bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Toughening self-healing elastomer crosslinked by metal–ligand coordination through mixed counter anion dynamics
Authors: Park Hyunchang , Kang Taewon , Kim Hyunjun , Kim Jeong-Chul , Bao Zhenan , Kang Jiheong
Published: August 2023

Mechanically tough and self-healable polymeric materials have found widespread applications in a sustainable future. However, coherent strategies for mechanically tough self-healing polymers are still lacking due to a trade-off relationship between mechanical robustness and viscoelasticity. Here, we disclose a toughening strategy for self-healing elastomers crosslinked by metal–ligand coordination. Emphasis was placed on the effects of counter anions on the dynamic mechanical behaviors of polymer networks. As the coordinating ability of the counter anion increases, the binding of the anion leads to slower dynamics, thus limiting the stretchability and increasing the stiffness. Additionally, multimodal anions that can have diverse coordination modes provide unexpected dynamicity. By simply mixing multimodal and non-coordinating anions, we found a significant synergistic effect on mechanical toughness ( > 3 fold) and self-healing efficiency, which provides new insights into the design of coordination-based tough self-healing polymers.
Unconventional charge order and superconductivity in kagome-lattice systems as seen by muon-spin rotation
Authors: Guguchia Z. , Khasanov R. , Luetkens H.
Published: August 2023

Kagome lattices are intriguing and rich platforms for studying the intertwining of topology, electron correlation, and magnetism. These materials have been subject to tremendous experimental and theoretical studies not only due to their exciting physical properties but also as systems that may solve critical technological problems. We will review recent experimental progress on superconductivity and magnetic fingerprints of charge order in several kagome-lattice systems from the local-magnetic probe point of view by utilizing muon-spin rotation under extreme conditions, i.e., hydrostatic pressure, ultra low temperature and high magnetic field. The systems include: (1) The series of compounds AV3Sb5 (A = K, Rb, Cs) with V kagome lattice which form the first kagome-based family that exhibits a cascade of symmetry-broken electronic orders, including charge order and superconductivity. In these systems, we find a time-reversal symmetry-breaking charge ordered state and tunable unconventional time-reversal symmetry-breaking superconductivity. (2) The system LaRu3Si2 with distorted kagome layers of Ru, in which our experiments and calculations taken together point to nodeless moderate coupling superconductivity. It was also found that the electron-phonon coupling alone can only explain a small fraction of Tc from calculations, which suggests other factors enhancing Tc such as the correlation effect from the kagome flat band, the van Hove point on the kagome lattice, and the high density of states from the narrow kagome bands. (3) CeRu2 with a pristine Ru kagome lattice, which we classify as an exceedingly rare nodeless (with anisotropic s-wave gap symmetry) magnetic kagome superconductor.
Inkjet-based surface structuring: amplifying sweetness perception through additive manufacturing in foods
Authors: Burkard Johannes , Kohler Lucas , Berger Tanja , Logean Mitsuko , Mishra Kim , Windhab Erich J. , Denkel Christoph
Published: August 2023

Additive manufacturing (AM) is creating new possibilities for innovative tailoring of food properties through multiscale structuring. This research investigated a high-speed inkjet-based technique aimed to modify sweetness perception by creating dot patterns on chocolate surfaces. The dots were formulated from cocoa butter with emulsified water droplets containing the sweetener thaumatin. The number and surface arrangement of dots, which ranged from uniformly distributed patterns to concentrated configurations at the sample’s center and periphery, were varied while maintaining a constant total amount of thaumatin per sample. A sensory panel evaluated sweetness perception at three consumption time points, reporting a significant increase when thaumatin was concentrated on the surface. Specifically, an amplification of sweetness perception by up to 300% was observed, irrespective of dot pattern or consumption time, when compared to samples where thaumatin was uniformly distributed throughout the bulk. However, when thaumatin was concentrated solely at the sample center, maximum sweetness perception decreased by 24%. Conclusively, both the proximity of thaumatin to taste receptors and its spatial distribution, governed by different dot arrangements, significantly influenced taste responsiveness. These findings present a more effective technique to substantially enhance sweetness perception compared to traditional manufacturing techniques. This method concurrently allows for sensorial and visual customization of products. The implications of this study are far-reaching, opening avenues for industrially relevant AM applications, and innovative approaches to study taste formation and perception during oral processing of foods.
A potent and durable malaria transmission-blocking vaccine designed from a single-component 60-copy Pfs230D1 nanoparticle
Authors: Salinas Nichole D. , Ma Rui , Dickey Thayne H. , McAleese Holly , Ouahes Tarik , Long Carole A. , Miura Kazutoyo , Lambert Lynn E. , Tolia Niraj H.
Published: August 2023

Malaria transmission-blocking vaccines (TBVs) reduce disease transmission by breaking the continuous cycle of infection between the human host and the mosquito vector. Domain 1 (D1) of Pfs230 is a leading TBV candidate and comprises the majority of transmission-reducing activity (TRA) elicited by Pfs230. Here we show that the fusion of Pfs230D1 to a 60-copy multimer of the catalytic domain of dihydrolipoyl acetyltransferase protein (E2p) results in a single-component nanoparticle composed of 60 copies of the fusion protein with high stability, homogeneity, and production yields. The nanoparticle presents a potent human transmission-blocking epitope within Pfs230D1, indicating the antigen is correctly oriented on the surface of the nanoparticle. Two vaccinations of New Zealand White rabbits with the Pfs230D1 nanoparticle elicited a potent and durable antibody response with high TRA when formulated in two distinct adjuvants suitable for translation to human use. This single-component nanoparticle vaccine may play a key role in malaria control and has the potential to improve production pipelines and the cost of manufacturing of a potent and durable TBV.
Phase III Pivotal comparative clinical trial of intranasal (iNCOVACC) and intramuscular COVID 19 vaccine (Covaxin®)
Authors: Singh Chandramani , Verma Savita , Reddy Prabhakar , Diamond Michael S. , Curiel David T. , Patel Chintan , Jain Manish Kumar , Redkar Sagar Vivek , Bhate Amit Suresh , Gundappa Vivek , Konatham Rambabu , Toppo Leelabati , Joshi Aniket Chandrakant , Kushwaha Jitendra Singh , Singh Ajit Pratap , Bawankule Shilpa , Ella Raches , Prasad Sai , Ganneru Brunda , Chiteti Siddharth Reddy , Kataram Sreenivas , Vadrevu Krishna Mohan
Published: August 2023

One of the most preferable characteristics for a COVID-19 vaccine candidate is the ability to reduce transmission and infection of SARS-CoV-2, in addition to disease prevention. Unlike intramuscular vaccines, intranasal COVID-19 vaccines may offer this by generating mucosal immunity. In this open-label, randomised, multicentre, phase 3 clinical trial (CTRI/2022/02/40065; ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05522335), healthy adults were randomised to receive two doses, 28 days apart, of either intranasal adenoviral vectored SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (BBV154) or licensed intramuscular vaccine, Covaxin®. Between April 16 and June 4, 2022, we enrolled 3160 subjects of whom, 2971 received 2 doses of BBV154 and 161 received Covaxin. On Day 42, 14 days after the second dose, BBV154 induced significant serum neutralization antibody titers against the ancestral (Wuhan) virus, which met the pre-defined superiority criterion for BBV154 over Covaxin®. Further, both vaccines showed cross protection against Omicron BA.5 variant. Salivary IgA titers were found to be higher in BBV154. In addition, extensive evaluation of T cell immunity revealed comparable responses in both cohorts due to prior infection. However, BBV154 showed significantly more ancestral specific IgA-secreting plasmablasts, post vaccination, whereas Covaxin recipients showed significant Omicron specific IgA-secreting plasmablasts only at day 42. Both vaccines were well tolerated. Overall reported solicited reactions were 6.9% and 25.5% and unsolicited reactions were 1.2% and 3.1% in BBV154 and Covaxin® participants respectively.
Prospective association of general anesthesia with risk of cognitive decline in a Chinese elderly community population
Authors: Li Wei , Jiang Jianjun , Zhang Song , Yue Ling , Xiao Shifu
Published: August 2023

As life expectancy increases and the population grows, the number of surgeries performed each year is likely to continue to increase. We evaluated whether surgery with general anesthesia increases risk for cognitive impairment in a Chinese elderly community population. The current data was obtained from the China Longitudinal Aging Study (cohort 1) and Shanghai Brain Aging study (cohort 2). Cohort 1 included 1545 elderly people with normal cognitive function, who underwent a screening process that included physical examination, medical history, baseline and 1-year follow-up assessments of cognitive function by a face-to-face interview. Cohort 2 included an additional 194 elderly people with normal cognitive function, all of whom, unlike cohort 1, underwent T1-phase MR imaging scans. In cohort 1, 127 elderly people with normal cognitive function transformed into mild cognitive impairment, 27 into dementia, while 1391 still maintained normal cognitive function. By using Cox regression analysis, we found that surgery with general anesthesia was a risk factor for cognitive impairment (p = 0.013, HR = 1.506, 95% CI 1.091–2.078); In cohort 2, we found that elderly people with a history of surgery with general anesthesia had lower Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores and smaller right amygdala volume (p < 0.05). Through correlation analysis, we found that the volume of the right amygdala was significantly correlated (p = 0.003, r = 0.212) with MoCA. Then by using the linear regression analysis (mediation model), we found that surgery with general anesthesia directly affected the MoCA score by affecting the volume of the right amygdala (B = 1.315, p = 0.036 95% CI 0.088–2.542). We confirm surgery with general anesthesia as a risk factor for cognitive impairment, and its mechanism may be related to its effect on the volume of the right amygdala.
Identifying the secondary electron cutoff in ultraviolet photoemission spectra for work function measurements of non-ideal surfaces
Authors: Baddorf Arthur P.
Published: August 2023

Absolute values of work functions can be determined in ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS) by measuring the minimum kinetic energy of secondary electrons generated by a known photon energy. However, some samples can produce spectra that are difficult to interpret due to additional intensity below the true secondary electron cutoff. Disordered absorbates on elemental metals add small intensity below the onset for the transition metal surfaces studied, which can be attributed to energy losses after photoelectrons are generated. In contrast, spectra from WO3−x films can produce multiple onsets with comparable intensity which do not fit this model. False onsets (in the context of work function measurements) can be minimized by optimizing experimental detection parameters including limiting analyzer acceptance angles and pass energy. True work functions can be identified by examining the onsets as the sample bias is varied.
Analysis of cognitive framework and biomedical translation of tissue engineering in otolaryngology
Authors: Padilla-Cabello Javier , Moral-Munoz Jose A. , Santisteban-Espejo Antonio , Velez-Estevez Antonio , Cobo Manuel J. , Martin-Piedra Miguel A.
Published: August 2023

Tissue engineering is a relatively recent research area aimed at developing artificial tissues that can restore, maintain, or even improve the anatomical and/or functional integrity of injured tissues. Otolaryngology, as a leading surgical specialty in head and neck surgery, is a candidate for the use of these advanced therapies and medicinal products developed. Nevertheless, a knowledge-based analysis of both areas together is still needed. The dataset was retrieved from the Web of Science database from 1900 to 2020. SciMAT software was used to perform the science mapping analysis and the data for the biomedical translation identification was obtained from the iCite platform. Regarding the analysis of the cognitive structure, we find consolidated research lines, such as the generation of cartilage for use as a graft in reconstructive surgery, reconstruction of microtia, or the closure of perforations of the tympanic membrane. This last research area occupies the most relevant clinical translation with the rest of the areas presenting a lower translational level. In conclusion, Tissue engineering is still in an early translational stage in otolaryngology, otology being the field where most advances have been achieved. Therefore, although otolaryngologists should play an active role in translational research in tissue engineering, greater multidisciplinary efforts are required to promote and encourage the translation of potential clinical applications of tissue engineering for routine clinical use.
Predicting the severity of postoperative scars using artificial intelligence based on images and clinical data
Authors: Kim Jemin , Oh Inrok , Lee Yun Na , Lee Joo Hee , Lee Young In , Kim Jihee , Lee Ju Hee
Published: August 2023

Evaluation of scar severity is crucial for determining proper treatment modalities; however, there is no gold standard for assessing scars. This study aimed to develop and evaluate an artificial intelligence model using images and clinical data to predict the severity of postoperative scars. Deep neural network models were trained and validated using images and clinical data from 1283 patients (main dataset: 1043; external dataset: 240) with post-thyroidectomy scars. Additionally, the performance of the model was tested against 16 dermatologists. In the internal test set, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC-AUC) of the image-based model was 0.931 (95% confidence interval 0.910‒0.949), which increased to 0.938 (0.916‒0.955) when combined with clinical data. In the external test set, the ROC-AUC of the image-based and combined prediction models were 0.896 (0.874‒0.916) and 0.912 (0.892‒0.932), respectively. In addition, the performance of the tested algorithm with images from the internal test set was comparable with that of 16 dermatologists. This study revealed that a deep neural network model derived from image and clinical data could predict the severity of postoperative scars. The proposed model may be utilized in clinical practice for scar management, especially for determining severity and treatment initiation.
Evaluation of regional water resources carrying capacity in China based on variable weight model and grey-markov model: a case study of Anhui province
Authors: Yan Lyu , Jiao Dong , Yongshi Zhan
Published: August 2023

Water security is not only an ecological environmental issue but also a bearing on national security and development. The study of water resources carrying capacity is the basis for future socioeconomic development and is the driving force for social progress. Therefore, it is important to investigate the influence factors of regional and national water resources carrying capacity (WRCC) and predict the future trend development. In view of the regional water resources data of the past 10 years in Anhui province, China, the Driving force Pressure State Impact Response Management (DPSIRM) model framework is constructed and the entropy weight method and variable weight theory can be used to make a comprehensive evaluation of the WRCC. Based on the comprehensive evaluation value, a modified Grey-Markov combination forecast can be introduced to predict the local WRCC in the coming years. The study on account of the Anhui Statistical Yearbook, the Water Resources Bulletin, and the water resources data of the Forestry Bureau for the past 10 years shows that the WRCC of Anhui Province is weak from 2010 to 2013 and gradually strengthens from 2014 to 2019; the WRCC of Anhui Province is mainly correlated with the impact subsystem, the management subsystem, and the state subsystem. The combined projections reflect that the future WRCC of Anhui Province is in good condition. It is recommended that the Anhui provincial government should strengthen water security and management, improve water resources utilization techniques, and construct complete and effective management tools and measures to fundamentally safeguard the province's water resources security and improve the WRCC.
BLINK enables ultrafast tandem mass spectrometry cosine similarity scoring
Authors: Harwood Thomas V. , Treen Daniel G. C. , Wang Mingxun , de Jong Wibe , Northen Trent R. , Bowen Benjamin P.
Published: August 2023

Metabolomics has a long history of using cosine similarity to match experimental tandem mass spectra to databases for compound identification. Here we introduce the Blur-and-Link (BLINK) approach for scoring cosine similarity. By bypassing fragment alignment and simultaneously scoring all pairs of spectra using sparse matrix operations, BLINK is over 3000 times faster than MatchMS, a widely used loop-based alignment and scoring implementation. Using a similarity cutoff of 0.7, BLINK and MatchMS had practically equivalent identification agreement, and greater than 99% of their scores and matching ion counts were identical. This performance improvement can enable calculations to be performed that would typically be limited by time and available computational resources.
Important parameters should be paid attention in PTMC radiofrequency ablation
Authors: Dong Yiping , Cheng Yanling , Jin Peile , Chen Jifan , Ezzi Sohaib , Chen Yajun , Zhu Jianing , Zhao Yanan , Zhang Ying , Luo Zhiyan , Hong Yurong , Zhang Chao , Huang Pintong
Published: August 2023

In order to provide clinical references for the RFA procedure and to study the pivotal factors affecting the recovery time of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), 176 patients with low-risk intrathyroidal PTMC were included in this research. We randomly divided the whole cohort into training and test groups at a ratio of 7:3. The two-sample t-test was used to detect differences between the two groups. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to select the best predictor variables for predicting the status of RFA zone. Multiple test methods were used to ensure the scientific nature and accuracy of the Cox proportional hazards model. We tested the performance for the parameters and revealed the best cut-off value of each variable by the ROC curve and log-rank tests. The results showed patients aged above 49 years old, with RFA energy above 2800 J, the average diameter of the original tumour above 0.6 cm, or the average diameter of ablation zone at 1 month after RFA above 1.1 cm are risk factors for RFA zone delayed healing.
Crystal structure of domain of unknown function 507 (DUF507) reveals a new protein fold
Authors: McKay Cole E. , Cheng Jianlin , Tanner John J.
Published: August 2023

The crystal structure of the domain of unknown function family 507 protein from Aquifex aeolicus is reported (AaDUF507, UniProt O67633, 183 residues). The structure was determined in two space groups (C2221 and P3221) at 1.9 Å resolution. The phase problem was solved by molecular replacement using an AlphaFold model as the search model. AaDUF507 is a Y-shaped α-helical protein consisting of an anti-parallel 4-helix bundle base and two helical arms that extend 30-Å from the base. The two crystal structures differ by a 25° rigid body rotation of the C-terminal arm. The tertiary structure exhibits pseudo-twofold symmetry. The structural symmetry mirrors internal sequence similarity: residues 11–57 and 102–148 are 30% identical and 53% similar with an E-value of 0.002. In one of the structures, electron density for an unknown ligand, consistent with nicotinamide or similar molecule, may indicate a functional site. Docking calculations suggest potential ligand binding hot spots in the region between the helical arms. Structure-based query of the Protein Data Bank revealed no other protein with a similar tertiary structure, leading us to propose that AaDUF507 represents a new protein fold.
A pipeline for the fully automated estimation of continuous reference intervals using real-world data
Authors: Ammer Tatjana , Schützenmeister André , Prokosch Hans-Ulrich , Rauh Manfred , Rank Christopher M. , Zierk Jakob
Published: August 2023

Reference intervals are essential for interpreting laboratory test results. Continuous reference intervals precisely capture physiological age-specific dynamics that occur throughout life, and thus have the potential to improve clinical decision-making. However, established approaches for estimating continuous reference intervals require samples from healthy individuals, and are therefore substantially restricted. Indirect methods operating on routine measurements enable the estimation of one-dimensional reference intervals, however, no automated approach exists that integrates the dependency on a continuous covariate like age. We propose an integrated pipeline for the fully automated estimation of continuous reference intervals expressed as a generalized additive model for location, scale and shape based on discrete model estimates using an indirect method (refineR). The results are free of subjective user-input, enable conversion of test results into z-scores and can be integrated into laboratory information systems. Comparison of our results to established and validated reference intervals from the CALIPER and PEDREF studies and manufacturers’ package inserts shows good agreement of reference limits, indicating that the proposed pipeline generates high-quality results. In conclusion, the developed pipeline enables the generation of high-precision percentile charts and continuous reference intervals. It represents the first parameter-less and fully automated solution for the indirect estimation of continuous reference intervals.
Atezolizumab and paclitaxel as first line therapy in advanced triple-negative breast cancer patients included in the French early access program
Authors: de Moura Alexandre , Vuagnat Perrine , Renouf Benjamin , Pierga Jean-Yves , Loirat Delphine , Vaflard Pauline , Lafayolle de la Bruyère Charline , Chaumard-Billotey Natacha , Hajjaji Nawale , Ladoire Sylvain , Dabakuyo Sandrine , Patsouris Anne , Frenel Jean Sébastien , Nicolai Vincent , Alexandre Marie , Dohollou Nadine , Grenier Julien , Bourien Heloïse , Bidard François-Clément
Published: August 2023

Following the results of the IMpassion130 trial, an early access program (EAP) was opened in France, allowing patients with PD-L1-positive advanced triple negative breast cancer (aTNBC) to receive a combination of paclitaxel and atezolizumab as first line therapy. This EAP was later discontinued when the IMpassion131 trial read out with negative results. We performed a retrospective multicentric analysis in patients who were prospectively enrolled in the French EAP. Efficacy and toxicity data were obtained on 64 patients treated from August 2019 to August 2020 in 10 French cancer centers. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 4.1 months (95% CI [3.0–5.8]) and 17.9 months (95% CI [12.4–NR]), respectively. The 6-months PFS rate was 28% (95% CI [16–40%]) (N = 18/64), while N = 33/64 patients (52%, 95% CI [38–63%]) experienced a tumor response. Exploratory subgroup analyses retrieved that corticosteroid use at inclusion in the EAP, before treatment initiation, was the only independent unfavorable prognostic factor for PFS (HR 2.7, 95% CI [1.3–5.6]). No new safety signal was observed. This real-life study, unique by its setting (EAP granted by anticipation and later withdrawn), suggests atezolizumab and paclitaxel has a limited efficacy in PD-L1-positive aTNBC, especially in patients receiving corticosteroids as comedication before treatment start.
Retrospective analysis of urinary tract stone composition in a Chinese ethnic minority colony based on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Zhang Junfeng , Li Kailing , Chen Hongbo , Hu Xiaohui , Guo Zicheng , Chen Su , Zheng Fu , Cheng Wusong , Mu Qian , Lan Yong , Chen Peng
Published: August 2023

To analyze the relationship between the composition of urinary stones and various influencing factors in the Enshi region. We used FT-IR to examine the composition of 1092 stone samples. Combined with the relevant clinical materials, the data were analyzed using both one-dimensional statistical methods and multivariate statistical methods. The study included 1092 stone samples, classified as follows: 457 (41.8%) with a single component, 453 (41.5%) with two components, 149 (13.6%) with three components, and 33 (3.0%) with four components. Stones were categorized into five types: Calcium Oxalate (CaOx) (76.4%), carbapatite (CaP) (9.3%), Struvite (ST) (8.3%), Uric Acid (UA) (4.9%), and Others (1.0%). Age, gender, urinary tract infection (UTI), family history of urinary stones (FH), hyperuricemia (HUA) and stone location were significantly associated with stone type. Logistic regression revealed that females and UTI were relative risk factors for predicting CaP and ST, while FH and HUA were relative risk factors for predicting UA. Our study indicates that the overall composition of urinary tract stones in the Enshi region is consistent with that of the entire China. Additionally, the predisposing factors for stone formation vary in terms of gender, age, FH, UTI, hyperuricemia HUA, and stone location.
Exploring genetic diversity in inbred papaya lines for fruit quality in advanced stage of improvement
Authors: Santana Josefa Grasiela Silva , Ramos Helaine Christine Cancela , Santa-Catarina Renato , Vettorazzi Julio Cesar Fiorio , Miranda Daniel Pereira , Pirovani Adriana Azevedo Vimercati , Poltronieri Tathianne Pastana de Sousa , Duarte Rafaela Pereira , Pereira Messias Gonzaga
Published: August 2023

Despite the relevance of the global scenario regarding the papaya (Carica papaya L.) trade, there is still a limited number of papaya cultivars with different fruit patterns. Therefore, it is essential to explore the genetic variability at all levels of the germplasm used in the development of new papaya cultivars to meet its marketing goal. Thus, this study measured and explored the potential of genetic variability based on related to fruit quality traits, of a population of papaya lines in the F5 generation through several statistical analyzes. For this, 97 inbred lines obtained using the Single Seed Descent method, resulting from a cross between the JS-12 and Sekati genotypes, both with Formosa fruit pattern, were evaluated. Results indicated there was genetic variability in the fruit quality. The traits that most contributed to the variability were related to the fruit shape. The diverse population of 97 inbred papaya lines in the F5 generation showed promise for producing commercial-sized fruits in Formosa, Intermediate, and Solo patterns. Additionally, the selection of inbred papaya lines based on fruit shape using morpho-anatomical traits does not compromise physical and chemical parameters related to fruit quality.
Association between Mediterranean dietary pattern with sleep duration, sleep quality and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in Iranian adults
Authors: Mohammadi Sobhan , Lotfi Keyhan , Mokhtari Elahe , Hajhashemy Zahra , Heidari Zahra , Saneei Parvane
Published: August 2023

Data on the association between Mediterranean diet, sleep and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were limited in Middle Eastern populations. We examined the association between Mediterranean dietary pattern with sleep quality/quantity, and serum BDNF in Iranian adults. This cross-sectional study was performed among 535 middle-aged adults (54% men), selected by multistage cluster random sampling method. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index and a validated food frequency questionnaire were used to assess sleep quality, sleep quantity, and Mediterranean diet score (MDS). Twelve-hour fasting blood samples were taken to evaluate serum BDNF values. Participants in the highest tertile of MDS, in comparison to those in the lowest tertile, had lower odds of having short sleep (OR = 0.44, 95%CI: 0.21–0.91) and poor sleep quality (OR = 0.48, 95%CI: 0.22–0.96), after adjustment for potential confounders. Among specific domains of sleep quality, lower odds of subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, and daytime dysfunction were associated with increased MDS. Higher adherence to MDS among individuals with overweight or obesity reduced the odds of having short sleep; this relation was not seen among individuals with normal weight. In contrast, the association between sleep quality and the MDS was significant in individuals with normal weight, but not those with overweight or obesity. Participants with higher adherence to MDS had lower odds for low BDNF values; however, this relation was not statistically significant. Overall, Iranian adults with a higher adherence to MDS had considerably lower odds of having short sleep and poor sleep quality. BDNF would not be an intermediate molecule for this connection.
Laser diode based THz-TDS system with 133 dB peak signal-to-noise ratio at 100 GHz
Authors: Cherniak Vladyslav , Kubiczek Tobias , Kolpatzeck Kevin , Balzer Jan C.
Published: August 2023

Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) has emerged as a powerful and versatile tool in various scientific fields. These include—among others—imaging, material characterization, and layer thickness measurements. While THz-TDS has achieved significant success in research environments, the high cost and bulky nature of most systems have hindered widespread commercialization of this technology. Two primary factors contributing to the size and cost of these systems are the laser and the optical delay unit (ODU). Consequently, our group has focused on developing THz-TDS systems based on compact monolithic mode-locked laser diodes (MLLDs). The ultra-high repetition rate (UHRR) of the MLLD has the added benefit that it allows us to utilize shorter ODUs, thereby reducing the overall cost and size of our systems. However, achieving the necessary precision in the ODU to acquire accurate terahertz time-domain signals remains a crucial aspect. To address this issue, we have developed and enhanced an interferometric extension for UHRR-THz-TDS systems. This extension is inexpensive, compact, and easy to incorporate. In this article, we present the system setup, the extension itself, and the algorithmic procedure for reconstructing the delay axis based on the interferometric reference signal. We evaluate a dataset comprising 10,000 signal traces and report a standard deviation of the measured terahertz phase at 1.6 THz as low as 3 mrad. Additionally, we demonstrate a remaining peak-to-peak jitter of only 20 fs and a record-high peak signal-to-noise ratio of 133 dB at 100 GHz after averaging. The method presented in this paper allows for simplified THz-TDS system builds, reducing bulk and cost. As a result, it further facilitates the transition of terahertz technologies from laboratory to field applications.
Sustainability analysis framework for on-demand public transit systems
Authors: Alsaleh Nael , Farooq Bilal
Published: August 2023

There is an increased interest from transit agencies to replace fixed-route transit services with on-demand public transits (ODT). However, it is still unclear when and where such a service is efficient and sustainable. To this end, we provide a comprehensive framework for assessing the sustainability of ODT systems from the perspective of overall efficiency, environmental footprint, and social equity and inclusion. The proposed framework is illustrated by applying it to the Town of Innisfil, Ontario, where an ODT system has been implemented since 2017. It can be concluded that when there is adequate supply and no surge pricing, crowdsourced ODTs are the most cost-effective transit system when the demand is below 3.37 riders/km2/day. With surge pricing applied to crowdsourced ODTs, hybrid systems become the most cost-effective transit solution when demand ranges between 1.18 and 3.37 riders/km2/day. The use of private vehicles is more environmentally sustainable than providing public transit service at all demand levels below 3.37 riders/km2/day. However, the electrification of the public transit fleet along with optimized charging strategies can reduce total yearly GHG emissions by more than 98%. Furthermore, transit systems have similar equity distributions for waiting and in-vehicle travel times.
Determination of Seebeck coefficient originating from phonon-drag effect using Si single crystals at different carrier densities
Authors: Hase Masataka , Tanisawa Daiki , Kohashi Kaito , Kamemura Raichi , Miyake Shugo , Takashiri Masayuki
Published: August 2023

The phonon-drag effect is useful for improving the thermoelectric performance, especially the Seebeck coefficient. Therefore, the phonon and electron transport properties of Si single crystals at different carrier densities were investigated, and the relationship between these properties and the phonon-drag effect was clarified. Phonon transport properties were determined using nanoindentation and spot-periodic heating radiation thermometry. The electron transport properties were determined based on the electrical conductivity of Si. The diffusive Seebeck coefficient derived from the electron transport properties was in good agreement with previous reports. However, the value of the phonon-drag Seebeck coefficient derived from the phonon transport properties is very low. This phenomenon suggests that phonons with a normal mean free path (MFP) do not contribute to the increase in the Seebeck coefficient; however, phonons with a long MFP and low frequency increase the Seebeck coefficient via the phonon-drag effect. Moreover, the phonon-drag effect was sufficiently pronounced even at 300 K and in the heavily doped region. These features are key in designing thermoelectric materials with enhanced performance derived from the phonon-drag effect.
A matched case-control study on the effectiveness of extracorporeal cytokine adsorption in critically ill patients
Authors: Jerman Alexander , Gubenšek Jakob , Berden Jernej , Peršič Vanja
Published: August 2023

Extracorporeal cytokine adsorption aims to reduce cytokine levels in critically ill patients. However, little convincing data exist to support its widespread use. This retrospective study compared interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in patients treated with or without cytokine adsorber (CytoSorb®). Intensive care patients between Jan 2017 and Dec 2021 who had at least two IL-6 measurements were included. They were divided into an adsorber group and a standard of care group. We screened 3865 patients and included 52 patients in the adsorber group and 94 patients in the standard of care group. Matching was performed and the groups were compared regarding IL-6, lactate, CRP, procalcitonin, vasopressor requirement, and mortality rate. After matching, there were 21 patients in each group. Patients had similar age, ECMO and renal replacement therapy use, baseline noradrenaline requirement, serum lactate, pH, CRP, and IL-6 levels. There were no significant differences in the time course of IL-6, lactate, CRP, procalcitonin and noradrenaline requirement between groups. Two-day and ICU mortality and Kaplan-Meier estimated survival were also comparable. In this matched case-control study no difference in IL-6, inflammatory parameters, noradrenaline requirement or mortality was observed between patients treated with adsorber or standard of care.
In silico prediction of immune-escaping hot spots for future COVID-19 vaccine design
Authors: Huang Sing-Han , Chen Yi-Ting , Lin Xiang-Yu , Ly Yi-Yi , Lien Ssu-Ting , Chen Pei-Hsin , Wang Cheng-Tang , Wu Suh-Chin , Chen Chwen-Cheng , Lin Ching-Yung
Published: August 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a widespread impact on a global scale, and the evolution of considerable dominants has already taken place. Some variants contained certain key mutations located on the receptor binding domain (RBD) of spike protein, such as E484K and N501Y. It is increasingly worrying that these variants could impair the efficacy of current vaccines or therapies. Therefore, analyzing and predicting the high-risk mutations of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein is crucial to design future vaccines against the different variants. In this work, we proposed an in silico approach, immune-escaping score (IES), to predict high-risk immune-escaping hot spots on the receptor-binding domain (RBD), implemented through integrated delta binding free energy measured by computational mutagenesis of spike-antibody complexes and mutation frequency calculated from viral genome sequencing data. We identified 23 potentially immune-escaping mutations on the RBD by using IES, nine of which occurred in omicron variants (R346K, K417N, N440K, L452Q, L452R, S477N, T478K, F490S, and N501Y), despite our dataset being curated before the omicron first appeared. The highest immune-escaping score (IES = 1) was found for E484K, which agrees with recent studies stating that the mutation significantly reduced the efficacy of neutralization antibodies. Furthermore, our predicted delta binding free energy and IES show a high correlation with high-throughput deep mutational scanning data (Pearson’s r = 0.70) and experimentally measured neutralization titers data (mean Pearson’s r = −0.80). In summary, our work presents a new method to identify the potentially immune-escaping mutations on the RBD and provides valuable insights into future COVID-19 vaccine design.
Association between thyroid function and diabetes peripheral neuropathy in euthyroid type 2 diabetes mellitus patients
Authors: He Qingyuan , Zeng Zekun , Zhao Man , Ruan Banjun , Chen Pu
Published: August 2023

Previous studies disclosed that a high thyroid stimulating hormone level is an independent risk factor for diabetes peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, whether thyroid metabolism has an effect on DPN in euthyroid T2DM patients remains unknown. The aim of this study was to identify the association between thyroid function and DPN in euthyroid T2DM patients. A set of 580 euthyroid T2DM patients was enrolled in the current study and stratified into DPN and Non-DPN groups. Mann–Whitney U test was performed to analyze the continuous variables of biochemical and thyroid metabolism indicators, and the Chi-square test was used to compare the categorical variables. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to analyze the relationship between clinical indicators and free thyroxine (FT4). By using the logistic regression analysis, the prevalence of DPN in different thyroid function indicators were evaluated. T2DM patients with DPN had obviously lower levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alpha-hydroxybutyric dehydrogenase (α-HBDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), calcium (Ca), creatinine (Cr), uric acid (UA), retinol binding protein (RBP), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and FT4 than the T2DM patients without DPN (P < 0.05). FT4 was associated with TP, prealbumin (PA), ALB, SOD, anion gap (AG), Ca, chlorine (Cl), UA, RBP, apoprotein A (Apo A), apoprotein B (Apo B), apoprotein E (Apo E), and total cholesterol (TC). According to the FT4 quartile, participants were sequentially divided into four groups to compare the prevalence of DPN between each group. The data suggested that the prevalence of DPN in these four groups was 53.79%, 53.28%, 54.97%, 38.10%, respectively. Moreover, compared with quartile 4, patients in quartile 1, 2, 3 all had a significantly higher risk of DPN (P = 0.007, P = 0.011, P = 0.004). The level of FT4 was negatively correlated with the prevalence of DPN in euthyroid T2DM patients.
Segregation patterns in rotating cylinders determined by the size difference, density ratio, and cylinder diameter
Authors: Kondo Kurumi , Ebata Hiroyuki , Inagaki Shio
Published: August 2023

Granular materials often segregate under mechanical agitation, which differs from the expectation of mixing. It is well known that a bidisperse mixture of granular materials in a partially filled rotating cylinder exhibits alternating bands depending on the combination of the two species. The dynamic angle of repose, which is the angle that a steady avalanche makes with the horizontal, has been considered the dominant parameter that determines the segregated state. However, the previously known angle of repose condition was not always satisfied in different experimental cases. To clarify the experimental conditions, we conducted an exhaustive parameter search with three dimensionless parameters: the particle size difference normalized by the average particle size, the specific density ratio, and the ratio of the cylinder diameter to the average particle size. Additional experiments were conducted to explore the effect of the rotational speed of the cylinder. This systematic approach enabled us to predict the segregated state. Moreover, we discovered that the band width can be effectively scaled by combining these three parameters.
Implantation site design for large area diamond quantum device fabrication
Authors: Vićentijević Milan , Jakšić Milko , Suligoj Tomislav
Published: August 2023

With the number of qubits increasing with each new quantum processor design, it is to be expected that the area of the future quantum devices will become larger. As diamond is one of the promising materials for solid state quantum devices fabricated by ion implantation, we developed a single board diamond detector/preamplifier implantation system to serve as a testbed for implantation sites of different areas and geometry. We determined that for simple circular openings in a detector electrode, the uniformity of detection of the impinging ions increases as the area of the sites decreases. By altering the implantation site design and introducing lateral electric field, we were able to increase the area of the implantation site by an order of magnitude, without decreasing the detection uniformity. Successful detection of 140 keV copper ions that penetrate on average under 100 nm was demonstrated, over the 800 µm2 area implantation site (large enough to accommodate over 2 × 105 possible qubits), with 100% detection efficiency. The readout electronics of the implantation system were calibrated by a referent 241Am gamma source, achieving an equivalent noise charge value of 48 electrons, at room temperature, less than 1% of the energy of impinging ions.
Where the winds clash: what is really triggering El Niño initiation?
Authors: Eusebi Borzelli Gian Luca , Carniel Sandro
Published: August 2023

El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the Earth’s strongest source of year-to-year climate variability, whose center of action, although being in the tropical Pacific, influences the global climate, impacting also security aspects. ENSO is commonly described as an irregular oscillation of the coupled ocean-atmosphere system, which produces an oscillation in the sea surface temperature between a warm (El Niño) and a cold (La Niña) phase induced by internal waves propagating along the equatorial wave-guide and generated by the convergence between high-frequency westerlies and the quasi-stationary easterlies. Here we show that internal, downwelling Rossby and Kelvin waves are regularly formed beneath the Easterly/Westerly Wind Convergence Zone (EWCZ). When the longitude of EWCZ is located east of 175oE, the Kelvin waves formed beneath the EWCZ reach the eastern Pacific boundary and determine an El Niño event and, the more the EWCZ elongates eastwards into the central Pacific, the more the observed El Niño event is classified as severe, suggesting that the position of the EWCZ is an important factor to trigger El Niño. Therefore, we study zonal shifts of EWCZ and show that the EWCZ and the deep atmospheric convection displace zonally in phase with each other and with the Southern Oscillation Index, indicating that the longitude of the clash between Easterlies and Westerlies determines the climate state of the Pacific and triggers the El Niño initiation.
Beryllene, the lightest Xene
Authors: Chahal Sumit , Bandyopadhyay Arkamita , Yang Chan-Shan , Kumar Prashant
Published: August 2023

After the discovery of sp2-hybridized graphene and even lighter borophene, the scientific quest for the thinnest metallic sheets prompts the discovery of beryllene. As beryllium lacks p-electrons, the hybridization and structural evolution of beryllene in determining electronic/excitonic behaviors are scientifically interesting. Herein, we report the experimental realization of freestanding flat beryllene sheets with a lateral dimension of ~0.2–4 μm via sonochemical exfoliation. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy establishes the existence of hexagonal, square and stripe crystallographic phases. While characteristic Raman fingerprints ~451 and ~614 cm−1, and experimentally observed electrically metallic nature of beryllene (vindicated by density-functional-theory band structure calculations) establish beryllene synthesis. Room temperature magnetism in Be-G and Be-CNT hybrids (established by Raman mapping and magnetic force microscopic imaging) is an interesting finding. Beryllene was explored as a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) anchor in molecular sensing, oxidation-resistant, and fire-resistant laminates. It is believed that the discovery of beryllene will lead to novel functionalities and emerging applications.
A DNA assembly toolkit to unlock the CRISPR/Cas9 potential for metabolic engineering
Authors: Yuzbashev Tigran V. , Yuzbasheva Evgeniya Y. , Melkina Olga E. , Patel Davina ,  Bubnov Dmitrii , Dietz Heiko , Ledesma-Amaro Rodrigo
Published: August 2023

CRISPR/Cas9-based technologies are revolutionising the way we engineer microbial cells. One of the key advantages of CRISPR in strain design is that it enables chromosomal integration of marker-free DNA, eliminating laborious and often inefficient marker recovery procedures. Despite the benefits, assembling CRISPR/Cas9 editing systems is still not a straightforward process, which may prevent its use and applications. In this work, we have identified some of the main limitations of current Cas9 toolkits and designed improvements with the goal of making CRISPR technologies easier to access and implement. These include 1) A system to quickly switch between marker-free and marker-based integration constructs using both a Cre-expressing and standard Escherichia coli strains, 2) the ability to redirect multigene integration cassettes into alternative genomic loci via Golden Gate-based exchange of homology arms, 3) a rapid, simple in-vivo method to assembly guide RNA sequences via recombineering between Cas9-helper plasmids and single oligonucleotides. We combine these methodologies with well-established technologies into a comprehensive toolkit for efficient metabolic engineering using CRISPR/Cas9. As a proof of concept, we developed the YaliCraft toolkit for Yarrowia lipolytica, which is composed of a basic set of 147 plasmids and 7 modules with different purposes. We used the toolkit to generate and characterize a library of 137 promoters and to build a de novo strain synthetizing 373.8 mg/L homogentisic acid.