bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Highly efficient heat-dissipation power driven by ferromagnetic resonance in MFe2O4 (M = Fe, Mn, Ni) ferrite nanoparticles
Authors: Lee Jae-Hyeok , Kim Yongsub , Kim Sang-Koog
Published: March 2022

We experimentally demonstrated that heat-dissipation power driven by ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) in superparamagnetic nanoparticles of ferrimagnetic MFe2O4 (M = Fe, Mn, Ni) gives rise to highly localized incrementation of targeted temperatures. The power generated thereby is extremely high: two orders of magnitude higher than that of the conventional Néel-Brownian model. From micromagnetic simulation and analytical derivation, we found robust correlations between the temperature increment and the intrinsic material parameters of the damping constant as well as the saturation magnetizations of the nanoparticles’ constituent materials. Furthermore, the magnetization–dissipation-driven temperature increments were reliably manipulated by extremely low strengths of applied AC magnetic fields under resonance field conditions. Our experimental results and theoretical formulations provide for a better understanding of the effect of FMR on the efficiency of heat generation as well as straightforward guidance for the design of advanced materials for control of highly localized incrementation of targeted temperatures using magnetic particles in, for example, magnetic hyperthermia bio-applications.
A plasmon modulator by directly controlling the couple of photon and electron
Authors: Hu Xue-fang , Zhao Xiang-yue , Gu Yin-wei , Jin Shu-ping , Cui Yi-ping , Lu Chang-gui
Published: March 2022

The manipulation of surface plasmon polaritons plays a pivotal role in plasmonic science and technology, however, the modulation efficiency of the traditional method suffers from the weak light-matter interaction. Herein, we propose a new method to overcome this obstacle by directly controlling the couple of photon and electron. In this paper, a hybrid graphene-dielectric- interdigital electrode structure is numerically and experimentally investigated. The plasmon is excited due to the confined carrier which is regulated by the potential wells. The frequency of plasmon can be tuned over a range of ~ 33 cm−1, and the obtained maximum extinction ratio is 8% via changing the confined area and the density of carrier. These findings may open up a new path to design the high efficiency all-optical modulator because the electrons can also be driven optically.
Theoretical studies on quantum imaging with time-integrated single-photon detection under realistic experimental conditions
Authors: Go Byeong-Yoon , Lee Changhyoup , Lee Kwang-Geol
Published: March 2022

We study a quantum-enhanced differential measurement scheme that uses quantum probes and single-photon detectors to measure a minute defect in the absorption parameter of an analyte under investigation. For the purpose, we consider two typical non-classical states of light as a probe, a twin-Fock state and a two-mode squeezed vacuum state. Their signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) that quantifies the capability of detecting the defect are compared with a corresponding classical imaging scheme that employs a coherent state input. A quantitative comparison is made in terms of typical system imperfections such as photon loss and background noise that are common in practice. It is shown that a quantum enhancement in SNR can be described generally by the Mandel Q-parameter and the noise-reduction-factor, which characterize an input state that is incident to the analyte. We thereby identify the conditions under which the quantum enhancement remains and can be further increased. We expect our study to provide a guideline for improving the SNR in quantum imaging experiments employing a differential measurement scheme with time-integrated single-photon detectors.
An Untargeted LC–MS based approach for identification of altered metabolites in blood plasma of rheumatic heart disease patients
Authors: Das Soumi , Kumar Yashwant , Sharma Shruti , Ray Ruma , Arava Sudheer , Seth Sandeep , Agarwal Aman , Sharma Gautam
Published: March 2022

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is often considered as a disease of developing countries and India is the home of about 40% of RHD patients. Environment seems to play a major role in its causation. Since gene environment interactions can lead to alterations of various metabolic pathways, identification of altered metabolites can help in understanding the various pathways leading to RHD. Blood plasma samples from 51 RHD and 49 healthy controls were collected for the study. Untargeted metabolomics approach was used to identify the metabolites that are altered in RHD patients. Data showed 25 altered metabolites among RHD patients. These altered metabolites were those involved in Purine, Glutamine, Glutamate, Pyrimidine, Arginine, Proline and Linoleic metabolism. Thus, the present study illuminates metabolic alterations among RHD patients which can help in determining the potential therapeutic targets.
Microbial differences between active and remission peri-implantitis
Authors: Hashimoto Yuhei , Okada Shinsuke , Yasuda Keisuke , Kawagoe Maiko , Kajiya Mikihito , Tsuga Kazuhiro
Published: March 2022

Peri-implantitis has a polymicrobial etiology and is a major cause of dental implant loss. Various clinical protocols for its prevention and treatment have been proposed; however, some cases show a rapid progression with non-resolving clinical symptoms. To clear a means of differentiating between such cases, the implants with peri-implantitis in this study were categorized as the active group and the remission group and that two kinds of samples were obtained from the same subjects (n = 20). The microbiome was analyzed through pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. From LEfSe results, Porphyomonas, Fusobacterium, Treponema, Tannerella, and other periodontal pathogens were abundant in the active group, while lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillales and Bifidobacterium) were abundant in the remission group.
Sex differences in esophageal cancer overall and by histological subtype
Authors: Stabellini Nickolas , Chandar Apoorva Krishna , Chak Amitabh , Barda Amie J. , Dmukauskas Mantas , Waite Kristin , Barnholtz-Sloan Jill S.
Published: March 2022

Esophageal cancer is the seventh most common type of cancer in the world, the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death and its incidence is expected to rise 140% in the world in a period of 10 years until 2025. The overall incidence is higher in males, while data about prognosis and survival are not well established yet. The goal of this study was to carry out a comprehensive analysis of differences between sexes and other covariates in patients diagnosed with primary esophageal cancer. Data from 2005 to 2020 were obtained from the University Hospitals (UH) Seidman Cancer Center and from 2005 to 2018 from SEER. Patients were categorized according to histological subtype and divided according to sex. Pearson Chi-square test was used to compare variables of interest by sex and the influence of sex on survival was assessed by Kaplan Meier, log rank tests and Cox proportional hazards regression models. A total of 1205 patients were used for analysis. Sex differences in all types were found for age at diagnosis, histology, smoking status and prescriptions of NSAIDs and in SCC for age at diagnosis and alcoholism. Survival analysis didn’t showed differences between males and females on univariable and multivariable models. Males have a higher incidence of Esophageal Cancer and its two main subtypes but none of the comprehensive set of variables analyzed showed to be strongly or unique correlated with this sex difference in incidence nor are they associated with a sex difference in survival.
Cytotoxicity, early safety screening, and antimicrobial potential of minor oxime constituents of essential oils and aromatic extracts
Authors: Surowiak Alicja Karolina , Sowała Marta , Talma Michał , Groborz Katarzyna , Balcerzak Lucyna , Lochyński Stanisław , Strub Daniel Jan
Published: March 2022

Due to market and legislative expectations, there is a constant need to explore new potential antimicrobial agents for functional perfumery. In this study, we evaluated the antimicrobial activity of 53 low molecular oximes and the corresponding carbonyl compounds against Escherichia coli, Enterococcus hirae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus brasiliensis, Legionella pneumophila and Candida albicans. The most potent compound was α-isomethylionone oxime, which exhibited a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 18.75 µg/mL against E. hirae. The evaluation of the MICs for bacterial and fungal strains was performed for selected compounds, for example, the MIC of 2-phenylpropionaldehyde, cis-jasmone oxime, and trans-cinnamaldehyde measured against A. brasiliensis was 37.50 µg/mL. ADME-Tox (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity) and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) cell viability assays were performed to assess the cytotoxicity of tested compounds. ADME-Tox indicated the safety and promising properties of selected compounds, which enables their usage as nontoxic supporting antibacterial agents. The results of the in vitro MTS assay were consistent with the ADME-Tox results. None of the compounds tested was toxic to Human Embryonic Kidney 293T (HEK293T) cells, with all cell viabilities exceeding 85%.
Big data analysis of the risk factors and rates of perioperative transfusion in immediate autologous breast reconstruction
Authors: Song Woo Jin , Kim Hee Jin , Kang Sang Gue , Seo Bommie Florence , Choi Nam Kyong , Lee Jung Ho
Published: March 2022

Patients undergoing autologous breast reconstruction (ABR) are more likely to require perioperative transfusions due to the increased intraoperative bleeding. In addition to the mastectomy site, further incisions and muscle dissection are performed at the donor sites, including the back or abdomen, increasing the possibility of transfusion. The purpose of this study was to evaluate perioperative transfusion rates and risk factors according to the type of ABR through analysis of big data. Patients who underwent total mastectomy for breast cancer between 2014 and 2019 were identified. The patients were divided into mastectomy only and immediate ABR groups. The transfusion rate was 14-fold higher in the immediate ABR group (16.1%) compared to the mastectomy only group (1.2%). The transfusion rate was highest with the pedicled transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap (24.2%). Performance of the operation in medical institutions located in the provinces and coronary artery disease (CAD) were significant risk factors for the need for transfusion. The perioperative transfusion risk among patients undergoing immediate ABR was related to the flap type, location of medical institution, and CAD. Based on the higher transfusion rate in this study (16.1%) compared to previous studies, the risk factors for the need for transfusion should be determined and evidence-based guidelines should be developed to reduce the transfusion rates.
Alterations in common marmoset gut microbiome associated with duodenal strictures
Authors: Sheh Alexander , Artim Stephen C. , Burns Monika A. , Molina-Mora Jose Arturo , Lee Mary Anne , Dzink-Fox JoAnn , Muthupalani Sureshkumar , Fox James G.
Published: March 2022

Chronic gastrointestinal (GI) diseases are the most common diseases in captive common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). Despite standardized housing, diet and husbandry, a recently described gastrointestinal syndrome characterized by duodenal ulcers and strictures was observed in a subset of marmosets sourced from the New England Primate Research Center. As changes in the gut microbiome have been associated with GI diseases, the gut microbiome of 52 healthy, non-stricture marmosets (153 samples) were compared to the gut microbiome of 21 captive marmosets diagnosed with a duodenal ulcer/stricture (57 samples). No significant changes were observed using alpha diversity metrics, and while the community structure was significantly different when comparing beta diversity between healthy and stricture cases, the results were inconclusive due to differences observed in the dispersion of both datasets. Differences in the abundance of individual taxa using ANCOM, as stricture-associated dysbiosis was characterized byAnaerobiospirillumloss andClostridium perfringensincreases. To identify microbial and serum biomarkers that could help classify stricture cases, we developed models using machine learning algorithms (random forest, classification and regression trees, support vector machines and k-nearest neighbors) to classify microbiome, serum chemistry or complete blood count (CBC) data. Random forest (RF) models were the most accurate models and correctly classified strictures using either 9 ASVs (amplicon sequence variants), 4 serum chemistry tests or 6 CBC tests. Based on the RF model and ANCOM results,C. perfringenswas identified as a potential causative agent associated with the development of strictures.Clostridium perfringenswas also isolated by microbiological culture in 4 of 9 duodenum samples from marmosets with histologically confirmed strictures. Due to the enrichment ofC. perfringensin situ, we analyzed frozen duodenal tissues using both 16S microbiome profiling and RNAseq. Microbiome analysis of the duodenal tissues of 29 marmosets from the MIT colony confirmed an increased abundance ofClostridiumin stricture cases. Comparison of the duodenal gene expression from stricture and non-stricture marmosets found enrichment of genes associated with intestinal absorption, and lipid metabolism, localization, and transport in stricture cases. Using machine learning, we identified increased abundance ofC. perfringens, as a potential causative agent of GI disease and intestinal strictures in marmosets.
Western boundary currents drive sun-coral (Tubastraea spp.) coastal invasion from oil platforms
Authors: Coelho Stella Correia Cesar , Gherardi Douglas Francisco Marcolino , Gouveia Mainara Biazati , Kitahara Marcelo Visentini
Published: March 2022

Most marine species have a planktonic larval phase that benefit from the surface oceanic flow to enhance their dispersion potential. For invasive species, the interaction of environmentally resistant larvae with different flow regimes and artificial substrates can lead to complex larval dispersion patterns and boost geographic expansion. In the Southwest Atlantic, the invasive corals Tubastraea spp. (sun-coral) have been recorded biofouling on oil platforms since the late 1980s. These platforms are considered important vectors for the established populations throughout the Brazilian coast. However, we still do not know how the position of these structures relative to regional flow contribute to the natural dispersion potential of these invaders on a regional scale. Herein, we used an eddy-resolving ocean model (ROMS) and an Individual Based Model (IBM-Ichthyop) to simulate the natural dispersion patterns of sun-coral larvae from all oil platforms on Brazilian oil-producing basins, for the austral summer and winter along 6 years (2010–2015) in 90-day simulations. We found that mortality rates by advection were significantly higher during the winter (p = 0.001) and when sources of larvae were compared throughout this season (p = 1.9 × 10–17). The influence of two western boundary currents and persistent eddy activity contribute to the dispersal of larvae to distances up to 7000 km. The effectiveness of each oil-producing basin as vectors for the entire Brazilian coastline, measured as the percentage of larval supply, highlights the importance of the northern Ceará (59.89%) and Potiguar (87.47%) basins and the more central Camamu (44.11%) and Sergipe-Alagoas (39.20%) basins. The poleward shift of the Southern branch of the South Equatorial Current during the winter causes larvae released from the Sergipe-Alagoas and Camamu basins to enter the North Brazil Current, expanding their dispersion towards the north. The Brazil Current disperses larvae southwards, but strong mesoscale activity prevents their dispersion to the coast, especially for those released from the oil platforms on Campos and Santos basins. Within this complex hydrodynamic setting, a few source areas, like those in the Sergipe-Alagoas and Camamu basins, can potentially contribute to the spread of larvae along nearly all the Brazilian coast. Therefore, oil platforms act as possible chronic sources of sun-coral propagules to the coast, emphasizing the urgency for a more detailed set of actions to control and monitor these invasive exotic species.
Aerosol emissions and gravity waves of Taal volcano
Authors: Nee Jan-Bai , Chang Yuan-Pin , Wang Chia C.
Published: March 2022

The Taal volcano (14.0 N, 121.0 E) in Philippines erupted in January–February 2020, with a part of aerosols drifted northward and detected by a lidar system at Kaohsiung city (22.37 N, 120.15 E), Taiwan. The aerosol observed on Feb 11 is special for its high-altitude distributions at 4–7 km with discrete structures which can be resolved into a sinusoidal oscillation of ~ 30 min period, suggesting a case of wave event caused by the eruptions. We report in this paper the gravity wave generated by the volcanic eruptions and its effects on aerosol emissions. By studying the temperature and pressure data in the Taal region using radiosonde data, we found atmospheric gravity waves with powers correlated with the optical thickness (AOD) at 550 nm measured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) satellite. This study presents the first observation of modulation of the aerosol emissions by the volcanic gravity waves and a case of coupling of dynamics and chemistry.
More tropical cyclones are striking coasts with major intensities at landfall
Authors: Wang S. , Toumi R.
Published: March 2022

In this study, we show that the number of annual global tropical cyclone (TC) landfalls with major landfall intensity (LI ≥ 50 m s−1) has nearly doubled from 1982 to 2020. The lifetime maximum intensity (LMI) of global major landfalling TCs has been increasing by 0.8 m s−1per decade (p < 0.05), but this significance of intensity change disappears at landfall (0.3 m s−1per decade,p = 0.69). The lack of a significant LI trend is caused by the much larger variance of LI than that of LMI in all basins and explains why a significant count change of TCs with major intensity at landfall has only now emerged. Basin-wide TC trends of intensity and spatial distribution have been reported, but this long-term major TC landfall count change may be the most socio-economic significant.
Multimodal bioimaging using nanodiamond and gold hybrid nanoparticles
Authors: Lin Yu-Chung , Perevedentseva Elena , Lin Zhe-Rui , Chang Chia-Chi , Chen Hsiang-Hsin , Yang Shun-Min , Lin Ming-Der , Karmenyan Artashes , Speranza Giorgio , Minati Luca , Nebel Christoph , Cheng Chia-Liang
Published: March 2022

Hybrid core–shell nanodiamond-gold nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized as a novel multifunctional material with tunable and tailored properties for multifunctional biomedical applications. The combination of nanostructured gold and nanodiamond properties afford new options for optical labeling, imaging, sensing, and drug delivery, as well as targeted treatment. ND@Au core–shell nanoparticles composed of nanodiamond (ND) core doped with Si vacancies (SiV) and Au shell were synthesized and characterized in terms of their biomedical applications. Several bioimaging modalities based on the combination of optical and spectroscopic properties of the hybrid nano-systems are demonstrated in cellular and developing zebrafish larvae models. The ND@Au nanoparticles exhibit isolated ND’s Raman signal of sp3 bonded carbon, one-photon fluorescence of SiV with strong zero-phonon line at 740 nm, two-photon excited fluorescence of nanogold with short fluorescence lifetime and strong absorption of X-ray irradiation render them possible imaging agent for Raman mapping, Fluorescence imaging, two-photon Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (TP-FLIM) and high-resolution hard-X-ray microscopy in biosystems. Potential combination of the imaging facilities with other theranostic functionalities is discussed.
Altered electrical properties in skeletal muscle of mice with glycogen storage disease type II
Authors: Nagy Janice A. , Semple Carson , Riveros Daniela , Sanchez Benjamin , Rutkove Seward B.
Published: March 2022

Electrical impedance methods, including electrical impedance myography, are increasingly being used as biomarkers of muscle health since they measure passive electrical properties of muscle that alter in disease. One disorder, Pompe Disease (Glycogen storage disease type II (GSDII)), remains relatively unstudied. This disease is marked by dramatic accumulation of intracellular myofiber glycogen. Here we assessed the electrical properties of skeletal muscle in a model of GSDII, the Pompe6neo/6neo (Pompe) mouse. Ex vivo impedance measurements of gastrocnemius (GA) were obtained using a dielectric measuring cell in 30-week-old female Pompe (N = 10) and WT (N = 10) mice. Longitudinal and transverse conductivity, σ, and the relative permittivity, εr, and Cole–Cole complex resistivity parameters at 0 Hz and infinite frequency, ρo and ρ∞, respectively, and the intracellular resistivity, ρintracellular were determined from the impedance data. Glycogen content (GC) was visualized histologically and quantified biochemically. At frequencies > 1 MHz, Pompe mice demonstrated significantly decreased longitudinal and transverse conductivity, increased Cole–Cole parameters, ρo and ρo-ρ∞, and decreased ρintracellular. Changes in longitudinal conductivity and ρintracellular correlated with increased GC in Pompe animals. Ex vivo high frequency impedance measures are sensitive to alterations in intracellular myofiber features considered characteristic of GSDII, making them potentially useful measures of disease status.
Ultrasonic bone age fractionates cognitive abilities in adolescence
Authors: Kovács Ilona , Kovács Kristóf , Gerván Patrícia , Utczás Katinka , Oláh Gyöngyi , Tróznai Zsófia , Berencsi Andrea , Szakács Hanna , Gombos Ferenc
Published: March 2022

Adolescent development is not only shaped by the mere passing of time and accumulating experience, but it also depends on pubertal timing and the cascade of maturational processes orchestrated by gonadal hormones. Although individual variability in puberty onset confounds adolescent studies, it has not been efficiently controlled for. Here we introduce ultrasonic bone age assessment to estimate biological maturity and disentangle the independent effects of chronological and biological age on adolescent cognitive abilities. Comparing cognitive performance of female participants with different skeletal maturity we uncover the impact of biological age on both IQ and specific abilities. We find that biological age has a selective effect on abilities: more mature individuals within the same age group have higher working memory capacity and processing speed, while those with higher chronological age have better verbal abilities, independently of their maturity. Based on our findings, bone age is a promising biomarker of adolescent maturity.
Crash test-based assessment of injury risks for adults and children when colliding with personal mobility devices and service robots
Authors: Paez-Granados Diego , Billard Aude
Published: March 2022

Autonomous mobility devices such as transport, cleaning, and delivery robots, hold a massive economic and social benefit. However, their deployment should not endanger bystanders, particularly vulnerable populations such as children and older adults who are inherently smaller and fragile. This study compared the risks faced by different pedestrian categories and determined risks through crash testing involving a service robot hitting an adult and a child dummy. Results of collisions at 3.1 m/s (11.1 km/h/6.9 mph) showed risks of serious head (14%), neck (20%), and chest (50%) injuries in children, and tibia fracture (33%) in adults. Furthermore, secondary impact analysis resulted in both populations at risk of severe head injuries, namely, from falling to the ground. Our data and simulations show mitigation strategies for reducing impact injury risks below 5% by either lowering the differential speed at impact below 1.5 m/s (5.4 km/h/3.3 mph) or through the usage of absorbent materials. The results presented herein may influence the design of controllers, sensing awareness, and assessment methods for robots and small vehicles standardization, as well as, policymaking and regulations for the speed, design, and usage of these devices in populated areas.
Sentinel-1A for monitoring land subsidence of coastal city of Pakistan using Persistent Scatterers In-SAR technique
Authors: Hussain Muhammad Afaq , Chen Zhanlong , Shoaib Muhammad , Shah Safeer Ullah , Khan Junaid , Ying Zheng
Published: March 2022

Karachi is located in the southern part of Pakistan along the Arabian Sea coast. Relevant institutions are concerned about the possibility of ground subsidence in the city, contributing to the comparative sea-level rise. So yet, no direct measurement of the subsidence rate and its relation to city submergence danger has been made. SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) interferometry is a powerful method for obtaining millimeter-accurate surface displacement measurements. The Sentinel-1 satellite data provide extensive geographical coverage, regular acquisitions, and open access. This research used the persistent scatterer interferometry synthetic aperture radar (PS-InSAR) technology with Sentinel-1 SAR images to monitor ground subsidence in Karachi, Pakistan. The SARPROZ software was used to analyze a series of Sentinel-1A images taken from November 2019 to December 2020 along ascending and descending orbit paths to assess land subsidence in Karachi. The cumulative deformation in Line of Sight (LOS) ranged from − 68.91 to 76.06 mm/year, whereas the vertical deformation in LOS ranged from − 67.66 to 74.68 mm/year. The data reveal a considerable rise in subsidence from 2019 to 2020. The general pattern of subsidence indicated very high values in the city center, whereas locations outside the city center saw minimal subsidence. Overall, the proposed technique effectively maps, identifies, and monitors land areas susceptible to subsidence. This will allow for more efficient planning, construction of surface infrastructure, and control of subsidence-induced risks.
Förster resonance energy transfer biosensors for fluorescence and time-gated luminescence analysis of rac1 activity
Authors: Pham Ha , Hoseini Soflaee Mona , Karginov Andrei V. , Miller Lawrence W.
Published: March 2022

Genetically encoded, Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) biosensors enable live-cell optical imaging of signaling molecules. Small conformational changes often limit the dynamic range of biosensors that combine fluorescent proteins (FPs) and sensing domains into a single polypeptide. To address this, we developed FRET and lanthanide-based FRET (LRET) biosensors of Rac1 activation with two key features that enhance sensitivity and dynamic range. For one, alpha helical linker domains separate FRET partners and ensure a large conformational change and FRET increase when activated Rac1 at the biosensor C-terminus interacts with an amino-terminal Rac binding domain. Incorporation of a luminescent Tb(III) complex with long (~ ms) excited state lifetime as a LRET donor enabled time-gated luminescence measurements of Rac1 activity in cell lysates. The LRET dynamic range increased with ER/K linker length up to 1100% and enabled robust detection of Rac1 inhibition in 96-well plates. The ER/K linkers had a less pronounced, but still significant, effect on conventional FRET biosensors (with FP donors and acceptors), and we were able to dynamically image Rac1 activation at cell edges using fluorescence microscopy. The results herein highlight the potential of FRET and LRET biosensors with ER/K linkers for cell-based imaging and screening of protein activities.
Selective multiple analyte detection using multi-mode excitation of a MEMS resonator
Authors: Yaqoob Usman , Jaber Nizar , Alcheikh Nouha , Younis Mohammad I.
Published: March 2022

This work reports highly selective multiple analyte detection by exploiting two different mechanisms; absorption and thermal conductivity using a single MEMS device. To illustrate the concept, we utilize a resonator composed of a clamped-guided arch beam connected to a flexural beam and a T-shaped moveable mass. A finite element model is used to study the mode shapes and mechanical behavior of the device with good agreement reported with the experimental data. The resonator displays two distinct out-of-plane modes of vibration. For humidity detection, we utilize physisorption by functionalizing the surface with graphene oxide (GO), which has strong affinity toward water vapors. The GO solution is prepared and drop-casted over the mass surface using an inkjet printer. On the other hand, cooling the heated flexural beams is used for helium (He) detection (thermal-conductivity-based sensor). The sensor characteristics are extensively studied when the modes are individually and simultaneously actuated. Results affirm the successful utilization of each mode for selective detection of relative humidity and He. This novel mode-dependent selective detection of multiple analytes can be a promising building block for the development of miniature, low-powered, and selective smart sensors for modern portable electronic devices.
Dimension of visual information interacts with working memory in monkeys and humans
Authors: Fehring Daniel J. , Pascoe Alexander J. , Haque Zakia Z. , Samandra Ranshikha , Yokoo Seiichirou , Abe Hiroshi , Rosa Marcello G. P. , Tanaka Keiji , Yamamori Tetsuo , Mansouri Farshad A.
Published: March 2022

Humans demonstrate behavioural advantages (biases) towards particular dimensions (colour or shape of visual objects), but such biases are significantly altered in neuropsychological disorders. Recent studies have shown that lesions in the prefrontal cortex do not abolish dimensional biases, and therefore suggest that such biases might not depend on top-down prefrontal-mediated attention and instead emerge as bottom-up processing advantages. We hypothesised that if dimensional biases merely emerge from an enhancement of object features, the presence of visual objects would be necessary for the manifestation of dimensional biases. In a specifically-designed working memory task, in which macaque monkeys and humans performed matching based on the object memory rather than the actual object, we found significant dimensional biases in both species, which appeared as a shorter response time and higher accuracy in the preferred dimension (colour and shape dimension in humans and monkeys, respectively). Moreover, the mnemonic demands of the task influenced the magnitude of dimensional bias. Our findings in two primate species indicate that the dichotomy of top-down and bottom-up processing does not fully explain the emergence of dimensional biases. Instead, dimensional biases may emerge when processed information regarding visual object features interact with mnemonic and executive functions to guide goal-directed behaviour.
Spatial ecology, activity patterns, and habitat use by giant pythons (Simalia amethistina) in tropical Australia
Authors: Natusch Daniel , Lyons Jessica , Shine Richard
Published: March 2022

Although giant snakes are abundant in some tropical forests, their ecology is far less well-known than for smaller species of snakes in cooler climates. Information on spatial ecology can clarify management issues such as the sizes and types of habitats needed for conservation. We radio-tracked 27 scrub pythons (Simalia amethistina; snout-vent lengths 2.02 to 3.70 m) in Cape York, near the northeastern tip of Australia, for a mean period of 426 days (up to 1001 days) per snake. Home ranges were larger in males than females (means 0.60 vs. 0.28 km2) and overlapped considerably among individuals. All snakes used rainforest habitat, but seasonal shifts into open woodland were common. Snakes were active primarily by night, with larger snakes hunting less of the time overall, and more often by day. Hunting behaviour was seen more often during the wet season than the dry season. Average daily displacement was < 10 m, typically involving a shift from diurnal refuge to nocturnal ambush-site. A reliance on sit-and-wait predation results in small home ranges and limited movements, despite the large body size of this species.
Qubits made by advanced semiconductor manufacturing
Authors: Zwerver A. M. J. , Krähenmann T. , Watson T. F. , Lampert L. , George H. C. , Pillarisetty R. , Bojarski S. A. , Amin P. , Amitonov S. V. , Boter J. M. , Caudillo R. , Correas-Serrano D. , Dehollain J. P. , Droulers G. , Henry E. M. , Kotlyar R. , Lodari M. , Lüthi F. , Michalak D. J. , Mueller B. K. , Neyens S. , Roberts J. , Samkharadze N. , Zheng G. , Zietz O. K. , Scappucci G. , Veldhorst M. , Vandersypen L. M. K. , Clarke J. S.
Published: March 2022

Full-scale quantum computers require the integration of millions of qubits, and the potential of using industrial semiconductor manufacturing to meet this need has driven the development of quantum computing in silicon quantum dots. However, fabrication has so far relied on electron-beam lithography and, with a few exceptions, conventional lift-off processes that suffer from low yield and poor uniformity. Here we report quantum dots that are hosted at a 28Si/28SiO2 interface and fabricated in a 300 mm semiconductor manufacturing facility using all-optical lithography and fully industrial processing. With this approach, we achieve nanoscale gate patterns with excellent yield. In the multi-electron regime, the quantum dots allow good tunnel barrier control—a crucial feature for fault-tolerant two-qubit gates. Single-spin qubit operation using magnetic resonance in the few-electron regime reveals relaxation times of over 1 s at 1 T and coherence times of over 3 ms.
Statistical modeling of SARS-CoV-2 substitution processes: predicting the next variant
Authors: Levinstein Hallak Keren , Rosset Saharon
Published: March 2022

We build statistical models to describe the substitution process in the SARS-CoV-2 as a function of explanatory factors describing the sequence, its function, and more. These models serve two different purposes: first, to gain knowledge about the evolutionary biology of the virus; and second, to predict future mutations in the virus, in particular, non-synonymous amino acid substitutions creating new variants. We use tens of thousands of publicly available SARS-CoV-2 sequences and consider tens of thousands of candidate models. Through a careful validation process, we confirm that our chosen models are indeed able to predict new amino acid substitutions: candidates ranked high by our model are eight times more likely to occur than random amino acid changes. We also show that named variants were highly ranked by our models before their appearance, emphasizing the value of our models for identifying likely variants and potentially utilizing this knowledge in vaccine design and other aspects of the ongoing battle against COVID-19.
EBI2 is a negative modulator of brown adipose tissue energy expenditure in mice and human brown adipocytes
Authors: Copperi Francesca , Schleis Inna , Roumain Martin , Muccioli Giulio G. , Casola Stefano , Klingenspor Martin , Pfeifer Alexander , Gnad Thorsten
Published: March 2022

Pharmacological activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) is an attractive approach for increasing energy expenditure to counteract obesity. Given the side-effects of known activators of BAT, we studied inhibitors of BAT as a novel, alternative concept to regulate energy expenditure. We focused on G-protein-coupled receptors that are one of the major targets of clinically used drugs. Here, we identify GPR183, also known as EBI2, as the most highly expressed inhibitory G-protein-coupled receptor in BAT among the receptors examined. Activation of EBI2 using its endogenous ligand 7α,25-dihydroxycholesterol significantly decreases BAT-mediated energy expenditure in mice. In contrast, mice deficient for EBI2 show increased energy dissipation in response to cold. Interestingly, only thermogenic adipose tissue depots — BAT and subcutaneous white adipose tissue —respond to 7α,25-dihydroxycholesterol treatment/EBI2 activation but not gonadal white fat, which has the lowest thermogenic capacity. EBI2 activation in brown adipocytes significantly reduces norepinephrine-induced cAMP production, whereas pharmacological inhibition or genetic ablation of EBI2 results in an increased response. Importantly, EBI2 significantly inhibits norepinephrine-induced activation of human brown adipocytes. Our data identify the 7α,25-dihydroxycholesterol/EBI2 signaling pathway as a so far unknown BAT inhibitor. Understanding the inhibitory regulation of BAT might lead to novel pharmacological approaches to increase the activity of thermogenic adipose tissue and whole body energy expenditure in humans.
Insights into gut microbiota metabolism of dietary lipids: the case of linoleic acid
Authors: Huyan Zongyao , Pellegrini Nicoletta , Steegenga Wilma , Capuano Edoardo
Published: March 2022

In this study we explored the effect of chemical form and incorporation in a plant matrix on microbial metabolism of linoleic acid by monitoring the formation of potentially bioactive metabolites in an in vitro model of colonic fermentation.
The synthesis of anticancer sulfonated indolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline and benzimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolin-6(5H)-ones derivatives via a free radical cascade pathway
Authors: Pan You-lu , Gong Xiao-meng , Hao Rong-rong , Zeng Shen-xin , Shen Zheng-rong , Huang Wen-hai
Published: March 2022

A facile CuBr2 induced tandem radical reaction has been achieved, leading to sulfonated indole and benzimidazole derivatives.
Palladium-catalyzed hydroboration reaction of unactivated alkynes with bis (pinacolato) diboron in water
Authors: Yang Ming , Yu Yunzi , Ma Wenxia , Feng Yuqin , Zhang Gang , Wu Yaqi , Zhou Fanyu , Yang Yongsheng , Liu Dezheng
Published: March 2022

A highly efficient and mild palladium-catalyzed hydroboration of unactivated internal alkynes in water.
Etched-spiky Au@Ag plasmonic-superstructure monolayer films for triple amplification of surface-enhanced Raman scattering signals
Authors: Liu Huiqin , Zeng Junyi , Song Liping , Zhang Lingli , Chen Zihai , Li Jianhua , Xiao Zhidong , Su Fengmei , Huang Youju
Published: March 2022

The triple signal amplification for the SERS detection based on 2D monolayer film of etched spiky Au@Ag NPs.
Optoelectronic properties and interfacial interactions of two-dimensional Cs2PbX4–MSe2 (M = Mo, W) heterostructures
Authors: Chen Ying Jie , Li Xue , Jia Bao Nan , Dong Chao , Guan Xiao Ning , Zhao Xin , Han Li Hong
Published: March 2022

The PCE of Cs2PbX4–WSe2 heterostructures is larger than the PCE of Cs2PbX4–MoSe2 heterostructures. Cs2PbI4–WSe2 heterostructure has the largest PCE (18%) among Cs2PbX4–MSe2 heterostructures and has great potential application in solar cells.
Solution combustion derived oxygen vacancy-rich Co3O4 catalysts for catalytic formaldehyde oxidation at room temperature
Authors: Mu Baolin , Zhang Xianjuan , Zhang Yexin , Lu Peng , Hao Jianying , Zhang Jian
Published: March 2022

The rich oxygen vacancies in porous Co3O4 were generated in solution combustion, offering high room-temperature activity for formaldehyde oxidation.
Photocatalytic properties of Cu-containing ZnO nanoparticles and their antifungal activity against agriculture-pathogenic fungus
Authors: Paraguay-Delgado F. , Hermida-Montero L. A. , Morales-Mendoza J. E. , Durán-Barradas Z. , Mtz-Enriquez Arturo I. , Pariona Nicolaza
Published: March 2022

In this work, nanoparticles (NPs) of ZnO, ZnO with Cu incorporated at 2 and 30 wt%, and CuO were prepared by the hydrothermal method.
First-principles study on the elastic, electronic and optical properties of all-inorganic halide perovskite solid solutions of CsPb(Br1−xClx)3 within the virtual crystal approximation
Authors: Ko Un-Hyok , Ri Jun-Hyok , Jang Jong-Hyok , Ri Chol-Hyok , Jong Un-Gi , Yu Chol-Jun
Published: March 2022

We investigate the variation of structural, elastic, electronic, and optical properties of all-inorganic bromide and chloride perovskite solid solutions of CsPb(Br1−xClx)3 using first-principles calculations within the virtual crystal approximation.
Design of choline chloride modified USY zeolites for palladium-catalyzed acetylene hydrochlorination
Authors: Long Zeqing , Wang Lu , Yan Haijun , Si Jianxin , Zhang Meng , Wang Jide , Zhao Ling , Yang Chao , Wu Ronglan
Published: March 2022

USY zeolites (USY) were applied to design and synthesize palladium-based heterogeneous catalysts for exploring an efficient non-mercuric catalyst for acetylene hydrochlorination.
Oxoberberine: a promising natural antioxidant in physiological environments
Authors: Nam Pham Cam , Trung Nguyen Quang , Hoa Nguyen Thi , Bich Huynh Ngoc , Manh Tran Duc , Quang Duong Tuan , Mechler Adam , Vo Quan V.
Published: March 2022

Oxoberberine (OB), a radical scavenger discovered from Artabotrys thomsonii, is expected to be effective in physiological environments.
Repurposing FDA-approved drugs as FXR agonists: a structure basedin silicopharmacological study
Authors: Jose Sandra , Devi Sreevidya S. , Sajeev Anjana , Girisa Sosmitha , Alqahtani Mohammed S. , Abbas Mohamed , Alshammari Abdulrahman , Sethi Gautam , Kunnumakkara Ajaikumar B.
Published: March 2022

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) modulates the expression of genes involved in lipid and carbohydrate homeostasis and inflammatory processes. This nuclear receptor is likely a tumor suppressor in several cancers, but its molecular mechanism of suppression is still under study. Several studies reported that FXR agonism increases the survival of colorectal, biliary tract, and liver cancer patients. In addition, FXR expression was shown to be down-regulated in many diseases such as obesity, irritable bowel syndrome, glomerular inflammation, diabetes, proteinuria, and ulcerative colitis. Therefore, development of novel FXR agonists may have significant potential in the prevention and treatment of these diseases. In this scenario, computer-aided drug design procedures can be resourcefully applied for the rapid identification of promising drug candidates. In the present study, we applied the molecular docking method in conjunction with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to find out potential agonists for FXR based on structural similarity with the drug that is currently used as FXR agonist, obeticholic acid. Our results showed that alvimopan and montelukast could be used as potent FXR activators and outperform the binding affinity of obeticholic acid by forming stable conformation with the protein in silico. However, further investigational studies and validations of the selected drugs are essential to figure out their suitability for preclinical and clinical trials.
Epilogue: Implementation Science in CSD and Starting Where You Are
Authors: Davidson Meghan M. , Morris Megan A.
Published: March 2022

In this epilogue for the Clinicians and Researchers Navigating Implementation Science in CSD forum, we begin by summarizing the eight articles in this forum that describe where the field is in terms of published implementation science (IS) articles in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) and how numerous teams have begun incorporating IS into their research programs. We then situate these articles across three themes: (1) levels of analysis and support; (2) research methods, frameworks, and models; and (3) underserved populations. Next, we consider the challenges and opportunities for conducting IS in CSD. Finally, we conclude by offering tangible steps for researchers, department heads, clinicians, patients, organizations/administrators, and funders in doing and supporting IS research in CSD.
View graph construction for scenes with duplicate structures via graph convolutional network
Authors: Peng Yang , Yan Shen , Liu Yuxiang , Liu Yu , Zhang Maojun
Published: March 2022

View graph construction aims to effectively organise disordered image dataset through image retrieval technique before structure from motion (SfM). Existing view graph construction methods usually fail to handle scenes with duplicate structure, because these methods solely treat the construction of view graph as a process of image‐pair‐wise matching and lack in exploiting images' topological details in dataset. In this paper, we handle this problem from a novel perspective to construct view graph in a global paradigm by introducing an end‐to‐end graph convolutional network (GCN). First, a location‐aware embedding module is introduced to encode images into a feature space that takes into account the feature's location by using Vision Transformer architecture, improving the distinction between features of duplicate structure. Second, graph convolutional network that consists of topological relationship preserving module and feature metric learning module is proposed. Topological relationship preserving network is proposed to help nodes maintain their connected neighbourhood features. By merging the topological connected information into images' embedding, our method can process image matching in a global mode, thus improving the disambiguation ability for images with duplicate scenes. Then a feature metric learning network is embedded into GCN to dynamically compute the linkage prediction among nodes based on their features. Finally, our method combines these three parts to jointly optimise nodes' features and linkage prediction in an end‐to‐end paradigm. We make qualitative and quantitative comparisons based on three public benchmark datasets and demonstrate that our proposed method performs favourably against other state‐of‐the‐art methods.
Semantic‐meshed and content‐guided transformer for image captioning
Authors: Li Xuan , Zhang Wenkai , Sun Xian , Gao Xin
Published: March 2022

The transformer architecture has been the dominant framework for today's image captioning tasks because of its superior performance. However, existing methods based on transformer often lack the integrated use of multi‐level semantic information and are weak in maintaining the relevance of captions to the image. In this paper, a semantic‐meshed and content‐guided transformer network is introduced for image captioning to solve these problems. The semantic‐meshed mechanism allows the model to generate words by selecting semantic information of multiple interaction levels adaptively through attention‐based reconstruction. And the content‐guided module guides the words generation by using attribute features that represent the image content, which aims to keep the generated caption consistent with the main content of the image. Experiments on dataset on the MSCOCO captioning dataset are conducted to validate the authors’ model and achieve superior results compared to other state‐of‐the‐art method approaches.