bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Elevated retinal retinol‐binding protein 4 levels in diabetic mice can induce retinal neurodegeneration through microglia
Authors: Xu Zhiwei , Bai Shi , Wu Haijian , Fang Marong
Published: November 2022

Retinol‐binding protein 4 (RBP4) is the sole specific transport protein for vitamin A (retinol), but it is also an adipokine with retinol‐independent, proinflammatory activity associated with diabetes and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Most previous studies focused on the relationship between elevated serum RBP4 levels and DR. Since serum RBP4 cannot cross the blood‐retinal barrier, the level of retinal RBP4 is independent of serum RBP4, and the change of retinal RBP4 and its potential pathogenic mechanism in DR has not been studied. We showed that the retinal RBP4 levels were raised in Streptozotocin‐induced diabetic mice though the serum RBP4 levels were decreased. Intravitreal injection of RBP4 protein in mice results in activation of microglia, loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and bipolar cells. Minocycline (MC) can reverse the activation of microglia induced by RBP4, protecting RGCs and bipolar cells. These findings suggest that retinal RBP4 levels were raised in diabetic mice, and RBP4 can directly induce retinal neurodegeneration in mice through microglia.

Research Highlights

We revealed that the retinal RBP4 levels were raised in diabetes and elevated retinal RBP4 can induce retinal neurodegeneration through microglia. Inhibition of neuroinflammation or reduction of retinal RBP4 level may be a potential therapeutic strategy to prevent diabetic retinal neurodegeration.
Right Ventricular Remodeling Assessed by MRI in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: Brown Nicholas K. , Berhane Haben , Gambetta Katheryn , Markl Michael , Rigsby Cynthia K. , Robinson Joshua D. , Husain Nazia
Published: November 2022

Background

In Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the right ventricle (RV) tends to be relatively well preserved, but characterization remains difficult due to its complex architecture. Tissue phase mapping (TPM) is a phase contrast cine MRI technique that allows for multidirectional assessment of myocardial velocities.

Purpose

To use TPM to elucidate relationships between myocardial structure, function, and clinical variables in DMD.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Subjects

A total of 20 patients with muscular dystrophy (median age: 16 years); 18 age‐matched normal controls (median age: 15 years).

Field Strength/Sequence

Three‐directional velocity encoded cine gradient echo sequence (TPM) at 1.5 T, balanced steady‐state free procession (bSSFP), T1 mapping with extracellular volume (ECV), and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE).

Assessment

TPM in basal, mid, and apical short‐axis planes was performed as part of a standard MRI study with collection of clinical data. Radial, circumferential, and longitudinal velocities (Vr, Vφ, and Vz, respectively) and corresponding time to peak (TTP) velocities were quantified from TPM and used to calculate RV twist as well as intraventricular and interventricular dyssynchrony. The correlations between TPM velocities, myocardial structure/function, and clinical variables were assessed.

Statistical Test

Unpaired t‐test, Wilcoxon rank‐sum test, Bland–Altman analyses were used for comparisons between DMD patients and controls and between DMD subgroups. Pearson's test was used for correlations (r). Significance level: P < 0.05.

Results

Compared to controls, DMD patients had preserved RV ejection fraction (RVEF 53% ± 8%) but significantly increased interventricular dyssynchrony (Vφ: 0.49 ± 0.21 vs. 0.72 ± 0.17). Within the DMD cohort, RV dyssynchrony significantly increased with lower LV ejection fraction (intraventricular Vr and Vz: r = −0.49; interventricular Vz: r = 0.48). In addition, RV intraventricular dyssynchrony significantly increased with older age (Vz: r = 0.67).

Data Conclusion

RV remodeling in DMD occurs in the context of preserved RVEF. Within DMD, this abnormal RV deformation is associated with older age and decreased LVEF.

Evidence Level

4.

Technical Efficacy

Stage 2.
Intraoperative blood transfusion does not impact overall and recurrence‐free survival after curative hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma: A propensity‐score‐matched and inverse probability of treatment‐weighted study
Authors: Tan Laura L. Y. , Chew Valerie T. W. , Syn Nicholas , Tan Ek‐Khoon , Koh Ye‐Xin , Teo Jin‐Yao , Cheow Peng‐Chung , Jeyaraj Prema Raj , Chow Pierce K. H. , Chan Chung‐Yip , Chung Alexander Y. F. , Ooi London L. P. J. , Goh Brian K. P.
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Our primary objective was to determine if receiving intraoperative blood transfusion was a significant prognostic factor for overall and recurrence‐free survival after curative resection of hepatic cellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methodology

Between 2001 and 2018, 1092 patients with histologically proven primary HCC who underwent curative liver resection were retrospectively reviewed. Primary study endpoints were recurrence‐free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). The main analysis was undertaken using propensity‐score matching (PSM) to minimize confounding and selection biases in the comparison of patients with or without transfusion.

Results

There were 220 patients who received and 666 patients who did not receive intraoperative blood transfusion. The PSM cohort consisted of 163 pairs of patients. After PSM, the only perioperative outcome that appeared to significantly affect whether patients would receive blood transfusion was median blood loss (p = 0.001). In the PSM cohort, whether patients received blood transfusion was neither associated with OS (p = 0.759) nor RFS (p = 0.830). When the volume of blood transfusion was analyzed as a continuous variable, no significant dose–response relationship between blood transfusion volume and HR for OS and RFS was noted.

Conclusion

Intraoperative blood transfusion had no significant impact on the survival outcomes in patients who receive curative resection in primary HCC.
CST1 promotes the proliferation and migration of PDGF‐BB‐treated airway smooth muscle cells via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway
Authors: Liu Hong‐Bo , Bai Juan , Wang Wen‐Xiao
Published: November 2022

Typically, airway remodeling caused by migration and proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) plays a crucial role in the pathophysiological characteristics of asthma development. Cystatin 1 (CST1), a protein‐coding gene referred to as Cystatin SN, is highly expressed in asthma patients. However, the role of CST1 and related molecular mechanisms in the development of asthma remains to be explored. This study aims to investigate the role of CST1 in asthma progression and present related molecular mechanisms. To explore these aspects, human ASMCs with platelet‐derived growth factor BB (PDGF‐BB) are initially stimulated and applied as a cellular model of asthma. Further, CST1 is knocked down with small interfering ribose nucleic acid (siRNA) overexpressed with plasmids. Then, 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine (EdU) and Cell Count Kit (CCK)‐8 assays are applied to assess the cell proliferation rates. Further, Transwell and Western blot analyses for migration of cells and expression of MMP1 and MMP9 proteins are assessed, respectively. Under PDGF‐BB stimulation, human ASMCs showed an increased CST1 expression, enhanced proliferation, and migration abilities, as well as up‐regulated PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Further, knockdown or overexpression of CST1 presented the declined or enhanced proliferation, migration, and up‐regulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway of human ASMCs. Inhibiting PI3K/AKT signaling pathway displayed the reduced migration and proliferation of human ASMCs. In summary, these findings indicated that CST1 played an essential role in the progression of asthma by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and promoting the migration and proliferation abilities of human ASMCs treated with PDGF‐BB.
Recovery of macrobenthic communities in tidal flats following the Great East Japan Earthquake
Authors: Yuhara Takeshi , Suzuki Takao , Nishita Tatsuki , Murakami Junichi , Makino Wataru , Kanaya Gen , Kinoshita Kyoko , Yasuno Natsuru , Uchino Takashi , Urabe Jotaro
Published: November 2022

The Great East Japan Earthquake, with a moment magnitude scale of 9.0M on March 11, 2011, caused huge tsunamis that altered aquatic communities in the nearshore ecosystems along the Pacific coastline of Sendai Bay, Japan. However, to understand the ecological implications of the tsunamis' impact, an assessment of the successive changes of the communities and their fate over time is essential. Therefore, we examined eight tidal flat communities of Sendai Bay with the aid of citizen volunteers over 9 years, and compared the microbenthic compositions to those before the earthquake. The results revealed that the differences in the community compositions caused by the tsunamis decreased from year to year and finally disappeared after 7 years except for one flat where the tsunamis largely changed the environmental conditions. The present study indicates that these tidal flat communities are regulated mainly by environmental conditions and are highly resilient to tsunami disturbance.
Laponite–Gelatin Nanofibrous Microsphere Promoting Human Dental Follicle Stem Cells Attachment and Osteogenic Differentiation for Noninvasive Stem Cell Transplantation
Authors: Sarviya Nandini , Basu Suparna Mercy , Induvahi Veernala , Giri Jyotsnendu
Published: November 2022

Nanofibrous microspheres (NFM) are emerging as prominent next‐generation biomimetic injectable scaffold system for stem cell delivery and different tissue regeneration where nanofibrous topography facilitates ECM‐like stem cells niches. Addition of osteogenic bioactive nanosilicate platelets within NFM can provide osteoconductive cues to facilitate matrix mediated osteogenic differentiation of stem cells and enhance the efficiency of bone tissue regeneration. In this study, gelatin nanofibrous microspheres are prepared containing fluoride‐doped laponite XL21 (LP) using the emulsion mediated thermal induce phase separation (TIPS) technique. Systematic studies are performed to understand the effect of physicochemical properties of biomimicking NFM alone and with different concentrations of LP on human dental follicle stem cells (hDFSCs), their cellular attachment, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation. The study highlights the effect of LP nanosilicate with biomimicking nanofibrous injectable scaffold system aiding in enhancing stem cell differentiation under normal physiological conditions compared to NFM without LP. The laponite–NFM shows suitability as excellent injectable biomaterials system for stem cell attachment, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation for stem cell transplantation and bone tissue regeneration.
Multicompartment Nanoparticles by Crystallization‐Driven Self‐Assembly of Star Polymers: Combining High Stability and Loading Capacity
Authors: Huo Haohui , Zou Jing , Yang Shu‐Gui , Zhang Jiaqi , Liu Jie , Liu Yutong , Hao Yanyun , Chen Hongfei , Li Hui , Huang Chaobo , Ungar Goran , Liu Feng , Zhang Zhiyue , Zhang Qilu
Published: November 2022

Herein novel multicompartment nanoparticles (MCNs) that combine high stability and cargo loading capacity are developed. The MCNs are fabricated by crystallization‐driven self‐assembly (CDSA) of a tailor‐made 21 arm star polymer, poly(L‐lactide)[poly(tert‐butyl acrylate)‐block‐poly(ethylene glycol)]20 [PLLA(PtBA‐b‐PEG)20]. Platelet‐like or spherical MCNs containing a crystalline PLLA core and hydrophobic PtBA subdomains are formed and stabilized by PEG. Hydrophobic cargos, such as Nile Red and chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin, can be successfully encapsulated into the collapsed PtBA subdomains with loading capacity two orders of magnitude higher than traditional CDSA nanoparticles. Depolarized fluorescence measurements of the Nile Red loaded MCNs suggest that the free volume of the hydrophobic chains in the nanoparticles may be the key for regulating their drug loading capacity. In vitro study of the MCNs suggests excellent cytocompatibility of the blank nanoparticles as well as a dose‐dependent cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of the drug‐loaded MCNs.
VTDCE‐Net: A time invariant deep neural network for direct estimation of pharmacokinetic parameters from undersampled DCE MRI data
Authors: Rastogi Aditya , Dutta Arindam , Yalavarthy Phaneendra Kumar
Published: November 2022

Purpose

To propose a robust time and space invariant deep learning (DL) method to directly estimate the pharmacokinetic/tracer kinetic (PK/TK) parameters from undersampled dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data.

Methods

DCE‐MRI consists of 4D (3D‐spatial + temporal) data and has been utilized to estimate 3D (spatial) tracer kinetic maps. Existing DL architecture for this task needs retraining for variation in temporal and/or spatial dimensions. This work proposes a DL algorithm that is invariant to training and testing in both temporal and spatial dimensions. The proposed network was based on a 2.5‐dimensional Unet architecture, where the encoder consists of a 3D convolutional layer and the decoder consists of a 2D convolutional layer. The proposed VTDCE‐Net was evaluated for solving the ill‐posed inverse problem of directly estimating TK parameters from undersampled space data of breast cancer patients, and the results were systematically compared with a total variation (TV) regularization based direct parameter estimation scheme. In the breast dataset, the training was performed on patients with 32 time samples, and testing was carried out on patients with 26 and 32 time samples. Translation of the proposed VTDCE‐Net for brain dataset to show the generalizability was also carried out. Undersampling rates (R) of 8× , 12× , and 20× were utilized with PSNR and SSIM as the figures of merit in this evaluation. TK parameter maps estimated from fully sampled data were utilized as ground truth.

Results

Experiments carried out in this work demonstrate that the proposed VTDCE‐Net outperforms the TV scheme on both breast and brain datasets across all undersampling rates. For and maps, the improvement over TV is as high as 2 and 5 dB, respectively, using the proposed VTDCE‐Net.

Conclusion

Temporal points invariant DL network that was proposed in this work to estimate the TK‐parameters using DCE‐MRI data has provided state‐of‐the‐art performance compared to standard image reconstruction methods and is shown to work across all undersampling rates.
Explainability and controllability of patient‐specific deep learning with attention‐based augmentation for markerless image‐guided radiotherapy
Authors: Terunuma Toshiyuki , Sakae Takeji , Hu Yachao , Takei Hideyuki , Moriya Shunsuke , Okumura Toshiyuki , Sakurai Hideyuki
Published: November 2022

Background

We reported the concept of patient‐specific deep learning (DL) for real‐time markerless tumor segmentation in image‐guided radiotherapy (IGRT). The method was aimed to control the attention of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) by artificial differences in co‐occurrence probability (CoOCP) in training datasets, that is, focusing CNN attention on soft tissues while ignoring bones. However, the effectiveness of this attention‐based data augmentation has not been confirmed by explainable techniques. Furthermore, compared to reasonable ground truths, the feasibility of tumor segmentation in clinical kilovolt (kV) X‐ray fluoroscopic (XF) images has not been confirmed.

Purpose

The first aim of this paper was to present evidence that the proposed method provides an explanation and control of DL behavior. The second purpose was to validate the real‐time lung tumor segmentation in clinical kV XF images for IGRT.

Methods

This retrospective study included 10 patients with lung cancer. Patient‐specific and XF angle‐specific image pairs comprising digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs) and projected‐clinical‐target‐volume (pCTV) images were calculated from four‐dimensional computer tomographic data and treatment planning information. The training datasets were primarily augmented by random overlay (RO) and noise injection (NI): RO aims to differentiate positional CoOCP in soft tissues and bones, and NI aims to make a difference in the frequency of occurrence of local and global image features. The CNNs for each patient‐and‐angle were automatically optimized in the DL training stage to transform the training DRRs into pCTV images. In the inference stage, the trained CNNs transformed the test XF images into pCTV images, thus identifying target positions and shapes.

Results

The visual analysis of DL attention heatmaps for a test image demonstrated that our method focused CNN attention on soft tissue and global image features rather than bones and local features. The processing time for each patient‐and‐angle‐specific dataset in the training stage was ∼30 min, whereas that in the inference stage was 8 ms/frame. The estimated three‐dimensional 95 percentile tracking error, Jaccard index, and Hausdorff distance for 10 patients were 1.3–3.9 mm, 0.85–0.94, and 0.6–4.9 mm, respectively.

Conclusions

The proposed attention‐based data augmentation with both RO and NI made the CNN behavior more explainable and more controllable. The results obtained demonstrated the feasibility of real‐time markerless lung tumor segmentation in kV XF images for IGRT.
Granulomatous myopathy: Sarcoidosis and beyond
Authors: Chompoopong Pitcha , Liewluck Teerin
Published: November 2022

Non‐necrotizing granulomatous inflammation is a rare but easily recognized histopathological finding in skeletal muscle biopsy. A limited number of diseases are known to be associated with non‐necrotizing granulomatous myopathy. Once identified, a careful evaluation for evidence of extramuscular granulomatosis and other signs suggestive of sarcoidosis is warranted as about half of the patients have sarcoid myopathy. In addition, the presence of granulomatous myopathy should trigger a search for clinical and pathological clues of inclusion body myositis (IBM), which accounts for most of the remaining patients and can coexist with sarcoidosis. Recognizing the features of IBM in patients with granulomatous myopathy can potentially spare the patients from unnecessary exposure to immunosuppressive therapies. In patients whose granulomatous myopathy remain unexplained, further investigations should aim at identifying myasthenia gravis and other autoimmune disorders, especially those known to cause granulomatous inflammation in other organs. Laboratory investigations should include acetylcholine receptor, antimitochondrial, antineutrophil cytoplasmic, thyroglobulin, and thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies. In the appropriate clinical context, exposure to immune checkpoint inhibitors and chronic graft‐vs‐host disease can be causes of granulomatous myopathy. In cases of unexplained granulomatous myopathy, natural killer/T‐cell lymphoma should be considered and careful histopathological examination for atypical cells and appropriate immunostaining is crucial. Identifying the etiology of granulomatous myopathy in each patient can guide appropriate treatment.
An exact algorithm for the service network design problem with hub capacity constraints
Authors: He Edward , Boland Natashia , Nemhauser George , Savelsbergh Martin
Published: November 2022

The service network design problem is commonly used to represent the tactical decisions encountered by a consolidation carrier operating a hub‐and‐spoke network: what transportation services to operate between hubs and how to route commodities from their origin to their destination through the network. In most settings, the capacity at hubs is not a limiting factor and can safely be ignored. However, in the context of city logistics networks, where space is limited and expensive, hub capacities typically have to be taken into account. The presence of hub capacity (and time) constraints implies that, contrary to traditional service network design problems, the existence of a feasible solution is no longer guaranteed. We present an exact dynamic discretization discovery algorithm for a variant of the service network design problem in which the number of vehicles that can be loaded and unloaded simultaneously at a hub is restricted. Novel techniques are introduced in the algorithm to handle the hub capacity constraints. A computational study using instances derived from real‐world data shows the potential of dynamic discretization discovery for this class of problems: integer program sizes are reduced by a factor of up to one thousand and small to mid size instances can be (optimally) solved in an acceptable amount of time.
Vertex covering with capacitated trees
Authors: Borndörfer Ralf , Schwartz Stephan , Surau William
Published: November 2022

The covering of a graph with (possibly disjoint) connected subgraphs is a fundamental problem in graph theory. In this paper, we study a version to cover a graph's vertices by connected subgraphs subject to lower and upper weight bounds, and propose a column generation approach to dynamically generate feasible and promising subgraphs. Our focus is on the solution of the pricing problem which turns out to be a variant of the NP‐hard Maximum Weight Connected Subgraph Problem. We compare different formulations to handle connectivity, and find that a single‐commodity flow formulation performs best. This is notable since the respective literature seems to have widely dismissed this formulation. We improve it to a new coarse‐to‐fine flow formulation that is theoretically and computationally superior, especially for large instances with many vertices of degree 2 like highway networks, where it provides a speed‐up factor of 5 over the non‐flow‐based formulations. We also propose a preprocessing method that exploits a median property of weight‐constrained subgraphs, a primal heuristic, and a local search heuristic. In an extensive computational study we evaluate the presented connectivity formulations on different classes of instances, and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed enhancements. Their speed‐ups essentially multiply to an overall factor of well over 10. Overall, our approach allows the reliable solution of instances with several hundreds of vertices in a few minutes. These findings are further corroborated in a comparison to existing districting models on a set of test instances from the literature.
QZ algorithm with two‐sided generalized Rayleigh quotient shifts
Authors: Chen Xiao Shan , Xu Hongguo
Published: November 2022

We generalize the recently proposed two‐sided Rayleigh quotient single‐shift and the two‐sided Grassmann–Rayleigh quotient double‐shift used in the QR algorithm and apply the generalized versions to the QZ algorithm. With such shift strategies the QZ algorithm normally has a cubic local convergence rate. Our main focus is on the modified shift strategies and their corresponding truncated versions. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the convergence properties and the efficiency of the QZ algorithm equipped with the proposed shifts. For the truncated versions, local convergence analysis is not provided. Numerical examples show they outperform the modified shifts and the standard Rayleigh quotient single‐shift and Francis double‐shift.
A scaled boundary finite element partitioning based reduced order algorithm for the elastic analysis of cyclically symmetric structures
Authors: Wang Chongshuai , Peng Ruifei , He Yiqian , Yang Haitian , Han Xu
Published: November 2022

An efficient reduced order algorithm is proposed for the elastic SBFE analysis for 2‐D cyclic symmetric structures with or without a common node. The general stiffness matrices of scaled boundary finite element (SBFE) is proved to be block‐circulant, and can be constructed via the basic region, instead of the whole computing domain. Thus, the expense on eigenvalue analysis required in generating stiffness matrix can be significantly reduced, and the solution scale can be reduced by partitioning the system equation into a series of small independent subproblems. Furthermore, the presented algorithm is combined with the Woodbury formula to reduce the computational cost on the analysis of incomplete cyclically symmetric structures, the original system equation is transformed into the equations with block‐circulant coefficient matrices, which is efficiently solved by partitioning algorithm. Four numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed approach.
Simulation debriefing as part of simulation for clinical teaching and learning in nursing education: A scoping review
Authors: Fegran Liv , ten Ham‐Baloyi Wilma , Fossum Mariann , Hovland Olav Johannes , Naidoo Joanne R. , van Rooyen Dalena (R.M) , Sejersted Ellen , Robstad Nastasja
Published: November 2022

Aim

To map the evidence of the simulation debriefing phase in simulation activities of nursing education, to address and inform clinical teaching and learning in nursing.

Design

A scoping review.

Methods

A systematic review of literature published between 2008–2021 was conducted using CINAHL & ERIC, MEDLINE, EMBASE, APA PsycInfo, the Cochrane Library and JBI Evidence synthesis. Inclusion criteria were primary studies published in English on simulation debriefing at all levels in nursing education.

Results

Of 140 included references, only 80% (N = 112) framed simulation debriefing theoretically either by specific theories/models or as a literature review of the topic. A variety of simulation debriefing methods were identified; however, debriefing methods were only described in 79% (N = 110) of the references. There appears to be a gap in consensus concerning the theoretical or methodological frameworks characterizing simulation debriefing in nursing education. The majority of studies (86%) were conducted at a bachelor's degree level (N = 121).
Assessment of nurses' knowledge, attitude and implementation of skin‐to‐skin care within the perinatal setting in Saudi Arabia: Survey study
Authors: Al Mutair Abbas , Almutairi Wedad , Aljarameez Faiza , Kay Elbert , Rabanal Rhea , Abellar Katrina , Napaod Aireen , Hawsawi Abeer , Saha Chandni , Ahmed Gasmelseed Y.
Published: November 2022

Aim

To evaluate knowledge, attitude and implementation of Skin‐to‐Skin Care (SSC) among nurses and to assess the implementation of SSC in the perinatal setting.

Design

A cross‐sectional study design was implemented utilizing survey distributed among critical care paediatric and neonatal nurses.

Methods

The data collection form was pre‐structured validated tool consisted of two main sections; socio‐demographic characteristics and Likert scale of 20 items covering four main domains in; knowledge, attitude, education and implementation of SSC.

Results

The vast majority of the sample 91 (98%) were females with mean age and mean years of experience 33.5 ± 6.5 and 9.7 ± 6.5 years respectively. Almost half of them 45 (48.4%) work in obstetric and labor and delivery units. Correlation coefficient revealed a significant association between the total educational years of nursing degree and SSC. The results showed nurses with bachelor or master significantly more knowledgeable and skilled in implementing SSC compared to others.
Improved performance of layered double hydroxide/hydrogenated nitrile rubber composites by addition of sorbic acid
Authors: Cao Qi , Wang Zhongying , Zhang Zhen , Liu Dexin , Zhu Hong , Wang Zhiqian
Published: November 2022

Layered double hydroxide (LDH) was in situ modified by sorbic acid (SA) and used to reinforce hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR) by direct blending method. SA connected LDH and HNBR via grafting/coordination mechanism. The results showed that SA could effectively improve the interaction between LDH and HNBR and significantly improve the dispersion of LDH in the rubber matrix. In addition, zinc sorbate (ZDS) formed by the reaction of SA and zinc oxide (ZnO) could self‐polymerize with the initiation of Dicumyl peroxide to form poly‐zinc sorbate, which is conducive to the reinforcement of rubber. The LDH/HNBR composite with SA loading of 20 phr has the best comprehensive mechanical properties, including tensile strength of 39.31 MPa, tear strength of 62.38 kN/m, shore A hardness of 85.1°, and elastic modulus of 20.14 MPa, which is significantly better than the LDH/HNBR composite without addition of SA. Our work provides a practicable and effective methodology for in situ modification of LDH and fabrication of high‐performance rubber composites.
A new route to produce chitosan derivatives: nucleophilic vinylic substitution with ethoxymethylenemalononitrile
Authors: Pereira Robson V , Freitas Kenia S , Pereira Polyanna M , Venâncio Tiago , Mathias Samir L , de Menezes Aparecido J
Published: November 2022

Chitosan (Ch) is a polysaccharide obtained from chitin: a renewable, nontoxic, biocompatible biomolecule that constitutes the second most abundant natural polymer on the planet. The presence of amino groups in the chitosan polymer chains allows one to change the physicochemical properties of the natural polymer. In this work, we prepared a chitosan derivative (ChMM) with ethoxymethylenemalononitrile (EMM) through a nucleophilic vinylic substitution (SNV), changing the experimental conditions of stoichiometry, solvent (ethanol, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)) and reaction time (3 and 6 h). ChMM was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), solid‐state 13C NMR, elemental analysis (EA), thermogravimetry (TG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The FTIR and 13C NMR results confirm the success of the reaction, showing a sharp peak at 2213 cm−1 corresponding to the stretching of the C–N bond and additional signals at 52 and 166 ppm, respectively. The degree of substitution (DS) was calculated from EA and the results obtained show that sample modified with a [Ch]/[EMM] molar ratio of 1:2 over 3 h in DMSO presented the better result (DS = 0.91). ChMM did not show a considerable change in morphology (SEM) and thermal stability (TG). The insertion of methylenemalononitrile groups led to a decrease in the crystallinity index of chitosan derivatives (XRD). ChMM showed good ability to remove dyes in acidic and basic media (pH 5, 7, 9), and for crystal violet and safranin dyes the removal percentage surpassed 70%. © 2022 Society of Industrial Chemistry.
A new H∞ control method of impulsive dynamical linear systems: H∞ control criterion constrained by convergence rate
Authors: Wang Xuezhen , Zhang Huasheng , Xia Jianwei , Li Yuanen , Dai Yuzhen
Published: November 2022

In this article, a new control criterion of impulsive dynamic linear systems is proposed, that is, control criterion based on convergence rate. The conclusion can not only satisfy the target system control criterion, but also reveal the dynamic performance index, such as the convergence rate of its state, which can achieve the purpose of accurate control and have certain anti‐interference ability. According to the relationship between the eigenvalues (poles) and performances of systems, the conditions of interval stability and interval stabilization are obtained via the idea of generalized pole placement and equivalent systems. Then, combined with the classical control criterion, control criterion constrained by convergence rate is investigated. Referring to the programming language, system eigenvalues adjustment algorithm is designed. Through the cooperation between the algorithm and the above criteria, the target system has certain anti‐interference ability and its state convergence speed is precisely controlled. Finally, the advantages mentioned above are illustrated by two examples.
Monocrystalline Labeling Enables Stable Plasmonic Enhancement for Isolation‐Free Extracellular Vesicle Analysis
Authors: Wang Shu , Zheng Wenshu , Wang Ruixuan , Zhang Lili , Yang Li , Wang Tao , Saliba Julian G. , Chandra Sutapa , Li Chen‐Zhong , Lyon Christopher J. , Hu Tony Y.
Published: November 2022

Sensitive detection of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as emerging biomarkers has shown great promises for disease diagnosis. Plasmonic metal nanostructures conjugated with molecules that bind specific biomarker targets are widely used for EVs sensing but involve tradeoffs between particle‐size‐dependent signal intensity and conjugation efficiency. One solution to this problem would be to induce nucleation on nanoparticles that have successfully bound a target biomarker to permit in situ nanoparticle growth for signal amplification, but approaches that are evaluated to date require harsh conditions or lack nucleation specificity, prohibiting their effective use with most biological specimens. This study describes a one‐step in situ strategy to induce monocrystalline copper shell growth on gold nanorod probes without decreasing signal by disrupting probe‐target interactions or lipid bilayer integrity to enable EV biomarker detections. This approach increases the detected nanoparticle signal about two orders of magnitude after a 10 min copper nanoshell growth reaction. This has significant implications for improved disease detection, as indicated by the ability of a novel immunoassay using this approach to detect low abundance EVs carrying a pathogen‐derived biomarker, after their direct capture from serum, to facilitate the diagnosis of tuberculosis cases in a diagnostically challenging pediatric cohort.
Efficient Ternary Mn‐Based Spinel Oxide with Multiple Active Sites for Oxygen Evolution Reaction Discovered via High‐Throughput Screening Methods
Authors: Ahmed Mahmoud Gamal , Tay Ying Fan , Chi Xiao , Zhang Mengyuan , Tan Joel Ming Rui , Chiam Sing Yang , Rusydi Andrivo , Wong Lydia Helena
Published: November 2022

The discovery of more efficient and stable catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is vital in improving the efficiency of renewable energy generation devices. Given the large numbers of possible binary and ternary metal oxide OER catalysts, high‐throughput methods are necessary to accelerate the rate of discovery. Herein, Mn‐based spinel oxide, Fe10Co40Mn50O, is identified for the first time using high‐throughput methods demonstrating remarkable catalytic activity (overpotential of 310 mV on fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate and 237 mV on Ni foam at 10 mA cm−2). Using a combination of soft X‐ray absorption spectroscopy and electrochemical measurements, the high catalytic activity is attributed to 1) the formation of multiple active sites in different geometric sites, tetrahedral and octahedral sites; and 2) the formation of active oxyhydroxide phase due to the strong interaction of Co2+ and Fe3+. Structural and surface characterizations after OER show preservation of Fe10Co40Mn50O surface structure highlighting its durability against irreversible redox damage on the catalytic surface. This work demonstrates the use of a high‐throughput approach for the rapid identification of a new catalyst, provides a deeper understanding of catalyst design, and addresses the urgent need for a better and stable catalyst to target greener fuel.
Polyurea‐Modified Magnetic Particles with Versatile Probes for Chemoselective Capture of Carbonyl Metabolites and Biomarker Discovery
Authors: Zhang Mo , Lai Zhizhen , Zhang Renjun , Liu Shuai , Tian Hongtao , Qiu Yuming , Li Dan , Zhou Jiang , Li Zhili
Published: November 2022

Playing a great role in human physiologies and pathologies, carbonyl metabolites are intimately associated with a variety of diseases, though the effective analysis method of them remains a challenge. A hydrazide‐terminated polyurea‐modified magnetic particle (HPMP) with versatile probes is developed to address this issue. The capture ability of HPMPs for carbonyl metabolite is more than 1200 µmol g−1, which is increased by 4 orders of magnitude via the introduction of polyurea. With a broad linear range of over 4 orders of magnitude, remarkably improved sensitivity, and limit of detection at attomole quantities, HPMPs are applied in relative quantification of more than 1500 carbonyl metabolites in 113 human serum samples with high throughput and high coverage. The combined indicators of these metabolites demonstrates a great diagnostic accuracy for distinguishing between health and disease subjects as well as differentiating the patients with benign lung disease and lung cancer. Combining powerful capture ability, low‐cost preparation, and convenient operation, the HPMPs demonstrate extensive application in biomarker discovery and the detailed study of the biochemical landscape.
Facile Electron Transfer in Atomically Coupled Heterointerface for Accelerated Oxygen Evolution
Authors: Ibrahim Kassa Belay , Shifa Tofik Ahmed , Moras Paolo , Moretti Elisa , Vomiero Alberto
Published: November 2022

An efficient and cost‐effective approach for the development of advanced catalysts has been regarded as a sustainable way for green energy utilization. The general guideline to design active and efficient catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is to achieve high intrinsic activity and the exposure of more density of the interfacial active sites. The heterointerface is one of the most attractive ways that plays a key role in electrochemical water oxidation. Herein, atomically cluster‐based heterointerface catalysts with strong metal support interaction (SMSI) between WMn2O4 and TiO2 are designed. In this case, the WMn2O4 nanoflakes are uniformly decorated by TiO2 particles to create electronic effect on WMn2O4 nanoflakes as confirmed by X‐ray absorption near edge fine structure. As a result, the engineered heterointerface requires an OER onset overpotential as low as 200 mV versus reversible hydrogen electrode, which is stable for up to 30 h of test. The outstanding performance and long‐term durability are due to SMSI, the exposure of interfacial active sites, and accelerated reaction kinetics. To confirm the synergistic interaction between WMn2O4 and TiO2, and the modification of the electronic structure, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR‐TEM), X‐ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), and X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) are used.
Hydrofluoroether Diluted Dual‐Salts‐Based Electrolytes for Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries with Enhanced Lithium Anode Protection
Authors: Kong Xirui , Kong Yichen , Zheng Yayun , He Lang , Wang Du , Zhao Yan
Published: November 2022

With a high energy density, lithium–sulfur batteries (LSB) are regarded as one of the promising next‐generation energy storage systems. However, many challenges hinder the practical applications of LSB, such as the dendrite formations/parasitic reactions on the Li metal anode and the “shuttle effect” of lithium polysulfides of the LSB cathode. Herein, a novel diluted medium‐concentrated electrolyte (DMCE) is developed by adding 1,1,2,2‐tetrafluoroethyl 2,2,3,3‐tetrafluoropropyl ether (TTE) into a dual salt medium‐concentrated electrolyte (MCE) consisting of lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI)–lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI)/tetrahydrofuran (THF)–dipropyl ether (DPE). The optimized DMCE electrolyte is capable of protecting the Li metal anode and suppresses the dissolution of polysulfides and the “shuttle effect”, delivering a high coulombic efficiency (CE) of Li plating–stripping up to 99.6% even at a low concentration of Li salt (1.0–2.0 m). Impressively, compared with the cells cycled in the MCE electrolyte, the LiS cells with the DMCE‐2.0 m electrolyte have delivered an enhanced initial capacity of 682 mAh g−1 with an excellent capacity retention of 92% for 500 cycles. This strategy of using fluorinated ether as diluent solvent in a medium‐concentrated electrolyte can accelerate the commercialization of LSB.
Realization of a 594 Wh kg−1 Lithium‐Metal Battery Using a Lithium‐Free V2O5 Cathode with Enhanced Performances by Nanoarchitecturing
Authors: Sim Kiyeon , Kwon JunHwa , Lee Seungmin , Song Hayong , Cho Ki‐Yeop , Kim Subin , Eom KwangSup
Published: November 2022

To realize a high‐energy lithium metal battery (LMB) using a high‐capacity Li‐free cathode, in this work, nanoplate‐stacked V2O5 with dominantly exposed (010) facets and a relatively short [010] length is proposed to be used as a cathode. The V2O5 nanostructure can be fabricated via a modified hydrothermal method, including a Li+ crystallization inhibitor, followed by heat treatment. In particular, the enlargement of the favorable Li+ diffusion pathway in the [010] direction and the formation of a robust hierarchical nanoplate‐stacked structure in the modified V2O5 improves the electrochemical kinetics and stability; as a result, the nanoplate‐stacked V2O5 electrode exhibits a higher capacity and rate performance (258 mAh g−1 at 50 mA g−1 [0.17 C], 140 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 [3.4 C]) and cycling capability (79% capacity retention after 100 cycles at 0.5 C) compared to the previously reported V2O5 nanobelt electrode. Notably, the LMB composed of Li//nanoplate‐stacked V2O5 full‐cells shows high specific energy densities of 594.1 and 296.2 Wh kg−1 at 0.1 and 1.0 C, respectively, and a high Coulombic efficiency of 99.6% during 50 cycles.
Heat‐Resistant, Robust, and Hydrophilic Separators Based on Regenerated Cellulose for Advanced Supercapacitors
Authors: Wu Hongqin , Mu Jiahui , Xu Yanglei , Xu Feng , Ramaswamy Shri , Zhang Xueming
Published: November 2022

Separators in supercapacitors (SCs) typically suffer from defects of low mechanical property, limited ion transport, and electrolyte wettability, and poor thermal stability, impeding the development of SCs. Herein, high‐performance regenerated cellulose (RC) based separators are designed that are fabricated by effective hydrolytic etching of inorganic CaCO3 nanoparticles from a filled RC membrane. The as‐prepared RC separator displays excellent comprehensive performances such as higher tensile strength (75.83 MPa) and thermal stability (200 °C), which is superior to commercial polypropylene‐based separator (Celgard 2500) and sufficient to maintain their structural integrity even at temperatures in excess of 200 °C. Benefiting from its hydrophilicity, high porosity, and outstanding electrolyte uptake rate (208.5%), the RC separator exhibits rapid transport and permeability of ions, which is 2.5× higher than that of the commercial nonwoven polypropylene separator (NKK ‐MPF30AC‐100) validated by electrochemical tests in the 1.0 m Na2SO4 electrolyte. Results show that porous RC separator with unique advantages of superior electrolyte wettability, mechanical robustness, and high thermal stability, is a promising separator for SCs with high‐performance and safety.
Natural Amino Acid Enables Scalable Fabrication of High‐Performance Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells and Modules with Areas over 300 cm2
Authors: Wu Ziyi , Liu Xuanling , Zhong Han , Wu Zhihao , Chen Hao , Su Jiazheng , Xu Youcheng , Wang Xuanyu , Li Xin , Lin Hong
Published: November 2022

Upscaling large‐area formamidinium (FA)‐based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has been considered as one of the most promising routes for the commercial applications of this rising photovoltaics technology. Here, a natural amino acid, phenylalanine (Phe), is introduced to regulate the nucleation and crystal growth process of the large‐scale coating of FA‐based perovskite films. Better film coverage and larger grain sizes are observed after adding Phe. Moreover, it is found that Phe can effectively passivate defects within perovskite films and suppress the nonradiative recombination due to the strong interaction with under‐coordinated Pb2+ ions in the perovskite films. Rigid PSCs based on the blade‐coated perovskite films containing Phe obtain a champion efficiency of 21.95%. The corresponding unencapsulated devices also exhibit excellent ambient stability, retaining 95% of their initial efficiencies after storage in the glovebox at 20 °C for 1000 h. Further, the strategy is applied to fabricate flexible PSCs and modules on polyethylene terephthalate/indium doped tin oxide substrates via slot‐die coating. Phe modified flexible devices achieve outstanding efficiencies of 20.21%, 12.1%, and 11.2% with aperture areas of 0.10, 185, and 333 cm2, respectively. The strategy here has paved a promising way for the large‐scale production of flexible PSCs.
Pressure‐Tailored Self‐Driven and Broadband Photoresponse in PbI2
Authors: Li Zonglun , Li Quanjun , Li Haiyan , Tian Fuyu , Du Mingyang , Fang Sixue , Liu Ran , Zhang Lijun , Liu Bingbing
Published: November 2022

Photoelectric devices based on the photothermoelectric (PTE) effect show promising prospects for broadband detection without an external power supply. However, effective strategies are still required to regulate the conversion efficiency of light to heat and electricity. Herein, significantly enhanced photoresponse properties of PbI2 generated from a PTE mechanism via a high‐pressure strategy are reported. PbI2 exhibits a stable, fast, self‐driven, and broadband photoresponse at ≈980 nm. Intriguingly, the synergy of the photoconductivity and PTE mechanism is conducive to enhancing the photoelectric properties, and extending the detection bandwidth to the optical communication waveband (1650 nm) with an external bias. The dramatically enhanced photoresponse characteristics are attributed to narrowing of the band gap and a significantly decreased resistance, which originate from the enhancement of atomic orbital overlap owing to pressure‐induced Pb‐I bond contraction. These findings open up a new avenue toward designing self‐driven and broadband photoelectric devices.
Intergenerational income mobility and economic freedom
Authors: Callais Justin T. , Geloso Vincent
Published: November 2022

Numerous studies have found that income inequality reduces the chances of upward relative mobility (i.e., climbing up the income ladder). However, most of this work ignores the role played by institutional quality (namely, economic freedom) in determining mobility and increasing the individual's set of choices. We fill this gap by empirically testing the direct and indirect (through economic growth) impacts of economic freedom on intergenerational income mobility. We find that economic freedom has both direct and indirect effects on intergenerational income mobility, while income inequality is a strong predictor of downward income mobility. When we incorporate findings about the purely mechanical relationship between inequality and intergeneration income mobility, we find that the legal system and property rights component of economic freedom matters more than inequality. These results suggest that good institutions can increase intergenerational income mobility.
Correlates of peer classroom connectedness among undergraduate women in STEM
Authors: Huber Kayla A. , Baker Majel R. , Nelson Pascalle A. , Frazier Patricia A.
Published: November 2022

Women are underrepresented in physical science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (pSTEM) at the undergraduate level and beyond, and there is mounting evidence that such disparities are driven by cultural and environmental influences. This study explored one underresearched environmental context—perceptions of peer connectedness within the STEM classroom—and its concurrent and longitudinal relations with outcomes of importance for undergraduate women in pSTEM, including academic major self‐efficacy, belongingness in their major, belongingness at the university, STEM interests, and course grade. First‐ and second‐year women (N = 258) who were interested in majoring in a pSTEM field self‐selected to participate in a longitudinal study across two semesters. Students' perceptions of peer connectedness in their STEM classroom had positive concurrent and longitudinal relations with academic self‐efficacy, major belonging, and university belonging (but not interest in STEM or course grade). In longitudinal analyses that controlled for earlier levels of the outcome variables, perceived peer connectedness in the classroom was also associated with greater feelings of belonging in the major the following semester, but not with self‐efficacy, university belonging, or STEM interest. These results suggest that, by fostering connections among students in the classroom, instructors may be able to increase women STEM students' broader sense of belonging within their majors.