learning-based reconstruction on cardiac CT yields distinct radiomic features compared to iterative and filtered back projection reconstructions
Authors: Chun Sei Hyun , Suh Young Joo , Han Kyunghwa , Kwon Yonghan , Kim Aaron Youngjae , Choi Byoung Wook
Published: September 2022

We aimed to determine the effects of deep learning-based reconstruction (DLR) on radiomic features obtained from cardiac computed tomography (CT) by comparing with iterative reconstruction (IR), and filtered back projection (FBP). A total of 284 consecutive patients with 285 cardiac CT scans that were reconstructed with DLR, IR, and FBP, were retrospectively enrolled. Radiomic features were extracted from the left ventricular (LV) myocardium, and from the periprosthetic mass if patients had cardiac valve replacement. Radiomic features of LV myocardium from each reconstruction were compared using a fitting linear mixed model. Radiomics models were developed to diagnose periprosthetic abnormality, and the performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver characteristics curve (AUC). Most radiomic features of LV myocardium (73 of 88) were significantly different in pairwise comparisons between all three reconstruction methods (P < 0.05). The radiomics model on IR exhibited the best diagnostic performance (AUC 0.948, 95% CI 0.880–1), relative to DLR (AUC 0.873, 95% CI 0.735–1) and FBP (AUC 0.875, 95% CI 0.731–1), but these differences did not reach significance (P > 0.05). In conclusion, applying DLR to cardiac CT scans yields radiomic features distinct from those obtained with IR and FBP, implying that feature robustness is not guaranteed when applying DLR.
Acute multiple toxic effects of Trifloxystrobin fungicide on Allium cepa L.
Authors: Macar Oksal , Kalefetoğlu Macar Tuğçe , Yalçın Emine , Çavuşoğlu Kültiğin
Published: September 2022

Trifloxystrobin (TFS) is a strobilurin-type fungicide that should be investigated due to its risks to non-targeted organisms. The goal of this study was to assess the susceptibility of Allium cepa L. to TFS in a multi-pronged approach. For 72 h, 0.2 g/L, 0.4 g/L and 0.8 g/L doses of TFS were administered to A. cepa bulbs and the control group was treated with tap water. The toxic effects of TFS were tested, considering physiological, cytogenetic, biochemical and anatomical analyses. TFS delayed growth by reducing the rooting ratio, root elongation and weight increase. Following TFS treatments, mitotic index (MI) scores decreased, while the formation of micronucleus (MN) and chromosomal aberrations (CAs) ascended. CAs types induced by TFS were listed according to their frequency as fragment, vagrant chromosome, sticky chromosome, uneven distribution of chromatin, bridge, nucleus with vacuoles, reverse polarization and irregular mitosis. TFS provoked an increment in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzyme activities as well as an accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA). Meristematic cells of A. cepa roots treated with TFS had various anatomical damages, including damaged epidermis, flattened cell nucleus, damaged cortex and thickness in the cortex cell wall. All damages arising from TFS treatments exhibited dose-dependency. The findings of the present study revealed the serious toxicity of TFS in a non-targeted plant. It should not be neglected to evaluate the potential hazards of TFS with different toxicity tests.
Van der Waals interfaces in multilayer junctions for ultraviolet photodetection
Authors: Xie Shihong , Shiffa Mustaqeem , Shiffa Mujahid , Kudrynskyi Zakhar R. , Makarovskiy Oleg , Kovalyuk Zakhar D. , Zhu Wenkai , Wang Kaiyou , Patanè Amalia
Published: September 2022

Developments in semiconductor science have led to the miniaturization and improvement of light detection technologies for many applications. However, traditional pn-junctions or three-dimensional device geometries for detection of ultraviolet (UV) light are still limited by the physical properties of the semiconductors used, such as the small penetration depth of UV light in silicon. Van der Waals (vdW) semiconductors and their pn-junctions can offer an alternative solution due to their optical properties and thin pn-junction region. Here, we report on a multi-layer junction that combines single layer graphene and vdW semiconductors (p-GaSe and n-In2Se3) with strong optical absorption in the UV range. The junctions have broadband spectral response (0.3-1.0 μm) and high photoresponsivity under forward and reverse bias, or without any externally applied voltage. The photoresponse differs from that of a traditional pn-junction diode as it is governed by charge transport across thin layers and light-current conversion at three vdW interfaces (e.g. the graphene/GaSe, GaSe/In2Se3 and In2Se3/graphene interfaces). The type-II band alignment at the GaSe/In2Se3 interface and electric field at the three vdW interfaces are beneficial to suppress carrier recombination for enhanced photoresponsivity (up to ~102 A/W) and detectivity (up to ~1013 Jones), beyond conventional UV-enhanced silicon detection technology.
Topological triplet-superconductivity in spin-1 semimetal
Authors: Sim GiBaik , Park Moon Jip , Lee SungBin
Published: September 2022

Superconductivity in topological semimetals gives a new paradigm of unconventional superconductors. Their exotic gap structures and topological properties have fascinated searching for material realizations and applications. In this work, we focus on a triple point semimetal where quasiparticle excitations, triple point fermions, carry the effective integer spin-1 in two distinct valleys. Our work demonstrates that the triple point fermion stabilizes inter-valley s-wave spin-triplet pairing. This is due to Fermi statistics, which strictly forbids the formation of inter-valley s-wave spin-singlet pairings. This feature is clearly distinct from the BCS and other multi-band superconductors. We find that two distinct inter-valley s-wave spin-triplet superconductors are allowed which in principle can be controlled by tuning the chemical potential: time-reversal symmetric (sz) state with topologically protected nodal lines and time-reversal broken (sx + isy) state with topologically protected Bogoliubov Fermi surfaces. Our study provides guidance in searching for spin-triplet superconductivity.
Rapid detection and classification of hongmu by atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry
Authors: Wang Yiran , Li Yuze , Wang Xiao , Yu Dehua , Nie Zongxiu
Published: September 2022

A schematic diagram of atmospheric pressure glow discharge mass spectrometry (APGD-MS) for hongmu detection.
High-recovery sorting of cancer cells from whole blood via periodic-focusing inertial microchip
Authors: Li Xiao , Yang Yijia , Villareal Sarah C. , Griffin Kitiara , Pappas Dimitri
Published: September 2022

Inertial microfluidic devices continue to show promise for label-free separation of cells from liquid biopsies and other biological samples.
Design of a hydrophilic mercaptosuccinic acid-functionalized β-cyclodextrin polymer via host–guest interaction: toward highly efficient glycopeptide enrichment
Authors: Zhao Binfen , Wang Yuxuan , Ma Jiutong , Jia Qiong
Published: September 2022

A novel hydrophilic material (denoted as magCDP@Ada-MSA) was constructed through host–guest interaction between crosslinked β-cyclodextrin polymers and mercaptosuccinic acid derived adamantane, and was applied to specific glycopeptide enrichment.
Ultrathin fluoroacrylic coating wrapped microporous non-woven fabrics as efficient air filtration membranes
Authors: Yang Guorong , Jiang Yang , Ding Wanjun , Wan Wen , Hao Jian
Published: September 2022

Ultrathin fluoroacrylic coating wrapped effective microporous non-woven air filtration membranes of 0.2 μm thickness were made for PPE masks and other medical barrier fabrics.
Quantum dot gels as efficient and unique photocatalysts for organic synthesis
Authors: Liu Daohua , Nyakuchena James , Maity Rajendra , Geng Xin , Mahajan Jyoti P. , Hewa-Rahinduwage Chathurange C. , Peng Yi , Huang Jier , Luo Long
Published: September 2022

Quantum dot gel is more efficient than quantum dots for photocatalytic organic synthesis due to the removal of surface ligands during gelation.
Non-Aufbau orbital ordering and spin density modulation in high-spin donor–acceptor conjugated polymers
Authors: Sabuj Md Abdus , Muoh Obinna , Huda Md Masrul , Rai Neeraj
Published: September 2022

Spin topology and spin-orbital ordering can be controlled using atomistic engineering.
Investigation of the metastable structures of polyiodide in acetonitrile studied using global reaction route mapping and the reference interaction site model self-consistent field explicitly including constrained spatial electron density distribution
Authors: Suda Kayo , Yokogawa Daisuke
Published: September 2022

We theoretically analyzed the metastable structures of I7− in acetonitrile using global reaction route mapping and the reference interaction site model self-consistent field explicitly including constrained spatial electron density distribution.
Dipolar pathways in multi-spin and multi-dimensional dipolar EPR spectroscopy
Authors: Fábregas-Ibáñez Luis , Mertens Valerie , Ritsch Irina , von Hagens Tona , Stoll Stefan , Jeschke Gunnar
Published: September 2022

A dipolar pathway model describing multi-spin and multi-dimensional dipolar EPR experiments and allowing for the extraction of multivariate distance distributions.