bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ribosome subunit attrition and activation of the p53–MDM4 axis dominate the response of MLL-rearranged cancer cells to WDR5 WIN site inhibition
Authors: Howard Gregory Caleb , Wang Jing , Rose Kristie L , Jones Camden , Patel Purvi , Tsui Tina , Florian Andrea C , Vlach Logan , Lorey Shelly L , Grieb Brian C , Smith Brianna N , Slota Macey J , Reynolds Elizabeth M , Goswami Soumita , Savona Michael R , Mason Frank M , Lee Taekyu , Fesik Stephen , Liu Qi , Tansey William P
Published: October 2023

The chromatin-associated protein WD Repeat Domain 5 (WDR5) is a promising target for cancer drug discovery, with most efforts blocking an arginine-binding cavity on the protein called the ‘WIN’ site that tethers WDR5 to chromatin. WIN site inhibitors (WINi) are active against multiple cancer cell types in vitro, the most notable of which are those derived from MLL-rearranged (MLLr) leukemias. Peptidomimetic WINi were originally proposed to inhibit MLLr cells via dysregulation of genes connected to hematopoietic stem cell expansion. Our discovery and interrogation of small-molecule WINi, however, revealed that they act in MLLr cell lines to suppress ribosome protein gene (RPG) transcription, induce nucleolar stress, and activate p53. Because there is no precedent for an anticancer strategy that specifically targets RPG expression, we took an integrated multi-omics approach to further interrogate the mechanism of action of WINi in human MLLr cancer cells. We show that WINi induce depletion of the stock of ribosomes, accompanied by a broad yet modest translational choke and changes in alternative mRNA splicing that inactivate the p53 antagonist MDM4. We also show that WINi are synergistic with agents including venetoclax and BET-bromodomain inhibitors. Together, these studies reinforce the concept that WINi are a novel type of ribosome-directed anticancer therapy and provide a resource to support their clinical implementation in MLLr leukemias and other malignancies.
Multi-objective test selection of smart contract and blockchain applications
Authors: Alkhazi Bader , Alipour Amin
Published: October 2023

The ability to create decentralized applications without the authority of a single entity has attracted numerous developers to build applications using blockchain technology. However, ensuring the correctness of such applications poses significant challenges, as it can result in financial losses or, even worse, a loss of user trust. Testing smart contracts introduces a unique set of challenges due to the additional restrictions and costs imposed by blockchain platforms during test case execution. Therefore, it remains uncertain whether testing techniques developed for traditional software can effectively be adapted to smart contracts. In this study, we propose a multi-objective test selection technique for smart contracts that aims to balance three objectives: time, coverage, and gas usage. We evaluated our approach using a comprehensive selection of real-world smart contracts and compared the results with various test selection methods employed in traditional software systems. Statistical analysis of our experiments, which utilized benchmark Solidity smart contract case studies, demonstrates that our approach significantly reduces the testing cost while still maintaining acceptable fault detection capabilities. This is in comparison to random search, mono-objective search, and the traditional re-testing method that does not employ heuristic search.
Arm link enhanced modular multilevel converter for low voltage and variable frequency applications
Authors:   , Aguilar Villaseca Rodrigo Ignacio
Published: October 2023

El Conversor Multinivel Modular (MMC) ha tomado mucho interés por parte de la investigación y la industria debido a todos sus beneficios. Su modularidad, escalabilidad, calidad de formas de onda y eficiencias han mostrado claras ventajas sobre otras topologías multinivel, y lo hacen ideal para aplicaciones de medio y alto voltaje. Sin embargo, no está exento de desafíos: su gran cantidad de capacitores requiere un control complejo para balancear la energía, además de necesitar un gran espacio debido a las altas capacitancias. Debido a esto, el MMC no es considerado para aplicaciones de bajo voltaje, donde además el gran número de semiconductores no justifican su costo. Este trabajo presenta un análisis más profundo y la validación de una nueva topología propuesta, llamada Arm Link Enhanced MMC (ALE-MMC). Esta extiende el MMC a aplicaciones de bajo voltaje y de frecuencia variable mediante el uso de Dual Active Bridges (DAB) para permitir el flujo de potencia entre submódulos (SM) de una misma pierna. Se presenta la nueva topología y se estudia su operación considerando la supresión de la corriente circulante, mostrando que no se necesita emplear medición de voltaje para funcionar adecuadamente y la capacitancia del SM puede ser reducida. A continuación, se estudian todos los problemas a considerar debido a la implementación del DAB entre SMs. Se hace énfasis en la corriente que debe manejar y en los efectos de la frecuencia variable en la topología, con y sin control de corriente circulante. Para validar el esquema propuesto y el análisis teórico desarrollado, se simula el ALE-MMC trifásico para probar el correcto funcionamiento, evaluando su comportamiento ante distintos escenarios y comparando con el esquema propuesto. Seguido, se emplea un prototipo experimental del ALE-MMC monofásico para validar su operación en la práctica, también ante distintos escenarios para poder confirmar en análisis hecho. Finalmente, se comentan los resultados además de proponer mejoras para futuros trabajos con el conversor.
Prediction model based on response surface methodology for the design of low-carbon cement pastes based on wheat straw ash and silica fume
Authors:   , Bastías Concha Bryan Rodrigo
Published: October 2023

La industria del cemento y el hormigón es responsable entre el 5% y 7% de las emisiones de CO2 antropogénicas mundiales, y se espera que sigan en aumento debido a la alta demanda de viviendas e infraestructuras. Por ello, una alternativa para mitigar las emisiones de CO2 es el uso de materiales cementicios suplementarios (SCM). Estos materiales se utilizan tanto en la producción de cemento, como in-situ, entre los más conocidos se encuentran cenizas volantes, humo de sílice, polvo de caliza, metacaolín, etc. Los subproductos agrícolas e industriales son viables como SCM con características físico-químicas que pueden beneficiar las propiedades del hormigón. Una limitación de los SCM es el hecho de que no todos están disponibles localmente por lo que es recomendable producir y utilizar los disponibles en cada lugar. Por otro lado, en Chile para el periodo 2022/2023 se estima aproximadamente 1.805.683 toneladas métricas de rastrojos de paja de trigo que puede reutilizarse y transformarse en ceniza de paja de trigo (WSA), un potencial SCM, el que según cada región que se encuentre varían sus propiedades. Sin embargo, estudios muestran que su incorporación en la matriz cementante no permite alcanzar el rendimiento mecánico de una pasta de cemento convencional. Para mitigar los efectos adversos que produce la incorporación de WSA a la matríz cementante, es que la incorporación de Silica Fume (subproducto industrial) puede compensar las pérdidas de resistencia, principalmente por su eficiencia puzolanica. En la presente investigación desarrollada con pastas cementantes híbridas, se analizó el comportamiento de la inclusión conjunta de WSA y SF con pruebas físicas, químicas y mecánicas para evaluar su desempeño, los rangos de reemplazo son de hasta un 20% y 10% respectivamente en peso. Los resultados muestran que para cualquier sustitución de cenizas de paja de trigo entre 0 y 20% en combinación con SF por encima de 5%, se reducen las pérdidas de resistencia a la compresión desde los 28 días de curado.
Structural Optimization of Nervi-type shells, through the gradient method
Authors:   , Vergara Henríquez Fernanda Paz
Published: October 2023

En este trabajo se presenta una técnica basada en datos mecánicos para trazar y diseñar nervios de refuerzo de forma (casi) optima en una estructura laminar. La disposición sigue las líneas principales de tensión del continuo de la cáscara estructural, las que se obtienen a partir de un análisis de elementos finitos. Estas líneas no tienen por qué coincidir con los nodos (o vértices) de la discretización de elementos finitos, lo que constituye una novedad crucial de este trabajo. La contribución a la rigidez de estos elementos de refuerzo (discreto) se reparte (o distribuye) entre los nodos del continuo utilizando un enfoque de conservación de la energía. Por último, las secciones transversales de los elementos de refuerzo se optimizan mediante un optimizador basado en gradientes. Las capacidades, dificultades y restricciones del método propuesto se presentan utilizando tres ejemplos con un único caso de carga estática cada uno. Estos ejemplos sugieren que el método propuesto supera sistemáticamente las disposiciones estructuradas y ortogonales de los elementos de refuerzo.
Disseminated Tuberculosis Presenting Primarily as Amenorrhoea- A Case Report
Authors: Mayekar Mrinmayee Vijay , Wagh Pankaj , Ghewade Babaji , Jadhav Ulhas
Published: October 2023

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (MTB) primarily infects the lungs and spreads throughout the body after the initial infection. This dissemination occurs through the reactivation of a dormant focus, which is preceded by lymphohaematogenous spread. It can also spread through the bloodstream from active lung or miliary tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is the leading cause of amenorrhoea in young females in developing countries like India. Although disseminated tuberculosis with osteoarticular involvement is a rare occurrence, a 20-year-old female presented to Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital (AVBRH) with primary complaints of amenorrhoea and swelling in the right knee joint, which were the primary symptoms of disseminated tuberculosis. The present case is exceptional because it lacks the typical pulmonary symptoms. The predominance of gynaecological symptoms over pulmonary involvement may have led to an incorrect diagnosis of malignancy instead of tuberculosis. Additionally, the suspicion of tuberculosis was delayed due to elevated ovarian tumour markers.
Fibrolipomatous Hamartoma of the Median Nerve: A Case Report
Authors: Patil Chandrasekhar , Tirumalgari Srilakshmi , Kumar KS Prashanth , Reddy N Manender
Published: October 2023

Fibrolipomatous hamartoma, also known as fibrofatty overgrowth or perineural lipoma, or neural fibrolipoma, is a rare, benign, congenital lesion that occurs due to an abnormal overgrowth of mature fat and fibroblasts within the perineurium. This leads to the expansion of the nerve and separation of fascicles. It is more commonly observed in the median nerve at the wrist or hand level. Here, the authors presented the case of a 32-year-old female patient, who complained of swelling in the left wrist region for the past two years. The swelling gradually increased in size over one year and caused pain and paresthesia. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the left wrist revealed fibrolipomatous hamartoma of the median nerve. Surgical management was advised, but the patient declined and opted for conservative treatment for two months. Knowledge of this rare condition helps radiologists make an accurate diagnosis and may eliminate the need for invasive biopsy.
Pancreatic Malignancy Masquerading as a Splenic Lesion: A Case Report
Authors: Sreejith PS , Janakiraman Saravanan , Selvaraj T , Jeswanth S , Subramanian KA Siva
Published: October 2023

Splenic metastases are rarely encountered in routine clinical practice, and they may be due to various reasons, such as anatomical or immunological factors. Splenic metastasis is usually seen in the setting of disseminated disease. It is rare for pancreatic malignancy to present as a predominant splenic mass. Hereby, the authors present a case of 65-year-old female who presented with a painful lump in the left hypochondrium, along with loss of appetite and weight loss over the past two months. Preoperative Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans diagnosed patient with a primary splenic tumour. She underwent enbloc resection of the spleen and adherent pancreatic tail, along with station 9d and 10 lymph nodes. Histopathological Examination (HPE) with Immunohistochemistry (IHC) revealed a small subcentimeter primary lesion in the pancreatic tail region with splenic extension and multiple metastases, including areas of central necrosis. Patient was then put on gemcitabine-based chemotherapy. Preoperative imaging modalities such as CT and MRI scans, as well as tumour markers, also failed to reveal the pancreatic lesion. The present case highlights a rare clinical scenario of a hidden pancreatic lesion with large and multiple splenic metastases. Splenic lesions can create diagnostic confusion between benign and malignant lesions on imaging, and it can be challenging to differentiate between primary or secondary lesions. When there is suspicion of splenic metastasis, particularly isolated secondaries, the pancreas should also be considered in the differentials, especially when no other primary is identified on routine imaging.
Foetal Kidney Length as a Criterion for Gestational Age Estimation
Authors: Patel Dharmesh , Chaudhari Kamlesh , Patel Nainita , Gupta Aishwarya , Garapati Jyotsna
Published: October 2023

Gestational Age (GA) is important because it helps guide prenatal care. The foetus plays a pivotal role in assessing its progress and establishing the anticipated delivery date. As GA increases, standard biometric markers like biparietal diameter, head circumference, and foetal length become less accurate, making accurate determination of Foetal Gestational Age (FGA) a significant barrier for patient care. The accuracy of Foetal Kidney Length (FKL) in predicting FGA in the third trimester has been established in several populations. The growth of foetal kidneys is linear with GA, and they are easily identifiable around 18 weeks, following the mid-trimester. The present paper discusses various related research, including the relationship between GA and the length of the foetal kidney.
Exploring the Word of Thin-Layer Chromatography: A Review
Authors: Hameed Khalid , Khan Muhammad Shoaib , Fatima Ayesha , Shah Syed Mudassir , Abdullah Muhammad Ali
Published: October 2023

A common analytical method in chemistry for separating and identifying mixture ingredients is called thin-layer chromatography (TLC).  A thin coating of stationary phase, often silica gel or alumina, is put into a sample, which is then placed on a flat substrate like a glass plate. The sample is then exposed to a mobile phase, often a solvent, that follows capillary action through the stationary phase. Thin-layer chromatography may be used to determine the chemicals that are present in a particular sample and track the development of a reaction. Additionally, similar substances in a mixture may be separated using TLC. Thin-layer chromatography is the favoured technique in many standard procedures in environmental chemistry, industrial chemistry, dye purity, plant material, and herbal analysis. Without having to read the whole report, it aids readers in rapidly grasping the size and importance of the study.
Impact of Adoption of Improved Tasar Silkworm Rearing Technologies on Cocoons Production of Tasar Silkworm Anthereae mylitta D in Maharashtra
Authors: Gedam Pravin C. , Bawaskar Datta M. , Selvakumar T.
Published: October 2023

Tasar culture is being practiced in Maharashtra since last 200 years by the tribal folks of four eastern districts of the state. However, the productivity of tasar cocoons in the state is hovering around average of 2000-4000 cocoons/100 Dfls (Disease Free layings) throughout the year against the norm of 6000 cocoons which might be due to the non-adoption or low adoption of improved tasar rearing technologies by the tasar silkworm rearers. Thus, present study was conducted to investigate the impact of adoption of improved tasar silkworm rearing technologies as a strategy for improving tasar cocoon production in the state. For the study, an “Ex Post Facto” research designed was used and 50 adopted seed cocoon rearers and 50 non-adopted seed cocoon rearers were selected through random sampling method. The results of the study showed that, during the Ist Crop of Daba TV rearing, the average cocoon yield of the farmers who have adopted the tasar silkworm rearing technologies ranged from 2907 to 3612 cocoons per 100 dfls while in case of non-adopter it ranged from 2316 to 2616 cocoons per 100 dfls. The overall improvement in cocoon yield in the technology adopted lots over that of control lot was ranged from 26.58 to 32.08 per cent. Similarly, during IInd crop rearing of Daba TV, the cocoon yield of the farmers who adopted the technology ranged from 3126 to 4123 cocoons per 100 dfls while in the control, it ranged from 2639 to 3493 cocoons per 100 dfls with the overall improvement ranged from 11.80 to 20.29 per cent.  Moreover, during IIIrd crop rearing of Daba TV, the cocoon yield of the farmers who adopted the technology ranged from 5322 to 6487 cocoons per 100 dfls compared to non- adopted of technologies which ranged from 4006 to 5213 per 100 dfls. The paired t test showed that there was a significant improvement in cocoon yield due to the adoption of the improved tasar silkworm rearing technology by the adopted seed cocoon rearers in all three crops of Daba TV eco-race. Also, a significant improvement was noticed in the cocoon and shell weight in all the three crops of Daba TV. The study suggests that the effective technology transfer strategies should be developed and implemented in the state coupled with the suitable training programs so as to convince farmers about the benefits of adoption improved tasar silkworm rearing technologies.
Social Challenges Facing Ex-Prisoners During their Integration into Societies in Iringa Municipality, Tanzania
Authors: Benard Anitha K. , Msomba Given , Pesha John
Published: October 2023

This study examined the social challenges encountered by ex-prisoners during their reintegration into society a case of Iringa Municipality. Questionnaires and key-informant interviews were used to collect quantitative data and qualitative respectively. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze qualitative data, while Statistical Product for Social Solutions (SPSS Version 20) was used to analyze quantitative data. The study's findings underscored social challenges faced by ex-prisoners as they sought to reintegrate into their society that include discrimination by family members and society, difficulties in securing housing, and limited access to essential healthcare services. Based on these findings, the study recommendations include educational initiatives aimed at reducing discrimination against ex-prisoners by raising awareness about their rehabilitation and potential contributions to society.
Correlation and Path Analysis for Seed Yield and Its Component Traits in Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern and Coss.)
Authors: Dwivedi Swapnil , Singh Mahak , Yadav R. K. , Saini Pawan Kumar , Tripathi Harshit
Published: October 2023

A study for 17 agronomic traits was conducted to evaluate correlation and path analysis in Brassica juncea L. Czern and Coss. Ten lines with diverse genetic makeup and their crosses which were performed in half diallel fashion were grown in Randomized Block Design in three replications during rabi season (2021-22). At phenotypic and genotypic level, seed yield per plant exhibited significant positive correlation and positive direct effect on seed yield via plant height, total siliqua per plant and biological yield per plant in both F1 and F2 generations, while number of primary branches, seeds per siliqua and oil content showed negative direct correlation with seeds yield per plant at genotypic and phenotypic level in both F1 and F2 generations. The results of the study concluded that plant height, total siliqua per plant and biological yield per plant exerted high correlation and direct effect on seed yield per plant generations. Hence, these characters might be considered for selection and in improvement of seed yield of mustard genotypes.
Synthetic PGR's Modify Phenology, Stress Tolerance and Mean Productivity in Wilt and Cold Stressed Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)
Authors: Thakur Satyendra , Tiwari Gyanendra , Kumawat Rohit Kumar , Kumhare Alpana , Singh Sonali , Singh Richa
Published: October 2023

At the Experimental Field of Herbal Garden Department of Plant Physiology JNKVV Jabalpur, the experiments were conducted in the academic years 2020–20221 and 2021–2022.  In a pot experiment, a comparison of the effects of four synthetic PGRs—Abscisic Acid (ABA), Naphthyl Acetic Acid (NAA), Salicylic Acid (SA), and Fusaric Acid (FA)—against four varieties of chickpeas that had been intentionally inoculated with the wilt pathogen Fusarium oxysporum and exposed to low temperatures. This study sought to determine the phenophasic response to reduce stress tolerance in order to achieve the highest possible mean production. The findings demonstrated that applying ABA to plants at concentrations of 5 and 2 ppm was successful in extending the vegetative development period by delaying flowering, allowing flowering to avoid the detrimental impacts of wilt and cold and so promoting stress tolerance. This resulted in reduced percentage of wilt and cold incidence as compared to all other treatments, leading to higher mean productivity. However, Fusaric acid (FA), a fungal toxin responsible for early in flowering that allowed flower to coincide with wilt and cold occurrence timing. Flowering is also very sensitive to cold stress therefor occurrence of wilt at seedling and cold at flowering accelerated the incidence of wilt and cold, which resulted in lower mean productivity after applying Fusaric acid (FA) @ 10 and 20 ppm.
Morphometric Study of Greater Wax Moth (Galleria mellonella L.) under Laboratory Condition
Authors: Mahapatra Simran , Paikaray Subhashree Subhasmita , Pal Samit , Panigrahi Chandan Kumar , Parida Nishismita , Mohapatra Amrit , Satapathy Satya Narayan , Singh Swoyam
Published: October 2023

The present study was carried out in PG Laboratory, Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha on morphometry of greater wax moth (G. mellonella L.). Under laboratory condition, we observed the incubation period of greater wax moth was 8.55±0.42 days. The seven successive larval instars lasted for the following number of days i.e.,4.64±0.36, 5.04±0.51, 6.05±0.62, 7.07±0.41, 8.15±0.  59, 8.41±0.52 and 9.12±0.47 days. Prepupa and pupa lasted, 1.69±0.52 and 8.63±0.38 days,respectively. Adult males lived for 16.79±1.48 days on average, compared to 6.92±0.49 days for females. Females had pre-ovipositional, ovipositional and post-ovipositional durations of 1.13±0.33, 3.78±0.43 and 1.19±0.28 days, respectively. On average females lay 784.01±42.77eggs per female and 167.91±43.64 eggs per female on each day.
A Short Overview of Cervical Spondylosis, Including its Diagnosis and Current Treatment Strategies
Authors: Srivastav Yash , Prajapati Akhandnath , Kumar Madhaw , Verma Alka , Manjari
Published: October 2023

The intervertebral discs, which normally break, lose water content, and collapse with ageing, are the cause of cervical spondylosis. Overall, 99.7% of people responded, with 99.6% of males and 99.8% of women doing so. 1820 men (47.27%) and 2029 women (52.73%) outnumbered each other equally among the participants. The typical age was 45, 85, 16, and 19 years old. The medical management of cervical spondylosis includes neck immobilization, drug therapy, dietary modifications, and physical therapies such as traction, manipulation, exercises, and heat therapy. Since there haven't been any comprehensive studies comparing different modalities, these treatments are typically initiated based on the clinician's preferences or areas of competence. Comparing the effectiveness of various therapy techniques against that of no treatment at all is difficult and riddled with ethical problems. The most frequent symptoms are cervical pain, radiculopathy, or myelopathy. Cervical pain is predominantly transmitted by the posterior ramus branch and sinuvertebral nerve. Radiculopathy is brought on by nerve root compression. These comprise the sensory, motor, and autonomic systems. This review article discusses the pathophysiology, aetiology, treatment, diagnosis, and risk factors for cervical spondylosis.
Review on the Role of Rubber on the Performance of Concrete
Authors: Su Kai
Published: October 2023

Due to the rapid development of the vehicle manufacturing industry, the hazards caused by scrap tire rubber have become one of the serious problems faced by people today. Rubber concrete is made of waste rubber into different particle sizes to replace the fine aggregate in ordinary concrete formed by a new type of composite material, for the disposal of waste tires and rubber opened up a new way, so that waste rubber can be reused. Rubber concrete compared to ordinary concrete has Light weight, good elasticity, high toughness, ductility, impact resistance, good damping, good frost resistance, but its strength is reduced. From the perspective of mechanical properties, durability and modification treatment, the article introduces the research progress of its compressive strength, frost resistance, carbonation resistance, modification treatment, etc., which provides a method for rubber concrete to be used in a wider range of practical projects.
Improvement of water quality with probiotics inclusion during simulated transport of Yellowfin Seabream Acanthopagrus latus larvae
Authors: Gamoori Reza , Rashidian Ghasem , Ahangarzadeh Mina , Najafabadi Mojtaba , Dashtebozorg Mehdi , Mohammadi Yaghoob , Morshedi Vahid
Published: October 2023

Objective

The expansion of marine aquaculture requires the shipment of early life stages from hatcheries to breeding centers. Thus, maintaining water quality parameters during transportation is crucial. This experiment investigated the effects of a commercial probiotic mixture (PM) (consisting of Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis, Pediococcus acidilactici, and Lactobacillus acidophilus with a total count of 107 CFU/g) on water quality, bacterial population, and the survival of larvae of Yellowfin Seabream Acanthopagrus latus during a 24-h simulated transportation experiment.

Methods

To simulate transportation, purified seawater was used as a control and purified seawater supplemented with 3 g of PM was used as the PM48 treatment. For the PM48 treatment, 3 g of PM was added to 1 L of purified seawater and mixed with 200 L of purified seawater 48 h prior to the main experiment.

Result

The use of probiotics resulted in an increase in larval survival up to 93.3% compared with 89.85% in the control group. Initial sampling showed a statistically significant difference in NO2− levels between the control and PM48 treatments. After transportation, the pH of the control treatment showed a significant decrease. The total number of bacteria and the total number of Vibrio spp. in water and fish larvae showed that within 48 h, the probiotics became the dominant population in the PM48 treatment. After 24 h, water samples and larvae from the control treatment showed a significant increase in bacterial load.

Conclusion

The results showed that probiotics can play a significant role in maintaining biotic and abiotic water quality parameters, leading to a better survival rate of larvae during transportation. These findings represent an important step in improving long-distance transport protocols.
Effects of a Resilience‐Building Energy Management Program on Fatigue and Other Symptoms in Systemic Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Murphy Susan L. , Chen Yen T. , Alore Mary , Hicks Sheri , Pape Adam , Hassett Afton L. , Kratz Anna L. , Whibley Daniel , Harper Alexandra E. , Huang Suiyuan , Jay Gina , Bolde Shannen , Khanna Dinesh
Published: October 2023

Objective

Supported self‐management interventions for individuals with systemic sclerosis (SSc) are needed. We examined the effects of a 12‐week resilience‐building energy management program (called RENEW) for fatigue and other patient‐reported outcomes.

Methods

Participants, who had physician‐diagnosed SSc, moderate to severe fatigue, and were ≥18 years old, were randomly assigned to RENEW or waitlist control in a 2:1 ratio. The RENEW intervention included an educational website/application plus nine virtual peer‐led health coaching sessions. The primary outcome was change in the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy‐Fatigue scale. Secondary outcomes were change in Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System measures of pain interference and depressive symptoms and Connor‐Davidson Resilience Scale. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Multiple imputation was conducted; linear mixed models were used to assess group differences. A three‐way interaction with group, time, and SSc duration was examined in each model.

Results

Among 173 participants (mean ± SD age 54.5 ± 11.7 years; 93% female, 85% White), 47% had diffuse cutaneous SSc; 57% were ≤5 years from diagnosis. At 12 weeks, compared to controls, RENEW participants had a clinically meaningful fatigue improvement (β = −4.7; 95% confidence interval −6.7 to −2.7; P < 0.001) and improvement in all secondary outcomes. Among RENEW participants, individuals with shorter disease duration had greater improvements in fatigue at 12 weeks.

Conclusion

An mHealth supported self‐management intervention improved fatigue and other outcomes, particularly in newly diagnosed patients. This program may be broadly scalable for SSc symptom management.

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Automatic reinforcement for robust model‐free neurocontrol of robots without persistent excitation
Authors: Pantoja‐Garcia Luis , Parra‐Vega Vicente , Garcia‐Rodriguez Rodolfo
Published: October 2023

Model‐based adaptive control suffers over parametrization from the many adaptive parameters compared to the order of system dynamics, leading to sluggish tracking with a poor adaptation transient without robustness. Likewise, adaptive model‐free neurocontrol that relies on the Stone–Weierstrass theorem also suffers from similar problems in addition to over‐fitting to approximate inverse dynamics. This article proposes a novel reinforced adaptive mechanism to guarantee a transient and robustness for the model‐free adaptive control of nonlinear Lagrangian systems. Inspired by the symbiosis of Actor‐Critic (AC) architecture and integral sliding modes, the reinforced stage neural network, analogous to the critic, injects excitation signals to reinforce the parametric learning of the adaptive stage neural network, analogous to the actor to improve the approximation of inverse dynamics. The underlying integral sliding surface error drives improved learning onto a low‐dimensional invariant manifold to guarantee local exponential convergence of tracking errors. Lyapunov stability substantiates the robustness with an improved transient response. Our proposal stands for a hybrid approach between AC and neurocontrol, where the reinforced stage does not require a value function nor reward to provide automatic reinforcement to the adaptive stage parametric adaptation. Dynamic simulations are presented for a nonlinear robot manipulator under different conditions.
Comparison of Engineered Liver 3D Models and the Role of Oxygenation for Patient‐Derived Tumor Cells and Immortalized Cell Lines Cocultured with Tumor Stroma in the Detection of Hepatotoxins
Authors: Mansouri Mona , Lamichhane Astha , Das Dola , Aucejo Federico , Tavana Hossein , Leipzig Nic D.
Published: October 2023

In metabolically active tumors, responses of cells to drugs are heavily influenced by oxygen availability via the surrounding vasculature alongside the extracellular matrix signaling. The objective of this study is to investigate hepatotoxicity by replicating critical features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This includes replicating 3D structures, metabolic activities, and tumor‐specific markers. The internal environment of spheroids comprised of cancerous human patient‐derived hepatocytes using microparticles is modulated to enhance the oxygenation state and recreate cell‐extracellular matrix interactions. Furthermore, the role of hepatic stellate cells in maintaining hepatocyte survival and function is explored and hepatocytes from two cellular sources (immortalized and patient‐derived) to create four formulations with and without microparticles are utilized. To investigate drug‐induced changes in metabolism and apoptosis in liver cells, coculture spheroids with and without microparticles are exposed to three hepatotoxic drugs. The use of microparticles increases levels of apoptotic markers in both liver models under drug treatments. This coincides with reduced levels of anti‐apoptotic proteins and increased levels of pro‐apoptotic proteins. Moreover, cells from different origins undergo apoptosis through distinct apoptotic pathways in response to identical drugs. This 3D microphysiological system offers a viable tool for liver cancer research to investigate mechanisms of apoptosis under different microenvironmental conditions.
Exploring the Structural, Dynamic, and Functional Properties of Metal‐Organic Frameworks through Molecular Modeling
Authors: Formalik Filip , Shi Kaihang , Joodaki Faramarz , Wang Xijun , Snurr Randall Q.
Published: October 2023

This review spotlights the role of atomic‐level modeling in research on metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs), especially the key methodologies of density functional theory (DFT), Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The discussion focuses on how periodic and cluster‐based DFT calculations can provide novel insights into MOF properties, with a focus on predicting structural transformations, understanding thermodynamic properties and catalysis, and providing information or properties that are fed into classical simulations such as force field parameters or partial charges. Classical simulation methods, highlighting force field selection, databases of MOFs for high‐throughput screening, and the synergistic nature of MC and MD simulations, are described. By predicting equilibrium thermodynamic and dynamic properties, these methods offer a wide perspective on MOF behavior and mechanisms. Additionally, the incorporation of machine learning (ML) techniques into quantum and classical simulations is discussed. These methods can enhance accuracy, expedite simulation setup, reduce computational costs, as well as predict key parameters, optimize geometries, and estimate MOF stability. By charting the growth and promise of computational research in the MOF field, the aim is to provide insights and recommendations to facilitate the incorporation of computational modeling more broadly into MOF research.
Control of Mechanical and Fracture Properties in Two‐Phase Materials Reinforced by Continuous, Irregular Networks
Authors: Magrini Tommaso , Fox Chelsea , Wihardja Adeline , Kolli Athena , Daraio Chiara
Published: October 2023

Composites with high strength and high fracture resistance are desirable for structural and protective applications. Most composites, however, suffer from poor damage tolerance and are prone to unpredictable fractures. Understanding the behavior of materials with an irregular reinforcement phase offers fundamental guidelines for tailoring their performance. Here, the fracture nucleation and propagation in two phase composites, as a function of the topology of their irregular microstructures is studied. A stochastic algorithm is used to design the polymeric reinforcing network, achieving independent control of topology and geometry of the microstructure. By tuning the local connectivity of isodense tiles and their assembly into larger structures, the mechanical and fracture properties of the architected composites are tailored at the local and global scale. Finally, combining different reinforcing networks into a spatially determined meso‐scale assembly, it is demonstrated how the spatial propagation of fracture in architected composite materials can be designed and controlled a priori.
Rejuvenating Aged Bone Repair through Multihierarchy Reactive Oxygen Species‐Regulated Hydrogel
Authors: He Zirui , Sun Chuanhao , Ma Yifan , Chen Xi , Wang Ying , Chen Kai , Xie Fangru , Zhang Yan , Yuan Yuan , Liu Changsheng
Published: October 2023

Aging exacerbates the dysfunction of tissue regeneration at multiple levels and gradually diminishes individual's capacity to withstand stress, damage, and disease. The excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is considered a hallmark feature of senescent stem cells, which causes oxidative stress, deteriorates the host microenvironment, and eventually becomes a critical obstacle for aged bone defect repair. Till now, the strategies cannot synchronously and thoroughly regulate intracellular and extracellular ROS in senescent cells. Herein, a multihierarchy ROS scavenging system for aged bone regeneration is developed by fabricating an injectable PEGylated poly(glycerol sebacate) (PEGS‐NH2)/poly(γ‐glutamic acid) (γ‐PGA) hydrogel containing rapamycin‐loaded poly(diselenide‐carbonate) nanomicelles (PSeR). This PSeR hydrogel exhibits highly sensitive ROS responsiveness to the local aged microenvironment and dynamically releases drug‐loaded nanomicelles to scavenge the intracellular ROS accumulated in senescent bone mesenchymal stem cells. The PSeR hydrogel effectively tunes the antioxidant function and delays senescence of bone mesenchymal stem cells by safeguarding DNA replication in an oxidative environment, thereby promoting the self‐renewal ability and enhancing the osteogenic capacity for aged bone repair in vitro and in vivo. Thus, this multihierarchy ROS‐regulated hydrogel provides a new strategy for treating degenerative diseases.
Spatially Selective Solvation Structure by Electronegative Micro‐Arrays for Stable Lithium‐Metal Anode Interface
Authors: Shen Haorui , Yu Tong , Tang Pei , Yang Huicong , Tan Jun , Bai Shuo , Li Feng
Published: October 2023

For electrolytes with conventional lithium salt concentration, it is not easy to generate sufficient anion‐derived beneficial inorganic components to stabilize the electrolyte‐lithium metal anode interface due to the repulsion of the free‐state anions by the anode. In this study, the above issues are solved through the strong interaction between electronegative materials and lithium ions (Li+). A locally high Li+ concentration strategy is proposed by preparing micro‐arrays of electronegative nano‐hydroxyapatite (nHA) on the Cu foil. It is found that the oxygen atoms in the phosphate group (‐PO4) of the nHA can strongly adsorb Li+ to form a locally Li+‐rich region, which increases the probability of anions interacting with Li+. The formation of more Li+‐coordinated anions at the electrolyte‐anode interface can reduce the Li+ de‐solvation energy barrier, and enable the anions to completely decompose into lithium fluoride (LiF) and lithium nitride (Li3N) on the Li metal anode. The interfacial transfer dynamics is accelerated and the Li dendrites are effectively suppressed. Under high current density, the anode exhibits a long lifespan with high Coulombic efficiency and small polarization voltage. The nHA micro‐arrays achieve the targeted solvation structure at the electrolyte‐anode interface while ensuring conventional lithium salt concentration in the bulk electrolyte.
Strain‐Induced Electronic Structure Modulation on MnO2 Nanosheet by Ir Incorporation for Efficient Water Oxidation in Acid
Authors: Zhao Wenli , Xu Fenghua , Liu Luqiong , Liu Min , Weng Baicheng
Published: October 2023

Oxygen electrochemistry plays a key role in renewable energy technologies, such as fuel cells and electrolyzers, but its slow kinetics limits the performance and the commercialization of such devices. Here, a strained MnO2 nanosheet induced by Ir incorporation is developed with optimized electronic structure by a simple hydrothermal method. With the incorporation of Ir, the strain induces elongated Mn─O bond length, and thereby tuning the electronic structure to favor the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance. The obtained catalyst exhibits an excellent mass activity of 5681 A g−1 at an overpotential of 300 mV in 0.5 m H2SO4, and reaches 50 and 100 mA cm−2 at overpotentials of only 240 and 277 mV, respectively. The catalyst is also stable even at 300 mA cm−2 in 0.5 m H2SO4. Using the nanosheet as the OER catalyst and the Pt/C as the hydrogen evolution reaction catalyst, a two‐electrode electrolyzer achieves 10 mA cm−2 with only a cell voltage of 1.453 V for overall water splitting in 0.5 m H2SO4. This strategy enables the material with high feasibility for practical applications on hydrogen production.
Helmholtz Coil‐Inspired Volumetric Wireless Resonator for Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Zhu Xia , Wu Ke , Anderson Stephan W. , Zhang Xin
Published: October 2023

Signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) is one of the most common metrics in assessing the image quality of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Among a host of technological developments, various wireless devices, including metamaterials and volumetric wireless resonators have been reported to enhance SNR by redistributing the radio frequency magnetic field in the near field region. While theoretically feasible, their widespread clinical adoption has been limited by their field inhomogeneity, limited spatial coverage and challenges in their applications to higher field (≥3.0T) MRI systems. In this study, a Helmholtz coil‐inspired volumetric wireless resonator (HVWR) featuring a uniform magnetic field enhancement within the resonator volume is reported. The HVWR is free from cables, adapters and interface boxes, allowing for ease of fabrication and straightforward installation. The resonator allows for resonance frequency tunability and adaptivity, enabling for passive detuning during the MRI transmission phase. Experimental validation using a 3.0T MRI system demonstrate a substantial SNR boost (5× or higher) being achieved in a region covering the average size of the human knee. This study offers an efficient and practical wireless solution for improved MRI image quality that may be applicable across a range of imaging applications.
Ultrathin, Large‐Area, and Multifunctional Polarizer Based on Highly Ordered Carbon Nanotubes Produced by Simple Shear Flow
Authors: Jung Se Eun , Kim Seo Gyun , Kim Tae Hyung , Kim Junghwan , Kim MinSu , Lee Dongju , Lee DaYeon , Ku Bon‐Cheol , Lee Seung Hee
Published: October 2023

Aligning carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with high orientational ordering in a 2D array is essential for realizing optical polarizers with high polarization efficiency over a wide spectral range. Two methods are reported: dispersing CNTs in a polymer matrix followed by stretching, and mechanical stretching of a vertically grown CNT forest and then transferring it onto a substrate. However, neither can realize nanometer‐thin or large polarizers. Herein, a novel approach is demonstrated to construct a large and thin (150 nm) conductive CNT polarizer by achieving liquid crystal (LC) phase of size‐controlled CNTs in chlorosulfonic acid, unidirectional shearing, and then drying. The polarizer exhibits an excellent polarization efficiency of 98.4% for ultraviolet (365 nm) and 96.0% for visible light (550 nm). This performance is maintained even at 400 °C, while the conventional iodine‐type polarizer starts to lose efficiency over 100 °C. The CNT polarizer with high polarization efficiency for UV can replace the costly nano‐patterned wire‐grid polarizers currently used for photoaligning LCs and also its multifunction playing role of polarizer, electrode, and LC alignment is confirmed with switching of LC device. This study provides a new paradigm for realizing ultrathin and large CNT polarizers for broadband applications with outstanding heat resistance.
High‐Performance Broadband Flexible Photodetectors Based on Ti3C2Tx MXene/Pyramidal Thin Si Heterostructures with Light Trapping Effect for Heart Rate Detection
Authors: Xie Chao , Wang Yi , Xia Zhaosheng , Cheng Yu , Cui Xisheng , Xu Shijie , Ren Xingang , Yang Wenhua , Huang Zhixiang
Published: October 2023

High‐performance flexible photodetectors are urgently demanded for application in many emerging domains including flexible, wearable, portable, and stretchable optoelectronics. In this work, a highly efficient flexible photodetector made of a Ti3C2Tx MXene/pyramidal thin Si heterostructure is successfully fabricated. Thanks to the remarkable light trapping effect as confirmed by numerical modeling based on finite‐element method, the as‐constructed detector demonstrates excellent photoresponse performance in a broadband wavelength spectrum. The optimal responsivity, specific detectivity, and response speed reach ≈530 mA W−1, ≈1.21 × 1012 Jones and 30/14 µs, respectively, at zero bias under near‐infrared light illumination. Specifically, the responsivity is greatly enhanced by ≈2.65 times, as compared with a planar counterpart. In addition, the light detector can maintain its outstanding photoresponse properties upon 1000 cycles of bending test or at diverse bending radii of curvature, owing to its prominent mechanical flexibility and robust bending endurance. Finally, the capability of monitoring the heart rate of a person in a wideband wavelength spectrum and at various bending radii of curvature is presented. The above results imply the huge potential of the flexible light detector for use in some applications such as wearable health monitoring.
A 3D Printing‐Enabled Artificially Innervated Smart Soft Gripper with Variable Joint Stiffness
Authors: Goh Guo Liang , Goh Guo Dong , Nguyen Van Pho , Toh William , Lee Samuel , Li Xin , Sunil Bohra Dhyan , Lim Jian Yee , Li Zhengchen , Sinha Anoop Kumar , Yeong Wai Yee , Campolo Domenico , Chow Wai Tuck , Ng Teng Yong , Han Boon Siew
Published: October 2023

The manufacturing industry has witnessed advancements in soft robotics, specifically in robotic grippers for handling fragile or irregular objects. However, challenges remain in balancing shape compliance, structural rigidity, weight, and sensor integration. To address these limitations, a 3D‐printed multimaterial gripper design is proposed. This approach utilizes a single, nearly fully automated 3D printing process to create a universal gripper with almost no assembly work. By processing functional polymer, polymer nanocomposite, and metal wire simultaneously, this technique enables multifunctionality. The gripper achieves different gripping configurations by adjusting joint stiffness through Joule heating of conductive polylactic acid material, ensuring shape conformance. Embedded metal wires, created using an in‐house wire embedding technique, form reliable high‐current‐loading interconnections for the conductive joints acting as the heater. Additionally, an integrated soft sensor printed in thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and conductive TPU detects compression levels and discerns handled samples. This study showcases the potential of 3D multimaterial printing for on‐demand fabrication of a smart universal gripper with variable stiffness and integrated sensors, benefiting the automation industry. Overall, this work presents an effective strategy for designing and fabricating integrated multifunctional structures using soft, rigid, and conductive materials, such as polymer, polymer nanocomposite, and metal through multimaterial 3D printing.