bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Commonly used indices disagree about the effect of moisture on heat stress
Authors: Simpson Charles H. , Brousse Oscar , Ebi Kristie L. , Heaviside Clare
Published: July 2023

Irrigation and urban greening can mitigate extreme temperatures and reduce adverse health impacts from heat. However, some recent studies suggest these interventions could actually exacerbate heat stress by increasing humidity. These studies use different heat stress indices (HSIs), hindering intercomparisons of the relative roles of temperature and humidity. Our method uses calculus of variations to compare the sensitivity of HSIs to temperature and humidity, independent of HSI units. We explain the properties of different HSIs and identify conditions under which they disagree. We highlight recent studies where the use of different HSIs could have led to opposite conclusions. Our findings have significant implications for the evaluation of irrigation and urban greening as adaptive responses to overheating and climate adaptation measures in general. We urge researchers to be critical in their choice of HSIs, especially in relation to health outcomes; our method provides a useful tool for making informed comparisons.
Copper–cobalt double metal cyanides as green catalysts for phosphoramidate synthesis
Authors: Fonseca Alejandro , Bugaev Aram L. , Pnevskaya Anna Yu. , Janssens Kwinten , Marquez Carlos , De Vos Dirk
Published: July 2023

Phosphoramidates are common and widespread backbones of a great variety of fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, additives and natural products. Conventional approaches to their synthesis make use of toxic chlorinated reagents and intermediates, which are sought to be avoided at an industrial scale. Here we report the coupling of phosphites and amines promoted by a Cu3[Co(CN)6]2-based double metal cyanide heterogeneous catalyst using I2 as additive for the synthesis of phosphoramidates. This strategy successfully provides an efficient, environmentally friendly alternative to the synthesis of these valuable compounds in high yields and it is, to the best of our knowledge, the first heterogeneous approach to this protocol. While the detailed study of the catalyst structure and of the metal centers by PXRD, FTIR, EXAFS and XANES revealed changes in their coordination environment, the catalyst maintained its high activity for at least 5 consecutive iterations of the reaction. Preliminary mechanism studies suggest that the reaction proceeds by a continuous change in the oxidation state of the Cu metal, induced by a O2/I− redox cycle.
Functionalized magnetic nanobeads for SERS-based detection of Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Ji Shuaifeng , Xiang Yunfeng , Han Dianpeng , Chenghua Liu  , Du Yuwan , Peng Yuan , Li Shuang , Ren Shuyue , Qin Kang , Wang Yu , Zhou Huanying , Jia Zhenhong , Gao Zhixian
Published: July 2023

We introduced a Raman detection technique based on a combination of functionalised magnetic beads and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) tags to develop a rapid and sensitive strategy for the detection of Staphylococcus aureus.
Self-assembled super-small AIEgen nanoprobe for highly sensitive and selective detection of protamine and trypsin
Authors: Zhang Li , Huang Jiyan , Chen Mixue , Huang Hongmei , Xiao Yi , Yang Ronghua , Zhang Youyu , He Xiaoxiao , Wang Kemin
Published: July 2023

A super-small self-assembled AIEgen nanoprobe was facilely fabricated for the supersensitive assaying of Pro and Try.
Searching chemical action and network (SCAN): an interactive chemical reaction path network platform
Authors: Kuwahara Mikael , Harabuchi Yu , Maeda Satoshi , Fujima Jun , Takahashi Keisuke
Published: July 2023

The interactive chemical reaction platform, SCAN, is developed for analyzing the chemical reaction path network.
Emerging investigator series: low doses of electron beam irradiation effectively degrade 1,4-dioxane in water within a few seconds
Authors: Lee Cheng-Shiuan , Londhe Kaushik , Grdanovska Slavica , Cooper Charlie A. , Venkatesan Arjun K.
Published: July 2023

The application of electron beam technology for water treatment has been proposed as a faster & safer approach to decomposing persistent contaminants, because it can rapidly generate high amounts of both oxidizing and reducing reactive species without added chemicals.
Non-equilibrium transport of nanoparticles across the lipid membrane
Authors: Oh Younghoon , Cui Qiang
Published: July 2023

Surface functionalization of nanoparticles with reactive ligands can be employed to facilitate the internalization of nanoparticles into the cellviaa non-equilibrium transport mechanism.
Expression of concern: Total synthesis of tubulysin U and N14-desacetoxytubulysin H
Authors: Long Bohua , Tao Cheng , Li Yinghong , Zeng Xiaobin , Cao Meiqun , Wu Zhengzhi
Published: July 2023

Expression of concern for ‘Total synthesis of tubulysin U and N14-desacetoxytubulysin H’ by Bohua Long et al., Org. Biomol. Chem., 2020, 18, 5349–5353, https://doi.org/10.1039/D0OB01109F.
A municipal wastewater treatment plant “drinking beer” for reduction of cost and carbon emission
Authors: Liang Yifan , Huang Zuchao , Pan Zengrui , Zhang Xubo , Xu Meng , Shen Yunchang , Li Jun
Published: July 2023

Beer wastewater as a carbon source for an actual WWTP reduces the commercial carbon source cost (83.8%) and carbon emission (45.8%).
Variable lignin structure revealed inPopulusleaves
Authors: Bryant Nathan , Engle Nancy , Tschaplinski Timothy , Pu Yunqiao , Ragauskas Arthur J.
Published: July 2023

NMR analysis ofPopulusleaves revealed lignin traits such as condensed syringyl units and botherythron/threoconformations of the β-O-4 linkage. Lignin structure was also well correlated with certain metabolites such as salicin derivatives.
Study of the self-assembly of a gemini surfactant induced by anionic QDs in aqueous solution
Authors: Shaheen Arifa , Dhanagar Arun , Arif Rabia
Published: July 2023

Here, we report the formation of self-assembled vesicles via a gemini surfactant and CdTe QDs.
YOLO–CL: Galaxy cluster detection in the SDSS with deep machine learning
Authors: Grishin Kirill , Mei Simona , Ilić Stéphane
Published: July 2023

Galaxy clusters are powerful probes for cosmological models. Next-generation, large-scale optical and infrared surveys are poised to reach unprecedented depths and, thus, they require highly complete and pure cluster catalogs, with a well-defined selection function. We have developed a new cluster detection algorithm named YOLO for CLuster detection (YOLO–CL), which is a modified version of the state-of-the-art object detection deep convolutional network named You only look once (YOLO) that has been optimized for the detection of galaxy clusters. We trained YOLO–CL on the red-sequence Matched-filter Probabilistic Percolation (redMaPPer) cluster catalog, based on Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) color images. We find that YOLO–CL detects 95–98% of the redMaPPer clusters, with a purity of 95–98%, that is calculated by applying the network to SDSS blank fields. When compared to the Meta-Catalog of X-Ray Detected Clusters of Galaxies 2021 (MCXC2021) X-ray catalog in the SDSS footprint, YOLO–CL recovers all clusters at LX ≳ 2–3 × 1044 erg s−1, M500 ≳ 2–3 × 1014M⊙, R500≳0.75–0.8 Mpc and 0.4 ≲ z ≲ 0.6. When compared to the redMaPPer detection of the same MCXC2021 clusters, we find that YOLO–CL is more complete than redMaPPer, which means that the neural network has indeed improved the cluster detection efficiency of its training sample. In fact, YOLO–CL detects ~98% of the MCXC2021 clusters with an X-ray surface brightness of IX,500 ≳ 20 × 10−15 erg s−1 cm−2 arcmin−2 at 0.2 ≲ z ≲ 0.6 and ~100% of the MCXC2021 clusters with IX,500 ≳ 30 × 10−15 erg s−1 cm−2 arcmin−2 at 0.3 ≲ z ≲ 0.6; while redMaPPer detects ~98% of the MCXC2021 clusters with IX,500 ≳ 55 × 10−15 erg s−1 cm−2 arcmin−2 at 0.2 ≲ z ≲ 0.6 and ~100% of the MCXC2021 clusters with IX,500 ≳ 20 × 10−15 erg s−1 cm−2 arcmin−2 at 0.5 ≲ z ≲ 0.6. The YOLO–CL selection function is approximately constant with redshift, with respect to the MCXC2021 cluster X-ray surface brightness. YOLO–CL exhibits a high level of performance when compared to traditional detection algorithms applied to SDSS. Deep learning networks display a strong advantage over traditional galaxy cluster detection techniques because they do not require the galaxy’s photometric and photometric redshift catalogs. This eliminates systematic uncertainties that may be introduced during source detections and photometry, as well as photometric redshift measurements. Our results show that YOLO–CL is an efficient alternative to traditional cluster detection methods. In general, this work shows that it is worth exploring the performance of deep convolution networks for future cosmological cluster surveys, such as the Rubin/Legacy Survey of Space and Time (Rubin/LSST), Euclid, and Roman Space Telescope surveys.
From binary to singular: The AGN PSO J334.2028+1.4075 under the high-resolution scope
Authors: Benke P. , Gabányi K. É. , Frey S. , An T. , Gurvits L. I. , Kun E. , Mohan P. , Paragi Z. , Ros E.
Published: July 2023

Context. PSO J334.2028+1.4075 (PSO J334) is a luminous quasar located at redshift z = 2.06. The source gained attention when periodic flux density variations were discovered in its optical light curve. These variations were initially interpreted as the variability due to the orbital motion of a supermassive black hole binary (SMBHB) residing in a single circumbinary accretion disk. The orbital separation was determined to be 0.006 pc with an in-spiral time of 7 yr in the rest frame of PSO J334. These findings suggested the quasar could be in the gravitational wave emitting phase of its merger and so extended multiwavelength observations were commenced. However, subsequent observations provided evidence against the binary hypothesis as no optical periodicity was found on extended time baselines. On the other hand, detailed radio analysis with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) and the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) revealed a lobe-dominated quasar at kiloparsec scales, and possibly a precessing jet, which could retain PSO J334 as a binary SMBH candidate.

Aims. We aim to study both the large- and small-scale radio structures in PSO J334 to provide additional evidence for or against the binary scenario.

Methods. We observed the source at 1.7 GHz with the European Very Long Baseline Interferometry Network (EVN), and at 1.5 and 6.2 GHz with the VLA, at frequencies that complement the previous radio interferometric study.

Results. Our images reveal a single component at parsec scales slightly resolved in the southeast-northwest direction and a lobe-dominated quasar at kiloparsec scales with a complex structure. The source morphology and polarization in our VLA maps suggest that the jet is interacting with dense clumps of the ambient medium. While we also observe a misalignment between the inner jet and the outer lobes, we suggest that this is due to the restarted nature of the radio jet activity and the possible presence of a warped accretion disk rather than due to the perturbing effects of a companion SMBH.

Conclusions. Our analysis suggests that PSO J334 is most likely a jetted active galactic nucleus with a single SMBH, and there is no clear evidence of a binary SMBH system in its central engine.
Correlation of room acoustic parameters and noise level in eating establishments
Authors: Zelem Lukáš , Chmelík Vojtech , Glorieux Christ , Rychtáriková Monika
Published: July 2023

This article addresses the impact of the occupancy level, the average acoustic absorption and the so-called acoustic capacity of a space, which is proportional with the volume and inversely proportional with the reverberation time, on the behavior of talking people in an eating establishments. Four different settings were compared: two casual dining restaurants, a self-service student canteen and a small faculty club. The Lombard effect was observed in all cases. In a restaurant with an average amount of absorbing surface of 2.4 m2 or more per person, the sound pressure level increased with more than 3 dB per doubling of the number of people. Results for the student canteen show that people started to communicate less when the number of people present was so high that the absorbing surface dropped under 1.5 m2/person (80 people). The level even stopped to increase with increasing occupancy from 150 people present and beyond, corresponding with 0.8 m2 of absorbing surface per person. This is roughly consistent with an estimated value for the acoustic capacity of that space, which was 189 people (corresponding with a table occupancy of about 72%). In the latter circumstances, the background noise level, as expressed by LA,95 was as high as 69 dB. Overcoming this level for oral communication would require a not sustainable vocal effort. In the tests performed in other restaurants, the observed occupancy was below 60%, which, thanks to the higher number of absorbing surfaces in those restaurants, was well below the acoustic capacity.
Radially Displaced Perilunate Injuries: A Report of Two Cases
Authors: Krishna Sathya Vamsi , Fernandez Diego L.
Published: July 2023

We present two unusual cases of radially displaced perilunate dislocations, one of which involved acute ulnar nerve compression requiring Guyon's canal release. The first case underwent closed reduction and cast immobilization but developed scapholunate instability, necessitating secondary ligament reconstruction. The second case, treated with open reduction and fixation, resulted in persistent volar intercalated segment instability of the proximal row and ulnar nerve paresthesia 1 year after surgery
Artificial intelligence amps up perovskite development for photovoltaics
Authors: Lim Alane
Published: July 2023

Applying machine learning methods to hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites
Automatic graph representation algorithm for heterogeneous catalysis
Authors: Gariepy Zachary , Chen ZhiWen , Tamblyn Isaac , Singh Chandra Veer , Tetsassi Feugmo Conrard Giresse
Published: July 2023

One of the most appealing aspects of machine learning for material design is its high throughput exploration of chemical spaces, but to reach the ceiling of machine learning-aided exploration, more than current model architectures and processing algorithms are required. New architectures such as graph neural networks have seen significant research investments recently. For heterogeneous catalysis, defining substrate intramolecular bonds and adsorbate/substrate intermolecular bonds is a time-consuming and challenging process. Before applying a model, dataset pre-processing, node/bond descriptor design, and specific model constraints have to be considered. In this work, a framework designed to solve these issues is presented in the form of an automatic graph representation algorithm (AGRA) tool to extract the local chemical environment of metallic surface adsorption sites. This tool is able to gather multiple adsorption geometry datasets composed of different systems and combine them into a single model. To show AGRA’s excellent transferability and reduced computational cost compared to other graph representation methods, it was applied to five different catalytic reaction datasets and benchmarked against the Open Catalyst Projects graph representation method. The two oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) datasets with O/OH adsorbates obtained 0.053 eV root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) when combined together, whereas the three carbon dioxide reduction reaction datasets with CHO/CO/COOH obtained an average performance of 0.088 eV RMSD. To further display the algorithm’s versatility and extrapolation ability, a model was trained on a subset combination of all five datasets with an RMSD of 0.105 eV. This universal model was then used to predict a wide range of adsorption energies and an entirely new ORR catalyst system, which was then verified through density functional theory calculations.
Simulation of the effect of material properties on yttrium oxide memristor-based artificial neural networks
Authors: Aguirre F. , Piros E. , Kaiser N. , Vogel T. , Petzold S. , Gehrunger J. , Oster T. , Hofmann K. , Hochberger C. , Suñé J. , Alff L. , Miranda E.
Published: July 2023

This paper reports a simulation study concerning the effect of yttrium oxide stoichiometry on output features of a memristor-based single layer perceptron neural network. To carry out this investigation, a material-oriented behavioral compact model for bipolar-type memristive devices was developed and tested. The model is written for the SPICE (Simulation Program with Integrated Circuits Emphasis) simulator and considers as one of its inputs a measure of the oxygen flow used during the deposition of the switching layer. After a thorough statistical calibration of the model parameters using experimental current–voltage characteristics associated with different fabrication conditions, the corresponding curves were simulated and the results were compared with the original data. In this way, the average switching behavior of the structures (low and high current states, set and reset voltages, etc.) as a function of the oxygen content can be forecasted. In a subsequent phase, the collective response of the devices when used in a neural network was investigated in terms of the output features of the network (mainly power dissipation and power efficiency). The role played by parasitic elements, such as the line resistance and the read voltage influence on the inference accuracy, was also explored. Since a similar strategy can be applied to any other material-related fabrication parameter, the proposed approach opens up a new dimension for circuit designers, as the behavior of complex circuits employing devices with specific characteristics can be realistically assessed before fabrication.
Emerging opportunities for hybrid perovskite solar cells using machine learning
Authors: Hering Abigail R. , Dubey Mansha , Leite Marina S.
Published: July 2023

While there are several bottlenecks in hybrid organic–inorganic perovskite (HOIP) solar cell production steps, including composition screening, fabrication, material stability, and device performance, machine learning approaches have begun to tackle each of these issues in recent years. Different algorithms have successfully been adopted to solve the unique problems at each step of HOIP development. Specifically, high-throughput experimentation produces vast amount of training data required to effectively implement machine learning methods. Here, we present an overview of machine learning models, including linear regression, neural networks, deep learning, and statistical forecasting. Experimental examples from the literature, where machine learning is applied to HOIP composition screening, thin film fabrication, thin film characterization, and full device testing, are discussed. These paradigms give insights into the future of HOIP solar cell research. As databases expand and computational power improves, increasingly accurate predictions of the HOIP behavior are becoming possible.
Electron mobility enhancement in n-GaN under Ohmic-metal
Authors: Uryu Kazuya , Deng Yuchen , Le Son Phuong , Suzuki Toshi-kazu
Published: July 2023

We investigated the electron transport properties of n-GaN under an Ohmic-metal. Hall measurement results were compared for n-GaN (A) before Ti-based metal deposition, (B) after Ti-based metal deposition but before annealing, (C) after Ohmic annealing, and (D) after Ohmic-metal removal, where multi-probe-Hall device measurements are required for (C), while the others, (A), (B), and (D), can be characterized by conventional Hall device measurements. The multi-probe-Hall device measurements for (C) elucidated that, under the Ohmic-metal, the electron concentration is increased and the electron mobility is enhanced in comparison with those for the other cases, (A), (B), and (D). The increased electron concentration indicates that high-density doping takes place in the n-GaN by the Ohmic annealing. However, the high-density doping is not observed after the Ohmic-metal removal. Moreover, the electron mobility enhancement under the Ohmic-metal cannot be explained by donor doping with ionized impurity scattering. These suggest that, under the Ohmic-metal, high-density donors are not formed, and high-density polarization doping owing to strain from the Ohmic-metal takes place. From theoretical calculations, we clarified that the increase in the electron density by polarization doping without donors leads to the suppression of ionized impurity scattering and consequently the electron mobility enhancement.
NASICON-based all-solid-state Na–ion batteries: A perspective on manufacturing via tape-casting process
Authors: Hasegawa George , Hayashi Katsuro
Published: July 2023

On the background of the urgent demand to realize a decarbonized society, energy storage technology plays a key role in shifting from social activities founded on the combustion of fossil fuels to those based on renewable energy resources. Toward this end, global deployment of large-scale rechargeable batteries supplying electricity to power grids is imperative, which requires widespread commercialization of high-performance and safe batteries at a low price relying on abundant and ubiquitous source materials and a cost-efficient manufacturing process. Along this line, the trend of the battery research field is currently located at a turning point: “from Li–ion to Na–ion” and “from liquid to solid electrolyte.” From the viewpoints of the distinguished oxide solid electrolyte, Na superionic conductor (NASICON), and the long-standing progress in ceramic processing, Na–ion all-solid-state batteries (Na-ASSBs) based on NASICON and its derivatives show great promise to realize an innovative and sustainable society in the future. At this moment, however, Na-ASSBs face multifaceted and formidable challenges to overcome for practical usage, mostly relating to interfacial matters in terms of interparticle and interlayer contacts. Here, we overview the recent research progress in NASICON-based solid electrolytes (SEs) from the aspects of synthetic techniques and sintering aids, particularly focusing on the tape-casting process and glass additive. We also provide insights into how to prepare electrode layers and incorporate them with an SE layer into an ASSB cell via tape casting, with the prospect of a high-capacity multilayer-stacked ASSB analogous to the multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs). In addition, the feasibility of a Na metal anode in conjunction with the NASICON-type SEs and the tape-casting process toward an MLCC-type cell configuration is discussed. In the last section, we propose our ideas about future research directions in relevant fields to achieve a breakthrough for Na-ASSBs based on NASICON.
New low-frequency broadband metamaterials based on inerter and novel large-linear negative stiffness mechanism
Authors: Zhang Lei , Wang Keyi , Shu Haisheng , Wang Xingguo
Published: July 2023

Elastic metamaterials are recently emerging structural–functional materials, which provide a new way for the control of elastic waves. However, the current low-frequency broadband performance is yet to be further improved. Herein, a novel large-linear negative stiffness mechanism is first proposed, which is capable of generating constant negative stiffness; the influences of the relevant structural parameters are discussed, and a design method for this mechanism is also given. Subsequently, a new type of elastic metamaterial is designed by combining the inerter and the proposed negative stiffness mechanism; a parametric programming method with general characteristics is proposed to guide the selection of unit-cell parameters, and it is revealed that only at most one negative stiffness spring is allowed to exist in the system. Finally, the low-frequency broadband characteristics of the metamaterial are investigated. It is found that the proposed metamaterial can produce a basin-like attenuation band, i.e., the attenuation curve at the bottom of the attenuation band is a stable flat line; in a given frequency range, the introduction of negative stiffness can further increase the attenuation strength of the metamaterial basin-like band.
Research on improving measurement accuracy of low temperature waste heat pump system of temperature sensor
Authors: Li Pengfei , Yuan Yongliang , Cao Xiang
Published: July 2023

The problem is that the low temperature waste heat pump system for temperature measurement is not accurately measured. A method of improving measurement accuracy of the Pt1000 temperature sensor was proposed. First, the Pt1000 temperature sensor is date calibrated. Second, the least square method is used to fit the data of actual measurement. Finally, by using the principle of error evaluation, the most suitable corrective equation in the range of 10–100 °C for the Pt1000 temperature sensor was identified. Through actual verification, the calibration equation obtained by this method takes less memory space, has fast calculation speed and high accuracy in operation, and can effectively improve the accuracy of temperature measurement of the low temperature waste heat pump system.
Stable charged gravastar model in cylindrically symmetric space-time
Authors: Bhattacharjee D , Chattopadhyay P K
Published: July 2023

In this paper, we have extended the idea of gravitational Bose–Einstein condensate star (gravastar) to charged gravastar system and explored the role of charge in gravastar formation and its properties. We have used the most general line element in cylindrically symmetric space-time. In this approach, the existence of singularity at the center of gravastar is removed and the event horizon is replaced by the thin shell approximation. The proper length of the shell is calculated along with the energy of the thin shell in presence of charge. The entropy calculation shows that the entropy of the configuration is smaller than that of a quasi-black hole system and even smaller than that of a classical black hole. Unlike black hole, the gravastar system is a stable configuration and in our approach, there is no information paradox.
Effects of high-dose 80 MeV proton irradiation on the electroluminescent and electrical performance of InGaN light-emitting diodes
Authors: Cao Rongxing , Mo Wei , Zhu Tao , Lu Qihong , Sun Cong , Zhao Lin , Xue Yuxiong , Zeng Xianghua
Published: July 2023

The paper reports on the degradation of InGaN/GaN Blue LED submitted to proton irradiation at 80 MeV and various fluences (4×1013 p cm−2 and 1×1014 p cm−2). After irradiation, we found a decrease in light output power and the external quantum efficiency with fluence. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements exhibited that the peak position at 400, 447 and 568 nm remained unchanged, only the peak intensity decreased. The intensity of the blue emission reduced by 75%, indicating that the active region degraded seriously; the intensity from In
x
Ga1-x
N (x = 0.11) reduced more than two times in comparison with the blue emission, implying that proton irradiation affected In
x
Ga1-x
N more seriously than InGaN/GaN MQWs. The degradation of LED is ascribed to the increase in the defect-related Shockley–Read–Hall recombination after 80 MeV proton irradiation with higher fluence.
Uncertainty relations for metric adjusted skew information and Cauchy–Schwarz inequality
Authors: Hu Xiaoli , Jing Naihuan
Published: July 2023

Skew information is a pivotal concept in quantum information, quantum measurement, and quantum metrology. Further studies have lead to the uncertainty relations grounded in metric-adjusted skew information. In this work, we present an in-depth investigation using the methodologies of sampling coordinates of observables and convex functions to refine the uncertainty relations in both the product form of two observables and summation form of multiple observables.
Two-fermion lattice Hamiltonian with first and second nearest-neighboring-site interactions
Authors: Lakaev Saidakhmat N , Motovilov Alexander K , Kh Abdukhakimov Saidakbar
Published: July 2023

We study the Schrödinger operators

H

λ
μ

(
K
)

, with

K
∈

T

2

the fixed quasimomentum of the particles pair, associated with a system of two identical fermions on the two-dimensional lattice

Z

2

with first and second nearest-neighboring-site interactions of magnitudes

λ
∈

R

and

μ
∈

R

, respectively. We establish a partition of the

(
λ
,
μ
)
−

plane so that in each its connected component, the Schrödinger operator

H

λ
μ

(
0
)

has a definite (fixed) number of eigenvalues, which are situated below the bottom of the essential spectrum and above its top. Moreover, we establish a sharp lower bound for the number of isolated eigenvalues of

H

λ
μ

(
K
)

in each connected component.
A comparative study of the effect of synthesis method on the formation of P2- and P3-Na0.67Mn0.9Mg0.1O2 cathodes
Authors: Wilson George , Reeves-McLaren Nik , Boston Rebecca
Published: July 2023

Na-ion batteries offer a way to develop large-scale energy storage necessary for the increased adoption of renewable energy sources. Layered transition metal oxide materials for electrodes can be synthesised using abundant and non-toxic materials, decreasing costs and risks compared to lithium-ion batteries. Solid state processing is commonly used for synthesis, using long calcinations at high temperatures (>800 °C). Other synthetic routes, such as biotemplating, offer the opportunity to reduce reaction temperatures and times, and can enable access to different polymorphs. Here, we compare the properties of Na0.67Mn0.9Mg0.1O2 synthesised by both solid state and biotemplating, producing both P2 and P3 polymorphs to understand the differences which arise as a result of synthesis and temperature choice. We show that biotemplated P3-Na0.67Mn0.9Mg0.1O2 offers increased discharge capacity over the more commonly reported P2 phase for 50 cycles at C/5, 103 mAh g−1 for biotemplated P3-NMMO. Furthermore, the biotemplating samples demonstrate improved capacity after 50 cycles at C/5, and higher capacity delivered at 5C in both P2 and P3 phases over conventional solid state synthesis.
Optimizing the growth conditions of Al mirrors for superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors
Authors: Flaschmann Rasmus , Schmid Christian , Zugliani Lucio , Strohauer Stefan , Wietschorke Fabian , Grotowski Stefanie , Jonas Björn , Müller Manuel , Althammer Matthias , Gross Rudolf , Finley Jonathan J , Müller Kai
Published: July 2023

We investigate the growth conditions for thin (

⩽
200

nm) sputtered aluminum films. These coatings are needed for various applications, e.g. for advanced manufacturing processes in the aerospace industry or for nanostructures for quantum devices. Obtaining high-quality films, with low roughness, requires precise optimization of the deposition process. To this end, we tune various sputtering parameters such as the deposition rate, temperature and power, which enables 50 nm thin films with a root mean square roughness of less than 1 nm and high reflectivity. Finally, we confirm the high-quality of the deposited films by realizing superconducting single-photon detectors integrated into multi-layer heterostructures consisting of an aluminum mirror and a silicon dioxide dielectric spacer. We achieve an improvement in detection efficiency at 780 nm from 40% to 70% by this integration approach.
Dynamically optimizing stomatal conductance for maximum turgor-driven growth over diel and seasonal cycles
Authors: Potkay Aaron , Feng Xue
Published: July 2023

Stomata have recently been theorized to have evolved strategies that maximize turgor-driven growth over plants’ lifetimes, finding support through steady-state solutions in which gas exchange, carbohydrate storage and growth have all reached equilibrium. However, plants do not operate near steady state as plant responses and environmental forcings vary diurnally and seasonally. It remains unclear how gas exchange, carbohydrate storage and growth should be dynamically coordinated for stomata to maximize growth. We simulated the gas exchange, carbohydrate storage and growth that dynamically maximize growth diurnally and annually. Additionally, we test whether the growth-optimization hypothesis explains nocturnal stomatal opening, particularly through diel changes in temperature, carbohydrate storage and demand. Year-long dynamic simulations captured realistic diurnal and seasonal patterns in gas exchange as well as realistic seasonal patterns in carbohydrate storage and growth, improving upon unrealistic carbohydrate responses in steady-state simulations. Diurnal patterns of carbohydrate storage and growth in day-long simulations were hindered by faulty modelling assumptions of cyclic carbohydrate storage over an individual day and synchronization of the expansive and hardening phases of growth, respectively. The growth-optimization hypothesis cannot currently explain nocturnal stomatal opening unless employing corrective ‘fitness factors’ or reframing the theory in a probabilistic manner, in which stomata adopt an inaccurate statistical ‘memory’ of night-time temperature. The growth-optimization hypothesis suggests that diurnal and seasonal patterns of stomatal conductance are driven by a dynamic carbon-use strategy that seeks to maintain homeostasis of carbohydrate reserves.
Practice Patterns: An American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Member Survey, 2000 and 2020—How Much Has Brow Lifting Changed?
Authors: Coombs Demetrius M , Sinclair Nicholas R , Kochuba Andrew , Grow Jacob , Couto Rafael A , Matarasso Alan , Zins James E
Published: July 2023

Background

In 2001, Elkwood and Matarasso published an American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) member survey detailing brow lift practice patterns. Interval changes in practice patterns have not been studied.

Objectives

The previous survey was revised to elucidate current trends in brow lift surgery.

Methods

A 34-question descriptive survey was distributed to a random group of 2360 ASPS members. Results were compared to the 2001 survey.

Results

A total of 257 responses were collected (11% response rate; ± 6% margin of error at 95% CI). The most frequent technique for the correction of brow ptosis in both surveys was the endoscopic approach. The use of hardware fixation has increased in endoscopic brow lifting, whereas the use of cortical tunnels has decreased. Although coronal brow lifting has decreased in frequency, hairline and isolated temporal lift have increased. Neuromodulators have replaced resurfacing techniques as the most common nonsurgical adjunct. Frequent use of neuromodulators has risen from 11.2% to 88.5%. Nearly 30% of current surgeons feel that neuromodulators have replaced formal brow lifting procedures to a significant degree.

Conclusions

In comparing the 2001 and current ASPS member survey there has been a clear transition to less invasive procedures over time. Although the endoscopic approach was the most popular means of forehead correction in both surveys, coronal brow lifting has decreased in frequency and the hairline and temporal approaches have increased. Neurotoxins have replaced laser resurfacing and chemical peeling methods as an adjunct, and in some cases replaced the invasive procedure entirely. Possible explanations for these findings will be discussed.

Level of Evidence: 4
Predicting potential microbe–disease associations based on multi-source features and deep learning
Authors: Wang Liugen , Wang Yan , Xuan Chenxu , Zhang Bai , Wu Hanwen , Gao Jie
Published: July 2023

Studies have confirmed that the occurrence of many complex diseases in the human body is closely related to the microbial community, and microbes can affect tumorigenesis and metastasis by regulating the tumor microenvironment. However, there are still large gaps in the clinical observation of the microbiota in disease. Although biological experiments are accurate in identifying disease-associated microbes, they are also time-consuming and expensive. The computational models for effective identification of diseases related microbes can shorten this process, and reduce capital and time costs. Based on this, in the paper, a model named DSAE_RF is presented to predict latent microbe–disease associations by combining multi-source features and deep learning. DSAE_RF calculates four similarities between microbes and diseases, which are then used as feature vectors for the disease-microbe pairs. Later, reliable negative samples are screened by k-means clustering, and a deep sparse autoencoder neural network is further used to extract effective features of the disease-microbe pairs. In this foundation, a random forest classifier is presented to predict the associations between microbes and diseases. To assess the performance of the model in this paper, 10-fold cross-validation is implemented on the same dataset. As a result, the AUC and AUPR of the model are 0.9448 and 0.9431, respectively. Furthermore, we also conduct a variety of experiments, including comparison of negative sample selection methods, comparison with different models and classifiers, Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and t-test, ablation experiments, robustness analysis, and case studies on Covid-19 and colorectal cancer. The results fully demonstrate the reliability and availability of our model.
Insights into the morphology and evolution of orbicules in the Spermacoce clade (Spermacoceae-Rubiaceae) and implications for systematics
Authors: Nuñez-Florentin Mariela , Verstraete Brecht , Salas Roberto M , Dessein Steven
Published: July 2023

The orbicules are tiny structures of sporopollenin that occur on the interior wall of anthers in several groups of plants, and they are associated with pollen grains and tapetal cells. Although their function remains still unresolved, they have been widely used in systematics. Rubiaceae is one of the most studied families in this aspect. However, scarce information is available about the orbicules in the tribe Spermacoceae, especially in the Spermacoce clade. The main objectives of this work were to investigate the occurrence, general morphology, evolution, and systematic utility of the orbicular characters in the Spermacoce clade. We investigated the presence/absence, size, abundance, shape, and ornamentation of orbicules in 104 specimens from 84 species in the Spermacoce clade using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). On the basis of these features, the ancestral state reconstruction analyses were performed on a custom-made phylogeny by stochastic character mapping. The orbicules are present in 38 (44%) of 84 analysed species, corresponding to 13 genera (56%) of the Spermacoce clade. Seven genera have orbicules in all analysed species, eight genera lack orbicules in all analysed species, and six genera show both presence and absence of orbicules. The absence of orbicules was estimated to be the ancestral state for the Spermacoce clade and the presence of orbicules evolved several times independently within Clade B. The absence of orbicules in the common ancestor of the Spermacoce clade can be seen as one of the independent losses that occurred during the evolutionary history of the Rubiaceae.
Stress specifically deteriorates working memory in peripheral neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia
Authors: Jacobsen Henrik Børsting , Brun Aurora , Stubhaug Audun , Reme Silje Endresen
Published: July 2023

This study aimed to explore the influence of chronic stress, measured through hair cortisol, on executive functions in individuals with chronic pain. We expected that there would be significant differences in chronic stress and executive functioning between pain patients and healthy controls, as well as between primary and secondary pain classifications. We also hypothesized that hair cortisol concentration was predictive of worse performance on tests of executive functions, controlling for objective and subjective covariates. For this study, 122 participants provided a hair sample (n = 40 with fibromyalgia; n = 24 with peripheral neuropathic pain; n = 58 matched healthy controls). Eighty-four of these participants also completed highly detailed testing of executive functions (n = 40 with fibromyalgia; n = 24 with peripheral neuropathic pain; n = 20 healthy controls). To assess differences in stress levels and executive functions, t-tests were used to compare patients with controls as well as fibromyalgia with peripheral neuropathic pain. Then, univariate regressions were used to explore associations between stress and executive functioning in both chronic pain classifications. Any significant univariate associations were carried over to hierarchical multivariate regression models. We found that patients with chronic pain had significantly higher cortisol levels than healthy controls, but all groups showed similar executive functioning. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses disclosed that in a model controlling for age, sex and pain medication usage, hair cortisol levels explained 8% of the variance in spatial working memory strategy in individuals with chronic pain. The overall model explained 24% of the variance in spatial working memory. In a second model using imputed data, including both objective and subjectively reported covariates, hair cortisol levels explained 9% of the variance, and the full model 31% of the variance in spatial working memory performance. Higher levels of cortisol indicated worse performance. In this study, an applied measure of chronic stress, namely hair cortisol, explained a substantial part of the variance on a spatial working memory task. The current results have important implications for understanding and treating cognitive impairments in chronic pain.
Standardized 4-point scoring scale of [18F]-FDG PET/CT imaging helps in the diagnosis of renal and hepatic cyst infections in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: a validation cohort
Authors: Demuynck Selina , Lovinfosse Pierre , Seidel Laurence , Jentjens Sander , Mekahli Djalila , Jouret François , Bammens Bert , Goffin Karolien
Published: July 2023

Background

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is prone to multiple complications, including cyst infection (CyI). 2-Deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-d-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ([18F]-FDG PET/CT) imaging has proved useful in the diagnosis of renal and hepatic CyI. A 4-point scale comparing the uptake of [18F]-FDG in the suspected infected cyst versus the hepatic physiological background has been recently proposed. We performed an independent validation of this semi-quantitative scoring system.

Methods

All ADPKD patients hospitalized between January 2009 and November 2019 who underwent an [18F]-FDG PET/CT for suspected CyI were retrospectively identified using computer-based databases. Medical files were reviewed. CyI was conventionally defined by the combination of fever (≥38°C), abdominal pain, increased plasma C-reactive protein levels (≥70 mg/L), absence of any other cause of inflammation and favourable outcome after ≥21 days of antibiotics. [18F]-FDG uptake of the suspected CyI was evaluated using a 4-point scale comparing the uptake of [18F]-FDG around the infected cysts with the uptake in the hepatic parenchyma. Statistics were performed using SAS version 9.4.

Results

Fifty-one [18F]-FDG PET/CT scans in 51 patients were included, of which 11 were cases of CyI. The agreement between the 4-point scale and the gold-standard criteria of CyI was significant [odds ratio of 6.03 for CyI in case of a score ≥3 (P = .014)]. The corresponding sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of [18F]-FDG PET/CT using the 4-point scale were 64% [Clopper–Pearson 95% confidence interval (CI) 30%–89%], 78% (95% CI 62%–89%), 44% (95% CI 20%–70%) and 89% (95% CI 73%–97%), respectively.

Conclusions

Our independent validation cohort confirms the use of a semi-quantitative 4-point scoring system of [18F]-FDG PET/CT imaging in the diagnosis of CyI in patients with ADPKD. Considering its performance metrics with high specificity and negative predictive value, the scoring system is particularly useful to distinguish other causes of clinical inflammation than CyI and as such avoid unnecessarily long antibiotic treatment.
Investigation of the non-size-determined T4N0-2M0 non-small-cell lung cancer: what is the proper T category for the tumour with additional nodules in different lobes of ipsilateral lung?
Authors: Cai Jing-Sheng , Li Yun , Yang Fan , Wang Xun
Published: July 2023

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to explore the prognostic disparity among T4N0-2M0 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with different T4 descriptors.

METHODS

T3-4N0-2M0 NSCLC patients were included. Patients were assigned to 7 subgroups: T3, T4 tumours with size larger than 70 mm (T4-size), T4 tumours with aorta/vena cava/heart invasion (T4-blood vessels), T4 tumours with vertebra invasion (T4-vertebra), T4 tumours with carina/trachea invasion (T4-carina/trachea), T4 tumours with additional tumour nodules in different lobes of ipsilateral lung (T4-add) and T4 tumours had at least 2 T4 descriptors (T4-multiple). Univariable and multivariable Cox analyses were used to explore the effect of T4 category on overall survival. Kaplan–Meier method with log-rank test was used to compare survival differences among subgroups. Propensity score matching was used to minimize the bias caused by imbalanced covariates between groups.

RESULTS

A total of 41 303 eligible T3-4N0-2M0 NSCLC cases were included (17 057 T3 cases and 24 246 T4 cases). There were 10 682 cases, 573 cases, 557 cases, 64 cases, 2888 cases and 9482 cases in the T4-size, T4-blood vessels, T4-vertebra, T4-carina/trachea, T4-add and T4-multiple subgroups, respectively. Multivariable Cox analyses revealed that T4-add patients had the best prognosis in the entire cohort and in several subgroups. In the matched cohort of T4-add and T4-size and T4-add and T3, the survival of T4-add patients was superior to that of T4-size patients (P < 0.001) but was comparable to that of T3 patients (P = 0.115).

CONCLUSIONS

Among NSCLC patients with different T4 descriptors, T4-add patients had the best prognosis. T4-add patients and T3 patients had similar survivals. Herein, we proposed that T4-add patients should be downstaged from T4 to T3 category. Our results served as a novel supplement to the proposals for the T category revision.
Genetic incompatibilities in reciprocal hybrids between populations of Tigriopus californicus with low to moderate mitochondrial sequence divergence
Authors: Healy Timothy M , Burton Ronald S
Published: July 2023

All mitochondrial-encoded proteins and RNAs function through interactions with nuclear-encoded proteins, which are critical for mitochondrial performance and eukaryotic fitness. Coevolution maintains inter-genomic (i.e., mitonuclear) compatibility within a taxon, but hybridization can disrupt coevolved interactions, resulting in hybrid breakdown. Thus, mitonuclear incompatibilities may be important mechanisms underlying reproductive isolation and, potentially, speciation. Here we utilize Pool-seq to assess the effects of mitochondrial genotype on nuclear allele frequencies in fast- and slow-developing reciprocal inter-population F2 hybrids between relatively low-divergence populations of the intertidal copepod Tigriopus californicus. We show that mitonuclear interactions lead to elevated frequencies of coevolved (i.e., maternal) nuclear alleles on two chromosomes in crosses between populations with 1.5% or 9.6% fixed differences in mitochondrial DNA nucleotide sequence. However, we also find evidence of excess mismatched (i.e., noncoevolved) alleles on three or four chromosomes per cross, respectively, and of allele frequency differences consistent with effects involving only nuclear loci (i.e., unaffected by mitochondrial genotype). Thus, our results for low-divergence crosses suggest an underlying role for mitonuclear interactions in variation in hybrid developmental rate, but despite substantial effects of mitonuclear coevolution on individual chromosomes, no clear bias favoring coevolved interactions overall.