bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
International environmental law as a means for enhancing the protection of the environment in warfare: A critical assessment of scholarly theoretical frameworks
Authors: van Steenberghe Raphaël
Published: September 2023

The protection of the environment during warfare attracted significant attention in the 1990s, especially after the 1990–91 Gulf War. It became clear at that time that the few rules provided by international humanitarian law (IHL) aimed specifically at protecting the environment were insufficient. Various studies have since been undertaken with the aim of strengthening that protection from an IHL perspective. It is only recently that scholars and institutions like the International Law Commission have started to reflect on how to better protect the environment in armed conflict through the lens of another branch of international law, namely, international environmental law (IEL). Such an approach has involved examining the interplay between IHL and IEL, and scholars have subsequently proposed and then elaborated on frameworks in that respect. This paper intends to identify common trends of those frameworks and to critically appraise them, with the aim of providing a suitable approach to the interplay between IHL and IEL.
Synergies Between NASA's Hyperspectral Aquatic Missions PACE, GLIMR, and SBG: Opportunities for New Science and Applications
Authors: Dierssen H. M. , Gierach M. , Guild L. S. , Mannino A. , Salisbury J. , Schollaert Uz S. , Scott J. , Townsend P. A. , Turpie K. , Tzortziou M. , Urquhart E. , Vandermeulen R. , Werdell P. J.
Published: September 2023

Within the next decade, NASA plans to launch three new missions with imaging spectrometers for aquatic science and applications: Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) in 2024, Geostationary Littoral Imaging Radiometer (GLIMR) in 2026, and Surface Biology and Geology (SBG) in 2028. Taken together, these missions will evaluate long‐term trends in phytoplankton biomass linked to climate change, and provide new spectral capabilities to assess aquatic biogeochemistry, biophysics, and habitats. Hyperspectral measurements of ocean color, paired with advanced retrieval algorithms, can provide new information on phytoplankton community composition and water quality. We compare the mission architecture and sensor characteristics to identify the synergistic opportunities to merge algorithms, field data, and calibration and validation techniques. Each mission has unique temporal and spatial characteristics to monitor the aquatic transitions from watershed to open ocean ecosystems. SBG provides observations at high spatial scales to monitor emergent, floating, submerged, and benthic habitats from inland to coastal waters. With global daily coverage, PACE can track the fate of material as it meanders offshore and provides an enhanced context for phytoplankton diversity and global biogeochemical cycling. GLIMR is optimized to resolve temporal processes that give rise to aquatic rates and fluxes including phytoplankton growth rates, physiology, and episodic events such as storms. Applications with high spectral, spatial, and temporal resolution from these NASA missions include assessing carbon dynamics and biogeochemical cycling across the land‐ocean continuum, harmful algal blooms, and oil spills.
Effects of probiotics in patients with morbid obesity undergoing bariatric surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Yuting , Zheng Youwei , Kuang Lirun , Yang Keyu , Xie Jiaji , Liu Xinde , Shen Shan , Li Xinchao , Wu Shiran , Yang Yuyi , Shi Jiafei , Wu Jialiang , Wang Yong
Published: September 2023

Background

Probiotics are commonly used after bariatric surgery. However, uncertainty remains regarding their effects. The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the effect of probiotics in patients with morbid obesity undergoing bariatric surgery.

Methods

PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Science Direct, and Web of Science were searched from inception to April 4, 2023. No language restrictions were applied. Relevant randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials were included. We used the aggregated data extracted from the trials and assessed the heterogeneity. When severe heterogeneity was detected, a random effect model was used. All stages of the review were done by independent authors.

Results

We screened 2024 references and included 11 randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials. Compared with the protocol groups, probiotics showed significant effects on regulating aspartate amino transferase level (MD = −4.32 U/L; 95% CI [−7.10, −1.53], p = 0.002), triglycerides (MD = −20.16 mg/dL; 95% CI [−34.51, −5.82], p = 0.006), weight (MD = −1.99 kg; 95% CI [−3.97, −0.01], p = 0.05), vitamin B12 (MD = 2.24 pg/dL; 95% CI [−0.02, 4.51], p = 0.05), dietary energy (MD = −151.03 kcal; 95% CI [−215.68, −86.37], p < 0.00001), dietary protein (MD = −4.48 g/day, 95% CI [−8.76, −0.20], p = 0.04), dietary carbohydrate (MD = −34.25 g/day, 95% CI [−44.87, −23.62], p < 0.00001), and dietary fiber (MD = −2.17 g/day, 95% CI [−3.21, −1.14], p < 0.0001). There were no severe side effects related to probiotics.

Conclusions

Our meta-analysis suggested that probiotics may delay the progression of liver function injury, improve lipid metabolism, reduce weight, and reduce food intake, although the effects on other indicators were insignificant. Probiotics may be helpful for patients undergoing bariatric surgery. The review was registered on PROSPERO (International prospective register of systematic reviews): CRD42023407970. No primary source of funding.
Host and microbiome jointly contribute to environmental adaptation
Authors: Petersen Carola , Hamerich Inga K , Adair Karen L , Griem-Krey Hanne , Torres Oliva Montserrat , Hoeppner Marc P , Bohannan Brendan J M , Schulenburg Hinrich
Published: September 2023

Most animals and plants have associated microorganisms, collectively referred to as their microbiomes, which can provide essential functions. Given their importance, host-associated microbiomes have the potential to contribute substantially to adaptation of the host-microbiome assemblage (the “metaorganism”). Microbiomes may be especially important for rapid adaptation to novel environments because microbiomes can change more rapidly than host genomes. However, it is not well understood how hosts and microbiomes jointly contribute to metaorganism adaptation. We developed a model system with which to disentangle the contributions of hosts and microbiomes to metaorganism adaptation. We established replicate mesocosms containing the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans co-cultured with microorganisms in a novel complex environment (laboratory compost). After approximately 30 nematode generations (100 days), we harvested worm populations and associated microbiomes, and subjected them to a common garden experiment designed to unravel the impacts of microbiome composition and host genetics on metaorganism adaptation. We observed that adaptation took different trajectories in different mesocosm lines, with some increasing in fitness and others decreasing, and that interactions between host and microbiome played an important role in these contrasting evolutionary paths. We chose two exemplary mesocosms (one with a fitness increase and one with a decrease) for detailed study. For each example, we identified specific changes in both microbiome composition (for both bacteria and fungi) and nematode gene expression associated with each change in fitness. Our study provides experimental evidence that adaptation to a novel environment can be jointly influenced by host and microbiome.
Novel SPEG variants in a neonate with severe dilated cardiomyopathy and relatively mild hypotonia
Authors: Fujimoto Hana Milena , Fujimoto Masanori , Sugiura Takahiro , Nakane Shigeharu , Wakano Yasuhiro , Sato Emi , Oshita Hironori , Togawa Yasuko , Sugimoto Mari , Kato Takenori , Yasuda Kazushi , Muramatsu Kanji , Saitoh Shinji
Published: September 2023

Striated muscle preferentially expressed protein kinase (SPEG) variants have been reported to cause centronuclear myopathy associated with cardiac diseases. The severity of skeletal muscle symptoms and cardiac symptoms are presumably related to the location of the variant. Here, we report novel SPEG compound heterozygous pathological variants in a neonate with severe dilated cardiomyopathy and relatively mild hypotonia. This report expands the genotype-phenotype correlations of patients with SPEG variants.
NAD(H) homeostasis underlies host protection mediated by glycolytic myeloid cells in tuberculosis
Authors: Pacl Hayden T. , Chinta Krishna C. , Reddy Vineel P. , Nadeem Sajid , Sevalkar Ritesh R. , Nargan Kievershen , Lumamba Kapongo , Naidoo Threnesan , Glasgow Joel N. , Agarwal Anupam , Steyn Adrie J. C.
Published: September 2023

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) disrupts glycolytic flux in infected myeloid cells through an unclear mechanism. Flux through the glycolytic pathway in myeloid cells is inextricably linked to the availability of NAD+, which is maintained by NAD+ salvage and lactate metabolism. Using lung tissue from tuberculosis (TB) patients and myeloid deficient LDHA (LdhaLysM−/−) mice, we demonstrate that glycolysis in myeloid cells is essential for protective immunity in TB. Glycolytic myeloid cells are essential for the early recruitment of multiple classes of immune cells and IFNγ-mediated protection. We identify NAD+ depletion as central to the glycolytic inhibition caused by Mtb. Lastly, we show that the NAD+ precursor nicotinamide exerts a host-dependent, antimycobacterial effect, and that nicotinamide prophylaxis and treatment reduce Mtb lung burden in mice. These findings provide insight into how Mtb alters host metabolism through perturbation of NAD(H) homeostasis and reprogramming of glycolysis, highlighting this pathway as a potential therapeutic target.
The mutational landscape of the adult healthy parous and nulliparous human breast
Authors: Cereser Biancastella , Yiu Angela , Tabassum Neha , Del Bel Belluz Lisa , Zagorac Sladjana , Ancheta Kenneth Russell Zapanta , Zhong Rongrong , Miere Cristian , Jeffries-Jones Alicia Rose , Moderau Nina , Werner Benjamin , Stebbing Justin
Published: September 2023

The accumulation of somatic mutations in healthy human tissues has been extensively characterized, but the mutational landscape of the healthy breast is still poorly understood. Our analysis of whole-genome sequencing shows that in line with other healthy organs, the healthy breast during the reproduction years accumulates mutations with age, with the rate of accumulation in the epithelium of 15.24 ± 5 mutations/year. Both epithelial and stromal compartments contain mutations in breast-specific driver genes, indicative of subsequent positive selection. Parity- and age-associated differences are evident in the mammary epithelium, partly explaining the observed difference in breast cancer risk amongst women of different childbearing age. Parity is associated with an age-dependent increase in the clone size of mutated epithelial cells, suggesting that older first-time mothers have a higher probability of accumulating oncogenic events in the epithelium compared to younger mothers or nulliparous women. In conclusion, we describe the reference genome of the healthy female human breast during reproductive years and provide evidence of how parity affects the genomic landscape of the mammary gland.
Regulating adsorption performance of zeolites by pre-activation in electric fields
Authors: Chen Kaifei , Yu Zhi , Mousavi Seyed Hesam , Singh Ranjeet , Gu Qinfen , Snurr Randall Q. , Webley Paul A. , Li Gang Kevin
Published: September 2023

While multiple external stimuli (e.g., temperature, light, pressure) have been reported to regulate gas adsorption, limited studies have been conducted on controlling molecular admission in nanopores through the application of electric fields (E-field). Here we show gas adsorption capacity and selectivity in zeolite molecular sieves can be regulated by an external E-field. Through E-field pre-activation during degassing, several zeolites exhibited enhanced CO2 adsorption and decreased CH4 and N2 adsorptions, improving the CO2/CH4 and CO2/N2 separation selectivity by at least 25%. The enhanced separation performance of the zeolites pre-activated by E-field was maintained in multiple adsorption/desorption cycles. Powder X-ray diffraction analysis and ab initio computational studies revealed that the cation relocation and framework expansion induced by the E-field accounted for the changes in gas adsorption capacities. These findings demonstrate a regulation approach to sharpen the molecular sieving capability by E-fields and open new avenues for carbon capture and molecular separations.
Methylene blue accelerates liquid-to-gel transition of tau condensates impacting tau function and pathology
Authors: Huang Yongqi , Wen Jitao , Ramirez Lisa-Marie , Gümüşdil Eymen , Pokhrel Pravin , Man Viet H. , Ye Haiqiong , Han Yue , Liu Yunfei , Li Ping , Su Zhengding , Wang Junmei , Mao Hanbin , Zweckstetter Markus , Perrett Sarah , Wu Si , Gao Meng
Published: September 2023

Preventing tau aggregation is a potential therapeutic strategy in Alzheimer’s disease and other tauopathies. Recently, liquid–liquid phase separation has been found to facilitate the formation of pathogenic tau conformations and fibrillar aggregates, although many aspects of the conformational transitions of tau during the phase transition process remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the tau aggregation inhibitor methylene blue promotes tau liquid–liquid phase separation and accelerates the liquid-to-gel transition of tau droplets independent of the redox activity of methylene blue. We further show that methylene blue inhibits the conversion of tau droplets into fibrils and reduces the cytotoxicity of tau aggregates. Although gelation slows down the mobility of tau and tubulin, it does not impair microtubule assembly within tau droplets. These findings suggest that methylene blue inhibits tau amyloid fibrillization and accelerates tau droplet gelation via distinct mechanisms, thus providing insights into the activity of tau aggregation inhibitors in the context of phase transition.
In-situ X-ray monitoring of solidification and related processes of metal alloys
Authors: Reinhart G. , Browne D. J. , Kargl F. , García-Moreno F. , Becker M. , Sondermann E. , Binder K. , Mullen J. S. , Zimmermann G. , Mathiesen R. H. , Sillekens W. H. , Nguyen-Thi H.
Published: September 2023

X-ray radioscopy enables the in-situ monitoring of metal alloy processes and then gives access to crucial information on the dynamics of the underlying phenomena. In the last decade, the utilisation of this powerful imaging technique has been adapted to microgravity platforms such as sounding rockets and parabolic flights. The combination of microgravity experimentation with X-ray radioscopy has resulted in a leap in the understanding of fundamental science and has opened new paths in the fields of materials science. The present review focuses on the short history of this research, which includes facility developments, microgravity experiments and results obtained by partners of the XRMON (In-situ X-Ray MONitoring of advanced metallurgical processes under microgravity and terrestrial conditions) research project in the framework of the MAP (Microgravity Application Promotion) programme of the European Space Agency. Three illustrative research topics that were advanced significantly through the use of X-ray radioscopy will be detailed: solidification of metal alloys, metallic foam formation and diffusion in melts.
Ensuring equity with pre-clinical planning for chlamydia vaccines
Authors: Collar Amanda L. , Clarke Tegan N. , Jamus Andzoa N. , Frietze Kathryn M.
Published: September 2023

Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) remains the most common bacterial sexually transmitted pathogen worldwide, causing significant morbidity particularly among women, including pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility. Several vaccines are advancing through pre-clinical and clinical development, and it is likely that one or more vaccines will progress into human efficacy trials soon. In this Perspective, we present a case for considering the challenges of Ct vaccine development through a lens of equity and justice. These challenges include the need to protect against multiple serovars, in both females and males, at multiple anatomic sites, and in resource poor areas of the world. We propose that early consideration of vaccine implementation by conducting community-engaged research will ensure that a scientifically sound chlamydia vaccine promotes equity, justice, and shared-gendered responsibility for STI prevention.
Development of an integrated and inferenceable RDF database of glycan, pathogen and disease resources
Authors: Arakawa Koichi , Ono Tamiko , Aoki-Kinoshita Kiyoko F. , Yamamoto Yasunori
Published: September 2023

Glycans are known to play extremely important roles in infections by viruses and pathogens. In fact, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been shown to have evolved due to a single change in glycosylation. However, data resources on glycans, pathogens and diseases are not well organized. To accurately obtain such information from these various resources, we have constructed a foundation for discovering glycan and virus interaction data using Semantic Web technologies to be able to semantically integrate such heterogeneous data. Here, we created an ontology to encapsulate the semantics of virus-glycan interactions, and used Resource Description Framework (RDF) to represent the data we obtained from non-RDF related databases and data associated with literature. These databases include PubChem, SugarBind, and PSICQUIC, which made it possible to refer to other RDF resources such as UniProt and GlyTouCan. We made these data publicly available as open data and provided a service that allows anyone to freely perform searches using SPARQL. In addition, the RDF resources created in this study are available at the GlyCosmos Portal.
A new class of anticancer activity with computational studies for a novel bioactive aminophosphonates based on pyrazole moiety
Authors: Baren Mohamed H. , Ibrahim Seham A. , Al-Rooqi Munirah M. , Ahmed Saleh A. , El-Gamil Mohammed M. , Hekal Hend A.
Published: September 2023

The present study involves synthesis a new series of α-aminophosphonates 2a-f and 4a-d derivatives in good yield with a simple workup via Kabachnik-Fields reaction in the presence of lithium perchlorate as Lewis acid catalyst. All the newly synthesized compounds were confirmed using various physical, spectroscopic, and analytical data. The in vitro anticancer activities of each compound were evaluated against colorectal carcinoma Colon cancer (HCT-116) and Epdermoid carcinoma (HEP2) and also Human lung fibroblast normal cell line (WI38) compared with Doxorubicin. The results showed that Compounds 2a, 4b and 4d exhibited more potent inhibitory activity for Epdermoid Carcinoma (HEP2) compared with doxorubicin. For colon carcinoma cells (HCT-116) Compounds 2a, 2d and 4b gave the strongest activity among all compounds compared with doxorubicin. Moreover, all designed structures were docked into the active site of VEGFR2 and FGFR1 proteins. The result reveals that compound 2b and have the strongest inhibitory activity of the VEGFR2 and FGFR1 proteins indicating that these substances might conceivably operate as VEGFR2 and FGFR1 inhibitors and hence might take role in anticancer activities with various binding interactions. The 3D-QSAR models produced strong statistical results since they were defined by PLS factors 4 and confirmed by parameters as R2, R2 CV, Stability, F-value, P-value, RMSE, Q2, and Pearson-r.
Simplified 3D hydrodynamic flow focusing for lab-on-chip single particle study
Authors: Storti Filippo , Bonfadini Silvio , Criante Luigino
Published: September 2023

Accurately control of the position of a fluid and particle within lab-on-a-chip platform is a critical prerequisite for many downstream analysis processes, such as detection, trapping and separation, moving the sensing at the single-particle level. With the development of microfluidic fabrication technology, particle/cell focusing has shifted from two to three dimensions. 3D hydrodynamic focusing, which sorts and aligns the incoming cloud of particles so that they pass through the interrogation area one by one, enables new possibilities and breakthroughs in the single-cell analysis system. Despite the excellent results shown in literature, there is still a lack of a device that can simultaneously fulfilling the requirements of high throughput, compactness, high integrability, and ease of use operation to become a widely accepted work center for biomedical research and clinical applications. Here, we proposed a unique 3D flow focusing microfluidic device buried in fused silica substrate that potentially combines all this advantages. By designing a sample channel suspended inside a larger buffer channel, manufactured by exploiting the laser-assisted micromachine technique, a not size-dependent focusing capability is shown. A spatially and temporally stable central flow of a mixture of 15 μm and 6 μm PS particles to a 1 μm PS microsphere solution has been obtained with high accuracy. Finally, to test the achievable focusing resolution, the chip was tested for the detection of Escherichia Coli bacteria in water solution as proof of concept of biological application.
Osteological, multi-isotope and proteomic analysis of poorly-preserved human remains from a Dutch East India Company burial ground in South Africa
Authors: Olszewski Judyta , Hall Rachael A. , Kootker Lisette M. , Oldham Neil J. , Layfield Robert , Shaw Barry , Derksen Leon , Manders Martijn , Hart Tim , Schrader Sarah A.
Published: September 2023

Skeletal remains discovered in Simon’s Town, South Africa, were hypothesised as being associated with a former Dutch East India Company (VOC) hospital. We report a novel combined osteological and biochemical approach to these poorly-preserved remains. A combined strontium (87Sr/86Sr), oxygen (δ18OVPDB) and carbon (δ13CVPDB) isotope analysis informed possible childhood origins and diet, while sex-specific amelogenin enamel peptides revealed biological sex. Osteological analyses presented evidence of residual rickets, a healed trauma, dental pathological conditions, and pipe notches. The combined isotope analyses yielded results for 43 individuals which suggested a diverse range of geological origins, including at least 16% of the population being non-local. The inclusion of δ13CVPDB had intriguing implications for three individuals who likely did not have origins in the Cape Town region nor in Europe. Peptide analysis on the dental enamel of 25 tested individuals confirmed they were all biologically male. We suggest that isolated enamel may provide crucial information about individuals’ pathological conditions, geographical origins, diet, and biological sex. These data further demonstrated that a combined approach using multiple osteological and biochemical methods is advantageous for human remains which are poorly preserved and can contextualise a site with little direct evidence.
A new time-varying coefficient regression approach for analyzing infectious disease data
Authors: Liu Juxin , Bellows Brandon , Hu X. Joan , Wu Jianhong , Zhou Zhou , Soteros Chris , Wang Lin
Published: September 2023

Since the beginning of the global pandemic of Coronavirus (SARS-COV-2), there has been many studies devoted to predicting the COVID-19 related deaths/hospitalizations. The aim of our work is to (1) explore the lagged dependence between the time series of case counts and the time series of death counts; and (2) utilize such a relationship for prediction. The proposed approach can also be applied to other infectious diseases or wherever dynamics in lagged dependence are of primary interest. Different from the previous studies, we focus on time-varying coefficient models to account for the evolution of the coronavirus. Using two different types of time-varying coefficient models, local polynomial regression models and piecewise linear regression models, we analyze the province-level data in Canada as well as country-level data using cumulative counts. We use out-of-sample prediction to evaluate the model performance. Based on our data analyses, both time-varying coefficient modeling strategies work well. Local polynomial regression models generally work better than piecewise linear regression models, especially when the pattern of the relationship between the two time series of counts gets more complicated (e.g., more segments are needed to portray the pattern). Our proposed methods can be easily and quickly implemented via existing R packages.
Tracing the birth of structural domains from loops during protein evolution
Authors: Aziz M. Fayez , Mughal Fizza , Caetano-Anollés Gustavo
Published: September 2023

The structures and functions of proteins are embedded into the loop scaffolds of structural domains. Their origin and evolution remain mysterious. Here, we use a novel graph-theoretical approach to describe how modular and non-modular loop prototypes combine to form folded structures in protein domain evolution. Phylogenomic data-driven chronologies reoriented a bipartite network of loops and domains (and its projections) into ‘waterfalls’ depicting an evolving ‘elementary functionome’ (EF). Two primordial waves of functional innovation involving founder ‘p-loop’ and ‘winged-helix’ domains were accompanied by an ongoing emergence and reuse of structural and functional novelty. Metabolic pathways expanded before translation functionalities. A dual hourglass recruitment pattern transferred scale-free properties from loop to domain components of the EF network in generative cycles of hierarchical modularity. Modeling the evolutionary emergence of the oldest P-loop and winged-helix domains with AlphFold2 uncovered rapid convergence towards folded structure, suggesting that a folding vocabulary exists in loops for protein fold repurposing and design.
HIV-1 Vpu protein forms stable oligomers in aqueous solution via its transmembrane domain self-association
Authors: Majeed Saman , Dang Lan , Islam Md Majharul , Ishola Olamide , Borbat Peter P. , Ludtke Steven J. , Georgieva Elka R.
Published: September 2023

We report our findings on the assembly of the HIV-1 protein Vpu into soluble oligomers. Vpu is a key HIV-1 protein. It has been considered exclusively a single-pass membrane protein. Previous observations show that this protein forms stable oligomers in aqueous solution, but details about these oligomers still remain obscure. This is an interesting and rather unique observation, as the number of proteins transitioning between soluble and membrane embedded states is limited. In this study we made use of protein engineering, size exclusion chromatography, cryoEM and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to better elucidate the nature of the soluble oligomers. We found that Vpu oligomerizes via its N-terminal transmembrane domain (TM). CryoEM suggests that the oligomeric state most likely is a hexamer/heptamer equilibrium. Both cryoEM and EPR suggest that, within the oligomer, the distal C-terminal region of Vpu is highly flexible. Our observations are consistent with both the concept of specific interactions among TM helices or the core of the oligomers being stabilized by hydrophobic forces. While this study does not resolve all of the questions about Vpu oligomers or their functional role in HIV-1 it provides new fundamental information about the size and nature of the oligomeric interactions.
Chemo-enzymatic total synthesis of the spirosorbicillinols
Authors: Milzarek Tobias M. , Gulder Tobias A. M.
Published: September 2023

The natural product class of the sorbicillinoids is composed of structurally diverse molecules with many strong, biomedically relevant biological activities. Owing to their complex structures, the synthesis of sorbicillinoids is a challenging task. Here we show the first total synthesis of the fungal sorbicillinoids spirosorbicillinols A–C. The convergent route comprises the chemo-enzymatic transformation of sorbicillin to the highly reactive sorbicillinol and the assembly of scytolide and isomers starting from shikimic and quinic acid analogs. The key step in the total synthesis is the fusion of both building blocks in a Diels-Alder cycloaddition leading to the straightforward formation of the characteristic sorbicillinoid bicyclo[2.2.2]octane backbone. This work provides unifying access to all natural spirosorbicillinols and unnatural diastereomers.
Superhydrophobic MOFs with enhanced catalytic activity for chemical fixation of CO2
Authors: Liu Shuo , Gao Ming-Liang , Li Chen-Ning , Liu Lin , Han Zheng-Bo
Published: September 2023

A general approach to prepare superhydrophobic MOFs (denoted as MOFs-CF3) through a post-decorating strategy for highly efficient chemical fixation of CO2 was demonstrated.
Na11Ta8P7O43: (Ta8O33) bi-capped triangular prisms connected by PO4 groups resulting in a phase-matched second harmonic response
Authors: Lv Ziyan , Li Rukang
Published: September 2023

Na11Ta8P7O43 exhibited a SHG response of 1× KDP and a cutoff edge shorter than those of LiTaO3 and KTP.
Three-dimensional building of anisotropic gold nanoparticles under confinement in submicron capsules
Authors: Yamada Ryuichi , Kuwahara Makoto , Kuwahara Shota
Published: September 2023

Encapsulated gold nanotriangles (AuNTs) were assembled into a three-dimensional structure inside a permeable silica nanocapsule under light illumination to generate multiple localized surface plasmon resonance modes with different energies.
A catch-and-release nano-based gene delivery system
Authors: Franck Christoph O. , Bistrovic Popov Andrea , Ahmed Ishtiaq , Hewitt Rachel E. , Franslau Luise , Tyagi Puneet , Fruk Ljiljana
Published: September 2023

Efficient and biocompatible catch-and-release gene delivery system has been developed using polymer nanocarriers modified with polyHis and polyArg peptides.
Amplification of oxidative stress by lipid surface-coated single-atom Au nanozymes for oral cancer photodynamic therapy
Authors: Chan Ming-Hsien , Chen Bo-Gu , Li Chien-Hsiu , Huang Wen-Tse , Su Ting-Yi , Yin Lichang , Hsiao Michael , Liu Ru-Shi
Published: September 2023

Single-atom nanozymes (SANs) are the latest trend in biomaterials research and promote the application of single atoms in biological fields and the realization of protein catalysis in vivo with inorganic nanoparticles.
Functionalized manganese iron oxide nanoparticles: a dual potential magneto-chemotherapeutic cargo in a 3D breast cancer model
Authors: Phalake Satish S. , Somvanshi Sandeep B. , Tofail Syed A. M. , Thorat Nanasaheb D. , Khot Vishwajeet M.
Published: September 2023

Dual magneto-chemotherapeutic effects on a 3D breast cancer model after 10, 20 and 30 min of treatment.
Bimetallic CoSn nanoparticles anchored on N-doped carbon as antibacterial oxygen reduction catalysts for microbial fuel cells
Authors: Li Liang , Liu Zequan , Jiang Demin , Song Min , Wang Yuqiao
Published: September 2023

ZIF-derived bimetallic CoSn nanoparticles uniformly anchored on N-doped carbon were synthesized as an antibacterial ORR catalyst for MFCs. Sn accelerated the oxygen reduction kinetics and improved the antibacterial activity of bimetallic CoSn nanoparticles.
The how and why of naphthalimide/heterocycle-fused hybrid dyes: an overview of the latest developments in the quest for dyes with innovative optical properties
Authors: Chevalier Arnaud
Published: September 2023

In this review, a variety of hybrid structures fusing aromatic heterocycles of different natures to a naphthalimide backbone are discussed.
Electric field-induced ball-cactus-like CuCo2Sx(OH)y nano-heterostructure towards high-performance supercapacitors
Authors: Lu Faxue , Ji Yajun , Shi Dong , Yao Junnan , Zhang Pengcheng , Zhang Shixiong
Published: September 2023

Herein, a simple electric field-induced anion exchange process was raised to prepare a novel nanostructured CuCo2Sx(OH)y heterostructure based on CuCo2S4 nanosheets as a substrate.
Plasmonic enhancement of photovoltaic characteristics of organic solar cells by employing parabola nanostructures at the back of the solar cell
Authors: Das Pankaj Kumar , Dhawan Anuj
Published: September 2023

We demonstrate the enhanced performance of organic solar cells (OSCs) comprising low band gap photoactive layers (PMDPP3T:PC70BM) and 2-dimensional arrays of either Ag nanospheres, nano-hemispheres, or nano-parabolas embedded at the back of the OSCs.
Investigating the impact of inbuilt cold atmospheric pressure plasma on molecular assemblies of tryptophan enantiomers: in vitro fabrication of self-assembled supramolecular structures
Authors: Basumatary Deepjyoti , Bailung Heremba , Jorvekar Sachin B. , Borkar Roshan M. , Sankaranarayanan Kamatchi
Published: September 2023

Schematic diagram of the CAPP device and the formation of supramolecular self-assembled structures from tryptophan.
Iron/vanadium co-doped tungsten oxide nanostructures anchored on graphitic carbon nitride sheets (FeV-WO3@g-C3N4) as a cost-effective novel electrode material for advanced supercapacitor applications
Authors: Parveen Sajida , Cochran Eric W. , Zulfiqar Sonia , Amin Mohammed A. , Farooq Warsi Muhammad , Chaudhary Khadija
Published: September 2023

In this work, we studied the effect of iron (Fe) and vanadium (V) co-doping (Fe/V) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) on the performance of tungsten oxide (WO3) based electrodes for supercapacitor applications.
High-performance hybrid supercapacitor-immobilized Wells–Dawson polyoxometalates on activated carbon electrodes
Authors: J E Madhusree , Chandewar Pranay R. , Shee Debaprasad , Mal Sib Sankar
Published: September 2023

In the fabrication of a novel three-symmetric supercapacitor cell, three different wt% of Wells–Dawson polyoxometalate (5%, 10% & 15% P2W18) were impregnated on activated carbon (AC). In order to accomplish the real application as a device, the AC-P2W18 supercapacitor cell is lit up by a blue LED.
Design, synthesis, X-ray crystal structures, anticancer, DNA binding, and molecular modelling studies of pyrazole–pyrazoline hybrid derivatives
Authors: Rana Manish , Hungyo Hungharla , Parashar Palak , Ahmad Shaban , Mehandi Rabiya , Tandon Vibha , Raza Khalid , Assiri Mohammed A. , Ali Tarik E. , El-Bahy Zeinhom M. , Rahisuddin
Published: September 2023

We have designed and synthesized three pyrazole analogs (4, 5a, 5b), pyrazole-based chalcones (6a–6d) and (8a–8h), and N-formyl/acetyl 1,3,5-trisubstituted pyrazole analogs (7a–7d), (9a–9d) via Suzuki cross-coupling as the key step.
Impact of protein–chromophore interaction on the retinal excited state and photocycle of Gloeobacter rhodopsin: role of conserved tryptophan residues
Authors: Misra Ramprasad , Das Ishita , Dér András , Steinbach Gábor , Shim Jin-gon , Busse Wayne , Jung Kwang-Hwan , Zimányi László , Sheves Mordechai
Published: September 2023

The conserved tryptophan residues in the vicinity of the retinal in microbial rhodopsins affect the retinal excited state charge distribution, increase the isomerization quantum yield, and affect the retinal double bond reisomerization rate during photocycle.
A novel fluoropolymer as a protein delivery vector with robust adjuvant effect for cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Zhan Yu-Rong , He Xi , Huang Zhi-Ying , Chen Ping , Tian Miao-Miao , Li Guo-Hong , Yu Xiao-Qi , Song Xiang-Rong , Zhang Ji
Published: September 2023

In this study, a fluoropolymer PF was prepared as antigen protein vector and immune adjuvant, which could be applied to fabricate nanovaccine with OVA to boost immunotherapy in vivo.
Strain-induced photocurrent enhancement in thin films of topological insulators (Bi2Te3)
Authors: Pandey Animesh , Sharma Sanjay , Gangwar Amit Kumar , Kaur Mandeep , Singh Preetam , Husale Sudhir
Published: September 2023

Topological insulators are anticipated to be a viable option for flexible near-infrared (NIR) photodetection that are a basic potential comportment for future photoelectric applications, wearable devices, and potential defence applications.
Disentangle electronic, structural, and spin dynamics using transient extreme ultraviolet spectroscopy
Authors: Yackovich Michael A. , Locklear Matthew W. , Liu Hanzhe
Published: September 2023

In this review, we highlight the recent application of tabletop transient XUV spectroscopy to materials science, focusing on understanding the coupled electronic, structural, and spin dynamics.
Intravenous ferric carboxymaltose and ferric derisomaltose alter the intestinal microbiome in female iron-deficient anemic mice
Authors: Rieg Timo , Xue Jianxiang , Stevens Monica , Thomas Linto , White James R. , Dominguez Rieg Jessica A.
Published: September 2023

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a leading global health concern affecting approximately 30% of the population. Treatment for IDA consists of replenishment of iron stores, either by oral or intravenous (IV) supplementation. There is a complex bidirectional interplay between the gut microbiota, the host’s iron status, and dietary iron availability. Dietary iron deficiency and supplementation can influence the gut microbiome; however, the effect of IV iron on the gut microbiome is unknown. We studied how commonly used IV iron preparations, ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) and ferric derisomaltose (FDI), affected the gut microbiome in female iron-deficient anemic mice. At the phylum level, vehicle-treated mice showed an expansion in Verrucomicrobia, mostly because of the increased abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila, along with contraction in Firmicutes, resulting in a lower Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio (indicator of dysbiosis). Treatment with either FCM or FDI restored the microbiome such that Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the dominant phyla. Interestingly, the phyla Proteobacteria and several members of Bacteroidetes (e.g., Alistipes) were expanded in mice treated with FCM compared with those treated with FDI. In contrast, several Clostridia class members were expanded in mice treated with FDI compared with FCM (e.g., Dorea spp., Eubacterium). Our data demonstrate that IV iron increases gut microbiome diversity independently of the iron preparation used; however, differences exist between FCM and FDI treatments. In conclusion, replenishing iron stores with IV iron preparations in clinical conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease or chronic kidney disease, could affect gut microbiome composition and consequently contribute to an altered disease outcome.
Auditory, Lexical, and Multitasking Demands Interactively Impact Listening Effort
Authors: Kuchinsky Stefanie E. , Razeghi Niki , Pandža Nick B.
Published: September 2023

Purpose:

This study examined the extent to which acoustic, linguistic, and cognitive task demands interactively impact listening effort.

Method:

Using a dual-task paradigm, on each trial, participants were instructed to perform either a single task or two tasks. In the primary word recognition task, participants repeated Northwestern University Auditory Test No. 6 words presented in speech-shaped noise at either an easier or a harder signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The words varied in how commonly they occur in the English language (lexical frequency). In the secondary visual task, participants were instructed to press a specific key as soon as a number appeared on screen (simpler task) or one of two keys to indicate whether the visualized number was even or odd (more complex task).

Results:

Manipulation checks revealed that key assumptions of the dual-task design were met. A significant three-way interaction was observed, such that the expected effect of SNR on effort was only observable for words with lower lexical frequency and only when multitasking demands were relatively simpler.

Conclusions:

This work reveals that variability across speech stimuli can influence the sensitivity of the dual-task paradigm for detecting changes in listening effort. In line with previous work, the results of this study also suggest that higher cognitive demands may limit the ability to detect expected effects of SNR on measures of effort. With implications for real-world listening, these findings highlight that even relatively minor changes in lexical and multitasking demands can alter the effort devoted to listening in noise.
An Exploratory Study of Walking, Listening, and Remembering in Younger and Middle-Aged Adults
Authors: Helfer Karen S. , van Emmerik Richard , Freyman Richard L. , Banks Jacob J.
Published: September 2023

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to assess how needing to listen and remember information while walking affects speech perception, memory task performance, and gait in younger and middle-aged adults.

Method:

Four gait parameters (stride duration, step variability, whole-body center of mass acceleration, and mediolateral head acceleration) were measured when younger and middle-aged participants stood or walked on a treadmill while they simultaneously completed a speech-on-speech perception task and a preload memory task, singly and in combination.

Results:

Speech perception was significantly poorer for middle-aged than for younger participants. Performance on the speech perception measure did not differ significantly between walking and standing for either group of participants, but the additional cognitive load of the memory task reduced performance on the speech perception task. Memory task performance was significantly poorer when combined with the speech perception task than when measured in isolation for both participant groups, but no further declines were noted when participants were also walking. Mediolateral head acceleration, which has been linked to loss of balance, was significantly greater during multitask trials, as compared to when participants were only walking without being required to listen or remember. Post hoc analysis showed that dual- and multitask influences on mediolateral head acceleration were more prominent for middle-aged than for younger participants. Stride duration was longer in the multitask condition than when participants were only walking.

Conclusions:

Results of this exploratory study indicate that gait may be impacted when individuals (both younger and middle-aged) are listening and remembering while walking. Data also substantiate prior findings of early age-related declines in the perception of speech in the presence of understandable speech maskers.
Consensus control of multi‐agent systems with switched linear dynamics
Authors: Zhu Yan
Published: September 2023

In this work, the consensus problem of multi‐agent systems is addressed whose agent dynamics are described by the switched linear system, and the interaction topology is a directed graph. Two cases are considered: For completely controllable agent dynamics, a novel construct method of control law and switching signal are proposed to derive sufficient conditions to solve the finite‐time consensus problem. When the controllability of the agent system is incomplete, it is proven that the uncontrollable sub‐mode of agent dynamics is consistently asymptotically stabilizable is a key condition to achieve consistency for multi‐agent systems. Finally, numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the theoretical results obtained in this paper.
A high HDO/H2O ratio in the Class I protostar L1551 IRS5
Authors: Andreu A. , Coutens A. , Cruz-Sáenz de Miera F. , Houry N. , Jørgensen J. K. , Kóspál A. , Harsono D.
Published: September 2023

Context. Water is a very abundant molecule in star-forming regions. Its deuterium fractionation provides an important tool for understanding its formation and evolution during the star and planet formation processes. While the HDO/H2O abundance ratio has been determined toward several young Class 0 protostars and comets, the number of studies toward Class I protostars is limited.

Aims. Our aim is to study the water deuteration toward the Class I protostellar binary L1551 IRS5 and to investigate the effect of evolutionary stage and environment on variations in the water D/H ratio.

Methods. Observations were carried out toward L1551 IRS5 using the NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA) interferometer. The HDO 31, 2–22, 1 transition at 225.9 GHz and the H218O 31, 3–22, 0 transition at 203.4 GHz were covered with a spatial resolution of 0.5″× 0.8″, while the HDO 42, 2–42, 3 transition at 143.7 GHz was observed with a resolution of 2.0″ × 2.5″. We constrained the water D/H ratio using both local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) and non-LTE models.

Results. The three transitions are detected. The line profiles display two peaks, one at ∼6 km s−1 and one at ∼9 km s−1. We derive an HDO/H2O ratio of (2.1 ± 0.8) × 10−3 for the redshifted component and a lower limit of > 0.3 × 10−3 for the blueshifted component. This lower limit is due to the blending of the blueshifted H218O component with redshifted CH3OCH3 emission.

Conclusions. The HDO/H2O ratio in L1551 IRS5 is similar to the values in Class 0 isolated sources and in the disk of the Class I protostar V883 Ori, while it is significantly higher than in the previously studied clustered Class 0 sources and the comets. This result suggests that the chemistry of protostars that belong to molecular clouds with relatively low source densities, such as L1551, share more similarities with the isolated sources than the protostars of very dense clusters. If the HDO/H2O ratios in Class 0 protostars with few sources around are comparable to those found to date in isolated Class 0 objects, it would mean that there is little water reprocessing from the Class 0 to Class I protostellar stage.
No strong radio absorption detected in the low-frequency spectra of radio-loud quasars at z > 5.6
Authors: Gloudemans A. J. , Saxena A. , Intema H. , Callingham J. R. , Duncan K. J. , Röttgering H. J. A. , Belladitta S. , Hardcastle M. J. , Harikane Y. , Spingola C.
Published: September 2023

We present the low-frequency radio spectra of nine high-redshift quasars at 5.6 ≤ z ≤ 6.6 using the Giant Metre Radio Telescope band-3, -4, and -5 observations (∼300−1200 MHz), archival Low Frequency Array (LOFAR; 144 MHz), and Very Large Array (VLA; 1.4 and 3 GHz) data. Five of the quasars in our sample have been discovered recently, representing some of the highest redshift radio bright quasars known at low frequencies. We model their radio spectra to study their radio emission mechanism and age of the radio jets by constraining the spectral turnover caused by synchrotron self-absorption (SSA) or free-free absorption (FFA). Besides J0309+2717, a blazar at z = 6.1, our quasars show no sign of a spectral flattening between 144 MHz and a few gigahertz, indicating there is no strong SSA or FFA absorption in the observed frequency range. However, we find a wide range of spectral indices between −1.6 and 0.05, including the discovery of 3 potential ultra-steep spectrum quasars. Using further archival Very Long Baseline Array data, we confirm that the radio spectral energy distribution of the blazar J0309+2717 likely turns over at a rest-frame frequency of 0.6−2.3 GHz (90−330 MHz observed frame), with a high-frequency break indicative of radiative ageing of the electron population in the radio lobes. Ultra-low frequency data below 50 MHz are necessary to constrain the absorption mechanism for J0309+2717 and the turnover frequencies for the other high-z quasars in our sample. A relation between linear radio jet size and turnover frequency has been established at low redshifts. If this relation were to hold at high redshifts, the limits on the turnover frequency of our sample suggest the radio jet sizes must be more extended than the typical sizes observed in other radio-bright quasars at similar redshift. To confirm this, deep radio follow-up observations with high spatial resolution are required.