bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Druggable epigenetic suppression of interferon-induced chemokine expression linked toMYCNamplification in neuroblastoma
Authors: Seier Johanna A , Reinhardt Julia , Saraf Kritika , Ng Susanna S , Layer Julian P , Corvino Dillon , Althoff Kristina , Giordano Frank A , Schramm Alexander , Fischer Matthias , Hölzel Michael
Published: May 2021

Background

Amplification of theMYCNoncogene is a molecular hallmark of aggressive neuroblastoma (NB), a childhood cancer of the sympathetic nervous system. There is evidence thatMYCNpromotes a non-inflamed and T-cell infiltration-poor (‘cold’) tumor microenvironment (TME) by suppressing interferon signaling. This may explain, at least in part, why patients with NB seem to have little benefit from single-agent immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. Targeting MYCN or its effectors could be a strategy to convert a cold TME into a ‘hot’ (inflamed) TME and improve the efficacy of ICB therapy.

Methods

NB transcriptome analyses were used to identify epigenetic drivers of a T-cell infiltration-poor TME. Biological and molecular responses of NB cells to epigenetic drugs and interferon (IFN)-γ exposure were assessed by proliferation assays, immunoblotting, ELISA, qRT-PCR, RNA-seq and ChIP-qPCR as well as co-culture assays with T cells.

Results

We identified H3K9 euchromatic histone-lysine methyltransferases EHMT2 and EHMT1, also known as G9a and GLP, as epigenetic effectors of theMYCN-driven malignant phenotype and repressors of IFN-γ transcriptional responses in NB cells. EHMT inhibitors enhanced IFN-γ-induced expression of the Th1-type chemokinesCXCL9andCXCL10, key factors of T-cell recruitment into the TME. InMYCN-amplified NB cells, co-inhibition of EZH2 (enhancer of zeste homologue 2), a H3K27 histone methyltransferase cooperating with EHMTs, was needed for strong transcriptional responses to IFN-γ, in line with histone mark changes atCXCL9andCXCL10chemokine gene loci. EHMT and EZH2 inhibitor response gene signatures from NB cells were established as surrogate measures and revealed high EHMT and EZH2 activity inMYCN-amplified high-risk NBs with a cold immune phenotype.

Conclusion

Our results delineate a strategy for targeted epigenetic immunomodulation of high-risk NBs, whereby EHMT inhibitors alone or in combination with EZH2 inhibitors (in particular,MYCN-amplified NBs) could promote a T-cell-infiltrated TME via enhanced Th1-type chemokine expression.
α1-adrenergic stimulation increases ventricular action potential duration in the intact mouse heart
Authors: Joyce William , Scholman Koen T. , Jensen Bjarke , Wang Tobias , Boukens Bastiaan J.
Published: May 2021

The role of α1-adrenergic receptors (α-ARs) in the regulation of myocardial function is less well-understood than that of β-ARs. Previous reports in the mouse heart have described that α1-adrenergic stimulation shortens action potential duration in isolated cells or tissues, in contrast to prolongation of the action potential reported in most other mammalian hearts. It has since become appreciated, however, that the mouse heart exhibits marked variation in inotropic response to α1-adrenergic stimulation between ventricles and even individual cardiomyocytes. We investigated the effects of α1-adrenergic stimulation on action potential duration at 80% of repolarization in the right and left ventricles of Langendorff-perfused mouse hearts using optical mapping. In hearts under β-adrenergic blockade (propranolol), phenylephrine or noradrenaline perfusion both increased action potential duration in both ventricles. The increased action potential duration was partially reversed by subsequent perfusion with the α-adrenergic antagonist phentolamine (1 μmol L−1). These data show that α1-receptor stimulation may lead to a prolonging of action potential in the mouse heart and thereby refine our understanding of how action potential duration adjusts during sympathetic stimulation.
COVID-19 epidemiology in Canada from January to December 2020: the pre-vaccine era
Authors: Waldner David , Harrison Robyn , Johnstone Jennie , Saxinger Lynora , Webster Duncan , Sligl Wendy
Published: May 2021

This paper summarizes COVID-19 disease epidemiology in Canada in the pre-vaccine era—from January through to December 2020. Canadian case numbers, risk factors, disease presentations (including severe and critical disease), and outcomes are described. Differences between provinces and territories in geography, population size and density, health demographics, and pandemic impact are highlighted. Key concepts in public health response and mitigation are reviewed, including masking, physical distancing, hand washing, and the promotion of outdoor interactions. Adequate investment in public health infrastructure is stressed, and regional differences in screening and testing strategies are highlighted. The spread of COVID-19 in Canadian workplaces, long-term care homes, and schools is described and lessons learned emphasized. The impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations in Canada—including Indigenous Peoples, ethnic minorities and newcomers, people who use drugs, people who are homeless, people who are incarcerated, and people with disabilities—is described. Sex and gender disparities are also highlighted. Author recommendations include strategies to reduce transmission (such as test–trace–isolate), the establishment of nationally standardized definitions and public reporting, the protection of high risk and vulnerable populations, and the development of a national strategy on vaccine allocation.
Description of zero field steps on the potential energy surface of a Frenkel-Kontorova model for annular Josephson junction arrays
Authors: Quapp W. , Bofill J. M.
Published: May 2021

We explain the emergence of zero field steps (ZFS) in a Frenkel-Kontorova (FK) model for a 1D annular chain being a model for an annular Josephson junction array. We demonstrate such steps for a case with a chain of 10 phase differences. We necessarily need the periodic boundary conditions. We propose a mechanism for the jump from M fluxons to $$M+1$$

M
+
1

in the chain.

Graphic abstract
Scattering of two and three physical pions at maximal isospin from lattice QCD
Authors: Fischer Matthias , Kostrzewa Bartosz , Liu Liuming , Romero-López Fernando , Ueding Martin , Urbach Carsten
Published: May 2021

We present the first direct $$N_f=2$$

N
f

=
2

lattice QCD computation of two- and three-$$\pi ^+$$

π
+

scattering quantities that includes an ensemble at the physical point. We study the quark mass dependence of the two-pion phase shift, and the three-particle interaction parameters. We also compare to phenomenology and chiral perturbation theory (ChPT). In the two-particle sector, we observe good agreement to the phenomenological fits in s- and d-wave, and obtain $$M_\pi a_0 = -0.0481(86)$$

M
π

a
0

=
-
0.0481

(
86
)

at the physical point from a direct computation. In the three-particle sector, we observe reasonable agreement at threshold to the leading order chiral expansion, i.e. a mildly attractive three-particle contact term. In contrast, we observe that the energy-dependent part of the three-particle quasilocal scattering quantity is not well described by leading order ChPT.
The two-loop contributions to muon MDM in $$U(1)_X$$ SSM
Authors: Su Lu-Hao , Zhao Shu-Min , Dong Xing-Xing , Cui Dan-Dan , Feng Tai-Fu , Zhang Hai-Bin
Published: May 2021

The MSSM is extended to the $$U(1)_X$$

U

(
1
)

X

SSM, whose local gauge group is $$SU(3)_C \times SU(2)_L \times U(1)_Y \times U(1)_X$$

S
U

(
3
)

C

×
S
U

(
2
)

L

×
U

(
1
)

Y

×
U

(
1
)

X

. To obtain the $$U(1)_X$$

U

(
1
)

X

SSM, we add the new superfields to the MSSM, namely: three Higgs singlets $${\hat{\eta }},~\hat{{\bar{\eta }}},~{\hat{S}}$$

η
^

,

η

¯

^

,

S
^

and right-handed neutrinos $${\hat{\nu }}_i$$

ν
^

i

. It can give light neutrino tiny mass at the tree level through the seesaw mechanism. The study of the contribution of the two-loop diagrams to the MDM of muon under $$U(1)_X$$

U

(
1
)

X

SSM provides the possibility for us to search for new physics. In the analytical calculation of the loop diagrams (one-loop and two-loop diagrams), the effective Lagrangian method is used to derive muon MDM. Here, the considered two-loop diagrams include Barr-Zee type diagrams and rainbow type two-loop diagrams, especially Z–Z rainbow two-loop diagram is taken into account. The obtained numerical results can reach $$7.4\times 10^{-10}$$

7.4
×

10

-
10

, which can remedy the deviation between SM prediction and experimental data to some extent.
Cross sections for the two-step radiative decay process $$X(v)\rightarrow A(v^{\prime \prime })\rightarrow X(v^\prime )$$ in e-LiH collisions
Authors: Celiberto Roberto , Laricchiuta Annarita
Published: May 2021

The cross sections for the two-step process, represented by the electron-impact vibro-electronic excitation $$X^1\varSigma ^+(v) \rightarrow A^1\varSigma ^+(v'')$$

X
1

Σ
+

(
v
)

→

A
1

Σ
+

(

v

′
′

)

of the LiH molecule, followed by radiative decay back on the vibrational manifold of the ground state, $$A^1\varSigma ^+(v'')\rightarrow X^1\varSigma ^+(v')$$

A
1

Σ
+

(

v

′
′

)

→

X
1

Σ
+

(

v
′

)

, are calculated as a function of the incident electron energy from the threshold to 1000 eV. The final cross sections for the two-step process, which results in an overall vibrational excitation of the molecule, known also as E-v process, are provided for all the possible $$v,v'$$

v
,

v
′

transitions among the vibrational levels, including the continuum, of the electronic ground state.

Graphic abstract
CO2 emissions of nuclear power and renewable energies: a statistical analysis of European and global data
Authors: Wagner Friedrich
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we investigate the CO2 emissions caused by nuclear and renewable power generation. The knowledge of the share of coal, gas and oil in electricity generation permits the exact calculation of the related CO2 emissions. In addition, there is a second approach especially within the economic sciences, which applies statistical techniques for the study of the energy-related emissions. The background for these studies is the provision of general political advice and the expectation that political, cultural, or infrastructural considerations guide nations in the preference and choice of specific technologies. In this paper, we are applying both approaches and come to the certain conclusion, that nuclear power is as effective as renewable power in order to reduce the CO2 emissions. Our results are in complete contradiction to a recent publication (Sovacool et al. in Nat Energy 5:928–935, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-020-00696-3). The authors of this paper conclude that nuclear power does not reduce the CO2 emissions, but renewable power efficiently does. In addition, they argue that these two technologies crowd out each other. The possible reason for their claims may result from a specific conditioning of the data. In contrast, our analysis clearly confirms the adequacy of both nuclear and renewable power generation.
The effects of composite primitive cells on band gap property of locally resonant phononic crystal
Authors: Lei Lijian , Miao Linchang , Li Chao , Liang Xiaodong , Wang Junjie
Published: May 2021

Locally resonant phononic crystal (LRPC) has the extraordinary property to prohibit the wave propagation in specific low-frequency ranges, however it exists limitation in engineering application due to narrow band gap width. Extensive achievements have been obtained on the locally resonant band gap (LRBG) tunability, whereas existing investigations mainly concern the independent primitive cells structure, which have the limitation in obtaining low-frequency and broadband simultaneously. In this paper, the composited locally resonant phononic crystals (CLRPC) are proposed and the effects of primitive cells contact state on the LRBG properties are investigated. The dispersion curves are applied to obtain the LRBG, and the corresponding modal features are analyzed to explain the band gap formation mechanism. The band structure indicates the design of composite primitive cells is able to increase the band gap number and obtain lower band gap, which is verified by the frequency response function (FRF). For the band gap formation mechanism, the asymmetric vibration due to primitive cells contact leads to diverse and strong coupling response, which generates more band gaps and reduces the band gap starting frequency, therefore the band gaps can be tuned by designing carefully the geometry structure of CLRPC. Further researches on band gap optimization demonstrate that the smaller cell spacing, smaller lattice constant and larger damping of coating layer should be satisfied to obtain broader LRBG and considerable attenuation synchronously. This investigation can provide references for the locally resonant isolation structure design in the low-frequency vibration control field.
Indian (Marathi) version of the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI): Translation and validation in patients with adhesive capsulitis
Authors: Pahade Apeksha Jayesh , Wani Surendra K. , Mullerpatan Rajani P. , Elizabeth Roach Kathryn
Published: May 2021

Background: The Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) is the most commonly used self-administered questionnaire which is a valid and reliable instrument to assess the proportion of pain and disability in shoulder disorders. There is no evidence of SPADI questionnaire being translated into regional Indian language (Marathi).

Objective: This study aims to translate and culturally adapt and validate the Marathi version of the SPADI questionnaire. This was done as per the AAOS outcomes committee guidelines.

Methods: Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric testing of SPADI was done in the Outpatient Physiotherapy Department of Tertiary Care Hospital, Ahmednagar, India.

Results: The internal consistency was assessed by calculating Cronbach alpha value for the pain score (0.908), disability score (0.959), and total SPADI (0.969) which were all high. The Test–retest reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values for the pain score (0.993), disability score (0.997), and total SPADI (0.997) which showed excellent reliability. The criterion validity was assessed using Pearson correlation coefficient. In Males, weak to strong negative correlation was observed except for shoulder extension and in females, moderate negative correlation was observed between baseline shoulder range of motion and initial total SPADI scores and individual pain and disability except for shoulder internal rotation. The internal consistency of the Marathi SPADI (Cronbach’s alpha [Formula: see text]0.99) was higher than the original English version. The reliability of the total Marathi SPADI and its subscale (Intraclass correlation coefficient [Formula: see text]0.90) were found to be higher than that of the English SPADI and were consistent with the German, Brazilian, Slovene and Greek versions.

Conclusion: The translated and culturally adapted Marathi version of the SPADI questionnaire is a reliable and valid tool for the assessment of pain and disability in Marathi population.
Review of "Nihilism and technology by Nolen Gertz," Gertz, N. (2018). Nihilism and technology. Rowman & littlefield
Authors: Ibrahim Mai
Published: May 2021

Nolen Gertz's
Nihilism and Technology
is a commendable book the analyzes the human-technology relations by applying Nietzsche's nihilistic views to technology. By exploring the intertwinement of technology and nihilism, the book underscores its thesis that technologies are our means of escapism from the meaninglessness of our lives. This book turns away from the technophilic and technophobic views of technology and instead moves us toward questioning "how technologies both shape and are the result of... ideological definitions" (Gertz, 2018, p. 7). This is an awakening read that leaves the readers pondering over the numbing effects of technologies.
Recent Progress in the Analytical Chemistry of Champagne and Sparkling Wines
Authors: Liger-Belair Gérard , Cilindre Clara
Published: May 2021

The strong interplay between the various parameters at play in a bottle and in a glass of champagne or sparkling wine has been the subject of study for about two decades. After a brief overview of the history of champagne and sparkling wines, this article presents the key steps involved in the traditional method leading to the production of premium modern-day sparkling wines, with a specific focus on quantification of the dissolved CO2found in the sealed bottles and in a glass. Moreover, a review of the literature on the various chemical and instrumental approaches used in the analysis of dissolved and gaseous CO2, effervescence, foam, and volatile organic compounds is reported.
Bacteriophages and the Immune System
Authors: Popescu Medeea , Van Belleghem Jonas D. , Khosravi Arya , Bollyky Paul L.
Published: May 2021

Bacteriophages—viruses that infect bacteria—are abundant within our bodies, but their significance to human health is only beginning to be explored. Here, we synthesize what is currently known about our phageome and its interactions with the immune system. We first review how phages indirectly affect immunity via bacterial expression of phage-encoded proteins. We next review how phages directly influence innate immunity and bacterial clearance. Finally, we discuss adaptive immunity against phages and its implications for phage/bacterial interactions. In light of these data, we propose that our microbiome can be understood as an interconnected network of bacteria, bacteriophages, and human cells and that the stability of these tri-kingdom interactions may be important for maintaining our immunologic and metabolic health. Conversely, the disruption of this balance, through exposure to exogenous phages, microbial dysbiosis, or immune dysregulation, may contribute to disease.
(Invited) Heating-up Synthesis of Lead Free, Perovskite-Related Colloidal Nanocrystals
Authors: Paik Taejong , Lee Minji , Lee Donguk
Published: May 2021

Colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) are widely used in various applications, such as in electronic devices, phosphors, lasers, magnets, and catalysts. The synthesis of uniform nanomaterials with controlled
sizes, shapes, and compositions is crucial to understand their size-, shape-, and composition-dependent physical and chemical properties precisely. Herein, we described the chemistry of novel materials for synthesizing lead-free cesium bismuth bromide NCs with precise control of their compositions. Colloidal NCs were synthesized via an injection-free heating-up method in the presence of a solvent mixture with a high boiling point. We systematically modified the structure and composition of perovskite or perovskite-related NCs to investigate the photoluminescence properties of uniform and phase-pure cesium bismuth bromide NCs, depending on their compositions.
Wrinkles Emerging in SiO2/Si Stack during UV Nanosecond Laser Anneal
Authors: Karmous Imen , Roze Fabien , Raynal Pierre-Edouard , Huet Karim , Acosta Alba Pablo , Tabata Toshiyuki , Kerdiles Sebastien
Published: May 2021

UV nanosecond pulsed laser annealing (UV-NLA) is demonstrating clear benefits in the emerging 3D-integrated electronic devices, where the allowed thermal budget is strictly limited to preserve underlying device performance. A possible drawback of UVNLA is that melting a solid substrate covered by a dielectric layer, which can be found in typical electronic device structures, induces wrinkles on the surface and may be an issue for subsequent processes. In this study, UV-NLA is performed in SiO2/Si structures to systematically investigate the emergence of wrinkles. A classical analytical model shows a good agreement with our experimental results if a fitting coefficient is involved. Interestingly, its value is rapidly increasing for a thinner SiO2 film, while it becomes closer to unity for a thicker SiO2 film. This might infer a possible discrepancy of the material properties taken from literature and those of real industrial thin SiO2 films.
Layer Thickness Effect on Lifetime of Copper Oxide Passivated Plasma Etched Copper Line
Authors: Su Jia Quan , Kuo Yue
Published: May 2021

Previously, authors reported that copper oxide could be a good passivation material for the copper line because it prevented copper diffusion to adjacent layer at the high temperature. In this paper, the copper oxide thickness effect on the electromigration failure mechanism is studied. The copper oxide passivation layer was formed by exposing the copper line to the oxygen plasma in a parallel-plate plasma etcher. The copper oxide passivation layer has a smooth surface and a crystalline structure. The copper line with a very thin copper oxide passivation layer has an electromigration lifetime similar to that of the unpassivated copper line. However, the lifetime deteriorates with the increase of the copper oxide thickness due to the enlargement of the mechanical and thermal stress mismatches between the bulk copper film and the passivation layer. Therefore, the thickness of the copper oxide is critical to the effectiveness of its passivation function.
(Invited) How Does Oxygen Open Up New Horizons at the Interface III-Vs/Liquid Ammonia?
Authors: Goncalves Anne-Marie , Rakotoarimanana Patie Cendra , Fregnaux Mathieu , Etcheberry Arnaud
Published: May 2021

In acidic pH, after a short period of illumination, a significant increase of the cathodic current in the dark is recorded onto p-GaAs until reaching a stationary current. This “final configuration” of the interface is unique since O2 reduction mechanism proceeds then only by holes injections. Collapse straight lines of Mott-Schottky are recorded after O2 reduction. A dissolution of the p-GaAs is observed. As a corrosive reactant, H2O2 can be also suggested in acidic NH3 Liq.
(Invited) Recent Advances in the Modeling of ZnSySe1-y / GaAs (001) Heterostructures with Application to Dislocation Sidewall Gettering
Authors: Ayers John , Kujofsa Tedi , Raphael Johanna
Published: May 2021

In this paper we describe state-of-the-art approaches to the modeling of strain relaxation and dislocations in ZnSSe/GaAs (001) heterostructures, with applications to dislocation sidewall gettering (DSG) in devices. Current modeling approaches are based on the extension of the original Dodson and Tsao plastic flow model [B. W. Dodson and J. Y. Tsao, Appl. Phys. Lett., 51, 1325 (1987); Appl. Phys. Lett., 52, 852 (1988)] to include compositional grading and multilayers, dislocation interactions, and differential thermal expansion. Important recent breakthroughs have greatly enhanced the utility of these modeling approaches in three respects: i) pinning interactions have been included in graded and multilayered structures, providing a better description of the rate of strain relaxation as well as the limiting value; ii) a refined model describing the interaction length for dislocation-dislocation interactions was formulated to include jogging in compositionally-graded and step-graded layers; and iii) inclusion of back-and-forth weaving of dislocations provides a more accurate description of heterostructures containing strain reversals, such as strained-layer superlattices or overshoot graded layers. We will describe these three key advances and use reasonable estimates of the kinetic parameters for ZnSSe to explain and illustrate practical features of dislocation sidewall gettering in II-VI heterostructures.
(Invited) Application of Machine Learning for High-Performance Multicrystalline Materials
Authors: Usami Noritaka
Published: May 2021

We report on our recent attempt to pioneer “multicrystalline informatics” through collaboration of experiments, theory, computation, and machine learning to establish universal guideline how we can obtain high-performance multicrystalline materials. We employ silicon as a model material, and develop various useful machine learning models. One example is a neural network to predict distribution of crystal orientations in a large-area sample from multiple optical images. Transfer learning of pre-trained image classifier could predict spatial distribution of probability of dislocations generation from photoluminescence images. Extracted regions with high probability of dislocations generation could be characterized by multiscale experiments as well as computation using artificial-neural-network interatomic potential to disclose physics behind. The obtained knowledge could be useful for process development of high-performance multicrystalline materials.
(Invited) Defect Engineering for Monolithic Integration of III-V Semiconductors on Silicon Substrates
Authors: Claeys Cor , Simoen Eddy
Published: May 2021

Optimization of heterogeneous epitaxial techniques such as aspect ratio trapping and nano-ridge engineering strongly triggered the commercial breakthrough of III-V on Si devices for a variety of applications in fields like optoelectronics, lighting, telecommunication, power devices, RF circuitry etc. To achieve high device performance defect engineering is crucial to avoid increased leakage current, lifetime degradation and/or increased low frequency noise. The aim of this review is to discuss the present understanding of defects in III-V materials and devices and their impact on the device performance. This is illustrated by analyzing three important types of devices, including InxGa1-xAs p+n diodes, GaN/AlGaN/Si transistors (MOSFETs, HEMTs and MOSHEMTs) and GaAs/InGaP Heterojunction Bipolar Transistors (HBTs). It will be pointed out that by an appropriate defect control the further development of the monolithic III-V integration on Si will not be hampered and is facing a bright future.
Anti-Fouling Effects of Carbon Nanofiber in Electrochemical Sensing of Phenolic Compounds
Authors: Kaewket Keerakit , Karuwan Chanpen , Sonsupap Somchai , Maensiri Santi , Ngamchuea Kamonwad
Published: May 2021

Electrode fouling has been a major problem in the analysis of phenolic compounds. This work synthesized carbon nanofiber (CNF) by electrospinning and demonstrated the anti-fouling properties of the material. The synthesized CNF was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. Three electrode preparation methods were then tested including as-spun sheet, screen printing and dropcasting. The electrochemical behaviors of CNF towards a wide range of systems were demonstrated, including reversible redox processes [e.g. K4Fe(CN)6 and catechol], the deposition and stripping of metal ions [e.g. Ag(I) and Cu(II)], and irreversible redox processes [e.g. resorcinol and bisphenol-A]. To highlight the advantages of the anti-fouling properties of CNF, we then used resorcinol which is an environmental contaminant as a model system and explored the analytical performances of CNF electrodes. The linear range of resorcinol detection was 10–250 μM. The sensitivity and limit of detection (3sB m−1) were determined to be 0.021 μA μM−1 and 7.27 μM, respectively.
Ice Formation from a Supercooled State and Water Transport through Ionomers during PEFC Cold Startup
Authors: Tabe Yutaka , Wakatake Naoyuki , Ishima Yuta , Chikahisa Takemi
Published: May 2021

In startups of polymer electrolyte fuel cells at temperatures close to 0 °C below freezing, water produced by the cathode reaction is present in a supercooled state and may freeze. This study investigates the ice formation processes during isothermal operation at –10 °C. The observations using a cryo-scanning electron microscope show that an ice layer is formed at the interface between the cathode catalyst layer (CL) and the micro-porous layer (MPL), and that the layer becomes thicker during the startup. This suggests the possibility for produced water to be transported from the CL to the ice layer through the ionomer. To evaluate water transport phenomena, changes in water content of the polymer electrolyte membrane in contact with supercooled water are estimated by measurements of the high frequency resistance. The results show that the membrane resistance, corresponding to the water content, increases after freezing of the supercooled water, and the difference increases with the degree of supercooling. This indicates that the driving force of the water transport is the concentration gradient caused by the freezing, supporting the above suggestion. A hydrophilic MPL is introduced to enhance water removal from the interface into the MPL, resulting in improvements in the cold startup.
Measurement of the Stoichiometry of Ethanol Oxidation at Elevated Temperatures
Authors: Sayadi A. , Pickup P. G.
Published: May 2021

The stoichiometry of ethanol oxidation (average number of electrons transferred per molecule) is a crucial parameter in fundamental studies of ethanol oxidation and the development of direct ethanol fuel cells and electrolysis cells. Measurements of stoichiometry are particularly important at elevated temperatures, where these cells become more efficient. In this work, rotating disk and flow cell methods have been used to explore the temperature dependence of ethanol oxidation at Pt/C and PtRu/C electrodes. Stoichiometries determined from the slopes of Koutecky–Levich plots ranged from 2.1 to 2.8 at 24 °C and increased to a range of 3.4 to 5.6 at 80 °C. They were higher for PtRu/C, and increased more with increasing temperature. At 80 °C, there was a significant decrease in stoichiometry with increasing potential at both catalysts, indicating a decrease in selectivity for the complete oxidation of ethanol to CO2. Analysis of ethanol consumption and product distributions using a flow cell provided independent measurements of stoichiometry that were in reasonable agreement with values from Koutecky–Levich plots.
Fabrication of Photoelectrochemical Sensor Based on Fe-Doped MoSe2 for the Sensitive Detection of Berberine Hydrochloride
Authors: He Xiansen , Li Xiaokun , Feng Suxiang , Li Xueying , Nong Cuijie
Published: May 2021

In this study, a novel photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor based on FeMoSe2 was developed for the detection of berberine hydrochloride (BRH). The photosensitive material Fe-doped MoSe2 (FeMoSe2) was prepared by a simple hydrothermal method. Compared with MoSe2, FeMoSe2 shows superior PEC performance for the sensitive detection of BRH under blue light. Under the best experimental conditions, the PEC sensor presented a wide detection range of 0.025–15.0 μM with a detection limit of 8.4 nM. Therefore, the PEC sensor is considered an effective analytical method for detecting BRH. Moreover, the PEC sensor has good reporducibility and stability. Eventually, the proposed sensor was successfully applied to detect two different types of BRH tablets. This project provides a new pathway for detecting BRH.
Statistical Treatment of Activity and Durability of Electrocatalysts with Distributed Binding Energies
Authors: Huang Jun
Published: May 2021

We present a statistical treatment of the catalytic activity and durability of nonhomogeneous electrocatalysts that possess distributed binding energies of reaction intermediates. The treatment is simple, generic, and amenable to analytical solutions. It is revealed that the highest overall catalytic activity is obtained with a suitable level of nonhomogeneity that is commensurate with the average property. The evolution of the binding energy distribution is described by the Fokker-Planck theory. Exponential decay of the catalytic activity is predicted theoretically and confirmed experimentally. The exponential decay shows one- or two stages, depending on the initial distribution properties. The present work represents a step toward closing the gap between ideal and practical electrocatalysts using statistical considerations.
No additive effect of acetaminophen when co-ingested with caffeine on cycling performance in well-trained young men
Authors: Jessen Søren , Eibye Kasper , Christensen Peter Møller , Hostrup Morten , Bangsbo Jens
Published: May 2021

Here, we show that acetaminophen does not provide additive performance improvement to caffeine during a 6-min cycling ergometer performance test, and that acetaminophen does not improve performance on its own. Neither substance affects peripheral fatigue, muscle glycolytic energy production, or phosphorylation of muscle proteins of importance for ion handling. In contrast to previous suggestions, increased epinephrine action on muscle cells does not appear to be a major contributor to the performance enhancement with caffeine.
Identification of Diagnostic CpG Signatures in Patients with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus via Epigenome‐Wide Association Study Integrated with Machine Learning
Authors: Liu Yan , Geng Hui , Duan Bide , Yang Xiuzhi , Ma Airong , Ding Xiaoyan
Published: May 2021

Background. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most prevalent metabolic disease during pregnancy, but the diagnosis is controversial and lagging partly due to the lack of useful biomarkers. CpG methylation is involved in the development of GDM. However, the specific CpG methylation sites serving as diagnostic biomarkers of GDM remain unclear. Here, we aimed to explore CpG signatures and establish the predicting model for the GDM diagnosis. Methods. DNA methylation data of GSE88929 and GSE102177 were obtained from the GEO database, followed by the epigenome‐wide association study (EWAS). GO and KEGG pathway analyses were performed by using the clusterProfiler package of R. The PPI network was constructed in the STRING database and Cytoscape software. The SVM model was established, in which the β‐values of selected CpG sites were the predictor variable and the occurrence of GDM was the outcome variable. Results. We identified 62 significant CpG methylation sites in the GDM samples compared with the control samples. GO and KEGG analyses based on the 62 CpG sites demonstrated that several essential cellular processes and signaling pathways were enriched in the system. A total of 12 hub genes related to the identified CpG sites were found in the PPI network. The SVM model based on the selected CpGs within the promoter region, including cg00922748, cg05216211, cg05376185, cg06617468, cg17097119, and cg22385669, was established, and the AUC values of the training set and testing set in the model were 0.8138 and 0.7576. The AUC value of the independent validation set of GSE102177 was 0.6667. Conclusion. We identified potential diagnostic CpG signatures by EWAS integrated with the SVM model. The SVM model based on the identified 6 CpG sites reliably predicted the GDM occurrence, contributing to the diagnosis of GDM. Our finding provides new insights into the cross‐application of EWAS and machine learning in GDM investigation.
Slotted Beam‐Column Energy Dissipating Connections: Applicability and Seismic Behavior
Authors: Zhao Xin , Qi Ai
Published: May 2021

Energy dissipating joint can effectively strengthen the connection of prefabricated buildings. In the present study, a new slotted mild steel damper was installed at the beam end of the prefabricated structure to form as the energy‐dissipating joint of the beam‐column. By using ABAQUS software, a finite element (FE) analysis was conducted for the single‐story‐and‐span of the single‐frame structure with a slotted damper as energy‐dissipating joint. The result shows that the damper was the first to yield in the structure and performed well in energy dissipation, indicating its reasonable design of structure and connection. The energy dissipation mainly occurred at the flange of the variable cross sections, between which beam‐ribbed webs ensured the required bearing capacity and stiffness and provided a reliable connection. The hysteretic curves were obtained by analyzing the mechanical properties of the slotted damper under pure bending and pure shearing. In the OpenSees platform, the Steel02 Material model and the twoNodeLink element were used to fit the hysteretic curves; this method was employed for the parametric simulation of the slotted energy dissipation. The dynamic characteristics and seismic response of the controlled structure with slotted energy dissipating joint were also analyzed and compared with those of the uncontrolled structure in the OpenSees platform. The results show that the period of the controlled structure was prolonged and the top story acceleration decreased, indicating its effect in reducing seismic response. The shear‐dependent seismic reduction ratio was about 35%, while the drift‐dependent seismic reduction ratio was about 10%. The seismic performance of bottom story was better than that of the top story, and the damper has good energy dissipation performance in the bending direction. Some detailed design criteria are put forward and consequences for design on the basis of the performed simulations are shown.
Study on the Tensile Strength and Crack Development of Granite Crystal Models with Different Fabrics
Authors: Du Guangsheng , Chen Shijiang , Li Zhihao
Published: May 2021

According to the relationship between the development of hydraulic fracture and the distribution of different rock and mineral fabrics, digital image technology was used in this study based on the discrete element particle flow method. An SCGM numerical model, which can control fabric and refine mesoscopic crystal defects, was constructed. The tensile strength test of granite specimens with different component contents and polymerization conditions was conducted, with the monitorization of damaged cracks. The test results showed that (1) the SCGM model could construct a model of a crystal structure containing variable components and polymerization, to achieve numerical experiments of different parameters; (2) compared with previous models, the SCGM model can reflect internal stress change of a specimen with the variation of the structure. At the same time, the contained crystal structure can characterize different failure modes such as intergranular cracks of different components, grain boundary cracks of the same component, and transgranular cracks, which were in good agreement with the actual failure state of granite; (3) the mica content of the specimen and its strength presented a linear relationship of

y
=
−
14.723
x
+
12.642

. The degree of polymerization of the components and the strength of the specimens were both affected by the accumulation of microcracks and stress concentration, which appeared to increase first and then decrease. When the specimen was broken, the number of microcracks and the degree of polymerization of the components also increased first and then decreased. The SCGM model can construct a numerical model of granite with arbitrary fabric and crystal structure and provide a hydraulic fracturing analysis method.
Influence of Water‐Cement Ratio and Type of Mixing Water on the Early Hydration Performance of Calcium Sulphoaluminate (CSA) Cement
Authors: Wang Chuanlin , Song Meimei
Published: May 2021

The present work studies the influence of water‐cement ratio and types of mixing water on the hydration process and microstructure of calcium sulphoaluminate (CSA) cement. Experimental tests on the setting time, physical properties, compressive strength, chemical shrinkage, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of CSA cement paste were carried out. The XRD analysis confirmed that the main hydration product is ettringite in both freshwater and seawater mixed CSA cement with different w/c ratios. The SEM analysis and physical properties test show that both low w/c ratio and seawater can improve the microstructure of CSA cement. The test results also find out that the high w/c ratio can accelerate the hydration process, extend the setting time, lower the compressive strength, and increase the chemical shrinkage of CSA cement, and the seawater presents a similar influence except for the mechanical property. The seawater increases the compressive strength of CSA cement in the early stage of hydration but will increase the microcracks at the later hydration stage of CSA cement and reduce its mechanical properties.
Development of High Accuracy Classifier for the Speaker Recognition System
Authors: Al-Hassani Raghad Tariq , Atilla Dogu Cagdas , Aydin Çağatay
Published: May 2021

Speech signal is enriched with plenty of features used for biometrical recognition and other applications like gender and emotional recognition. Channel conditions manifested by background noise and reverberation are the main challenges causing feature shifts in the test and training data. In this paper, a hybrid speaker identification model for consistent speech features and high recognition accuracy is made. Features using Mel frequency spectrum coefficients (MFCC) have been improved by incorporating a pitch frequency coefficient from speech time domain analysis. In order to enhance noise immunity, we proposed a single hidden layer feed-forward neural network (FFNN) tuned by an optimized particle swarm optimization (OPSO) algorithm. The proposed model is tested using 10-fold cross-validation over different levels of Adaptive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) (0-50 dB). A recognition accuracy of 97.83% was obtained from the proposed model in clean voice environments. However, a noisy channel is realized with lesser impact on the proposed model as compared with other baseline classifiers such as plain-FFNN, random forest (RF),K-nearest neighbour (KNN), and support vector machine (SVM).
Identification of Molecular Characteristics and New Prognostic Targets for Thymoma by Multiomics Analysis
Authors: Liu Dazhong , Zhang Pengfei , Zhao Jiaying , Yang Lei , Wang Wei
Published: May 2021

Background. Thymoma is a heterogeneous tumor originated from thymic epithelial cells. The molecular mechanism of thymoma remains unclear. Methods. The expression profile, methylation, and mutation data of thymoma were obtained from TCGA database. The coexpression network was constructed using the variance of gene expression through WGCNA. Enrichment analysis using clusterProfiler R package and overall survival (OS) analysis by Kaplan‐Meier method were carried out for the intersection of differential expression genes (DEGs) screened by limma R package and important module genes. PPI network was constructed based on STRING database for genes with significant impact on survival. The impact of key genes on the prognosis of thymoma was evaluated by ROC curve and Cox regression model. Finally, the immune cell infiltration, methylation modification, and gene mutation were calculated. Results. We obtained eleven coexpression modules, and three of them were higher positively correlated with thymoma. DEGs in these three modules mainly involved in MAPK cascade and PPAR pathway. LIPE, MYH6, ACTG2, KLF4, SULT4A1, and TF were identified as key genes through the PPI network. AUC values of LIPE were the highest. Cox regression analysis showed that low expression of LIPE was a prognostic risk factor for thymoma. In addition, there was a high correlation between LIPE and T cells. Importantly, the expression of LIPE was modified by methylation. Among all the mutated genes, GTF2I had the highest mutation frequency. Conclusion. These results suggested that the molecular mechanism of thymoma may be related to immune inflammation. LIPE may be the key genes affecting prognosis of thymoma. Our findings will help to elucidate the pathogenesis and therapeutic targets of thymoma.
[Retracted] A Risk Assessment Algorithm for College Student Entrepreneurship Based on Big Data Analysis
Authors: Zhou Chengjun , Wang DuanXu
Published: May 2021

College student entrepreneurship is a complex and dynamic process, in which the potential risks faced by entrepreneurial enterprises are interactive and diverse. The changes in risk assessment for college student entrepreneurship are also dynamic and nonlinear and are affected by many factors, which make the risk assessment process for college student entrepreneurship quite complicated. Big data analysis technology is a new product formed under the background of cloud computing and Internet technology, which has the characteristics of large data scale, multiple data types, and strong data value and provides more technical support for the researches on the risk assessment algorithm for college student entrepreneurship. On the basis of summarizing and analyzing previous research results, this article expounded the research status and significance of the risk assessment algorithm for college student entrepreneurship, elaborated the development background, current status, and future challenges of big data analysis technology, introduced the basic principles of support vector machine (SVM) and hierarchical analytic process, constructed a risk assessment model for college student entrepreneurship based on big data analysis, analyzed the risk factors and assessment indicators of the entrepreneurial model, proposed a risk assessment algorithm for college student entrepreneurship based on big data analysis, performed the discrimination coefficient calculation and comprehensive correlation optimization, and finally conducted a case experiment and its result analysis. The study results show that the risk assessment algorithm for college student entrepreneurship based on big data analysis can effectively realize the comprehensive management of risk factors, make full use of the value of assessment parameter data, and significantly improve the accuracy and efficiency of the risk assessment for college student entrepreneurship, providing more technical support for the researches on the risk assessment algorithm for college student entrepreneurship. The study results of this article provide a reference for further researches on the risk assessment algorithm of college student entrepreneurship based on big data analysis.
The Effect of a Persian Herbal Medicine Compound on the Lipid Profiles of Patients with Dyslipidemia: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Niknafs Alireza , Rezvanfar Mohammadreza , Kamalinejad Mohammad , Latifi Seyed Amirhosein , Almasi-Hashiani Amir , Salehi Mehdi
Published: May 2021

Introduction. It has been well established in the world that lipid disorders promote the development of atherosclerosis and its clinical consequences. This study aimed to assess the impacts of a Persian medicinal (PM) compound on lipid profile. Materials and Methods. From June 21 to October 21, 2020, a randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial was conducted with 74 dyslipidemic patients, who were randomly divided into two equally populated groups: one prescribed with a Persian medicinal herbal compound (n = 37) and a placebo group (n = 37). A Persian herbal medicine including fenugreek, sumac, and purslane is introduced. Biochemical parameters including 12-hour fasting serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and triglyceride (TG) were measured before the initiation and after the completion of study protocol. Results. Percent changes of biochemical parameters include the following: intervention group = cholesterol: 35.22, Tg: 45.91, LDL: 24.81, HDL: 2.05, VLDL: 8.94 and placebo group = cholesterol: 6.94, Tg: −7.3, LDL: 7.37, HDL: 2.88, VLDL: −0.14. The serum levels of total cholesterol (

p
=
0.01

) and LDL (

p
=
0.01

) significantly decreased and no increase was recorded in HDL (

p
=
0.03

) levels over time in the intervention group. Furthermore, between-group analysis showed a statistically significant difference between the intervention and placebo groups in this regard. VLDL (

p
=
0.2

) and TG (

p
=
0.2

) levels also decreased, however not significantly. Conclusion. This study showed that a Persian medicinal herbal compound could be safe and beneficial to decrease the levels of serum cholesterol and LDL in dyslipidemic patients. However, larger long-term studies are recommended to clarify this effect.