bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultra-sensitive gas sensor based fano resonance modes in periodic and fibonacci quasi-periodic Pt/PtS2 structures
Authors: Zaki Shrouk E. , Basyooni Mohamed A.
Published: June 2022

Ultra-sensitive greenhouse gas sensors for CO2, N2O, and CH4 gases based on Fano resonance modes have been observed through periodic and quasi-periodic phononic crystal structures. We introduced a novel composite based on metal/2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), namely; platinum/platinum disulfide (Pt/PtS2) composite materials. Our gas sensors were built based on the periodic and quasi-periodic phononic crystal structures of simple Fibonacci (F(5)) and generalized Fibonacci (FC(7, 1)) quasi-periodic phononic crystal structures. The FC(7, 1) structure represented the highest sensitivity for CO2, N2O, and CH4 gases compared to periodic and F(5) phononic crystal structures. Moreover, very sharp Fano resonance modes were observed for the first time in the investigated gas sensor structures, resulting in high Fano resonance frequency, novel sensitivity, quality factor, and figure of merit values for all gases. The FC(7, 1) quasi-periodic structure introduced the best layer sequences for ultra-sensitive phononic crystal greenhouse gas sensors. The highest sensitivity was introduced by FC(7, 1) quasiperiodic structure for the CH4 with a value of 2.059 (GHz/m.s−1). Further, the temperature effect on the position of Fano resonance modes introduced by FC(7, 1) quasi-periodic PhC gas sensor towards CH4 gas has been introduced in detail. The results show the highest sensitivity at 70 °C with a value of 13.3 (GHz/°C). Moreover, the highest Q and FOM recorded towards CH4 have values of 7809 and 78.1 (m.s−1)−1 respectively at 100 °C.
Simulating the effect of different lighting conditions on left-turn driving behavior using a scenario-based anger method
Authors: He Wu , Xiong Jing Jing , Wang Xuan , Mao Yan
Published: June 2022

Anger is a key factor affecting drivers' subjective judgment and driving skills. The influence of anger on driving behavior has been widely studied, but there is a lack of comparative research under different lighting conditions. Through a driving simulation experiment, this paper studies the influence of anger on left-turn driving behavior under two light conditions day and night. In the experiment, 32 licensed participants were divided into two groups, one in emotional neutrality and the other in anger. Among them, the emotional state of anger is induced by a traffic-related video. The results showed that compared with daytime participants, participants at night had higher anger intensity, shorter gap acceptance, and post encroachment time (PET) when left-turn driving. In addition, compared with neutral emotion participants, angry participants tended to accept shorter gap acceptance and PET when turning left. This indicates that participants failed to respond correctly to left-turn driving behavior in a state of anger. However, the response of gender differences to situational driving anger was not affected by light conditions. The anger intensity of male participants during the day and night was higher than that of female participants, and the gap between acceptance and PETs during left-turn was shorter than that of female participants. This shows that male participants are more likely to produce high-intensity anger and are more likely to make dangerous driving decisions in a state of anger. This paper puts forward some suggestions on identifying anger and preventing angry driving.
Piezo1 is the cardiac mechanosensor that initiates the cardiomyocyte hypertrophic response to pressure overload in adult mice
Authors: Yu Ze-Yan , Gong Hutao , Kesteven Scott , Guo Yang , Wu Jianxin , Li Jinyuan Vero , Cheng Delfine , Zhou Zijing , Iismaa Siiri E. , Kaidonis Xenia , Graham Robert M. , Cox Charles D. , Feneley Michael P. , Martinac Boris
Published: June 2022

Pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy is a maladaptive response with poor outcomes and limited treatment options. The transient receptor potential melastatin 4 (TRPM4) ion channel is key to activation of a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII)-reliant hypertrophic signaling pathway after pressure overload, but TRPM4 is neither stretch-activated nor Ca2+-permeable. Here we show that Piezo1, which is both stretch-activated and Ca2+-permeable, is the mechanosensor that transduces increased myocardial forces into the chemical signal that initiates hypertrophic signaling via a close physical interaction with TRPM4. Cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of Piezo1 in adult mice prevented activation of CaMKII and inhibited the hypertrophic response: residual hypertrophy was associated with calcineurin activation in the absence of its usual inhibition by activated CaMKII. Piezo1 deletion prevented upregulation of the sodium–calcium exchanger and changes in other Ca2+ handling proteins after pressure overload. These findings establish Piezo1 as the cardiomyocyte mechanosensor that instigates the maladaptive hypertrophic response to pressure overload, and as a potential therapeutic target.
Clinical evaluation of an innovative isothermal amplification detection system for COVID-19 diagnosis
Authors: Kim Dami , Kim Se Jin , Kim Yu Kyung , Kwon Ki Tae , Kim Sanghyo
Published: June 2022

A sensitive, specific, and convenient method was developed for SARS-CoV-2 detection using a hot-pack-applied isothermal nucleic acid amplification method.
Catalytic interplay of metal ions (Cu2+, Ni2+, and Fe2+) in MFe2O4 inverse spinel catalysts for enhancing the activity and selectivity during selective transfer hydrogenation of furfural into 2-methylfuran
Authors: More Ganesh Sunil , Shivhare Atal , Kaur Surinder Pal , Dhilip Kumar T. J. , Srivastava Rajendra
Published: June 2022

The substitution of Fe2+ from the octahedral sites of the Fe3O4 inverse spinel with Cu2+ and Ni2+ ions can be an effective strategy to synthesize cost-effective mixed metal oxide catalysts for the selective CTH of biomass-derived FUR to 2-MF.
Photoconductive focal plane array based on HgTe quantum dots for fast and cost-effective short-wave infrared imaging
Authors: Gréboval Charlie , Darson David , Parahyba Victor , Alchaar Rodolphe , Abadie Claire , Noguier Vincent , Ferré Simon , Izquierdo Eva , Khalili Adrien , Prado Yoann , Potet Pierre , Lhuillier Emmanuel
Published: June 2022

Image (left) acquired using a camera which active layer is a photoconductive layer fabricated from a HgTe nanocrystal film (schematic on right).
Oxygen-regulated carbon quantum dots as an efficient metal-free electrocatalyst for nitrogen reduction
Authors: Han Yaqian , Ding Xiaoteng , Han Jingrui , Fang Yanfeng , Jin Zhaoyong , Kong Wenhan , Liu Chuangwei
Published: June 2022

An efficient metal free carbon-based electrocatalyst is prepared for nitrogen reduction.
Controlled formation of carbon nanotubes incorporated ceramic composite granules by electrostatic integrated nano-assembly
Authors: Muto Hiroyuki , Sato Yusaku , Tan Wai Kian , Yokoi Atsushi , Kawamura Go , Matsuda Atsunori
Published: June 2022

Controlled formation of CNT–Al2O3–ZrO2 composite granules by an electrostatic integrated nano-assembly method.
Tunable fluorescent amino-functionalized Ti3C2Tx MXene quantum dots for ultrasensitive Fe3+ ion sensing
Authors: Wang Zhiwei , Zhu Yuanhang , Wu Yuchen , Ding Weiyuan , Li Xiuting
Published: June 2022

The amino-rich Ti3C2Tx QDs exhibit superior fluorescent probe behavior for Fe3+ ion detection for environmental analysis.
Visible-light-induced defluorinative carbonylative coupling of alkyl iodides with α-trifluoromethyl substituted styrenes
Authors: Chen Bo , Yu Kai , Wu Xiao-Feng
Published: June 2022

A new visible-light-mediated defluorinative carbonylation procedure has been developed. Starting from alkyl iodides and α-trifluoromethyl arylalkenes, various gem-difluoroalkenes were obtained in moderate to good yields.
Unraveling the degradation mechanism for the hydrogen storage property of Fe nanocatalyst-modified MgH2
Authors: Song Mengchen , Zhang Liuting , Yao Zhendong , Zheng Jiaguang , Shang Danhong , Chen Lixin , Li Hong
Published: June 2022

Grain growth in MgH2 and Fe nanocatalysts during cycling was directly responsible for capacity loss and kinetic degradation.
Mechanical compression in cofacial porphyrin cyclophane pincers
Authors: Hsu Chunwei , Schosser Werner M. , Zwick Patrick , Dulić Diana , Mayor Marcel , Pauly Fabian , van der Zant Herre S. J.
Published: June 2022

A two-order conductance increase upon stretching in porphyrin cyclophane pincer junctions is measured. Atomistic studies explain experimental observations by characteristic intramolecular changes in through-space and through-bond transport.
A machine learning protocol for revealing ion transport mechanisms from dynamic NMR shifts in paramagnetic battery materials
Authors: Lin Min , Xiong Jingfang , Su Mintao , Wang Feng , Liu Xiangsi , Hou Yifan , Fu Riqiang , Yang Yong , Cheng Jun
Published: June 2022

We developed a widely applicable machine learning (ML) method that can help to correlate dynamic ssNMR spectra with the local structures and transport of ions and thus expands the ssNMR application to fast chemically exchanged material systems.
Shrinking rates of polymer gels composed of star-shaped polymers of N-isopropylacrylamide and dimethylacrylamide copolymers: the effect of dimethylacrylamide on the crosslinking network
Authors: Hiei Yuka , Ohshima Ikuya , Hara Mitsuo , Seki Takahiro , Hoshino Taiki , Takeoka Yukikazu
Published: June 2022

The effects of monomer arrangement and composition for star-shaped polymers composed of N-isopropylacrylamide and N,N-dimethylacrylamide on the shrinkage behavior of the gels is studied, to increase their shrinkage rates without reducing the network densities of the gels.
Upstream wall vortices in viscoelastic flow past a cylinder
Authors: Hopkins Cameron C. , Haward Simon J. , Shen Amy Q.
Published: June 2022

We report a new elastic instability in the flow of a viscoelastic shear-thinning fluid past a microcylinder that blocks 50% of the channel width. The instability causes wall-attached, and cylinder-attached vortices to form upstream of the cylinder.
A novel nano‐scale architecture of Vedic multiplier using majority logic in quantum‐dot cellular automata technology
Authors: Huang Junjun , Lale S.
Published: June 2022

Quantum‐dot cellular automata (QCA) is a useful nano‐scale technology that uses less space and energy than complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) for circuits designing. Innovative digital automation continually strives for increased density while consuming very little power. QCA, which is based on Coulomb repulsion, is one of the most recent nanotechnologies. On the other hand, derived computing could serve as a useful prototype for energy‐efficient nano‐scale layouts. A multiplier is an important component of various digital circuits. On the basis of QCA, promising nanotechnology, a high‐speed and simple multiplier is constructed in this study. This research focuses on multiplier designs based on two‐bit Vedic multiplier mathematics. The authors use the QCADesigner‐E modelling environment to develop an ultra‐efficient and less complicated two‐bit Vedic multiplier with the assistance of the majority gate for low‐energy and high‐speed nanotechnology applications. Compared with other current structures, the suggested architecture has a reduced cell count and area. Furthermore, simulation findings showed that the suggested design is long‐term viable and may be utilized to implement complicated circuit designs for nano‐communication networks.
Battery voltage fault diagnosis for electric vehicles considering driving condition variation
Authors: Zhang Hui , Li Shaopeng , Chen Feng , Pan Xiaofeng , Feng Hongxia , Sun Yifan
Published: June 2022

To ensure the real‐time operation safety of electric vehicles (EVs), it is essential to diagnose the fault in a battery pack timely and accurately. In this paper, with considering driving condition, a battery voltage fault diagnosis method is proposed based on the real‐world operation data of EVs with a high sampling frequency. Firstly, based on driving behaviour, the driving condition of EVs is classified into four categories, and accordingly, the operation process is divided into four segments. The influencing mechanism of driving condition on battery voltage is revealed by detailed analysis on extracted operation segments. Secondly, four BP neural network (BPNN)‐based voltage prediction models are developed, respectively, for the four kinds of driving conditions. Based on the statistical analysis of prediction error and the comparison with other voltage prediction models, the superiority and stability of the four well‐trained BPNN models are verified. Thirdly, the voltage abnormity levels and thresholds for fault diagnosis are set considering driving condition differences. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified using the actual operational data. The verification results show that the proposed method can achieve good voltage prediction and fault diagnosis for EVs under various driving conditions during the entire operation process.
Erbliche Muskelerkrankungen
Authors: Fujak Albert , Forst Raimund , Forst Jürgen
Published: June 2022

Stellvertretend für die große Gruppe der erblichen Muskelerkrankungen stellen wir in
dieser Übersicht diejenigen Erkrankungen vor, die in einer spezialisierten orthopädischen
Sprechstunde am häufigsten anzutreffen sind und für die bereits eine ausreichende
Erfahrung in der konservativen und operativen orthopädischen Therapie zur
Verfügung steht.
A deep learning network based on multi-scale and attention for the diagnosis of chronic atrophic gastritis
Authors: Chong Yanwen , Xie Ningdi , Liu Xin , Zhang Meng , Huang Fengxing , Fang Jun , Wang Fan , Pan Shaoming , Nie Haihang , Zhao Qiu
Published: June 2022

Background and study aim Chronic atrophic gastritis plays an important role in the process of gastric cancer. Deep learning is gradually introduced in the medical field, and how to better apply a convolutional neural network (CNN) to the diagnosis of chronic atrophic gastritis remains a research hotspot. This study was designed to improve the performance of CNN on diagnosing chronic atrophic gastritis by constructing and evaluating a network structure based on the characteristics of gastroscopic images.

Methods Three endoscopists reviewed the endoscopic images of the gastric antrum from the Gastroscopy Image Database of Zhongnan Hospital and labelled available images according to pathological results. Two novel modules proposed recently were introduced to construct the Multi-scale with Attention net (MWA-net) considering the characters of similar medical images. After training the network using images of training sets, the diagnostic ability of the MWA-net was evaluated by comparing it with those of other deep learning models and endoscopists with varying degrees of expertise.

Results As a result, 5,159 images of the gastric antrum from 2,240 patients were used to train and test the MWA-net. Compared with the direct application of famous networks, the MWA-net achieved the best performance (accuracy, 92.13%) with an increase of 1.80% compared to that of ResNet. The suspicious lesions indicated by the network are consistent with the conclusion of experts. The sensitivity and specificity of the convolutional network for gastric atrophy diagnosis are 90.19% and 94.51%, respectively, which are higher than those of experts.

Conclusions Highly similar images of chronic atrophic gastritis can be identified by the proposed MWA-net, which has a better performance than other well-known networks. This work can further reduce the workload of gastroscopists, simplify the diagnostic process and provide medical assistance to more residents.
Aryl Ketone Mediated Light-Driven Naphthylation of C(sp3)–H Bonds Attached to either Oxygen or Nitrogen Substituents
Authors: Kamijo Shin , Azami Masaya , Murafuji Toshihiro
Published: June 2022

A light-driven naphthylation was achieved at C(sp3)–H bonds attached to either oxygen or nitrogen substituents using sulfonylnaphthalenes as a naphthalene precursor in the presence of 4-benzoylpyridine at ambient temperature. The present transformation is proposed to proceed through the generation of a carbon radical species via chemoselective cleavage of the heteroatom-substituted C(sp3)–H bond by photoexcited 4-benzoylpyridine, the addition of the derived carbon radical to the electron-deficient sulfonylnaphthalene, and then rearomatization by releasing sulfinyl radical.
Mild Synthesis of Symmetric 3,5-Disubstituted Nitrobenzenes
Authors: Silva Artur M. S. , Albuquerque Hélio M. T. , Francisco Telmo N. , Sousa Joana L. C. , Guieu Samuel
Published: June 2022

A mild synthesis of 3,5-disubstituted nitrobenzenes from readily available 3-formylchromones is reported. The developed methodology follows a cascade process, promoted by 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene. The proposed mechanism involves an initial Michael addition of nitromethane at C-2 of a 3-formylchromone. The resultant intermediate undergoes another Michael reaction with a second 3-formylchromone molecule. After ring closure through intramolecular cyclization, the aromatization is completed by deformylation, affording the 3,5-disubstituted nitrobenzenes in 52–86% yield. The reported method produces three new C–C bonds in a simple and straightforward manner, and it is consistent with gram-scale synthesis.
Rivaroxaban Underdose for Atrial Fibrillation with Stable Coronary Disease: The AFIRE Trial Findings
Authors: Arashi Hiroyuki , Yamaguchi Junichi , Hagiwara Nobuhisa , Yasuda Satoshi , Kaikita Koichi , Akao Masaharu , Ako Junya , Matoba Tetsuya , Nakamura Masato , Miyauchi Katsumi , Kimura Kazuo , Hirayama Atsushi , Matsui Kunihiko , Ogawa Hisao ,   on behalf of the AFIRE investigators
Published: June 2022

Background Rivaroxaban monotherapy was noninferior to combination therapy (rivaroxaban plus antiplatelet therapy) in efficacy but superior in safety in the Atrial Fibrillation and Ischemic Events with Rivaroxaban in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease (AFIRE) trial. Among 2,215 patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and stable coronary artery disease (CAD), 1,378 had baseline creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≥50 mL/min and received 10 (underdose) or 15 mg/d (standard-dose) rivaroxaban. We aimed to assess the effects of rivaroxaban underdose on clinical outcomes.

Methods We assessed efficacy endpoint (a composite of stroke, systemic embolism, myocardial infarction, unstable angina requiring revascularization, and death from any cause) and major bleeding in the subgroup of patients with preserved renal function in the AFIRE trial.

Results Age ≥75 years, female sex, lower CrCl, heart failure, and percutaneous coronary intervention history were associated with the underdose prescription. The underdose group had a similar incidence of the efficacy endpoint (3.62 vs. 3.51% per patient-year; p = 0.871) and significantly lower incidence of major bleeding (0.82 vs. 2.17% per patient-year; p = 0.022) than the standard-dose group. In patients receiving monotherapy, the incidences of efficacy endpoint and major bleeding were similar between the groups, whereas in those receiving combination therapy, the incidence of major bleeding was significantly lower in the underdose group than that in the standard-dose group.

Conclusion In patients with AF, stable CAD, and preserved renal function, rivaroxaban underdose was associated with similar rates of thrombotic events but a lower incidence of hemorrhagic events than the standard dose.

Clinical Trial Registration AFIRE UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/), number UMIN000016612, and ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02642419.
Evaluation of Patients Presenting to the Pediatric Emergency Department with Seizures during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Tekin Emine , Diler Durgut Betül , Akoğlu Handan Ayhan
Published: June 2022

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has led to significant changes in hospital visits worldwide. The admission rates have remarkably decreased. This study investigates the characteristics of 104 patients (54 girls, 50 boys) who presented to our pediatric emergency department (ED) with seizures during the pandemic between May 2020 and May 2021. Regarding seizure type, 84 generalized and 20 focal seizures had occurred. Tonic, tonic–clonic, clonic, and hypomotor seizures were seen in descending order. Thirty-seven patients were diagnosed with epilepsy, and 32 patients with first afebrile, 25 first febrile, and 10 recurrent febrile seizures. No patients had acute symptomatic seizures. In 85 patients, the seizures had stopped before the ED visit; only one lasted >60 minutes. Benzodiazepines were administered as a first-line drug. Demographical features, electroencephalogram (EEG), and cranial imaging findings, laboratory test results, and distribution by month and by the hour of ED visit were analyzed. Study data was in accordance with the literature by seizure types, seizure management, and cranial imaging rates but differed by distribution in terms of month and the hour of ED visit. The EEG abnormality rate was higher among the first afebrile seizure cases. The number of patients with seizures was 69, that is, 0.3% of emergency admissions, for the 4 months of 2019 before the pandemic, and 104, that is, 0.4% of emergency admissions for the whole initial year of the pandemic thereafter. So, the number of patients with seizures had decreased, but their rate had increased, which could be attributed to a decrease in the number of nonurgent presentations to the ED during the pandemic.
Portal Hypertension: Current Surgical Management
Authors: Wancata Lauren M. , Connelly Christopher R. , Orloff Susan L.
Published: June 2022

Portal hypertension occurs due to multiple disorders of the liver and its circulation. It is defined as an elevated pressure gradient between the portal circulation and the systemic circulation. The primary clinical consequences of portal hypertension are ascites and the development of portosystemic varices, which may cause life threatening hemorrhage. Modern management of portal hypertension includes medical, endoscopic therapy and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement by interventional radiology. Historically, portal hypertension was treated through the creation of surgical portosystemic shunts. In this chapter, the physiology of portal hypertension and the approaches to its management will be discussed. Specifically, the chapter will focus on indications, technical considerations, and types of surgical shunts used to treat portal hypertension, as well as literature supporting these procedures. Three case reports describing recent successful surgical shunt creation will be presented. Although portosystemic surgical shunt creation is performed far less frequently as medical, endoscopic and radiologic interventions have improved, this chapter illustrates that this procedure is a vital tool to be used in the treatment of portal hypertension.
Hopping charge transport in hydrogenated amorphous silicon–germanium alloy thin films
Authors: Stolik L. , Eslamisaray M. A. , Nguyen E. , Kortshagen U. R. , Kakalios J.
Published: June 2022

Measurements of the dark conductivity and thermoelectric power in hydrogenated amorphous silicon–germanium alloys (a-Si1-xGex:H) reveal that charge transport is not well described by an Arrhenius expression. For alloys with concentrations of Ge below 20%, anomalous hopping conductivity is observed with a power-law exponent of 3/4, while the temperature dependence of the conductivity of alloys with higher Ge concentrations is best fit by a combination of anomalous hopping and a power-law temperature dependence. The latter has been attributed to charge transport via multi-phonon hopping. Corresponding measurements of the Seebeck coefficient reveal that the thermopower is n-type for the purely a-Si:H and a-Ge:H samples but that it exhibits a transition from negative to positive values as a function of the Ge content and temperature. These findings are interpreted in terms of conduction via hopping through either exponential band tail states or dangling bond defects, suggesting that the concept of a mobility edge, accepted for over five decades, may not be necessary to account for charge transport in amorphous semiconductors.
Quantitative analysis of trace N2, Ar in O2 using glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy
Authors: Oh Myoung-Kyu , Kim Hyeonju , Kim Jung-uk , Kwak Gye-Hoon
Published: June 2022

A trace level of N2 and Ar gases in O2 ambience were quantitatively analyzed for the first time by glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy. Microplasma was generated in a compact gas cell by a metal (Au) electrode pair of 1 mm diameter and ∼1 mm separation with the driving voltage of ∼0.9 kV and the current of ∼5 mA in ∼60 Torr. 358 and 813 nm optical emission bands were used for N2 and Ar detection, respectively. A spectroscopy fiber bundle having a circular input cross section of ∼700 µm in diameter and an output of 100 µm in width and 3 mm in height was employed to promote the signal collection efficiency while preserving high spectral resolution. As a result, the detection sensitivities <1 ppm (3 − σ) were attained for both N2 and Ar within 10 s. The detection accuracy was also promoted by correcting the N2 and Ar band signal intensities using the neighboring O emission band intensities, which led to detection errors <2% (3 − σ) for both N2 and Ar.
Nonlinear mode couplings between geodesic acoustic mode and toroidal Alfvén eigenmodes in the EAST tokamak
Authors: Zhu Xiang , Zeng Long , Qiu Zhiyong , Lin Shiyao , Zhang Tao , Bao Jian , Hu Youjun , Tang Tian , Liu Haiqing , Kong Defeng , Wang Yumin , Shi Tonghui , Hao Baolong , Qian Jinping , Zang Qing , Lyu Bo , Wu Muquan , Li Hang , Jie Yinxian , Gao Xiang , Lin Xiaodong
Published: June 2022

Multiple toroidal Alfvén eigenmodes (TAEs) driven unstable by energetic electrons and a geodesic acoustic mode (GAM) have been successively observed in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) low-density Ohmic discharges. Nonlinear mode couplings among these modes are conclusively identified. Theoretical analysis suggests that the coupling of simultaneously driven TAEs is the mechanism for GAM excitation. These results experimentally show the potential role of nonlinear mode coupling to the saturation of energetic-particle driven TAE instability, which may nonlinearly transfer energy of energetic particles to bulk plasma and heat fuel ions via low frequency mode such as GAM.
Ab initio investigation on preferred orientation at the Al/Al3(Zr,Y) interface in Al–Zr–Y alloy
Authors: Wang Yufei , Miao Yaojun , Peng Peng , Gao Haiyan , Wang Jun , Sun Baode
Published: June 2022

The orientation at the interfaces plays a vital role on the morphology of the aging precipitates in Al–Zr–Y composites. Experimental observation found out that the aging precipitates FCC-Al3(Zr,Y) phase does not have the typical “Al3Y core–Al3Zr shell” structure, which is common for most of the Al–Z–RE (rare earth elements) alloys. First-principles calculations were employed in this paper to reveal the orientations at the Al/Al3(Zr,Y) interface for the development of a new heat resistant Al–Zr–Y alloy. Three interface configurations D019–Al3Y(001)/Al(111), L12–Al3Y(111)/Al(111), and L12–Al3Y(001)/Al(001) were proposed for considerations. The calculations revealed that FCC-Al(001)/FCC-Al3Y(001) is the most stable interface. Zr and Y doping led to lower interface energies. In the early stage of growth, Zr doping dominated the interface energies due to the influence of surface energy. With the increase of the substituted elements content at the interface, the work of adhesion has a more significant effect on the interface energies, and the interface was dominated by Y doping. Therefore, the composite shell is finally formed as the FCC-Al3(Zr,Y) phase rather than the typical “Al3RE core–Al3Zr shell” structure. This result provides a guide for further research studies on the interface performance between Al3(Zr,Y) and Al matrix.
Free-energy transduction in chemical reaction networks: From enzymes to metabolism
Authors: Wachtel Artur , Rao Riccardo , Esposito Massimiliano
Published: June 2022

We provide a rigorous definition of free-energy transduction and its efficiency in arbitrary—linear or nonlinear—open chemical reaction networks (CRNs) operating at a steady state. Our method is based on the knowledge of the stoichiometric matrix and the chemostatted species (i.e., the species maintained at a constant concentration by the environment) to identify the fundamental currents and forces contributing to the entropy production. Transduction occurs when the current of a stoichiometrically balanced process is driven against its spontaneous direction (set by its force), thanks to other processes flowing along their spontaneous direction. In these regimes, open CRNs operate as thermodynamic machines. After exemplifying these general ideas using toy models, we analyze central energy metabolism. We relate the fundamental currents to metabolic pathways and discuss the efficiency with which they can transduce free energy.
Temperature-dependent self-assembly of biofilaments during red blood cell sickling
Authors: Behera Arabinda , Sharma Oshin , Paul Debjani , Sain Anirban
Published: June 2022

Molecular self-assembly plays a vital role in various biological functions. However, when aberrant molecules self-assemble to form large aggregates, it can give rise to various diseases. For example, sickle cell disease and Alzheimer’s disease are caused by self-assembled hemoglobin fibers and amyloid plaques, respectively. Here, we study the assembly kinetics of such fibers using kinetic Monte Carlo simulation. We focus on the initial lag time of these highly stochastic processes, during which self-assembly is very slow. The lag time distributions turn out to be similar for two very different regimes of polymerization, namely, (a) when polymerization is slow and depolymerization is fast and (b) the opposite case, when polymerization is fast and depolymerization is slow. Using temperature-dependent on- and off-rates for hemoglobin fiber growth, reported in recent in vitro experiments, we show that the mean lag time can exhibit non-monotonic behavior with respect to the change in temperature.
A dynamo effect of multiple tearing modes on Taylor relaxation
Authors: Luo Yuhang , Gao Zhe
Published: June 2022

The dynamo effect of multiple tearing modes in a force-free plasma is investigated using resistive magnetohydrodynamics equations. In a steady state, two tearing modes are considered. It is found that the dynamo effect is related to the distance between the two rational surfaces and the magnetic island width. The λ=j·B/|B|2 profile is flatter for closer rational surfaces and wider magnetic islands. The case of an arbitrary number of tearing modes is also considered, and it is found that the λ profile in a finite plasma region can be flattened by the dynamo effect if there are enough tearing modes. This indicates that λ can be flattened in the entire plasma region, which makes it clear that the dynamo effect actually flattens λ rather than the current density. In the growth stage, the case of a growing tearing mode and two saturated modes is considered. The calculation shows that the middle tearing mode makes connections between the two modes on each side, playing the role of a mediator. Our results provide a more clear explanation for the dynamo effect of multiple tearing modes as a possible mechanism behind the Taylor relaxation process.
Temperature, detriment, or advantage for memory emergence: The case of ZnO
Authors: de Paiva Aline Bastos , Wengenroth Silva Rafael Schio , de Godoy Marcio Peron Franco , Bolaños Vargas Luis Miguel , Peres Marcelos Lima , Soares Demétrio A. W. , Lopez-Richard Victor
Published: June 2022

Despite the widespread emergence of memory effects in solid systems, understanding the basic microscopic mechanisms that trigger them is still puzzling. We report how ingredients of solid state transport in polycrystalline systems, such as semiconductor oxides, become sufficient conditions for a memristive response that points to the natural emergence of memory, discernible under an adequate set of driving inputs. The experimental confirmation of these trends will be presented along with a compact analytical theoretical picture that allows discerning the relative contribution of the main building blocks of memory and the effect of temperature, in particular. These findings can be extended to a vast universe of materials and devices, providing a unified physical explanation for a wide class of resistive memories and pinpointing the optimal driving configurations for their operation.
Highly efficient and controllable micromixer through interactions of photothermal multivortices
Authors: Luo Fangjing , Yang Jianxin , Zhou Ruixue , Li Yao , Luan Tianyang , Li Zongbao , Wu Jiayin , Shou Qian , Xing Xiaobo
Published: June 2022

The efficient and homogeneous mixing of fluids is crucial for microfluidic applications, such as chemical reactions, biological analyses, and material synthesis. This study designs a novel micromixer for efficient and controllable mixing based on photothermal vortices, which are generated from an array of linear heat sources as excited by a laser. The mixing performance is theoretically investigated using a multiphysics-coupled system based on the finite element method. We reveal the interactions between vortices and the mixing mechanism of fluids. The vortices provide a stable strength and adjustment ability to disturb fluid interfaces and enhance the mixing efficiency. Additionally, the effects of the vertical distance between two waveguides, optical power, and inlet mean velocity on the mixing performance are explored. As a result, the calculated mixing efficiency is 99.89%, which could be regarded as an important reference of the micromixer with an excellent mixing performance. The purpose of this study is to provide a new method for rapid, efficient, and controllable mixing for a myriad of chemical research and biotechnological applications.
Significant π bonding in coinage metal complexes OCTMCCO− from infrared photodissociation spectroscopy and theoretical calculations
Authors: Zhou Yangyu , Liu Hao , Jin Xiaoyang , Xing Xiaopeng , Wang Xuefeng , Wang Guanjun , Zhou Mingfei
Published: June 2022

A series of coinage metal complexes in the form of TMC(CO)n− (TM = Cu, Ag, Au; n = 0–3) were generated using a laser-ablation supersonic expansion ion source in the gas phase. Mass-selected infrared photodissociation spectroscopy in conjunction with quantum chemical calculations indicated that the TMC(CO)3− complexes contain a linear OCTMCCO− core anion. Bonding analyses suggest that the linear OCTMCCO− anions are better described as the bonding interactions between a singlet ground state TM+ metal cation and the OC/CCO2− ligands in the singlet ground state. In addition to the strong ligands to metal σ donation bonding components, the π-bonding components also contribute significantly to the metal–ligand bonds due to the synergetic effects of the CO and CCO2− ligands. The strengths of the bonding of the three metals show a V-shaped trend in which the second-row transition metal Ag exhibits the weakest interactions whereas the third–row transition metal Au shows the strongest interactions due to relativistic effects.
Memory-like NK cells armed with a neoepitope-specific CAR exhibit potent activity against NPM1 mutated acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Dong Han , Ham James Dongjoo , Hu Guangan , Xie Guozhu , Vergara Juliana , Liang Yong , Ali Alaa , Tarannum Mubin , Donner Hannah , Baginska Joanna , Abdulhamid Yasmin , Dinh Khanhlinh , Soiffer Robert J. , Ritz Jerome , Glimcher Laurie H. , Chen Jianzhu , Romee Rizwan
Published: June 2022

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains a therapeutic challenge, and a paucity of tumor-specific targets has significantly hampered the development of effective immune-based therapies. Recent paradigm-changing studies have shown that natural killer (NK) cells exhibit innate memory upon brief activation with IL-12 and IL-18, leading to cytokine-induced memory-like (CIML) NK cell differentiation. CIML NK cells have enhanced antitumor activity and have shown promising results in early phase clinical trials in patients with relapsed/refractory AML. Here, we show that arming CIML NK cells with a neoepitope-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) significantly enhances their antitumor responses to nucleophosphmin-1 (NPM1)-mutated AML while avoiding off-target toxicity. CIML NK cells differentiated from peripheral blood NK cells were efficiently transduced to express a TCR-like CAR that specifically recognizes a neoepitope derived from the cytosolic oncogenic NPM1-mutated protein presented by HLA-A2. These CAR CIML NK cells displayed enhanced activity against NPM1-mutated AML cell lines and patient-derived leukemic blast cells. CAR CIML NK cells persisted in vivo and significantly improved AML outcomes in xenograft models. Single-cell RNA sequencing and mass cytometry analyses identified up-regulation of cell proliferation, protein folding, immune responses, and major metabolic pathways in CAR-transduced CIML NK cells, resulting in tumor-specific, CAR-dependent activation and function in response to AML target cells. Thus, efficient arming of CIML NK cells with an NPM1-mutation-specific TCR-like CAR substantially improves their innate antitumor responses against an otherwise intracellular mutant protein. These preclinical findings justify evaluating this approach in clinical trials in HLA-A2
+
AML patients with NPM1c mutations.
Expansion of a retrovirus lineage in the koala genome
Authors: Lillie Mette , Hill Jason , Pettersson Mats E. , Jern Patric
Published: June 2022

Retroviruses have left their legacy in host genomes over millions of years as endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), and their structure, diversity, and prevalence provide insights into the historical dynamics of retrovirus–host interactions. In bioinformatic analyses of koala (
Phascolarctos cinereus
) whole-genome sequences, we identify a recently expanded ERV lineage (
phaCin-β
) that is related to the New World squirrel monkey retrovirus. This ERV expansion shares many parallels with the ongoing koala retrovirus (KoRV) invasion of the koala genome, including highly similar and mostly intact sequences, and polymorphic ERV loci in the sampled koala population. The recent
phaCin-β
ERV colonization of the koala genome appears to predate the current KoRV invasion, but polymorphic ERVs and divergence comparisons between these two lineages predict a currently uncharacterized, possibly still extant,
phaCin-β
retrovirus. The genomics approach to ERV-guided discovery of novel retroviruses in host species provides a strong incentive to search for
phaCin-β
retroviruses in the Australasian fauna.
Transcriptional and functional motifs defining renal function revealed by single-nucleus RNA sequencing
Authors: Xu Jun , Liu Yifang , Li Hongjie , Tarashansky Alexander J. , Kalicki Colin H. , Hung Ruei-Jiun , Hu Yanhui , Comjean Aram , Kolluru Sai Saroja , Wang Bo , Quake Stephen R. , Luo Liqun , McMahon Andrew P. , Dow Julian A. T. , Perrimon Norbert
Published: June 2022

Recent advances in single-cell sequencing provide a unique opportunity to gain novel insights into the diversity, lineage, and functions of cell types constituting a tissue/organ. Here, we performed a single-nucleus study of the adult
Drosophila
renal system, consisting of Malpighian tubules and nephrocytes, which shares similarities with the mammalian kidney. We identified 11 distinct clusters representing renal stem cells, stellate cells, regionally specific principal cells, garland nephrocyte cells, and pericardial nephrocytes. Characterization of the transcription factors specific to each cluster identified
fruitless
(
fru
) as playing a role in stem cell regeneration and
Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4
(
Hnf4
) in regulating glycogen and triglyceride metabolism. In addition, we identified a number of genes, including
Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor at 64C
(
RhoGEF64c
),
Frequenin 2
(
Frq2
),
Prip
, and
CG1093
that are involved in regulating the unusual star shape of stellate cells. Importantly, the single-nucleus dataset allows visualization of the expression at the organ level of genes involved in ion transport and junctional permeability, providing a systems-level view of the organization and physiological roles of the tubules. Finally, a cross-species analysis allowed us to match the fly kidney cell types to mouse kidney cell types and planarian protonephridia, knowledge that will help the generation of kidney disease models. Altogether, our study provides a comprehensive resource for studying the fly kidney.
“This side is the real world and the other one is like Minecraft”
Authors: Burri Michael , Mantei Jessica , Kervin Lisa
Published: June 2022

English has been introduced as a core subject in primary schools across Asia over the past decade. Besides aiming to improve the English proficiency of Japanese primary school students, Japan’s recent reforms also mandate the development of children’s awareness of cultures other than their own. However, relatively little is known about pedagogical strategies to achieve cultural awareness in the Japanese primary school classroom. The objective of this study was, therefore, to utilize an almost wordless picture book and examine the ways children interpret stories about people from cultures other than their own. This study explored the independent meaning-making practices and processes of six Japanese primary school students as they viewed, without teacher intervention, Mirror, an Australian almost wordless picture book about the daily lives of an Australian and a Moroccan family. Interview and observation data provided insights into the children’s meaning-making processes and the ways they interpreted the messages within the stories that led to a range of understandings and misunderstandings across the cultures. The paper concludes with a discussion about pedagogical implications for supporting the development of cultural awareness, for challenging cultural stereotypes, and for facilitating English language learning processes.
Tailoring the tensile properties of AZ91 magnesium alloy via grain refinement
Authors: Koushki Ali , Heydarinia Ali , Emamy Massoud , Mirzadeh Hamed , Mehranpour Mohammad Sajad
Published: June 2022

Grain refinement of AZ91 alloy was achieved via the addition of a modified Al-B inoculant to the melt, where a pronounced heterogeneous nucleation effect by AlB2 particles was observed via addition of Al-8 wt-% B master alloy up to 0.3 wt-%. Moreover, hot extrusion remarkably enhanced both strength and ductility via developing an equiaxed microstructure by dynamic recrystallisation (DRX), fragmentation/dissolution of eutectics (containing β-Mg17Al12 compound) during hot deformation, and amending casting defects. Both as-cast and extruded data followed the same Hall–Petch plot, implying that the grain size refinement is the main strengthening mechanism. Accordingly, grain refining via inoculation and thermomechanical processing was found to be a viable approach for the enhancement of strength-ductility trade-off through the improvement of tensile toughness.
Research on acoustic sensing device based on microfiber knot resonator
Authors: Zhao Rongyu , Cui Jiangong , Yu Yaxin , Zhai Xiaoping , Chu Xiaoxia , Zhu Min , Wu Bofeng , Yang Yuhua , Wang Renxin , He Changde , Zhang Guojun , Zhang Wendong
Published: June 2022

An acoustic sensor packaged with polydimethylsiloxane film sandwich structure is proposed in this paper. The sensor uses a flat glass with a square hole in the middle as the substrate structure. The cavity length of the microfiber knot resonator is significantly changed by the applied acoustic pressure, which is ultimately manifested as a change in the strength of the sensor signal. The sensor has a good response at frequencies from 0.1 to 10 kHz, and has a sensitivity of 0.92 mV Pa−1 at 1 kHz acoustic frequency. The sensor studied in this paper has the advantages of wide frequency band, small size and low cost, and has a good application prospect in the field of acoustic signal detection.
Telescopic ball bar with an indexing joint for measuring machine tool error
Authors: Wang Wen , Sun Tao , Chen Zhanfeng , Wu Haimei , Lu Keqing , Wang Chuanyong , Xu Kaifei , Sang Zhiqian , Yang He , Shi Guang
Published: June 2022

Measurement and compensation of these errors can improve the machining accuracy of a machine tool. Double ball bar is one of the traditional instruments for measuring machine tool errors, whose measurement range depends on the length of the bar since the sensor has a stretching range of only 2 mm. Some extension bars are usually used to extend the measuring range, but each replacement of an extension bar requires recalibration and installation. In this paper, a novel measuring equipment based on telescopic ball bar with an indexing joint (IJ-TBB) is proposed, which has six measuring ranges after a single installation. First, the basic structure and measuring principle of the IJ-TBB are introduced. Then, the effect of structural errors of IJ-TBB on the measurement accuracy is studied. Next, the error amplification characteristic and measurement resolution of the IJ-TBB are analyzed. Finally, an experiment was carried out to validate the accuracy of the IJ-TBB. The results reveal that the IJ-TBB has high precision and high efficiency. It is valuable to extend the measurement range and improve the measurement efficiency of machine tools.
An EMAT for improving the purity and amplitude of S0 Lamb waves
Authors: Yang Xufei , Zhang Wenlong , Wu Yutang , Wu Yunxin , Zhang Tao
Published: June 2022

Different waves of the Lamb waves may be superimposed in practical tests due to their multimodal characteristics and dispersion characteristics, thus significantly increasing the difficulty of later signal analysis and creating a massive limitation to their application in non-destructive testing. Only a single magnet was used to generate a static magnetic field in the traditional S0 mode Lamb wave (S0 wave) electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT), which resulted in a less pure S0 wave. Additionally, the accompanying A0 mode Lamb wave (A0 wave) will decrease the accuracy of the results in defect detection and increase the difficulty of the signal processing. To obtain a single-mode S0 wave, a periodic magnet structure EMAT structure was proposed in this study. Finite element models were established, and the effect of single and periodic magnet structure on the static magnetic field was analyzed. The periodic magnet structure EMAT can substantially enhance the S0 mode Lamb wave amplitude by increasing the flux density of the local magnetic field using periodically arranged magnets. However, it also causes enhancement to the A0 wave and decreases the detection accuracy. An improved EMAT was further proposed to increase the S0 wave amplitude with no enhancement to the A0 wave amplitude. Experiments were conducted, and two types of EMAT were comparatively investigated, which agreed with the simulated results. The S0 wave amplitude can be increased by seven times with the improved EMAT compared to traditional EMAT, and the A0 wave is completely submerged in the noise. The improved EMAT proposed in this study can provide guidance for single-mode S0 wave defect detection.