bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Semi‐supervised image super‐resolution with attention CycleGAN
Authors: Hou Mingzheng , He Xudong , Dou Furong , Zhang Xin , Guo Zhaokang , Feng Ziliang
Published: December 2021

Single‐Image Super‐Resolution (SISR) has always been an important topic in the field of image processing, which attempts to improve the image resolution and is of great significance in practice. Recently, SISR has made substantial progress aided by deep learning (DL), which has demonstrated impressive potential in many low‐level tasks. In the current DL‐based SISR approaches, most of them are based on supervised learning. However, in the real world, only low‐resolution (LR) images with unknown degradation are provided, which limit the application of current supervised models. To mitigate this problem, in this paper, a two‐stage semi‐supervised SISR method called SRAttentionGAN, is proposed. First, an upsampling network SRResNet, which is pre‐trained in a supervised manner, is employed to scale the LR image to the desired size. Then, the upsampled results are fed into our improved unsupervised CycleGAN framework, which does not need paired samples, to obtain sharper and more realistic super‐resolution (SR) images. Specifically, in the improved CycleGAN part, an attention‐guided generator is proposed to perceive the discriminative semantic parts between the source and target images, to avoid the impact from low‐level information. It also prevents the overall color tone from being changed. A multi‐scale discriminator is also adopted to further rich texture details. The effectiveness of the proposed SRAttentionGAN experiments is validated using four benchmarks (Set5, Set14, Urban100, and BSDS100) in both quantitative and qualitative aspects. Compared with the state‐of‐the‐arts, the results are visually promising and show competitive performance in perceptual metrics, Natural Image Quality Evaluator (NIQE) and Perception Index (PI), which have better agreement with the human visual perception.
Two mixed‐ligand coordination polymers: Treatment activity on thyroid cancer
Authors: Liu Xia , Ma Jiang‐Wei , Li Zhen , Liu Fan‐Rong , Wang Rong , Dai Lin‐Lin , Cao Jia
Published: December 2021

In the present work, two novel coordination polymers on the basis of Cu(II) are hydrothermally produced via utilizing 2,5‐dichloroterephthalic acid (H2DCTP), a halogenated linear ligand with the existence of diverse flexible nitrogen‐donor ligands of the 1,4‐bis(5,6‐dimethylbenzimidazol‐1‐yl)‐2‐butylene (L2) and the 1,1′‐(1,4‐butanediyl)bis‐1H‐benzimidazole (L1), and their chemical formulae are [Cu(L1)(DCTP)]n (1) and [Cu(L2)(DCTP)]n (2). The evaluation of two compounds’ treatment effect against the thyroid cancer was carried out, and meanwhile, their relevant mechanism was also studied. First of all, the cancer cells proliferation was detected through Cell Counting Kit‐8 (CCK‐8) detection kit. Furthermore, the JAK‐STAT signalling pathway activation has been assessed through employing real time RT‐PCR assay. Finally, the toxicity of the new compounds was evaluated with MTT assay.
Preventive control method for overload in power‐gas integrated systems based on dynamic security domain of line
Authors: Ouyang Jinxin , Yu Jianfeng , Long Xiaoxuan , Diao Yanbo
Published: December 2021

The power‐gas integrated system (PGIS) is a new trend of energy development. The system provides powerful measures to safely recover the overload line by adjusting the power of synchronous generators (SG), gas turbines (GT), and power‐to‐gas (P2G). However, the power adjustment capability of SGs, GTs, and P2Gs to recover the overload line cannot be accurately described, the impact of line power variation on safety also cannot be quantified, leading to the difficulty of control of overload line. Considering the influence of the locations of SGs, GTs, and P2Gs and power balance constraints, proposing a modeling method of power adjustment capacity of overload line. Considering the dynamic changes of line safety boundary and margin in the process of power adjustment, proposing a new idea of dynamic safety domain for evaluating line safety, a modeling method of dynamic safety domain is further proposed. Moreover, establishing the preventive control optimization model of overload line, the overload preventive control method which considers power adjustment capability of overload line and dynamic security domain is proposed. Finally, the case studies realize the accurate quantification of the dynamic safety of overloaded line, avoiding equipment damage, power supply interruption and even large‐scale cascading failure caused by line overload.
New insights into the criterion of fast radio burst in the light of FRB 20121102A
Authors: Xiao Di , Dai Zi-Gao
Published: December 2021

The total number of observed fast radio burst (FRB) events is rising rapidly thanks to the improvement of existing radio telescopes and the delivery of new facilities. In particular, the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope Collaboration recently reported more than one thousand bursts in a short observing period of 47 days. The striking bimodal distribution in their work motivated us to revisit the definition of FRBs. In this work, we ascribe the bimodal distribution to two physical kinds of radio bursts that may exhibit different radiation mechanisms. We propose using brightness temperature to separate two subtypes. For FRB 20121102A, the critical brightness temperature is TB, cri ≃ 1033 K. Bursts with TB ≥ TB, cri are denoted as “classical” FRBs and we find a tight pulse width-fluence relation (T ∝ ℱν0.306) for them. On the contrary, the other bursts are considered as “atypical” bursts that may have originated from a different type of physical process. We suggest that for each FRB event, a similar dividing line should exist but that the TB, cri is not necessarily the same in such cases. Its exact value depends on the FRB radiation mechanism and the properties of the source.
Microbiological and Clinical Effects of a Proanthocyanidin-enriched Extract from Rumex acetosa in Periodontally Healthy Carriers of Porphyromonas gingivalis: a
Randomized Controlled Pilot Study
Authors: Selbach Sabine , Klocke Astrid , Peters Ulrike , Beckert Sabine , Watt Rory Munro , Tong Raymond , Flemmig Thomas Frank , Hensel Andreas , Beikler Thomas
Published: December 2021

Rumex acetosa significantly inhibits the adhesion of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. g.) to eukaryotic host cells in vitro. The objective of this randomized
placebo-controlled pilot-trial was to analyze effects of a mouth rinse containing 0.8% (w/w) of a quantified proanthocyanidin-enriched extract from Rumex acetosa (RA1) on
microbiological, clinical, and cytological parameters in systemically healthy individuals without history of periodontitis, harboring P. g. intraorally. 35 subjects received a
supragingival debridement (SD) followed by mouth rinsing (3 times daily) with either RA1 mouth rinse solution (test) or placebo (control) for 7 days as adjunct to routine oral hygiene.
Supragingival biofilm samples were taken at screening visit, baseline (BL), 2, 4, 7 and 14 days after SD. P. g. and 11 other oral microorganisms were detected and quantified by rtPCR.
Changes in the oral microbiota composition of one test and one control subject were assessed via high throughput 16S rRNS gene amplicon sequencing. Approximal Plaque Index (API) and the
modified Sulcular Bleeding Index (SBI) were assessed at BL, 7- and 14-days following SD. Brush biopsies were taken at BL and 14 d following SD. Intergroup comparisons revealed no significant
microbiological, cytological, and clinical differences at any timepoint. However, a significant reduction in SBI at day 14 (p = 0.003) and API at day 7 (p = 0.02) and day 14
(p = 0.009) was found in the test group by intragroup comparison. No severe adverse events were observed. The results indicate that RA1 mouth rinse is safe but does not seem to
inhibit colonization of P. g. or improve periodontal health following SD.
Cyclooxygenase Enzyme and Lipid Peroxidation Inhibitory Terpenoids and Steroidal compounds as Major Constituents in Cleome viscosa Leaves
Authors: Dissanayake Amila Abishake , Georges Kambou , Nair Muraleedharan Gopalan
Published: December 2021

Bioassay guided study of Cleome viscosa Linn. (Cleomaceae) leaves led to the isolation of a new cembrenoid diterpene (1) and three known compounds (2 – 4) from
the hexane extract. The chemical structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods such as NMR (1D and 2D), HRMS and IR and identified and afforded compound 1,
malabaric acid (2), stigmast-4-en-3-one (3) and stigmast-4-ene-3,6-dione (4). This is the first report of compounds 1 and 2 from C. viscosa Linn.
Isolates were evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity using in vitro cyclooxygenase enzyme (COX-1 and -2) inhibitory assays. The novel cembrenoid diterpene (1) exhibited
IC50 values of 8.4 µM for COX-1 enzyme and 45.2 µM for COX-2 enzyme, respectively. Similarly, malabaric acid (2) exhibited IC50 values of 11.5 µM for COX-1
enzyme and 46.9 µM for COX-2 enzyme, respectively. Their inhibitory activities were in par with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. Sterols 3 and
4 gave IC50 values of 62.6 and 67.9 µM, respectively for COX-1 enzyme while indicating weak COX-2 enzyme inhibition. Lipid peroxidation inhibitory (LPO) and MTT assays
were used to determine antioxidant activity of these compounds. Compounds 1 – 4 showed LPO inhibition with IC50 values between 82 and 100 µM and moderate antioxidant
activity in the MTT assay. Biological activities reported for these compounds are for the first time and it support anecdotal medicinal claims of C. viscosa Linn. leaves.
Epidemiology of Group A Rotavirus Diarrhea among Children Hospitalized for Acute Gastroenteritis in Ondo State, Nigeria
Authors: Babalola Michael Oluyemi , Olaleye David Olufemi , Odaibo Georgina Njideka
Published: December 2021

Globally, infective group A rotavirus (RVA) enteric infection in children culminates in acute diarrheal disease, severe dehydration, and mortality in children under the age of 5 years, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. This research sought to determine the prevalence of RVA diarrhea among children aged below 5 years in Ondo state, as one of the necessary frameworks before instituting a vaccine campaign, and to expand knowledge on the epidemiology of RVA diarrhea in Nigeria.

In a cross-sectional descriptive study between October 2012 and September 2014, convenience sampling was adopted to obtain demographic information, clinical details, and stool samples from accented under five children who sought treatment for acute gastroenteritis at designated hospitals in Akure and Owo, Nigeria. A total of 390 stool samples were collected from children with acute diarrhea and tested for VP6 RVA antigen using enzyme immunoassay. Data generated were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square at α 0.05.

From the 390 children hospitalized for diarrhea, 240 samples (240/390; 61.5%) were from males, while 150 samples (150/390; 38.5%) were from females, representing a male:female ratio of 1.6:1. RVAs were found in 24.2% (58/240) males and 28% (42/150) females, giving a male-female ratio of 1:1.2 and total prevalence of 25.6% (100/390). RVA infection was inversely proportional to the age as a rate of 11.8% was observed in children aged above 36 months and 31.8% (35/110) in children 7 to 12 months, while the highest rate (45.7%) was among children ≤ 6 months old. No significant difference was found (chi-square = 0.712) in the induction of diarrhea in children from Akure and Owo, neither was there any significant difference in the rates of infection between the boys and girls in Akure (chi-square = 0.576) nor in Owo (chi-square = 0.333). Seasonal association (chi-square = 5.802) in RVA infection was observed in the rainy season of year 2013/2014 period.

RVA diarrhea occurred year-round at a prevalence of 25.6%, predominantly in females. A seasonal fluctuation was observed in the rainy and dry seasons of the 2-year period. RVA diarrhea occurred predominantly in children aged below 18 months of age, and may thus help in determining the optimal period/schedule of any immunization program.
Chronic Type A Aortic Dissection Repair in a Double Lung Transplant Recipient
Authors: Kamat Neeraj , Traify Ragheb , Williams Brian , Dimarakis Ioannis
Published: December 2021

A 69-year-old man presented with a chronic Stanford Type A aortic dissection (CTAAD). The patient had undergone bilateral sequential lung transplantation 15 years prior for α-1-antitrypsin deficiency. We describe the management of CTAAD in the context of lung transplantation from the surgical and anesthetic perspectives.
Mitral Multifocal Papillary Fibroelastoma in a Patient with Aggressive Fibromatosis
Authors: Müller Philipp P. , Agaimy Abbas , Weyand Michael , Heim Christian
Published: December 2021

Mitral valve fibroelastoma is a rare condition that can be associated with high morbidity rates due to thrombus formation and resulting embolic events. Causative treatment for affected patients is mitral valve surgery. An association between cardiac fibroelastoma and desmoid-type fibromatosis, an aggressive form of fibromatosis, is not yet described. We present a case of a 58-year-old man with a history of desmoid-type fibromatosis and concomitant papillary fibroelastoma of the mitral valve who consequently underwent mitral valve replacement.
Smartphone Compatible versus Conventional Ophthalmoscope: A Randomized Crossover Educational Trial
Authors: Curtis Rachel , Xu Mark , Liu Daisy , Kwok Jason , Hopman Wilma , Irrcher Isabella , Baxter Stephanie
Published: December 2021

Objective The aim of the study is to compare performance and ease-of-use (EOU) of optic disk assessment using a smartphone direct ophthalmoscope attachment (D-EYE) to the gold standard direct ophthalmoscope (DO).

Design The type of study involved is prospective, randomized, crossover, and educational trial.

Participants The participants involved were first year medical students inexperienced in ophthalmoscopy.

Methods Optic disks of standardized and volunteer patients were examined using the D-EYE and a conventional DO. Optic disk identification, EOU ratings of the devices, self-reported confidence level in their examination with the devices, and estimation of vertical cup-to-disk ratio (VCDR) were compared. Analyses included Chi-square tests, independent samples t-tests, correlations, and multivariable linear regression.

Results Forty-four medical students voluntarily participated in the study. Students using the DO required more attempts (3.57 vs. 2.69, p = 0.010) and time (197.00 vs. 168.02 seconds, p = 0.043) to match the patient's fundus to the correct photograph. Overall EOU between the devices (6.40 vs. 4.79, p < 0.001) and overall confidence in examination (5.65 vs. 4.49, p = 0.003) were greater when using the D-EYE. There were no statistically significant differences in accuracy of VCDR estimations between the two ophthalmoscopes.

Conclusion Smartphone ophthalmoscopy could offer additional learning opportunities in medical education and may be considered in clinical practice by non-specialist physicians given its greater EOU and increased success in visualizing the optic disk.
Design, Synthesis, and Antidepressant Activity Study of Novel Aryl Piperazines Targeting Both 5-HT1A and Sigma-1 Receptors
Authors: Ni Yan-Na , Du Xin-Li , Wang Tao , Chen Yuan-Yuan , Xu Xiang-Qing , Zhao Song , Li Jian-Qi , Wang Guan
Published: December 2021

A total of 20 novel aryl piperazine derivatives were designed and synthesized, and their structures were confirmed by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses. Their 5-HT1A and sigma-1 receptor affinities were determined, and six of them showed high affinities (K
i < 20 nmol/L) to both 5-HT1A and sigma-1 targets. Then, metabolic stability (T
1/2) tests of six compounds in rat and human liver microsomes were performed. Our data indicated that compound 27 has both high affinity for 5-HT1A and sigma-1 receptors (5-HT1A: K
i = 0.44 nmol/L; sigma-1: K
i = 0.27 nmol/L), and good metabolic stability (T
1/2 values are 21.7 and 24.6 minutes, respectively). Interestingly, results from the forced swimming test, mouse tail suspension test, and preliminary pharmacokinetic test suggested the marked antidepressant activity, good pharmacokinetic characteristics, and low toxicity of compound 27 in the two models. In conclusion, compound 27 has great value of further study as an active molecule of antidepressant drugs.
Natural Indole Alkaloids from Marine Fungi: Chemical Diversity and Biological Activities
Authors: Li Jiao , Zhuang Chun-Lin
Published: December 2021

The indole scaffold is one of the most important heterocyclic ring systems for pharmaceutical development, and serves as an active moiety in several clinical drugs. Fungi derived from marine origin are more liable to produce novel indole-containing natural products due to their extreme living environments. The indole alkaloids from marine fungi have drawn considerable attention for their unique chemical structures and significant biological activities. This review attempts to provide a summary of the structural diversity of marine fungal indole alkaloids including prenylated indoles, diketopiperazine indoles, bisindoles or trisindoles, quinazoline-containing indoles, indole-diterpenoids, and other indoles, as well as their known biological activities, mainly focusing on cytotoxic, kinase inhibitory, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-insecticidal, and brine shrimp lethal effects. A total of 306 indole alkaloids from marine fungi have been summarized, covering the references published from 1995 to early 2021, expecting to be beneficial for drug discovery in the future.
Spin(7)-manifolds and multisymplectic geometry
Authors: Kennon Aaron
Published: December 2021

We utilize Spin(7) identities to prove that the Cayley four-form associated with a torsion-free Spin(7)-structure is non-degenerate in the sense of multisymplectic geometry. Therefore, Spin(7) geometry may be treated as a special case of multisymplectic geometry. We then capitalize on this relationship to make statements about Hamiltonian multivector fields and differential forms associated with torsion-free Spin(7)-structures.
Mean first-passage times for solvated LiCN isomerization at intermediate to high temperatures
Authors: Schleeh Micha M. , Reiff Johannes , García-Müller Pablo L. , Benito Rosa M. , Borondo Florentino , Main Jörg , Hernandez Rigoberto
Published: December 2021

The behavior of a particle in a solvent has been framed using stochastic dynamics since the early theory of Kramers. A particle in a chemical reaction reacts slower in a diluted solvent because of the lack of energy transfer via collisions. The flux-over-population reaction rate constant rises with increasing density before falling again for very dense solvents. This Kramers turnover is observed in this paper at intermediate and high temperatures in the backward reaction of the LiNC ⇌ LiCN isomerization via Langevin dynamics and mean first-passage times (MFPTs). It is in good agreement with the Pollak–Grabert–Hänggi (PGH) reaction rates at lower temperatures. Furthermore, we find a square root behavior of the reaction rate at high temperatures and have made direct comparisons of the methods in the intermediate- and high-temperature regimes, all suggesting increased ranges in accuracy of both the PGH and MFPT approaches.
Optimal deformation procedure for hybrid adaptive x-ray mirror based on mechanical and piezo-driven bending system
Authors: Inoue Takato , Nishioka Yuka , Matsuyama Satoshi , Sonoyama Junki , Akiyama Kazuteru , Nakamori Hiroki , Ichii Yoshio , Sano Yasuhisa , Shi Xianbo , Shu Deming , Wyman Max D. , Harder Ross , Kohmura Yoshiki , Yabashi Makina , Assoufid Lahsen , Ishikawa Tetsuya , Yamauchi Kazuto
Published: December 2021

A hybrid deformable x-ray mirror consisting of a mechanical bender and a bimorph deformable mirror has been developed to realize adaptive optical systems, such as zoom condenser optics, for synchrotron-radiation-based x-ray microscopy. In the developed system, both bending mechanisms comprehensively contribute to the formation of the target mirror shape and can narrow the role of piezoelectric actuators, thereby enabling a more stable operation. In this study, the behavior of the bimorph mirror under the clamped condition was investigated, and the sharing of the deformation amount for each bending mechanism was optimized to minimize the amplitude of the voltage distribution of the bimorph mirror.
Characterization of hollow cathode plasma turbulence using coherent Thomson scattering
Authors: Tsikata S. , Hara K. , Mazouffre S.
Published: December 2021

Turbulence in hollow cathodes used for space propulsion is believed to play an important role in anomalous electron transport and ion heating. In this work, the implementation of coherent Thomson scattering to identify and characterize MHz-frequency ion acoustic turbulence and kHz-frequency oscillations in the plume of a hollow cathode is achieved. In the presence of a background magnetic field of a Hall thruster, a number of unstable modes are observed. A directive ion acoustic mode propagating predominantly within a restricted angle around the magnetic field is found, exhibiting an energy scaling with wavenumber k of the form k−5.2±0.58, which differs from the classic Kadomtsev k−3 scaling for unmagnetized conditions. Bi-directional ion acoustic mode fluctuations propagating over a range of angles with respect to the magnetic field have been measured, possibly signifying the existence of a large-amplitude plasma wave, similar to the Buneman instability. Finally, electron density fluctuations in the kHz-frequency range, a possible consequence of drift-driven instabilities in the plane perpendicular to the magnetic field, have also been identified. These results not only are an indication of the diversity of wave types that exist in hollow cathode plumes but also point to the key role played by the presence of, and the configuration of, the magnetic field in their appearance.
Methanol decomposition on Ni(111) and O/Ni(111)
Authors: Öström Henrik , Zhang Bingjie , Vallejo Tiffany , Merrill Bryn , Huang Jeremy , LaRue Jerry
Published: December 2021

Methanol decomposition on Ni(111) surfaces has been studied in the presence and absence of oxygen using temperature-programmed desorption and temperature-dependent sum frequency generation spectroscopy. Under both conditions the C–H and O–H bonds break, forming carbon monoxide and atomic hydrogen on the surface. No C–O bond scission was observed, limiting the number of reaction pathways. The O–H bonds break first (>150 K), forming surface methoxy, followed by C–H bond breakage (>250 K). All atomic hydrogen desorbs from the surface as H2 through H+H recombinative desorption. H2 desorbs at a higher temperature in the presence of oxygen (>300 K) than the absence of oxygen (>250 K) as the oxygen on the surface stabilizes the H atoms, forming surface hydroxide (OH). The surface oxygen also appears to stabilize the O–H and C–H bonds, leading to slightly higher dissociation temperatures. The CO molecules occupy both the bridge sites and the top sites of the Ni atoms as surface H appears to force the CO molecules to the top sites. There is a slight blueshift in the C–O bond vibration for both the O covered and O free surfaces due to CO being more mobile. On the O free surface, the C–O peak width broadens as low-frequency modes are activated. Finally, CO desorbs between 350 and 400 K.
Liquid–gas critical point of a two-dimensional system of hard ellipses with attractive wells
Authors: Melnyk R. , Kalyuzhnyi Y. , Kahl G. , Baumketner A.
Published: December 2021

In an effort to illuminate the general principles governing the critical behavior of model fluids, we investigate in this study how the shape and the (attractive) interaction range of the molecule affect the gas–liquid equilibrium and the critical behavior of the system. A combination of Monte Carlo simulations and analytical theory is employed to compute critical properties, i.e., temperature and density, of a system of hard-core ellipses with an attractive square-well potential in two-dimensional space. The critical temperature is found to decrease monotonically as the asphericity of the molecule is increased. This trend can be successfully explained in terms of the strength of the effective attraction acting between molecules measured, for instance, by the second virial coefficient. The critical density shows a complex dependence on both the range of attraction and the asphericity of the molecule. We find that the properties of particle clusters formed in near-critical states reproduce some of the most important features of the critical density, including multiple minima and maxima. It is shown that a model based on the extent of the overlap between attractive shells surrounding the ellipses captures the variation of the size of the clusters. Based on the obtained results, we discuss implications of varying the shape of the attraction potential for critical density.
Shallow donor and DX state in Si doped AlN nanowires grown by molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Vermeersch Rémy , Robin Eric , Cros Ana , Jacopin Gwénolé , Daudin Bruno , Pernot Julien
Published: December 2021

Si doping of AlN nanowires (NWs) grown by plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy was investigated with the objective of fabricating efficient AlN based deep ultra-violet light-emitting-diodes. The Si concentration ranged from 1016 to 1.8 × 1021 cm−3. Current–voltage measurements performed on nanowire ensembles revealed an Ohmic regime at low bias (below 0.1 V) and a space charge limited regime for higher bias. From temperature dependent current–voltage measurements, the presence of Si donors is evidenced in both shallow and deep DX states with an ionization energy of 75 and 270 meV, respectively. The role of Fermi level pinning on NWs sidewalls is discussed in terms of near surface depletion, inducing a favorable formation of shallow Si donors.
Fabrication and characterization of high performance InAlZnO Schottky barrier diode and its application in ultraviolet photodetection
Authors: Xu Weidong , Yan Shiqi , Feng Xianjin
Published: December 2021

High-performance InAlZnO (IAZO) Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) with top Pd/IAZO Schottky contact were fabricated, and the influence of sputtering power used to prepare IAZO films on the device performance was investigated. The 50 W-fabricated IAZO SBD exhibited the relatively best electrical properties, including a close-to-unity ideality factor (1.03), a high rectification ratio (1.83 × 107), a low series resistance (237.5 mΩ cm2), large barrier heights (0.87 and 0.82 eV), and a small barrier inhomogeneity (0.05 eV), which was mainly due to the least background doping density (8.43 × 1015/cm3) and interface state density (4.30 × 1010/eV cm2) at 50 W. Meanwhile, the IAZO SBDs prepared at 50 W also displayed the best device uniformity and highest reverse breakdown voltage (−15.23 ± 0.405 V). A 50 W-fabricated IAZO SBD with a horizontal structure was then applied to the ultraviolet photodetector, and it showed good detection effect, especially the fast response with an average rise time of 0.208 s and an average decay time of 0.094 s. Our study indicates the great research value and development potential of IAZO SBDs in future integrated circuits and other fields.
Quantum-classical hybrid algorithm for the simulation of all-electron correlation
Authors: Boyn Jan-Niklas , Lykhin Aleksandr O. , Smart Scott E. , Gagliardi Laura , Mazziotti David A.
Published: December 2021

While chemical systems containing hundreds to thousands of electrons remain beyond the reach of quantum devices, hybrid quantum-classical algorithms present a promising pathway toward a quantum advantage. Hybrid algorithms treat the exponentially scaling part of the calculation—the static correlation—on the quantum computer and the non-exponentially scaling part—the dynamic correlation—on the classical computer. While a variety of algorithms have been proposed, the dependence of many methods on the total wave function limits the development of easy-to-use classical post-processing implementations. Here, we present a novel combination of quantum and classical algorithms, which computes the all-electron energy of a strongly correlated molecular system on the classical computer from the 2-electron reduced density matrix (2-RDM) evaluated on the quantum device. Significantly, we circumvent the wave function in the all-electron calculations by using density matrix methods that only require input of the statically correlated 2-RDM. Although the algorithm is completely general, we test it with two classical density matrix methods, the anti-Hermitian contracted Schrödinger equation (ACSE) and multiconfiguration pair-density functional theories, using the recently developed quantum ACSE method for simulating the statically correlated 2-RDM. We obtain experimental accuracy for the relative energies of all three benzyne isomers and thereby demonstrate the ability of the developed algorithm to achieve chemically relevant and accurate results on noisy intermediate-scale quantum devices.
A robust single-pixel particle image velocimetry based on fully convolutional networks with cross-correlation embedded
Authors: Gao Qi , Lin Hongtao , Tu Han , Zhu Haoran , Wei Runjie , Zhang Guoping , Shao Xueming
Published: December 2021

Particle image velocimetry (PIV) is essential in experimental fluid dynamics. In the current work, we propose a new velocity field estimation paradigm, which is a synergetic combination of cross correlation and fully convolutional network (CC-FCN). Specifically, the fully convolutional network is used to optimize and correct a coarse velocity guess to achieve a super-resolution calculation. And the traditional cross correlation method provides the initial velocity field based on a coarse correlation with a large interrogation window. As a reference, the coarse velocity guess helps with improving the robustness of the proposed algorithm. CC-FCN has two types of input layers, one is for the particle images, and the other is for the initial velocity field calculated using cross correlation with a coarse resolution. First, two pyramidal modules extract features of particle images and initial velocity field, respectively. Then the fusion module appropriately fuses these features. Finally, CC-FCN achieves the super-resolution calculation through a series of deconvolution layers to obtain the single-pixel velocity field. As the supervised learning strategy is considered, synthetic data sets including ground-truth fluid motions are generated to train the network parameters. Synthetic and real experimental PIV data sets are used to test the trained neural network in terms of accuracy, precision, spatial resolution and robustness. The test results show that these attributes of CC-FCN are further improved compared with those of other tested PIV algorithms. The proposed model could therefore provide competitive and robust estimations for PIV experiments.
Mixing-demixing transition and void formation in quasi-2D binary mixtures on a sphere
Authors: Truzzolillo D.
Published: December 2021

Motivated by observations of the heterogeneous domain structure on the surface of cells and vesicles and by domain formation due to the adsorption of complex molecules onto composite membranes, we consider a minimal quasi-2D model to describe the structure of binary mixtures on the surface of a spherical particle. We study the effect of miscibility and adsorbing particle (AP) addition on the mixture structure. We define a new scalar quantity, the geodesic mixing parameter Ξ, through which we detail the effect of miscibility and the role of preferential affinity of APs with one of the two components of the mixture, distinguishing unambiguously between mixing and demixing solely induced by APs. Finally, by inspecting the distributions of void sizes, we show how void formation is ruled by miscibility and AP-mixture interactions, which control the transition from exponentially tailed to fat-tailed distributions.
Corrigendum: Identifying single electron charge sensor events using wavelet edge detection (2015 Nanotechnology
26 215201)
Authors: Prance J R , Van Bael B J , Simmons C B , Savage D E , Lagally M G , Friesen Mark , Coppersmith S N , Eriksson M A
Published: December 2021

The simulated noise used to benchmark wavelet edge detection in this work was described incorrectly. The correct description is given here, and new results based on noise that matches the original description are provided. The results support our original conclusion, which is that wavelet edge detection outperforms thresholding in the presence of white noise and 1/f noise.
Nanometer-scaled landscape of polymer: fullerene blends mapped with visible s-SNOM
Authors: Lee Ya-Rong , Huang Cheng-Chia , Huang Wen-Yu , Chen Chin-Ti , Huang Ping-Tsung , Wang Juen-Kai
Published: December 2021

Bulk heterojunction is one key concept leading to breakthrough in organic photovoltaics. The active layer is expectantly formed of distinct morphologies that carry out their respective roles in photovoltaic performance. The morphology-performance relationship however remains stymied, because unequivocal morphology at the nanoscale is not available. We used scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy operating with a visible light source (visible s-SNOM) to disclose the nanomorphology of P3HT:PCBM and pBCN:PCBM blends. Donor and acceptor domain as well as intermixed phase were identified and their intertwined distributions were mapped. We proposed energy landscapes of the BHJ active layer to shed light on the roles played by these morphologies in charge separation, transport and recombination. This study shows that visible s-SNOM is capable of profiling the morphological backdrop pertaining to the operation of high performance organic solar cells.
Controlled synthesis of tungsten trioxide with globular clusters constructed of nanoplates by rapid breakdown anodization
Authors: Wu Shizhao , Lu Xiaofeng , Gao Hanlu , Zheng Shitao , Gao Jing , Chen Lihui , Li Guohua
Published: December 2021

Herein, electrochemical synthesis of tungsten trioxide (WO3) with globular clusters constructed of nanoplates is demonstrated. Under a breakdown anodization potential of 25 V at 50 °C, tungsten foil anode was efficiently electro-oxidized into WO3 nanoplates-aggragated globular clusters powder, rather than a thin film structure as conventional anodization occurs. The WO3 globular clusters were characterized by SEM, TEM, and XRD. Effects of electrolyte composition on the breakdown anodization of the W substrate has been discussed. It is suggested that the growth of the WO3 nanoplates is initiated by localized anodic dielectric breakdown, and followed by an effective crystal growth in the electrolyte at high breakdown field.
Changes to Eye Whiteness and Eyelid/Brow Position With Topical Oxymetazoline in Aesthetic Patients
Authors: Ugradar Shoaib , Kim Jane S , Trost Noelle , Parunakian Emanuil , Zimmerman Erin , Ameli Kambiz , Shoji Marissa K , Lee Wendy W
Published: December 2021

Background

Oxymetazoline hydrochloride 0.1% ophthalmic solution has recently been approved in the United States for the treatment of ptosis.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess the upper and lower eyelid position as well as the brow position and the color of the sclera following the ophthalmic administration of oxymetazoline hydrochloride 0.1%.

Methods

In this prospective cohort study, consecutive patients presenting with ptosis received topical oxymetazoline 0.1%. The primary outcome was measurement of the upper eyelid height (margin-to-reflex distance 1 [MRD1]) and lower eyelid height (MRD2) relative to the center of pupil, along with assessment of brow height, measured on photographs at baseline and 2 hours after instillation of oxymetazoline. The secondary outcome was the assessment of the color of the sclera (eye whiteness) before and after treatment with a novel color space algorithm.

Results

Twenty-nine patients participated in the study. The mean [SD] MRD1 at baseline was 2.3 [0.6] mm. At 2 hours following oxymetazoline treatment, the mean MRD1 significantly increased to 4.2 [0.9] mm (P < 0.01). The mean MRD2 also significantly increased from 5.3 [0.9] mm to 5.7 [1.0] mm (P < 0.01). Brow position did not change with treatment (P = 0.4). Following treatment, the eye sclera became significantly whiter, with a mean ΔEab (color change) of 9.7 [3.9], with 57 out of 58 eyes experiencing a significant change in color. A change of ΔEab ≥2 is considered visually perceptible to the human eye.

Conclusions

Within 2 hours of use, oxymetazoline significantly improves the size of the palpebral aperture (MRD1 + MRD2) and also makes the eye appear significantly whiter.

Level of Evidence: 4
Antioxidant p-terphenyl compound, isolated from edible mushroom, Boletopsis leucomelas
Authors: Sofian Ferry Ferdiansyah , Kikuchi Nodoka , Koseki Takuya , Kanno Yuko , Uesugi Shota , Shiono Yoshihito
Published: December 2021

A new acetyl p-terphenyl derivative, boletopsin 15, was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of fruit bodies of the Basidiomycete Boletopsis leucomelas, together with 4 known compounds. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectral analysis as well as by directly comparing the spectral data of the new compound with those of known compounds. The free radical-scavenging activity of the compounds was assayed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging method. The results showed that compounds 1 and 2 exhibited significant antioxidant activity (1: EC50 = 2.1 µm and 2: EC50 = 6.6 µm).
A Combination therapy using an mTOR inhibitor and Honokiol effectively induces autophagy through the modulation of AXL and Rubicon in renal cancer cells and restricts renal tumor growth following organ transplantation
Authors: Sabarwal Akash , Wedel Johannes , Liu Kaifeng , Zurakowski David , Chakraborty Samik , Flynn Evelyn , Briscoe David M , Balan Murugabaskar , Pal Soumitro
Published: December 2021

Development of cancer, including renal cancer, is a major problem in immunosuppressed patients. The mTOR inhibitor Rapamycin (RAPA) is used as an immunosuppressive agent in patients with organ transplants and other immunological disorders; and it also has antitumorigenic potential. However, long-term use of RAPA causes reactivation of Akt, and ultimately leads to enhanced tumor growth. Honokiol (HNK) is a natural compound, which possesses both anti-inflammatory and antitumorigenic properties. In this study, we investigated the effect of a novel combination therapy using RAPA + HNK on allograft survival and post-transplantation renal tumor growth. We observed that it effectively modulated the expression of some key regulatory molecules (like Carabin, an endogenous Ras inhibitor; and Rubicon, a negative regulator of autophagy) that play important roles in tumor cell growth and survival. This combination induced toxic autophagy and apoptosis to promote cancer cell death; and was associated with a reduced expression of the tumor-promoting receptor tyrosine kinase AXL. Finally, we utilized a novel murine model to examine the effect of RAPA + HNK on post-transplantation renal tumor growth. The combination treatment prolonged the allograft survival and significantly inhibited post-transplantation tumor growth. It was associated with reduced tumor expression of Rubicon and the cytoprotective/antioxidant heme oxygenase-1 to overcome therapeutic resistance. It also downregulated the coinhibitory programmed death-1 ligand, which plays major role(s) in the immune escape of tumor cells. Together, this combination treatment has a great potential to restrict renal tumor growth in transplant recipients as well as other immunosuppressed patients.
Comparative analysis of tools to predict rapid progression in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease
Authors: Naranjo Javier , Furlano Mónica , Torres Ferran , Hernandez Jonathan , Pybus Marc , Ejarque Laia , Cordoba Christian , Guirado Lluis , Ars Elisabet , Torra Roser
Published: December 2021

Background

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common genetic kidney disease and shows a wide phenotype. Only patients with rapid progression (RP) are included in clinical trials or are approved to receive disease-modifying drugs. This study aims at comparing different available predictive tools in ADPKD with the Mayo classification (MC) identification of rapid progressors based on high total kidney volume (TKV) according to age.

Methods

A total of 164 ADPKD patients were recruited retrospectively from a single centre. The performance of diverse tools to identify RP defined as being in MC categories 1C–1E was assessed.

Results

A total of 118 patients were MC 1C–1E. The algorithm developed by the European Renal Association–European Dialysis and Transplant Association Working Group on Inherited Kidney Disorders/European Renal Best Practice had a low sensitivity in identifying MC 1C–1E. The sensitivity and specificity of TKV to predict RP depend on the cut-off used. A kidney length of >16.5 cm before age 45 years has high specificity but low sensitivity. Assessing the MC by ultrasonography had high levels of agreement with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, especially for 1A, 1D and 1E. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline was very sensitive but had low specificity. In contrast, the Predicting Renal Outcome in Polycystic Kidney Disease (PROPKD) score was very specific but had poor sensitivity. Having hypertension before 35 years of age is a good clinical predictor of MC 1C–1E. Family history can be of help in suggesting RP, but by itself it lacks sufficient sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusions

The MC by ultrasonography could be an option in hospitals with limited access to MRI as it performs well generally, and especially at the extremes of the MC, i.e. classes 1A, 1D and 1E. The eGFR decline is sensitive but not very specific when compared with the MC, whereas the PROPKD score is very specific but has low sensitivity. Integrating the different tools currently available to determine RP should facilitate the identification of rapid progressors among patients with ADPKD.
A case report of late physiologic repair of congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries and pulmonary stenosis in a severely cyanotic patient: better late than never
Authors: Ferrero Paolo , Chessa Massimo , Varrica Alessandro , Giamberti Alessandro
Published: December 2021

Background

Patients with congenitally corrected transposition of great arteries (ccTGA) not infrequently seek medical attention for the first time late in life. Optimal management of natural history ccTGA is debated and must be tailored.

Case summary

A 38-year-old male patient was referred to our centre because of severe cyanosis and worsening dyspnoea. Investigations disclosed situs solitus, mesocardia, double discordance, large ventricular septal defect (VSD), severe pulmonary stenosis, and no significant atrio-ventricular valves regurgitation. The patient underwent physiologic repair: VSD closure, placement of a left ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit, and epicardial atrio-biventricular pacemaker implantation. The conduit was intentionally undersized to promote tricuspid valve continence. Post-operative course was uneventful, transthoracic echocardiography showed good biventricular function without significant tricuspid regurgitation. At 1 month after discharge, the patient is in New York Heart Association Class II.

Discussion

Management of late presenter patients with ccTGA depends on the associated lesion and estimation of surgical risk. In selected patients markedly symptomatic physiologic repair is a rationale option, providing a normal saturation and biventricular circulation with a significantly lower surgical risk as compared with an anatomic repair.
‘It’s Too Easy to Say that Institutions are Decolonizing’: An Interview with Senate House Library’s Richard Espley and Leila Kassir
Authors: Pyke Sarah
Published: December 2021

In 2020, as public protest against anti-Black police brutality surged globally, institutional public statements in support of the Black Lives Matter movement proliferated. Universities, libraries, museums, and other cultural institutions rushed to deplore racist violence and express their commitment to anti-racist and decolonial practice. Rather than release a statement of their own, staff at Senate House Library – the central library for the University of London and the School of Advanced Study – chose instead to pursue and embed a fledgling piece of reparative archival work, the Collections Inclusion Review, alongside their continuing efforts to improve the inclusivity and accessibility of their collections, particularly of literatures in English. This interview is a transcribed and edited version of a conversation with the two Senate House Library staff members leading this work: Richard Espley, now Head of Collections (and formerly Head of Modern Collections), and Leila Kassir, Academic Librarian for British, Irish, USA, Latin American, Caribbean, and Commonwealth Literature. The discussion ranged across issues of provenance, archive description, library layout, and the future of English as a discipline, urging attention to and amelioration of the exclusionary aspects of library practice. While critiquing institutional approaches to the legacies of colonialism, past and present, both interviewees expressed reservations about widespread claims to have ‘achieved’ decolonization, stressing that such calls are contingent on surrounding structures and processes, and suggesting that such radical dismantling remains a long-term aspiration, rather than a quick-fix solution.
Adapting the Australian Canon and Decolonizing the Tertiary Classroom: Settler Students Respond to Leah Purcell’s The Drover’s Wife
Authors: Hall Demelza , Storey Kate , Benney Laura , Bourke Marlee
Published: December 2021

The ‘Drover’s Wife Reading Group’ was a collaborative teacher–student project piloted between 2018 and 2020 at Federation University Australia with the intention to create spaces for decolonization, particularly settler (un)learning, beyond the limits of the tertiary English classroom. Drawing upon aspects of reader–response theory, the project began as a small constructivist study in that it sought, initially, to gauge the different responses undergraduate settler students had to a work of Indigenous Australian literary adaptation. However, the transformative nature of the text being engaged with – Leah Purcell’s play, The Drover’s Wife (2016), a literary work which has been widely recognized for the critical literacy it promotes – coupled with the sophistication of the participants’ various responses to it, quickly saw the project shift to one of intense collaboration, with the students involved becoming partners in shaping the project’s outcomes.
Using Machine Learning to Identify Heterogeneous Impacts of Agri-Environment Schemes in the EU: A Case Study
Authors: Stetter Christian , Mennig Philipp , Sauer Johannes
Published: December 2021

Legislators in the European Union have long been concerned with the environmental impact of farming activities and introduced so-called agri-environment schemes (AES) to mitigate adverse environmental effects and foster desirable ecosystem services in agriculture. This study combines economic theory with a novel machine learning method to identify the environmental effectiveness of AES at the farm level. We develop a set of more than 130 contextual predictors to assess the individual impact of participating in AES. Results from our empirical application for Southeast Germany suggest the existence of heterogeneous, but limited effects of agri-environment measures in several environmental dimensions such as climate change mitigation, clean water and soil health. By making use of Shapley values, we demonstrate the importance of considering the individual farming context in agricultural policy evaluation and provide important insights into the improved targeting of AES along several domains.