bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi‐objective approach to forecast design refresh time due to COTS obsolescence
Authors: Ozkan Baris Egemen , Bulkan Serol
Published: February 2022

The purpose of this study is to provide program managers and systems engineers with a novel algorithm in determining the design refresh time (DRT) of sustainment‐dominated systems due to COTS obsolescence. Most of the research done so far has focused on cost optimization. The main contribution of the study is two‐fold. First, besides cost optimization, we have introduced efficiency optimization within a balanced approach to determine the DRT, under multiple objectives. Second, we used a set‐based approach over the hypervolume quality values of solutions rather than population‐based Pareto solutions. We proposed a discrete‐time simulation model by using Multi‐Objective Evolutionary Algorithms where the deterioration over the quality values of Pareto solution sets is used as an indicator for a DRT. We supported the proposed mathematical model in theory with empirical findings from a case study for a sustainment‐dominated Naval Command and Control System that was designed in 2004 and deployed in 2007. We ran the simulation as for 2007 and conducted an analysis over the cost and operational efficiency objectives to compare the situation experienced in real life against the simulation outputs of the proposed model. The results revealed that not only the total life cycle cost but also efficient operational sustainability of a system would be increased significantly if the system had gone through design refreshes as proposed by the model. We showed that the deterioration of the Pareto optimal solutions’ hypervolume quality values over time is an effective marker to decide the optimal DRT under conflicting multiple objectives.
Towards Building Intrusion Detection Systems for Multivariate Time-Series Data
Authors: Seong ChangMin , Song YoungRok , Hyun Jiwung , Cheong Yun-Gyung
Published: February 2022

Recent network intrusion detection systems have employed machine learning and deep learning algorithms to defend against dynamically evolving network attacks. While most previous studies have focused on detecting attacks which can be determined based on a single time instant, few studies have paid attention to subsequence outliers, which require inspecting consecutive points in time for detection. To address this issue, this paper applies a time-series anomaly detection method in an unsupervised learning manner. To this end, we converted the UNSW-NB15 dataset into the time-series data. We carried out a preliminary evaluation to test the performance of the anomaly detection on the created time-series network dataset as well as on a time-series dataset obtained from sensors. We analyze and discuss the results.
The effect of left atrial wall thickness and pulmonary vein sizes on the acute procedural success of atrial fibrillation ablation
Authors: Boussoussou Melinda , Szilveszter Bálint , Vattay Borbála , Kolossváry Márton , Vecsey-Nagy Milán , Salló Zoltán , Orbán Gábor , Péter Perge , Katalin Piros , Vivien Nagy Klaudia , István Osztheimer , Maurovich-Horvat Pál , Merkely Béla , Gellér László , Szegedi Nándor
Published: February 2022

Nowadays, a novel contact-force guided ablation technique is used for enclosing pulmonary veins in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We sought to determine whether left atrial (LA) wall thickness (LAWT) and pulmonary vein (PV) dimensions, as assessed by cardiac CT, could influence the success rate of first-pass pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). In a single-center, prospective study, we enrolled consecutive patients with symptomatic, drug-refractory AF who underwent initial radiofrequency catheter ablation using a modified CLOSE protocol. Pre-procedural CT was performed in all cases. Additionally, the diameter and area of the PV orifices were obtained. A total of 1034 LAWT measurements and 376 PV area measurements were performed in 94 patients (mean CHA2DS2-VASc score 2.1 ± 1.5, mean age 62.4 ± 12.6 years, 39.5% female, 38.3% persistent AF). Mean procedure time was 81.2 ± 19.3 min. Complete isolation of all PVs was achieved in 100% of patients. First-pass isolation rate was 76% and 71% for the right-sided PVs and the left-sided PVs, respectively. No difference was found regarding comorbidities and imaging parameters between those with and without first-pass isolation. LAWT (mean of 11 regions or separately) had no effect on the acute procedural outcome on logistic regression analysis (all p ≥ 0.05). Out of all assessed parameters, only RSPV diameter was associated with a higher rate of successful right-sided first pass isolation (OR 1.01, p = 0.04). Left atrial wall thickness does not have an influence on the acute procedural success of PVI using ablation index and a standardized ablation protocol. RSPV diameter could influence the probability of right sided first-pass isolation.
Little Syria: Syrian refugees in car town, Korea
Authors: Kim Kyohee , Smets Peer
Published: February 2022

Due to the Syrian civil war, about 1,100 Syrians have applied for asylum status in Korea, and almost all have obtained humanitarian protection status. Receiving refugees is a relatively new phenomenon in Korean society and many refugees may experience a hostile environment. Although a small number of Koreans show empathy to refugees, the majority have expressed serious security and financial concerns about hosting refugees. This qualitative study therefore looks at Syrian refugees’ sense of belonging in Car Town in Seoul, where approximately 50 Syrians have settled. Through interviews, informal talks, and observations, we investigate Syrians’ everyday lives, and the mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion in the Korean society and in the local Syrian community. This study offers insights into different elements of belonging and how the politics of belonging and place-belongingness take shape, and in turn impact the sense of belonging of the Syrian refugees in Car Town and in Korea.
Flood resilience in paired US–Mexico border cities: a study of binational risk perceptions
Authors: Freimund Christopher A. , Garfin Gregg M. , Norman Laura M. , Fisher Larry A. , Buizer James L.
Published: February 2022

Disastrous floods in the twin cities of Nogales, Arizona, USA, and Nogales, Sonora, Mexico (collectively referred to as Ambos Nogales) occur annually in response to monsoonal summer rains. Flood-related hazards include property damage, impairment to sewage systems, sewage discharge, water contamination, erosion, and loss of life. Flood risk, particularly in Nogales, Sonora, is amplified by informal, “squatter” settlements in the watershed floodplain and associated development and infrastructure. The expected increase in precipitation intensity, resulting from climate change, poses further risk to flooding therein. We explore binational community perceptions of flooding, preferences for watershed management, and potential actions to address flooding and increase socio-ecological resilience in Ambos Nogales using standardized questionnaires and interviews to collect data about people and their preferences. We conducted 25 semi-structured interviews with local subject matter experts and gathered survey responses from community members in Ambos Nogales. Though survey response was limited, expected frequencies were high enough to conduct Chi-squared tests of independence to test for statistically significant relationships between survey variables. Results showed that respondents with previous experience with flooding corresponded with their level of concern about future floods. Additionally, respondents perceived greater flood-related risks from traveling across town and damage to vehicles than from inundation or damages to their homes or neighborhoods. Binationally, women respondents felt less prepared for future floods than men. On both sides of the border, community members and local experts agreed that Ambos Nogales lacks adequate preparation for future floods. To increase preparedness, they recommended flood risk education and awareness campaigns, implementation of green infrastructure, additional stormwater infrastructure (such as drainage systems), enhanced flood early warning systems, and reduction of flood flows through regulations to reduce the expansion of hard surfaces. This study contributes systematic collection of information about flood risk perceptions across an international border, including novel data regarding risks related to climate change and gender-based assessments of flood risk. Our finding of commonalities across both border communities, in perceptions of flood risk and in the types of risk reduction solutions recommended by community members, provides clear directions for flood risk education, outreach, and preparedness, as well as measures to enhance cross-border cooperation.
Attitudes, deliberation and decisions
Authors: Bradley Richard
Published: February 2022

In this paper I discuss the challenges of several authors to the claims I make in Decision Theory with a Human Face regarding the relation between preference and choice, the nature of conditional desire, the semantics of conditionals, attitudes to chances and their role in individuating prospects, belief change under growing awareness and choice under ambiguity
“Train your mind for a healthy life”. The medicalization of mediatized mindfulness in the West
Authors: Kołodziejska Marta , Paliński Michał
Published: February 2022

The study analyses how the functions and purposes of mindfulness meditation practices are constructed in the narratives of the Headspace mobile application. The quantitative component deployed a semi-automatic, computer assisted text analysis of 964 posts on the Headspace blog, and involved topic modelling and keyword co-occurrence analysis. This step identified dominant topics within the sample, and key term associations, which informed the in-depth qualitative text analysis of the recordings of four Headspace meditation packs, and 45 blog posts written between 2014 and 2018. The analysis focused on identifying the narratives, defined as structured storylines with plots, actors, and attached meanings. The analysis has shown that in the Headspace narratives, the function and purpose of mindfulness is constructed with reference to science and medicine, which also positions the app and the services it offers among scientific achievements, rather than spirituality or alt-med movements. The medical authoritative framework manifests itself in links to research, and referring to problems and solutions in medical or therapeutic terms. Apart from the medicalization of the practice, its healthicization is also manifested in the repetitive encouragement to monitor one’s health and actively improve one’s wellbeing. In effect, the narratives associate taking care of one’s health with the morally desirable behavior. The study concludes that the medicalization and healthicization of mindfulness identified in the app narratives shift the meaning and function of the practice from spiritual growth and enlightenment to a “will to health” and the obligation of constant self-monitoring.
Sucroferric oxyhydroxide for hyperphosphatemia: a review of real-world evidence
Authors: Coyne Daniel W. , Sprague Stuart M. , Vervloet Marc , Ramos Rosa , Kalantar-Zadeh Kamyar
Published: February 2022

Hyperphosphatemia is a common complication in dialysis-dependent patients with chronic kidney disease. Most dialysis-dependent patients need oral phosphate binder therapy to control serum phosphorus concentrations. Most phosphate binders have a high daily pill burden, which may reduce treatment adherence and impair phosphorus control. Sucroferric oxyhydroxide is a potent iron-based phosphate binder approved for use in dialysis-dependent patients in 2013. A randomized controlled trial of sucroferric oxyhydroxide demonstrated its efficacy for reduction of serum phosphorus with a lower pill burden than sevelamer carbonate. Clinical trials carefully select patients, monitor adherence, and routinely titrate medications to a protocol-defined goal. Consequently, trials may not reflect real-world use of medications. Since its approval, we and others have performed retrospective and prospective analyses of sucroferric oxyhydroxide in real-world clinical practice in > 6400 hemodialysis and approximately 500 peritoneal dialysis patients in the USA and Europe. Consistent with the clinical trial data, real-world observational studies have demonstrated that sucroferric oxyhydroxide can effectively reduce serum phosphorus with a lower daily pill burden than most other phosphate binders. These studies have also shown sucroferric oxyhydroxide provides effective serum phosphorus control in different treatment settings, including as monotherapy in phosphate binder-naïve patients, in patients switching from other phosphate binders, or when used in combination with other phosphate binders. These observational studies indicate a favorable safety and tolerability profile, and minimal, if any, systemic iron absorption. This article reviews the key results from these observational studies of sucroferric oxyhydroxide and evaluates its role in the management of hyperphosphatemia in clinical practice.
Three-dimensional complex architectures observed in shock processed amino acid mixtures
Authors: Singh Surendra V. , Vishakantaiah Jayaram , Meka Jaya K. , Muruganantham Mariyappan , Thiruvenkatam Vijay , Sivaprahasam Vijayan , Rajasekhar Balabhadrapatruni N. , Bhardwaj Anil , Mason Nigel J. , Sivaraman Bhalamurugan
Published: February 2022

Asteroid and cometary impacts have been considered one of the possible routes for exogenous delivery of organics to the early Earth. It is well established that amino acids can be synthesized due to impact-driven shock processesing of simple molecules and that amino acids can survive the extreme conditions of impact events. In the present study, we simulate impact-induced shock conditions utilizing a shock tube that can maintain a reflected shock temperature of about 5,500 K for 2 ms time scale. We have performed shock processing of various combinations of amino acids with subsequent morphological analysis carried out using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), revealing that the shock processed amino acids demonstrate an extensive range of complex structures. These results provide evidence for the further evolution of amino acids in impact-induced shock environments leading to the formation of complex structures and thus providing a pathway for the origin of life.
Recovery of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions in coronavirus disease 2019 patients: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Taziki Balajelini M H , Vakili M A , Rajabi A , Mohammadi M , Tabarraei A , Hosseini S M
Published: February 2022

Objective

This study aimed to determine the association of some demographic and clinical factors with recovery from olfactory and gustatory dysfunction in coronavirus disease 2019 patients in Iran.

Methods

This prospective cohort study was performed on 242 coronavirus disease 2019 patients with olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. The time from onset to recovery for olfactory and gustatory dysfunction was estimated by the Kaplan–Meier estimator.

Results

After six months, 239 patients (98.8 per cent) had completely recovered from olfactory dysfunction. Olfactory and gustatory dysfunction symptoms resolved in 80.99 per cent and 83.56 per cent of the patients, respectively, within the first 30 days of symptom onset. Mean recovery time for olfactory dysfunction (35.07 ± 4.25 days) was significantly longer in those infected during the first epidemic wave compared with those infected during the second wave (21.65 ± 2.05 days) (p = 0.004). A similar pattern in recovery time was observed for cases of gustatory dysfunction (p = 0.005).

Conclusion

The recovery rate for coronavirus disease 2019 related olfactory and gustatory dysfunction is high within the first month of symptom onset.
inML Kit: empowering the prototyping of ML-enhanced products by involving designers in the ML lifecycle
Authors: Sun Lingyun , Zhang Yuyang , Li Zhuoshu , Zhou Zihong , Zhou Zhibin
Published: February 2022

Machine learning (ML) is increasingly used to enhance intelligent products in the field of product design. However, ML has a never-ending lifecycle in which its capabilities and technical properties iteratively change as new annotated data are utilized. The never-ending lifecycle of ML (which includes data annotation, model training, and other steps) has led to challenges to the prototyping of ML-enhanced products and requires a high level of ML literacy in designers. To facilitate the prototyping of ML-enhanced products and improve the ML literacy of designers, we draw inspiration from a design method called Material Lifecycle Thinking (MLT), which regards ML as a continuously evolving design material. Based on the MLT, we proposed a cyclical prototype workflow and developed inML Kit, a toolkit enabling designers to make functional ML prototypes and improve ML literacy by involving them in the never-ending ML lifecycle. The toolkit was designed, iterated, and implemented through the participatory design process with experienced designers in this field. We evaluated inML Kit by conducting a controlled user study where our toolkit was compared with Google AIY. The evaluation results imply that our inML Kit helps designers to make functional ML prototypes while improving their ML literacy.
Effects of the COVID‐19 Pandemic on Authors and Reviewers of American Geophysical Union Journals
Authors: Wooden Paige , Hanson Brooks
Published: February 2022

The COVID‐19 pandemic affected the scientific workforce in many ways. Many worried that stay‐at‐home orders would disproportionately harm the productivity and well‐being of women and early‐career scientists, who were expected to shoulder more childcare, homeschooling, and other domestic duties while also interrupting field and lab research, essential for career advancement. AGU journal submission and author and reviewer demographic data allowed us to investigate the effect the pandemic may have had on many Earth and space scientists, especially on women and early career scientists. However, we found that submissions to AGU journals increased during the pandemic as did total submissions from women (with no difference in the proportion). Although the rate at which women agreed to review decreased slightly (down 0.5%), women still made up a larger proportion of agreed reviewers during the pandemic compared to 2 years earlier. Little difference was seen overall in median times to complete reviews except with women in their 40s and 70s, suggesting that they were affected more during the pandemic than other age and gender groups. Although AGU's data do not show that the effects of the pandemic decreased women's participation in AGU journals, the lag between research and writing/submitting may still be seen in later months, which we will continue to report on as we analyze the data. The stay‐at‐home orders may also have allowed people to devote time to writing up research conducted prepandemic; writing too can be done during down‐time hours, which may have supported the increase in submissions to and reviews for AGU journals.
Atmospheric River Precipitation Enhanced by Climate Change: A Case Study of the Storm That Contributed to California's Oroville Dam Crisis
Authors: Michaelis Allison C. , Gershunov Alexander , Weyant Alexander , Fish Meredith A. , Shulgina Tamara , Ralph F. Martin
Published: February 2022

An increasingly volatile hydroclimate increases California's reliance on precipitation from atmospheric rivers (ARs) for water resources. Here, we simulate the AR that contributed to the Oroville Dam crisis in early February 2017 under global climate conditions representing preindustrial, present‐day, mid‐, and late‐21st century environments. This event consisted of two distinct AR pulses: the first snowy, westerly, and cool followed by a southwesterly and warm pulse resulting in copious rain‐on‐snow. We estimate that climate change to date results in ∼11% and ∼15% increase in precipitation over the Feather River Basin in Northern California for the first and second pulses, respectively, with late‐21st century enhancements upwards of ∼21% and ∼59%, respectively. Although both pulses were enhanced by the imposed climate changes, the thermodynamic response and subsequent precipitation increases were most substantial during the second pulse. The disparate changes demonstrated here highlight that not all ARs will respond similarly in a warmer world.
Measuring Carbon Ion Loss from the Martian Atmosphere
Authors: Rehnberg Morgan
Published: February 2022

The flux, observed with NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft, is in line with models and 1–2 orders of magnitude lower than that of oxygen ions.
DDR1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis through recruiting PSD4 to ARF6
Authors: Zhang Xiaochao , Hu Yabing , Pan Yonglong , Xiong Yixiao , Zhang Yuxin , Han Mengzhen , Dong Keshuai , Song Jia , Liang Huifang , Ding Zeyang , Zhang Xuewu , Zhu He , Liu Qiumeng , Lu Xun , Feng Yongdong , Chen Xiaoping , Zhang Zhanguo , Zhang Bixiang
Published: February 2022

Discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) is a member of the receptor tyrosine kinase family, and its ligand is collagen. Previous studies demonstrated that DDR1 is highly expressed in many tumors. However, its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains obscure. In this study, we found that DDR1 was upregulated in HCC tissues, and the expression of DDR1 in TNM stage II-IV was higher than that in TNM stage I in HCC tissues, and high DDR1 expression was associated with poor prognosis. Gene expression analysis showed that DDR1 target genes were functionally involved in HCC metastasis. DDR1 positively regulated the migration and invasion of HCC cells and promoted lung metastasis. Human Phospho-Kinase Array showed that DDR1 activated ERK/MAPK signaling pathway. Mechanically, DDR1 interacted with ARF6 and activated ARF6 through recruiting PSD4. The kinase activity of DDR1 was required for ARF6 activation and its role in metastasis. High expression of PSD4 was associated with poor prognosis in HCC. In summary, our findings indicate that DDR1 promotes HCC metastasis through collagen induced DDR1 signaling mediated PSD4/ARF6 signaling, suggesting that DDR1 and ARF6 may serve as novel prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for metastatic HCC.
Lymphocyte infiltration and thyrocyte destruction are driven by stromal and immune cell components in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Authors: Zhang Qian-Yue , Ye Xiao-Ping , Zhou Zheng , Zhu Chen-Fang , Li Rui , Fang Ya , Zhang Rui-Jia , Li Lu , Liu Wei , Wang Zheng , Song Shi-Yang , Lu Sang-Yu , Zhao Shuang-Xia , Lin Jian-Nan , Song Huai-Dong
Published: February 2022

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is the most common autoimmune disease characterized by lymphocytic infiltration and thyrocyte destruction. Dissection of the interaction between the thyroidal stromal microenvironment and the infiltrating immune cells might lead to a better understanding of HT pathogenesis. Here we show, using single-cell RNA-sequencing, that three thyroidal stromal cell subsets, ACKR1+endothelial cells and CCL21+myofibroblasts and CCL21+fibroblasts, contribute to the thyroidal tissue microenvironment in HT. These cell types occupy distinct histological locations within the thyroid gland. Our experiments suggest that they might facilitate lymphocyte trafficking from the blood to thyroid tissues, and T cell zone CCL21+fibroblasts may also promote the formation of tertiary lymphoid organs characteristic to HT. Our study also demonstrates the presence of inflammatory macrophages and dendritic cells expressing high levels of IL-1β in the thyroid, which may contribute to thyrocyte destruction in HT patients. Our findings thus provide a deeper insight into the cellular interactions that might prompt the pathogenesis of HT.
Selenophosphate synthetase 1 deficiency exacerbates osteoarthritis by dysregulating redox homeostasis
Authors: Kang Donghyun , Lee Jeeyeon , Jung Jisu , Carlson Bradley A. , Chang Moon Jong , Chang Chong Bum , Kang Seung-Baik , Lee Byung Cheon , Gladyshev Vadim N. , Hatfield Dolph L. , Lee Byeong Jae , Kim Jin-Hong
Published: February 2022

Aging and mechanical overload are prominent risk factors for osteoarthritis (OA), which lead to an imbalance in redox homeostasis. The resulting state of oxidative stress drives the pathological transition of chondrocytes during OA development. However, the specific molecular pathways involved in disrupting chondrocyte redox homeostasis remain unclear. Here, we show that selenophosphate synthetase 1 (SEPHS1) expression is downregulated in human and mouse OA cartilage. SEPHS1 downregulation impairs the cellular capacity to synthesize a class of selenoproteins with oxidoreductase functions in chondrocytes, thereby elevating the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and facilitating chondrocyte senescence. Cartilage-specific Sephs1 knockout in adult mice causes aging-associated OA, and augments post-traumatic OA, which is rescued by supplementation of N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Selenium-deficient feeding and Sephs1 knockout have synergistic effects in exacerbating OA pathogenesis in mice. Therefore, we propose that SEPHS1 is an essential regulator of selenium metabolism and redox homeostasis, and its dysregulation governs the progression of OA.
Development and validation of a prognostic and predictive 32-gene signature for gastric cancer
Authors: Cheong Jae-Ho , Wang Sam C. , Park Sunho , Porembka Matthew R. , Christie Alana L. , Kim Hyunki , Kim Hyo Song , Zhu Hong , Hyung Woo Jin , Noh Sung Hoon , Hu Bo , Hong Changjin , Karalis John D. , Kim In-Ho , Lee Sung Hak , Hwang Tae Hyun
Published: February 2022

Genomic profiling can provide prognostic and predictive information to guide clinical care. Biomarkers that reliably predict patient response to chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibition in gastric cancer are lacking. In this retrospective analysis, we use our machine learning algorithm NTriPath to identify a gastric-cancer specific 32-gene signature. Using unsupervised clustering on expression levels of these 32 genes in tumors from 567 patients, we identify four molecular subtypes that are prognostic for survival. We then built a support vector machine with linear kernel to generate a risk score that is prognostic for five-year overall survival and validate the risk score using three independent datasets. We also find that the molecular subtypes predict response to adjuvant 5-fluorouracil and platinum therapy after gastrectomy and to immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with metastatic or recurrent disease. In sum, we show that the 32-gene signature is a promising prognostic and predictive biomarker to guide the clinical care of gastric cancer patients and should be validated using large patient cohorts in a prospective manner.
Prime editing efficiency and fidelity are enhanced in the absence of mismatch repair
Authors: Ferreira da Silva J. , Oliveira G. P. , Arasa-Verge E. A. , Kagiou C. , Moretton A. , Timelthaler G. , Jiricny J. , Loizou J. I.
Published: February 2022

Prime editing (PE) is a powerful genome engineering approach that enables the introduction of base substitutions, insertions and deletions into any given genomic locus. However, the efficiency of PE varies widely and depends not only on the genomic region targeted, but also on the genetic background of the edited cell. Here, to determine which cellular factors affect PE efficiency, we carry out a focused genetic screen targeting 32 DNA repair factors, spanning all reported repair pathways. We show that, depending on cell line and type of edit, ablation of mismatch repair (MMR) affords a 2–17 fold increase in PE efficiency, across several human cell lines, types of edits and genomic loci. The accumulation of the key MMR factors MLH1 and MSH2 at PE sites argues for direct involvement of MMR in PE control. Our results shed new light on the mechanism of PE and suggest how its efficiency might be optimised.
Early prediction of preeclampsia in pregnancy with cell-free RNA
Authors: Moufarrej Mira N. , Vorperian Sevahn K. , Wong Ronald J. , Campos Ana A. , Quaintance Cecele C. , Sit Rene V. , Tan Michelle , Detweiler Angela M. , Mekonen Honey , Neff Norma F. , Baruch-Gravett Courtney , Litch James A. , Druzin Maurice L. , Winn Virginia D. , Shaw Gary M. , Stevenson David K. , Quake Stephen R.
Published: February 2022

Liquid biopsies that measure circulating cell-free RNA (cfRNA) offer an opportunity to study the development of pregnancy-related complications in a non-invasive manner and to bridge gaps in clinical care1–4. Here we used 404 blood samples from 199 pregnant mothers to identify and validate cfRNA transcriptomic changes that are associated with preeclampsia, a multi-organ syndrome that is the second largest cause of maternal death globally5. We find that changes in cfRNA gene expression between normotensive and preeclamptic mothers are marked and stable early in gestation, well before the onset of symptoms. These changes are enriched for genes specific to neuromuscular, endothelial and immune cell types and tissues that reflect key aspects of preeclampsia physiology6–9, suggest new hypotheses for disease progression and correlate with maternal organ health. This enabled the identification and independent validation of a panel of 18 genes that when measured between 5 and 16 weeks of gestation can form the basis of a liquid biopsy test that would identify mothers at risk of preeclampsia long before clinical symptoms manifest themselves. Tests based on these observations could help predict and manage who is at risk for preeclampsia—an important objective for obstetric care10,11.
Frequency and clinical significance of chromosomal inversions prenatally diagnosed by second trimester amniocentesis
Authors: Chien Chih-Wei , Chao An-Shine , Chang Yao-Lung , Chen Kuan-Ju , Peng Hsiu-Huei , Lin Yu-Ting , Chao Angel , Chang Shuenn-Dyh
Published: February 2022

To compare the frequency and clinical significance of familial and de novo chromosomal inversions during prenatal diagnosis. This was a retrospective study of inversions diagnosed prenatally in an Asian population by applying conventional GTG-banding to amniocyte cultures. Data from 2005 to 2019 were extracted from a single-center laboratory database. The types, frequencies, and inheritance patterns of multiple inversions were analyzed. Pericentric variant inversions of chromosome 9 or Y were excluded. In total, 56 (0.27%) fetuses with inversions were identified in the 15-year database of 21,120 confirmative diagnostic procedures. Pericentric and paracentric inversions accounted for 62.5% (35/56) and 37.5% of the inversions, respectively. Familial inversions accounted for nearly 90% of cases, and de novo mutation was identified in two pericentric and two paracentric cases. Inversions were most frequently identified on chromosomes 1 and 2 (16.1% of all inversions), followed by chromosomes 6, 7, and 10 (8.9% of all cases). The indications for invasive testing were as follows: advanced maternal age (67.3%), abnormal ultrasound findings (2.1%), abnormal serum aneuploidy screening (20.4%), and other indications (10.2%). The mode of inheritance was available for 67.9% of cases (38/56), with 89.5% of inversions being inherited (34/38). A slight preponderance of inheritance in female fetuses was observed. Three patients with inherited inversions opted for termination (two had severe central nervous system lesions and one had thalassemia major). Gestation continued for 53 fetuses, who exhibited no structural defects at birth or significant developmental problems a year after birth. Our study indicates that approximately 90% of prenatally diagnosed inversions involve familial inheritance, are spreading, and behave like founder effect mutations in this isolated population on an island. This finding can help to alleviate anxiety during prenatal counseling, which further underscores the importance of parental chromosomal analysis, further genetic studies, and appropriate counseling in cases where a nonfamilial inversion is diagnosed.
Microstrip sensor and methodology for the determination of complex anisotropic permittivity using perturbation techniques
Authors: Morales-Lovera Hector-Noel , Olvera-Cervantes Jose-Luis , Perez-Ramos Aldo-Eleazar , Corona-Chavez Alonso , Saavedra Carlos E.
Published: February 2022

In this work, a sensor in microstrip technology and a methodology for measuring the real part and the imaginary part of the complex uniaxial permittivity of solid anisotropic samples are presented. The sensor is based on a pair of parallel lines coupled resonators and a cleft arranged in the coupling region which allows to hold the samples under test (SUTs). The proposed methodology relates the change in the even/odd resonance frequency with the real part of the permittivity in the vertical/horizontal direction, and the change in the Q factor of the even/odd mode with the imaginary part of the permittivity in the vertical/horizontal direction. The methodology was successfully verified with the characterization, at 2.43 GHz of anisotropic samples of printed PLA, Diclad 880, and RO4350B using the knowns materials: RT5870, PTFE and RO4003.
Suppression of anthropogenic secondary organic aerosol formation by isoprene
Authors: Li Kangwei , Zhang Xin , Zhao Bin , Bloss William J. , Lin Chao , White Stephen , Yu Hai , Chen Linghong , Geng Chunmei , Yang Wen , Azzi Merched , George Christian , Bai Zhipeng
Published: February 2022

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) represents a major fraction of atmospheric fine particles. Both biogenic and anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can contribute to SOA through (photo-) oxidation. However, the current understanding of their combined, interactive effect on SOA formation and composition is still limited, challenging the accuracy in assessing global SOA budget, sources, and climate effect. Here we combine laboratory experiments and modelling to show that isoprene can suppress SOA formation from photo-oxidation of anthropogenic aromatics (toluene and p-xylene) with the presence of NOx, and similar SOA suppression phenomena are observed when replacing isoprene with propene. We find that the decreased SOA in such mixed-VOC conditions can be largely attributed to OH scavenging effect, resulting in reduced consumption of parent aromatics. However, various changes in SOA oxidation state (i.e., O/C) and oxidation pathways (i.e., more carbonyls formation) are observed following addition of isoprene, and the SOA chemical composition may not be similar to any single parent hydrocarbon, which implies the existence of complex interactions between the degradation chemistry for alkenes and aromatics. Under the conditions of this work, the OH scavenging effect is largely determined by gas-phase chemistry, which is expected to be widespread in binary or more complex systems in ambient air. More broadly, we infer that the global budget of anthropogenic SOA and its corresponding radiative forcing could be affected by biogenic emission of isoprene, particularly in urban environments with appreciable vegetation coverage.
Shedding a Light on the Colloidal Architectures of a Metal-free Polymeric Semiconductor Graphitic Carbon Nitride
Authors: Kumru Baris
Published: February 2022

Polymeric graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) has been a hot topic in the last 11 years as a metal-free, cheap, non-toxic and tunable semiconductor material. Fundamental interest arises from its photocatalytic performance, yet a comprehensive interplay between its syntheses, modification, application and scaling up is missing. This chapter will guide a journey for understanding the concept of g-CN synthesis and how the synthesis can be manipulated for designing advanced materials. Furthermore, g-CN composites, both metal and organic, will be depicted in detail. Last, emerging applications of g-CN materials will be exhibited. All chapters will be presented via a nanoarchitectonics perspective to strengthen understanding.
Crystalline Coordination Polymers Nanoarchitectonics by Epitaxial Growth and Etching
Authors: Zhang W. , Shi C. J. , Hu M.
Published: February 2022

Crystalline coordination polymers have attracted much attention owing to their diverse compositions and structures. To form the coordination polymers into commercial products, structures such as membrane, thin film, colloidal crystals, and heterostructures are commonly needed. However, these cannot be realized by molecular engineering. Instead, nanoarchitectonics is essential. In this chapter, we would like to focus on two important aspects of nanoarchitectonics, epitaxial growth and etching. The fundamental points and key techniques of the related parts are summarized. The recent progress has been briefly discussed as well.
Polymer–Clay Hybrids; General Overviews and Recent Trends
Authors: Imwiset Kamonnart (Jaa) , Teepakakorn Aranee (Pleng) , Saengdet Ploypailin (Milin) , Tirayaphanitchkul Chalunda (Baitong) , Ogawa Makoto
Published: February 2022

Clay–polymer hybrids were summarized from the application aspects. After the classification of polymer–clay hybrids from structural aspects, the application examples were introduced. The roles of the interactions between polymer and clay on the functional design were discussed to clarify the present status and future possibilities of polymer–clay (and clay–polymer) hybrids.
Biomolecules-guided Molecular Architectonics to Nanoarchitectonics
Authors: Roy Bappaditya , Govindaraju Thimmaiah
Published: February 2022

This chapter presents biomolecules-guided molecular architectonics to generate well-defined molecular and nanoarchitectures with functional properties and applications. Biomolecules with in-built information for molecular recognition serve as auxiliaries to guide the molecular organization of functional molecules to harvest emergent properties with functional relevance. Biomolecular auxiliaries, functional core molecules and the derived modular building blocks are discussed along with various parameters, viz., noncovalent interactions, chirality and the experimental parameters that guide the process of controlled molecular organization. Some of the representative examples are presented to familiarize the reader with the detailed scheme of molecular architectonics. These specific examples help to understand the concept of molecular architectonics to generate nanoarchitectures with diverse applications from materials science to biomedicine.
Nanoarchitectonics of Stretchable Organic Electronics Materials
Authors: Zhang Ding , He Wen , Ma Rujun
Published: February 2022

With the rapid development of smart electronics, intrinsically stretchable organic electronic materials with excellent electrical properties have exhibited huge application potential in wearable electronics and artificial intelligent fields. Mechanical stretchability and electrical property often tend to interfere with each other, which impedes the development and usage of stretchable organic electronic materials. To meet various practical applications, it is quite vital for intrinsically stretchable organic electronic materials to obtain synergistic mechanical and electrical properties through reasonable materials design and structure optimization. In this chapter, we systematically analyse and summarize the recent research progress of intrinsically stretchable organic conducting materials, including representative organic conducting materials, structure design and performance optimization, practical and potential application. Finally, the future development directions, possible challenges and opportunities of intrinsically stretchable organic conducting materials are discussed and proposed.
[Co2@(Ge17Ni)]4−: the first edge-sharing double-cage endohedral germanide
Authors: Xu Hong-Lei , Qiao Lei , Sun Zhong-Ming
Published: February 2022

The ternary Ge cluster [Co2@(Ge17Ni)]4−was synthesized, which not only exhibits a unique double-cage form in the family of 18-vertex Zintl clusters, but also makes up the missing link of edge fusion in the construction of double-cage systems.
The effect of non-covalent conformational locks on intra-molecular charge transport of OPV units
Authors: Ma Jingjing , Shi Yangyang , Wang Zhiye , Wang Xu , Li Yunchuan , Sun Mingjun , Guo Jing , Qian Gongming , Chang Shuai
Published: February 2022

Additional charge transport channels based on non-covalent conformational locks (NCLs) were confirmed via conductance measurement and theoretical simulations.
Two high-nuclearity isopolyoxoniobates containing {Nb54 O151}-based helical nanotubes for the decomposition of chemical warfare agent simulants
Authors: Wu Yan-Lan , Wang Yong-Jiang , Sun Yan-Qiong , Li Xin-Xiong , Zheng Shou-Tian
Published: February 2022

Two 2D similar bamboo-raft-like layered isopolyoxoniobates are constructed from new high-nuclearity {Nb54O151} cluster-based helical nanotubes. Compound 1 exhibits effective base-catalytic performance of chemical warfare agent simulants.
Na3V2(PO4)2F3@bagasse carbon as cathode material for lithium/sodium hybrid ion battery
Authors: Guo Rongting , Li Wei , Lu Mingjun , Lv Yiju , Ai Huiting , Sun Dan , Liu Zheng , Han Guo-Cheng
Published: February 2022

The biomass bagasse carbon-coated Na3V2(PO4)2F3/C with nano-scale spherical morphology, prepared by spray drying and high temperature calcination, were proved to have excellent specific capacity and good cycling performance by electrochemical testing.
NiO nanobelts with exposed {110} crystal planes as an efficient electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction
Authors: Wang Jiajun , Xu Jiaying , Wang Qian , Liu Zhongyi , Zhang Xue , Zhang Jie , Lei Shulai , Li Yan , Mu Jianshuai , Yang En-Cui
Published: February 2022

NiO nanobelts with exposed {110} crystal planes have efficient oxygen evolution reaction activity, which has been explained by experimental studies and theoretical calculations.
Microwave-assisted extraction for further Cl, Br, and I determination in medicinal plants by ICP-MS: a study of carbon interferences
Authors: Nascimento Mariele S. , Druzian Gabriel T. , Pereira Leticia S. F. , Mesko Marcia F. , Picoloto Rochele S. , Mello Paola A. , Flores Erico M. M.
Published: February 2022

A microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) method for further Cl, Br, and I determination in medicinal plants was developed.
Calming egress of inflammatory monocytes and related septic shock by therapeutic CCR2 silencing using macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles
Authors: Ding Liang , Zhou Wenjing , Zhang Jian , Tang Qingsong , Xiao Weizhang , Chen Ming , Shen Zhenya , Chen Weiqian
Published: February 2022

This work has developed a Mac-EV-based drug delivery platform, mass production of which is easily achieved from immortalized BMDMs. Compared to MSC-EVs, Mac-EVs exhibit higher uptake efficiency to inflammatory Mo/Mps in vitro and to spleen in vivo.
Real-time in vivo imaging reveals specific nanoparticle target binding in a syngeneic glioma mouse model
Authors: Zhang Wenlong , Chen Xiangyu , Ding Dong , Zhang Guoxin , Zhu Ziwei , Yang XingJiu , Li Mengyuan , Liang Lijun , Shi Xudong , Wang Tie , Gao Ran
Published: February 2022

Real-time in vivo imaging reveals specific nanoparticle target binding in a syngeneic glioma mouse model.
Investigation of interaction between MXene nanosheets and human plasma and protein corona composition
Authors: Wu Xuri , Tan Feng , Cheng Shizhu , Chang Yangyang , Wang Xiaochun , Chen Lingxin
Published: February 2022

MXene Ti3C2Tx adsorb human plasma proteins to form protein corona. Opsonin proteins are highly enriched in the corona. The first main driving forces between MXene Ti3C2Tx nanosheets and human plasma proteins are hydrogen bonding.
Ligand and solvent effects on CO2 insertion into group 10 metal alkyl bonds
Authors: Deziel Anthony P. , Espinosa Matthew R. , Pavlovic Ljiljana , Charboneau David J. , Hazari Nilay , Hopmann Kathrin H. , Mercado Brandon Q.
Published: February 2022

The kinetics of carbon dioxide insertion into a pincer-supported palladium methyl complex are studied. The complex inserts carbon dioxide at room temperature, and we explore both solvent and Lewis acid effects on carbon dioxide insertion.
Covalency in actinide(iv) hexachlorides in relation to the chlorine K-edge X-ray absorption structure
Authors: Sergentu Dumitru-Claudiu , Autschbach Jochen
Published: February 2022

Chlorine K-edge XANES of An(iv) hexachlorides, calculated with multiconfiguration wavefunction theory, is interpreted in terms of similar metal–ligand covalency along the An = Th–Pu series.
A bimetallic synergistic effect on the atomic scale of defect-enriched NiV-layered double hydroxide nanosheets for electrochemical phenol hydroxylation
Authors: Li Guangyao , Xu Yanqi , Pan Hong , Xie Xiangli , Chen Rongrong , Wu Di , Wang Linjiang
Published: February 2022

Defect-enriched NiV-LDH-NS with a bimetallic synergistic effect were prepared by a one-step co-precipitation strategy and the electron-rich defects accelerated the formation of hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) to participate in the phenol hydroxylation.
Alkali metal ion binding using cyclic polyketones
Authors: Ozawa Narito , Shivakumar Kilingaru I. , Murugavel Muthuchamy , Inaba Yuya , Yoneda Tomoki , Ide Yuki , Pirillo Jenny , Hijikata Yuh , Inokuma Yasuhide
Published: February 2022

Cyclic polyketones composed of acetylacetone analogues showed crown ether-like alkali metal ion binding in less polar solvents. Their cation-binding properties were used for the Finkelstein reaction and the design of new cation-binding hosts.
Redox-neutral manganese-catalyzed synthesis of 1-pyrrolines
Authors: Feng Tingting , Liu Canxiang , Wu Zhen , Wu Xinxin , Zhu Chen
Published: February 2022

Described herein is a novel manganese-catalyzed radical [3 + 2] cyclization of cyclopropanols and oxime ethers, leading to valuable multi-functionalized 1-pyrrolines.
Characterization of ADAT2/3 molecules in Trypanosoma cruzi and regulation of mucin gene expression by tRNA editing
Authors: Bertotti Santiago , Fleming Ian , Cámara María de los Milagros , Centeno Cameán Camila , Carmona Santiago J. , Agüero Fernán , Balouz Virginia , Zahn Astrid , Di Noia Javier M. , Alfonzo Juan D. , Buscaglia Carlos A.
Published: February 2022

Adenosine-to-inosine conversion at position 34 (A34-to-I) of certain tRNAs is essential for expanding their decoding capacity. This reaction is catalyzed by the adenosine deaminase acting on tRNA (ADAT) complex, which in Eukarya is formed by two subunits: ADAT2 and ADAT3. We herein identified and thoroughly characterized the ADAT molecules from the protozoan pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas Disease. TcADAT2 and TcADAT3 spontaneously form a catalytically active complex, as shown by expression in engineered bacteria and/or by the increased ex vivo tRNA A-to-I deamination activity of T. cruzi epimastigotes overexpressing TcADAT subunits. Importantly, enhanced TcADAT2/3 activity in transgenic parasites caused a shift in their in vivo tRNAThrAGU signature, which correlated with significant changes in the expression of the Thr-rich TcSMUG proteins. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence indicating that T. cruzi tRNA editing can be modulated in vivo, in turn post-transcriptionally changing the expression of specific genes. Our findings suggest tRNA editing/availability as a forcible step in controlling gene expression and driving codon adaptation in T. cruzi. Moreover, we unveil certain differences between parasite and mammalian host tRNA editing and processing, such as cytosine-to-uridine conversion at position 32 of tRNAThrAGU in T. cruzi, that may be exploited for the identification of novel druggable targets of intervention.