bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using statistical analysis to evaluate the water quality index in the Southern Region of the State of Rio de Janeiro
Authors: Barbosa Ana Carolina Tavares Rodrigues , De Barros José Glênio Medeiros , De Almeida Maria da Glória Diniz , Cardoso Ronald Palandi , Sampaio Nilo Antonio de Souza
Published: December 2023

The aim of this study was to identify research gaps in the use of statistics as a tool for analyzing the quality of a water resource. To achieve this objective, an applied exploratory study with a quantitative approach was carried out. The contribution of this research is a holistic view of the opportunities for further research into the subject in question. It should be noted that the points studied using statistical tools have been shown to have pollutants due to point sources of spills in the southern region of Rio de Janeiro.
Utility of Rapid Diagnostic Test for the Diagnosis of Malaria in Children: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Dhivya K , Kumar M Manoj , Ganesh J
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Malaria is one of the primary causes of paediatric deaths. Rapid and accurate diagnosis, followed by effective treatment, is the main strategy for malaria control. Microscopy has been the gold standard test for diagnosing malaria for over a century. It offers good sensitivity, identifies various species, and measures parasitaemia levels. However, microscopy is time-consuming, labour-intensive, and requires technical expertise. Therefore, there is a need for an easily performed test that is more sensitive and reliable, especially in resource- limited settings. Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) are a viable alternative due to their simplicity, ease of use, accuracy, and reproducibility. Aim: To compare RDT with microscopy for diagnosis of malaria in children. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Paediatric Ward of Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, from September 2020 to February 2021. The study included children under 12 years of age with acute febrile illness, hepatosplenomegaly/ splenomegaly, or anaemia and thrombocytopenia. Thick and thin blood smears, as well as RDT, were performed using venous samples. The collected data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 23.0. To determine significance in categorical data, the Chi-square test/Fisher’s exact test was used. The efficacy was evaluated using the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve, which provided sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy. Results: Among the 71 participants, 49 (69%) were males and 22 (31%) were females. Malaria presence, as determined by microscopy and RDT, was observed in 20 (28.2%) and 47 (66.2%) children, respectively, out of the total 71 enrolled in this study. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of RDT compared to microscopy were 100%, 48%, 44.7%, 100%, and 63.4%, respectively. The Area under the ROC (AUC) curve of RDT for diagnosing malaria was 0.740 (95% CI, 0.628 to 0.852; p-value=0.001). There was a statistically significant association between clinical response to antimalarials in microscopy-negative but RDT-positive subjects (p-value=0.0005). Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that RDT could be used as an alternative to microscopy in the diagnosis of malaria.
Clinicohaematological Study of Leukaemias at a Tertiary Care Centre, Vindhya Region of India: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Ramchandani Lekha , Jatav Jagannath , Bajaj Diya , Kumar RK Vineeth
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Leukaemia is characterised by widespread proliferation of leucocytes and their precursors in the body tissues and is usually associated with qualitative and quantitative changes in circulating white blood cells. The global burden of leukaemia is increasing. Aim: To study the morphology of leukaemia from Peripheral Blood Smears (PBS) and/or bone marrow smears and evaluate the clinical and haematological profile of leukaemia patients. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in a Tertiary Care Centre of the Vindhya region, in the Department of Pathology at Shyam Shah Medical College, Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, India. The study was carried out over a period of one year, from June 2019 to June 2020. A total of 90 newly diagnosed cases of all types of leukaemia during the study period. Detailed history, physical examination, complete blood counts, and bone marrow examinations were performed to confirm the diagnosis. Cytochemistry was used for the diagnosis and classification of acute leukaemia according to the French-American-British (FAB) classification. The data was compiled and analysed using appropriate statistical methods, and the mean was described with Standard Deviation (SD). Statistical significance was assessed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test conducted with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. Results: The study included 90 cases of all types of leukaemia, with a mean age of 36.5±22.5 years. There was a male preponderance in the study, with 65 (72.2%) males and 25 (27.8%) females, resulting in a male-to-female ratio of 2.6:1. Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) was the most common malignancy, accounting for total 40 (44.4%) cases. Non specific symptoms such as fever in 50 (55.6%), weight loss 49 (54.4%), and loss of appetite 42 (46.7%) cases were the most common symptoms across all types of leukaemia. Acute leukaemia also presented with leukopenia and normal leucocyte counts, while chronic leukaemia mostly showed markedly elevated Total Leucocyte Count (TLC) with a mean count of 1,30,912±63,792 per mm3. Conclusion: Light microscopic features of peripheral smear and bone marrow examination still play an important role in the diagnosis of leukaemia, especially in resource-poor health centres lacking immunotyping and cytogenetics.
Morphological Spectrum of Bone Marrow Changes in Patients of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Singh Mayank Kumar , Sengar Narendra Singh , Khan Sufia Ahmad , Kumar Ashish
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Bone marrow investigations are crucial for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients with anaemia because they monitor iron stores and reveal morphological abnormalities. In the context of CKD, the examination of bone marrow plays a crucial role in assessing iron levels in individuals with anaemia, as well as providing valuable insights into the specific morphological alterations that occur in CKD patients. Aim: To determine the bone marrow changes and bone marrow iron storage in the patients with CKD; and to study the association between haematological parameters and different CKD stages. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study design enrolled 50 CKD patients in the Department of Pathology at MLB Medical College, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India from December 2021 to November 2022. Each patient underwent bone marrow biopsy examination. The Medonic-M Series, an automated haematological analyser, performed the Complete Blood Count (CBC) with red cell indices. Perl’s staining and the Gale Grading Systems were used for assessing iron storage. Descriptive analysis employed frequency and proportions for categorical variables, while mean and Standard Deviation (SD) were used for continuous variables. One-way ANOVA was used to compare differences between variables. Data was collected, compiled, tabulated, entered into a Microsoft Excel sheet, and analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. Results: The study included 50 cases, with the majority of patients being in their fifth and sixth decades of life. Of the total cases, 28 (56%) were males and 22 (44%) were females. Most patients were in Stage-V CKD (N=28, 56%), followed by Stage-III (N=16, 32%), and Stage-IV (N=6, 12%). Among the haematological variables, the difference in Haemoglobin (Hb) was statistically significant (p-value=0.001) in all CKD stages. Iron absorption was found to be normal in 58% (n=29) of patients and increased in 32.00% (n=16) of cases. A total of 26 (52%) out of 50 CKD patients had normocellular bone marrow biopsy and bone marrow smears. Conclusion: Bone marrow examination is undervalued but may be beneficial for CKD patients with anaemia, erythropoietin resistance, thrombocytopenia, or pancytopenia. This method should be considered in centres, whenever possible.
Development of a Robust Method for Screening PDE-5 Inhibitor Additives in Dietary Supplements Using UPLC-MS/MS
Authors: Wang Hua
Published: December 2023

A novel ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed to detect the illegal additive of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors in dietary supplements. With the optimized chromatographic program, vardenafil, sildenafil, and tadalafil were separated within 5 minutes. The MS1, MS2, and retention time of PDE-5 inhibitors were acquired simultaneously within the information dependent acquisition mass spectrometry mode. Quantification was achieved via the quantity ion current chromatogram that was extracted from the total ion current. The linear range of vardenafil and sildenafil was 0.5-48 mg/L while the range of tadalafil was 0.3-36 mg/L. The correlation coefficients of the calibration curves of three PDE-5 inhibitors were all greater than 99.9%. At three concentration levels, the RSD values of the five repeat tests were all better than 1.30%. Sildenafil was detected in one dietary supplement. The comprehensive method of this study is reliable and may be a powerful tool for routine PDE-5 inhibitor screening and determination.
The Effect of Different Pre Sowing Treatments of Cow Urine, Soaking Duration, PGPR Applications and their Combinations on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth Parameters of Custard Apple (Annona Squamosa L.)
Authors: Deeksha  , Sharma T. R. , Parmar Mohni
Published: December 2023

The study was conducted to evaluate “the effect of different pre sowing treatments of cow urine (20%,40%,60%,80%), soaking duration (24 hr, 48, 72 hr), PGPR (Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria) viz 0%,3%,6% applications and their combinations on seed germination and seedling growth parameters of Custard apple (Annona Squamosa L.)”.The experiment was carried out during the year 2018-2019 at vegetable research farm Maharajpur, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, JNKVV, Jabalpur (M.P.) with Asymmetrical Factorial Randomized block design with three replications and single seed treatment in net house condition. Germination parameters, vegetative growth parameters, physiological parameters, seedling vigour index were measured as per the standard procedures. The data obtained was subjected to statistical analysis in OPSTAT software. Cow urine, soaking duration and PGPR Media was found significant effect on days taken to start germination, days taken to 50% germination and germination percentage at 30 and 60 DAS. Maximum germination was recorded by the seeds treated with cow urine 20% for 24 hrs at 20 DAS, and 50 % germination at 35 DAS. The maximum shoot length, number of leaves, stem girth, LAD, LTR, Root length, Fresh and dry weight of shoot and root, seedling vigour index I and II, survival of seedlings were also observed in the seeds treated with cow urine 20% for 24 hrs. From this research, it was concluded that the treatment 20% cow urine for 24hrs soaking can be recommended for custard apple grown farmers to ensure sustainable and ecofriendly organic custard apple orchard with good yield.
Influence of Biochar and Irrigation Levels on Productivity of Marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) under Sandy Soil Conditions
Authors: Hassan Reem H. I. , Abbas S. M. T.  , Ismail A. Y.
Published: December 2023

A field experiment designed as a split-plot experiment based on a randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted during two summer successive seasons 2021 and 2022 at the Experimental Farm of EL-Quassasin Horticultural Research Station, Ismailia Governorate; Egypt, to investigate the influence of biochar at rates of 0, 2, 4, and 6 tons/fed. at three irrigation levels  (1, 1.5, and 2 hours/day) using a drip irrigation system on the growth, essential oil (productivity and constituents), as well as some chemical constituents of marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) plant grown in sandy soil. The obtained results revealed that both irrigation and biochar levels affected all the above-mentioned traits. It was clear that plant growth parameters increased as long as increasing irrigation levels and biochar rate. Considering the interaction, it was clear that generally the highest values in vegetative growth (plant height, number of branches, and herb fresh & dry weights/ plant), essential oil yield/plant, N%, and K% were attained from the treatment of irrigation at 1.5 hours/day combined with biochar at the rate of 6ton/fed. On the other hand, the highest values of essential oil%, essential oil components (p-cymene, trans-Sabinene hydrate, α-terpineol), as well as proline, were recorded in stressed plants (received 1h/ day irrigation and 0 biochar). The existing outcomes show that biochar application might increase water use efficiency and produce a high yield of marjoram. Subsequently, it could be a viable option to alleviate the severity effect of water deficit in marjoram growth, which opens opportunities for cultivating arid regions.
Effect of Islamic Work Ethos, Compensation, Work Stress and Work Life Balance on the Performance of Syariah Banking Employees (Case Study on Employees of Bank Muamalat Malang City and Batu City)
Authors: Al’Fattah Muhammad Fariz , Rahayu Yayuk Sri
Published: December 2023

One of the influential factors for companies to give the best to customers is their employees. Employees in the company must be humanized so that they will work effectively, efficiently, and with high productivity. Employee performance is the spearhead of a company that can be one of the means to achieve company goals. some of the influences that can affect employee performance include Islamic work ethic, compensation, work stress, and work-life balance. samples and research objects are employees of Bank Muamalat branches in Malang and Batu City. This study using quantitative research. Data analysis using the Smart PLS application. The results of this study are that Islamic work ethic and compensation have no positive and insignificant effect on employee performance, work stress has a positive but insignificant effect on employee performance and work-life balance affects employee performance.
Rebuilding Broken Walls: Nehemiah's Leadership as a Pastoral Model for Navigating Disruption
Authors: Abraham Bondan Darmawan , Putera Buyung Kosa , Kom S. , Yosua Andries
Published: December 2023

As technology develops in the industrial era, waves of change occur and cause various impacts. Worship and spirituality are no exceptions. The objective of this research is to analyze Nehemiah's leadership at GPdI Vila Melati Mas as a pastoral model in the era of disruption. The study aims to explore how Nehemiah's leadership style, rooted in Christian principles and adapted to contemporary challenges, serves as a relevant and effective model for pastoral leadership in the face of disruptions caused by technological advancements and societal changes. This research was conducted using a qualitative method. The data collection techniques used were observation, interviews, and documents. The results of this study show that in facing challenges in this disruption era, Nehemiah's leadership can be used as an example of Christian leadership, where his leadership applies secular leadership styles and managerial functions but is still based on the Word of God. To face challenges in the era of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 can be done with several strategies, namely having self-awareness, being agile and nimble in understanding and solving solutions, collaborating, paying attention to development, and being sharp in analyzing what will happen in the future or now.
Cinematic Patterns: Deciphering the Cultural Dynamics and Movie Preferences of the Filipino People
Authors: Magsalin Camille Nadine , Roquel Krister Ian Daniel
Published: December 2023

This research paper delves into the intricate tapestry of Filipinos' movie-watching behavior, exploring its cultural nuances and evolution over decades. From the golden age of Philippine cinema to the contemporary era of digital platforms, the study investigates the factors influencing film preferences, focusing on the pivotal role of local films, or "Pinoy" films, in the hearts of Filipino audiences. Examining the impact of digital technology on traditional movie-going habits, the research addresses a notable gap by quantifying the movie formula, emphasizing narrative structures, genre preferences, emotional engagement, and cultural resonances. The study identifies critical influencers through discrete choice modeling, highlighting the importance of directors and gender-specific preferences. The findings offer strategic recommendations for stakeholders in the Filipino film industry, emphasizing the need for tailored marketing, informed casting decisions, and flexible runtime considerations to engage diverse audience segments effectively.
A Linearized Implicit Scheme for Solving Logarithmic Nonlinear Schrödinger’s Equation
Authors: Al-Harbi Anees , Al-Hamdan Waleed , Wazzan Luwai
Published: December 2023

In this research, we will develop a numerical scheme for solving the nonlinear logarithmic Schrödinger’s equation using the Linearized implicit scheme, that has second-order accuracy in space and time, with significant savings in computational time. We then compare the results to those obtained previously using the Crank-Nicolson scheme of the finite difference method. The stability and precision of this method will be evaluated before it is implemented. Precise solution and conserved quantities will be used to prove the efficiency as well as reliability of the method that has been proposed. Additionally, tests are conducted to explore the interactions that take place between two and three solitons. The numerical findings of our investigation demonstrated that the behavior of interactions is elastic.
Bio-Efficacy of Novel Insecticides and Biopesticides against Diamondback Moth, Plutella xylostella (Linn.)
Authors: Kant Chandra , Singh D. V. , Singh Dhruv , Singh Bhupendra , Singh Reetesh Pratap , Pal Rajneesh , Kumar Deepak
Published: December 2023

The present investigation entitled ‘bio-efficacy of Novel insecticides and bio-pesticides against Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linn.) was carried out on the cabbage, variety ‘Golden Acre’ during Rabi, 2021-22 and 2022-23. At Crop Research Centre, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut (UP). The data were recorded on five randomly selected plants once in a standard week. Pooled data of both the year (2021 and 2022), After treatments, spinosad 2.50% SC at 600 ml ha-1 consistently showed the lowest larval count on days 3, 7, and 14, with 3.33, 2.17, 2.25 larvae per five plants followed by emamectin benzoate 5% SG at 200 g ha-1, diafenthiuron 50% WP at 600g ha-1, Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki at 1000 g ha-1, Beauveria bassiana at 1500 ml ha-1 and Metarhizium anisopiliae at 2000 g ha-1, and nimbecidine 0.03% at 2500 ml-ha, respectively. The nimbecidine 0.03% at 2500 ml ha-1 recorded the lowest efficacy. Chemical and biological treatments varied significantly, while chemicals had similar efficacy, and biologicals were equally effective. Control plots had the highest larvae count.
Genetic Analysis of Diallel Crosses of Rapeseed (B. rapa) for Screening High Temperature Tolerant Genotypes under Phytotron Facility and Late Field Sown Condition
Authors: Phukan Aradhana , Barua P. K. , Sarma R. N. , Talukdar A. , Kumar A. , Singh S.
Published: December 2023

High temperature tolerance is assuming importance in breeding rapeseed-mustard. In the present investigation attempt was made to study genetic variation for traits in response to high temperature and screened during flowering to pod formation stage. Populations of diallel crosses involving three yellow sarson and two toria varieties were used in this study. The diallel populations were exposed to high temperature at National Phytotron Facility, IARI, New Delhi and also grown in late sown field conditions which generally experience high temperature terminal stress. The temperature treatment was given only to the crosses as the parents did not come to flowering in the normal growth chamber. B9 x Jeuti, B9 x TS46, YSH401 x Jeuti and NRCYS05-03 x Jeuti were found to be promising for yield attributes under phytotron facility. In field experiments, Jeuti, B9 x NRCYS05-03, B9 x YSH401, B9 x Jeuti, NRCYS05-03 x Jeuti, YSH401 x Jeuti and YSH401 x NRCYS05-03 were found promising for seed yield and its attributes. Main shoot length, siliquae on main shoot, seeds per siliqua, percent flower drop, siliqua density and biological yield per plant showed high to moderate heritability with high genetic advance.
Studies on Performance of Vegetative & Floral Parameters of Different Varieties under Polyhouse Condition
Authors: Patel Meghnath , Gupta Pooja , Kumar Vijay , Mohod Nilesh
Published: December 2023

The experiment was conducted in Randomized Block Design with ten cultivars and replicated thrice. The cultivars used in the experiment of Rose viz., Top Secret (T1), Jumelia (T2), Avalanche (T3), Gold Strike (T4), Revival (T5), Naranga (T6), Solaire (T7), Hot Shot (T8), Volcano (T9) and Peach Avalanche (T10). The maximum number of leaves per 10 cm middle shoot length (5.01), longest flower stalk length (59.50 cm) maximum stem girth (0.73 cm), was recorded significantly in Top Secret (T1). Earliest first bud initiation (27.01 days) & earliest first harvest (32.37 days) were recorded in Revival (T5) and maximum fresh weight of flower (43.95 g).
Study the Impact of Abiotic Factors on the Population Fluctuation of Major Insect Pest of Field Pea
Authors: Chouhan Bhavna , Choudhary Rajkumar , Soneshwar Shreya , Singh Sanju , Vishwakarma Deepali , Kumar Kailash , Bhowmick A. K.
Published: December 2023

The present investigation entitled Study the impact of abiotic factors on the population fluctuation of major insect pest of field pea was conducted at the Experiment field of Department of Plant breeding, seed Breeding farm, JNKVV Jabalpur (MP), Madhya Pradesh during the Rabi season 2020-21. Positive correlation of Acryothosiphon pissum, pod borer, and leafhopper with Maximum Temperature (0.581, 0.581, 0.582) and Acrythosiphon pissum with morning vapour pressure (0.453) may be given due weightage in formulating forewarning modules in the pest. Similarly positive correlation was found between Relative humidity and aphid (r = -0.304) and was found significant. Max temperature showed significant negative correlation (r=-0.581) with aphid, Pod borer and leafhopper’s population where minimum temperature and rainfall showed negative correlation (r=-0.453 and r= - 0.153) with aphid population. Whereas min temperature showed positive non-significant correlation (r= 0.413). Max temperature showed significant negative correlation (r = -0.581) with pod borer population. Morning vapour pressure shows significant negative correlation (r=-0.453) with aphid population.
Characterization of Buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) Germplasm Using DUS Descriptors
Authors: Hemavathy A. Thanga , Subramanian A. , Anantharaju P. , Sakila M. , Kavitha S.
Published: December 2023

The present study was carried on thirty seven Cenchrus genotypes during rabi, 2022-23. Tweleve traits were recorded as per the descriptors provided by PPV & FRA and several genotypes possessed unique traits that aids in genotype identification. The traits viz.,Growth habit ,Anothcyanin coloration on nodes, Node colour, Leaf blade altitude, Leaf blade pubescence, Awns distribution, Awns colour, Leaf colour, and  Early vigour showed significant variation among genotypes. Quantitative Characters viz., Plant height, Leaf length (cm), Leaf width (cm), Inter-nodal length (cm), Nodes on tiller, Panicle length (cm), Tillers/Plant, Green fodder yield were recorded. The traits, Plant height, No. of tillers plant and green fodder yield recorded significant critical difference between the genotypes. Hence utmost care would be given for these characters while in the selection process of Cenchrus ciliaris crop improvement.
Evaluation of Chemical and Impacts of Radionuclides in Borehole Waters in Igbajo Town, Osun State, Nigeria
Authors: Fayemi O. S.  , Giwa A. A.  , Aderanti A. E.  , Adenekan A. I.  , Olorunniyi, A. G.
Published: December 2023

Water is a universal solvent on earth and sources such as wells, rivers, springs, boreholes, and other freshwater bodies typically serve as a pathway for contaminants to enter the ecosystem while also supplying water for domestic and drinking purposes. The activity concentrations of radionuclides in borehole water in Igbajo town were assessed using gamma-ray spectroscopy, so as to effectively determine the degree of radiological risk to the environment and its inhabitants, the outcomes were used to calculate all the radiological impact parameters. The activity concentrations obtained for 40K, 238U and 232Thranged from 7.25±0.60 to 62.15±4.48Bq.L–1; 3.08±0.45 to 15.24±3.07 Bq.L–1and 1.08±1.10 to 17.75±1.59 Bq.L–1 and with average values of 23.12±1.59 Bq.L–1, 6.27±2.01 Bq.L–1 and 7.01±0.89 Bq.L–1 respectively. The Annual Effective Dose (AED) for ingested radionuclide in drinking water for an adult was1.4872 μSv.yr–1. The Radium Equivalent Activity Index, Raeq obtained was 34.9186 Bq.L–1. The estimated hazard indices Hint and Hext were 0.04876 and 0.06574 respectively. The Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk, ELCR (x10–6) was 5205.15. With a lifetime expectancy of 70 years, this high value suggests that there is a high chance of developing cancer.The value of the Annual Gonadal Equivalent Dose, AGED in the water was 55.9175μSv.yr–1. The estimated Gamma Index, Iγ was0.1273 mSv.yr–1. There is a significant health hazard to the environment and people living in the area owing to the radioactivity contents and radiological impact parameters. Hence, the need for urgent attention and means to prevent hazards which the overdose could cause.
Association of plasma sPD‐1 and sPD‐L1 with disease status and future relapse in AQP4‐IgG (+) NMOSD
Authors: Liu Jia , Shao Xi , Fan Jingya , Wang Ying , Cao Yuanbo , Tan Guojun , Sugimoto Kazuo , Li Bin , Jia Zhen
Published: December 2023

Objective

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune‐mediated disorder with aquaporin 4‐immunoglobulin G (AQP4‐IgG) in most settings. Soluble programmed death‐1 (sPD‐1) and soluble programmed death ligand 1 (sPD‐L1) play key roles in immunomodulation. We aim to assess the association of sPD‐1 and sPD‐L1 with cytokines and their clinical significance in AQP4‐IgG (+) NMOSD.

Method

We measured plasma sPD‐1, sPD‐L1, and 10 cytokines levels of 66 AQP4‐IgG (+) NMOSD patients, including 40 patients in attack (attack‐NMOSD) and 26 patients in remission (remission‐NMOSD) phases, and 28 healthy controls through ultrasensitive Simoa and SP‐X platform, respectively. We also performed >2 years (median) of follow‐up after testing and analyzed the relationship between the detection index and current and future clinical parameters.

Result

Plasma sPD‐1 level discriminated attack‐NMOSD from remission‐NMOSD (AUC = 0.692, p = 0.009). sPD‐1 and sPD‐L1 levels positively correlated with IL‐6 (rsPD‐1 = 0.313; rsPD‐L1 = 0.508), IFN‐γ (rsPD‐1 = 0.331; rsPD‐L1 = 0.456), and TNF‐α (rsPD‐1 = 0.451; rsPD‐L1 = 0.531) expression, as well as clinical indicators, including the EDSS score (rsPD‐1 = 0.331; rsPD‐L1 = 0.402), number of attacks (rsPD‐1 = 0.431) and segments of spinal cord involvement (rsPD‐1 = 0.462; rsPD‐L1 = 0.508). The risk of relapse within 2 years after sampling was associated with higher sPD‐1/sPD‐L1 ratio in attack‐NMOSD (p = 0.022; Exp(B) = 1.589).

Interpretation

Plasma sPD‐1 and sPD‐L1 levels reflected current disease severity and activity, and predicted future relapses in AQP4‐IgG (+) NMOSD, suggesting that they hold the potential to guide timely and targeted treatment.
Renoprotective Effects of Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists Against Diabetic Kidney Disease
Authors: Bayne Sarah , LeFevre James , Olstinske Kayla , Ravindran Sreenithya , Munusamy Shankar
Published: December 2023

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a growing epidemic worldwide and a leading cause of end‐stage kidney disease. Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) blockade using Finerenone is a recently approved therapeutic approach to slow down the progression of DKD in patients with type 2 diabetes in addition to other therapies such as angiotensin‐II converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), sodium‐glucose co‐transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, and glucagon‐like peptide 1 (GLP‐1) analogs. This review elaborates on the pathophysiologic pathways activated by aldosterone (the human mineralocorticoid) in DKD, the pharmacology of three different generations of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), specifically, spironolactone, eplerenone, and finerenone, and the mechanisms by which these MRAs elicit their protective effects on the kidney under diabetic settings.
Approaching the Robust Linearity in Dual‐Floating van der Waals Photodiode
Authors: Xu Jinpeng , Luo Xiaoguang , Lin Xi , Zhang Xi , Liu Fan , Yan Yuting , Hu Siqi , Zhang Mingwen , Han Nannan , Gan Xuetao , Cheng Yingchun , Huang Wei
Published: December 2023

Two‐dimensional (2D) material photodetectors have gained great attention as potential elements for optoelectronic applications. However, the linearity of the photoresponse is often compromised by the carrier interaction, even in 2D photodiodes. In this study, a new device concept of dual‐floating van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs) photodiode is presented by employing ambipolar MoTe2 and n‐type MoS2 2D semiconductors. The presence of type II heterojunctions on both sides of channel layers effectively depletes carriers and restricts the photocarrier trapping within the channel layers. As a result, the device exhibits robust linear photoresponse under photovoltaic mode from the visible (405 nm) to near‐infrared (1600 nm) band. With the built‐in electric field of the vdWHs, a linear dynamic range of ≈100 dB, responsivity of ≈1.57 A W−1, detectivity of ≈4.28 × 1011 Jones, and response speed of ≈30 µs are achieved. The results showcase a promising device concept with excellent linearity toward fast and low‐loss detection, high‐resolution imaging, and logic optoelectronics.
A Drug‐Mineralized Hydrogel Orchestrated by Spontaneous Dynamic Mineralization
Authors: Liu Jiaying , Zhang Xiaonong , Xiao Chunsheng , Chen Xuesi
Published: December 2023

Fabrication of mineralized materials through the nature‐mimicking dynamic biomineralization process has attracted great interest but remains a huge challenge till now. Here, a drug‐mineralized hydrogel (DMH) with spontaneous dynamic mineralization behaviors is reported, which highly mimics the dynamic mineralization process of natural tissues. The hydrogel is facilely fabricated via directly mixing sodium hyaluronate (HA) with alendronate sodium (ADA) and CaCl2 in deionized water. The resultant hydrogel possesses a white‐to‐semi‐transparent transition and a soft‐to‐hard transition during incubation at 37 °C. Mechanism studies reveal that the spontaneous dynamic change of the hydrogel is ascribed to the HA‐regulated dynamic mineralization of ADA/Ca2+ complexes, where amorphous ADA/Ca2+ complexes will gradually transform into mineral crystals with the prolongation of incubation time. Owing to the dynamic transformation process, the DMH shows excellent injectability and moldability at the initial stage. More importantly, the DMH exhibits a sustained release behavior of ADA in vitro, superior adhesiveness with bone, biodegradability, and good biocompatibility. As a result, the developed DMH demonstrates promising uses for accelerating bone repair in a rat cranial defect model. Overall, the research provides a general strategy to prepare drug‐mineralized hydrogels with spontaneous dynamic mineralization behaviors, which may find potential uses in various biomedical fields.
A Dual‐Function Hemicyanine Material with Highly Efficient Photothermal and Photodynamic Effect Used for Tumor Therapy
Authors: Zhang Minglu , Wang Shuo , Bai Yueping , Wang Danyang , Fu Yu , Su Zongyi , Zhang Guoqiang , Meng Meng , Yu Fan , Wang Bing , Jin Hongzhen , Zhao Wei
Published: December 2023

Small molecular organic optical agents with synergistic effects of photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT), hold credible promise for anti‐tumor therapy by overcoming individual drawbacks and enhancing photon utilization efficiency. However, developing effective dual‐function PTT‐PDT photosensitizers (PSs) for efficient synergistic phototherapy remains challenging. Here, a benz[c,d]indolium‐substituted hemicyanine named Rh‐BI, which possesses a high photothermal conversion efficiency of 41.67% by exhaustively suppressing fluorescence emission, is presented. Meanwhile, the rotating phenyl group at meso‐site induces charge recombination to enhance the molar extinction coefficient up to 13.58 × 104 M−1cm−1, thereby potentiating the photodynamic effect. Under 808 nm irradiation, Rh‐BI exhibits significant phototoxicity in several cancer cell types in vitro with IC50 values as low as ≈0.5 µM. Moreover, treatment of 4T1 tumor‐bearing mice with Rh‐BI under laser irradiation successfully inhibits tumor growth. In a word, an effective strategy is developed to build PTT‐PDT dual‐functional optical materials based on hemicyanine backbone for tumor therapy by modulating conjugation system interaction to adjust the energy consumption pathway.
A Butterfly‐Inspired Multisensory Neuromorphic Platform for Integration of Visual and Chemical Cues
Authors: Zheng Yikai , Ghosh Subir , Das Saptarshi
Published: December 2023

Unisensory cues are often insufficient for animals to effectively engage in foraging, mating, and predatory activities. In contrast, integration of cues collected from multiple sensory organs enhances the overall perceptual experience and thereby facilitates better decision‐making. Despite the importance of multisensory integration in animals, the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and neuromorphic computing has primarily focused on processing unisensory information. This lack of emphasis on multisensory integration can be attributed to the absence of a miniaturized hardware platform capable of co‐locating multiple sensing modalities and enabling in‐sensor and near‐sensor processing. In this study, this limitation is addressed by utilizing the chemo‐sensing properties of graphene and the photo‐sensing capability of monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) to create a multisensory platform for visuochemical integration. Additionally, the in‐memory‐compute capability of MoS2 memtransistors is leveraged to develop neural circuits that facilitate multisensory decision‐making. The visuochemical integration platform is inspired by intricate courtship of Heliconius butterflies, where female species rely on the integration of visual cues (such as wing color) and chemical cues (such as pheromones) generated by the male butterflies for mate selection. The butterfly‐inspired visuochemical integration platform has significant implications in both robotics and the advancement of neuromorphic computing, going beyond unisensory intelligence and information processing.
Ultrathin Van der Waals Lanthanum Oxychloride Dielectric for 2D Field‐Effect Transistors
Authors: Li Linyang , Dang Weiqi , Zhu Xiaofei , Lan Haihui , Ding Yiran , Li Zhu‐An , Wang Luyang , Yang Yuekun , Fu Lei , Miao Feng , Zeng Mengqi
Published: December 2023

Downsizing silicon‐based transistors can result in lower power consumption, faster speeds, and greater computational capacity, although it is accompanied by the appearance of short‐channel effects. The integration of high‐mobility 2D semiconductor channels with ultrathin high dielectric constant (high‐κ) dielectric in transistors is expected to suppress the effect. Nevertheless, the absence of a high‐κ dielectric layer featuring an atomically smooth surface devoid of dangling bonds poses a significant obstacle in the advancement of 2D electronics. Here, ultrathin van der Waals (vdW) lanthanum oxychloride (LaOCl) dielectrics are successfully synthesized by precisely controlling the growth kinetics. These dielectrics demonstrate an impressive high‐κ value of 10.8 and exhibit a remarkable breakdown field strength (Ebd) exceeding 10 MV cm−1. Remarkably, the conventional molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) field‐effect transistor (FET) featuring a dielectric made of LaOCl showcases an almost negligible hysteresis when compared to FETs employing alternative gate dielectrics. This can be attributed to the flawlessly formed vdW interface and excellent compatibility established between LaOCl and MoS2. These findings will motivate the further exploration of rare‐earth oxychlorides and the development of more‐than‐Moore nanoelectronic devices.
Influence of Annealing on Thin Film/Substrate Interface and Vacuum Ultraviolet Photoconductivity of Neodymium Fluoride Thin Films
Authors: Kato Tomoki , Cadatal‐Raduban Marilou , Horiuchi Yusuke , Ozawa Gakuto , Ono Shingo
Published: December 2023

High photon energy vacuum ultraviolet radiation (VUV, 100−200 nm wavelength) is challenging to detect. It easily degrades conventional silicon and semiconductor photodetectors. Fluoride photodetectors can be the answer, but the correlation between fabrication parameters and photodetector performance is not known. Here, the effect of annealing is investigated on the characteristics of neodymium trifluoride thin film/quartz substrate interface and NdF3 photoconductivity within the VUV. Thin films are deposited on unheated and heated (600 °C) substrates with post‐deposition annealing. Dark current of films on unheated substrates decreases by as much as 1/10 as resistance increases from 1 −12 TΩ after annealing. Dark current of films on heated substrates increases even after annealing, resulting in similar photo and dark currents of ≈303.7 nA and poor detectors. Fluorine diffuses from the film to the substrate during deposition, exacerbated by substrate heating but not by annealing. Fluorine diffusion degrades crystallinity near the interface, increasing the dark current. Fluorine diffusion is absent when MgF2 is used as the heated substrate. Unannealed NdF3/MgF2 detector on 600 °C‐heated substrate and 600 °C‐annealed NdF3/SiO2 detector on unheated substrate exhibit similar resistances of ≈14 TΩ. Considering the film/substrate interface and annealing is crucial when developing VUV photodetectors.
Top‐Down Fabrication of Ordered Nanophotonic Structures for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Wen Baohua , Yang Ji , Hu Chao , Cai Jingxuan , Zhou Jianhua
Published: December 2023

The size, distribution, and specific shape of ordered nanophotonic structures are crucial for their biomedical applications. Bottom‐up approaches such as self‐assembly, emulsification, and precipitation are commonly fabricated nanophotonic structures, which often lack control of nanophotonic structures morphologies and monodispersed sizes. On the contrary, top‐down nanofabrication techniques offer the advantages of high fidelity and high controllability and are employed in the fabrication of nanophotonic structures. This review focuses on top‐down nanofabrication techniques to fabricate ordered nanophotonic structures and their biomedical applications. Several top‐down approaches used in the semiconductor industry and other fields requiring micro‐ and nanopatterns are used, including electron beam lithography/ion beam lithography, photolithography, interference lithography, nanoimprint lithography, nanosphere lithography, nanotransfer lithography, and nano‐electrodeposition. Various current and emerging biomedical applications of the ordered nanophotonic structures are also covered: i) surface‐enhanced Raman scattering, ii) plasmonics, including surface plasmon resonance and localized surface plasmon resonance, and iii) fluorescence enhancement. Finally, a future perspective of nanophotonic structures fabricated by top‐down techniques in biomedical applications is also summarized.
Visible Light‐Induced EDA‐Complex Triggered Annulative Difunctionalization via Olefin‐Olefin Coupling and Radical Truce‐Smiles Rearrangement
Authors: Mondal Karunamayee , Baidya Mahiuddin
Published: December 2023

An EDA complex comprisingN‐allyl bromodifluoroacetamides and tertiary alkyl amine was exploited to facilitate annulative difunctionalization reaction under visible‐light irradiation. This external photocatalyst‐free methodology garners olefin‐olefin coupling featuring a radical Truce‐Smiles rearrangement and produced long‐chain functionalizedgem‐difluoropyrrolidones fromN‐substituted methacryloyl sulfonamides, while simpleN‐aryl methacrylamides furnished pyrrolidinone‐oxindole hybrid lactams in high yields. Mechanistic investigations substantiate a combined reaction mechanism, involving charge‐transfer EDA complex‐based radical cascade, alongside an α‐aminoalkyl radical‐triggered XAT process, exhibiting a quantum yield value of 1.48.
Visible Light instead of Transition Metal: Electron Donor Acceptor Complex Enabled Cross‐Coupling of Aryl Halides with Active Methylene Compounds
Authors: Volkov Alexey A. , Bugaenko Dmitry I. , Karchava Alexander V.
Published: December 2023

An arylation of anions of active methylene compounds with aryl halides provides an access to synthetically versatile α‐arylated 1,3‐diketones, β‐keto esters, β‐keto nitriles, β‐cyano esters, etc. Previously, these C−C cross‐coupling reactions have been accomplished only using transition metal‐based catalysts. Herein, we demonstrate that these arylations can be successfully realized under catalyst‐free conditions employing the electron donor‐acceptor (EDA) complex photoactivation strategy. The protocol was further optimized for a semi‐one pot synthesis of indole derivatives via an intramolecular C−C coupling.
Copper Modulated Lead‐Free Cs4MnSb2Cl12 Double Perovskite Microcrystals for Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2
Authors: Gao Bo , Tian Changqing , Guo Linfeng , Zhou Jinchen , Wang Zixian , Fu Chengfan , Ran Hongmei , Chen Wei , Huang Qiang , Wu Daofu , Tang Xiaosheng , Luo Zhongtao
Published: December 2023

In order to deal with the global energy crisis and environmental problems, reducing carbon dioxide through artificial photosynthesis has become a hot topic. Lead halide perovskite is attracted people's attention because of its excellent photoelectric properties, but the toxicity and long‐term instability prompt people to search for new photocatalysts. Herein, a series of <111> inorganic double perovskites Cs4Mn1‐xCuxSb2Cl12 microcrystals (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5) are synthesized and characterized. Among them, Cs4Mn0.7Cu0.3Sb2Cl12 microcrystals have the best photocatalytic performance, and the yields of CO and CH4 are 503.86 and 68.35 µmol g−1, respectively, after 3 h irradiation, which are the highest among pure phase perovskites reported so far. In addition, in situ Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy are used to explore the mechanism of the photocatalytic reaction. The results highlight the potential of this class of materials for photocatalytic reduction reactions.
A Breathable, Reliable, and Flexible Siloxene Incorporated Porous SEBS‐Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Human–Machine Interactions
Authors: Shrestha Kumar , Pradhan Gagan Bahadur , Asaduzzaman Md , Reza Md Selim , Bhatta Trilochan , Kim Hongseok , Lee Yeyeong , Park Jae Y.
Published: December 2023

The breathability of wearable sensors is of utmost necessity as it facilitates heat dissipation and sweat evaporation from the skin–sensor interface for improving the user's comfort and minimizing the inflammation risk. In this work, a Siloxene/porous styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene (SEBS)‐based breathable triboelectric sensor is newly designed and fabricated for increasing user comfort and reliability. The reliability of the fabricated sensor is evaluated by measuring the heat dissipation through the skin–sensor interface using a thermal IR imaging test. Similarly, the sensor's breathability is quantified through a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) test, where the achieved breathability of 5.88 mg cm−2 h−1 is sufficient for sweat evaporation, as an average person loses 1.2–4.2 mg cm−2 h−1 of sweat. Furthermore, a porous, metal‐free, hybridized nanoporous carbon (H‐NPC)/laser‐induced graphene (LIG) is utilized as a charge‐collecting electrode, which is transferred and conformally attached to the Siloxene/SEBS substrate. This results in a reduction in the interfacial resistance and an improvement in bonding between the dielectric and electrode layers. With a pressure sensitivity of 0.75 VkPa−1, the fabricated sensor demonstrates successful application in gesture recognition. Thus, this research showcases the considerable potential for developing triboelectric naongenerators (TENGs) with breathable and reliable features and underscores their broad applicability in human–machine interfaces and soft robotics systems.
Durable Organic Photovoltaics Enabled by a Morphology‐Stabilizing Hole‐Selective Self‐Assembled Monolayer
Authors: Wang Yiwen , Jiang Wenlin , Liu Shi‐Chun , Lin Chieh‐Ting , Fan Baobing , Li Yanxun , Gao Huanhuan , Liu Ming , Lin Francis R. , Jen Alex K.‐Y.
Published: December 2023

Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) have recently achieved efficiencies of over 19% and are well underway toward practical applications. However, issues concerning operational stability remain a major challenge ahead of OPV commercialization. Here, when replacing the conventional hole‐transporting layer PEDOT:PSS with a self‐assembled monolayer of [2‐(3,6‐dichloro‐9H‐carbazol‐9‐yl)ethyl]phosphonic acid (3,6‐Cl‐2PACz) or [2‐(4,5‐dichloro‐9H‐carbazol‐9‐yl)ethyl]phosphonic acid (4,5‐Cl‐2PACz) it is found that the T80 lifetime of PM6:BTP‐eC9‐based devices can be improved from ~100 to ~470 and over 800 h, respectively. The power conversion efficiency is also improved from 17.29% to 18.17% and 18.67%, respectively. The improved performance and prolonged photostability in 4,5‐Cl‐2PACz‐based devices stem from the stabilized vertical distribution of donor and acceptor components, reducing the energetic disorder and thus alleviating non‐radiative recombination losses. It is further found that the surface energy of 4,5‐Cl‐2PACz‐modified substrates stays constant under prolonged illumination due to the improved intrinsic photostability of 4,5‐Cl‐2PACz, supporting the robust active layer morphology. Applying 4,5‐Cl‐2PACz in a ternary device of PM6:BTP‐eC9:L8‐BO‐F delivered an efficiency of 19.05% and a T80 lifetime over 1140 h.
30 μm Thin Anode Gas Diffusion Layers for Optimized PEM Fuel Cell Operation at 120 °C and Low Relative Humidity
Authors: Yildirim Koray , Fadlullah Hassan , Schwarz Claudia , Lombeck Florian , Klose Carolin , Vierrath Severin , Breitwieser Matthias
Published: December 2023

Achieving higher temperature operation above 100 °C, while increasing the volumetric power density are key targets in current fuel cell development. In this work, a novel type of polyvinylidene fluoride and graphite based microporous film of only 30 μm thickness, acting as thin alternative to typical gas diffusion layers (GDLs) on the anode side of a hydrogen fuel cell is reported. Ex situ measurements (contact angle, electric conductivity, gas permeability measurements, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)) reveal that the thin, porous layers achieve comparable chemical, electrical, and transport properties to commonly employed and significantly thicker gas diffusion layers. In‐situ fuel cell tests reveal considerable improvements, particularly in the target operation range beyond 100 °C: At 120 °C and 30% RH and 0.65 V cell voltage, the best thin anode layer enables a 51% higher current density (1342 vs 885 mA cm−2) and a 9% lower high frequency resistance (76 vs 84 mΩ cm−2) compared to a commercial state‐of‐the‐art GDL.