bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Strain-resolved analysis in a randomized trial of antibiotic pretreatment and maintenance dose delivery mode with fecal microbiota transplant for ulcerative colitis
Authors: Smith Byron J. , Piceno Yvette , Zydek Martin , Zhang Bing , Syriani Lara Aboud , Terdiman Jonathan P. , Kassam Zain , Ma Averil , Lynch Susan V. , Pollard Katherine S. , El-Nachef Najwa
Published: April 2022

Fecal microbiota transplant is a promising therapy for ulcerative colitis. Parameters maximizing effectiveness and tolerability are not yet clear, and it is not known how import the transmission of donor microbes to patients is. Here (clinicaltrails.gov: NCT03006809) we have tested the effects of antibiotic pretreatment and compared two modes of maintenance dose delivery, capsules versus enema, in a randomized, pilot, open-label, 2 × 2 factorial design with 22 patients analyzed with mild to moderate UC. Clinically, the treatment was well-tolerated with favorable safety profile. Of patients who received antibiotic pretreatment, 6 of 11 experienced remission after 6 weeks of treatment, versus 2 of 11 non-pretreated patients (log odds ratio: 1.69, 95% confidence interval: −0.25 to 3.62). No significant differences were found between maintenance dosing via capsules versus enema. In exploratory analyses, microbiome turnover at both the species and strain levels was extensive and significantly more pronounced in the pretreated patients. Associations were also revealed between taxonomic turnover and changes in the composition of primary and secondary bile acids. Together these findings suggest that antibiotic pretreatment contributes to microbiome engraftment and possibly clinical effectiveness, and validate longitudinal strain tracking as a powerful way to monitor the dynamics and impact of microbiota transfer.
Lattice Boltzmann-based numerical analysis of nanofluid natural convection in an inclined cavity subject to multiphysics fields
Authors: Ibrahim Muhammad , Berrouk Abdallah S. , Saeed Tareq , Algehyne Ebrahem A. , Ali Vakkar
Published: April 2022

This research conducts a study of natural convection heat transfer (NCHT) in a nanofluid under a magnetic field (MF). The nanofluid is in a cavity inclined at an angle of 45°. The MF can take different angles between 0° and 90°. Radiative heat transfer is present in the cavity in volumetric form. There are two hot semicircles, similar to two half-pipes, on the bottom wall. The top wall is kept cold. The side walls and parts of the bottom wall, except the pipes, have been insulated. The lattice Boltzmann method has been used for the simulation. The studied parameters are the Rayleigh number (in the range 103–106), magnetic field angle, radiation parameter (in the range 0–2), and nanoparticle volume fraction (in the range 0–5%). The generated entropy has been studied as the NCHT. The results indicate that adding nanoparticles improves heat transfer rate (HTR). Moreover, the addition of volumetric radiation to the cavity enhances the Nusselt number by 54% and the generated entropy by 12.5%. With an augmentation in the MF angle from 0° to 90°, HTR decreases and this decrease is observed mostly at higher Rayleigh numbers. An augmentation in the Ra increases NCHT and entropy generation. Indeed, a rise in the Ra from 103 to 106 increases HTR by almost sixfold.
Tumor-suppressive role of Smad ubiquitination regulatory factor 2 in patients with colorectal cancer
Authors: Sato Nami , Sakai Nozomu , Furukawa Katsunori , Takayashiki Tsukasa , Kuboki Satoshi , Takano Shigetsugu , Ohira Gaku , Miyauchi Hideaki , Matsubara Hisahiro , Ohtsuka Masayuki
Published: March 2022

Smad ubiquitination regulatory factor 2 (Smurf2) plays various roles in cancer progression. However, the correlation between Smurf2 and clinical outcomes has not been determined in patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer and colorectal liver metastases. We analyzed 66 patients with colorectal cancer who developed liver metastases. Smurf2 expression was assessed using immunohistochemical analysis of primary and metastatic liver tumors. High Smurf2 expression in both primary and metastatic tumors was significantly associated with longer overall survival time and time to surgical failure. Multivariate analyses revealed that low Smurf2 expression in primary tumors was an independent predictor of poor prognosis. In vitro experiments using colon cancer cell lines demonstrated that short interfering RNA knockdown of Smurf2 increased cell migration and tumor sphere formation. Western blot analyses revealed that Smurf2 knockdown increased the protein expression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). Thus, in summary, high Smurf2 expression in cancer cells was found to be an independent predictor of better prognosis in patients with primary colorectal cancer and consequent liver metastases. The tumor-suppressive role of Smurf2 was found to be associated with cell migration and EpCAM expression; hence, Smurf2 can be considered a positive biomarker of cancer stem cell-like properties.
SARS-CoV-2 spike protein induces cognitive deficit and anxiety-like behavior in mouse via non-cell autonomous hippocampal neuronal death
Authors: Oh Junyoung , Cho Woo-Hyun , Barcelon Ellane , Kim Kwang Hwan , Hong Jinpyo , Lee Sung Joong
Published: March 2022

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is accompanied by chronic neurological sequelae such as cognitive decline and mood disorder, but the underlying mechanisms have not yet been elucidated. We explored the possibility that the brain-infiltrating SARS-CoV-2 spike protein contributes to the development of neurological symptoms observed in COVID-19 patients in this study. Our behavioral study showed that administration of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1 subunit (S1 protein) to mouse hippocampus induced cognitive deficit and anxiety-like behavior in vivo. These neurological symptoms were accompanied by neuronal cell death in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus as well as glial cell activation. Interestingly, the S1 protein did not directly induce hippocampal cell death in vitro. Rather, it exerted neurotoxicity via glial cell activation, partially through interleukin-1β induction. In conclusion, our data suggest a novel pathogenic mechanism for the COVID-19-associated neurological symptoms that involves glia activation and non-cell autonomous hippocampal neuronal death by the brain-infiltrating S1 protein.
Listening to bluetooth beacons for epidemic risk mitigation
Authors: Barthe Gilles , Viti Roberta De , Druschel Peter , Garg Deepak , Gomez-Rodriguez Manuel , Ingo Pierfrancesco , Kremer Heiner , Lentz Matthew , Lorch Lars , Mehta Aastha , Schölkopf Bernhard
Published: April 2022

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic let to efforts to develop and deploy digital contact tracing systems to expedite contact tracing and risk notification. Unfortunately, the success of these systems has been limited, partly owing to poor interoperability with manual contact tracing, low adoption rates, and a societally sensitive trade-off between utility and privacy. In this work, we introduce a new privacy-preserving and inclusive system for epidemic risk assessment and notification that aims to address these limitations. Rather than capturing pairwise encounters between user devices as done by existing systems, our system captures encounters between user devices and beacons placed in strategic locations where infection clusters may originate. Epidemiological simulations using an agent-based model demonstrate that, by utilizing location and environmental information and interoperating with manual contact tracing, our system can increase the accuracy of contact tracing actions and may help reduce epidemic spread already at low adoption.
Prediction of dengue fever outbreaks using climate variability and Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques in a stochastic susceptible-infected-removed model
Authors: Martheswaran Tarun Kumar , Hamdi Hamida , Al-Barty Amal , Zaid Abeer Abu , Das Biswadeep
Published: March 2022

The recent increase in the global incidence of dengue fever resulted in over 2.7 million cases in Latin America and many cases in Southeast Asia and has warranted the development and application of early warning systems (EWS) for futuristic outbreak prediction. EWS pertaining to dengue outbreaks is imperative; given the fact that dengue is linked to environmental factors owing to its dominance in the tropics. Prediction is an integral part of EWS, which is dependent on several factors, in particular, climate, geography, and environmental factors. In this study, we explore the role of increased susceptibility to a DENV serotype and climate variability in developing novel predictive models by analyzing RT-PCR and DENV-IgM confirmed cases in Singapore and Honduras, which reported high dengue incidence in 2019 and 2020, respectively. A random-sampling-based susceptible-infected-removed (SIR) model was used to obtain estimates of the susceptible fraction for modeling the dengue epidemic, in addition to the Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) technique that was used to fit the model to Singapore and Honduras case report data from 2012 to 2020. Regression techniques were used to implement climate variability in two methods: a climate-based model, based on individual climate variables, and a seasonal model, based on trigonometrically varying transmission rates. The seasonal model accounted for 98.5% and 92.8% of the variance in case count in the 2020 Singapore and 2019 Honduras outbreaks, respectively. The climate model accounted for 75.3% and 68.3% of the variance in Singapore and Honduras outbreaks respectively, besides accounting for 75.4% of the variance in the major 2013 Singapore outbreak, 71.5% of the variance in the 2019 Singapore outbreak, and over 70% of the variance in 2015 and 2016 Honduras outbreaks. The seasonal model accounted for 14.2% and 83.1% of the variance in the 2013 and 2019 Singapore outbreaks, respectively, in addition to 91% and 59.5% of the variance in the 2015 and 2016 Honduras outbreaks, respectively. Autocorrelation lag tests showed that the climate model exhibited better prediction dynamics for Singapore outbreaks during the dry season from May to August and in the rainy season from June to October in Honduras. After incorporation of susceptible fractions, the seasonal model exhibited higher accuracy in predicting outbreaks of higher case magnitude, including those of the 2019–2020 dengue epidemic, in comparison to the climate model, which was more accurate in outbreaks of smaller magnitude. Such modeling studies could be further performed in various outbreaks, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to understand the outbreak dynamics and predict the occurrence of future outbreaks.
K-clique percolation in free association networks and the possible mechanism behind the $$7 \pm 2$$ law
Authors: Valba Olga , Gorsky Alexander
Published: April 2022

It is important to reveal the mechanisms of propagation in different cognitive networks. In this study, we discuss the k-clique percolation phenomenon as related to the free association networks including the English Small World of Words project (SWOW-EN). We compared different semantic networks and networks of free associations for various languages. Surprisingly, k-clique percolation for all $$k<k_c=$$

k
<

k
c

=

6–7 is possible on free association networks of different languages. Our analysis suggests new universality patterns for a community organization of free association networks. We conjecture that our result can provide a qualitative explanation of Miller’s $$7\pm 2$$

7
±
2

rule for the capacity limit of working memory. A new model of network evolution extending the preferential attachment is suggested, providing the observed value of $$k_c$$

k
c

.
Comparative genomic analysis of vertebrate mitochondrial reveals a differential of rearrangements rate between taxonomic class
Authors: Montaña-Lozano Paula , Moreno-Carmona Manuela , Ochoa-Capera Mauricio , Medina Natalia S. , Boore Jeffrey L. , Prada Carlos F.
Published: March 2022

Vertebrate mitochondrial genomes have been extensively studied for genetic and evolutionary purposes, these are normally believed to be extremely conserved, however, different cases of gene rearrangements have been reported. To verify the level of rearrangement and the mitogenome evolution, we performed a comparative genomic analysis of the 2831 vertebrate mitochondrial genomes representing 12 classes available in the NCBI database. Using a combination of bioinformatics methods, we determined there is a high number of errors in the annotation of mitochondrial genes, especially in tRNAs. We determined there is a large variation in the proportion of rearrangements per gene and per taxonomic class, with higher values observed in Actinopteri, Amphibia and Reptilia. We highlight that these are results for currently available vertebrate sequences, so an increase in sequence representativeness in some groups may alter the rearrangement rates, so in a few years it would be interesting to see if these rates are maintained or altered with the new mitogenome sequences. In addition, within each vertebrate class, different patterns in rearrangement proportion with distinct hotspots in the mitochondrial genome were found. We also determined that there are eleven convergence events in gene rearrangement, nine of which are new reports to the scientific community.
Hybrid leader based optimization: a new stochastic optimization algorithm for solving optimization applications
Authors: Dehghani Mohammad , Trojovský Pavel
Published: April 2022

In this paper, a new optimization algorithm called hybrid leader-based optimization (HLBO) is introduced that is applicable in optimization challenges. The main idea of HLBO is to guide the algorithm population under the guidance of a hybrid leader. The stages of HLBO are modeled mathematically in two phases of exploration and exploitation. The efficiency of HLBO in optimization is tested by finding solutions to twenty-three standard benchmark functions of different types of unimodal and multimodal. The optimization results of unimodal functions indicate the high exploitation ability of HLBO in local search for better convergence to global optimal, while the optimization results of multimodal functions show the high exploration ability of HLBO in global search to accurately scan different areas of search space. In addition, the performance of HLBO on solving IEEE CEC 2017 benchmark functions including thirty objective functions is evaluated. The optimization results show the efficiency of HLBO in handling complex objective functions. The quality of the results obtained from HLBO is compared with the results of ten well-known algorithms. The simulation results show the superiority of HLBO in convergence to the global solution as well as the passage of optimally localized areas of the search space compared to ten competing algorithms. In addition, the implementation of HLBO on four engineering design issues demonstrates the applicability of HLBO in real-world problem solving.
MRI assessment of glutamine uptake correlates with the distribution of glutamine transporters and cancer stem cell markers
Authors: Seo Yoojeong , Kang Joyeon , Kim Tae Il , Joo Chan Gyu
Published: April 2022

Glutamine provides carbon and nitrogen for macromolecular synthesis and participates in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) generation, anabolic metabolism, redox homeostasis, cell signaling, and cancer stem cell (CSC) metabolism. New treatment strategies targeting glutamine metabolism in cancer have emerged recently. We previously reported the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment of glutamine uptake by tumors and activated glutamine metabolism in CSC. In the present study, using MRI, we determined the correlation between glutamine uptake and the distribution of glutamine transporters, namely ASCT2 and SLC38A2 (SNAT2), glutaminase (GLS), and CSC markers, such as CD44 and CD166, in a mouse xenograft model of HT29 human colorectal cancer cells. MRI data revealed an obvious change in intensity following glutamine administration. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) results indicated that ASCT2 staining was stronger in regions that exhibited high glutamine uptake (p = 0.0079). Significant differences were found in the IHC staining intensities of SNAT2, GLS, and CSC markers in the areas of high and low glutamine uptake (p = 0.0079, p = 0.0159 and p = 0.0079, respectively). We also investigated the effect of an ASCT2 inhibitor on the uptake of glutamine using MRI. A statistically significant difference in the initial glutamine uptake was found after ASCT2 inhibitor administration. To conclude, glutamine uptake is positively correlated with the distribution of ASCT2 and certain CSC markers.
Extending conventional surface roughness ISO parameters using topological data analysis for shot peened surfaces
Authors: Senge Jan F. , Astaraee Asghar Heydari , Dłotko Pawel , Bagherifard Sara , Bosbach Wolfram A.
Published: April 2022

The roughness of material surfaces is of greatest relevance for applications. These include wear, friction, fatigue, cytocompatibility, or corrosion resistance. Today’s descriptors of the International Organization for Standardization show varying performance in discriminating surface roughness patterns. We introduce here a set of surface parameters which are extracted from the appropriate persistence diagram with enhanced discrimination power. Using the finite element method implemented in Abaqus Explicit 2019, we modelled American Rolling Mill Company pure iron specimens (volume 1.5 × 1.5 × 1.0 mm3) exposed to a shot peening procedure. Surface roughness evaluation after each shot impact and single indents were controlled numerically. Conventional and persistence-based evaluation is implemented in Python code and available as open access supplement. Topological techniques prove helpful in the comparison of different shot peened surface samples. Conventional surface area roughness parameters might struggle in distinguishing different shot peening surface topographies, in particular for coverage values > 69%. Above that range, the calculation of conventional parameters leads to overlapping descriptor values. In contrast, lifetime entropy of persistence diagrams and Betti curves provide novel, discriminative one-dimensional descriptors at all coverage ranges. We compare how conventional parameters and persistence parameters describe surface roughness. Conventional parameters are outperformed. These results highlight how topological techniques might be a promising extension of surface roughness methods.
Pattern synthesis of linear and ring arrays with minimum number of elements using FFT and Bessel transformation
Authors: Boozari Mahdi , Khalaj-Amirhosseini Mohammad
Published: March 2022

In antenna engineering, to reduce the final cost of array design, it is often necessary to design an array with the minimum number of elements. So, proper selection of the number of array elements and the location of the elements are two important factors in array design. In this work, a novel analytical approach for designing an array with optimal parameters is described. The Nyquist–Shannon sampling theorem is used to determine the number of array elements and the distance between them. The array's excitation coefficients are then determined using the recursive least square approach and the Bessel transform of the array factor. It is also demonstrated that the introduced procedure can be extended to include the concentric ring arrays. Several practical arrays are evaluated to verify the performance of the suggested approach. The results show that the introduced approach is a good candidate for designing practical arrays with acceptable accuracy.
A blood-based miRNA signature with prognostic value for overall survival in advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer treated with immunotherapy
Authors: Rajakumar Timothy , Horos Rastislav , Jehn Julia , Schenz Judith , Muley Thomas , Pelea Oana , Hofmann Sarah , Kittner Paul , Kahraman Mustafa , Heuvelman Marco , Sikosek Tobias , Feufel Jennifer , Skottke Jasmin , Nötzel Dennis , Hinkfoth Franziska , Tikk Kaja , Daniel-Moreno Alberto , Ceiler Jessika , Mercaldo Nathaniel , Uhle Florian , Uhle Sandra , Weigand Markus A. , Elshiaty Mariam , Lusky Fabienne , Schindler Hannah , Ferry Quentin , Sauka-Spengler Tatjana , Wu Qianxin , Rabe Klaus F. , Reck Martin , Thomas Michael , Christopoulos Petros , Steinkraus Bruno R.
Published: March 2022

Immunotherapies have recently gained traction as highly effective therapies in a subset of late-stage cancers. Unfortunately, only a minority of patients experience the remarkable benefits of immunotherapies, whilst others fail to respond or even come to harm through immune-related adverse events. For immunotherapies within the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor class, patient stratification is currently performed using tumor (tissue-based) PD-L1 expression. However, PD-L1 is an accurate predictor of response in only ~30% of cases. There is pressing need for more accurate biomarkers for immunotherapy response prediction. We sought to identify peripheral blood biomarkers, predictive of response to immunotherapies against lung cancer, based on whole blood microRNA profiling. Using three well-characterized cohorts consisting of a total of 334 stage IV NSCLC patients, we have defined a 5 microRNA risk score (miRisk) that is predictive of overall survival following immunotherapy in training and independent validation (HR 2.40, 95% CI 1.37–4.19; P < 0.01) cohorts. We have traced the signature to a myeloid origin and performed miRNA target prediction to make a direct mechanistic link to the PD-L1 signaling pathway and PD-L1 itself. The miRisk score offers a potential blood-based companion diagnostic for immunotherapy that outperforms tissue-based PD-L1 staining.
Effects of the interaction of gunshot residue plume and cotton fabrics—an empirical study towards extensive assessment of close-range shooting distance
Authors: Brożek-Mucha Zuzanna , Wąs-Gubała Jolanta
Published: March 2022

This study is focused on the distribution of gunshot residue as well as changes in the textiles to support forensic investigations of suicides and homicides committed by means of a firearm.
Self-reduction-induced BaMgP2O7:Eu2+/3+: a multi-stimuli-responsive phosphor for X-ray detection, anti-counterfeiting and optical thermometry
Authors: Li Song , Qiu Zhongxian , Mo Yahuan , Zhang Hongwu , Lian Hongzhou , Zhang Jilin , Lian Shixun
Published: March 2022

Partial self-reduction leads to Eu2+/3+ co-doped BaMgP2O7 phosphor, which has a multiplicity of applications including X-ray detection, multi-level anti-counterfeiting, and optical thermometry due to the multi-stimuli responsive dynamic luminescence.
Proteins as adsorbents for PFAS removal from water
Authors: Hernandez Erik T. , Koo Byungjin , Sofen Laura E. , Amin Radhesh , Togashi Riley K. , Lall Arya I. , Gisch Daryl J. , Kern Brandon J. , Rickard Mark A. , Francis Matthew B.
Published: March 2022

A series of proteins is evaluated for the binding of both short- and long-chain perfluoroalkyl substances. Such data can guide the removal of these persistent environmental contaminants and clarify the nature of their interactions with biomolecules.
Orobol from enzyme biotransformation attenuatesDermatophagoides farinae-induced atopic dermatitis-like symptoms in NC/Nga mice
Authors: Lee Chang Hyung , Yang Hee , Yoon Park Jung Han , Kim Jong-Eun , Lee Ki Won
Published: March 2022

Orobol, a metabolite of genistein, is rare in natural soybean. It was found to have strong preventive and curative effects on AD in animal and cell models, and is superior to the natural isoflavone, genistein.
Portable sample processing for molecular assays: application to Zika virus diagnostics
Authors: Narahari Tanya , Dahmer Joshua , Sklavounos Alexandros , Kim Taehyeong , Satkauskas Monika , Clotea Ioana , Ho Man , Lamanna Julian , Dixon Christopher , Rackus Darius G. , Silva Severino Jefferson Ribeiro da , Pena Lindomar , Pardee Keith , Wheeler Aaron R.
Published: March 2022

A digital microfluidic system was developed for portable Zika virus diagnosis, featuring integrated, automated sample extraction and amplification.
Subtractive manufacturing with swelling induced stochastic folding of sacrificial materials for fabricating complex perfusable tissues in multi-well plates
Authors: Rajasekar Shravanthi , Lin Dawn S. Y. , Zhang Feng , Sotra Alexander , Boshart Alex , Clotet-Freixas Sergi , Liu Amy , Hirota Jeremy A. , Ogawa Shinichiro , Konvalinka Ana , Zhang Boyang
Published: March 2022

We developed a subtractive manufacturing with swelling induced stochastic folding of sacrificial materials for fabricating complex perfusable tissues in high-throughput multi-well plate formats.
Heterofunctional carbosilane polyphenolic dendrons: new antioxidants platforms
Authors: Sanz del Olmo Natalia , García Juan Carlos , Gómez Rafael , de la Mata F. Javier , Ortega Paula
Published: April 2022

Combination of carbosilane dendritic structures and polyphenol to obtain new scavenging systems.
CdSe/ZnS quantum dot-encoded maleic anhydride-grafted PLA microspheres prepared through membrane emulsification for multiplexed immunoassays of tumor markers
Authors: Tang Wan-Sheng , Zhang Bo , Xu Lai-Di , Bao Ning , Zhang Qing , Ding Shou-Nian
Published: March 2022

Liquid suspension biochips based on quantum dots (QDs) encoded microspheres have been widely used in the immunodetection of tumor markers.
Amyloid fibril-UiO-66-NH2 aerogels for environmental remediation
Authors: Peydayesh Mohammad , Chen Xiulin , Vogt Julia , Donat Felix , Müller Christoph R. , Mezzenga Raffaele
Published: March 2022

A sustainable hybrid aerogel based on β-lactoglobulin amyloid fibril/UiO-66-NH2 is developed for environmental remediation.
Stabilization of bicelles using metal-binding peptide for extended blood circulation
Authors: Takagi Yuichiro , Uchida Noriyuki , Anraku Yasutaka , Muraoka Takahiro
Published: March 2022

A cholic acid-appended peptide with a metal-binding capability stabilized a phospholipid-based bicelle. The supramolecularly stabilized bicelle showed extended blood circulation compared with spherical liposomes.
Beyond structural insight: a deep neural network for the prediction of Pt L2/3-edge X-ray absorption spectra
Authors: Watson Luke , Rankine Conor D. , Penfold Thomas J.
Published: March 2022

A deep neural network is developed to predict and understand the electronic and geometric characteristics of an X-ray absorption spectrum at the L2/3-edge.
Tailoring defect structure and dopant composition and the generation of various color characteristics in Eu3+ and Tb3+ doped MgF2 phosphors
Authors: Mukherjee Sumanta , Pathak Nimai , Ali Kawsar , Das Debarati , Dutta Dhanadeep
Published: March 2022

A proper tailoring of the defect structure and varying composition of Eu3+ and Tb3+ dopant ions generate a wide range of color characteristics such as near white, yellow, orange and red in MgF2.
Trimethyloxonium ion – a zeolite confined mobile and efficient methyl carrier at low temperatures: a DFT study coupled with microkinetic analysis
Authors: Ma Hong , Liao Jian , Wei Zhihong , Tian Xinxin , Li Junfen , Chen Yan-Yan , Wang Sen , Wang Hao , Dong Mei , Qin Zhangfeng , Wang Jianguo , Fan Weibin
Published: March 2022

The reaction network of ethene methylation over H-ZSM-5, including methanol dehydration, ethene methylation, and C3H7+ conversion, is investigated by employing a multiscale approach combining DFT calculations and microkinetic modeling.
[Ru(tmphen)3]2[Fe(CN)6] and [Ru(phen)3][Fe(CN)5(NO)] complexes and formation of a heterostructured RuO2–Fe2O3 nanocomposite as an efficient alkaline HER and OER electrocatalyst
Authors: Mosallaei Hamta , Hadadzadeh Hassan , Foelske Annette , Sauer Markus , Amiri Rudbari Hadi , Blacque Olivier
Published: March 2022

Heterostructured RuO2–Fe2O3 nanocomposite can be viewed as a bi-functional electrocatalyst for HER and OER because it exploits the synergistic effects of heterostructures and active sites at its interface.
Synthesis and temperature-dependent NMR studies of monomeric and dimeric tris(dialkylamido)alanes
Authors: Schumann Erik , Böhme Uwe , Brendler Erica , Mertens Florian
Published: March 2022

All known tris(dialkylamido)alanes [Al(NR2)3]n (n = 1, 2) including the new tris(N-methylpiperazino)alane were synthesised and compared with regard to their monomeric or dimeric molecular structure.
Lactobacillus paracasei PS23 improves cognitive deficits via modulating the hippocampal gene expression and the gut microbiota in d-galactose-induced aging mice
Authors: Cheng Li-Hao , Chou Pin-Yu , Hou An-Tian , Huang Chin-Lin , Shiu Wei-Lin , Wang Sabrina
Published: March 2022

Probiotic supplements are potential therapeutic agents for age-related cognitive deficits.
A rigid-flexible double-layer steric strategy for ethylene (co)oligomerization with pyridine-imine Ni(ii) and Pd(ii) complexes
Authors: Yan Zhengpeng , Bi Huiqin , Ding Beihang , Wang Hui , Xu Guoyong , Dai Shengyu
Published: March 2022

A rigid-flexible double-layer steric strategy enhances the molecular weight of the resulting ethylene oligomers and promotes the co-oligomerization of ethylene and methyl acrylate.
Complexation of uranyl(vi) with succinimidedioxime in comparison with glutarimidedioxime
Authors: Liu Tingting , Lan Youshi , Liu Qian , Ma Fuqiu , Xue Yun , Yang Suliang , Tian Guoxin
Published: March 2022

Glutarimidedioxime favors 1 : 2 neutral uranyl complex species, whereas succinimidedioxime tends to form a cross-linked 2 : 2 binuclear complex with uranyl ions.
Dehydroabietylamine-decorated imino-phenols: supramolecular gelation and gel phase selective detection of Fe3+, Cu2+ and Hg2+ ions under different experimental conditions
Authors: Ghosh Subhasis , Ghosh Sumit , Baildya Nabajyoti , Ghosh Kumaresh
Published: March 2022

Dehydroabietylamine-linked Schiff bases 1–3 have been synthesized, characterized and employed in metal ion sensing in a sol–gel medium. The compounds have a propensity for gel formation from aqueous organic solvents.
Calculation of the infrared spectra of organophosphorus compounds and prediction of new types of nerve agents
Authors: Kim Honghyun , Yoon Ung Hwi , Ryu Tae In , Jeong Hey Jin , il Kim Sung , Park Jinseon , Kye Young Sik , Hwang Seung-Ryul , Kim Dongwook , cho Yoonjae , Jeong Keunhong
Published: March 2022

IR prediction of Novichok candidates is performed by establishing an accurate DFT calculation method on organophosphorus compounds.
Room temperature doping of Ln3+ in perovskite nanoparticles: a halide exchange mediated cation exchange approach
Authors: Debnath Gouranga H. , Bloom Brian P. , Tan Susheng , Waldeck David H.
Published: March 2022

A room temperature halide exchange mediated cation exchange strategy leads to Ln3+ doping in perovskite NPs.
Crystalline sulfur-functionalized poly(α-olefin) synthesized by scandium-catalyzed coordination polymerization
Authors: Liu Zhao-Xuan , Xu Tie-Qi
Published: March 2022

Combined with organoborate, the scandium complex catalyzed monomers to produce a series of syndiotactic sulfur-functionalized poly(α-olefin)s (rrrr of up to 0.95) which formed crystalline materials with a Tm of up to 91 °C.
Nitrogen-centered radical-mediated α-sulfonimidation of ketones
Authors: Shang Wenbin , Peng Fengyuan , Feng Qianlang , Fang Fei , Pan Zhiqiang , Ji Xu , Xia Chengfeng
Published: March 2022

A nitrogen-centered radical mediated α-sulfonimidation of carbonyl compounds that was initiated by a benzenesulfonimide radical generated from NFSI under the catalytic reduction of TEMPO is established.
N-7′ methylation in apramycin: its biosynthesis and biological role
Authors: Zhang Qian , He Chang , Sun Jing , Deng Zixin , Yu Yi
Published: April 2022

This work characterized N-7′ methylation in apramycin's assembly line, which fills in the final step at the pseudotrisaccharide stage of the apramycin biosynthetic pathway and indicates the significant biological role of the N-7′ methyl group.
Insights into glyphosate removal efficiency using a new 2D nanomaterial
Authors: Razavi Leila , Raissi Heidar , Farzad Farzaneh
Published: March 2022

Glyphosate (GLY) is a nonselective herbicide that has been widely used in agriculture for weed control.
Crack resistance of a noble green hydrophobic antimicrobial sealing coating film against environmental corrosion applied on the steel–cement interface for power insulators
Authors: Sanyal Simpy , Chelliah Ramachandran , Kim Taeyong , Rabelo Matheus , Oh Deog-Hawn , Pham Duy Phong , Yi Junsin
Published: March 2022

Due to their great load-bearing capabilities, steel–cement interface structures are commonly employed in construction projects, and power utilities including electric insulators.
Theoretical exploration of mechanical, electronic structure and optical properties of aluminium based double halide perovskite
Authors: Tang Tian-Yu , Zhao Xian-Hao , Hu De-Yuan , Liang Qi-Qi , Wei Xiao-Nan , Tang Yan-Lin
Published: March 2022

M2AgAlX6 (M = Cs, Rb and K, X = Cl, Br and I) is a stable vacancy ordered double halide perovskite direct band gap semiconductor material with good absorption of near-ultraviolet and short-wavelength visible light.
Review on the preparation of fuels and chemicals based on lignin
Authors: Li Penghui , Ren Jianpeng , Jiang Zhengwei , Huang Lijing , Wu Caiwen , Wu Wenjuan
Published: April 2022

Woods can be depolymerized into small molecules through hydrolysis, pyrolysis, oxidation, reduction, and biodegradation to produce biofuels and fine chemicals.
Deamidation reaction network mapping of pharmacologic and related proteins: impact of solvation dielectric on the degradation energetics of asparagine dipeptides
Authors: Lawson Katherine E. , Dekle Joseph K. , Evans Megan N. , Adamczyk Andrew J.
Published: April 2022

Asn-X deamidation pathways in the FV region of the monoclonal antibody (mAb).
Carbon–chalcogen bond formation initiated by [Al(NONDipp)(E)]−anions containing Al–E{16} (E{16} = S, Se) multiple bonds
Authors: Evans Matthew J. , Anker Mathew D. , McMullin Claire L. , Neale Samuel E. , Rajabi Nasir A. , Coles Martyn P.
Published: March 2022

Reaction of Al–E (E = S, Se) multiple bonds with CO functionalities generates new C–E bonds.
Graphene-assisted Ti3C2 MXene-derived ultrathin sodium titanate for capacitive deionization with excellent rate performance and long cycling stability
Authors: Shen Xiaojie , Li Liqing , Xiong Yuecheng , Yu Fei , Ma Jie
Published: April 2022

Sodium titanate (NTO)/rGO electrode from Ti-MXene beautifully solved NTO’s poor conductivity, slow ion deintercalation reaction kinetics, and lattice expansion during charging/discharging, which achieved a good desalination performance.
Synthesis and characterization of nanoscale composite particles formed by 2D layers of Cu–Fe sulfide and Mg-based hydroxide
Authors: Mikhlin Yuri L. , Borisov Roman V. , Vorobyev Sergey A. , Tomashevich Yevgeny V. , Romanchenko Alexander S. , Likhatski Maxim N. , Karacharov Anton A. , Bayukov Oleg A. , Knyazev Yuriy V. , Velikanov Dmitriy A. , Zharkov Sergey M. , Krylov Alexander S. , Krylova Svetlana N. , Nemtsev Ivan V.
Published: April 2022

We propose a simple hydrothermal synthesis of nanoflakes composed of alternating sulfide and hydroxide quasi-monolayers and their aqueous colloids, as a prospective family of novel multifunctional 2D materials.
Responsive hydrogel-based microneedle dressing for diabetic wound healing
Authors: Guo Zhaoyang , Liu Haiyang , Shi Zhekun , Lin Lulu , Li Yinping , Wang Miao , Pan Guoqing , Lei Yifeng , Xue Longjian
Published: March 2022

A glucose-responsive insulin-releasing hydrogel microneedle dressing was developed with the aim to accelerate wound healing in type 1 diabetic mice.
Cell-membrane-inspired polymers for constructing biointerfaces with efficient molecular recognition
Authors: Ishihara Kazuhiko , Fukazawa Kyoko
Published: April 2022

Biointerface with anti-biofouling and effective cooperation with biomolecules is important to make high-sensitive molecular recognition. Polymers designed by the inspiration of cell membrane surfaces are excellent candidates to create biointerfaces.
Functional diversity in the RAS subfamily of small GTPases
Authors: Bernal Astrain Gabriela , Nikolova Maya , Smith Matthew J.
Published: March 2022

RAS small GTPases regulate important signalling pathways and are notorious drivers of cancer development and progression. While most research to date has focused on understanding and addressing the oncogenic potential of three RAS oncogenes: HRAS, KRAS, and NRAS; the full RAS subfamily is composed of 35 related GTPases with diverse cellular functions. Most remain deeply understudied despite strong evolutionary conservation. Here, we highlight a group of 17 poorly characterized RAS GTPases that are frequently down-regulated in cancer and evidence suggests may function not as oncogenes, but as tumour suppressors. These GTPases remain largely enigmatic in terms of their cellular function, regulation, and interaction with effector proteins. They cluster within two families we designate as ‘distal-RAS’ (D-RAS; comprised of DIRAS, RASD, and RASL10) and ‘CaaX-Less RAS’ (CL-RAS; comprised of RGK, NKIRAS, RERG, and RASL11/12 GTPases). Evidence of a tumour suppressive role for many of these GTPases supports the premise that RAS subfamily proteins may collectively regulate cellular proliferation.
Uptake of formative feedback: perspective from a transnational education cohort
Authors: Menon Sabita , Clyne Rosemary K.
Published: March 2022

An important aspect of teaching and learning is the student’s response to and enaction of formative feedback. Few studies have examined how students interpret the formative feedback provided by tutors and translate these into action. In order to understand this better, we carried out a retrospective analysis of student responses to iterative formative feedback. The context of the present study is an extracurricular project where undergraduate biomedical science students on a transnational education programme competed in an extracurricular, cross-disciplinary video competition. Based on detailed analysis of provided feedback and subsequent enaction of the feedback, we found that students were active participants in the feedback process, engaged with the meaningful feedback critically, and incorporated the relevant changes to improve the final output. In this article, we will give our perspectives on how students understand, process and act on feedback, and also examine the features of the feedback that elicited these responses from students.
Sentence Production in a Discourse Context in Latent Aphasia: A Real-Time Study
Authors: Salis Christos , DeDe Gayle
Published: April 2022

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to improve our understanding as to which factors determine online, spoken sentence production abilities of adults with latent aphasia in a discourse context.

Method:

Discourse samples of the story of Cinderella elicited from AphasiaBank were analyzed with speech analysis software. Participants comprised people with latent and anomic aphasia as well as neurotypical controls (10 per group). Durations of pauses (silent and filled) were analyzed according to (a) the location they occurred (between or within sentences), (b) the syntactic complexity of sentences (simple, complex), and (c) sentence length (number of words). Statistical comparisons were conducted using mixed-effect models.

Results:

The two clinical groups (latent and anomic) differed from controls in the duration of pauses, both between and within sentences. Syntactic complexity did not exert an effect on either of the two clinical groups as compared with controls. As compared with controls, both clinical groups paused more before long in comparison with short sentences.

Conclusion:

Reduction in processing speed, which affects the ability to simultaneously maintain multiple linguistic and other cognitive demands associated with planning and monitoring of utterances, is a major factor that compromises sentence production in spoken discourse in latent aphasia.

Supplemental Material:

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.19448726
Histologic Investigation of the Salpingopharyngeus
Authors: Perta Karen , Sewell Leslie , Cray James , Bae Youkyung , Kalmar Eileen
Published: April 2022

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to characterize the histologic contents of the salpingopharyngeal fold. The primary objective was to observe the presence of salpingopharyngeus (SP) muscle fibers, particularly at the section near the muscle origin at the torus tubarius (TT).

Method:

Histologic samples of the salpingopharyngeal fold from 10 cadavers (six females and four males) were analyzed. Following a head bisection, a tissue sample measuring 5 mm in length along the course of the salpingopharyngeal fold was collected from one side (i.e., right or left). The tissue sample was taken from the estimated base of the TT to a point 5 mm inferiorly. Slides were prepared using a standard histological approach and basic pathological staining and analyzed via bright-field microscopy.

Results:

Skeletal muscle fibers were identified in eight of the 10 tissue blocks of the salpingopharyngeal fold, with dense connective tissue identified in the remaining two tissue blocks. Glandular material was also identified in all 10 tissue blocks.

Conclusions:

Skeletal muscle fibers and/or dense connective tissue can be consistently identified in the section of the salpingopharyngeal fold near the TT. Glandular material is also consistently present in this same region of the salpingopharyngeal fold. These findings are discussed in relation to possible functional roles of the salpingopharyngeal fold contents, including the SP muscle.
A new hough transform operated in a bounded cartesian coordinate parameter space
Authors: Yang Gen , Hu Junping , Hou Zhicheng , Zhang Gong , Wang Weijun
Published: March 2022

In this paper, a new Hough transform is proposed to detect lines with geometric meanings. In the standard Hough transform, lines are parameterized by the length and orientation of the normal vector from the origin to the line. The parameter space of the standard Hough transform is presented in a polar coordinate system. Geometric measurements such as distance and angle are not suitable in polar coordinate space due to the inconsistency of the axes. To deal with this problem, a Hough transform which is carried out in a bounded Cartesian coordinate parameter space is developed. The lines are represented by their perpendicular feet with respect to a fixed point. Since the parameter space is in Cartesian coordinate space, it is intuitive to the researchers. When detecting the peaks in the parameter space, distance and angle constraints can be applied. The effectiveness of the proposed method has been illustrated by two applications, that is, lane line detection and convex polygon extraction. The results show that the proposed Cartesian coordinate Hough transform is suitable for detecting meaningful lines.
Exact solution for Riemann problems of the shear shallow water model
Authors: Nkonga Boniface , Chandrashekar Praveen
Published: March 2022

The shear shallow water model is a higher order model for shallow flows which includes some shear effects that are neglected in the classical shallow models. The model is a non-conservative hyperbolic system which can admit shocks, rarefactions, shear and contact waves. The notion of weak solution is based on a path but the choice of the correct path is not known for this problem. In this paper, we construct exact solution for the Riemann problem assuming a linear path in the space of conserved variables, which is also used in approximate Riemann solvers. We compare the exact solutions with those obtained from a path conservative finite volume scheme on some representative test cases.
Protein pattern formation induced by the joint effect of noise and delay in a multi-cellular system
Authors: Bratsun Dmitry
Published: April 2022

We explore the combined effect of the intrinsic noise and time delay on the spatial pattern formation within the framework of a multi-scale mobile lattice model mimicking two-dimensional epithelium tissues. Every cell is represented by an elastic polygon changing its form and size under pressure from the surrounding cells. The model includes the procedure of minimization of the potential energy of tissue. The protein fluctuations in the tissue are driven by transcription/translation processes in epithelial cells exchanging chemical and mechanical signals. Network architecture includes a simple autorepressor model with time-delayed negative feedback, in which the only gene defines the oscillatory activity. Simultaneously, the expressed protein of the autorepressor acts as a positive regulator of the signaling protein by activating its transcription. The signaling species is assumed to spread from one cell to the other by the diffusion mechanism. We provide both deterministic and stochastic descriptions. The numerical simulation of spatially-extended stochastic oscillations is performed using a generalized Gillespie algorithm. We developed this method earlier to account for the non-Markovian properties of random biochemical events with delay. Finally, we demonstrate that time delay, intrinsic noise, and spatial signaling can cause a system to develop the protein pattern even when its deterministic counterpart exhibits no pattern formation.
Autologous osteophyte grafting for ankle arthrodesis
Authors: Primadhi Raden Andri , Gunawan Hendra , Rachmayati Sylvia , Nagar Rasyid Hermawan
Published: April 2022

Purpose: Various graft sources had been identified to facilitate gap-filling in ankle arthrodesis procedures with related articular defects. This was a preliminary study with the aim of analyzing the efficacy and feasibility of using autologous osteophyte as a grafting source. Methods: Retrospective evaluation of ten patients having ankle arthrodesis procedure using identical anterior approach and plate fixation technique was conducted. Basic anthropometric measurements and underlying disease were recorded. Functional outcome and fusion rate were assessed at a 12-month post-surgery follow-up visit. Results: The underlying diseases include primary osteoarthritis (OA), post-traumatic OA, rheumatoid arthritis, and Charcot arthropathy. The patient’s age mean was 56.6 years (range 36–71 years), and BMI varied from 17.9 kg/m2 to 29.3 kg/m2. Nearly all patients had improved functional outcomes as described by foot and ankle ability measure (FAAM) score and fusion rate as described by modified radiographic union score for tibia (RUST). One patient had failed surgery due to implant failure with diminished protective foot sensory. Conclusion: Osteophytes from the distal tibia and talar neck were a viable source of bone graft, especially for ankle arthrodesis using anterior approach among various ages and BMI, in which the surgeons would not need additional incision for graft harvesting.