bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors influencing extrathyroidal extension of papillary thyroid cancer and evaluation of ultrasonography for its diagnosis: a retrospective analysis
Authors: Wang Hui , Zhao Shanshan , Yao Jincao , Yu Xiuhua , Xu Dong
Published: October 2023

Pathologists usually explore extrathyroidal extensions (ETEs) in thyroid cancer; however, sonographers are often not concerned with ETEs. We investigated factors influencing ETEs and the efficacy of ultrasound evaluation of thyroid capsule invasion. We retrospectively analysed 1933 papillary thyroid carcinoma patients who underwent thyroidectomy during 2018–2021. Patients were divided into three groups: no ETE, minor ETE (mETE), and gross ETE. Clinical characteristic differences were assessed using binary logistic regression analysis to identify ETE predictors, and the kappa test was performed to analyse consistency between ultrasonographic and pathological diagnoses of ETE. The mETE group was more likely to have larger tumour diameters and more extensive lymph node metastasis (LNM) than the no ETE group and more likely to be diagnosed in the isthmus. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, longest tumour diameter, lesion site, LNM extent, and thyroglobulin concentration were significant mETE predictors. Minimal consistency existed between pathological and ultrasonographic examinations for neighbouring tissue invasion. Many clinical differences were observed between the no ETE and mETE groups, suggesting the importance of considering mETE. Therefore, sonographers should pay more attention to relationships between nodules and capsule and indicate these on ultrasound reports to provide more accurate preoperative ETE information for surgeons.
Equivalent impacts of logging and beaver activities on aboveground carbon stock loss in the southernmost forest on Earth
Authors: Miranda Alejandro , Hoyos-Santillan Jorge , Lara Antonio , Mentler Rayén , Huertas-Herrera Alejandro , Toro-Manríquez Mónica D. R. , Sepulveda-Jauregui Armando
Published: October 2023

The conservation of forest landscapes is crucial for global climate strategies, and the forest in Tierra del Fuego, located in Patagonia, represents the southernmost example on Earth. These ecosystems are critical for Chile’s roadmap toward carbon neutrality. Unfortunately, these ecosystems have been impacted by logging and beaver activities. Currently, the precise contribution of each driver to forest cover and carbon stock loss remains insufficiently quantified, impeding effective policymaking and the implementation of strategies to safeguard and enhance carbon stocks in these ecosystems. In this study, we conducted an assessment of forest carbon stock loss resulting from both logging and beaver activities in Chilean Tierra del Fuego from 1986 to 2019. While beavers have received significant attention for their substantial contribution to forest cover loss (56.1% forest cover, ≈ 1.4 MtC), our findings suggest that logging has nearly equally contributed to carbon stock depletion (43.8% forest cover, ≈ 1.2 MtC). Consequently, the prevailing focus on beavers has obscured the ongoing logging-induced carbon stock loss. The implications of our study highlight the urgency for comprehensive consideration of both drivers in Chile’s climate strategy to fulfill the country’s mitigation commitments.
Association of TERT (rs2736098 and rs2736100) genetic variants with elevated risk of hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective case–control study
Authors: Seif Eldin Walaa R. , Saad Entsar A. , Monier Ahmed , Elshazli Rami M.
Published: October 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an inflammatory problematic issue with higher mortality among different ethnic populations. The telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene has an imperative role in the proliferation of various cancerous illnesses, particularly HCC. Moreover, the TERT (rs2736098 and rs2739100) variants were correlated with the HCC susceptibility and telomere shortening, but with unconvincing outcomes. The main purpose of this outward work is to assess the correlation between these significant variants within the TERT gene and the elevated risk of HCC with the aid of various computational bioinformatics tools. This study included 233 participants [125 cancer-free controls and 108 HCC patients] from the same locality. In addition, 81.5% of HCC patients were positive for HCV autoantibodies, while 73.1% of HCC patients were positive for cirrhotic liver. Genomic DNA of the TERT (rs2736098 and rs2736100) variants were characterized utilizing the PCR–RFLP method. Interestingly, the frequencies of TERT (rs2736098*A allele) and TERT (rs2736100*T allele) conferred a significant correlation with increased risk of HCC compared to healthy controls (p-value = 0.002, and 0.016, respectively). The TERT (rs2736098*A/A) genotype indicated a definite association with positive smoking and splenomegaly (p-value < 0.05), while the TERT (rs2736100*T/T) genotype observed a significant difference with higher levels of HCV autoantibodies (p-value = 0.009). In conclusion, this significant work confirmed the contribution of the TERT (rs2736098*A and rs2736100*T) alleles with elevated risk of HCC progression and telomere shortening among Egyptian subjects.
Impact of tropical SSTs on the late-winter signal over the North Atlantic-European region and contribution of midlatitude Atlantic
Authors: Herceg-Bulić Ivana , Ivasić Sara , Popović Margareta
Published: October 2023

The impact of tropical sea surface temperatures (SSTs) on the signal of geopotential heights (GH200) over the North Atlantic-European (NAE) region is analysed from the aspects of seasonality, the contribution of individual tropical basins and midlatitude North Atlantic, El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) effect and spatial pattern of the atmospheric response. For this purpose, ensembles of targeted numerical simulations with SST forcing prescribed in various ocean basins are performed and examined. A clear atmospheric response is obtained in the late winter months. The strongest signal is linked to ENSO events during late winter. The competitive influences of individual tropical basins are indicated. At the same time, the superposition effect of the extratropical North Atlantic SSTs, which is established through the modulation of storm tracks, is demonstrated. Both, the modelled signal and the NOAA-CIRES-DOE 20th Century Reanalysis variance reveal the ENSO signature as a pattern in the North Atlantic projecting onto the East Atlantic pattern.
NCT/DKFZ MASTER handbook of interpreting whole-genome, transcriptome, and methylome data for precision oncology
Authors: Mock Andreas , Teleanu Maria-Veronica , Kreutzfeldt Simon , Heilig Christoph E. , Hüllein Jennifer , Möhrmann Lino , Jahn Arne , Hanf Dorothea , Kerle Irina A. , Singh Hans Martin , Hutter Barbara , Uhrig Sebastian , Fröhlich Martina , Neumann Olaf , Hartig Andreas , Brückmann Sascha , Hirsch Steffen , Grund Kerstin , Dikow Nicola , Lipka Daniel B. , Renner Marcus , Bhatti Irfan Ahmed , Apostolidis Leonidas , Schlenk Richard F. , Schaaf Christian P. , Stenzinger Albrecht , Schröck Evelin , Hübschmann Daniel , Heining Christoph , Horak Peter , Glimm Hanno , Fröhling Stefan
Published: October 2023

Analysis of selected cancer genes has become an important tool in precision oncology but cannot fully capture the molecular features and, most importantly, vulnerabilities of individual tumors. Observational and interventional studies have shown that decision-making based on comprehensive molecular characterization adds significant clinical value. However, the complexity and heterogeneity of the resulting data are major challenges for disciplines involved in interpretation and recommendations for individualized care, and limited information exists on how to approach multilayered tumor profiles in clinical routine. We report our experience with the practical use of data from whole-genome or exome and RNA sequencing and DNA methylation profiling within the MASTER (Molecularly Aided Stratification for Tumor Eradication Research) program of the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg and Dresden and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). We cover all relevant steps of an end-to-end precision oncology workflow, from sample collection, molecular analysis, and variant prioritization to assigning treatment recommendations and discussion in the molecular tumor board. To provide insight into our approach to multidimensional tumor profiles and guidance on interpreting their biological impact and diagnostic and therapeutic implications, we present case studies from the NCT/DKFZ molecular tumor board that illustrate our daily practice. This manual is intended to be useful for physicians, biologists, and bioinformaticians involved in the clinical interpretation of genome-wide molecular information.
Digital lifestyle treatment improves long-term metabolic control in type 2 diabetes with different effects in pathophysiological and genetic subgroups
Authors: Salunkhe Vishal A. , Sinha Neha , Ahlqvist Emma , Prasad Rashmi B. , Johansson Svetlana , Abrahamsson Birgitta , Rosengren Anders H.
Published: October 2023

To address the unmet need for scalable solutions for lifestyle treatment, we developed a new digital method to promote behavioral change. Here we report that patients with type-2 diabetes in Sweden (n = 331) exposed to the intervention have significantly improved HbA1c during a median follow-up of 1038 days (4 mmol/mol compared with matched controls; P = 0.009). This is paralleled by reduced body weight, ameliorated insulin secretion, increased physical activity, and cognitive eating restraints. Participants with high BMI and insulin resistance have an even larger response, as have non-risk allele carriers for the FTO gene. The findings open a new avenue for scalable lifestyle management with sustained efficacy and highlight a previously unrecognized opportunity for digital precision treatment based on genetics and individual pathophysiology. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04624321.
Prognosis Individualized: Survival predictions for WHO grade II and III gliomas with a machine learning-based web application
Authors: Karabacak Mert , Jagtiani Pemla , Carrasquilla Alejandro , Germano Isabelle M. , Margetis Konstantinos
Published: October 2023

WHO grade II and III gliomas demonstrate diverse biological behaviors resulting in variable survival outcomes. In the context of glioma prognosis, machine learning (ML) approaches could facilitate the navigation through the maze of factors influencing survival, aiding clinicians in generating more precise and personalized survival predictions. Here we report the utilization of ML models in predicting survival at 12, 24, 36, and 60 months following grade II and III glioma diagnosis. From the National Cancer Database, we analyze 10,001 WHO grade II and 11,456 grade III cranial gliomas. Using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) values, we deploy the top-performing models in a web application for individualized predictions. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) enhance the interpretability of the models. Top-performing predictive models are the ones built with LightGBM and Random Forest algorithms. For grade II gliomas, the models yield AUROC values ranging from 0.813 to 0.896 for predicting mortality across different timeframes, and for grade III gliomas, the models yield AUROCs ranging from 0.855 to 0.878. ML models provide individualized survival forecasts for grade II and III glioma patients across multiple clinically relevant time points. The user-friendly web application represents a pioneering digital tool to potentially integrate predictive analytics into neuro-oncology clinical practice, to empower prognostication and personalize clinical decision-making.
Biological age estimation using circulating blood biomarkers
Authors: Bortz Jordan , Guariglia Andrea , Klaric Lucija , Tang David , Ward Peter , Geer Michael , Chadeau-Hyam Marc , Vuckovic Dragana , Joshi Peter K.
Published: October 2023

Biological age captures physiological deterioration better than chronological age and is amenable to interventions. Blood-based biomarkers have been identified as suitable candidates for biological age estimation. This study aims to improve biological age estimation using machine learning models and a feature-set of 60 circulating biomarkers available from the UK Biobank (n = 306,116). We implement an Elastic-Net derived Cox model with 25 selected biomarkers to predict mortality risk (C-Index = 0.778; 95% CI [0.767–0.788]), which outperforms the well-known blood-biomarker based PhenoAge model (C-Index = 0.750; 95% CI [0.739–0.761]), providing a C-Index lift of 0.028 representing an 11% relative increase in predictive value. Importantly, we then show that using common clinical assay panels, with few biomarkers, alongside imputation and the model derived on the full set of biomarkers, does not substantially degrade predictive accuracy from the theoretical maximum achievable for the available biomarkers. Biological age is estimated as the equivalent age within the same-sex population which corresponds to an individual’s mortality risk. Values ranged between 20-years younger and 20-years older than individuals’ chronological age, exposing the magnitude of ageing signals contained in blood markers. Thus, we demonstrate a practical and cost-efficient method of estimating an improved measure of Biological Age, available to the general population.
Feeding Spodoptera exigua larvae with gut-derived Escherichia sp. increases larval juvenile hormone levels inhibiting cannibalism
Authors: Du Xing-Xing , Cao Sheng-Kai , Xiao Hua-Yan , Yang Chang-Jin , Zeng Ai-Ping , Chen Gong , Yu Huan
Published: October 2023

Feed quality influences insect cannibalistic behavior and gut microbial communities. In the present study,Spodoptera exigualarvae were fed six different artificial diets, and one of these diets (Diet 3) delayed larval cannibalistic behavior and reduced the cannibalism ratio after ingestion. Diet 3-fed larvae had the highest gut bacterial load (1.396 ± 0.556 × 1014bacteria/mg gut), whereas Diet 2-fed larvae had the lowest gut bacterial load (3.076 ± 1.368 × 1012bacteria/mg gut). The gut bacterial composition and diversity of different diet-fedS. exigualarvae varied according to the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Enterobacteriaceae was specific to the Diet 3-fed larval gut. Fifteen culturable bacterial isolates were obtained from the midgut of Diet 3-fed larvae. Of these, ten belonged toEscherichia sp. After administration with Diet 1- or 2-fedS. exigualarvae, two bacterial isolates (SePC-12and-37) delayed cannibalistic behavior in both tested larval groups. Diet 2-fed larvae had the lowest Juvenile hormone (JH) concentration and were more aggressive against intraspecific predation. However,SePC-12loading increased the JH hormone levels in Diet 2-fed larvae and inhibited their cannibalism. Bacteria in the larval midgut are involved in the stabilization of JH levels, thereby regulating host larval cannibalistic behavior.
Practical N-to-C peptide synthesis with minimal protecting groups
Authors: Tatsumi Toshifumi , Sasamoto Koki , Matsumoto Takuya , Hirano Ryo , Oikawa Kazuki , Nakano Masato , Yoshida Masaru , Oisaki Kounosuke , Kanai Motomu
Published: October 2023

Accessible drug modalities have continued to increase in number in recent years. Peptides play a central role as pharmaceuticals and biomaterials in these new drug modalities. Although traditional peptide synthesis using chain-elongation from C- to N-terminus is reliable, it produces large quantities of chemical waste derived from protecting groups and condensation reagents, which place a heavy burden on the environment. Here we report an alternative N-to-C elongation strategy utilizing catalytic peptide thioacid formation and oxidative peptide bond formation with main chain-unprotected amino acids under aerobic conditions. This method is applicable to both iterative peptide couplings and convergent fragment couplings without requiring elaborate condensation reagents and protecting group manipulations. A recyclable N-hydroxy pyridone additive effectively suppresses epimerization at the elongating chain. We demonstrate the practicality of this method by showcasing a straightforward synthesis of the nonapeptide DSIP. This method further opens the door to clean and atom-efficient peptide synthesis.
Deep learning of causal structures in high dimensions under data limitations
Authors: Lagemann Kai , Lagemann Christian , Taschler Bernd , Mukherjee Sach
Published: October 2023

Causal learning is a key challenge in scientific artificial intelligence as it allows researchers to go beyond purely correlative or predictive analyses towards learning underlying cause-and-effect relationships, which are important for scientific understanding as well as for a wide range of downstream tasks. Here, motivated by emerging biomedical questions, we propose a deep neural architecture for learning causal relationships between variables from a combination of high-dimensional data and prior causal knowledge. We combine convolutional and graph neural networks within a causal risk framework to provide an approach that is demonstrably effective under the conditions of high dimensionality, noise and data limitations that are characteristic of many applications, including in large-scale biology. In experiments, we find that the proposed learners can effectively identify novel causal relationships across thousands of variables. Results include extensive (linear and nonlinear) simulations (where the ground truth is known and can be directly compared against), as well as real biological examples where the models are applied to high-dimensional molecular data and their outputs compared against entirely unseen validation experiments. These results support the notion that deep learning approaches can be used to learn causal networks at large scale.
Mode switching in organisms for solving explore-versus-exploit problems
Authors: Biswas Debojyoti , Lamperski Andrew , Yang Yu , Hoffman Kathleen , Guckenheimer John , Fortune Eric S. , Cowan Noah J.
Published: October 2023

Trade-offs between producing costly movements for gathering information (‘explore’) and using previously acquired information to achieve a goal (‘exploit’) arise in a wide variety of problems, including foraging, reinforcement learning and sensorimotor control. Determining the optimal balance between exploration and exploitation is computationally intractable, necessitating heuristic solutions. Here we show that the electric fish Eigenmannia virescens uses a salience-dependent mode-switching strategy to solve the explore–exploit conflict during a refuge-tracking task in which the same category of movement (fore-aft swimming) is used for both gathering information and achieving task goals. The fish produced distinctive non-Gaussian distributions of movement velocities characterized by sharp peaks for slower, task-oriented ‘exploit’ movements and broad shoulders for faster ‘explore’ movements. The measures of non-normality increased with increased sensory salience, corresponding to a decrease in the prevalence of fast explore movements. We found the same sensory salience-dependent mode-switching behaviour across ten phylogenetically diverse organisms, from amoebae to humans, performing tasks such as postural balance and target tracking. We propose a state-uncertainty-based mode-switching heuristic that reproduces the distinctive velocity distribution, rationalizes modulation by sensory salience and outperforms the classic persistent excitation approach while using less energy. This mode-switching heuristic provides insights into purposeful exploratory behaviours in organisms, as well as a framework for more efficient state estimation and control of robots.
Climate change and cropland management compromise soil integrity and multifunctionality
Authors: Sünnemann Marie , Beugnon Remy , Breitkreuz Claudia , Buscot François , Cesarz Simone , Jones Arwyn , Lehmann Anika , Lochner Alfred , Orgiazzi Alberto , Reitz Thomas , Rillig Matthias C. , Schädler Martin , Smith Linnea C. , Zeuner Anja , Guerra Carlos A. , Eisenhauer Nico
Published: October 2023

Soils provide essential ecosystem functions that are threatened by climate change and intensified land use. We explore how climate and land use impact multiple soil function simultaneously, employing two datasets: (1) observational – 456 samples from the European Land Use/Land Cover Area Frame Survey; and (2) experimental – 80 samples from Germany’s Global Change Experimental Facility. We aim to investigate whether manipulative field experiment results align with observable climate, land use, and soil multifunctionality trends across Europe, measuring seven ecosystem functions to calculate soil multifunctionality. The observational data showed Europe-wide declines in soil multifunctionality under rising temperatures and dry conditions, worsened by cropland management. Our experimental data confirmed these relationships, suggesting that changes in climate will reduce soil multifunctionality across croplands and grasslands. Land use changes from grasslands to croplands threaten the integrity of soil systems, and enhancing soil multifunctionality in arable systems is key to maintain multifunctionality in a changing climate.
Suspended clay and surfactants enhance buoyant microplastic settling
Authors: Sutherland Bruce R. , Dhaliwal Maninderpal S. , Thai Dennis , Li Yuhao , Gingras Murray , Konhauser Kurt
Published: October 2023

Most of the plastic waste that enters rivers and the oceans is unaccounted for. Approximately half of the world’s produced plastics are buoyant in water, meaning that processes must take place that effectively increase their density, causing them to settle out of solution. One such mechanism is biofouling, in which organic matter grows on the surface of plastics, making them denser. Here we present a new mechanism supported by laboratory experiments for buoyant plastic settling in which particles of clay adhere to the surface of the plastic, mediated by the presence of surfactants. Although the plastic particles in our experiments were a hundred times larger than the micrometer-sized clay particles, we show that clay can adhere to the plastic with sufficient mass to cause the plastic to sink. This occurs even though the plastic is electrically neutral. It is hypothesized that the hydrophobic tails of the surfactant molecules are attracted to the plastic while the hydrophilic heads attract the clay. A greater fraction of plastic sinks if the surfactant concentration is larger. Our findings suggest that microplastic settling is enhanced in muddy rivers due to interactions with naturally occurring or discharged surfactants, even in the absence of biofouling.
Titin governs myocardial passive stiffness with major support from microtubules and actin and the extracellular matrix
Authors: Loescher Christine M. , Freundt Johanna K. , Unger Andreas , Hessel Anthony L. , Kühn Michel , Koser Franziska , Linke Wolfgang A.
Published: October 2023

Myocardial passive stiffness is crucial for the heart’s pump function and is determined by mechanical elements, including the extracellular matrix and cytoskeletal filaments; however, their individual contributions are controversially discussed and difficult to quantify. In this study, we targeted the cytoskeletal filaments in a mouse model, which enables the specific, acute and complete cleavage of the sarcomeric titin springs. We show in vitro that each cytoskeletal filament’s stiffness contribution varies depending on whether the elastic or the viscous forces are considered and on strain level. Titin governs myocardial elastic forces, with the largest contribution provided at both low and high strain. Viscous force contributions are more uniformly distributed among the microtubules, titin and actin. The extracellular matrix contributes at high strain. The remaining forces after total target element disruption are likely derived from desmin filaments. Our findings answer longstanding questions about cardiac mechanical architecture and allow better targeting of passive myocardial stiffness in heart failure.
Fluorescent liposomal nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery in ischemic stroke therapy
Authors: Arul Michael R. , Alahmadi Ibtihal , Turro Daylin Gamiotea , Ruikar Aditya , Abdulmalik Sama , Williams Justin T. , Sanganahalli Basavaraju G. , Liang Bruce T. , Verma Rajkumar , Kumbar Sangamesh G.
Published: October 2023

Ischemic Stroke causes acute CNS disorders. This article represents an injectable liposomal nanoparticle formulation of 5-BDBD and Nile red for treatment of Ischemic Stroke.
Microwave-assisted synthesis of composites based on titanium and hydroxyapatite for dental implantation
Authors: Zuo Shangyong , Peng Qian , Luo Ting , Wang Yuehong , Peng Zhiwei
Published: October 2023

Composites based on titanium and hydroxyapatite can be facilely prepared by microwave coating or sintering for dental implantation.
Construction of MoS2/CdS heterojunction catalysts with crystal plane modulation for photocatalytic coupling of benzylamines under aerobic and anaerobic conditions
Authors: Huang Fangfang , Zhang Songyue , Chang Yuhong , Chen Wenwen , Wu Haishun , Jia Jianfeng
Published: October 2023

Construction of MoS2/CdS heterojunction photocatalysts with crystal plane modulation for efficient photocatalytic coupling of benzylamines under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.
Assessing the atmospheric fate of trifluoroacetaldehyde (CF3CHO) and its potential as a new source of fluoroform (HFC-23) using the AtChem2 box model
Authors: Pérez-Peña Maria Paula , Fisher Jenny A. , Hansen Christopher , Kable Scott H.
Published: October 2023

Model simulations of the fate of trifluoroacetaldehyde, a degradation product of hydrofluoroolefin gases, show that photolysis is the dominant removal pathway, with OH reaction and deposition being relatively minor.
Current and emerging technologies for the remediation of difficult-to-measure radionuclides at nuclear sites
Authors: Hemming Shaun D. , Purkis Jamie M. , Warwick Phillip E. , Cundy Andrew B.
Published: October 2023

Effective remediation of a range of Difficult-to-Measure Radionuclides (DTMRs) in groundwater is needed to meet nuclear site end-state targets. This paper reviews recent developments in remediation of problem DTMRs, focusing on on-site application.
Impact of nano-titanium dioxide extracted from food products on Caco-2 cells using three-phase digestion model
Authors: Jeffcoat Paris , Divakarla Shiva Kamini , New Elizabeth J. , Chrzanowski Wojciech
Published: October 2023

This work implicates Zn-mediated cellular processes in the mechanism of toxicological action of TiO2 nanoparticles. Improved understanding of mechanism of toxicological action will inform more proportionate and precautionary regulatory approaches.
Branched-chain amino acid modulation of lipid metabolism, gluconeogenesis, and inflammation in a finishing pig model: targeting leucine and valine
Authors: Zhou Xinbo , Zhang Junjie , Shen Jian , Cheng Baojing , Bi Chongpeng , Ma Qingquan
Published: October 2023

Leucine and valine regulate lipid metabolism and gluconeogenesis as well as inflammation in a finishing pig model.
Ab initio study of uniaxial strain-induced thermoelectric property tuning of individual single-wall carbon nanotubes
Authors: Islam Md. Mafizul , Zubair Ahmed
Published: October 2023

Tunability and enhancement of thermoelectric properties of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were acheived through uniaxial strain.
Research progress related to thermosensitive hydrogel dressings in wound healing: a review
Authors: Gu Ruting , Zhou Haiqing , Zhang Zirui , Lv Yun , Pan Yueshuai , Li Qianqian , Shi Changfang , Wang Yanhui , Wei Lili
Published: October 2023

Wound healing is a dynamic and complex process in which the microenvironment at the wound site plays an important role.
A 5-aminoisophthalic acid low molecular weight gelator based novel semiconducting supramolecular Zn(ii)-metallogel: unlocking an efficient Schottky barrier diode for microelectronics
Authors: Dhibar Subhendu , Pal Baishakhi , Karmakar Kripasindhu , Roy Sanjay , Hafiz Sk Abdul , Roy Arpita , Bhattacharjee Subham , Ray Soumya Jyoti , Ray Partha Pratim , Saha Bidyut
Published: October 2023

At room temperature, an electronic device featuring a Schottky barrier diode is facilitated by a supramolecular Zn(ii)-metallogel derived from the low molecular weight gelator, 5-aminoisophthalic acid.
Infrared spectroscopic study of solvation and size effects on reactions between water molecules and neutral rare-earth metals
Authors: Wang Tiantong , Li Shangdong , Yan Wenhui , Jiang Shuai , Xie Hua , Li Gang , Jiang Ling
Published: October 2023

Infrared-vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy combined with quantum chemical calculations is employed to examine the solvation and size effects on the reactions between water with neutral rare-earth metals.
Suppressing Ag2Te nanoprecipitates for enhancing thermoelectric efficiency of AgSbTe2
Authors: Gong Zichen , Saglik Kivanc , Wu Jing , Suwardi Ady , Cao Jing
Published: October 2023

High performance AgSbTe2 can be achieved in an off-stoichiometry composition using non-equilibrium thermal annealing, followed by quenching.
2-Formylphenoxyacetic acid Schiff bases: a promising ligand scaffold for readily available trigonal prismatic Co(ii) single-ion magnets
Authors: Kotrle Kamil , Nemec Ivan , Antal Peter , Petrželová Kamila , Čižmár Erik , Herchel Radovan
Published: October 2023

A zero-field Co(ii) single-molecule magnet is reported based on a 2-formylphenoxyacetic acid derivative, and the study is complemented by theoretical calculations, resulting in the formulation of a correlation between the electronic structure and magnetic anisotropy.
Photofixation of N2 to ammonia utilizing Ni@TPP–HPA nanocomposite under visible-light illumination
Authors: Rostami Shahrbanoo , Tayebee Reza , Mahdavi Behnam
Published: October 2023

A new nanohybrid photocatalyst Ni@TPP–HPA is introduced as an effective mediator for N2 photofixation. This nanophotocatalyst can be easily recycled without losing its activity for at least five runs to achieve the maximum ammonia generation of 2760 μmol L−1 g−1 under mild conditions.
Correction: Light-enhanced electrical behavior of a Au/Al-doped ZnO/p-Si/Al heterostructure: insights from impedance and current–voltage analysis
Authors: Benamara Majdi , Nassar Kais Iben , Soltani Sonia , Kallekh Afef , Dhahri Ramzi , Dahman Hassen , El Mir Lassaad
Published: October 2023

Correction for ‘Light-enhanced electrical behavior of a Au/Al-doped ZnO/p-Si/Al heterostructure: insights from impedance and current–voltage analysis’ by Majdi Benamara et al., RSC Adv., 2023, 13, 28632–28641, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3RA06340B.
Biocatalytic reductive amination as a route to isotopically labelled amino acids suitable for analysis of large proteins by NMR
Authors: Rowbotham Jack S. , Nicholson Jake H. , Ramirez Miguel A. , Urata Kouji , Todd Peter M. T. , Karunanithy Gogulan , Lauterbach Lars , Reeve Holly A. , Baldwin Andrew J. , Vincent Kylie A.
Published: October 2023

We demonstrate an atom-efficient and easy to use H2-driven biocatalytic platform for the enantioselective synthesis of isotopically labelled amino acids for protein NMR studies.
Borophene and BC2N quantum dot heterostructures: ultrasensitive humidity sensing and multifunctional applications
Authors: Liu Xiang , Hou Chuang , Liu Yi , Chen Shifan , Wu Zitong , Liang Xinchao , Tai Guoan
Published: October 2023

Hydrogenated borophene and BC2N quantum dot heterostructures have been synthesized via facile ultrasonication. The sensitivity of the fabricated borophene-BC2N sensor is the highest among all the reported typical 2D-material chemiresistive sensors.
Emerging disorder in Gd2(Ti1−xZrx)2O7 pyrochlores matrices for radioactive waste disposal: symmetry lowering versus defect clustering
Authors: di Biase Armando , Castellano Carlo , Confalonieri Giorgia , Fumagalli Patrizia , Tumiati Simone , Ceresoli Davide , Scavini Marco
Published: October 2023

The structure of Gd2(Ti1−xZrx)2O7 pyrochlores was investigated by means of synchrotron radiation powder diffraction, including pair distribution function analysis, Raman spectroscopy and DFT calculations to shed light on their rich defect chemistry.
Direct measurement of the hydrogen adsorption entropy on shape-controlled Pt nanoparticles using electrochemical microcalorimetry
Authors: Botello Luis E. , Schönig Marco , Solla-Gullón José , Climent Víctor , Feliu Juan M. , Schuster Rolf
Published: October 2023

We measured the entropy of hydrogen adsorbed on Pt NPs with 3 different shapes. The entropy depends on the local geometry of the particles and matches the entropy of hydrogen adsorbed on single crystals with the corresponding orientation.
Limitation of Ni-rich layered cathodes in all-solid-state lithium batteries
Authors: Yu Tae-Yeon , Lee Han-Uk , Lee Jin Wook , Park Sung-Min , Lee In-Su , Jung Hun-Gi , Sun Yang-Kook
Published: October 2023

The degradation of Ni-rich layered cathodes in all-solid-state lithium batteries is largely due to the morphology of the cathode particles. The degradation of battery performance is aggravated with increasing Ni content of the cathode material.
Utilizing machine learning to optimize metal–organic framework-derived polymer membranes for gas separation
Authors: Pilz Lena , Natzeck Carsten , Wohlgemuth Jonas , Scheuermann Nina , Spiegel Simon , Oßwald Simon , Knebel Alexander , Bräse Stefan , Wöll Christof , Tsotsalas Manuel , Prasetya Nicholaus
Published: October 2023

In this study, machine learning has been used to assist the fabrication of high-quality SURMOFs that are then further used as a template to fabricate polymer-based SURGEL membranes for gas separation.
Amorphous C/SbSx composites from natural stibnite as low cost and high performance lithium/sodium-ion battery anodes
Authors: Wang Shuonan , Hao Yao , Zhang Kai , Liu Hao , Liao Libing
Published: October 2023

Amorphous C/SbSx composites were synthesized by the microwave method using natural stibnite and charcoal. The isotropic features of the amorphous structure enabled uniform expansion and contraction, resulting in excellent electrochemical performance.
Improving the electrochemical performance of Li2S cathodes based on point defect control with cation/anion dual doping
Authors: Pan Wenli , Yamamoto Kentaro , Machida Nobuya , Matsunaga Toshiyuki , Kumar Mukesh , Thakur Neha , Watanabe Toshiki , Sakuda Atsushi , Hayashi Akitoshi , Tatsumisago Masahiro , Uchimoto Yoshiharu
Published: October 2023

Benefitting from PI3 cation–anion dual doping into Li2S, the lattice expands and lithium vacancies are created, leading to good electrochemical performance of the cathode without solid electrolyte additives.
Active sites of NO selective catalytic reduction over V2O5–WO3/TiO2
Authors: Xu Dongrun , Qu Weiye , Liu Junhong , Chen Junxiao , Fang Xue , Chen Liwei , Ma Zhen , Liu Xi , Tang Xingfu , Chen Yaxin
Published: October 2023

Heterodinuclear vanadium–tungsten sites are the most active catalytic sites of conventional V2O5–WO3/TiO2 catalysts in the SCR reaction for efficient NO emission control. Thus, we propose a new strategy to improve conventional SCR catalysts.
A PEDOT:PSS nanocomposite film doped with black phosphorus modified with silver nanoparticles for wearable photothermoelectric generators
Authors: Tsai Chia-Hao , Tung Shih-Hung , Lin Jhih-Min , Liu Cheng-Liang
Published: October 2023

Black phosphorus nanosheets modified with Ag nanoparticles are integrated into PEDOT:PSS. A wearable photothermoelectric generator is constructed and worn onto the forearm and can produce an output voltage of 9.2 mV when illuminated by sunlight.
Screening and investigation of a short antimicrobial peptide: AVGAV
Authors: Cao Yang , Kang Linlin , Wang Yumei , Ren Zekai , Wu Han , Liu Xin , Cong Hailin , Yu Bing , Shen Youqing
Published: October 2023

Bacterial resistance to various drugs is a major problem concerning the field of antibacterial agents.
Edge sites enriched vanadium doped MoS2/RGO composites as highly selective room temperature ammonia gas sensors with ppb level detection
Authors: S P Linto Sibi , M Rajkumar , Govindharaj Kamaraj , J Mobika , V Nithya Priya , Ramasamy Thangavelu Rajendra Kumar
Published: October 2023

Ammonia sensing mechanism of vanadium doped MoS2/RGO composite.
The role of terminal coordinated amides in a series of Ca-tatb frameworks: pore size regulation and fluorescence sensing tunability
Authors: Tan Bin , Hei Xiu-Ze , Lin Yang-Peng , Wu Zhao-Feng , Huang Xiao-Ying
Published: October 2023

Amide solvents were used as terminal coordinated molecules to tune the pore sizes of Ca-MOFs, achieving the pore size controllable fluorescence sensing performance towards trinitrophenol (TNP).
Nanoliposomal Coencapsulation of Dorema aucheri Extract and Curcumin; Enhanced Cytotoxicity, Apoptosis Induction, and Inhibition of EGFR Gene Expression in Oral Cancer Cells OCC‐02
Authors: Azizi Mahshid , Ghalamfarsa Ghasem , Khosravani Fatemeh , Bardania Hassan , Azizi Shahriar
Published: October 2023

Curcumin is one of the natural anticancer drugs but its efficiency is limited by low stability, insufficient bioavailability, poor solubility, and poor permeability. Dorema aucheri (Bilhar) is a herb with precious pharmaceutical properties. This study aimed to develop a nanoliposome‐based curcumin and Bilhar extract codelivery system. The nanocompounds were synthesized using the lipid thin‐film hydration method and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering techniques, and their cytotoxicity and apoptotic effect on the primary oral cancer cell line were evaluated via 2,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide assay and flow cytometry. Moreover, the expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene in the treated cells was assessed using the real‐time polymerase chain reaction technique. Based on the results, nanoliposomes had a size of 91 ± 10 nm with a polydispersity index of 0.13. Free curcumin, the extract, and the curcumin‐extract combination showed dose‐dependent toxicity against cancer cells; yet, the extract (IC50: 86 µg/ml) and curcumin‐extract (IC50: 65 µg/ml) activities were much more than curcumin (IC50: 121 µg/ml). Also, the curcumin and extract loaded on liposomes showed a dose and time‐dependent cytotoxicity. After loading the curcumin‐extract compound on nanoliposomes, their IC50 decreased from 180 µg/ml (within 24 hr) to 43 µg/ml (within 72 hr), indicating their sustainable release and activity. Likewise, this compound induced the highest apoptosis percentage (95%) in cancerous cells and inhibited the expression of the EGFR gene in the cells by 81% ± 3%. These findings demonstrated the effectiveness of the Bilhar extract against oral cancer cells. Also, in combination with curcumin, it showed an additive activity that considerably improved after loading on nanoliposomes.
Distributed fault detection for large‐scale interconnected systems
Authors: Zhang Jiarui , Ding Steven X. , Zhang Deyu , Li Linlin
Published: October 2023

The main objective of this paper is to develop a distributed fault detection (FD) approach for large‐scale interconnected systems using sensor networks. Specifically, the one‐step prediction based on the measured data is implemented in a distributed fashion so that each node can receive corresponding estimations and innovation sequences in a real‐time manner. Then the innovation sequences are applied to improve the estimation result delivered from the one‐step prediction by filtering and smoothing. After filtering and smoothing, the residual signals are calculated to detect faults. Finally, a case study shows that the distributed approach can efficiently accomplish the FD task.
A review on the field‐modulated magnetic gears: Development status, potential applications, and existent challenges
Authors: Yan Bo , Li Xianglin , Wang Xiuhe , Yang Yubo
Published: October 2023

As a type of magnetic device being able to realize contact‐free power transmission together with sufficient volumetric torque density, the field‐modulated magnetic gear (FMMG) has become a promising alternative to the mechanical gear having rigid construction yet suffering lots of issues generated by the continuous teeth friction. The conventional magnetic gears (MGs) that behave as simple copies of their mechanical counterparts and can be roughly defined as origination of the FMMG are briefly introduced at first. Subsequently, the topology and material advancements proposed to improve operational performance of the FMMG are comprehensively summarised so as to clarify its current development status. Finally, potential applications of the FMMG due to its inherent advantages are compared against the existent challenges. The review aims to provide referable guidelines for researchers working at the field of high‐performance MGs.
A resilience‐motivated restoration scheme for integrated electricity and natural gas distribution systems using adaptable microgrid formation
Authors: Jafarpour Saeid , Amirioun Mohammad Hassan
Published: October 2023

This paper presents a multi‐objective restoration scheme for improving the resilience of integrated electricity and natural gas distribution systems against extreme weather events. The coupling constraints of electricity and gas networks are tackled properly using a linearized optimal power flow (OPF). Distributed generators, power‐to‐gas facility, rescheduling of generation/storage units, and microgrid formation are employed as operational resources/measures for restoring the integrated energy system after the event landfall. An adaptable directed multi‐commodity flow‐based microgrid formation is utilized, that is, the network configuration is dynamically changed in accordance with time‐variant load priority weights. The proposed method was successfully examined on an integrated electricity and natural gas distribution system comprised of the modified IEEE 33‐bus distribution network and a 14‐node natural gas distribution network. Numerical results showed that using microgrid formation increased the supplied critical load of integrated electricity and natural gas distribution system by about 16%. Moreover, due to making benefit of the power‐to‐gas unit, the supplied critical load increased by about 12.3%. respectively. While utilizing energy storage systems along with the power‐to‐gas unit facilitated the exchange of energy between the power distribution network and natural gas distribution network regarding time‐variant load priority weights, the supplied critical load increased by about 13%.
Stochastic optimal transactive energy management with cloud energy storage using artificial neural networks
Authors: Salehi Mohammad Kazem , Rastegar Mohammad
Published: October 2023

Residential buildings may use energy storage, flexible loads, and renewable energy sources to reduce energy consumption and increase demand side flexibility. The flexibility of a single building can be coordinated with other facilities in a transactive energy (TE) market to reduce energy costs. In addition, cloud energy storage (CES) has been proposed to provide storage services for residential buildings with more economic benefits than individual energy storage units in recent years. Although the TE market and CES implementation have received much attention in previous works, a suitable structure for CES participation in TE market has not been addressed. Furthermore, previous studies ignored all or some sources of uncertainties in the TE decision making process. This paper presents a stochastic optimization model in a transactive energy framework based on a distributed optimization algorithm for peer‐to‐peer energy trading using the alternating direction method of multipliers in the presence of CES. This paper considers the uncertainties of the inflexible load demand, renewable energy generations, and market prices using an artificial neural network‐based scenario generation and reduction methodology. Numerical results show improvements toward addressing the challenges of the uncertainties while maximizing the CES's owner revenue and minimizing the customers’ costs in the proposed model.
EfficientUNet: An efficient solution for breast tumour segmentation in ultrasound images
Authors: You Guizeng , Yang Xinwu , Lee Xuanbo , Zhu Kongqiang
Published: October 2023

The accurate segmentation of breast tumours is important for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. When using the classic U‐Net, Attention‐UNet, and UNet++ to segment the tumour, there are problems of oversegmentation, incorrect segmentation, and poor edge continuity. In this paper, an effective tumour segmentation method, EfficientUNet, is proposed. EfficientUNet adopts a step‐by‐step enhancement method, combining ResNet18, a channel attention mechanism and deep supervision. ResNet18, as the encoder of the whole network, solves the problem of gradient disappearanceand improves the feature extraction ability of the model. The channel attention module makes the model more accurate in tumour edge processing. The deep supervision technology accelerates the model training and provides the convergence direction for the model. In addition, it is found that when adjusting the size of the image, the method of image filling before clipping (or zooming) is more conducive to model learning than the direct interpolation method. And a comparative experiment wasperformed on dataset B. Compared to U‐Net, Attention‐UNet and UNet++, EfficientUNet has the highest performance. Finally, the ablation experiment also indicated the effectiveness of each module in EfficientUNet.
Co-conception avec les producteurs de stratégies d’adaptation au changement climatique : le cas des exploitations agricoles en Haïti
Authors: Jules Justafort , Paul Bénédique , Adam Myriam , Andrieu Nadine
Published: October 2023

En Haïti, les systèmes agricoles sont fortement vulnérables au changement climatique. Cette étude vise à analyser la pertinence d’une démarche de co-conception de stratégies d’adaptation des exploitations agricoles au changement climatique dans une zone hautement vulnérable telle que Haïti. Menée à Saint Michel de l’Attalaye, l’étude reposait : (i) sur la réalisation d’un diagnostic des performances technico-économiques de 24 exploitations représentatives des trois principaux types de stratégies d’adaptation observées, et (ii) sur la co-conception de stratégies innovantes avec un échantillon plus réduit de 9 agriculteurs. Les résultats de l’étude montrent que les performances initiales des 24 exploitations en termes de couverture des besoins caloriques du ménage, revenus, et émissions de gaz à effet de serre sont différentes pour les trois types de stratégies. La diversification des systèmes de production agricole joue un rôle crucial dans les performances mesurées. Les stratégies proposées par les 9 producteurs visent à accroître cette diversification tout en renforçant la place de la canne à sucre dans les systèmes de production, mais les changements pensés sont incrémentaux. D’autres boucles de co-conception pourraient être envisagées pour explorer avec les producteurs des changements de rupture articulant augmentation des capacités de production des exploitations et adaptation au changement climatique. Cette étude pilote en Haïti pourrait être répliquée dans d’autres zones hautement vulnérables afin de co-concevoir des systèmes innovants tenant compte des contraintes spécifiques auxquelles sont exposés les agriculteurs.
Research on the influence of boundary conditions on the simulation of the aerodynamic coefficient of power transmission towers
Authors: Zhang Xueli , Huang Guo , Li Zhipeng , Zhou Anqi
Published: October 2023

The shape coefficient is an important design parameter of high voltage power transmission tower. It can be obtained by means of CFD simulation. The inlet boundary condition will affect the calculation accuracy. In this paper, the turbulent inflow and the uniform inflow are used respectively. By comparing the calculation results of the two conditions, the simplified inlet condition of uniform flow is evaluated whether it is reasonable.