bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of adding pomace on the bioactive composition and flavor volatiles in fermented orange juice with Lactobacillus
Authors: Xu Haiyan , Feng Lingxing , Ba Wenjia , Miao Yuzhi , Wang Xiaoyan , Wang Fang
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND

The consumption of oranges generates huge amounts of pomaces, which are the potential raw materials to increase the nutritional value of the products.

RESULTS

In this study, the bioactive composition and flavor volatiles in Lactobacillus fermented orange juice with added pomaces were researched. Results showed that the orange juices blended with pomaces were favorable substrates for Lactobacillus growth and the colony counts reached above 9.0 log CFU mL−1, total phenolics, total flavonoids, and the antioxidant activity in orange juices were increased significantly after adding pomaces. Some amino acids, such as threonine (P < 0.0001), isoleucine (P < 0.01), and glycine (P < 0.01) were markedly higher in fermented orange juices with pomaces. The flavonoid diversity was more abundant by adding pomace fermentation and most flavonoids showed higher levels in fermented juices with the pomace, Lactobacillus fermentum 252 may transform some flavonoids through deglycosylation and reduction reaction. Furthermore, orange pomace mainly improved the flavor volatiles by increasing terpenoids and alcohol, such as d‐limonene and benzyl alcohol, and decreasing volatile acids.

CONCLUSION

This study presented a novelty in elevating the nutritional value of juice by the utilization of pomaces, its findings can provide a new way to mine the bioactive ingredient from Citrus by Lactobacillus, and can be used as a guide for the development of new Citrus processing technologies and functional foods. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Combined organic and inorganic fertilization increases soil network complexity and multifunctionality in a 5‐year fertilization system
Authors: Zhang Siyu , Zhang Haifang , Liu Hongmei , Wang Hui , Xiu Weiming , Zhou Zhongkai , Jiang Na , Zhang Hao , Zhao Jianning , Yang Dianlin
Published: November 2023

Microbial communities regulating multiple ecosystem functions in agricultural ecosystems remain unclear, limiting our ability to predict how agricultural systems will respond to nutrient management. Here, we assessed the effects of 5‐year different fertilization treatments (CK, no‐fertilization; M, organic fertilization; MNPK, combined inorganic and organic fertilization; NPK, inorganic fertilization) on the bacterial and fungal composition, co‐occurrence networks complexity and the relationship of keystone taxa with soil multifunctionality. Our results showed that fertilization shifted the bacterial and fungal community composition. The increased nodes of degree and decreased average path length with the application of organic fertilizer suggested a more stable network. The improved soil multifunctionality was also observed in combined organic and inorganic fertilization treatment, which positively correlated with the fungal community composition rather than bacterial, indicating that fungi are important in driving soil functions. Notably, the keystone taxa fOTU3995 and fOTU2868 belong to Sordariomycetes and were correlated with soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase. These indicated that the keystone taxa play an important role in increasing in soil nutrient, C cycling, and P cycling. Together, our findings highlight that combined organic and inorganic fertilization increases the network complexity and soil multifunctionality, further confirming the role of keystone taxa Sordariomycetes in driving soil multifunctionality. This suggested that combined organic and inorganic have the potential to preserve agroecosystem sustainability and strengthen the role of microorganisms in ecosystem functions.
Nutritional composition, phytochemical, and functional properties of six soybean varieties cultivated in Cameroon
Authors: Tamangwa Mildred Washie , Djikeng Fabrice Tonfack , Feumba Romelle Dibanda , Sylvia Veshe‐Teh Zemoh Ninying , Loungaing Valerie Demgne , Womeni Hilaire Macaire
Published: November 2023

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of different varieties on the nutritional composition, phytochemical, and functional properties of selected soybean varieties cultivated in Cameroon. Soybean varieties TGX 1835, TGX 2001‐8DM, MAK SOY 1N, MAK SOY 3N, MAK SOY 4N, and SOUNG PUNGUNG 2400 were collected and analyzed for their nutritional composition (proximate composition and mineral content), oil quality (peroxide, thiobarbituric acid, iodine, and acid values), total phenolic content, and functional properties. Results of the proximate composition showed that soybean varieties MAK SOY 3N, MAK SOY 4N, and TGX 1835 had the highest protein and lipid contents. The calcium and potassium contents were expressively higher in soybean variety MAK SOY 4N. Soybean variety MAK SOY 3N portrayed the best magnesium, zinc, and iron contents. The oils from all the six soybean varieties exhibited very good chemical properties as far as their safety is concerned. TGX 1835, MAK SOY 4N, and SOUNG PUNGUNG 2400 had the highest total phenolic content. The functional properties presented by all six soybean varieties were similar. These new varieties can be exploited for their nutritional and technological properties. The population should be encouraged to produce and consume them.
On singular limits of finite Hilbert transform operators on multi‐intervals
Authors: Bertola M. , Blackstone E. , Katsevich A. , Tovbis A.
Published: November 2023

In this paper, we study the small‐ spectral asymptotics of an integral operator defined on two multi‐intervals and , when the multi‐intervals touch each other (but their interiors are disjoint). The operator is closely related to the multi‐interval finite Hilbert transform (FHT). This case can be viewed as a singular limit of self‐adjoint Hilbert–Schmidt integral operators with so‐called integrable kernels, where the limiting operator is still bounded, but has a continuous spectral component. The regular case when , and is of the Hilbert–Schmidt class, was studied in an earlier paper by the authors. The main assumption in this paper is that is a single interval (although part of our analysis is valid in a more general situation). We show that the eigenvalues of , if they exist, do not accumulate at . Combined with the results in an earlier paper by the authors, this implies that , the subspace of discontinuity (the span of all eigenfunctions) of , is finite dimensional and consists of functions that are smooth in the interiors of and . We also obtain an approximation to the kernel of the unitary transformation that diagonalizes , and obtain a precise estimate of the exponential instability of inverting . Our work is based on the method of Riemann–Hilbert problem and the nonlinear steepest descent method of Deift and Zhou.
A Versatile Platform to Generate Shell‐Cross‐Linked Uniform Π‐Conjugated Nanofibers with Controllable Length, High Morphological Stability, and Facile Surface Tailorability
Authors: Wang Chen , Huang Fengfeng , Huang Xiaoyu , Lu Guolin , Feng Chun
Published: November 2023

Living crystallization‐driven self‐assembly (CDSA) has emerged as an efficient route to generate π‐conjugated‐polymer‐based nanofibers (CPNFs) with promising applications from photocatalysis to biomedicine. However, the lack of efficient tools to endow CPNFs with morphological stability and surface tailorability becomes a frustrating hindrance for expanding application spectrum of CPNFs. Herein, a facile strategy to fabricate length‐controllable OPV‐based (OPV = oligo(p‐phenylenevinylene)) CPNFs containing a cross‐linked shell with high morphological stability and facile surface tailorability through the combination of living CDSA and thiol–ene chemistry by using OPV5‐b‐PNAAM32 (PNAAM = poly(N‐allyl acrylamide)) as a model is reported. Uniform fiber‐like micelles with tunable length can be generated by self‐seeding of living CDSA. By taking advantage of radical thiol–ene reaction between vinyls of PNAAM corona and four‐arm thiols, the shell of micelles can be cross‐linked with negligible destruction of structure of vinylene‐containing OPV core. The resulting micelles show high morphological stability in NaCl solution and PBS buffer, even upon heating at 80 °C. The introduced extra thiol groups in the cross‐linked shell can be further employed to install extra functional moieties via convenient thiol‐Michael‐type reaction. Given the negligible cytotoxicity of resulting CPNFs, this strategy opens an avenue to fabricate various CPNFs of diverse functionalities for biomedicine.
Americans struggling with collective trauma post‐pandemic
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: November 2023

Global conflict, racism and racial injustice, inflation, and climate‐related disasters are all weighing on the collective consciousness of Americans, despite the official end of COVID‐19 earlier this year, according to results of the American Psychological Association's (APA's) annual “Stress in America” survey released on Nov. 1.
Challenges and opportunities in elucidating the structures of biofilm exopolysaccharides: A case study of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa exopolysaccharide called Pel
Authors: Amyx‐Sherer Kristen , Reichhardt Courtney
Published: November 2023

Biofilm formation protects bacteria from antibiotic treatment and host immune responses, making biofilm infections difficult to treat. Within biofilms, bacterial cells are entangled in a self‐produced extracellular matrix that typically includes exopolysaccharides. Molecular‐level descriptions of biofilm matrix components, especially exopolysaccharides, have been challenging to attain due to their complex nature and lack of solubility and crystallinity. Solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has emerged as a key tool to determine the structure of biofilm matrix exopolysaccharides without degradative sample preparation. In this review, we discuss challenges of studying biofilm matrix exopolysaccharides and opportunities to develop solid‐state NMR approaches to study these generally intractable materials. We specifically highlight investigations of the exopolysaccharide called Pel made by the opportunistic pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We provide a roadmap for determining exopolysaccharide structure and discuss future opportunities to study such systems using solid‐state NMR. The strategies discussed for elucidating biofilm exopolysaccharide structure should be broadly applicable to studying the structures of other glycans.
Nonlinear cable computations using high‐order solid elements with hp‐adaptive refinement for anisotropic plasticity
Authors: Hildebrandt‐Raj André , Sharma Prateek , Diebels Stefan , Düster Alexander
Published: November 2023

Cables are slender structural elements, that are found in many engineering structures and are exposed to large displacements while experiencing small or large local strains during their installation or in dynamic environments. To address the complexity of their inner structure, an effective material model with anisotropic properties in the elastic and elastoplastic domain is utilized, allowing for a simplified representation that overcomes numerical challenges associated with a fully resolved model. This article focuses on enhancing the representation of local discontinuities arising from the plastic front using ‐refinement. The described workflow is applied to a perforated plate benchmark example and a cable subjected to torsion. Results indicate that the ‐refinement achieves a fast convergence and on average uses fewer degrees of freedom to achieve similar accuracy as compared to pure h‐refinement or pure p‐refinement.
A Tunable Dual‐Band Flexible Polarization Converter Based on Vanadium Dioxide Reflective Metasurface
Authors: Fu ChangFeng , Zhang Lei , Zhang XinHang , Yu WeiJun , Dong ShaoHua , Liu XingBin , Han LianFu
Published: November 2023

A flexible dual‐band efficient polarization converter is realized by both coupled mode theory (CMT) analysis and numerical simulation in the microwave regime. The proposed structure can convert linearly polarized electromagnetic waves into their orthogonal components in the two sidebands. Moreover, a specular reflection performance is obtained in the central frequency band. The polarization conversion ratio (PCR) and operating bandwidth of dual band is dynamically modulated by vanadium dioxide (VO2). In the simulation results, it is shown that the proposed metasurface can achieve linear polarization conversion in 8.17–12.87 and 14.63–18.92 GHz in the insulating phase. PCRs of the dual band are 97.06% and 98.13%, the corresponding relative bandwidths (RBs) are 44.68% and 25.58%. In the metallic phase, the PCRs in 6.81–13.95 and 16.23–18.16 GHz are 91.12% (RB = 68.79%) and 96.92% (RB = 11.22%). The analyses of the phase difference (u–v coordinate system) and the surface current are given to explain the mechanisms of dual‐band and high PCR. The simulation results are in good agreement with those of CMT. Furthermore, the structure has a robust response to the oblique incidence angle (up to 30°) and has polarization insensitivity. The proposed metasurface has great potential applications in antenna radiation, biosensing, and stealth technology.
Suppressing Carbon Incorporation in Metal–Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition GaN Using High‐Offcut‐Angled Substrates
Authors: Thirupakuzi Vangipuram Vijay Gopal , Zhang Kaitian , Zhao Hongping
Published: November 2023

Carbon (C) is a common impurity that acts as a compensator within GaN grown via metal–organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). Reducing C in GaN will help reduce the compensation level and provide a route to achieve GaN with reliably low effective doping for high‐power device applications. GaN grown with fast growth rates on bulk GaN with various offcut angles via conventional‐MOCVD (C‐MOCVD) and laser‐assisted MOCVD (LA‐MOCVD) is compared and analyzed. C‐incorporation effects are compared through quantitative secondary‐ion mass spectroscopy analysis in GaN grown on GaN substrate with offcut angles of 4° and 0.3° toward m‐plane over a wide range of growth rates by C‐MOCVD and LA‐MOCVD. For both growth techniques investigated, a significant reduction in C‐incorporation is observed when a high‐offcut‐angle (4°) substrate is used as compared to a lower‐offcut‐angle (0.3°) substrate. With C‐MOCVD, at the fastest growth condition investigated (17.26 μm h−1 at 0.3°‐offcut, 15.25 μm h−1 at 4°‐offcut), a reduction in [C] by 21.2X is observed with an increase in the offcut angle from 0.3° to 4°. A 82.6X reduction in [C] is observed with the similar fast growth condition via LA‐MOCVD on GaN with 4° offcut angle (9.78 μm h−1) as compared to C‐MOCVD at 0.3° offcut angle (17.26 μm h−1).
The pharmacological effects of Berberine and its therapeutic potential in different diseases: Role of the phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase/AKT signaling pathway
Authors: Khezri Mohammad Rafi , Mohammadipanah Somayeh , Ghasemnejad‐Berenji Morteza
Published: November 2023

The phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling pathway plays a central role in cell growth and survival and is disturbed in various pathologies. The PI3K is a kinase that generates phosphatidylinositol‐3,4,5‐trisphosphate (PI (3–5) P3), as a second messenger responsible for the translocation of AKT to the plasma membrane and its activation. However, due to the crucial role of the PI3K/AKT pathway in regulation of cell survival processes, it has been introduced as a main therapeutic target for natural compounds during the progression of different pathologies. Berberine, a plant‐derived isoquinone alkaloid, is known because of its anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antitumor properties. The effect of this natural compound on cell survival processes has been shown to be mediated by modulation of the intracellular pathways. However, the effects of this natural compound on the PI3K/AKT pathway in various pathologies have not been reviewed so far. Therefore, this paper aims to review the PI3K/AKT‐mediated effects of Berberine in different types of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular, and central nervous system diseases.
Plug‐and‐Play Fiber‐Coupled Quantum Dot Single‐Photon Source via Photonic Wire Bonding
Authors: De Gregorio Marco , Yu Shangxuan , Witt Donald , Lin Becky , Mitchell Matthew , Dusanowski Łukasz , Schneider Christian , Chrostowski Lukas , Huber‐Loyola Tobias , Höfling Sven , Young Jeff F. , Pfenning Andreas
Published: November 2023

The collection of single‐photon emission from a quantum dot (QD) in a Bragg waveguide through a photonic wire bond (PWB) via free‐space resonant frequency pumping at 1.6 K is demonstrated. The in‐fiber single photons show a small multiphoton contribution, quantified by a low second order photon autocorrelation value of (background‐corrected) or (raw data). The decay time of the QD is measured to be  ps. The PWB obviates the need for in‐cryostat alignment of the single‐photon source with an optical fiber and thus offers a route to scalable integration of quantum photonic devices in a cryogenic environment. Uniquely, the approach combines the QD‐waveguide technique, enabling resonant driving of individual QDs without the need for cross‐polarization filtering, and the PWB for deterministic, alignment‐free coupling of single‐photon sources to optical fibers.
Quantum‐Accelerated Algorithms for Generating Random Primitive Polynomials Over Finite Fields
Authors: Huang Shan , Yin Hua‐Lei , Chen Zeng‐Bing , Wu Shengjun
Published: November 2023

Primitive polynomials over finite fields are crucial resources with broad applications across various domains in computer science, including classical pseudo‐random number generation, coding theory, and post‐quantum cryptography. Nevertheless, the pursuit of an efficient classical algorithm for generating random primitive polynomials over finite fields remains an ongoing challenge. In this work, it shows how this problem can be solved efficiently with the help of quantum computers. Moreover, the designs of specific quantum circuits to implement them are also presented. The research paves the way for the rapid and real‐time generation of random primitive polynomials in diverse quantum communication and computation applications.
Two‐dimensional morphological model for prediction of erosion of a reach of Brahmaputra River using MIKE 21C software with hydrodynamics and river morphology modules
Authors: Pareta Kuldeep
Published: November 2023

Understanding the morphological dynamics in highly braided rivers, like the Brahmaputra, is crucial for effective river management. To gain this understanding, data is essential for mathematical modeling, enabling short and medium‐term predictions of morphological changes. Our study focused on the Palasbari‐Gumi stretch of the Brahmaputra River, utilizing a two‐dimensional morphological model (MIKE‐21C). Our objectives were to predict erosion patterns, plan protective measures, and anticipate morphological changes. Author conducted multiple models runs under various hydrological scenarios. For coarse sand, the model projected an annual sediment load of 257 Mt/year in 2021, with a bankfull discharge of 314 Mt/year. Historical records noted 400 Mt/year sediment load in the Brahmaputra. Importantly, our model's predictions closely matched empirical data, especially regarding ADCP velocities, design flood levels, and annual sediment load. Peak model velocities deviated by less than 9% from ADCP measurements, predominantly within acceptable limits. Predicted flood levels for bankfull discharge conditions achieved nearly 96% accuracy at the Gumi site. This study highlights the role of predictive modeling in guiding river training measures, especially in dynamic braided river systems like the Brahmaputra, over a two‐3 year horizon.
Food prices and poverty in Africa
Authors: Iheonu Chimere O. , Oladipupo Sodiq A.
Published: November 2023

This study investigated the effect of food prices on poverty in 37 sub‐Saharan African economies between 2001 and 2020. The study employed Prais‐Winsten regression, variations of the Fixed Effects model to account for conventional biases in econometric modeling, and the Method of Moment Quantile Regression with Fixed Effects to account for existing poverty levels. The findings revealed that a higher proportion of Africans will fall into poverty due to the increase in food prices. This result is consistent with the presence of endogeneity, cross‐sectional dependence, and unobservable heterogeneity. The study also reveals that the increase in food prices has a greater effect in sub‐Saharan African countries with lower levels of poverty as compared to those with high poverty levels, showing that rising food prices disproportionately hurt countries with low poverty levels, pushing more Africans below the poverty line in those countries. The study recommends the need for the implementation of supply‐side agricultural policies that enhance productivity in the sector, thereby boosting aggregate agricultural supply and precipitating a decline in food prices.
Lead‐Free Cs3Bi2I9 Perovskite‐Like Material as Efficient Photocatalyst for Improved Hydrogen Evolution in Presence of Platinum Co‐Catalyst
Authors: Niyitanga Theophile , Raza Waseem , Ahmad Khursheed , Alsulmi Ali , Kim Haekyoung
Published: November 2023

Herein, we have reported the synthesis of Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs using simple protocols and strategies. Further, crystalline nature and phase of the as‐synthesized Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs were examined by exploring XRD and XPS methods. The surface morphological properties of Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs were determined by SEM study. XPS technique was used to verify the phase purity and elemental composition of Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs. Furthermore, we have used as‐synthesized Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs as suitable photo‐catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction. The Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs exhibits decent results for H2 production. However, introduction of Pt co‐catalyst with Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs boosted the photo‐catalytic hydrogen generation. The obtained results exhibited the generation of excellent H2 amount of 301.45 and 1249.25 μmol g−1 using Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs and Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs+2 mg Pt, respectively. The obtained results exhibits that Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs and Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs+2 mg Pt possess excellent cyclic stability and can be reuse for further photo‐catalytic H2 evolution. Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs+Pt (2.0 mg) also exhibited excellent H2 evolution amount and rate in presence of H3PO2. The obtained results in this study are the important steps towards the H2 evolution using Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs.
Magnetic Exchange Coupling in Macrocyclic Cobalt (II) Complexes: The Influence of Bridging Ligands and Choice of the Computational Methodologies
Authors: Almansori Ali K. , AI‐Ameed Karrar , Obies Mohammed , Abd‐Suhail Falah S.
Published: November 2023

Exchange‐coupled spin states of cobalt complexes represent the key to understanding the challenging nature of the magnetism of cobalt dimer. In this study, we introduce a comprehensive investigation of the nature of magnetic super‐exchange coupling interactions between two metallic centers in a macro ligand cobalt dimer. More importantly, we provide a detailed comparison between a series of bridging ligands and study their role in the magnetic exchange coupling constant in cobalt dimer with tetraaza macrocycle ligand scaffold. By varying the types of bridging and terminal ligands, we explored the nature of magnetic coupling in 24 species of cobalt dimers, which allowed us to draw a magneto‐structure relationship and monitor the effect of bridging/terminal ligands on the overall magnetism. We employed different density functional theory (DFT) methodologies and complete active space self‐consistent field (CASSCF) in our investigation. The results show that there are comprehensible functional dependencies, and the choice of exchange‐correlation functional is critical for calculating the magnetic properties. Using the experimental values of the exchange coupling, we found that hybrid functionals with 10–20 % Hartree‐Fock exchange integrals give acceptable accuracy. Furthermore, we adjusted the percentage of HF integrals to estimate the optimum value required to be included in the hybrid functionals. Finally, we used CASSCF to gain deeper understanding of the magnetic coupling for the valence magnetic electrons and to achieve the true ground state wavefunction, which is not feasible with conventional DFT calculations. However, the CASSCF calculations poorly underestimate the magnetic coupling, which can be significantly improved by including the dynamic correlations, as implemented in the NEVPT2 methodology.
Multi‐Scale Engineered 2D Carbon Polyhedron Array with Enhanced Electrocatalytic Performance
Authors: Song Xiaokai , Song Yujie , Li Xiaopeng , Wu Xiaotong , Wang Zequn , Sun Xuhui , An Meng , Wei Xiaoqian , Zhao Yingji , Wei Jiamin , Bi Chenglu , Sun Jianhua , Nara Hiroki , You Jungmok , Yamauchi Yusuke
Published: November 2023

Electrocatalyst engineering from the atomic to macroscopic level of electrocatalysts is one of the most powerful routes to boost the performance of electrochemical devices. However, multi‐scale structure engineering mainly focuses on the range of atomic‐to‐particle scale such as hierarchical porosity engineering, while catalyst engineering at the macroscopic level, such as the arrangement configuration of nanoparticles, is often overlooked. Here, a 2D carbon polyhedron array with a multi‐scale engineered structure via facile chemical etching, ice‐templating induced self‐assembly, and high‐temperature pyrolysis processes is reported. Controlled phytic acid etching of the carbon precursor introduces homogeneous atomic phosphorous and nitrogen doping, as well as a well‐defined mesoporous structure. Subsequent ice‐templated self‐assembly triggers the formation of a 2D particle array superstructure. The atomic‐level doping gives rise to high intrinsic activity, while the well‐engineered porous structure and particle arrangement addresses the mass transport limitations at the microscopic particle level and macroscopic electrode level. As a result, the as‐prepared electrocatalyst delivers outstanding performance toward oxygen reduction reaction in both acidic and alkaline media, which is better than recently reported state‐of‐the‐art metal‐free electrocatalysts. Molecular dynamics simulation together with extensive characterizations indicate that the performance enhancement originates from multi‐scale structural synergy.
In‐gap States and Carrier Recombination in Quasi‐2D Perovskite Films
Authors: Cohen Bat-El , Alafi Ron , Beinglass Jonathan , Shpatz Dayan Adva , Goldberg Oren , Gold Shachar , Balberg Isaac , Kronik Leeor , Etgar Lioz , Millo Oded , Azulay Doron
Published: November 2023

In‐gap states and their effect on recombination rates in quasi‐2D lead–iodide‐based perovskites, intercalated with various spacer molecules, are studied using a combination of scanning tunneling spectroscopy and temperature‐dependent photoconductivity measurements. The results are further analyzed by a Shockley–Read–Hall model. Indications for shallow in‐gap states, positioned at about 0.15–0.2 eV below the bottom of the conduction band, are found. These states are identified as dominating the recombination route of photogenerated carriers in these systems, with a relatively large capture coefficient of about 10−5–10−6 cm3 s−1 at room temperature. First‐principles calculations based on density functional theory imply that these states are not an intrinsic effect of the inclusion of the spacer molecules, but rather one that arises from chemical defect formation or structural deformation of the perovskite layers. The results suggest that further improvement of the performance of solar cells that are based on quasi‐2D perovskites requires, along with enhancing carrier mobility, efforts to suppress the concentration of these detrimental defect states.
A Study on the Potential of Carbon Dioxide Utilization Through its Co‐Injection with Hydrogen into the Blast Furnace Tuyeres
Authors: Shatokha Volodymyr
Published: November 2023

The potential of CO2 utilization through its injection into blast furnace (BF) tuyeres is studied using the 1D steady‐state zonal model. Scenarios with the injection of CO2, hydrogen, and their co‐injection at various H2/CO2 mass ratios are analyzed. The impacts on factors affecting vertical temperature patterns and the position of the cohesive zone in the BF are identified. A life cycle assessment for several scenarios with various carbon emissions intensities of hydrogen production, carbon capture, and grid electricity generation is performed. Injection of CO2 without the addition of hydrogen increases the coke rate, reduces productivity, and increases direct CO2 emissions; however, thanks to producing top gas with higher calorific value, injection of CO2 may reduce the global warming potential (GWP) if the electric grid carbon intensity is above 654 kg‐CO2 kWh−1, while carbon capture is powered by green electricity. Although the injection of hydrogen alone would result in a more substantial reduction of GWP from the baseline than the injection of H2/CO2 mix at any mass ratio, considering the identified impacts on heat exchange and the position of the cohesive zone in the BF, co‐injection might be an enabling solution for the adoption of hydrogen injection.
Emerging Challenges in Textile Energy Electrodes: Interfacial Engineering for High‐Performance Next‐Generation Flexible Energy Storage Devices
Authors: Chang Woojae , Yong Euiju , Chung Yoon Jang , Ko Yongmin , Cho Jinhan
Published: November 2023

The development of highly conductive fibril‐type textile electrodes is crucial for the advancement of various smart wearable electronics including high‐performance energy storage devices. To achieve this goal, it is essential to convert insulating textiles into conductive counterparts while maintaining flexibility and porosity. Additionally, the incorporation of electrochemically active components into textile conductors enables tailor‐made textile energy electrodes for specific applications. Thus, textile conductors act not only as conductors but also as energy reservoirs for energy‐active components, providing a facile electron transfer network. However, textile conductors fabricated by most existing methods face challenges such as low conductivity, blockage, and brittleness. One approach to overcome these problems is to utilize interfacial interactions between individual components and textiles. Conductive nanoparticle assembly and electrodeposition based on such rational design result in highly conductive, flexible, and large surface area textile conductors. The subsequent guided assembly of active components creates high‐performance textile energy electrodes. This perspective describes how interfacial interaction‐based assembly can enhance the performance of textile conductors and textile energy electrodes. It also explores various conductor preparation approaches and recent advances in the field for applications in supercapacitors and lithium‐ion batteries.
Carbohydrate Profiling of Different Accessions of Three Underutilized Legumes: A Potential Source of Valuable Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals
Authors: Ogunniyi Queeneth A. , Ogbole Omonike O. , Akin‐Ajani Olufunke D. , Ajala Tolulope O. , Liu Qingting , Apriyanto Ardha , Odeku Oluwatoyin A. , Fettke Joerg , Oyatomi Olaniyi , Abberton Michael
Published: November 2023

Carbohydrates are significant components of legumes, and their profiling can provide information about their nutritional value and potential health benefits. This study explores the proximate composition and carbohydrate profiles of accessions of three underutilized legumes, namely, Vigna radiata, Vigna mungo, and Macrotyloma uniflorum. The total starch and soluble sugar are determined. Starch granule morphology and diameter are determined using scanning electron microscopy and chain length distribution of amylopectin is analyzed using Capillary Electrophoresis. All accessions of the legumes vary both in their proximate composition and carbohydrate components. Accessions of M. uniflorum (PI‐658594‐01‐SD) have the highest carbohydrate component (7.6%) while V. radiata (TVR‐42) has the least (4.2%). Macrotyloma uniflorum accensions (PI‐658594‐01‐SD, and PI‐180437‐01‐SD) have the highest starch and sucrose contents, while V. mungo accensions (TVM‐13, and TVM‐11) have the lowest. The glucose and fructose contents are lower than sucrose in all the accessions of the legumes. Macrotyloma uniflorum accensions exhibit larger granules while accessions of Vigna species have the smallest granules. All species accessions exhibit similar amylopectin chain length distribution profiles although accessions of V. mungo slightly differ in their proportion of long and short glucan chains. The three species of underutilized legumes exhibit unique characteristics which make them suitable for consumption and may be exploited as a source of nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals.
Navigating α‐Synuclein Aggregation Inhibition: Methods, Mechanisms, and Molecular Targets
Authors: Galkin Maksym , Priss Anastasiia , Kyriukha Yevhenii , Shvadchak Volodymyr
Published: November 2023

Parkinson's disease is a yet incurable, age‐related neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the aggregation of small neuronal protein α‐synuclein into amyloid fibrils. Inhibition of this process is a prospective strategy for developing a disease‐modifying treatment. We overview here small molecule, peptide, and protein inhibitors of α‐synuclein fibrillization reported to date. Special attention was paid to the specificity of inhibitors and critical analysis of their action mechanisms. Namely, the importance of oxidation of polyphenols and cross‐linking of α‐synuclein into inhibitory dimers was highlighted. We also compared strategies of targeting monomeric, oligomeric, and fibrillar α‐synuclein species, thoroughly discussed the strong and weak sides of different approaches to testing the inhibitors.
Demethoxymurrapanine, an indole‐naphthoquinone alkaloid, inhibits the proliferation of oral cancer cells without major side effects on normal cells
Authors: Chuang Ya‐Ting , Yen Ching‐Yu , Shiau Jun‐Ping , Chang Fang‐Rong , Duh Chang‐Yih , Sung Ping‐Jyun , Chen Kuan‐Liang , Tsai Yi‐Hong , Tang Jen‐Yang , Jeng Jiiang‐Huei , Sheu Jyh‐Horng , Chang Hsueh‐Wei
Published: November 2023

Antioral cancer drugs need a greater antiproliferative impact on cancer than on normal cells. Demethoxymurrapanine (DEMU) inhibits proliferation in several cancer cells, but an in‐depth investigation was necessary. This study evaluated the proliferation‐modulating effects of DEMU, focusing on oral cancer and normal cells. DEMU (0, 2, 3, and 4 μg/mL) at 48 h treatments inhibited the proliferation of oral cancer cells (the cell viability (%) for Ca9‐22 cells was 100.0 ± 2.2, 75.4 ± 5.6, 26.0 ± 3.8, and 15.4 ± 1.4, and for CAL 27 cells was 100.0 ± 9.4, 77.2 ± 5.9, 57.4 ± 10.7, and 27.1 ± 1.1) more strongly than that of normal cells (the cell viability (%) for S‐G cells was 100.0 ± 6.6, 91.0 ± 4.6, 95.0 ± 2.6, and 95.8 ± 5.5), although this was blocked by the antioxidant N‐acetylcysteine. The presence of oxidative stress was evidenced by the increase of reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial superoxide and the downregulation of the cellular antioxidant glutathione in oral cancer cells, but these changes were minor in normal cells. DEMU also caused greater induction of the subG1 phase, extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis (annexin V and caspases 3, 8, and 9), and DNA damage (γH2AX and 8‐hydroxy‐2‐deoxyguanosine) in oral cancer than in normal cells. N‐acetylcysteine attenuated all these DEMU‐induced changes. Together, these data demonstrate the preferential antiproliferative function of DEMU in oral cancer cells, with the preferential induction of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and DNA damage in these cancer cells, and low cytotoxicity toward normal cells.
Incidence and prevalence of eosinophilic oesophagitis across Europe: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Roberts Stephen E. , Morrison‐Rees Sian , Thapar Nikhil , Williams John G.
Published: November 2023

Background

Several studies have reported large increases in the incidence of eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) in the last 20 years. We aimed to systematically review the incidence and prevalence of EoE, focused on all European countries.

Methods

Systematic review and meta‐analysis up to 31 December 2022, based on PubMed, CINAHL and extensive hand searching of reference lists. Twenty‐five eligible studies were identified and included.

Results

For both adults and children, the highest EoE incidence and prevalence have been reported from regional studies in Spain. EoE incidence for both adults and children was significantly lower (p < 0.001) in nationwide studies (meta‐analysis = 3.64 per 100,000 person‐years overall) compared with regional or centre‐based studies (7.16). EoE incidence and prevalence were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in adults than children. All studies that reported on longitudinal trends in EoE incidence showed increases over time, more markedly during more recent years. Larger increases in incidence tend to refer to regional rather than nationwide studies; from Spain, Switzerland and Denmark, both for paediatric and adult age groups. Increases in EoE incidence 100,000 person‐years were larger than for incidence per number of diagnostic endoscopies. The most frequently reported co‐morbidities in adults were rhinitis, followed by asthma, food allergy and gastroesophageal reflux disease, and in children, erosive oesophagitis, asthma, food allergy and rhinitis.

Conclusions

The incidence of EoE has increased in Europe over the last 30 years, exceeding increases in the volume of oesophago‐gastro‐duodenoscopies performed. The patchy and low incidence and prevalence of EoE generally in Europe and compared with North America, may reflect a lack of clinical awareness and research focus rather than a genuinely low incidence of EoE. A co‐ordinated Europe‐wide study that uses standardised methodology is urgently needed to provide a comprehensive picture of EoE incidence and prevalence across Europe.
Understanding how cats purr
Authors: Mills Georgina
Published: November 2023

Georgina Mills discusses new research that investigated how cats purr and whether neural input is needed.
Bubbles of cosmology in AdS/CFT
Authors: Sahu Abhisek , Simidzija Petar , Van Raamsdonk Mark
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Gravitational effective theories associated with holographic CFTs have cosmological solutions, which are typically big-bang/big-crunch cosmologies. These solutions are not asymptotically AdS, so they are not dual to finite-energy states of the CFT. However, we can find solutions with arbitrarily large spherical bubbles of such cosmologies embedded in asymptotically AdS spacetimes where the exterior of the bubble is Schwarzschild-AdS. In this paper, we explore such solutions and their possible CFT dual descriptions. Starting with a cosmological solution with Λ < 0 plus arbitrary matter density, radiation density, and spatial curvature, we show that a comoving bubble of arbitrary size can be embedded in a geometry with AdS-Schwarzschild exterior across a thin-shell domain wall comprised of pressureless matter. We show that in most cases (in particular, for arbitrarily large bubbles with an arbitrarily small negative spatial curvature) the entropy of the black hole exceeds the (radiation) entropy in the cosmological bubble, suggesting that a faithful CFT description is possible. We show that unlike the case of a de Sitter bubble, the Euclidean continuation of these cosmological solutions is sensible and suggests a specific construction of CFT states dual to the cosmological solutions via Euclidean path integral.
A Bayesian approach to modeling topic-metadata relationships
Authors: Schulze Patrick , Wiegrebe Simon , Thurner Paul W. , Heumann Christian , Aßenmacher Matthias
Published: November 2023

The objective of advanced topic modeling is not only to explore latent topical structures, but also to estimate relationships between the discovered topics and theoretically relevant metadata. Methods used to estimate such relationships must take into account that the topical structure is not directly observed, but instead being estimated itself in an unsupervised fashion, usually by common topic models. A frequently used procedure to achieve this is the method of composition, a Monte Carlo sampling technique performing multiple repeated linear regressions of sampled topic proportions on metadata covariates. In this paper, we propose two modifications of this approach: First, we substantially refine the existing implementation of the method of composition from the package by replacing linear regression with the more appropriate Beta regression. Second, we provide a fundamental enhancement of the entire estimation framework by substituting the current blending of frequentist and Bayesian methods with a fully Bayesian approach. This allows for a more appropriate quantification of uncertainty. We illustrate our improved methodology by investigating relationships between Twitter posts by German parliamentarians and different metadata covariates related to their electoral districts, using the structural topic model to estimate topic proportions.
A Tutorial Introduction to Heterogeneous Treatment Effect Estimation with Meta-learners
Authors: Salditt Marie , Eckes Theresa , Nestler Steffen
Published: November 2023

Psychotherapy has been proven to be effective on average, though patients respond very differently to treatment. Understanding which characteristics are associated with treatment effect heterogeneity can help to customize therapy to the individual patient. In this tutorial, we describe different meta-learners, which are flexible algorithms that can be used to estimate personalized treatment effects. More specifically, meta-learners decompose treatment effect estimation into multiple prediction tasks, each of which can be solved by any machine learning model. We begin by reviewing necessary assumptions for interpreting the estimated treatment effects as causal, and then give an overview over key concepts of machine learning. Throughout the article, we use an illustrative data example to show how the different meta-learners can be implemented in R. We also point out how current popular practices in psychotherapy research fit into the meta-learning framework. Finally, we show how heterogeneous treatment effects can be analyzed, and point out some challenges in the implementation of meta-learners.
Genetic variability, characters association and principal component study for morphological and fodder quality of Opuntia and Nopalea sp. in India
Authors: Dev Rahul , Mangalassery Shamsudheen , Dayal Devi , Louhaichi Mounir , Hassan Sawsan
Published: November 2023

A morphological and quality analysis of 64 global core collections of cactus genotypes was conducted using 30 growth and fodder quality traits. Results indicated a high coefficient of variation for primary cladode perimeter (91.0%), root fresh weight (50.8%), and number of cladodes per plant (47.7%). The length, width, and thickness of the primary cladode ranged between 14.4 to 53.9 cm, 5.0 to 13.7 cm, and 1.5 to 4.3 cm, respectively. Principal component analysis showed a 77.6% variation in the first 10 major components with an eigenvalue > 1.0. The first and second principal components explained 18.5% and 14.8% of the total variation, respectively. The fresh weight of the shoot was positively correlated with the dry weight of the shoot (0.72), dry weight of the root (0.48), root length (0.38), and fresh weight of primary cladodes (0.29). The dendrogram obtained using a Ward analysis confirmed the results of the PCA analysis. The cactus pear accessions were grouped into four major clusters with a further four sub-clusters, containing 6, 26, 17 and 15 genotypes, respectively. Genotypes, CAZRI-Kukma, Clone 1308, Jalpa, Mexico Unknown, Trunzara Bianca Bronte, Copena F1, CAZRI Botanical Garden, Piantra-25 and IPA-90-18 are positioned at a wider angle and are more diverse and useful genotypes for use as parent populations for developing new genotypes in future breeding programs.
Finding a needle in a haystack: insights on feature selection for classification tasks
Authors: Morán-Fernández Laura , Bolón-Canedo Verónica
Published: November 2023

The growth of Big Data has resulted in an overwhelming increase in the volume of data available, including the number of features. Feature selection, the process of selecting relevant features and discarding irrelevant ones, has been successfully used to reduce the dimensionality of datasets. However, with numerous feature selection approaches in the literature, determining the best strategy for a specific problem is not straightforward. In this study, we compare the performance of various feature selection approaches to a random selection to identify the most effective strategy for a given type of problem. We use a large number of datasets to cover a broad range of real-world challenges. We evaluate the performance of seven popular feature selection approaches and five classifiers. Our findings show that feature selection is a valuable tool in machine learning and that correlation-based feature selection is the most effective strategy regardless of the scenario. Additionally, we found that using improper thresholds with ranker approaches produces results as poor as randomly selecting a subset of features.
Modal Information Logics: Axiomatizations and Decidability
Authors: Knudstorp Søren Brinck
Published: November 2023

The present paper studies formal properties of so-called modal information logics (MILs)—modal logics first proposed in (van Benthem 1996) as a way of using possible-worlds semantics to model a theory of information. They do so by extending the language of propositional logic with a binary modality defined in terms of being the supremum of two states. First proposed in 1996, MILs have been around for some time, yet not much is known: (van Benthem 2017, 2019) pose two central open problems, namely (1) axiomatizing the two basic MILs of suprema on preorders and posets, respectively, and (2) proving (un)decidability. The main results of the first part of this paper are solving these two problems: (1) by providing an axiomatization [with a completeness proof entailing the two logics to be the same], and (2) by proving decidability. In the proof of the latter, an emphasis is put on the method applied as a heuristic for proving decidability ‘via completeness’ for semantically introduced logics; the logics lack the FMP w.r.t. their classes of definition, but not w.r.t. a generalized class. These results are build upon to axiomatize and prove decidable the MILs attained by endowing the language with an ‘informational implication’—in doing so a link is also made to the work of (Buszkowski 2021) on the Lambek Calculus.