bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Artificial Intelligence as a Diagnostic Tool in Non-Invasive Imaging in the Assessment of Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Doolub Gemina , Mamalakis Michail , Alabed Samer , Van der Geest Rob J. , Swift Andrew J. , Rodrigues Jonathan C. L. , Garg Pankaj , Joshi Nikhil V. , Dastidar Amardeep
Published: February 2023

Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, and it is associated with considerable economic burden. In an ageing, multimorbid population, it has become increasingly important to develop reliable, consistent, low-risk, non-invasive means of diagnosing CAD. The evolution of multiple cardiac modalities in this field has addressed this dilemma to a large extent, not only in providing information regarding anatomical disease, as is the case with coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), but also in contributing critical details about functional assessment, for instance, using stress cardiac magnetic resonance (S-CMR). The field of artificial intelligence (AI) is developing at an astounding pace, especially in healthcare. In healthcare, key milestones have been achieved using AI and machine learning (ML) in various clinical settings, from smartwatches detecting arrhythmias to retinal image analysis and skin cancer prediction. In recent times, we have seen an emerging interest in developing AI-based technology in the field of cardiovascular imaging, as it is felt that ML methods have potential to overcome some limitations of current risk models by applying computer algorithms to large databases with multidimensional variables, thus enabling the inclusion of complex relationships to predict outcomes. In this paper, we review the current literature on the various applications of AI in the assessment of CAD, with a focus on multimodality imaging, followed by a discussion on future perspectives and critical challenges that this field is likely to encounter as it continues to evolve in cardiology.
Membrane Cascade Type of «Continuous Membrane Column» for Power Plant Post-Combustion Carbon Dioxide Capture Part 1: Simulation of the Binary Gas Mixture Separation
Authors: Atlaskin Artem A. , Petukhov Anton N. , Stepakova Anna N. , Tsivkovsky Nikita S. , Kryuchkov Sergey S. , Smorodin Kirill A. , Moiseenko Irina S. , Atlaskina Maria E. , Suvorov Sergey S. , Stepanova Ekaterina A. , Vorotyntsev Ilya V.
Published: February 2023

The present paper deals with the complex study of CO2 capture from combined heat power plant flue gases using the efficient technological design of a membrane cascade type of «Continuous Membrane Column» for binary gas mixture separation. In contrast to well-known multi-step or multi-stage process designs, the cascade type of separation unit provides several advantages. Here, the separation process is implemented in it by creating two counter current flows. In one of them is depleted by the high-permeable component in a continuous mode, meanwhile the other one is enriched. Taking into account that the circulating flows rate overcomes the withdrawn one, there is a multiplicative increase in separation efficiency. A comprehensive study of CO2 capture using the membrane cascade type of «Continuous Membrane Column» includes the determination of the optimal membrane material characteristics, the sensitivity study of the process, and a feasibility evaluation. It was clearly demonstrated that the proposed process achieves efficient CO2 capture, which meets the modern requirements in terms of the CO2 content (≥95 mol.%), recovery rate (≥90%), and residual CO2 concentration (≤2 mol.%). Moreover, it was observed that it is possible to process CO2 with a purity of up to 99.8 mol.% at the same recovery rate. This enables the use of this specific process design in CO2 pretreatment operations for the production of high-purity carbon dioxide.
The Meeting of Micropeptides with Major Ca2+ Pumps in Inner Membranes—Consideration of a New Player, SERCA1b
Authors: Zádor Ernő
Published: February 2023

Calcium is a major signalling bivalent cation within the cell. Compartmentalization is essential for regulation of calcium mediated processes. A number of players contribute to intracellular handling of calcium, among them are the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATP-ases (SERCAs). These molecules function in the membrane of ER/SR pumping Ca2+ from cytoplasm into the lumen of the internal store. Removal of calcium from the cytoplasm is essential for signalling and for relaxation of skeletal muscle and heart. There are three genes and over a dozen isoforms of SERCA in mammals. These can be potentially influenced by small membrane peptides, also called regulins. The discovery of micropeptides has increased in recent years, mostly because of the small ORFs found in long RNAs, annotated formerly as noncoding (lncRNAs). Several excellent works have analysed the mechanism of interaction of micropeptides with each other and with the best known SERCA1a (fast muscle) and SERCA2a (heart, slow muscle) isoforms. However, the array of tissue and developmental expressions of these potential regulators raises the question of interaction with other SERCAs. For example, the most abundant calcium pump in neonatal and regenerating skeletal muscle, SERCA1b has never been looked at with scrutiny to determine whether it is influenced by micropeptides. Further details might be interesting on the interaction of these peptides with the less studied SERCA1b isoform.
Comparison of the Effect of Mechanical and Ultrasonic Agitation on the Properties of Electrodeposited Ni-Co/ZrO2 Composite Coatings
Authors: Li Binzhou , Su Jianming , Li Jidong , Wang Yiyong
Published: February 2023

Ni-Co/ZrO2 composite coatings were fabricated by electrochemical deposition from sulfamate solutions containing zirconia nanoparticles. The main purpose of this research was to evaluate the effect of mechanical stirring and ultrasonic agitation in plating solutions on the structure and properties of Ni-Co/ZrO2 composite coatings. The morphology, microstructure, microhardness, anti-corrosion and wear resistance of the composites were investigated via scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Vickers microhardness testing, electrochemical workstation utilization and friction wear testing. The hardness, friction coefficient, wear loss, corrosion rate of the composite coating prepared with mechanical stirring, and ultrasonic agitation were 533 and 680 HV; 0.40 ± 0.02 and 0.35 ± 0.02; 2.15 × 10−5; 0.85 × 10−5 g·m−1; and 0.36 and 0.07 mm/year, respectively. In comparison to mechanical stirring, ultrasonic agitation could more uniformly disperse the zirconia nanoparticles to obtain Ni-Co/ZrO2 composite coatings, which has simplicity and compactness.
Kinetics of Martensite Decomposition and Microstructure Stability of Ti-6246 during Rapid Heating to Service Temperatures
Authors: Otte Anna-Lena , Mai Phuong Thao , Stark Andreas , Hoelzel Markus , Hofmann Michael , Gibmeier Jens
Published: February 2023

The aerospace alloy Ti-6246 was subjected to inductive heat treatments with high heating and quenching rates (up to 1500 K/s) while being applied to an in situ diffraction study at the HEMS beamline P07B at DESY. Thereby, the characterization of the emerging phases was possible at any point in the process. The heat treatment schedules include the preparation of Ti-6246 samples by means of a homogenization treatment and subsequent quenching to trigger α″-martensite formation. In order to simulate fast reheating within the scope of application, the samples were reheated to the upper range of possible service temperatures (550–650 °C) with a heating rate of 100 K/s. In a second heat treatment design, the homogenized and quenched sample state was exposed to high-temperature tempering at 840 °C, which aims for the elimination of α″. Again, fast reheating to the same service temperatures was executed. With the aim of this approach, the stability of the microstructure consisting of α-Ti, β-Ti and α″-martensite was characterized. Further, the martensite decomposition path was analyzed. It shows a two-tier nature, firstly approaching the bcc β-unit cell in the low-temperature range (<400 °C) but subsequently transforming into an hcp-like unit cell and later on into equilibrium α-Ti.
Thermodynamic Study on Initial Oxidation Behavior of TiAl-Nb Alloys at High Temperature
Authors: Dong Zicheng , Feng Aihan , Wang Hao , Qu Shoujiang , Wang Hao
Published: February 2023

The initial oxidation behavior of TiAl-Nb alloys was systematically investigated against the composition, temperature, and partial pressure of O2 with the CALculation of PHAse Diagrams (CALPHAD) technique. The mole fraction of each oxidation product at the initial oxidation stage of the alloys at the corresponding temperatures was predicted. The initial oxidation products of the alloys are oxides of Al, Ti, and Nb, with the oxidation order of Al, Ti, and Nb. As P(O2) increases, the Ti and Nb oxidation products move towards a high oxygen content, and the mole fractions of the Al and Ti oxides gradually decrease and increase, respectively. It was found that the temperature and partial pressure of O2 determined the types of the oxides and the oxidation order, while the concentration of Nb and Al determined the mole fraction of the oxides. The CALPHAD results are in good agreement with the experiments.
Prediction of Fatigue Crack Initiation under Variable Amplitude Loading: Literature Review
Authors: Kedir Yahiya Ahmed , Lemu Hirpa G.
Published: February 2023

Metallic materials are widely employed in engineering constructions, and one of the most common failure mechanisms in metals is fatigue failure. Even though metal fatigue has been studied for almost 160 years, many problems remain unsolved. Fatigue in metal occurs when the metallic material is subjected to varying loads, resulting in failure due to damage accumulation. The fatigue process consists of a buildup of damage that leads to crack initiation, followed by a period of crack growth until the critical flaw size is reached. The sum of a start phase and a propagation phase represents the total life. To better understand the fatigue phenomenon at its different stages and predict the fatigue life, various types of prediction models have been developed and reported in the literature. This paper reviewed the different models that include microstructure scale parameters that can be used to predict how fatigue cracks start under variable amplitude loading, including the Modified Tanaka-Mura Model, Acoustic Second Harmonic Generation, and the Probability of Crack Initiation on Defects. For perfect life prediction under variable amplitude loading, a stress-based approach, a strain-based approach, and a continuum damage mechanics approach are reviewed. The purpose of this paper is to get overview of the current state of approaches to the life prediction of fatigue crack initiation with variable amplitude. Finally, gaps in knowledge about the prediction of fatigue crack initiation under variable loading at high temperatures are pointed out.
Identification of Cancer Driver Genes by Integrating Multiomics Data with Graph Neural Networks
Authors: Song Hongzhi , Yin Chaoyi , Li Zhuopeng , Feng Ke , Cao Yangkun , Gu Yujie , Sun Huiyan
Published: February 2023

Cancer is a heterogeneous disease that is driven by the accumulation of both genetic and nongenetic alterations, so integrating multiomics data and extracting effective information from them is expected to be an effective way to predict cancer driver genes. In this paper, we first generate comprehensive instructive features for each gene from genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic levels together with protein–protein interaction (PPI)-networks-derived attributes and then propose a novel semisupervised deep graph learning framework GGraphSAGE to predict cancer driver genes according to the impact of the alterations on a biological system. When applied to eight tumor types, experimental results suggest that GGraphSAGE outperforms several state-of-the-art computational methods for driver genes identification. Moreover, it broadens our current understanding of cancer driver genes from multiomics level and identifies driver genes specific to the tumor type rather than pan-cancer. We expect GGraphSAGE to open new avenues in precision medicine and even further predict drivers for other complex diseases.
The Role of Reprogrammed Glucose Metabolism in Cancer
Authors: Ediriweera Meran Keshawa , Jayasena Sharmila
Published: February 2023

Cancer cells reprogram their metabolism to meet biosynthetic needs and to adapt to various microenvironments. Accelerated glycolysis offers proliferative benefits for malignant cells by generating glycolytic products that move into branched pathways to synthesize proteins, fatty acids, nucleotides, and lipids. Notably, reprogrammed glucose metabolism and its associated events support the hallmark features of cancer such as sustained cell proliferation, hijacked apoptosis, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis. Overproduced enzymes involved in the committed steps of glycolysis (hexokinase, phosphofructokinase-1, and pyruvate kinase) are promising pharmacological targets for cancer therapeutics. In this review, we summarize the role of reprogrammed glucose metabolism in cancer cells and how it can be manipulated for anti-cancer strategies.
A Wide-Bandwidth PVT-Reconfigurable CMOS Power Amplifier with an Integrated Tunable-Output Impedance Matching Network
Authors: Mariappan Selvakumar , Rajendran Jagadheswaran , Kumar Narendra , Othman Masuri , Nathan Arokia , Grebennikov Andrei , Yarman Binboga S.
Published: February 2023

This paper proposes a wideband CMOS power amplifier (PA) with integrated digitally assisted wideband pre-distorter (DAWPD) and a transformer-integrated tunable-output impedance matching network. As a continuation of our previous research, which focused only on linearization tuning for wideband and PVT, this work emphasized improving the maximum output power, gain and PAE across the PVT variations while maintaining the linearity for a wide frequency bandwidth of 1 GHz. The DAWPD is employed at the driver stage to realize a pre-distorting characteristic for wideband linearization. The addition of the tunable-output impedance matching technique in this work provides stable output power, PAE and gain across the PVT variations, through which it improves the design’s robustness, reliability and production yield. Fabricated in CMOS 130 nm with an 8-metal-layer process, the DAWPD-PA with tunable-output impedance matching can achieve an operating frequency bandwidth of 1 GHz from 1.7 to 2.7 GHz. The DAWPD-PA attained a maximum output power of 27 to 28 dBm with a peak PAE of 38.8 to 41.3%. The power gain achieved was 26.9 to 29.7 dB across the targeted frequencies. In addition, when measured with a 20 MHz LTE modulated signal, the DAWPD-PA achieved a linear output power and PAE of 24.0 to 25.1 dBm and 34.5 to 38.8% across the frequency, respectively. On top of that, in this study, the DAWPD-PA is proven to be resilient to process-voltage-temperature (PVT) variations, where it achieves stable performances via the utilization of the proposed tuning mechanisms, mainly contributed by the proposed transformer-integrated tunable-output impedance matching network.
Analysis of Noise-Detection Characteristics of Electric Field Coupling in Quartz Flexible Accelerometer
Authors: Zhang Zhigang , Zhao Dongxue , He Huiyong , Tang Lijun , He Qian
Published: February 2023

The internal electric field coupling noise of a quartz flexible accelerometer (QFA) restricts the improvement of the measurement accuracy of the accelerometer. In this paper, the internal electric field coupling mechanism of a QFA is studied, an electric field coupling detection noise model of the accelerometer is established, the distributed capacitance among the components of the QFA is simulated, the structure of the detection noise transfer system of different carrier modulation differential capacitance detection circuits is analyzed, and the influence of each transfer chain on the detection noise is discussed. The simulation results of electric field coupling detection noise show that the average value of detection noise can reach 41.7 μg, which is close to the effective resolution of the QFA, 50 μg. This confirms that electric field coupling detection noise is a non-negligible factor affecting the measurement accuracy of the accelerometer. A method of adding a high-pass filter to the front of the phase-shifting circuit is presented to suppress the noise of electric field coupling detection. This method attenuates the average value of the detected noise by about 78 dB, and reduces the average value of the detected noise to less than 0.1 μg, which provides a new approach and direction for effectively breaking through the performance of the QFA.
Editorial for the Special Issue on Tunable Nanophotonics and Reconfigurable Metadevices
Authors: Fan Yuancheng , Bai Benfeng , Lin Yusheng
Published: February 2023

Photonic nano/microstructures (e [...]
Porous Structural Microfluidic Device for Biomedical Diagnosis: A Review
Authors: Chen Luyao , Guo Xin , Sun Xidi , Zhang Shuming , Wu Jing , Yu Huiwen , Zhang Tongju , Cheng Wen , Shi Yi , Pan Lijia
Published: February 2023

Microfluidics has recently received more and more attention in applications such as biomedical, chemical and medicine. With the development of microelectronics technology as well as material science in recent years, microfluidic devices have made great progress. Porous structures as a discontinuous medium in which the special flow phenomena of fluids lead to their potential and special applications in microfluidics offer a unique way to develop completely new microfluidic chips. In this article, we firstly introduce the fabrication methods for porous structures of different materials. Then, the physical effects of microfluid flow in porous media and their related physical models are discussed. Finally, the state-of-the-art porous microfluidic chips and their applications in biomedicine are summarized, and we present the current problems and future directions in this field.
Design and Analysis of Lithium–Niobate-Based Laterally Excited Bulk Acoustic Wave Resonator with Pentagon Spiral Electrodes
Authors: Xie Ying , Liu Wenjuan , Cai Yao , Wen Zhiwei , Luo Tiancheng , Liu Yan , Sun Chengliang
Published: February 2023

In this paper, we present a comprehensive study on the propagation and dispersion characteristics of A1 mode propagating in Z-cut LiNbO3 membrane. The A1 mode resonators with pentagon spiral electrodes utilizing Z-cut lithium niobate (LiNbO3) thin film are designed and fabricated. The proposed structure excites the A1 mode waves in both x- and y-direction by utilizing both the piezoelectric constants e24 and e15 due to applying voltage along both the x- and y-direction by arranging pentagon spiral electrode. The fabricated resonator operates at 5.43 GHz with no spurious mode and effective electromechanical coupling coefficient (Keff2) of 21.3%, when the width of electrode is 1 µm and the pitch is 5 µm. Moreover, we present a comprehensive study of the effect of different structure parameters on resonance frequency and Keff2 of XBAR. The Keff2 keeps a constant with varied thickness of LiNbO3 thin film and different electrode rotation angles, while it declines with the increase of p from 5 to 20 µm. The proposed XBAR with pentagon spiral electrodes realize high frequency response with no spurious mode and tunable Keff2, which shows promising prospects to satisfy the needs of various 5 G high-band application.
Evaluation of Effectiveness of a Novel Multicomponent Mycotoxins Detoxification Agent in the Presence of AFB1 and T-2 Toxin on Broiler Chicks
Authors: Stefanović Darko , Marinković Darko , Trailović Saša , Vasiljević Marko , Farkaš Hunor , Raj Jog , Tolimir Nataša , Radulović Stamen , Nešić Vladimir , Trailović Jelena Nedeljković , Petrujkić Branko
Published: February 2023

This experimental study was conducted to determine the ability of a novel mycotoxins detoxification agent (MR) at a concentration of 0.2% to reduce the toxicity of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) or T-2 toxin, alone or in combination, and to examine its effect on performance, pathohistological changes (PH) and the residue of these toxins in the tissues of broiler chicks. A total of 96 broiler chicks were divided into eight equal groups: group C, which served as control (without any additives); group MR, which received the novel detoxification agent (supplemented with 0.2%); group E-I (0.1 mg AFB1/kg of diet); group E-II (0.1 mg AFB1/kg of diet + MR 0.2%); group E-III (0.5 mg T-2 toxin/kg of diet); group E-IV (0.5 mg T-2 toxin/kg of diet + 0.2% MR); group E-V (combination of 0.1 mg AFB1/kg, 0.5 mg T-2 toxin/kg of diet); and group E-VI (combination of 0.1 mg AFB1/kg, 0.5 mg T-2 toxin + 0.2% MR). Results indicate that feeds containing AFB1 and T-2 toxin, alone or in combination, adversely affected the health and performance of poultry. However, the addition of MR to diets containing AFB1 and T-2 toxin singly and in combination exerted a positive effect on body weight, feed intake, weight gain, feed efficiency and microscopic lesions in visceral organs. Residual concentration of AFB1 in liver samples was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased when chicks were fed diets supplemented with 0.2% of MR.
Comparative Genomics of Halobacterium salinarum Strains Isolated from Salted Foods Reveals Protechnological Genes for Food Applications
Authors: Fontana Alessandra , Falasconi Irene , Bellassi Paolo , Fanfoni Elisabetta , Puglisi Edoardo , Morelli Lorenzo
Published: February 2023

Archaeal cell factories are becoming of great interest given their ability to produce a broad range of value-added compounds. Moreover, the Archaea domain often includes extremophilic microorganisms, facilitating their cultivation at the industrial level under nonsterile conditions. Halophilic archaea are studied for their ability to grow in environments with high NaCl concentrations. In this study, nine strains of Halobacterium salinarum were isolated from three different types of salted food, sausage casings, salted codfish, and bacon, and their genomes were sequenced along with the genome of the collection strain CECT 395. A comparative genomic analysis was performed on these newly sequenced genomes and the publicly available ones for a total of 19 H. salinarum strains. We elucidated the presence of unique gene clusters of the species in relation to the different ecological niches of isolation (salted foods, animal hides, and solar saltern sediments). Moreover, genome mining at the single-strain level highlighted the metabolic potential of H. salinarum UC4242, which revealed the presence of different protechnological genes (vitamins and myo-inositol biosynthetic pathways, aroma- and texture-related features, and antimicrobial compounds). Despite the presence of genes of potential concern (e.g., those involved in biogenic amine production), all the food isolates presented archaeocin-related genes (halocin-C8 and sactipeptides).
Responses of Nitrous Oxide Emissions and Bacterial Communities to Experimental Freeze–Thaw Cycles in Contrasting Soil Types
Authors: Li Wenyan , Mosongo Peter Semba , Dong Wenxu , Timilsina Arbindra , Sun Ruibo , Wang Fenghua , Walkiewicz Anna , Liu Binbin , Hu Chunsheng
Published: February 2023

Nitrous oxide (N2O) pulse emissions are detected in soils subjected to freeze–thaw cycles in both laboratory and field experiments. However, the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are poorly understood. In this study, a laboratory incubation experiment that included freeze–thaw cycles (FTC), freezing (F) and control (CK) treatments was performed on three typical Chinese upland soils, namely, fluvo-aquic soil (FS), black soil (BS) and loess soil (LS). A higher similarity in soil properties and bacterial community structure was discovered between FS and LS than between FS and BS or LS and BS, and the bacterial diversity of FS and LS was higher than that of BS. FTC significantly increased the denitrification potential and the proportion of N2O in the denitrification gas products in FS and LS but decreased the denitrification potential in BS. Accordingly, with the increasing number of freeze–thaw cycles, the bacterial community composition in the FTC treatments in FS and LS diverged from that in CK but changed little in BS. Taxa that responded to FTC or correlated with denitrification potential were identified. Taken together, our results demonstrated that the effects of FTC on N2O emissions are soil-type-dependent and that the shift in the microbial community structure may contribute to the elevated N2O emissions.
The Gut–Liver Axis in Pediatric Liver Health and Disease
Authors: Rager Stephanie L. , Zeng Melody Y.
Published: February 2023

There has been growing interest in the complex host–microbe interactions within the human gut and the role these interactions play in systemic health and disease. As an essential metabolic organ, the liver is intimately coupled to the intestinal microbial environment via the portal venous system. Our understanding of the gut–liver axis comes almost exclusively from studies of adults; the gut–liver axis in children, who have unique physiology and differing gut microbial communities, remains poorly understood. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of common pediatric hepatobiliary conditions and recent studies exploring the contributions of the gut microbiota to these conditions or changes of the gut microbiota due to these conditions. We examine the current literature regarding the microbial alterations that take place in biliary atresia, pediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Wilson’s disease, cystic fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and viral hepatitis. Finally, we propose potential therapeutic approaches involving modulation of the gut microbiota and the gut–liver axis to mitigate the progression of pediatric liver disease.
OGT Binding Peptide-Tagged Strategy Increases Protein O-GlcNAcylation Level in E. coli
Authors: Li Yang , Yang Zelan , Chen Jia , Chen Yihao , Jiang Chengji , Zhong Tao , Su Yanting , Liang Yi , Sun Hui
Published: February 2023

O-GlcNAcylation is a single glycosylation of GlcNAc mediated by OGT, which regulates the function of substrate proteins and is closely related to many diseases. However, a large number of O-GlcNAc-modified target proteins are costly, inefficient, and complicated to prepare. In this study, an OGT binding peptide (OBP)-tagged strategy for improving the proportion of O-GlcNAc modification was established successfully in E. coli. OBP (P1, P2, or P3) was fused with target protein Tau as tagged Tau. Tau or tagged Tau was co-constructed with OGT into a vector expressed in E. coli. Compared with Tau, the O-GlcNAc level of P1Tau and TauP1 increased 4~6-fold. Moreover, the P1Tau and TauP1 increased the O-GlcNAc-modified homogeneity. The high O-GlcNAcylation on P1Tau resulted in a significantly slower aggregation rate than Tau in vitro. This strategy was also used successfully to increase the O-GlcNAc level of c-Myc and H2B. These results indicated that the OBP-tagged strategy was a successful approach to improve the O-GlcNAcylation of a target protein for further functional research.
Determination of Anthraquinone-Tagged Amines Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Online UV Irradiation and Luminol Chemiluminescence Detection
Authors: Kishikawa Naoya , El-Maghrabey Mahmoud , Kawamoto Ayaka , Ohyama Kaname , Kuroda Naotaka
Published: February 2023

Quinones are frequently used as derivatization reagents in HPLC analysis to improve detection sensitivity. In the present study, a simple, sensitive, and selective chemiluminescence (CL) derivatization strategy for biogenic amines, prior to their HPLC-CL analysis, was developed. The novel CL derivatization strategy was established based on using anthraquinone-2-carbonyl chloride as derivatizing agent for amines and then using the unique property of the quinones’ moiety to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to UV irradiation. Typical amines such as tryptamine and phenethylamine were derivatized with anthraquinone-2-carbonyl chloride and then injected into an HPLC system equipped with an online photoreactor. The anthraquinone-tagged amines are separated and then UV-irradiated when they pass through a photoreactor to generate ROS from the quinone moiety of the derivative. Tryptamine and phenethylamine can be determined by measuring the chemiluminescence intensity produced by the reaction of the generated ROS with luminol. The chemiluminescence disappears when the photoreactor is turned off, suggesting that ROS are no longer generated from the quinone moiety in the absence of UV irradiation. This result indicates that the generation of ROS could be controlled by turning the photoreactor on and off. Under the optimized conditions, the limits of detection for tryptamine and phenethylamine were 124 and 84 nM, respectively. The developed method is successfully applied to determine the concentrations of tryptamine and phenethylamine in wine samples.
A Target-Triggered Emission Enhancement Strategy Based on a Y-Shaped DNA Fluorescent Nanoprobe with Aggregation-Induced Emission Characteristic for microRNA Imaging in Living Cells
Authors: Chen Zhe , Wang Zhuoyi , Yuan Yihua , Liu Bo , Yu Jiangbo , Wei Zhiwen , Yun Keming
Published: February 2023

DNA self-assembled fluorescent nanoprobes have been developed for bio-imaging owing to their high resistance to enzyme degradation and great cellular uptake capacity. In this work, we designed a new Y-shaped DNA fluorescent nanoprobe (YFNP) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristic for microRNA imaging in living cells. With the modification of the AIE dye, the constructed YFNP had a relatively low background fluorescence. However, the YFNP could emit a strong fluorescence due to the generation of microRNA-triggered AIE effect in the presence of target microRNA. Based on the proposed target-triggered emission enhancement strategy, microRNA-21 was detected sensitively and specifically with a detection limit of 122.8 pM. The designed YFNP showed higher bio-stability and cell uptake than the single-stranded DNA fluorescent probe, which has been successfully applied for microRNA imaging in living cells. More importantly, the microRNA-triggered dendrimer structure could be formed after the recognition of target microRNA, achieving a reliable microRNA imaging with a high spatiotemporal resolution. We expect that the proposed YFNP will become a promising candidate for bio-sensing and bio-imaging.
Antitumor Effect of Chalcone Derivatives against Human Prostate (LNCaP and PC-3), Cervix HPV-Positive (HeLa) and Lymphocyte (Jurkat) Cell Lines and Their Effect on Macrophage Functions
Authors: Horta Bruno , Freitas-Silva Joana , Silva Jani , Dias Francisca , Teixeira Ana Luísa , Medeiros Rui , Cidade Honorina , Pinto Madalena , Cerqueira Fátima
Published: February 2023

Chalcones are synthetic and naturally occurring compounds that have been widely investigated as anticancer agents. In this work, the effect of chalcones 1–18 against the metabolic viability of cervical (HeLa) and prostate (PC-3 and LNCaP) tumor cell lines was tested, to compare the activity against solid and liquid tumor cells. Their effect was also evaluated on the Jurkat cell line. Chalcone 16 showed the highest inhibitory effect on the metabolic viability of the tested tumor cells and was selected for further studies. Recent antitumor therapies include compounds with the ability to influence immune cells on the tumor microenvironment, with immunotherapy being one actual goal in cancer treatment. Therefore, the effect of chalcone 16 on the expression of mTOR, HIF-1α, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-10, and TGF-β, after THP-1 macrophage stimulation (none, LPS or IL-4), was evaluated. Chalcone 16 significantly increased the expression of mTORC1, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-10 of IL-4 stimulated macrophages (that induces an M2 phenotype). HIF-1α and TGF-β were not significantly affected. Chalcone 16 also decreased nitric oxide production by the RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cell line, this effect probably being due to an inhibition of iNOS expression. These results suggest that chalcone 16 may influence macrophage polarization, inducing the pro-tumoral M2 macrophages (IL-4 stimulated) to adopt a profile closer to the antitumor M1 profile.
Molecular Simulation Study on the Interaction between Porcine CR1-like and C3b
Authors: Hou Zhen , Yin Wei , Hao Zhili , Fan Kuohai , Sun Na , Sun Panpan , Li Hongquan
Published: February 2023

The molecular basis of porcine red blood cell immune adhesion function stems from the complement receptor type 1-like (CR1-like) on its cell membrane. The ligand for CR1-like is C3b, which is produced by the cleavage of complement C3; however, the molecular mechanism of the immune adhesion of porcine erythrocytes is still unclear. Here, homology modeling was used to construct three-dimensional models of C3b and two fragments of CR1-like. An interaction model of C3b–CR1-like was constructed by molecular docking, and molecular structure optimization was achieved using molecular dynamics simulation. A simulated alanine mutation scan revealed that the amino acids Tyr761, Arg763, Phe765, Thr789, and Val873 of CR1-like SCR 12–14 and the amino acid residues Tyr1210, Asn1244, Val1249, Thr1253, Tyr1267, Val1322, and Val1339 of CR1-like SCR 19–21 are key residues involved in the interaction of porcine C3b with CR1-like. This study investigated the interaction between porcine CR1-like and C3b using molecular simulation to clarify the molecular mechanism of the immune adhesion of porcine erythrocytes.
Finite Element Modelling of a Gram-Negative Bacterial Cell and Nanospike Array for Cell Rupture Mechanism Study
Authors: Islam Majedul , Aldawsari Falah Sahal S. , Yarlagadda Prasad K. D. V.
Published: February 2023

Inspired by nature, it is envisaged that a nanorough surface exhibits bactericidal properties by rupturing bacterial cells. In order to study the interaction mechanism between the cell membrane of a bacteria and a nanospike at the contact point, a finite element model was developed using the ABAQUS software package. The model, which saw a quarter of a gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) cell membrane adhered to a 3 × 6 array of nanospikes, was validated by the published results, which show a reasonably good agreement with the model. The stress and strain development in the cell membrane was modeled and were observed to be spatially linear and temporally nonlinear. From the study, it was observed that the bacterial cell wall was deformed around the location of the nanospike tips as full contact was generated. Around the contact point, the principal stress reached above the critical stress leading to a creep deformation that is expected to cause cell rupture by penetrating the nanospike, and the mechanism is envisaged to be somewhat similar to that of a paper punching machine. The obtained results in this project can provide an insight on how bacterial cells of a specific species are deformed when they adhere to nanospikes, and how it is ruptured using this mechanism.
Thermosonication of Orange-Carrot Juice Blend: Overall Quality during Refrigerated Storage, and Sensory Acceptance
Authors: Lepaus Bárbara Morandi , Santos Anna Karoline Pereira de Oliveira , Spaviero Arthur Favoretti , Daud Polliany Strassmann , de São José Jackline Freitas Brilhante
Published: February 2023

Ultrasound combined with high temperatures (thermosonication) is an alternative to thermal treatments applied for juice preservation purposes. Blend juices, such as orange-carrot juice, are an interesting option for consumers due to their diversity of unique flavors. The main aim of the present study is to investigate thermosonication’s impact on the overall quality of an orange-carrot juice blend over 22-day storage at 7 °C, in comparison to thermal treatment. Sensory acceptance was assessed on the first storage day. The juice blend was prepared based on using 700 mL of orange juice and 300 g of carrot. The effect of ultrasound treatment at 40, 50, and 60 °C for 5 and 10 min, as well as of thermal treatment at 90 °C for 30 s, on the physicochemical, nutritional, and microbiological quality of the investigated orange-carrot juice blend was tested. Both the ultrasound and the thermal treatment could maintain pH, °Brix, total titratable acidity, total carotenoid content, total phenolic compounds, and the antioxidant capacity of untreated juice samples. All ultrasound treatments improved samples’ brightness and hue value, and made the juice brighter and redder. Only ultrasound treatments at 50 °C/10 min and at 60 °C/10 min have significantly reduced total coliform counts at 35 °C. Thus, they were selected along with untreated juice for sensory analysis, whereas thermal treatment was used for comparison purposes. Thermosonication at 60 °C for 10 min recorded the lowest scores for juice flavor, taste, overall acceptance, and purchase intention. Thermal treatment and ultrasound at 60 °C for 5 min recorded similar scores. Minimal variations in quality parameters were observed over 22-day storage in all treatments. Thermosonication at 60 °C for 5 min has improved samples’ microbiological safety and resulted in good sensorial acceptance. Although thermosonication has the potential to be used in orange-carrot juice processing, further investigations are necessary to enhance its microbial effect on this product.
Can AI-Oriented Requirements Enhance Human-Centered Design of Intelligent Interactive Systems? Results from a Workshop with Young HCI Designers
Authors: Battistoni Pietro , Di Gregorio Marianna , Romano Marco , Sebillo Monica , Vitiello Giuliana
Published: February 2023

In this paper, we show that the evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) and its increased presence within an interactive system pushes designers to rethink the way in which AI and its users interact and to highlight users’ feelings towards AI. For novice designers, it is crucial to acknowledge that both the user and artificial intelligence possess decision-making capabilities. Such a process may involve mediation between humans and artificial intelligence. This process should also consider the mutual learning that can occur between the two entities over time. Therefore, we explain how to adapt the Human-Centered Design (HCD) process to give centrality to AI as the user, further empowering the interactive system, and to adapt the interaction design to the actual capabilities, limitations, and potentialities of AI. This is to encourage designers to explore the interactions between AI and humans and focus on the potential user experience. We achieve such centrality by extracting and formalizing a new category of AI requirements. We have provocatively named this extension: “Intelligence-Centered”. A design workshop with MsC HCI students was carried out as a case study supporting this change of perspective in design.
Thermal Effect during Laser-Induced Plasmonic Heating of Polyelectrolyte-Coated Gold Nanorods in Well Plates
Authors: Jiracheewanun Sujin , Cortie Michael B. , Pissuwan Dakrong
Published: February 2023

We examined the generation and transfer of heat when laser irradiation is applied to water containing a suspension of gold nanorods coated with different polyelectrolytes. The ubiquitous well plate was used as the geometry for these studies. The predictions of a finite element model were compared to experimental measurements. It is found that relatively high fluences must be applied in order to generate biologically relevant changes in temperature. This is due to the significant lateral heat transfer from the sides of the well, which strongly limits the temperature that can be achieved. A 650 mW continuous-wave (CW) laser, with a wavelength that is similar to the longitudinal plasmon resonance peak of the gold nanorods, can deliver heat with an overall efficiency of up to 3%. This is double the efficiency achievable without the nanorods. An increase in temperature of up to 15 °C can be achieved, which is suitable for the induction of cell death by hyperthermia. The nature of the polymer coating on the surface of the gold nanorods is found to have a small effect.
Biocompatible, Resilient, and Tough Nanocellulose Tunable Hydrogels
Authors: Rudich Amir , Sapru Sunaina , Shoseyov Oded
Published: February 2023

Hydrogels have been proposed as potential candidates for many different applications. However, many hydrogels exhibit poor mechanical properties, which limit their applications. Recently, various cellulose-derived nanomaterials have emerged as attractive candidates for nanocomposite-reinforcing agents due to their biocompatibility, abundance, and ease of chemical modification. Due to abundant hydroxyl groups throughout the cellulose chain, the grafting of acryl monomers onto the cellulose backbone by employing oxidizers such as cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate ([NH4]2[Ce(NO3)6], CAN) has proven a versatile and effective method. Moreover, acrylic monomers such as acrylamide (AM) may also polymerize by radical methods. In this work, cerium-initiated graft polymerization was applied to cellulose-derived nanomaterials, namely cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), in a polyacrylamide (PAAM) matrix to fabricate hydrogels that display high resilience (~92%), high tensile strength (~0.5 MPa), and toughness (~1.9 MJ/m3). We propose that by introducing mixtures of differing ratios of CNC and CNF, the composite’s physical behavior can be fine-tuned across a wide range of mechanical and rheological properties. Moreover, the samples proved to be biocompatible when seeded with green fluorescent protein (GFP)-transfected mouse fibroblasts (3T3s), showing a significant increase in cell viability and proliferation compared to samples comprised of acrylamide alone.
Effects of Post-UV/Ozone Treatment on Electrical Characteristics of Solution-Processed Copper Oxide Thin-Film Transistors
Authors: Lee Hyeonju , Kim Dongwook , Shin Hyunji , Bae Jin-Hyuk , Park Jaehoon
Published: February 2023

To realize oxide semiconductor-based complementary circuits and better transparent display applications, the electrical properties of p-type oxide semiconductors and the performance improvement of p-type oxide thin-film transistors (TFTs) are required. In this study, we report the effects of post-UV/ozone (O3) treatment on the structural and electrical characteristics of copper oxide (CuO) semiconductor films and the TFT performance. The CuO semiconductor films were fabricated using copper (II) acetate hydrate as a precursor material to solution processing and the UV/O3 treatment was performed as a post-treatment after the CuO film was fabricated. During the post-UV/O3 treatment for up to 13 min, the solution-processed CuO films exhibited no meaningful change in the surface morphology. On the other hand, analysis of the Raman and X-ray photoemission spectra of solution-processed CuO films revealed that the post-UV/O3 treatment induced compressive stress in the film and increased the composition concentration of Cu–O lattice bonding. In the post-UV/O3-treated CuO semiconductor layer, the Hall mobility increased significantly to approximately 280 cm2 V−1 s−1, and the conductivity increased to approximately 4.57 × 10−2 Ω−1 cm−1. Post-UV/O3-treated CuO TFTs also showed improved electrical properties compared to those of untreated CuO TFTs. The field-effect mobility of the post-UV/O3-treated CuO TFT increased to approximately 6.61 × 10−3 cm−2 V−1 s−1, and the on-off current ratio increased to approximately 3.51 × 103. These improvements in the electrical characteristics of CuO films and CuO TFTs can be understood through the suppression of weak bonding and structural defects between Cu and O bonds after post-UV/O3 treatment. The result demonstrates that the post-UV/O3 treatment can be a viable method to improve the performance of p-type oxide TFTs.
Stretchable Woven Fabric-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Energy Harvesting and Self-Powered Sensing
Authors: Chen Lijun , Wang Tairan , Shen Yunchu , Wang Fumei , Chen Chaoyu
Published: February 2023

With the triboelectric nanogenerator developing in recent years, it has gradually become a promising alternative to fossil energy and batteries. Its rapid advancements also promote the combination of triboelectric nanogenerators and textiles. However, the limited stretchability of fabric-based triboelectric nanogenerators hindered their development in wearable electronic devices. Here, in combination with the polyamide (PA) conductive yarn, polyester multifilament, and polyurethane yarn, a highly stretchable woven fabric-based triboelectric nanogenerator (SWF-TENG) with the three elementary weaves is developed. Different from the normal woven fabric without elasticity, the loom tension of the elastic warp yarn is much larger than non-elastic warp yarn in the weaving process, which results in the high elasticity of the woven fabric coming from the loom. Based on the unique and creative woven method, SWF-TENGs are qualified with excellent stretchability (up to 300%), flexibility, comfortability, and excellent mechanical stability. It also exhibits good sensitivity and fast responsibility to the external tensile strain, which can be used as a bend–stretch sensor to detect and identify human gait. Its collected power under pressure mode is capable of lighting up 34 light-emitting diodes (LEDs) by only hand-tapping the fabric. SWF-TENG can be mass-manufactured by using the weaving machine, which decreases fabricating costs and accelerates industrialization. Based on these merits, this work provides a promising direction toward stretchable fabric-based TENGs with wide applications in wearable electronics, including energy harvesting and self-powered sensing.
Substrate and Excitation Intensity Dependence of Saturable Absorption in Perovskite Quantum Dot Films
Authors: Bhowmick Mithun , Ullrich Bruno , Murchland Madeline , Zhou Xuan , Ramkumar Chari
Published: February 2023

Saturable absorption in perovskite quantum dot (PQD) films, leading to saturation in photoluminescence (PL), is reported. PL of drop-casting films was used to probe how excitation intensity and host–substrate influence the growth of PL intensity. The PQD films were deposited on single-crystal GaAs, InP, Si wafers and glass. Saturable absorption was confirmed through PL saturation in all films, with different excitation intensity thresholds, suggesting strong substrate-dependent optical properties, resulting from absorption nonlinearities in the system. The observations extend our former studies (Appl. Phys. Lett., 2021, 119, 19, 192103), wherein we pointed out that the PL saturation in QDs can be used to create all-optical switches in combination with a bulk semiconductor host.