bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reduction‐Induced Uptake of Cs+ in Metal–Organic Frameworks Loaded with Polyoxometalates
Authors: Nagasaka Cocoro A. , Ogiwara Naoki , Kobayashi Shunsuke , Uchida Sayaka
Published: December 2023

Materials for Cs+ adsorption continue to be important for the treatment of various solutions. Metal−organic frameworks (MOFs) with large specific surface areas promise adsorption properties for various gases, vapors, and ions. However, the utilization of MOFs for alkali ion capture, specifically, Cs+ capture is still in its infancy. Herein, MOFs are hybridized with polyoxometalates (POMs) to study the effect of i) MOF type, ii) POM type, and iii) POM loading amounts on Cs+ capture. In particular, the composite of ZIF‐8 and [α‐PMo12O40]3− (PMo12/ZIF‐8) adsorbed Cs+ ions effectively when compared to pristine ZIF‐8. In addition, the reduction of Mo within the POM from MoVI to MoV by ascorbic acid during the Cs+ uptake process doubled the Cs+ uptake capacity of PMo12/ZIF‐8. This observation can be attributed to the increased overall negative charge of the POM facilitating Cs+ uptake to compensate for the charge imbalance. Hybridization with other MOFs (MIL‐101 and UiO‐66) largely suppresses the Cs+ uptake, highlighting the importance of hydrophobicity in Cs+ capture. Furthermore, PMo12/ZIF‐8 led to an outstanding Cs+ uptake (291.5 mg g−1) with high selectivity (79.6%) from quinary mixtures of alkali metal cations even among other representative porous materials (Prussian blue and zeolites).
Toward a Synergistic Optimization of Porous Electrode Formulation and Polysulfide Regulation in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Yari Saeed , Henderick Lowie , Choobar Behnam Ghalami , Detavernier Christophe , Safari Mohammadhosein
Published: December 2023

The use of functional materials is a popular strategy to mitigate the polysulfide‐induced accelerated aging of lithium–sulfur (Li‐S) batteries. However, deep insights into the role of electrode design and formulation are less elaborated in the available literature. Such information is not easy to unearth from the existing reports on account of the scattered nature of the data and the big dissimilarities among the reported materials, preparation protocols, and cycling conditions. In this study, model functional materials known for their affinity toward polysulfide species, are integrated into the porous sulfur electrodes at different quantities and with various spatial distributions. The electrodes are assembled in 240 lithium–sulfur cells and thoroughly analyzed for their short‐ and long‐term electrochemical performance. Advanced data processing and visualization techniques enable the unraveling of the impact of porous electrodes’ formulation and design on self‐discharge, sulfur utilization, and capacity loss. The results highlight and quantify the sensitivity of the cell performance to the synergistic interactions of catalyst loading and its spatial positioning with respect to the sulfur particles and carbon‐binder domain. The findings of this work pave the road for a holistic optimization of the advanced sulfur electrodes for durable Li–S batteries.
Strategies for Enhancing the Photocatalytic and Electrocatalytic Efficiency of Covalent Triazine Frameworks for CO2 Reduction
Authors: Liu Gang , Liu Shaobo , Lai Cui , Qin Lei , Zhang Mingming , Li Yixia , Xu Mengyi , Ma Dengsheng , Xu Fuhang , Liu Shiyu , Dai Mingyang , Chen Qiang
Published: December 2023

Converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into fuel and high‐value‐added chemicals is considered a green and effective way to solve global energy and environmental problems. Covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs) are extensively utilized as an emerging catalyst for photo/electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) recently recognized for their distinctive qualities, including excellent thermal and chemical stability, π‐conjugated structure, rich nitrogen content, and a strong affinity for CO2, etc. Nevertheless, single‐component CTFs have the problems of accelerated recombination of photoexcited electron‐hole pairs and restricted conductivity, which limit their application for photo/electrocatalytic CO2RR. Therefore, emphasis will then summarize the strategies for enhancing the photocatalytic and electrocatalytic efficiency of CTFs for CO2RR in this paper, including atom doping, constructing a heterojunction structure, etc. This review first illustrates the synthesis strategies of CTFs and the advantages of CTFs in the field of photo/electrocatalytic CO2RR. Subsequently, the mechanism of CTF‐based materials in photo/electrocatalytic CO2RR is described. Lastly, the challenges and future prospects of CTFs in photo/electrocatalytic CO2RR are addressed, which offers a fresh perspective for the future development of CTFs in photo/electrocatalytic CO2RR.
Stopping Microfluidic Flow
Authors: Sahin Mehmet Akif , Shehzad Muhammad , Destgeer Ghulam
Published: December 2023

A cross‐comparison of three stop‐flow configurations—such as low‐pressure (LSF), high‐pressure open‐circuit (OC‐HSF), and high‐pressure short‐circuit (SC‐HSF) stop‐flow—is presented to rapidly bring a high velocity flow O(m s−1) within a microchannel to a standstill O(µm s−1). The performance of three stop‐flow configurations is assessed by measuring residual flow velocities within microchannels having three orders of magnitude different flow resistances. The LSF configuration outperforms the OC‐HSF and SC‐HSF configurations within a high flow resistance microchannel and results in a residual velocity of <10 µm s−1. The OC‐HSF configuration results in a residual velocity of <150 µm s−1 within a low flow resistance microchannel. The SC‐HSF configuration results in a residual velocity of <200 µm s−1 across the three orders‐of‐magnitude different flow resistance microchannels, and <100 µm s−1 for the low flow resistance channel. It is hypothesized that residual velocity results from compliance in fluidic circuits, which is further investigated by varying the elasticity of microchannel walls and connecting tubing. A numerical model is developed to estimate the expanded volumes of the compliant microchannel and connecting tubings under a pressure gradient and to calculate the distance traveled by the sample fluid. A comparison of the numerically and experimentally obtained traveling distances confirms the hypothesis that the residual velocities are an outcome of the compliance in the fluidic circuit.
Heteroepitaxial Growth to Construct Hexagonal/Hexagonal β‐NaYF4:Yb,Tm/Cs4PbBr6 Multi‐Code Emitting Core/Shell Nanocrystals
Authors: Gao Rui , Xu Wanqing , Wang Zhiqing , Li Fen , Liu Yueli , Li Guogang , Chen Keqiang
Published: December 2023

Synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs)‐metal halide perovskites (MHPs) heterostructure is garnered immense attentions due to their unparalleled photophysical properties. However, the obvious difference in their structural forms makes it a huge challenge. Herein, hexagonal β‐NaYF4 and hexagonal Cs4PbBr6 are filtrated to construct the UCNP/MHP heterostructural luminescent material. The similarity in their crystal structures facilitate the heteroepitaxial growth of Cs4PbBr6 on the surface of β‐NaYF4 NPs, leading to the formation of high‐quality β‐NaYF4:Yb,Tm/Cs4PbBr6 core/shell nanocrystals (NCs). Interestingly, this heterostructure endows the core/shell NCs with typically narrow‐band green emission centered at 524 nm under 980 nm excitation, which should be attributed to the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) from Tm3+ to Cs4PbBr6. It is noteworthy that the FRET efficiency of β‐NaYF4:Yb,Tm/Cs4PbBr6 core/shell NCs (58.33%) is much higher than that of the physically mixed sample (1.84%). In addition, the reduced defect density, lattice anchoring effect, as well as diluted ionic bonding proportion induced by the core/shell structure further increase the excellent water‐resistance and thermal cycling stability of Cs4PbBr6. These findings open up a new way to construct UCNP/MHP heterostructure with better multi‐code luminescence performance and stability and promote its wide optoelectronic applications.
Osteoporotic Bone Regeneration via Plenished Biomimetic PLGA Scaffold with Sequential Release System
Authors: Lee Jun‐Kyu , Kim Da‐Seul , Park So‐Yeon , Jung Ji‐Won , Baek Seung‐Woon , Lee Semi , Kim Jun Hyuk , Ahn Tae‐Keun , Han Dong Keun
Published: December 2023

Achieving satisfactory bone tissue regeneration in osteoporotic patients with ordinary biomaterials is challenging because of the decreased bone mineral density and aberrant bone microenvironment. In addressing this issue, a biomimetic scaffold (PMEH/SP), incorporating 4‐hexylresorcinol (4HR), and substance P (SP) into the poly(lactic‐go‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffold with magnesium hydroxide (M) and extracellular matrix (E) is introduced, enabling the consecutive release of bioactive agents. 4HR and SP induced the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and ERK in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), thereby upregulating VEGF expression level. The migration and tube‐forming ability of endothelial cells can be promoted by the scaffold, which accelerates the formation and maturation of the bone. Moreover, 4HR played a crucial role in the inhibition of osteoclastogenesis by interrupting the IκB/NF‐κB signaling pathway and exhibiting SP, thereby enhancing the migration and angiogenesis of HUVECs. Based on such a synergistic effect, osteoporosis can be suppressed, and bone regeneration can be achieved by inhibiting the RANKL pathway in vitro and in vivo, which is a commonly known mechanism of bone physiology. Therefore, the study presents a promising approach for developing a multifunctional regenerative material for sophisticated osteoporotic bone regeneration.
The ABCs of appreciative‐based change: An appreciative service‐learning model
Authors: Poteet Christie
Published: December 2023

The Appreciative‐Based Change (ABC) Model of Community Engagement focuses on strengthening partnerships and maximizing impact by using an appreciative approach to service‐learning while addressing the challenges of community‐university partnerships. The model offers phases that identify and leverage unified strengths, assets, and resources to create positive change.
Appreciative administration in action: How the appreciative education theory‐to‐practice framework is being infused into higher education administrative practices
Authors: Elsberry Meagan , Bloom Jennifer L. , Cuevas Amanda Propst , Beorchia Mykel
Published: December 2023

Today's higher education leaders are tasked with devising creative solutions to issues under formidable circumstances. Appreciative Administration offers a creative theory‐to‐practice framework to help higher education organizations thrive. The purpose of this article is to provide an updated definition and explore practical applications of the Appreciative Administration theory‐to‐practice framework.
Ion Monitoring at Nanoscale Sites of Interorganelle Membrane Contact in Living Cells
Authors: Sun Ting , Wang Han , Zhang Xinfu , Ling Peixue , Xiao Yi , Chen Qixin , Chen Xiaoyuan
Published: December 2023

Nanostructural contact sites formed by interorganelle membrane contacts, including mitochondria and lysosome contacts (MLC), facilitate the exchange of substances during various life processes. However, existing bioanalytical technologies have yet to provide accurate information on the exchange of substances, as these techniques exhibit limited spatial and temporal resolution. To address this limitation, a strategy is proposed that combines fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) probes with high spatial resolution detection and super‐resolution microscopes (SRM) that feature time‐resolved imaging. Specifically, a proof‐of‐concept approach is presented for monitoring H+ fluctuations during MLC with a spatial H+ biosensor targeting lysosomes, BDP‐RhB. The biosensor comprises H+‐sensitive rhodamine B as a FRET acceptor connected by a flexible chain to a BODIPY derivative as a donor. The acidity of MLC sites may vary, influencing the spatial distance of the flexible chain and causing a fluorescence transition in BDP‐RhB. Consequently, the spatial distribution of H+ can be identified using SRM. Furthermore, an algorithm has been developed to screen and identify potential compounds that control substance exchange in the MLC. Collectively, this work presents the dynamic of H+ in lysosomes within living cells, which provides a drug screening tool for studying substance exchange through interorganelle membrane contacts.
A Fractional‐Order Kinetics Approach for Modeling Enzymatic Starch Multiscale Digestion
Authors: Alvarez‐Ramirez Jose , Vernon‐Carter Eduardo Jaime , Bello‐Perez Luis A.
Published: December 2023

The characterization of the enzymatic hydrolysis of starch is a prerequisite for assessing the impact of starchy food in the gastrointestinal tract. The issue is relevant given the necessity of tailoring food products with a prescribed capacity of glucose production. Several empirical functions have been proposed for modeling starch digestograms. The first‐order exponential and the Weibull models are among the most used functions. Although tight numerical fitting of the experimental data may be obtained with such functions, a reliable interpretation of the underlying parameters is commonly a drawback. This work explores the use of fractional‐order kinetics for the modeling of starch digestograms. The aims are to show that: a) the fractional‐order framework offers a framework for capturing multiscale patterns observed, and b) the Weibull's and Peleg's models are particular cases of a more general function expressed as a generalized (Mittag‐Leffler) exponential function. The results showed that the Mittag–Leffler exponential function provided the best‐fitting results. However, the gain relative to Weibull's and fractional Peleg's functions may be small. It is concluded that Weibull's function approximates a more general function (the Mittag‐Leffler function), and as such its parameters find an easier interpretation in terms of the hydrolysis kinetics.
A novel lead‐free relaxor with endotaxial nanostructures for capacitive energy storage
Authors: Dong Xiaoyan , Hu Tengfei , Wu Xiaojun , Yin Jie , Fu Zhengqian , Wu Jiagang
Published: December 2023

Dielectric capacitors with a fast charging/discharging rate, high power density, and long‐term stability are essential components in modern electrical devices. However, miniaturizing and integrating capacitors face a persistent challenge in improving their energy density (Wrec) to satisfy the specifications of advanced electronic systems and applications. In this work, leveraging phase‐field simulations, we judiciously designed a novel lead‐free relaxor ferroelectric material for enhanced energy storage performance, featuring flexible distributed weakly polar endotaxial nanostructures (ENs) embedded within a strongly polar fluctuation matrix. The matrix contributes to substantially enhanced polarization under an external electric field, and the randomly dispersed ENs effectively optimize breakdown phase proportion and provide a strong restoring force, which are advantageous in bolstering breakdown strength and minimizing hysteresis. Remarkably, this relaxor ferroelectric system incorporating ENs achieves an exceptionally high Wrec value of 10.3 J/cm3, accompanied by a large energy storage efficiency (η) of 85.4%. This work introduces a promising avenue for designing new relaxor materials capable of capacitive energy storage with exceptional performance characteristics.
Lessons from 2019–2020 Landslide Risk Assessment in an Urban Area of Volcanic Soils in Pereira-Colombia
Authors: Ríos Diego , Ávila Guillermo
Published: December 2023

The city of Pereira is in the central-western region of Colombia, in the valley of the Otún River in the Central Cordillera of the Colombian Andes, whose soils are mostly composed of volcanic ash and Lahar flows. On June 11, 2019, after intense rains, a landslide of about 13,000 m3 was triggered. This landslide killed 4 people, interrupted the traffic on an important national road, and endangered the airport runway. Just after the event, it was necessary to evacuate 100 homes, located in the upper part of the slope and 234 in the following days. A second landslide occurred on July 24, 2020, mobilizing 52,000 m3 and affecting 33 of the previously evacuated houses, then there were about 20 more small landslides. A zone of about 2.300 m long and 300 m wide (69 ha) was identified to be susceptible to new landslides that may affect more than 15.000 people. Identification of landslide triggering factors, failure, post-failure behavior, and the retrogressive landslide advance are reviewed because they are key factors for an effective hazard evaluation and risk governance. The landslide event was also used to calibrate a general methodological guide for landslide risk assessment, developed by the Colombian Geological Service and the National University of Colombia (Ávila et al. 2016) that has been extensively applied for the inclusion of risk evaluation in the land use planning, as required by the Colombian legislation.
A novel approach for gingiva thickness measurements around lower anterior teeth by means of dental magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Schwarz Linda , Unger Ewald , Gahleitner André , Rausch-Fan Xiaohui , Jonke Erwin
Published: December 2023

Objective

This diagnostic accuracy study aims to present the first measurements of gingiva thickness around lower anterior teeth using dental magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to compare these measurements with two established methods: (1) gingival phenotype assessment via periodontal probing, and (2) the superimposition of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans with intraoral scans of teeth and gums.

Materials and methods

Ten patients with substantial orthodontic treatment need and anterior mandibular crowding were consecutively included in this clinical case series. After periodontal probing, each patient underwent a CBCT scan, an intraoral scan of the mandible, and an MRI investigation using a novel mandibula 15-channel dental coil.

Results

The mean gingiva thickness was 0.72 mm measured on MRI and 0.97 mm measured on CBCT, with a mean difference between the measurement methods of 0.17 ± 0.27 mm (p < 0.001). Measurement agreement between the index tests (MRI and CBCT) and the clinical reference standard (probing) yielded an overall percent agreement of 64.94% and 47.02% for MRI and CBCT, respectively. Teeth with thin phenotypes were associated with lower soft tissue dimensions in both free (MRI: 0.56 mm vs. CBCT: 0.79 mm) and supracrestal gingiva (MRI: 0.75 mm vs. CBCT: 1.03 mm) when compared to those with thick phenotypes. However, only the measurements obtained from MRI scans showed statistically significant differences between the two phenotypes.

Conclusion

Dental MRI successfully visualizes delicate structures like the gingiva in the anterior mandible and achieves a high correlation with superimposed CBCT scans, with clinically acceptable deviations.

Clinical relevance

The present study helps to establish dental MRI as a radiation-free alternative to conventional radiographic methods.
ToRaRI (Tofacitinib in Rheumatoid Arthritis a Real-Life experience in Italy): Effectiveness, safety profile of tofacitinib and concordance between patient-reported outcomes and physician's global assessment of disease activity in a retrospective study in Central-Italy
Authors: D’Alessandro Francesco , Cazzato Massimiliano , Laurino Elenia , Morganti Riccardo , Bardelli Marco , Frediani Bruno , Buongarzone Claudia , Moroncini Gianluca , Guiducci Serena , Cometi Laura , Benucci Maurizio , Ligobbi Francesca , Marotto Daniela , Mosca Marta
Published: December 2023

Introduction

The use of Janus Kinase Inhibitors (JAK-Is) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has entered in daily practice. In consideration of ORAL-Surveillance trial and the new EULAR recommendations, real-world data are needed to assess Jak-Is safety and effectiveness. The multicenter study presented here aimed to evaluate effectiveness and safety of tofacitinib in a real-life cohort.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed from September 2021 to December 2022. Data were collected when tofacitinib was started (T0) and after 3 (T3), 6 (T6) and 12 (T12) months of treatment. The primary objective was to analyze the efficacy and safety of tofacitinib. Safety was assessed by recording adverse events (AEs) with and without discontinuation.

The secondary objective was to assess the difference between Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs) and Physician's Global Assessment of disease activity (PhGA).

Results

122 patients were included in the study from the following rheumatology Centers: Pisa, Ancona, Florence (two Centers), Siena, and Sardinia. A statistically significant improvement in DAS-28-CRP, CDAI and SDAI score was observed at T3, T6, compared to baseline (p < 0.001). Improvement was confirmed in patients who reach T12. Patients naïve to bDMARDs showed a shorter remission time and higher remission rates. There was also a statistically significant improvement in PROs compared to baseline (p < 0.001). The improvement was rapid and was consistent with PhGA. The 12-month retention rate for tofacitinib was 89.35%. Reasons to stop tofacitinib were: insufficient response (7), gastrointestinal symptoms (2), infection (1), malignancy (1), Zoster (1), pruritus sine materia (1).

Conclusions

Tofacitinib is safe and effective in our RA cohort. It induces higher remission rates in patients naive to bDMARDs, suggesting that there may be a benefit using it as first-line therapy. Additionally, improvement in PROs was consistent with PhGA scores, demonstrating how tofacitinib affects both the objective and subjective components of disease activity.

Key Points1. JAK inhibitors are considered at a similar level as biologic agents in terms of effectiveness.2. After ORAL-Surveillance results, real-world data are needed to assess the benefit/risk profile of Jaki.3. Disagreement between patients and physicians has been previously reported with biologic therapy among patients with rheumatoid arthritis, with patients rating disease activity higher than physicians.4. Jak inhibitors could reduce this discrepancy, due to their mechanism of action.
Air quality and cancer risk in the All of Us Research Program
Authors: Craver Andrew , Luo Jiajun , Kibriya Muhammad G. , Randorf Nina , Bahl Kendall , Connellan Elizabeth , Powell Johnny , Zakin Paul , Jones Rena R. , Argos Maria , Ho Joyce , Kim Karen , Daviglus Martha L. , Greenland Philip , Ahsan Habibul , Aschebrook-Kilfoy Briseis
Published: December 2023

Introduction

The NIH All of Us Research Program has enrolled over 544,000 participants across the US with unprecedented racial/ethnic diversity, offering opportunities to investigate myriad exposures and diseases. This paper aims to investigate the association between PM2.5 exposure and cancer risks.

Materials and methods

This work was performed on data from 409,876 All of Us Research Program participants using the All of Us Researcher Workbench. Cancer case ascertainment was performed using data from electronic health records and the self-reported Personal Medical History questionnaire. PM2.5 exposure was retrieved from NASA’s Earth Observing System Data and Information Center and assigned using participants’ 3-digit zip code prefixes. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Generalized additive models (GAMs) were used to investigate non-linear relationships.

Results

A total of 33,387 participants and 46,176 prevalent cancer cases were ascertained from participant EHR data, while 20,297 cases were ascertained from self-reported survey data from 18,133 participants; 9,502 cancer cases were captured in both the EHR and survey data. Average PM2.5 level from 2007 to 2016 was 8.90 μg/m3 (min 2.56, max 15.05). In analysis of cancer cases from EHR, an increased odds for breast cancer (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.09–1.25), endometrial cancer (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.09–1.62) and ovarian cancer (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.01–1.42) in the 4th quartile of exposure compared to the 1st. In GAM, higher PM2.5 concentration was associated with increased odds for blood cancer, bone cancer, brain cancer, breast cancer, colon and rectum cancer, endocrine system cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, and thyroid cancer.

Conclusions

We found evidence of an association of PM2.5 with breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancers. There is little to no prior evidence in the literature on the impact of PM2.5 on risk of these cancers, warranting further investigation.
Discerning Philosophy in the Uttarāmnāya Liturgies of the Newars
Authors: Pangsrivongse Pongsit
Published: December 2023

Although the Kaula literature of the Newars did not give rise to a systematic philosophical school like that of their Kashmiri counterparts, I will argue in this article that philosophical thinking can be detected in Newar ritual texts. I do this by translating and analysing the unpublished Kālīsūtra, an important hymn found in Newar Uttarāmnāya liturgies whose transmission and composition will also be touched upon. This hymn indicates that the cult of Kālī in Nepal had a distinct ontological stance tending towards a non-dualism which was world-affirming while also seeing consciousness as the ultimate reality. Several key conceptual strands of the Sūtra such as the relationship between transcendence and immanence, reality and cognition and the divine and the body will be elaborated upon. In the process, I will show that the Kālīsūtra’s philosophy brings into sharper focus doctrines already present in the canonical Krama and thus displays many affinities with the Pratyabhijñā, a school which shares its cultic backdrop.
Microbiome and pregnancy: focus on microbial dysbiosis coupled with maternal obesity
Authors: Beckers Kalie F. , Flanagan Juliet P. , Sones Jenny L.
Published: December 2023

Obesity is becoming a worldwide pandemic with over one billion people affected. Of women in the United States, who are of childbearing age, two-thirds of them are considered overweight/obese. Offspring of women with obesity have a greater likelihood of developing cardiometabolic disease later in life, therefore making obesity a transgenerational issue. Emerging topics such as maternal microbial dysbiosis with altered levels of bacterial phyla and maternal obesity programming offspring cardiometabolic disease are a novel area of research discussed in this review. In the authors’ opinion, beneficial therapeutics will be developed from knowledge of bacterial-host interactions at the most specific level possible. Although there is an abundance of obesity-related microbiome research, it is not concise, readily available, nor easy to interpret at this time. This review details the current knowledge regarding the relationship between obesity and the gut microbiome, with an emphasis on maternal obesity.
Techniques for investigating lncRNA transcript functions in neurodevelopment
Authors: Srinivas Tara , Siqueira Edilene , Guil Sonia
Published: December 2023

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are sequences of 200 nucleotides or more that are transcribed from a large portion of the mammalian genome. While hypothesized to have a variety of biological roles, many lncRNAs remain largely functionally uncharacterized due to unique challenges associated with their investigation. For example, some lncRNAs overlap with other genomic loci, are expressed in a cell-type-specific manner, and/or are differentially processed at the post-transcriptional level. The mammalian CNS contains a vast diversity of lncRNAs, and lncRNAs are highly abundant in the mammalian brain. However, interrogating lncRNA function in models of the CNS, particularly in vivo, can be complex and challenging. Here we review the breadth of methods used to investigate lncRNAs in the CNS, their merits, and the understanding they can provide with respect to neurodevelopment and pathophysiology. We discuss remaining challenges in the field and provide recommendations to assay lncRNAs based on current methods.
Photochemical mechanistic study of hexafluorobenzene involving the low-lying states
Authors: Li Duoduo , Song Xinli , Liu Jinming , Zhang Song
Published: December 2023

A complete mechanistic scheme is presented through the characterization of all the critical points on the excited states at the CASPT2/6-311G**//CAS(6,7)/6-31G* levels.
A weakened Fermi level pinning induced adsorption energy non-charge-transfer mechanism during O2 adsorption in silicene/graphene heterojunctions
Authors: Zhao Xuhong , Chen Haiyuan , Wang Jianwei , Niu Xiaobin
Published: December 2023

The weakened Fermi level pinning effect introduced by MIGS causes changes in the O2 adsorption energy in the SGH.
Molecular mechanisms involved in the destabilization of two types of R3–R4 tau fibrils associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy by Fisetin
Authors: Tang Jiaxing , Sun Ruiqing , Wan Jiaqian , Zou Yu , Zhang Qingwen
Published: December 2023

The type 1 CTE-related R3–R4 tau fibril shows relatively higher structural stability than the type 2 fibril at the atomic level. Fisetin molecules display similar but different mechanisms in destabilizing the two types of CTE-related R3–R4 tau fibrils.
A carbon conductive filament-induced robust resistance switching behavior for brain-inspired computing
Authors: Yu Tianqi , Wang Dong , Liu Min , Lei Wei , Shafie Suhaidi , Mohtar Mohd Nazim , Jindapetch Nattha , van Paphavee Dommelen , Zhao Zhiwei
Published: December 2023

The mechanism of a robust CQD-based memristor is attributed to the formation of carbon conductive filaments driven by an electric field.
Synergy of oxygen vacancies and Bi nanoparticles on BiOBr nanosheets for enhanced photocatalytic H2O2 production
Authors: Feng Li , Fu Hanping , Zhang Tianxiang , Zhang Qing , Ren Shufen , Cheng Jiayun , Liang Qingshuang , Xiao Xiufeng
Published: December 2023

In situ Bi nanoparticle modified BiOBr nanosheets with tuned OVs were prepared via a facile one-pot solvothermal method. Benefiting from the in situ Bi modification and moderate surface OVs, the as-prepared photocatalysts showed enhanced H2O2 production activity.
Palladium-catalyzed [6 + 4] cycloaddition with π-allyl all-carbon 1,6-dipole for the synthesis of ten-membered heterocycles
Authors: Chen Jun-Tao , Lin Na , Xu Linli , Wang Yi , Luo Xiaoyan , Liu Yang-Zi , Deng Wei-Ping
Published: December 2023

This work introduces a novel α,α-diester-δ-vinylvalerolactone as a dipolar precursor in a palladium-catalyzed [6 + 4] cycloaddition reaction with azadienes, resulting in the production of ten-membered heterocycles.
Research on oriented surface defect detection in the aircraft skin‐coating process based on an attention detector
Authors: Zhang Yongde , Wang Wei , Guo Zhonghua , Ji Yangchun
Published: December 2023

Aircraft coating process has been an important part in manufacturing process of modern aviation products. For coating defect detection, the manual observation with naked eyes is usually utilized, which leads to low production efficiency. In this paper, the authors propose the improved YOLOv5‐OBB with the channel‐spatial attention block (CSAB), feature pyramid non‐local module (FPNM) and structured sparsity slimming criterion (SSSC). The CSAB can pay more attention to effective channel information features from the channel dimension and the target information area from the spatial dimension. The effective non‐local module called FPNM is proposed to further improve the detection accuracy. The authors utilize the oriented bounding boxes (OBB) to reduce redundant background information for coating defect detection. In addition, the SSSC is proposed to achieve network slimming and trade‐off between the efficiency and accuracy. The experimental results on several datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of the authors’ scheme, which achieves superior performance.
3D non-LTE modeling of the stellar center-to-limb variation for transmission spectroscopy studies
Authors: Canocchi G. , Lind K. , Lagae C. , Pietrow A. G. M. , Amarsi A. M. , Kiselman D. , Andriienko O. , Hoeijmakers H. J.
Published: December 2023

Context. Transmission spectroscopy is one of the most powerful techniques used to characterize transiting exoplanets, since it allows for the abundance of the atomic and molecular species in the planetary atmosphere to be measured. However, stellar lines may bias the determination of such abundances if their center-to-limb variations (CLVs) are not properly accounted for.

Aims. This paper aims to show that three-dimensional (3D) radiation hydrodynamic models and the assumption of non-local ther-modynamic equilibrium (non-LTE) line formation are required for an accurate modeling of the stellar CLV of the Na I D1 and K I resonance lines on transmission spectra.

Methods. We modeled the CLV of the Na I D1 and K I resonance lines in the Sun with 3D non-LTE radiative transfer. The synthetic spectra were compared to solar observations with high spatial and spectral resolution, including new data collected with the CRISP instrument at the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope between µ = 0.1 and µ = 1.0.

Results. Our 3D non-LTE modeling of the Na I D1 resonance line at 5896 Å and the K I 7699 Å resonance line in the Sun is in good agreement with the observed CLV in the solar spectrum. Moreover, the simulated CLV curve for a Jupiter-Sun system inferred with a 3D non-LTE analysis shows significant differences from the one obtained from a 1D atmosphere. The latter does indeed tend to overestimate the amplitude of the transmission curve by a factor that is on the same order of magnitude as a planetary absorption depth (i.e., up to 0.2%).

Conclusions. This work highlights the fact that to correctly characterize exoplanetary atmospheres, 3D non-LTE synthetic spectra ought to be used to estimate the stellar CLV effect in transmission spectra of solar-like planet hosts. Moreover, since different spectral lines show different CLV curves for the same geometry of the planet-star system, it is fundamental to model the CLV individually for each line of interest. The work will be extended to other lines and FGK-type stars, allowing for synthetic high-resolution spectra to mitigate the stellar contamination of low-resolution planetary spectra, for example, those drawn from JWST.
Abundance of selected genes implicated in testicular functions in Camelus dromedarius with high and low epididymal semen quality
Authors: Rashad Dina E M , Ibrahim Sally , El-Sokary Mohamed M M , Mahmoud Karima Gh M , Abou El-Roos Mahmoud E A , Sosa Gamal A M , Kandiel Mohamed M M
Published: December 2023

Studying testicular genes’ expression may give key insights into precise regulation of its functions that influence epididymal sperm quality. The current study aimed to investigate the abundance of candidate genes involved in the regulation of testicular functions specially those regulate sperm function (PLA2G4D, SPP1, and CLUAP1), testicular steroidogenic function (ESR1 and AR), materials transport (AQP12B and LCN15), and defense mechanisms (DEFB110, GPX5, SOCS3, and IL6). Therefore, blood samples and testes with epididymis were collected from mature middle-aged (5–10 years) dromedary camels (n = 45) directly prior and after their slaughtering, respectively, during breeding season. Sera were evaluated for testosterone level and testicular biometry was measured with caliper. The epididymal tail semen was evaluated manually. Samples were distinguished based on testosterone level, testicular biometry, as well as epididymal semen features into high and low fertile groups. Total RNA was isolated from testicular tissues and gene expression was done using Quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Results revealed that testosterone levels were significantly (P < 0.005) higher in camels with good semen quality than those of low quality. There was a significant (P < 0.0001) increase in testicular weight, length, width, thickness, and volume in high fertile than low fertile camels. PLA2G4D, SPP1, CLUAP1, ESR1, AR, AQP12B, LCN15, DEFB110, GPX5, and SOCS3 genes were upregulated (P < 0.001), and IL6 gene was downregulated (P < 0.01) in the testes of high fertile camels compared to the low fertile one. Thus, it could be concluded that examined genes might be valuable monitors of testicular functional status and fertility in dromedary camels.
AKAP3-mediated type I PKA signaling is required for mouse sperm hyperactivation and fertility
Authors: Liang Zhongkun , Dai Chaowei , He Fenfen , Wang Yu , Huang Yihua , Li Heying , Wu Yongming , Hu Yafang , Xu Kaibiao
Published: December 2023

The protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway, which mediates protein phosphorylation, is important for sperm motility and male fertility. This process relies on A-kinase anchoring proteins that organize PKA and its signalosomes within specific subcellular compartments. Previously, it was found that the absence of A-kinase anchoring protein 3 (AKAP3) leads to multiple morphological abnormalities in mouse sperm. But how AKAP3 regulates sperm motility is yet to be elucidated. AKAP3 has two amphipathic domains, here named dual and RI, in its N-terminus. These domains are responsible for binding regulatory subunits I alpha (RIα) and II alpha (RIIα) of PKA and for RIα only, respectively. Here, we generated mutant mice lacking the dual and RI domains of AKAP3. It was found that the deletion of these domains caused male mouse infertile, accompanied by mild defects in the fibrous sheath of sperm tails. Additionally, the levels of serine/threonine phosphorylation of PKA substrates and tyrosine phosphorylation decreased in the mutant sperm, which exhibited a defect in hyperactivation under capacitation conditions. The protein levels of PKA subunits remained unchanged. But, interestingly, the regulatory subunit RIα was mis-localized from principal piece to midpiece of sperm tail, whereas this was not observed for RIIα. Further protein–protein interaction assays revealed a preference for AKAP3 to bind RIα over RIIα. Collectively, our findings suggest that AKAP3 is important for sperm hyperactivity by regulating type-I PKA signaling pathway mediated protein phosphorylation via its dual and RI domains.
To Whom Is the Institutional Chaplain Beholden? Reconciling the Christian Chaplain’s Tension of Identity With a Theology of Calling
Authors: Guthrie Michael
Published: December 2023

Professional chaplains have the unique opportunity to provide spiritual care within institutional settings where other types of pastoral care may not exist. Serving within these institutions presents special challenges, including tension between multiple identities and responsibilities. This tension can create conflict within the Christian chaplain, and confusion as to whom they are ultimately beholden. The first section of the article discusses what I see as the five identity-related tensions a professional chaplain may experience serving in an institution. The second section of the article outlines a Christian theology of calling built on the framework of Covenant Theology and God’s reconciling work of grace. This theology of calling orients the professional identity of the Christian chaplains, rooting them in a clear sense of their responsibilities within their institutional setting. Christian chaplains are beholden first to God and to the calling God places on their life. Proper orientation to that calling equips chaplains to reconcile any cognitive dissonance caused by identity-related tensions, thus opening up a richer spiritual dialogue with God as they live out their kingdom-advancing mission.
Gallic acid triphenylphosphonium derivatives TPP+-C10 and TPP+-C12 inhibit mitochondrial function in Candida albicans exerting antifungal and antibiofilm effects
Authors: Valderrama Victoria , Sánchez Paula , Delso Macarena , Díaz-Dosque Mario , Escobar Alejandro , Budini Mauricio , Catalán Mabel , Vivar Raúl , López-Muñoz Rodrigo , Jara José A , Molina-Berríos Alfredo
Published: December 2023

Aims

To evaluate the antifungal and antibiofilm activity of gallic acid derivatives TPP+-C10 and TPP+-C12 and their effects on mitochondrial function on two Candida albicans reference strains (ATCC 90029 and ATCC 10231).

Methods and results

First, we determined minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) using a microdilution assay. Both compounds exerted antifungal effects, and their MICs ranged from 3.9 to 13 µM, with no statistically significant differences between them (P > 0.05, t-test). These concentrations served as references for following assays. Subsequently, we measured oxygen consumption with a Clark electrode. Our observations revealed that both drugs inhibited oxygen consumption in both strains with TPP+-C12 exerting a more pronounced inhibitory effect. We then employed flow cytometry with TMRE as a probe to assess mitochondrial membrane potential. For each strain assayed, the compounds induced a decay in transmembrane potential by 75%–90% compared to the control condition (P < 0.05, ANOVA). Then, we measured ATP levels using a commercial kit. TPP+-C12 showed a 50% decrease of ATP content (P < 0.05 ANOVA), while TPP+-C10 exhibited a less pronounced effect. Finally, we assessed the antibiofilm effect using the MTT reduction assay. Both compounds were effective, but TPP+-C12 displayed a greater potency, requiring a lower concentration to inhibit 50% of biofilms viability (P < 0.05, t-test).

Conclusions

Derivatives of gallic acid linked to a TPP+ group exert antifungal and antibiofilm activity through impairment of mitochondrial function in C. albicans.
Orally administered Streptococcus thermophilus YIT 2001 is a vehicle for the delivery of glutathione, a reactive reduced thiol, to the intestine
Authors: Yamamoto Yu , Maki Koh , Kusuhara Shiro , Yokoi Wakae , Tochiya Kaoru , Okumura Takekazu , Ito Masahiko , Miyazaki Kouji , Harada Katsuhisa , Takagi Akimitsu
Published: December 2023

Aims

We aimed to analyze the behavior of cellular glutathione of Streptococcus thermophilus strain YIT 2001 (ST-1) in the gastrointestinal environment to understand how orally administered glutathione in ST-1 cells is delivered stably to the intestine in a reactive form, which is essential for its systemic bioavailability against lipid peroxidation.

Methods and results

Intracellular glutathione was labeled with L-cysteine-containing stable isotopes. ST-1 cells from fresh culture or lyophilized powder were treated with simulated gastric and intestinal juices for 60 min each. The release of intracellular glutathione in digestive juices was quantified via LC–MS/MS. Most of the cellular glutathione was retained in the gastric environment and released in response to exposure to the gastrointestinal environment. During digestion, the membrane permeability of propidium iodide increased significantly, especially when cells were exposed to cholate, without change in the cell wall state.

Conclusions

ST-1 cells act as vehicles to protect intracellular reactive components, such as glutathione, from digestive stress, and release them in the upper intestine owing to the disruption of membrane integrity induced by bile acid.
Leveraging the digital layer: the strength of weak and strong ties in bridging geographic and cognitive distances
Authors: Abbasiharofteh Milad , Kinne Jan , Krüger Miriam
Published: December 2023

Firms may seek non-redundant information through inter-firm relations beyond their geographic and cognitive boundaries (i.e., relations with firms in other regions and active in different fields). Little is known about the conditions under which firms benefit from this high-risk/high-gain strategy. We created a digital layer of 600,000 German firms by using their websites’ textual and relational content. Our results suggest that strong relations (relations with common third partners) between firms from different fields and inter-regional relations are positively associated with a firm’s innovation level. We also found that a specific combination of weak and strong relations confers greater innovation benefits.
Viscoacoustic least-squares reverse-time migration using the L1-2 norm sparsity constraint
Authors: Zhang Mingkun , Wang Lingqian , Chen Hanming , Zhou Hui , Liu Peng
Published: December 2023

Least-squares reverse-time migration (LSRTM) has become an advanced technique for complex structures imaging of the subsurface, as it can provide a higher resolution and more balanced amplitude migrated image than conventional reverse-time migration (RTM). However, the intrinsic attenuation of the subsurface introduces amplitude attenuation and phase dispersion of the seismic wavefield, which leads to an inexact inverted image kinematically and dynamically. Moreover, the imperfect geometry, limited bandwidth of seismic data, and inappropriate modeling kernel etc., would inevitably introduce two side-effects in the migrated image, resulting in degradation of LSRTM imaging potential. To alleviate these issues, we present a data-domain sparsity constraint viscoacoustic LSRTM algorithm in this paper. In particular, we use the decoupled constant Q fractional Laplacian viscoacoustic wave equation as the modeling kernel to describe the attenuation effects of the subsurface, while a model constraint constructed in the misfit function via the L1-2 norm is carried out to clear the migrated artifacts and boost the imaging resolution. Thanks to the excellent performance in sparsity, the drawbacks of unconstrained LSRTM can be effectively mitigated by the L1-2 norm-based regularization. In this paper, we adopt the alternating direction of multipliers method to iteratively address the constrained L1-2 minimization problem by implementing a proximal operator, and three synthetic examples are used to evaluate the effectiveness and practicability of the proposed strategy. Migration results prove that the proposed scheme can effectively compensate for the attenuation effects, improve the resolution, and suppress the migration artifacts of inverted images even in the complex imaging situations.
Love and Horror: ‘Ircastrensis’ Unmasked
Authors: Freeman Janet Ing
Published: December 2023

This note identifies, for the first time, the author of Love and Horror, a mock-heroic parody of the gothic novel published under the pseudonym ‘Ircastrensis’ in 1812. The Revd Henry Barry (1781-1850) wrote at least one other novel before settling into a comfortable life as a Wiltshire rector and unsuccessful dabbler in British history and Shakespearean emendation; among his several children was the much better known Victorian novelist Emma Newby (1826-1899), who in 1862 edited her father’s final book, a ‘manual of happiness’.
Fe ii fluorescence in main-sequence K-dwarfs
Authors: Eriksson M
Published: December 2023

Main-sequence K-dwarfs possess strong emission in the form of the H i Ly α line. There is a close coincidence between the energy corresponding to the transitions H i 1s-2p and Fe ii (5D)5s 4D5/2–(5D)5p 4D5/2. Singly ionized iron has been confirmed being pumped by photo-excitation by accidental resonance (PAR) in planetary nebulae, symbiotic stars, K-giants, and active galactic nebulae. I investigate in this work whether PAR can occur in the atmospheres of main-sequence K-dwarfs, which do not possess the large extended atmospheres of the late-type K-giants. Specifically a search for possible Fe ii fluorescence lines is conducted. For the case when I can confirm PAR, I estimate the total flux leaving the stars in the form of Fe ii fluorescence. I search for emission lines from the Fe ii (5D)5p 4D5/2 level. Since those of these lines with the largest branching fractions correspond to lines at wavelengths covered by the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) satellite, a search for archival FUSE spectra from K-dwarfs within 20 ly from the sun is conducted. I retrieve and analyse FUSE spectra for four of these K-dwarfs. In each case I can confirm PAR, I fit the H i Ly α line in Hubble Space Telescope spectra recorded with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph, in order to estimate the efficiency of the PAR mechanism. I can now confirm Fe ii fluorescence in the two closest K-dwarfs, Alpha Centauri B, and Epsilon Eridani. The total power leaving as Fe ii fluorescence are 4.9 × 1017 and 1.30 × 1018 W respectively.