bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring Hematological and Biochemical Disparities in Same-Sex and Opposite-Sex Females: A Cross-Sectional Twin Study in a Ghanaian Population
Authors: Banyeh Moses , Mayeem Benjamin N. , Woli Moses Kofi , Kolekang Augusta S. , Dagungong Clement Binwatin , Bure David , Wemegah Romarick Kofi , Azindow Mikail Ihsan , Yakubu Suleman , Seidu Musah , Baba Mohammed Madde , Essoun Elisha , Owireduwaa Nancy
Published: March 2024

There are sex-dependent differences in hematological and biochemical variables in adulthood attributed to the predominant effects of testosterone in males and estrogen in females. The Twin Testosterone Transfer (TTT) hypothesis proposes that opposite-sex females may develop male-typical traits due to exposure to relatively higher levels of prenatal testosterone than same-sex females. Additionally, prenatal testosterone exposure has been suggested as a correlate of current circulating testosterone levels. Consequently, opposite-sex females might exhibit male-typical patterns in their hematological and biochemical variables. Despite this hypothesis, routine laboratory investigations assign the same reference range to all females. Our cross-sectional study, conducted in Tamale from January to September 2022, included 40 twins, comprising 10 opposite-sex (OS) males (25%), 10 OS females (25%), and 20 same-sex (SS) females (50%), all aged between 18 and 27 years. Fasting venous blood samples were collected and analyzed using automated hematology and biochemistry laboratory analyzers. Results indicated that levels of hemoglobin, serum creatinine, gamma-glutamyl transferase, total protein, globulins, and total testosterone were significantly higher in OS males than OS females. Conversely, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly higher in OS females than OS males. Unexpectedly, levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total testosterone were significantly higher in SS females than OS females. Contrary to expectations, opposite-sex females did not exhibit male-typical patterns in their hematological and biochemical variables. This suggests that the TTT effect may not occur or may not be strong enough to markedly affect hematological and biochemical variables in OS females.
Verbal and Nonverbal Culture-Fair Challenges
Authors: Trigo Beatriz Regina de Oliveira , Ferreira Aristides I. , Almeida Paulo
Published: March 2024

Abstract: Optimizing selection processes is a multilayer beneficial achievement. Moreover, task-switching is a commonly required ability in a variety of jobs (e.g., programmers). The present study aims to develop a rapid task-switching assessment for the Portuguese-speaking population that integrates verbal content with nonverbal components. One hundred and sixty-four participants answered the task-switching test, and 78 of those were evaluated in terms of their overall job performance in 2020, 2021, and 2022 by their managers. Fifteen items were kept in the final version of the tool, across three tasks. Statistical analyses showed there was positive evidence for the acceptable psychometric properties of the assessment tool and how the task-switching performance of the test correlated to job performance.
The Process We Call Earth: Relationships Between Dynamic Feedbacks and the Search for Gaiasignatures in a New Paradigm of Earthlikeness
Authors: Wong Michael L. , Duckett Marissa , Hernandez Emilia S. , Rajaei Vahab , Smith Kayla J.
Published: March 2024

Standard notions of an “Earthlike” planet rely solely on physical and material properties, like planetary mass, radius, and surface temperature. Here, we introduce a novel, relational perspective on what defines “Earthlikeness.” In our process‐based framework, rocky planets are local pockets of free energy that have the potential to drive the emergence of dynamically persistent systems that coevolve with one another. Examples of dynamically persistent planetary phenomena include magnetic dynamos, mantle convection, tectonic regimes, deep volatile cycles, global climate feedbacks, biogeochemical cycles, and the biosphere. When two or more processes couple to one another such that they gain causal efficacy over one another's persistence, some degree of planetary‐scale homeostasis may emerge. In astrobiology, Earthlike exoplanets are often considered to be priority targets for the search for life elsewhere. We suggest that a process‐based framework for Earthlikeness has the potential to widen our search space and inspire novel planetary‐scale biosignatures, or “Gaiasignatures,” that may be essential for detecting exoplanetary biospheres. Additionally, a process‐based view of life can influence the development of agnostic biosignatures at all scales. In contrast to the dominant scientific perspective, which has tended to engender a materialistic worldview, relational ontologies may contribute to our scientific understanding of Earth as a network of dynamically persistent systems, humanity as an integral part of nature, and the search for life in the universe.
Impact of MJO Propagation Speed on Active Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Activity Periods
Authors: Hansen Kurt A. , Janiga Matthew A. , Majumdar Sharanya J. , Kirtman Benjamin P.
Published: March 2024

The Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO) is often used for subseasonal forecasting of tropical cyclone (TC) activity. However, TC activity still has considerable variability even given the state of the MJO. This study evaluates the connection between MJO propagation speed with Atlantic TC activity and possible physical mechanisms guiding this relation. We find the Atlantic sees the highest accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) during MJO phase 2. However, the odds of above average ACE in the Atlantic is greatest during slow MJO propagation. We find that slow propagation of the MJO results in lower vertical wind shear anomalies over the Caribbean and main development region compared with typical MJO propagation. Typical MJO propagation produces an amplified height pattern and lower height anomalies along the region of the tropical upper tropospheric trough which is known to impede Atlantic TC activity. Slow MJO propagation sees weaker height anomalies over the Atlantic.
Improving Stratocumulus Cloud Amounts in a 200‐m Resolution Multi‐Scale Modeling Framework Through Tuning of Its Interior Physics
Authors: Peng Liran , Blossey Peter N. , Hannah Walter M. , Bretherton Christopher S. , Terai Christopher R. , Jenney Andrea M. , Pritchard Michael
Published: March 2024

High‐Resolution Multi‐scale Modeling Frameworks (HR)—global climate models that embed separate, convection‐resolving models with high enough resolution to resolve boundary layer eddies—have exciting potential for investigating low cloud feedback dynamics due to reduced parameterization and ability for multidecadal throughput on modern computing hardware. However low clouds in past HR have suffered a stubborn problem of over‐entrainment due to an uncontrolled source of mixing across the marine subtropical inversion manifesting as stratocumulus dim biases in present‐day climate, limiting their scientific utility. We report new results showing that this over‐entrainment can be partly offset by using hyperviscosity and cloud droplet sedimentation. Hyperviscosity damps small‐scale momentum fluctuations associated with the formulation of the momentum solver of the embedded large eddy simulation. By considering the sedimentation process adjacent to default one‐moment microphysics in HR, condensed phase particles can be removed from the entrainment zone, which further reduces entrainment efficiency. The result is an HR that can produce more low clouds with a higher liquid water path and a reduced stratocumulus dim bias. Associated improvements in the explicitly simulated sub‐cloud eddy spectrum are observed. We report these sensitivities in multi‐week tests and then explore their operational potential alongside microphysical retuning in decadal simulations at operational 1.5° exterior resolution. The result is a new HR having desired improvements in the baseline present‐day low cloud climatology, and a reduced global mean bias and root mean squared error of absorbed shortwave radiation. We suggest it should be promising for examining low cloud feedbacks with minimal approximation.
ED‐AttConvLSTM: An Ionospheric TEC Map Prediction Model Using Adaptive Weighted Spatiotemporal Features
Authors: Li Liangchao , Liu Haijun , Le Huijun , Yuan Jing , Wang Haoran , Chen Yi , Shan Weifeng , Ma Li , Cui Chunjie
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we propose a novel Total Electron Content (TEC) map prediction model, named ED‐AttConvLSTM, using a Convolutional Long Short‐Term Memory (ConvLSTM) network and attention mechanism based on encoder‐decoder structure. The inclusion of the attention mechanism enhances the efficient utilization of spatiotemporal features extracted by the ConvLSTM, emphasizing the significance of crucial spatiotemporal features in the prediction process and, as a result, leading to an enhancement in predictive performance. We conducted experiments in East Asia (10°N–45°N, 90°E−130°E). The ED‐AttConvLSTM was trained and evaluated using the International GNSS Service TEC maps over a period of six years from 2013 to 2015 (high solar activity years) and 2017 to 2019 (low solar activity years). We compared our ED‐AttConvLSTM with IRI‐2016, COPG, LSTM, GRU, ED‐ConvLSTM and ED‐ConvGRU. The results indicate that our model surpasses the comparison models in forecasting both high and low solar activity years, across most months and UT moments in a day. Moreover, our model exhibits notably superior prediction performance during the most severe phases of a magnetic storm when compared to the comparison models. Subsequently, we then also discuss how the prediction performance of our model is affected by latitude. Finally, we discuss the diminishing performance of our model in multi‐day predictions, demonstrating that its reliability for forecasts ranging from one to 4 days in advance. Beyond the fifth day, there is a pronounced decline in the model's performance.
Stress Patterns and Crustal Anisotropy in the Eastern Alps: Insights From Seismological and Geological Observations
Authors: Villani F. , Antonioli A. , Pastori M. , Baccheschi P. , Ciaccio M. G.
Published: March 2024

In the Eastern Alps, the indentation of the Adriatic promontory since the Cenozoic affected the kinematics of separate crustal domains bounded by faults that accommodate lateral extrusion processes and differential shortening. Deciphering the pattern of crustal stresses in the orogen interior is challenging, due to the lack of in situ stress measurements at crustal depths. We define stress regimes and the orientations of the most‐compressive horizontal stress (SHmax) by integrating published results with new data, including stress analysis from fault plane solutions, estimation of crustal anisotropy through the shear wave splitting analysis, paleostress determination from fault slip data, and computation of cumulative seismic displacements. The retrieved regional SHmax are generally consistent with N‐S convergence. In the northern part of the study area, current stress orientations are almost parallel to paleo‐SHmax, suggesting a rather uniform compressional regime since the late Cenozoic. Conversely, sharp deflections and divergence with paleo‐SHmax appear at the western border of the Adriatic promontory across major transpressive and extensional shear zones and in the Southalpine domain, indicating a change in tectonically induced second‐order stresses. A current strike‐slip regime with subordinate orogen‐parallel seismic displacements affects a belt to north of the Periadriatic Lineament and NE‐extension characterizes the Ortles‐Engandine region. Seismic anisotropy locally exhibits fault‐parallel fast axes (Brenner‐Giudicarie fault‐systems, Dinaric and Southalpine thrusts), whereas stress‐induced anisotropy parallel to SHmax characterizes the southern part of the orogen. Cumulative seismic displacements are small compared to geodetic ones, and unravel partitioning of deformation into second‐order transpressive and extensional belts in response to indentation.
Rainfall Frequency Analysis Based on Long‐Term High‐Resolution Radar Rainfall Fields: Spatial Heterogeneities and Temporal Nonstationarities
Authors: Smith James A. , Baeck Mary Lynn , Miller Andrew J. , Claggett Elijah L.
Published: March 2024

Rainfall frequency analysis methods are developed and implemented based on high‐resolution radar rainfall data sets, with the Baltimore metropolitan area serving as the principal study region. Analyses focus on spatial heterogeneities and time trends in sub‐daily rainfall extremes. The 22‐year radar rainfall data set for the Baltimore study region combines reflectivity‐based rainfall fields during the period from 2000 to 2011 and polarimetric rainfall fields for the period from 2012 to 2021. Rainfall frequency analyses are based on non‐stationary formulations of peaks‐over‐threshold and annual peak methods. Increasing trends in short‐duration rainfall extremes are inferred from both peaks‐over‐threshold and annual peak analyses for the period from 2000 to 2021. There are pronounced spatial gradients in short‐duration rainfall extremes over the study region, with peak values of rainfall between Baltimore City and Chesapeake Bay. Spatial gradients in 100‐year, 1 hr rainfall over 20 km length scale are comparable to time trends over 20 years. Rainfall analyses address the broad challenge of assessing changing properties of short‐duration rainfall in urban regions. Analyses of high‐resolution rainfall fields show that sub‐daily rainfall extremes are only weakly related to daily extremes, pointing to difficulties in inferring climatological properties of sub‐daily rainfall from daily rainfall analyses. Changing measurement properties are a key challenge for application of radar rainfall data sets to detection of time trends. Mean field bias correction of radar rainfall fields using rain gauge observations is an important tool for improving radar rainfall fields and provides a useful tool for addressing problems associated with changing radar measurement properties.
Publication Recommendations to Report Laboratory Data of Neonates – a Modified Delphi Approach
Authors: Vander Elst Zoë , Hildebrand Heidrun , Short Mary A. , Henscheid Nick , Ward Robert , Ariagno Ronald , Diacovo Thomas , Lang Tim , Allegaert Karel , Smits Anne ,   The International Neonatal Consortium, Singh Kanwaljit , Kenner Carole , Discenza Deb , Nakamura Hidefumi , Podichetty Jagdeep , Degl Jennifer , Davis Jonathan , Turner Mark , Padula Michael , Kusuda Satoshi , Lacaze Thierry , Miller Thomas , Eklund Wakako , Roddy William
Published: March 2024

Background

Clinical and analytical information on laboratory data of neonates in scientific publications is sparse and incomplete. Furthermore, interpreting neonatal laboratory data can be complex due to their time-dependent and developmental physiology, and paucity of well-established age-appropriate reference ranges for neonates. This study aims to develop publication recommendations to report laboratory data of neonates to enhance the quality of these data in research and clinical care.

Methods

A modified Delphi approach was used to develop recommendations in cooperation with the International Neonatal Consortium. A Core Group, including different stakeholders, was responsible for developing the recommendations, in collaboration with a Reflection Group, responsible for providing additional input.

Results

The recommendations were classified into three categories: ‘Clinical Characteristics’, ‘Bio-analytical Information’ and ‘Data-analytical Information’. These were each divided into ‘Core Data’ (always to be reported) and ‘Supplemental Considerations’ (to be reported when considered relevant to the study).

Conclusion

Our recommendations provide guidance on standardization of neonatal laboratory data in publications. This will enhance the comparison, replication, and application of study results in research initiatives and clinical practice. Furthermore, these recommendations also serve as foundational work to develop reference ranges for neonatal laboratory values by standardizing the quality of information needed for such efforts.

Impact

Standardized reporting of neonatal laboratory data in scientific publications will enhance the comparison, replication, and application of study results in research initiatives and clinical practice, as well as improve reporting to regulatory agencies.

To integrate multistakeholder perspectives, a modified Delphi approach was used to develop publication recommendations which strengthens the applicability of the recommendations.

Implementation of standardization will likely improve the overall quality of neonatal clinical research and neonatal healthcare.

In addition, these recommendations are foundational to develop reference ranges for neonatal laboratory values by standardizing the quality of information needed for such efforts.
Risk and adverse clinical outcomes of thrombocytopenia among patients with solid tumors—a Danish population-based cohort study
Authors: Adelborg Kasper , Veres Katalin , Horváth-Puhó Erzsébet , Clouser Mary , Saad Hossam , Sørensen Henrik Toft
Published: March 2024

Background

Knowledge about thrombocytopenia among patients with solid tumors is scarce. We examined the risk of thrombocytopenia among patients with solid tumors and its association with adverse outcomes.

Methods

Using Danish health registries, we identified all patients with incident solid tumors from 2015-2018 (n = 52,380) and a platelet count measurement within 2 weeks prior to or on their cancer diagnosis date. The risk of thrombocytopenia was categorized as grades 0 (any platelet count × 109/L): <150; 1: <100; 2: <75; 3: <50; 4: <25, and 5: <10. To study the outcomes, each patient with thrombocytopenia was matched with up to five cancer patients without thrombocytopenia by age, sex, cancer type, and stage. Cox regression was used to compute hazard ratios (HRs) of bleeding, transfusion, or death, adjusting for confounding factors.

Results

The 1-year risk of thrombocytopenia was 23%, increasing to 30% at 4 years. This risk was higher in patients receiving chemotherapy (43% at 1 year and 49% at 4 years). Overall, patients with thrombocytopenia had higher 30-days rates of bleeding (HR = 1.72 [95% confidence interval, CI: 1.41–2.11]). Thrombocytopenia was also associated with an increased rate of transfusion, and death, but some of the risk estimates were imprecise.

Conclusions

The risk of thrombocytopenia was substantial among patients with solid tumors and associated with adverse outcomes.
Shifting the paradigm in the management of early prostate cancer
Authors: Gnanapragasam Vincent
Published: March 2024

Outcomes from active surveillance have clearly shown that it is the optimal method of managing many early prostate cancers. Yet, clinician training and healthcare systems are still primarily focused on the “need to treat”. This comment explores the challenges and resource issues in future implementation of high-quality surveillance programmes.
Engagement of sialylated glycans with Siglec receptors on suppressive myeloid cells inhibits anticancer immunity via CCL2
Authors: Wieboldt Ronja , Sandholzer Michael , Carlini Emanuele , Lin Chia-wei , Börsch Anastasiya , Zingg Andreas , Lardinois Didier , Herzig Petra , Don Leyla , Zippelius Alfred , Läubli Heinz , Mantuano Natalia Rodrigues
Published: March 2024

The overexpression of sialic acids on glycans, called hypersialylation, is a common alteration found in cancer cells. Sialylated glycans can enhance immune evasion by interacting with sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin (Siglec) receptors on tumor-infiltrating immune cells. Here, we investigated the effect of sialylated glycans and their interaction with Siglec receptors on myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). We found that MDSCs derived from the blood of lung cancer patients and tumor-bearing mice strongly express inhibitory Siglec receptors and are highly sialylated. In murine cancer models of emergency myelopoiesis, Siglec-E knockout in myeloid cells resulted in prolonged survival and increased tumor infiltration of activated T cells. Targeting suppressive myeloid cells by blocking Siglec receptors or desialylation strongly reduced their suppressive potential. We further identified CCL2 as a mediator involved in T-cell suppression upon interaction between sialoglycans and Siglec receptors on MDSCs. Our results demonstrated that sialylated glycans inhibit anticancer immunity by modulating CCL2 expression.
Evaluating the management trends for priapism and assessing the risk of priapism after in-office intracavernosal injections: a cross-sectional analysis
Authors: Leong Joon Yau , Prebay Zachary J. , Ebbott David , Li Michael , Chung Paul H.
Published: March 2024

We describe the management trends of patients suffering from any priapism and evaluate the risks of developing priapism after intracavernosal injections (ICI) performed in office. We queried TriNetX for two separate male adult cohorts - those presenting with any priapism based on International Classification of Disease code, N48.3 (priapism) and those who underwent ICI in office based on Current Procedural Terminology code, 54235 (injection of corpora cavernosa with pharmacologic agent[s]). We evaluated treatment options for these patients after any priapism and described demographic risks for developing priapism after ICI performed in office. There were 17,545 priapism encounters and 26,104 usages of ICI in the office. Most common treatment for any priapism was corporal irrigation/injection of medications (11.3%). Patients presenting with priapism after ICI were younger (age > 65 years, OR 0.44 [95% CI 0.38–0.51], p < 0.01) and had a higher prevalence of mood disorders (20% vs 14%), behavioral disorders (7% vs 2%) and sickle cell disease (6% vs <1%). They were less likely to have diabetes (14% vs 22%), hypertension (33% vs 40%), prostate cancer (13% vs 25%) or have taken sildenafil or tadalafil (29–30% vs 35–38%). For patients administering ICI, proper screening and counseling of priapism is important to reduce complications.
Emerging opportunities and challenges for the future of reservoir computing
Authors: Yan Min , Huang Can , Bienstman Peter , Tino Peter , Lin Wei , Sun Jie
Published: March 2024

Reservoir computing originates in the early 2000s, the core idea being to utilize dynamical systems as reservoirs (nonlinear generalizations of standard bases) to adaptively learn spatiotemporal features and hidden patterns in complex time series. Shown to have the potential of achieving higher-precision prediction in chaotic systems, those pioneering works led to a great amount of interest and follow-ups in the community of nonlinear dynamics and complex systems. To unlock the full capabilities of reservoir computing towards a fast, lightweight, and significantly more interpretable learning framework for temporal dynamical systems, substantially more research is needed. This Perspective intends to elucidate the parallel progress of mathematical theory, algorithm design and experimental realizations of reservoir computing, and identify emerging opportunities as well as existing challenges for large-scale industrial adoption of reservoir computing, together with a few ideas and viewpoints on how some of those challenges might be resolved with joint efforts by academic and industrial researchers across multiple disciplines.
Wandering principal optical axes in van der Waals triclinic materials
Authors: Ermolaev Georgy A. , Voronin Kirill V. , Toksumakov Adilet N. , Grudinin Dmitriy V. , Fradkin Ilia M. , Mazitov Arslan , Slavich Aleksandr S. , Tatmyshevskiy Mikhail K. , Yakubovsky Dmitry I. , Solovey Valentin R. , Kirtaev Roman V. , Novikov Sergey M. , Zhukova Elena S. , Kruglov Ivan , Vyshnevyy Andrey A. , Baranov Denis G. , Ghazaryan Davit A. , Arsenin Aleksey V. , Martin-Moreno Luis , Volkov Valentyn S. , Novoselov Kostya S.
Published: March 2024

Nature is abundant in material platforms with anisotropic permittivities arising from symmetry reduction that feature a variety of extraordinary optical effects. Principal optical axes are essential characteristics for these effects that define light-matter interaction. Their orientation – an orthogonal Cartesian basis that diagonalizes the permittivity tensor, is often assumed stationary. Here, we show that the low-symmetry triclinic crystalline structure of van der Waals rhenium disulfide and rhenium diselenide is characterized by wandering principal optical axes in the space-wavelength domain with above π/2 degree of rotation for in-plane components. In turn, this leads to wavelength-switchable propagation directions of their waveguide modes. The physical origin of wandering principal optical axes is explained using a multi-exciton phenomenological model and ab initio calculations. We envision that the wandering principal optical axes of the investigated low-symmetry triclinic van der Waals crystals offer a platform for unexplored anisotropic phenomena and nanophotonic applications.
Comparing frequency of booster vaccination to prevent severe COVID-19 by risk group in the United States
Authors: Park Hailey J. , Gonsalves Gregg S. , Tan Sophia T. , Kelly J. Daniel , Rutherford George W. , Wachter Robert M. , Schechter Robert , Paltiel A. David , Lo Nathan C.
Published: March 2024

There is a public health need to understand how different frequencies of COVID-19 booster vaccines may mitigate the risk of severe COVID-19, while accounting for waning of protection and differential risk by age and immune status. By analyzing United States COVID-19 surveillance and seroprevalence data in a microsimulation model, here we show that more frequent COVID-19 booster vaccination (every 6–12 months) in older age groups and the immunocompromised population would effectively reduce the burden of severe COVID-19, while frequent boosters in the younger population may only provide modest benefit against severe disease. In persons 75+ years, the model estimated that annual boosters would reduce absolute annual risk of severe COVID-19 by 199 (uncertainty interval: 183–232) cases per 100,000 persons, compared to a one-time booster vaccination. In contrast, for persons 18–49 years, the model estimated that annual boosters would reduce this risk by 14 (10–19) cases per 100,000 persons. Those with prior infection had lower benefit of more frequent boosting, and immunocompromised persons had larger benefit. Scenarios with emerging variants with immune evasion increased the benefit of more frequent variant-targeted boosters. This study underscores the benefit of considering key risk factors to inform frequency of COVID-19 booster vaccines in public health guidance and ensuring at least annual boosters in high-risk populations.
Fully bioresorbable hybrid opto-electronic neural implant system for simultaneous electrophysiological recording and optogenetic stimulation
Authors: Cho Myeongki , Han Jeong-Kyu , Suh Jungmin , Kim Jeong Jin , Ryu Jae Ryun , Min In Sik , Sang Mingyu , Lim Selin , Kim Tae Soo , Kim Kyubeen , Kang Kyowon , Hwang Kyuhyun , Kim Kanghwan , Hong Eun-Bin , Nam Min-Ho , Kim Jongbaeg , Song Young Min , Lee Gil Ju , Cho Il-Joo , Yu Ki Jun
Published: March 2024

Bioresorbable neural implants based on emerging classes of biodegradable materials offer a promising solution to the challenges of secondary surgeries for removal of implanted devices required for existing neural implants. In this study, we introduce a fully bioresorbable flexible hybrid opto-electronic system for simultaneous electrophysiological recording and optogenetic stimulation. The flexible and soft device, composed of biodegradable materials, has a direct optical and electrical interface with the curved cerebral cortex surface while exhibiting excellent biocompatibility. Optimized to minimize light transmission losses and photoelectric artifact interference, the device was chronically implanted in the brain of transgenic mice and performed to photo-stimulate the somatosensory area while recording local field potentials. Thus, the presented hybrid neural implant system, comprising biodegradable materials, promises to provide monitoring and therapy modalities for versatile applications in biomedicine.
Reversible chirality inversion of an AuAgx-cysteine coordination polymer by pH change
Authors: Ni Bing , Vivod Dustin , Avaro Jonathan , Qi Haoyuan , Zahn Dirk , Wang Xun , Cölfen Helmut
Published: March 2024

Responsive chiral systems have attracted considerable attention, given their potential for diverse applications in biology, optoelectronics, photonics, and related fields. Here we show the reversible chirality inversion of an AuAgx-cysteine (AuAgx-cys) coordination polymer (CP) by pH changes. The polymer can be obtained by mixing HAuCl4 and AgNO3 with L-cysteine (or D-cysteine) in appropriate proportions in H2O (or other surfactant solutions). Circular dichroism (CD) spectrum is used to record the strong optical activity of the AuAg0.06-L-cys enantiomer (denoted as L0.06), which can be switched to that of the corresponding D0.06 enantiomer by alkalization (final dispersion pH > 13) and can be switched back after neutralization (final dispersion pH <8). Multiple structural changes at different pH values (≈9.6, ≈13) are observed through UV-Vis and CD spectral measurements, as well as other controlled experiments. Exploration of the CP synthesis kinetics suggests that the covalent bond formation is rapid and then the conformation of the CP materials would continuously evolve. The reaction stoichiometry investigation shows that the formation of CP materials with chirality inversion behavior requires the balancing between different coordination and polymerization processes. This study provides insights into the potential of inorganic stereochemistry in developing promising functional materials.
Circum-Antarctic bottom water formation mediated by tides and topographic waves
Authors: Han Xianxian , Stewart Andrew L. , Chen Dake , Janout Markus , Liu Xiaohui , Wang Zhaomin , Gordon Arnold L.
Published: March 2024

The downslope plumes of dense shelf water (DSW) are critical for the formation of Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW), and thus to the exchange of heat and carbon between surface and abyssal ocean. Previous studies have shown that tides and overflow-forced topographic Rossby waves (TRWs) may have strong impact on the downslope transport of DSW, but it remains unclear how the combined action of these two processes influence the descent processes of DSW, and of the resulting AABW properties. Here, with a synthesis of historical in situ observations and a set of numerical model experiments, we show that tides and TRWs play comparable roles in AABW formation: they both act to accelerate DSW descent to the abyss, leading to the formation of colder and denser AABW. Yet, tides have little impact on AABW formation unless the continental slope is steep enough to suppress TRW generation. We further characterize the dynamical regimes of dense overflows around the entire Antarctic continent based on the relative importance of TRWs versus tides. These findings highlight the pervasive role of high-frequency processes, which are not well represented in the present climate models, in the formation of AABW, and thus in the global overturning circulation.
In situ electrochemical regeneration of nanogap hotspots for continuously reusable ultrathin SERS sensors
Authors: Sibug-Torres Sarah May , Grys David-Benjamin , Kang Gyeongwon , Niihori Marika , Wyatt Elle , Spiesshofer Nicolas , Ruane Ashleigh , de Nijs Bart , Baumberg Jeremy J.
Published: March 2024

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) harnesses the confinement of light into metallic nanoscale hotspots to achieve highly sensitive label-free molecular detection that can be applied for a broad range of sensing applications. However, challenges related to irreversible analyte binding, substrate reproducibility, fouling, and degradation hinder its widespread adoption. Here we show how in-situ electrochemical regeneration can rapidly and precisely reform the nanogap hotspots to enable the continuous reuse of gold nanoparticle monolayers for SERS. Applying an oxidising potential of +1.5 V (vs Ag/AgCl) for 10 s strips a broad range of adsorbates from the nanogaps and forms a metastable oxide layer of few-monolayer thickness. Subsequent application of a reducing potential of −0.80 V for 5 s in the presence of a nanogap-stabilising molecular scaffold, cucurbit[5]uril, reproducibly regenerates the optimal plasmonic properties with SERS enhancement factors ≈106. The regeneration of the nanogap hotspots allows these SERS substrates to be reused over multiple cycles, demonstrating ≈5% relative standard deviation over at least 30 cycles of analyte detection and regeneration. Such continuous and reliable SERS-based flow analysis accesses diverse applications from environmental monitoring to medical diagnostics.
Self-assembly of Co/Pt stripes with current-induced domain wall motion towards 3D racetrack devices
Authors: Fedorov Pavel , Soldatov Ivan , Neu Volker , Schäfer Rudolf , Schmidt Oliver G. , Karnaushenko Daniil
Published: March 2024

Modification of the magnetic properties under the induced strain and curvature is a promising avenue to build three-dimensional magnetic devices, based on the domain wall motion. So far, most of the studies with 3D magnetic structures were performed in the helixes and nanowires, mainly with stationary domain walls. In this study, we demonstrate the impact of 3D geometry, strain and curvature on the current-induced domain wall motion and spin-orbital torque efficiency in the heterostructure, realized via a self-assembly rolling technique on a polymeric platform. We introduce a complete 3D memory unit with write, read and store functionality, all based on the field-free domain wall motion. Additionally, we conducted a comparative analysis between 2D and 3D structures, particularly addressing the influence of heat during the electric current pulse sequences. Finally, we demonstrated a remarkable increase of 30% in spin-torque efficiency in 3D configuration.
Molecular anchoring of free solvents for high-voltage and high-safety lithium metal batteries
Authors: Cui Zhuangzhuang , Jia Zhuangzhuang , Ruan Digen , Nian Qingshun , Fan Jiajia , Chen Shunqiang , He Zixu , Wang Dazhuang , Jiang Jinyu , Ma Jun , Ou Xing , Jiao Shuhong , Wang Qingsong , Ren Xiaodi
Published: March 2024

Constraining the electrochemical reactivity of free solvent molecules is pivotal for developing high-voltage lithium metal batteries, especially for ether solvents with high Li metal compatibility but low oxidation stability ( <4.0 V vs Li+/Li). The typical high concentration electrolyte approach relies on nearly saturated Li+ coordination to ether molecules, which is confronted with severe side reactions under high voltages ( >4.4 V) and extensive exothermic reactions between Li metal and reactive anions. Herein, we propose a molecular anchoring approach to restrict the interfacial reactivity of free ether solvents in diluted electrolytes. The hydrogen-bonding interactions from the anchoring solvent effectively suppress excessive ether side reactions and enhances the stability of nickel rich cathodes at 4.7 V, despite the extremely low Li+/ether molar ratio (1:9) and the absence of typical anion-derived interphase. Furthermore, the exothermic processes under thermal abuse conditions are mitigated due to the reduced reactivity of anions, which effectively postpones the battery thermal runaway.
Deep learning model for personalized prediction of positive MRSA culture using time-series electronic health records
Authors: Nigo Masayuki , Rasmy Laila , Mao Bingyu , Kannadath Bijun Sai , Xie Ziqian , Zhi Degui
Published: March 2024

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses significant morbidity and mortality in hospitals. Rapid, accurate risk stratification of MRSA is crucial for optimizing antibiotic therapy. Our study introduced a deep learning model, PyTorch_EHR, which leverages electronic health record (EHR) time-series data, including wide-variety patient specific data, to predict MRSA culture positivity within two weeks. 8,164 MRSA and 22,393 non-MRSA patient events from Memorial Hermann Hospital System, Houston, Texas are used for model development. PyTorch_EHR outperforms logistic regression (LR) and light gradient boost machine (LGBM) models in accuracy (AUROCPyTorch_EHR = 0.911, AUROCLR = 0.857, AUROCLGBM = 0.892). External validation with 393,713 patient events from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV dataset in Boston confirms its superior accuracy (AUROCPyTorch_EHR = 0.859, AUROCLR = 0.816, AUROCLGBM = 0.838). Our model effectively stratifies patients into high-, medium-, and low-risk categories, potentially optimizing antimicrobial therapy and reducing unnecessary MRSA-specific antimicrobials. This highlights the advantage of deep learning models in predicting MRSA positive cultures, surpassing traditional machine learning models and supporting clinicians’ judgments.
An artificial protein modulator reprogramming neuronal protein functions
Authors: Lin Peihua , Zhang Bo , Yang Hongli , Yang Shengfei , Xue Pengpeng , Chen Ying , Yu Shiyi , Zhang Jichao , Zhang Yixiao , Chen Liwei , Fan Chunhai , Li Fangyuan , Ling Daishun
Published: March 2024

Reversible protein phosphorylation, regulated by protein phosphatases, fine-tunes target protein function and plays a vital role in biological processes. Dysregulation of this process leads to aberrant post-translational modifications (PTMs) and contributes to disease development. Despite the widespread use of artificial catalysts as enzyme mimetics, their direct modulation of proteins remains largely unexplored. To address this gap and enable the reversal of aberrant PTMs for disease therapy, we present the development of artificial protein modulators (APROMs). Through atomic-level engineering of heterogeneous catalysts with asymmetric catalytic centers, these modulators bear structural similarities to protein phosphatases and exhibit remarkable ability to destabilize the bridging μ3-hydroxide. This activation of catalytic centers enables spontaneous hydrolysis of phospho-substrates, providing precise control over PTMs. Notably, APROMs, with protein phosphatase-like characteristics, catalytically reprogram the biological function of α-synuclein by directly hydrolyzing hyperphosphorylated α-synuclein. Consequently, synaptic function is reinforced in Parkinson’s disease. Our findings offer a promising avenue for reprogramming protein function through de novo PTMs strategy.
Melt-quenched glass formation of a family of metal-carboxylate frameworks
Authors: Xue Wen-Long , Li Guo-Qiang , Chen Hui , Han Yu-Chen , Feng Li , Wang Lu , Gu Xiao-Ling , Hu Si-Yuan , Deng Yu-Heng , Tan Lei , Dove Martin T. , Li Wei , Zhang Jiangwei , Dong Hongliang , Chen Zhiqiang , Deng Wei-Hua , Xu Gang , Wang Guo , Wan Chong-Qing
Published: March 2024

Metal-organic framework (MOF) glasses are an emerging class of glasses which complement traditional inorganic, organic and metallic counterparts due to their hybrid nature. Although a few zeolitic imidazolate frameworks have been made into glasses, how to melt and quench the largest subclass of MOFs, metal carboxylate frameworks, into glasses remains challenging. Here, we develop a strategy by grafting the zwitterions on the carboxylate ligands and incorporating organic acids in the framework channels to enable the glass formation. The charge delocalization of zwitterion-acid subsystem and the densely filled channels facilitate the coordination bonding mismatch and thus reduce the melting temperature. Following melt-quenching realizes the glass formation of a family of carboxylate MOFs (UiO-67, UiO-68 and DUT-5), which are usually believed to be un-meltable. Our work opens up an avenue for melt-quenching porous molecular solids into glasses.
3D-integrated multilayered physical reservoir array for learning and forecasting time-series information
Authors: Choi Sanghyeon , Shin Jaeho , Park Gwanyeong , Eo Jung Sun , Jang Jingon , Yang J. Joshua , Wang Gunuk
Published: March 2024

A wide reservoir computing system is an advanced architecture composed of multiple reservoir layers in parallel, which enables more complex and diverse internal dynamics for multiple time-series information processing. However, its hardware implementation has not yet been realized due to the lack of a high-performance physical reservoir and the complexity of fabricating multiple stacks. Here, we achieve a proof-of-principle demonstration of such hardware made of a multilayered three-dimensional stacked 3 × 10 × 10 tungsten oxide memristive crossbar array, with which we further realize a wide physical reservoir computing for efficient learning and forecasting of multiple time-series data. Because a three-layer structure allows the seamless and effective extraction of intricate three-dimensional local features produced by various temporal inputs, it can readily outperform two-dimensional based approaches extensively studied previously. Our demonstration paves the way for wide physical reservoir computing systems capable of efficiently processing multiple dynamic time-series information.
Wood-inspired metamaterial catalyst for robust and high-throughput water purification
Authors: Zhang Lei , Liu Hanwen , Song Bo , Gu Jialun , Li Lanxi , Shi Wenhui , Li Gan , Zhong Shiyu , Liu Hui , Wang Xiaobo , Fan Junxiang , Zhang Zhi , Wang Pengfei , Yao Yonggang , Shi Yusheng , Lu Jian
Published: March 2024

Continuous industrialization and other human activities have led to severe water quality deterioration by harmful pollutants. Achieving robust and high-throughput water purification is challenging due to the coupling between mechanical strength, mass transportation and catalytic efficiency. Here, a structure-function integrated system is developed by Douglas fir wood-inspired metamaterial catalysts featuring overlapping microlattices with bimodal pores to decouple the mechanical, transport and catalytic performances. The metamaterial catalyst is prepared by metal 3D printing (316 L stainless steel, mainly Fe) and electrochemically decorated with Co to further boost catalytic functionality. Combining the flexibility of 3D printing and theoretical simulation, the metamaterial catalyst demonstrates a wide range of mechanical-transport-catalysis capabilities while a 70% overlap rate has 3X more strength and surface area per unit volume, and 4X normalized reaction kinetics than those of traditional microlattices. This work demonstrates the rational and harmonious integration of structural and functional design in robust and high throughput water purification, and can inspire the development of various flow catalysts, flow batteries, and functional 3D-printed materials.
Evidence for immune activation in pathogenesis of the HLA class II associated disease, podoconiosis
Authors: Negash Mikias , Chanyalew Menberework , Girma Tigist , Alemu Fekadu , Alcantara Diana , Towler Ben , Davey Gail , Boyton Rosemary J. , Altmann Daniel M. , Howe Rawleigh , Newport Melanie J.
Published: March 2024

Available evidences suggest that podoconiosis is triggered by long term exposure of bare feet to volcanic red clay soil particles. Previous genome-wide studies in Ethiopia showed association between the HLA class II region and disease susceptibility. However, functional relationships between the soil trigger, immunogenetic risk factors and the immunological basis of the disease are uncharted. Therefore, we aimed to characterise the immune profile and gene expression of podoconiosis patients relative to endemic healthy controls. Peripheral blood immunophenotyping of T cells indicated podoconiosis patients had significantly higher CD4 and CD8 T cell surface HLA-DR expression compared to healthy controls while CD62L expression was significantly lower. The levels of the activation markers CD40 and CD86 were significantly higher on monocytes and dendritic cell subsets in patients compared to the controls. RNA sequencing gene expression data indicated higher transcript levels for activation, scavenger receptors, and apoptosis markers while levels were lower for histones, T cell receptors, variable, and constant immunoglobulin chain in podoconiosis patients compared to healthy controls. Our finding provides evidence that podoconiosis is associated with high levels of immune activation and inflammation with over-expression of genes within the pro-inflammatory axis. This offers further support to a working hypothesis of podoconiosis as soil particle-driven, HLA-associated disease of immunopathogenic aetiology.
The dynamic adsorption affinity of ligands is a surrogate for the passivation of surface defects
Authors: Xu Jian , Maxwell Aidan , Song Zhaoning , Bati Abdulaziz S. R. , Chen Hao , Li Chongwen , Park So Min , Yan Yanfa , Chen Bin , Sargent Edward H.
Published: March 2024

Surface defects in semiconducting materials, though they have been widely studied, remain a prominent source of loss in optoelectronic devices; here we sought a new angle of approach, looking into the dynamic roles played by surface defects under atmospheric stressors and their chemical passivants in the lifetime of optoelectronic materials. We find that surface defects possess properties distinct from those of bulk defects. ab initio molecular dynamics simulations reveal a previously overlooked reversible degradation mechanism mediated by hydrogen vacancies. We find that dynamic surface adsorption affinity (DAA) relative to surface treatment ligands is a surrogate for passivation efficacy, a more strongly-correlated feature than is the static binding strength emphasized in prior reports. This guides us to design targeted passivator ligands with high molecular polarity: for example, 4-aminobutylphosphonic acid exhibits strong DAA and provides defect passivation applicable to a range of perovskite compositions, including suppressed hydrogen vacancy formation, enhanced photovoltaic performances and operational stability in perovskite solar cells.
Copper nanoparticles encapsulated in zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 as a stable and selective CO2 hydrogenation catalyst
Authors: Velisoju Vijay K. , Cerrillo Jose L. , Ahmad Rafia , Mohamed Hend Omar , Attada Yerrayya , Cheng Qingpeng , Yao Xueli , Zheng Lirong , Shekhah Osama , Telalovic Selvedin , Narciso Javier , Cavallo Luigi , Han Yu , Eddaoudi Mohamed , Ramos-Fernández Enrique V. , Castaño Pedro
Published: March 2024

Metal–organic frameworks have drawn attention as potential catalysts owing to their unique tunable surface chemistry and accessibility. However, their application in thermal catalysis has been limited because of their instability under harsh temperatures and pressures, such as the hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol. Herein, we use a controlled two-step method to synthesize finely dispersed Cu on a zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8). This catalyst suffers a series of transformations during the CO2 hydrogenation to methanol, leading to ~14 nm Cu nanoparticles encapsulated on the Zn-based MOF that are highly active (2-fold higher methanol productivity than the commercial Cu–Zn–Al catalyst), very selective (>90%), and remarkably stable for over 150 h. In situ spectroscopy, density functional theory calculations, and kinetic results reveal the preferential adsorption sites, the preferential reaction pathways, and the reverse water gas shift reaction suppression over this catalyst. The developed material is robust, easy to synthesize, and active for CO2 utilization.