bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of foliar fertilizer application on the growth and fruit quality of commercial melon varieties grown in a soilless culture system
Authors: Khomphet Thanet , Promwee Athakorn , Islam Shams Shaila
Published: February 2023

Several factors influence the quality of melon fruits and foliar fertilizer application is one method for improving their quality. The objectives of this study were: (1) to investigate the response of commercial melon varieties to a soilless culture system in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand, and (2) to evaluate the quality of melon fruit under various foliar fertilizer treatments. The experiment was arranged as a completely randomized block design with four replications. Eight commercial melon varieties, including four orange pulp melons (Sandee, Baramee, Sanwan, and Melon cat 697) and four green pulp melons (Kissme, Snowgreen, Melon Princess, and Kimoji), were used in this study. At 1–5 weeks after planting, the growth of the melons was measured using agronomic traits. Four foliar fertilizers (distilled water, micronutrients, secondary nutrients + micronutrients, and amino acid + micronutrients) were sprayed on the melon leaves at 1–5 weeks after pollination, and the growth of the melons, using fruit traits, was recorded. After harvesting, the melons were assessed for the quality of the fruit. This study was conducted at the School of Agricultural Technology and Food Industry’s greenhouse and the Food Chemistry Laboratory of the Center for Scientific and Technological Equipment, Walailak University. In nearly all of the observed growth weeks, the data demonstrate that most agronomic and fruit traits were significantly different between the melon varieties. Sandee, Baramee, Melon cat 697, and Melon Princess are recommended for planting under Nakhon Si Thammarat’s climate, based on fruit size and quality. Foliar fertilizer application impacted the shape, skin color, and quality of the melon. Melons treated with micronutrients, secondary nutrients and micronutrients, and amino acids and micronutrients exhibited better measures of fruit quality than those treated with non-foliar treatments. There was also an interaction observed between melon variety and foliar fertilizer application. Based on measures of fruit quality, Baramee, Melon cat 697, Kissme, and Melon Princess were more responsive to foliar fertilizer application than other melon varieties tested.
Awake Video Laryngoscope Guided Intubation (VLI) in a Case of Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Authors: Ali Mohammad Eid , ALakkad Ashraf , Hariri Anas Ghonem Al
Published: February 2023

Background: Awake video laryngoscope guided intubation is a reliable approach for securing the airway in patients with predicted or unexpectedly difficult airway conditions. Awake video laryngoscope-guided intubation which was developed in the early 2000s can be applied successfully in a variety of clinical settings with better patient preparation and implementation of the proper approach.

Case Presentation: On December 10, 2022, a 62-year-old male with advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma with concomitant comorbidities resulting from earlier chemotherapy and radiotherapy underwent elective surgical tracheostomy. A fiber optic indirect laryngoscopy uncovered a narrow laryngeal inlet. A successful surgical tracheostomy was performed after a successful Awake video laryngoscope guided intubation using the C-Mack with a topical and injectable anesthetic. After awakening from anesthesia, the patient was moved to the ICU for routine observation. The patient recovered quickly and was discharged within a few days.

Conclusion: This case describes the successful management of an advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma patient undergoing elective tracheostomy. The patient underwent Awake video laryngoscope guided intubation with the C-Mack, topical and injectable anesthetic, which allowed for a successful surgical tracheostomy despite the concomitant comorbidities from past treatment.
Stability and Molecular Characterization of Heat Tolerant Genotypes of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)
Authors: Tare Shivangi , Yasin Mohammad , Tiwari Sushma , Sikarwar R. S. , Dhopre Pavan
Published: February 2023

Twenty eight diverse genotypes sown in three different dates were screened using thirty three SSR primers. Twelve morphological characters recorded. The current study was conducted at all India Coordinated Research Project on Chickpea at R.A.K., College of Agriculture, Sehore (M.P.) during Rabi 2020-21, and 2021-22. The molecular work was carried out at Plant Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior (M.P.). The component G×E interaction were found significant for flower initiation, days to 50% flowering, days to pod initiation, plant height, days to maturity, number of pods per plant, number of empty pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, biological yield per plant, harvest index, 100 seed weight and seed yield per plant. The highest gene diversity was found in TA-135 (0.7474) followed by GAA-44 (0.7219), GAA-40 (0.7015), STMS-2 (0.6939), TA-71 (0.6709), NCPGR-1 (0.6403) and TA-18 (0.3648). Based on a dendrogram all the 28 genotypes were grouped into three major clusters, in which cluster I contained 2 genotypes, cluster II contained 5 genotypes and cluster III encompassed remaining 21 genotypes. Genotypes RVG 204, JG-14, and RVSSG-61 were found stable for favourable and unfavourable sowing conditions, while ICC-4958, JG-11, JG-12, RVG-203, RVG-204, RVSSG-52, JG-74, RVSSG-71 showed consistent performance during unfavourable sowing conditions for seed yield per plant. The important traits and marker based diversity and stability has been discussed in this research paper.
Screening and Biochemical Characterization of Indigenous Polyhydroxyalkanoates Producing Bacteria
Authors: Dienye B. N. , Abu G. O. , Agwa O. K.
Published: February 2023

Exploration for promising polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) producers is a continuous process as effort to mitigate the accumulation of synthetic plastic is on the rise. The present study focuses on isolation of indigenous polyhydroxyalkanoates producing bacteria from soil, waste water effluent and organic waste sample of Obio-Akpor, LGA. Screening of the selected bacteria isolates for polyhydroxyalkanoates production was based on viable plate method followed by microscopic visualization using Sudan black B. The PHA producing abilities of the selected isolates were estimated by gravimetric method and the positive isolates were detected for the presence of PHA synthase gene and identified up to genus level. Results revealed that out of 106 isolates, 55 were suspected to accumulate PHA after screening and produced PHA in the range of 0.2-1.1 g/L. Six potential isolates produced highest PHA yield and their phaC genes were successfully amplified from genomic DNA. Based on morphological, cultural and biochemical characteristics, the six isolates were tentatively identified to the genus Bacillus sp, Lysinibacillus sp and Pseudomonas sp. The result of the present study indicated that these bacterial isolates have the potential of producing PHA and their potential harnessed for future purposes.
Approximation Algorithms for \(\alpha\)-bisubmodular Function Maximization Subject to Matroid Constraint
Authors: Wang Wenqi
Published: February 2023

We design an approximation algorithm for maximizing \(\alpha\)-bisubmodular function with matroid constraint, where the \(\alpha\)-bisubmodular function is a generalization of a bisubmodular function. The concept of \(\alpha\)- bisubmodularity is provided by Huber, Krokhin, and Powell [[1], 2014], rank function of delta-matroids and the cut capacity of directed networks have \(\alpha\)-bisubmodularity. We consider the two cases of the problem, monotone and non-monotone objective function, respectively. We also show that the running time ispolynomial.
Speckle Tracking Echocardiography for the Assessment of Coronary Artery Disease Severity in Stable Angina Pectoris
Authors: Eltoukhy Eslam Abd Elmotteleb , Mohammed Sameh Samir , Elsheikh Raghda Ghoneimy , Sharaf Eldin Samia Mahmoud , Elmasry Magdy Mohammed
Published: February 2023

Background: In individuals with stable angina, the myocardial strain estimated by 2-D speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) corresponds with the severity of coronary angiography. Significant coronary artery disease (CAD) is an independent predictor of global longitudinal strain.

Aim: The goal of this research is to observe the contribution of STE to the assessment of CAD severity in patient with stable angina pectoris.

Patients and Methods: The study is a prospective one which conducted at Tanta university hospital included forty consecutive patients.

Results: There is inverse correlation between Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) and Gensini Score. The study revealed that there is significant correlation between GLS and both DM and HTN but there is insignificant correlation between GLS and sex, dyslipidemia and smoking. The study revealed that diabetes and smoking are the most significant risk factors associated with high Gensini score respectively. The study revealed no significant correlation between age and GLS. The study revealed that 1 and 2 coronary vessel disease associated with less significant GLS than 3 and 4 coronary vessel disease. The study revealed that LAD, LCX and RCA are the most frequently affected coronaries respectively. The study revealed that sensitivity of STE in detection of LAD lesions severity was higher than that of LCX and RCA respectively. The study revealed that specificity of STE in detection of LAD lesions severity was higher than that of RCA and LCX respectively.

Conclusion: In addition to ECG and biomarkers, echocardiography is also recommended for the acute and chronic assessment of CAD. This work has helped to pave the way for future research on myocardial strain, which promises to be a cost-effective, noninvasive diagnostic tool for cases with stable angina.
An Uncommon Cause of Acute Chest Pain
Authors: Song Yanmei , Zhang Xiaowei , Liu Tong
Published: February 2023

This case report describes a patient in their 50s with 20 minutes of substernal chest pain radiating to the left shoulder and back, which was accompanied by shortness of breath and sweating.
Disparities in Pediatric Medical and Childcare Disruption Due to COVID-19
Authors: Batioja Kelsi , Elenwo Covenant , Hartwell Micah
Published: February 2023

This cross-sectional study uses National Survey of Children’s Health data to assess demographic disparities in medical and childcare disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Status and prediction of disapproval of the Korean workers’ compensation insurance for diseases and injuries
Authors: Choi Soo Beom , Lee Seunghyun , Lee Wanhyung
Published: February 2023

Objective

Workers’ diseases and injuries are often highly related to work. However, due to limited resources and unclear work relatedness, workers’ compensation insurance cannot cover all diseases or injuries among workers. This study aimed to estimate the status and probability of disapproval from national workers’ compensation insurance using basic information from Korean workers’ compensation system.

Methods

The compensation insurance data for Korean workers consists of personal, occupational, and claims data. We describe the status of disapproval by workers’ compensation insurance according to the type of disease or injury. A prediction model for disapproval by workers’ compensation insurance was established by applying two machine-learning methods with a logistic regression model.

Results

Among 42 219 cases, there were significantly higher risks of disapproval by workers’ compensation insurance for women, younger workers, technicians, and associate professionals. We established a disapproval model for workers’ compensation insurance after the feature selection. The prediction model for workers’ disease disapproval by the workers’ compensation insurance showed a good performance, and the prediction model for workers’ injury disapproval showed a moderate performance.

Conclusion

This study is the first attempt to demonstrate the status and prediction of disapproval by workers’ compensation insurance using basic information from the Korean workers’ compensation data. These findings suggest that diseases or injuries have a low level of evidence of work relatedness or there is a lack of research on occupational health. It is also expected to contribute to the efficiency of the management of workers’ diseases or injuries.
Individualized breathing trace quality assurance for lung radiotherapy patients undergoing 4DCT simulation
Authors: Rijken James , Hu Yunfei , Hiscoke Kelvin
Published: February 2023

4DCT simulation is a popular solution for radiotherapy simulation of lung cancer patients as it allows the clinician to gain an appreciation for target motion during the patient breathing cycle. Resultant binning of images and production of the 4DCT dataset relies heavily on the recorded breathing trace; but quality assurance is not routinely performed on these and there lacks any substantial recommendations thereof.

An application was created for Windows in C# that was able to analyze the VXP breathing trace files from Varian RPM/RGSC and quantify various metrics associated with the patient breathing cycle. This data was then used to consider errors in voluming of targets for several example cases in order to justify recommendations on quality assurance.

For 281 real patient breathing traces from 4DCT simulation of lung targets, notable differences were found between RGSC and application calculations of phase data. For any new patient without individualized QA, the average marked phase calculation (which is used for 4DCT reconstruction) is only accurate to within 19% of the actual phases. The error in BPM within the scan due to breathing rate variation is 37%. The uncertainty in amplitude due to breathing variation is 34% in the mean. Phase uncertainty leads to misbinning which we have shown can lead to missing 66% of the target for gated treatment. Variation in inhalation/exhalation level leads to voluming errors which, without individualized QA, can be assumed to be 11% (PTV is smaller than actual).

Without individualized quality assurance of patient breathing traces, large uncertainties have to be assumed for metrics of both phase and amplitude, leading to clinically significant uncertainties in treatment. It is recommended to perform individualized quality assurance as this provides the clinician with an accurate quantification of uncertainty for their patient.
Dirac Fermions in Blue Phosphorene Monolayer
Authors: Kaddar Youness , Zhang Wei , Enriquez Hanna , Dappe Yannick J. , Bendounan Azzedine , Dujardin Gérald , Mounkachi Omar , El kenz Abdallah , Benyoussef Abdelilah , Kara Abdelkader , Oughaddou Hamid
Published: February 2023

2D materials beyond graphene and in particular 2D semiconductors have raised interest due to their unprecedented electronic properties, such as high carrier mobility or tunable bandgap. Blue phosphorene is an allotrope of black phosphorene that resembles graphene as it presents a honeycomb structure. However, it is known to have semiconductor character and the crucial point is to determine whether this hexagonal phase of phosphorene presents Dirac fermions as in graphene. Here, the first compelling experimental evidence of Dirac fermions in blue phosphorene layer grown on Cu(111) surface is presented. The results highlight the formation of a highly ordered blue phosphorene sheet with a clear Dirac cone at the high symmetry points of the Brillouin Zone. The charge carriers behave as massless relativistic particles. Therefore, all the expectations held for graphene, such as high‐speed electronic devices based on ballistic transport at room temperature, may also be applied to blue phosphorene.
Ferroelectrics‐Electret Synergetic Organic Artificial Synapses with Single‐Polarity Driven Dynamic Reconfigurable Modulation
Authors: Bu Yunlong , Xu Ting , Geng Sunyingyue , Fan Shuangqing , Li Qiang , Su Jie
Published: February 2023

Most current studies of artificial synapses only mimic the static plasticity, which is far from achieving the complex behaviors of the human brain. The few reported dynamic reconfigurable synapses based on ambipolar transistors switch the operating states by voltages with opposite polarity, which impedes the development of highly efficient synaptic readout circuits. To improve the efficiency, flexibility, and biocompatibility of dynamic reconfigurable synapses, here a ferroelectrics‐electret synergetic organic synaptic p‐type transistor (FESOST) is devised. Owing to the synergetic action of ferroelectric polarization switching and charge capture, FESOST exhibits single‐polarity driven dynamic reconfigurable operating states with different synaptic behaviors (potentiation and depression) in response to the same gate pulse in different modes (excitatory and inhibitory). In addition, various single‐polarity driven synaptic behaviors including short‐term/long‐term plasticity, paired‐pulse facilitation/depression, spike‐rate‐dependent plasticity, and spike‐number‐dependent plasticity are also simulated. Finally, the reconfigurable artificial temperature perception system is simulated for the complex emotions of humans in response to different weather stimuli for people of different constitutions. The novel device architecture represents a major step forward in the development of dynamic, reconfigurable, high‐efficiency, organic synapses.
Sputtered L10‐FePd and its Synthetic Antiferromagnet on Si/SiO2 Wafers for Scalable Spintronics
Authors: Lyu Deyuan , Shoup Jenae E. , Huang Dingbin , García‐Barriocanal Javier , Jia Qi , Echtenkamp William , Rojas Geoffrey A. , Yu Guichuan , Zink Brandon R. , Wang Xiaojia , Gopman Daniel B. , Wang Jian‐Ping
Published: February 2023

As a promising alternative to the mainstream CoFeB/MgO system with interfacial perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), L10‐FePd and its synthetic antiferromagnet (SAF) structure with large crystalline PMA can support spintronic devices with sufficient thermal stability at sub‐5 nm sizes. However, the compatibility requirement of preparing L10‐FePd thin films on Si/SiO2 wafers is still unmet. In this paper, high‐quality L10‐FePd and its SAF on Si/SiO2 wafers are prepared by coating the amorphous SiO2 surface with an MgO(001) seed layer. The prepared L10‐FePd single layer and SAF stack are highly (001)‐textured, showing strong PMA, low damping, and sizeable interlayer exchange coupling, respectively. Systematic characterizations, including advanced X‐ray diffraction measurement and atomic resolution‐scanning transmission electron microscopy, are conducted to explain the outstanding performance of L10‐FePd layers. A fully‐epitaxial growth that starts from MgO seed layer, induces the (001) texture of L10‐FePd, and extends through the SAF spacer is observed. This study makes the vision of scalable spintronics more practical.
Flexible and Stretchable Organic Electrochemical Transistors for Physiological Sensing Devices
Authors: Yao Yao , Huang Wei , Chen Jianhua , Liu Xiaoxue , Bai Libing , Chen Wei , Cheng Yuhua , Ping Jianfeng , Marks Tobin J. , Facchetti Antonio
Published: February 2023

Flexible and stretchable bioelectronics provides a biocompatible interface between electronics and biological systems and has received tremendous attention for in situ monitoring of various biological systems. Considerable progress in organic electronics has made organic semiconductors, as well as other organic electronic materials, ideal candidates for developing wearable, implantable, and biocompatible electronic circuits due to their potential mechanical compliance and biocompatibility. Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), as an emerging class of organic electronic building blocks, exhibit significant advantages in biological sensing due to the ionic nature at the basis of the switching behavior, low driving voltage (<1 V), and high transconductance (in millisiemens range). During the past few years, significant progress in constructing flexible/stretchable OECTs (FSOECTs) for both biochemical and bioelectrical sensors has been reported. In this regard, to summarize major research accomplishments in this emerging field, this review first discusses structure and critical features of FSOECTs, including working principles, materials, and architectural engineering. Next, a wide spectrum of relevant physiological sensing applications, where FSOECTs are the key components, are summarized. Last, major challenges and opportunities for further advancing FSOECT physiological sensors are discussed.
Unraveling Thermal Transport Correlated with Atomistic Structures in Amorphous Gallium Oxide via Machine Learning Combined with Experiments
Authors: Liu Yuanbin , Liang Huili , Yang Lei , Yang Guang , Yang Hongao , Song Shuang , Mei Zengxia , Csányi Gábor , Cao Bingyang
Published: February 2023

Thermal transport properties of amorphous materials are crucial for their emerging applications in energy and electronic devices. However, understanding and controlling thermal transport in disordered materials remains an outstanding challenge, owing to the intrinsic limitations of computational techniques and the lack of physically intuitive descriptors for complex atomistic structures. Here, it is shown how combining machine‐learning‐based models and experimental observations can help to accurately describe realistic structures, thermal transport properties, and structure–property maps for disordered materials, which is illustrated by a practical application on gallium oxide. First, the experimental evidence is reported to demonstrate that machine‐learning interatomic potentials, generated in a self‐guided fashion with minimum quantum‐mechanical computations, enable the accurate modeling of amorphous gallium oxide and its thermal transport properties. The atomistic simulations then reveal the microscopic changes in the short‐range and medium‐range order with density and elucidate how these changes can reduce localization modes and enhance coherences’ contribution to heat transport. Finally, a physics‐inspired structural descriptor for disordered phases is proposed, with which the underlying relationship between structures and thermal conductivities is predicted in a linear form. This work may shed light on the future accelerated exploration of thermal transport properties and mechanisms in disordered functional materials.
Ethanol‐Induced Ni2+‐Intercalated Cobalt Organic Frameworks on Vanadium Pentoxide for Synergistically Enhancing the Performance of 3D‐Printed Micro‐Supercapacitors
Authors: Zhou Huijie , Zhu Guoyin , Dong Shengyang , Liu Pin , Lu Yiyao , Zhou Zhen , Cao Shuai , Zhang Yizhou , Pang Huan
Published: February 2023

The synthesis of metal‐organic framework (MOF) nanocomposites with high energy density and excellent mechanical strength is limited by the degree of lattice matching and crystal surface structure. In this study, dodecahedral ZIF‐67 is synthesized uniformly on vanadium pentoxide nanowires. The influence of the coordination mode on the surface of ZIF‐67 in ethanol is also investigated. Benefitting from the different coordination abilities of Ni2+, Co2+, and N atoms, spatially separated surface‐active sites are created through metal‐ion exchange. Furthermore, the incompatibility between the d8 electronic configuration of Ni2+ and the three‐dimensional (3D) structure of ZIF‐67 afforded the synthesis of hollow structures by controlling the amount of Ni doping. The formation of NiCo‐MOF@CoOOH@V2O5 nanocomposites is confirmed using X‐ray absorption fine structure analysis. The high performance of the obtained composite is illustrated by fabricating a 3D‐printed micro‐supercapacitor, exhibiting a high area specific capacitance of 585 mF cm−2 and energy density of 159.23 µWh cm−2 (at power density = 0.34 mW cm−2). The solvent/coordination tuning strategy demonstrated in this study provides a new direction for the synthesis of high‐performance nanomaterials for electrochemical energy storage applications.
Genetically Engineering Cell Membrane‐Coated BTO Nanoparticles for MMP2‐Activated Piezocatalysis‐Immunotherapy
Authors: Tang Qingshuang , Sun Suhui , Wang Ping , Sun Lihong , Wang Yuan , Zhang Lulu , Xu Menghong , Chen Jing , Wu Ruiqi , Zhang Jinxia , Gong Ming , Chen Qingfeng , Liang Xiaolong
Published: February 2023

Tumor immunotherapy based on immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) still suffers from low host response rate and non‐specific distribution of immune checkpoint inhibitors, greatly compromising the therapeutic efficiency. Herein, cellular membrane stably expressing matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2)‐activated PD‐L1 blockades is engineered to coat ultrasmall barium titanate (BTO) nanoparticle for overcoming the immunosuppressive microenvironment of tumors. The resulting M@BTO NPs can significantly promote the BTO's tumor accumulation, while the masking domains on membrane PD‐L1 antibodies are cleaved when exposure to MMP2 highly expressed in tumor. With ultrasound (US) irradiation, M@BTO NPs can simultaneously generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and O2 based on BTO mediated piezocatalysis and water splitting, significantly promoting the intratumoral infiltration of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and improving the PD‐L1 blockade therapy to the tumor, resulting in effective tumor growth inhibition and lung metastasis suppression in a melanoma mouse model. This nanoplatform combines MMP2‐activated genetic editing cell membrane with US responsive BTO for both immune stimulation and specific PD‐L1 inhibition, providing a safe and robust strategy in enhancing immune response against tumor.
Bias in Intracellular Luminescence Thermometry: The Case of the Green Fluorescent Protein
Authors: Rodríguez‐Sevilla Paloma , Spicer Graham , Sagrera Ana , Adam Alejandro P. , Efeyan Alejo , Jaque Daniel , Thompson Sebastian A.
Published: February 2023

Measurement of intracellular temperature in a fast, accurate, reliable, and remote manner is crucial for the understanding of cellular processes. Nanothermometers based on the green fluorescence protein (GFP) are of special interest because intracellular temperature readouts can be obtained from the analysis of the polarization state of its luminescence. Despite the good results provided by GFP thermometers, the reliability of their intracellular thermal readouts is still a question of debate. Here, light is shed on this issue by introducing cell activity as a relevant bias mechanism that prevents the use of GFP for reliable intranuclear thermal measurements. Experimental evidence that this lack of reliability can affect not only GFP but also other widely used thermometers such as semiconductor nanocrystals is provided. It is discussed how differences observed between calibration curves obtained in presence and absence of cell activity can inform about the presence of bias. The presented results and discussion are aimed to warn the community working in intracellular thermometry and encourage authors to approach the issue in a conscious manner. The performance and reliability of the chosen intracellular thermometers must be judiciously assessed. This is the only way intracellular thermometry can progress and deliver indisputable results.
Primary Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells Cultivation in Microfluidic Hydrogel Microcapsules for Drug Evaluation
Authors: Song Taiyu , Zhang Hui , Luo Zhiqiang , Shang Luoran , Zhao Yuanjin
Published: February 2023

Chemotherapy is an essential postoperative treatment for pancreatic cancer, while due to the lack of effective drug evaluation platforms, the therapeutic outcomes are hampered by tumor heterogeneity among individuals. Here, a novel microfluidic encapsulated and integrated primary pancreatic cancer cells platform is proposed for biomimetic tumor 3D cultivation and clinical drug evaluation. These primary cells are encapsulated into hydrogel microcapsules of carboxymethyl cellulose cores and alginate shells based on a microfluidic electrospray technique. Benefiting from the good monodispersity, stability, and precise dimensional controllability of the technology, the encapsulated cells can proliferate rapidly and spontaneously form 3D tumor spheroids with highly uniform size and good cell viability. By integrating these encapsulated tumor spheroids into a microfluidic chip with concentration gradient channels and culture chambers, dynamic and high‐throughput drug evaluation of different chemotherapy regimens could be realized. It is demonstrated that different patient‐derived tumor spheroids show different drug sensitivity on‐chip, which is significantly consistent with the clinical follow‐up study after the operation. The results demonstrate that the microfluidic encapsulated and integrated tumor spheroids platform has great application potential in clinical drug evaluation.
Interface Engineering via Regulating Electrolyte for High‐Voltage Layered Oxide Cathodes‐Based Li‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Cheng Fangyuan , Xu Jia , Wei Peng , Cheng Zexiao , Liao Mengyi , Sun Shixiong , Xu Yue , Li Qing , Fang Chun , Lin Yaqing , Han Jiantao , Huang Yunhui
Published: February 2023

Li‐rich and Ni‐rich layered oxides as next‐generation high‐energy cathodes for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) possess the catalytic surface, which leads to intensive interfacial reactions, transition metal ion dissolution, gas generation, and ultimately hinders their applications at 4.7 V. Here, robust inorganic/organic/inorganic‐rich architecture cathode‐electrolyte interphase (CEI) and inorganic/organic‐rich architecture anode‐electrolyte interphase (AEI) with F‐, B‐, and P‐rich inorganic components through modulating the frontier molecular orbital energy levels of lithium salts are constructed. A ternary fluorinated lithium salts electrolyte (TLE) is formulated by mixing 0.5 m lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate, 0.2 m lithium difluorophosphate with 0.3 m lithium hexafluorophosphate. The obtained robust interphase effectively suppresses the adverse electrolyte oxidation and transition metal dissolution, significantly reduces the chemical attacks to AEI. Li‐rich Li1.2Mn0.58Ni0.08Co0.14O2 and Ni‐rich LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 in TLE exhibit high‐capacity retention of 83.3% after 200 cycles and 83.3% after 1000 cycles under 4.7 V, respectively. Moreover, TLE also shows excellent performances at 45 °C, demonstrating this inorganic rich interface successfully inhibits the more aggressive interface chemistry at high voltage and high temperature. This work suggests that the composition and structure of the electrode interface can be regulated by modulating the frontier molecular orbital energy levels of electrolyte components, so as to ensure the required performance of LIBs.
Exploring barriers to SARS‐CoV‐2 testing uptake in underserved black communities in Louisiana
Authors: Katzmarzyk Peter T. , Myers Candice A. , Nelson Michelle R. , Denstel Kara D. , Mire Emily F. , Newton Robert L. , Broyles Stephanie T. , Kirwan John P.
Published: February 2023

Objective

To collect qualitative data on approaches that can potentially reduce barriers to, and create strategies for, increasing SARS‐CoV‐2 testing uptake in underserved Black communities in Louisiana.

Methods

A series of eight focus groups, including 41 participants, were conducted in primarily Black communities. The Nominal Group Technique (NGT) was used to determine perceptions of COVID‐19 as a disease, access to testing, and barriers limiting testing uptake.

Results

Common barriers to SARS‐CoV‐2 testing were identified as lack of transportation, misinformation/lack of information, lack of time/long wait times, fear of the test being uncomfortable and/or testing positive, the cost of testing, and lack of computer/smartphone/internet. The most impactful approaches identified to increase testing uptake included providing testing within the local communities; testing specifically in heavily traveled areas such as supermarkets, churches, schools, and so forth; providing incentives; engaging local celebrities; and providing information to the community through health fairs, or through churches and schools. The strategies that were deemed to be the easiest to implement revolved around communication about testing, with suggested strategies involving churches, local celebrities or expert leaders, social media, text messages, public service announcements, post cards, or putting up signs in neighborhoods. Providing transportation to testing sites, providing incentives, and bringing the testing to neighborhoods and schools were also identified as easy to implement strategies.

Conclusions

Several strategies to increase testing uptake were identified in this population. These strategies need to be tested for effectiveness in real‐world settings using experimental and observational study designs.
Alkaline‐Stable Anion‐Exchange Membranes with Barium [2.2.2]Cryptate Cations: The Importance of High Binding Constants
Authors: Zhang Haixia , Wang Xiaoyang , Wang Yu , Zhang Yin , Zhang Wenjuan , You Wei
Published: February 2023

The stability of cationic functional groups is one of the key factors determining lifetime of alkaline anion‐exchange membranes (AAEMs) and the AAEM‐based electrochemical devices. Main‐group metal and crown ether complexes are stable cations due to the absence of degradation pathways including nucleophilic substitution, Hofmann elimination, and cation redox. However, the binding strength, a key feature for AAEM applications, is overlooked in previous work. We herein propose the use of barium [2.2.2]cryptate ([Cryp‐Ba]2+) as a new cationic functional group for AAEMs due to its extremely strong binding (109.5 M−1 in water at 25 °C). The [Cryp‐Ba]2+‐AAEMs with polyolefin backbones remain stable after treatment in 15 M KOH at 60 °C for over 1500 hours. More importantly, these AAEMs are successfully applied in water electrolyzers, and an anolyte‐feeding switch method is designed to further reveal the influence of binding constants.
A Robust Metal‐Organic Framework with Scalable Synthesis and Optimal Adsorption and Desorption for Energy‐Efficient Ethylene Purification
Authors: Yu Cong , Guo Zhengdong , Yang Lifeng , Cui Jiyu , Chen Sen , Bo Yawen , Suo Xian , Gong Qihan , Zhang Shang , Cui Xili , He Shengbao , Xing Huabin
Published: February 2023

Adsorptive separation is an energy‐efficient alternative, but its advancement has been hindered by the challenge of industrially potential adsorbents development. Herein, a novel ultra‐microporous metal‐organic framework ZU‐901 is designed that satisfies the basic criteria raised by ethylene/ethane (C2H4/C2H6) pressure swing adsorption (PSA). ZU‐901 exhibits an “S” shaped C2H4 curve with high sorbent selection parameter (65) and could be mildly regenerated. Through green aqueous‐phase synthesis, ZU‐901 is easily scalable with 99 % yield, and it is stable in water, acid, basic solutions and cycling breakthrough experiments. Polymer‐grade C2H4 (99.51 %) could be obtained via a simulating two‐bed PSA process, and the corresponding energy consumption is only 1/10 of that of simulating cryogenic distillation. Our work has demonstrated the great potential of pore engineering in designing porous materials with desired adsorption and desorption behavior to implement an efficient PSA process.
Zn‐Organic Batteries for the Semi‐Hydrogenation of Biomass Aldehyde Derivatives and Concurrently Enhanced Power Output
Authors: Xu Heng , Xu Guanxing , Huang Bingji , Yan Jiabiao , Wang Min , Chen Lisong , Shi Jianlin
Published: February 2023

Electricity generation and chemical productions are both critically important for the sustainable development of modern civilization. Here, a novel bifunctional Zn‐organic battery has been established for the concurrent enhanced electricity output and semi‐hydrogenations of a series of biomass aldehyderivatives, for the high value‐added chemical syntheses. Among them, the typical Zn‐furfural (FF) battery equipped with Cu foil‐supported edge‐enriched Cu nanosheets as cathodic electrocatalyst (Cu NS/Cu foil), provides a maximum current density and power density of 14.6 mA cm−2and 2.00 mW cm−2, respectively, and in the meantime, produces high value product, furfural alcohol (FAL). The Cu NS/Cu foil catalyst exhibits excellent electrocatalytic performance of ≈93.5 % conversion ratio and ≈93.1 % selectivity for FF semi‐hydrogenation at a low potential of ‐1.1 V vs. Ag/AgCl by using H2O as H source, and shows impressive performance for various biomass aldehyderivatives semi‐hydrogenation.
Chiral Single‐Molecule Potentiometers Based on Stapled ortho‐ Oligo(phenylene)ethynylenes
Authors: Ortuño Ana M. , Reiné Pablo , Álvarez de Cienfuegos Luis , Márquez Irene R. , Dednam Wynand , Lombardi Enrico B. , Palacios Juan J. , Leary Edmund , Longhi Giovanna , Mujica Vladimiro , Millán Alba , González M. Teresa , Zotti Linda A. , Miguel Delia , Cuerva Juan M.
Published: February 2023

We report on the chemical design of chiral molecular junctions with stress‐dependent conductance, whose helicity is maintained during the stretching of a single molecule junction due to the stapling of both ends of the inner helix. In the reported compounds, different conductive pathways are observed, with clearly different conductance values and plateau‐length distributions, attributed to different conformations of the helical structures. The large chiro‐optical responses and the potential use of these molecules as unimolecular spin filters have been theoretically proved using state‐of‐the‐art Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, including a fully ab‐initio estimation of the CISS‐originating spin polarization which is done, for the first time, for a realistic molecular system.
Unbiased Screening of Novel Infrared Nonlinear Optical Materials with High Thermal Conductivity: Long‐neglected Nitrides and Popular Chalcogenides
Authors: Chu Dongdong , Huang Yi , Xie Congwei , Tikhonov Evgenii , Kruglov Ivan , Li Guangmao , Pan Shilie , Yang Zhihua
Published: February 2023

Traditional infrared (IR) nonlinear optical (NLO) materials such as AgGaS2 are crucial to key devices for solid‐state lasers, however, low laser damage thresholds intrinsically hinder their practical application. Here, a robust strategy is proposed for unbiased high‐throughput screening of more than 140 000 materials to explore novel IR NLO materials with high thermal conductivity and wide band gap which are crucial to intrinsic laser damage threshold. Via our strategy, 106 compounds with desired band gaps, NLO coefficients and thermal conductivity are screened out, including 8 nitrides, 68 chalcogenides, in which Sr2SnS4 is synthesized to verify the reliability of our process. Remarkably, thermal conductivity of nitrides is much higher than that of chalcogenides, e.g., 5×AgGaS2 (5.13 W/m K) for ZrZnN2, indicating that nitrides could be a long‐neglected system for IR NLO materials. This strategy provides a powerful tool for searching NLO compounds with high thermal conductivity.
Lithium Salt Dissociation Promoted by 18‐Crown‐6 Ether Additive toward Dilute Electrolytes for High Performance Lithium Oxygen Batteries
Authors: Zhang Fengling , Lai Jingning , Hu Zhengqiang , Zhou Anbin , Wang Huirong , Hu Xin , Hou Lijuan , Li Bohua , Sun Wen , Chen Nan , Li Li , Wu Feng , Chen Renjie
Published: February 2023

Lithium‐oxygen batteries (LOBs) are well known for their high energy density. However, their reversibility and rate performance are challenged due to the sluggish oxygen reduction/evolution reactions (ORR/OER) kinetics, serious side reactions and uncontrollable Li dendrite growth. The electrolyte plays a key role in transport of Li+ and reactive oxygen species in LOBs. Here, we tailored a dilute electrolyte by screening suitable crown ether additives to promote lithium salt dissociation and Li+ solvation through electrostatic interaction. The electrolyte containing 100 mM 18‐crown‐6 ether (100‐18C6) exhibits enhanced electrochemical stability and triggers a solution‐mediated Li2O2 growth pathway in LOBs, showing high discharge capacity of 10 828.8 mAh gcarbon−1. Moreover, optimized electrode/electrolyte interfaces promote ORR/OER kinetics on cathode and achieve dendrite‐free Li anode, which enhances the cycle life. This work casts new lights on the design of low‐cost dilute electrolytes for high performance LOBs.
The role of a standard family of Ic supernovae in BDHN I, BDHN II, and BDHN III GRBs
Authors: Ruffini Remo , Aimuratov Yerlan , Becerra Laura Marcela , Bianco Carlo Luciano , Cherubini Christian , Filippi Simonetta , Li Liang , Moradi Rahim , Rastegarnia Fatemeh , Punsly Brian , Rueda Jorge Armando , Sahakyan Narek , Wang Yu , Xue She Sheng
Published: February 2023

A profound difference has occurred in the analysis of Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) initially analyzed in the domain of gamma‐ray astronomy with the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory and the BATSE Detector with the extension to x‐ray astronomy and optical astronomy introduced by Beppo‐SAX and the KEK and VLT optical observatory, followed by the AGILE, Fermi mission, Niels Gehrels SWIFT mission as well as HEHSS and MAGIC observations An authentic “Copernican revolution” has occurred in the transition from the traditional model of GRBs originating in a single star progenitor (collapsar) to GRBs with a binary progenitor composed of a CO core and a companion NS. We have evidence from 24 SN observations related to GRBs that all of them, once analyzed with the general relativistic corrections can be identified with I Bc Sn with a common value of the Luminosity and common time of occurrence of the peak of the optical emission. This can be understood in terms of a precursor composed of a CO core and a binary NS companion. By contrast, the GRBs differ profoundly in their energetics which can be expressed in terms of 3 different classes of BDHNe: BDHN I, BDHN II, and BDHN III, also originating from Precursors composed of a CO core and a Binary companion. It is pointed out how the analysis of these systems has profoundly modified the concept of the BH and the associated fundamental physics necessary for their description since the “introducing of the Black Hole” by Ruffini and Wheeler in 1971. At first, it is illustrated how the most radical change has occurred in the introduction of the effective BH charge, with an electric field only function of the BH dimensionless spin and a background magnetic field Bo. This definitely indicates the abandonment of the Kerr‐Newman solution in favor of the Kerr metric, for energy extraction processes in BH physics. We then enter into the detailed description of the “seven Seals,” the seven Episodes characterizing GRB 190114c, and the associated SN 2019jrj.

This is based on the article by Aimuratov et al. (in preparation).
Perception of competence achievement and students' satisfaction using virtual laboratories in Medical Biochemistry course: Lessons from the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Ibrahim Gehan H. , Morcos George N. B. , Ghaly Wael Botros AbuAlyamin , Hassan Mohamed Talal , Hussein Usama A. , Nadim Hany S.
Published: February 2023

After the COVID‐19 pandemic, there was an increasing demand for remote learning and an expansion in the substitution of traditional practical sessions with lab‐based virtual tools. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of virtual labs in practicing biochemical experiments and to examine the student's feedback regarding this tool. Virtual and traditional labs training were compared in teaching qualitative analysis of proteins and carbohydrates experiments for first‐year medical students. Students' achievements were assessed, and their satisfaction regarding virtual labs was estimated using a questionnaire. A total of 633 students were enrolled in the study. There was a significant increase in the average scores of students performing the virtual lab of protein analysis compared with those trained in a real lab and those who watched videos explaining the experiment (p < 0.001). The opposite was noticed in the qualitative analysis of carbohydrates with significantly high grades of students trained conventionally compared with those who practiced with virtual labs (p < 0.001). Students' feedback rates on the virtual labs were high (>70% satisfaction rate). Most students believed virtual labs were supported with a clear explanation, yet they thought it did not give a realistic experience. Students accepted virtual labs, but they still prefer using them as preparatory to classic labs. In conclusion, virtual labs can offer good laboratory practice in the Medical Biochemistry course. Their impact on students' learning might be increased if selected cautiously and implemented properly in the curriculum.
Comparison of Target Pocket Similarity and Progress into Research on Inhibitors of Picornavirus 3C Proteases
Authors: Wan Li , Wang Xiaobo , Wang Tangle , Yuan Xiaolan , Liu Wei , Huang Yan , Deng Changyong , Cao Shuang
Published: February 2023

The 3C protease (3C Pro) plays a significant role in the life cycle of picornaviruses from replication to translation, making it an attractive target for structure‐based design of drugs against picornaviruses. The structurally related 3C‐like protease (3CL Pro) is an important protein involved in the replication of coronaviruses. With the emergence of COVID‐19 and consequent intensive research into 3CL Pro, development of 3CL Pro inhibitors has emerged as a popular topic. This article compares the similarities of the target pockets of various 3C and 3CL Pros from numerous pathogenic viruses. This article also reports several types of 3C Pro inhibitors that are currently undergoing extensive studies and introduces various structural modifications of 3C Pro inhibitors to provide a reference for the development of new and more effective inhibitors of 3C Pro and 3CL Pro.
Phytochemical Profiling, in Vitro Biological Activities and in Silico Molecular Docking Studies of the Crude Extract of Crambe orientalis, an Endemic Plant in Turkey
Authors: Bakir Boga Ozlem , Bugra Ortaakarsu Ahmet , Kadırustaoglu Beyzanur , Basaran Kurbanoglu Esabi
Published: February 2023

In this study, total phenolic and flavonoid analyses of flower, leaf, and stem aqueous extracts of C. orientalis were performed. Total phenolic contents of C. orientalis extracts ranged from 12.2±0.06 to 19.0±0.07 mg GAE/g extract. Total flavonoid values range between 2.0±0.11 and 6.6±0.19 mg CE/g extract. Urease, collagenase, tyrosinase, and α‐glucosidase inhibition activities were determined in vitro and the relationship between them was examined. IC50 results for all enzymes were obtained between 0.18 and 3.53 μg/mL. The aqueous extract of the plant C. orientalis showed potent cytotoxic effects against the human colon cancer cell lines DLD‐1. As the extract concentration increases, cell death increases. The main fatty acid composition by GC/MS analysis is erucic acid (36.5 %). The potential binding modes of the fatty acids in the plant extract to the enzymes and possible inhibition mechanisms were determined by molecular docking calculation.
Mechanism and Techno‐Economic Analysis of the Electrochemical Process
Authors: Ranga Monica , Sinha Shishir
Published: February 2023

The textile industry utilizes numerous chemicals ranging from solvents to resins and caustic soda to bleach, having a harsh environmental impact. A large amount of colored dye in wastewater is released. Non‐biodegradable heavy metals and chlorine accumulate in organs of marine and terrestrial life, leading to various diseases. So, there is an urgent need to treat textile wastewater. Up to date, techno‐economic analyses of all electrochemical processes have not been reviewed for textile wastewater treatment. In this review, the focus is on the tertiary treatment methods, mainly on electrochemical treatments, i.e., electrocoagulation, electro‐Fenton, electrooxidation, photoelectrochemical (PEC) process, and solar electrophoto‐Fenton process (SPEF) with their mechanisms and techno‐economic analyses. SPEF treatment was found to be advantageous in terms of efficiency and economic perspective as it utilizes solar energy instead of electrical energy and the cost of the PEC process can also be recovered by the generation of hydrogen.