bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing the nonlinear association of environmental factors with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the Yangtze River Mouth, China
Authors: Miao Jiazheng , Ling Yikai , Chen Xiaoyuan , Wu Siyuan , Liu Xinyue , Xu Shixin , Umar Sajid , Anderson Benjamin D.
Published: November 2023

The emergence of antibacterial resistance (ABR) is an urgent and complex public health challenge worldwide. Antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) are considered as a new pollutant by the WHO because of their wide distribution and emerging prevalence. The role of environmental factors in developing ARGs in bacterial populations is still poorly understood. Therefore, the relationship between environmental factors and bacteria should be explored to combat ABR and propose more tailored solutions in a specific region. Here, we collected and analyzed surface water samples from Yangtze Delta, China during 2021, and assessed the nonlinear association of environmental factors with ARGs through a sigmoid model. A high abundance of ARGs was detected. Amoxicillin, phosphorus (P), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), calcium (Ca), and strontium (Sr) were found to be strongly associated with ARGs and identified as potential key contributors to ARG detection. Our findings suggest that the suppression of ARGs may be achieved by decreasing the concentration of phosphorus in surface water. Additionally, Group 2A light metals (e.g., magnesium and calcium) may be candidates for the development of eco-friendly reagents for controlling antibiotic resistance in the future.
ChatGPT's performance before and after teaching in mass casualty incident triage
Authors: Gan Rick Kye , Uddin Helal , Gan Ann Zee , Yew Ying Ying , González Pedro Arcos
Published: November 2023

Since its initial launching, ChatGPT has gained significant attention from the media, with many claiming that ChatGPT’s arrival is a transformative milestone in the advancement of the AI revolution. Our aim was to assess the performance of ChatGPT before and after teaching the triage of mass casualty incidents by utilizing a validated questionnaire specifically designed for such scenarios. In addition, we compared the triage performance between ChatGPT and medical students. Our cross-sectional study employed a mixed-methods analysis to assess the performance of ChatGPT in mass casualty incident triage, pre- and post-teaching of Simple Triage And Rapid Treatment (START) triage. After teaching the START triage algorithm, ChatGPT scored an overall triage accuracy of 80%, with only 20% of cases being over-triaged. The mean accuracy of medical students on the same questionnaire yielded 64.3%. Qualitative analysis on pre-determined themes on ‘walking-wounded’, ‘respiration’, ‘perfusion’, and ‘mental status’ on ChatGPT showed similar performance in pre- and post-teaching of START triage. Additional themes on ‘disclaimer’, ‘prediction’, ‘management plan’, and ‘assumption’ were identified during the thematic analysis. ChatGPT exhibited promising results in effectively responding to mass casualty incident questionnaires. Nevertheless, additional research is necessary to ensure its safety and efficacy before clinical implementation.
Prevalence of African animal trypanosomiasis among livestock and domestic animals in Uganda: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis from 1980 to 2022
Authors: Rascón-García Karla , Martínez-López Beatriz , Cecchi Giuliano , Scoglio Caterina , Matovu Enock , Muhanguzi Dennis
Published: November 2023

African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) is one of the major constraints to animal health and production in sub-Saharan Africa. To inform AAT control in Uganda and help advance along the progressive control pathway (PCP), we characterized AAT prevalence among eight host species in Uganda and explored factors that influence the prevalence variation between studies. We retrieved AAT prevalence publications (n = 2232) for Uganda (1980–2022) from five life sciences databases, focusing on studies specifying AAT detection methods, sample size, and the number of trypanosome-positive animals. Following PRISMA guidelines, we included 56 publications, and evaluated publication bias by the Luis Furuya-Kanamori (LFK) index. National AAT prevalence under DNA diagnostic methods for cattle, sheep and goats was 22.15%, 8.51% and 13.88%, respectively. Under DNA diagnostic methods,T. vivax wasthe most commonTrypanosomasp. in cattle (6.15%, 95% CI: 2.91–10.45) whileT. bruceiwas most common among small ruminants (goats: 8.78%, 95% CI: 1.90–19.88, and sheep: 8.23%, 95% CI: 4.74–12.50, respectively). Northern and Eastern regions accounted for the highest AAT prevalence. Despite the limitations of this study (i.e., quality of reviewed studies, underrepresentation of districts/regions), we provide insights that could be used for better control of AAT in Uganda and identify knowledge gaps that need to be addressed to support the progressive control of AAT at country level and other regional endemic countries with similar AAT eco-epidemiology.
An open-source, automated, and cost-effective platform for COVID-19 diagnosis and rapid portable genomic surveillance using nanopore sequencing
Authors: Ramos-Mandujano Gerardo , Grünberg Raik , Zhang Yingzi , Bi Chongwei , Guzmán-Vega Francisco J. , Shuaib Muhammad , Gorchakov Rodion V. , Xu Jinna , Tehseen Muhammad , Takahashi Masateru , Takahashi Etsuko , Dada Ashraf , Ahmad Adeel Nazir , Hamdan Samir M. , Pain Arnab , Arold Stefan T. , Li Mo
Published: November 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has emphasized the necessity for scalable diagnostic workflows using locally produced reagents and basic laboratory equipment with minimal dependence on global supply chains. We introduce an open-source automated platform for high-throughput RNA extraction and pathogen diagnosis, which uses reagents almost entirely produced in-house. This platform integrates our methods for self-manufacturing magnetic nanoparticles and qRT-PCR reagents-both of which have received regulatory approval for clinical use–with an in-house, open-source robotic extraction protocol. It also incorporates our "Nanopore Sequencing of Isothermal Rapid Viral Amplification for Near Real-time Analysis" (NIRVANA) technology, designed for tracking SARS-CoV-2 mutations and variants. The platform exhibits high reproducibility and consistency without cross-contamination, and its limit of detection, sensitivity, and specificity are comparable to commercial assays. Automated NIRVANA effectively identifies circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants. Our in-house, cost-effective reagents, automated diagnostic workflows, and portable genomic surveillance strategies provide a scalable and rapid solution for COVID-19 diagnosis and variant tracking, essential for current and future pandemic responses.
Bound-state energy spectrum and thermochemical functions of the deformed Schiöberg oscillator
Authors: Ahmed A. D. , Eyube E. S. , Omugbe E. , Onate C. A. , Timtere P.
Published: November 2023

In this study, a diatomic molecule interacting potential such as the deformed Schiöberg oscillator (DSO) have been applied to diatomic systems. By solving the Schrödinger equation with the DSO, analytical equations for energy eigenvalues, molar entropy, molar enthalpy, molar Gibbs free energy and constant pressure molar heat capacity are obtained. The obtained equations were used to analyze the physical properties of diatomic molecules. With the aid of the DSO, the percentage average absolute deviation (PAAD) of computed data from the experimental data of the 7Li2 (2 3Πg), NaBr (X 1Σ+), KBr (X 1Σ+) and KRb (B 1Π) molecules are 1.3319%, 0.2108%, 0.2359% and 0.8841%, respectively. The PAAD values obtained by employing the equations of molar entropy, scaled molar enthalpy, scaled molar Gibbs free energy and isobaric molar heat capacity are 1.2919%, 1.5639%, 1.5957% and 2.4041%, respectively, from the experimental data of the KBr (X 1Σ+) molecule. The results for the potential energies, bound-state energy spectra, and thermodynamic functions are in good agreement with the literature on diatomic molecules.
Predicting global thermospheric neutral density during periods with high geomagnetic activity
Authors: Forootan Ehsan , Farzaneh Saeed , Kosary Mona , Borries Claudia , Kodikara Timothy , Schumacher Maike
Published: November 2023

Estimating global and multi-level Thermosphere Neutral Density (TND) is important for studying coupling processes within the upper atmosphere, and for applications like orbit prediction. Models are applied for predicting TND changes, however, their performance can be improved by accounting for the simplicity of model structure and the sampling limitations of model inputs. In this study, a simultaneous Calibration and Data Assimilation (C/DA) algorithm is applied to integrate freely available CHAMP, GRACE, and Swarm derived TND measurements into the NRLMSISE-00 model. The improved model, called ‘C/DA-NRLMSISE-00’, and its outputs fit to these measured TNDs, are used to produce global TND fields at arbitrary altitudes (with the same vertical coverage as the NRLMSISE-00). Seven periods, between 2003-2020 that are associated with relatively high geomagnetic activity selected to investigate these fields, within which available models represent difficulties to provide reasonable TND estimates. Independent validations are performed with along-track TNDs that were not used within the C/DA framework, as well as with the outputs of other models such as the Jacchia-Bowman 2008 and the High Accuracy Satellite Drag Model. The numerical results indicate an average 52%, 50%, 56%, 25%, 47%, 54%, and 63% improvement in the Root Mean Squared Errors of the short term TND forecasts of C/DA-NRLMSISE00 compared to the along-track TND estimates of GRACE (2003, altitude 490 km), GRACE (2004, altitude 486 km), CHAMP (2008, altitude 343 km), GOCE (2010, altitude 270 km), Swarm-B (2015, altitude 520 km), Swarm-B (2017, altitude 514 km), and Swarm-B (2020, altitude 512 km), respectively.
Diffusion MRI anomaly detection in glioma patients
Authors: Weninger Leon , Ecke Jarek , Jütten Kerstin , Clusmann Hans , Wiesmann Martin , Merhof Dorit , Na Chuh-Hyoun
Published: November 2023

Diffusion-MRI (dMRI) measures molecular diffusion, which allows to characterize microstructural properties of the human brain. Gliomas strongly alter these microstructural properties. Delineation of brain tumors currently mainly relies on conventional MRI-techniques, which are, however, known to underestimate tumor volumes in diffusely infiltrating glioma. We hypothesized that dMRI is well suited for tumor delineation, and developed two different deep-learning approaches. The first diffusion-anomaly detection architecture is a denoising autoencoder, the second consists of a reconstruction and a discrimination network. Each model was exclusively trained on non-annotated dMRI of healthy subjects, and then applied on glioma patients’ data. To validate these models, a state-of-the-art supervised tumor segmentation network was modified to generate groundtruth tumor volumes based on structural MRI. Compared to groundtruth segmentations, a dice score of 0.67 ± 0.2 was obtained. Further inspecting mismatches between diffusion-anomalous regions and groundtruth segmentations revealed, that these colocalized with lesions delineated only later on in structural MRI follow-up data, which were not visible at the initial time of recording. Anomaly-detection methods are suitable for tumor delineation in dMRI acquisitions, and may further enhance brain-imaging analysis by detection of occult tumor infiltration in glioma patients, which could improve prognostication of disease evolution and tumor treatment strategies.
Two natural toughening strategies may inspire sustainable structures
Authors: Greenfeld Israel , Wagner H. Daniel
Published: November 2023

Contemporary designs of engineering structures strive to minimize the use of material in order to reduce cost and weight. However, the approach taken by focusing on materials selection and on the design of the exterior shape of structures has reached its limits. By contrast, nature implements bottom-up designs based on a multiple-level hierarchy, spanning from nanoscale to macroscale, which evolved over millions of years in an environmentally sustainable manner given limited resources. Natural structures often appear as laminates in wood, bone, plants, exoskeletons, etc., and employ elaborate micro-structural mechanisms to generate simultaneous strength and toughness. One such mechanism, observed in the scorpion cuticle and in the sponge spicule, is the grading (gradual change) of properties like layers thickness, stiffness, strength and toughness. We show that grading is a biological design tradeoff, which optimizes the use of material to enhance survival traits such as endurance against impending detrimental cracks. We found that such design, when applied in a more vulnerable direction of the laminate, has the potential to restrain propagation of hazardous cracks by deflecting or bifurcating them. This is achieved by shifting material from non-critical regions to more critical regions, making the design sustainable in the sense of efficient use of building resources. We investigate how such a mechanism functions in nature and how it can be implemented in synthetic structures, by means of a generic analytical model for crack deflection in a general laminate. Such a mechanical model may help optimize the design of bioinspired structures for specific applications and, eventually, reduce material waste.
Distinctive phenogroup to differentiate diagnosis of cardiac myxoma vs cardiovascular disease examining blood-based circulating cell biomarkers
Authors: Donato Giuseppe , Mignogna Chiara , Santise Gianluca , Presta Ivan , Ferrazzo Teresa , Garo Virginia , Maselli Daniele , Curcio Antonio , De Rosa Salvatore , Spaccarotella Carmen , Mollace Vincenzo , Gentile Francesco , Indolfi Ciro , Malara Natalia
Published: November 2023

Cardiac myxoma (CM) is a potentially life-threatening disease because frequently asymptomatic or debuts with aspecific manifestations. Definitive diagnosis is established by histopathological assessment including tumor and endothelial cell markers. To derive a specific panel of circulating cells antigenically detectable, pre-surgery peripheral blood samples of CM patients were analyzed. Pre-surgery peripheral blood samples from patients with CM were simultaneously analyzed for Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating endothelial cells (CECs) that were matched with tumor tissue profiles and with patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) distinguishing tumor regions. Moreover, CECs values in CM patients were further matched with CEC’s levels in cardiovascular disease and control subjects. The blood-derived cytological specimens detected at least 1–3 CTCs/ml in 10 tested CM samples (p = 0.0001) showing specific CM features preserved in the central zones of the tumor. The central zone of the primary tumor, supported by a vessel density rate (55 ± 7%), with a proliferative profile of 32 ± 3% and a percentage of Calretininpos cells (p = 0.03), is the principal site of CTCs (r = 00) dissemination. The subsets of endothelial cells recognized in the blood were indifferent to their topological distribution within the tumor and corresponding PDXs. With further refinement and validation in large cohorts, multiparametric liquid biopsies can optimally integrate clinically informative datasets and maximize their utility in pre-surgery evaluation of CM patients. Blood-derived culture’s protocol provides a versatile method capable of viable analysis of CTCs of non-hematological rare tumors which conventional antibody-mediated analytical platform is unable to perform. Distinctive blood- based cell phenotype contributes to differentiate CM from other differentials assuring its prompt surgical resection by combining blood-based cell biomarkers integrated with clinically informative datasets.
Head, acetabular liner composition, and rate of revision and wear in total hip arthroplasty: a Bayesian network meta-analysis
Authors: Merfort Ricarda , Maffulli Nicola , Hofmann Ulf Krister , Hildebrand Frank , Simeone Francesco , Eschweiler Jörg , Migliorini Filippo
Published: November 2023

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a common procedure for patients suffering from hip pain e.g. from osteoarthritis, osteonecrosis, or hip fractures. The satisfaction of patients undergoing THA is influenced by the choice of implant type and material, with one key factor being the selection of the appropriate material combination for the bearing surface. In this Bayesian network meta-analysis, we investigated the impact of material combinations for the bearing surface on the longevity of hip implants. The wear penetration rate per year and the total wear penetration in the liner resulting from different material combinations, as well as the survival rate at last follow-up, were examined. We analyzed a total of 663,038 THAs, with 55% of patients being women. Mean patient age was 59.0 ± 8.1 years and mean BMI 27.6 ± 2.6 kg/m2. The combination of an aluminium oxide (Al2O3) head and an Al2O3 liner demonstrated the lowest wear penetration at last follow-up and the lowest rate of wear penetration per year. Additionally, the combination of a crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) liner and a zircon oxide (ZrO2) head demonstrated the lowest rate of revision at last follow-up. These findings underscore the importance of careful material selection for hip implant bearing surfaces to optimize their longevity and patient satisfaction after THA.
Genome-wide identification of peanut IGT family genes and their potential roles in the development of plant architecture
Authors: Chu Wen , Zhu Xiaofeng , Jiang Tao , Wang Song , Ni Wanli
Published: November 2023

IGT family genes play essential roles in shaping plant architecture. However, limited amount of information is available about IGT family genes in peanuts (Arachis hypogaea). In the current study, 13 AhIGT genes were identified and classified into three groups based on their phylogenetic relationship. Gene structure, conserved domain analyses indicated all AhIGTs were observed to share a similar exon–intron distribution pattern. AhIGTs within the same subfamily maintained a consistent motif composition. Chromosomal localization and synteny analyses showed that AhIGTs were unevenly localized on 9 chromosomes and that segmental duplication and purifying selection may have played important roles in the evolution of AhIGT genes. The analysis of conserved motifs, GO annotation, and transcript profile suggested that AhLAZY1-3 may play roles in gravity sensing and shaping peanut plant architecture. Transcript profile analysis suggested that AhTAC1 could potentially be involved gynophore (‘peg’) penetration into the soil. The cis-element analysis revealed that the light-responsive elements accounted for most of all cis-acting elements. Furthermore, qRT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of several AhIGT genes, like AhTAC1-2/4, was light-dependent, indicating that these genes may regulate plant architecture in response to light signals. This study may facilitate functional studies of the IGT genes in peanut.
The lesion site of organophosphorus-induced central apnea and the effects of antidotes
Authors: Nomura Kazuhito , Narimatsu Eichi , Oke Yoshihiko , Oku Yoshitaka
Published: November 2023

Organophosphorus poisoning kills individuals by causing central apnea; however, the underlying cause of death remains unclear. Following findings that the pre-Bötzinger complex impairment alone does not account for central apnea, we analyzed the effect of paraoxon on the brainstem-spinal cord preparation, spanning the lower medulla oblongata to phrenic nucleus. Respiratory bursts were recorded by connecting electrodes to the ventral 4th cervical nerve root of excised brainstem-spinal cord preparations obtained from 6-day-old Sprague–Dawley rats. We observed changes in respiratory bursts when paraoxon, neostigmine, atropine, and 2-pyridine aldoxime methiodide were administered via bath application. The percentage of burst extinction in the paraoxon-poisoning group was 50% compared with 0% and 18.2% in the atropine and 2-pyridine aldoxime methiodide treatment groups, respectively. Both treatments notably mitigated the paraoxon-induced reduction in respiratory bursts. In the neostigmine group, similar to paraoxon, bursts stopped in 66.7% of cases but were fully reversed by atropine. This indicates that the primary cause of central apnea is muscarinic receptor-mediated in response to acetylcholine excess. Paraoxon-induced central apnea is hypothesized to result from neural abnormalities within the inferior medulla oblongata to the phrenic nucleus, excluding pre-Bötzinger complex. These antidotes antagonize central apnea, suggesting that they may be beneficial therapeutic agents.
Molecular occurrence and genetic diversity of Ehrlichia canis in naturally infected dogs from Thailand
Authors: Poolsawat Napassorn , Sangchuai Siriphan , Jaroensak Tassanee , Watthanadirek-Wijidwong Amaya , Srionrod Nitipon , Minsakorn Sutthida , Tazawa Keiichiro , Anuracpreeda Panat
Published: November 2023

Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis is cause by Ehrlichia canis resulting in hematologic disorders and severe clinical signs. The aim of this study was to scrutinize the molecular detection and genetic diversity of E. canis based on the trp36 gene in dogs from Thailand’s northern and central regions. A total of 120 dogs blood samples were amplified for trp36 gene of E. canis using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Forty-seven out of 120 dog blood samples (39.16%, 47/120) were positive for E. canis the trp36 DNA with 790 bp of PCR amplicon size. The factor significantly associated with E. canis infection is animal housing status (p < 0.05). Sequence and phylogenetic analysis showed that E. canis trp36 gene of Thailand isolates was clustered into 1st clade with similarity ranging from 95.65 to 100% together with the US genogroup. The 14 haplotypes of the trp36 gene shown in TCS network exhibited that haplotype #1–4 was found in Thailand. The entropy analysis of the trp36 gene illustrated 751 polymorphic sites and 271 entropy peaks of nucleic and amino acid sequences, respectively. Hence, these findings are crucial for better understanding the epidemiology of Ehrlichia infection and could be helpful for implementing control measures in Thailand.
Dimensional accuracy, mechanical property, and optical stability of zirconia orthodontic bracket according to yttria proportions
Authors: Park Changbum , Giap Hai-Van , Kwon Jae-Sung , Kim Kyung-Ho , Choi Sung-Hwan , Lee Joon Sang , Lee Kee-Joon
Published: November 2023

This in vitro study evaluated comprehensively the performances of zirconia brackets with varying yttria proportions in manufacturing advanced orthodontic brackets. Three experimental groups of zirconia brackets were fabricated using yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) materials with different yttria proportions—3 mol% yttria (3Y-YSZ), 4 mol% yttria (4Y-YSZ), and 5 mol% yttria (5Y-YSZ) (Tosoh Ceramic, Japan). A polycrystalline alumina ceramic bracket (3M™ Clarity™ Advanced, MBT 0.022-in. slot) was employed as the control group. Morphological properties, including slot surface structure and dimensions, were examined using scanning electron microscopy and surface profiler analysis. Manufacturing accuracy was assessed with root mean square calculations of trueness and precision. Mechanical properties were tested, encompassing static and kinetic frictional resistance (FR) and fracture strength. Optical stability was evaluated through 20,000 cycles of thermocycling and a 7-day immersion in various coloring agents. Within the limitations of this study, zirconia brackets containing 3 to 5 mol% YSZ presented enhanced reliability in terms of dimensional accuracy and demonstrated favorable optical stability. Notably, owing to its advantageous mechanical properties, the 3Y-YSZ variant showed remarkable potential as an advanced material for fabricating orthodontic brackets.
Deep learning model for automatic differentiation of EMAP from AMD in macular atrophy
Authors: Chouraqui Maxime , Crincoli Emanuele , Miere Alexandra , Meunier Isabelle Anne , Souied Eric H.
Published: November 2023

To create a deep learning (DL) classifier pre-trained on fundus autofluorescence (FAF) images that can assist the clinician in distinguishing age-related geographic atrophy from extensive macular atrophy and pseudodrusen-like appearance (EMAP). Patients with complete outer retinal and retinal pigment epithelium atrophy secondary to either EMAP (EMAP Group) or to dry age related macular degeneration (AMD group) were retrospectively selected. Fovea-centered posterior pole (30° × 30°) and 55° × 55° degree-field-of-view FAF images of sufficiently high quality were collected and used to train two different deep learning (DL) classifiers based on ResNet-101 design. Testing was performed on a set of images coming from a different center. A total of 300 patients were recruited, 135 belonging to EMAP group and 165 belonging to AMD group. The 30° × 30° FAF based DL classifier showed a sensitivity of 84.6% and a specificity of 85.3% for the diagnosis of EMAP. The 55° × 55° FAF based DL classifier showed a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 84.6%, a performance that was significantly higher than that of the 30° × 30° classifer (p = 0.037). Artificial intelligence can accurately distinguish between atrophy caused by AMD or by EMAP on FAF images. Its performance are improved using wide field acquisitions.
Projected increase in summer heat-dome-like stationary waves over Northwestern North America
Authors: Chen Ziming , Lu Jian , Chang Chuan-Chieh , Lubis Sandro W. , Leung L. Ruby
Published: November 2023

Heat-dome-like stationary waves often lead to extreme heat events, such as the unprecedented heatwave in Northwestern North America during the summer of 2021. However, future changes in summer stationary waves over Northwestern North America and the underlying driving factors remain unclear. Here, we investigate the projected changes in the anticyclonic stationary wave circulation over Northwestern North America using data from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 and diagnose the circulation changes using a stationary wave model. Our findings reveal a significant 95% increase in the summer stationary wave amplitude over Northwestern North America under the high-emission scenario in 2080–2099 relative to 1995–2014. The response is mainly driven by the diabatic heating changes over the tropical Pacific which induce a Rossby wave source in the northeastern tropical Pacific, and further supported by a northward expanded waveguide in North America, both enhancing wave activity flux into the Northwestern North America. The heat-dome-like stationary wave anomaly is expected to heighten the heatwave risk over the region.
A cascade signal-amplified fluorescent biosensor combining APE1 enzyme cleavage-assisted target cycling with rolling circle amplification
Authors: Liu Zirui , Yang Hongqun , Zhang Beibei , Li Xinhao , Wang Hong , Zhang Yingwei
Published: November 2023

A cascade signal-amplified fluorescent biosensor was developed by combining APE1 enzyme-assisted target recycling and rolling circle amplification strategy, presenting high sensitivity, excellent specificity and anti-interference ability.
Ion imprinted polymers integrated into a multi-functional microfluidic paper-based analytical device for trace cadmium detection in water
Authors: Hu Jingfang , Wang Linzhe , Song Yu , Li Yansheng , Shen Yu , Gao Guowei , Qin Lei , Wu Jianfeng , Mulchandani Ashok
Published: November 2023

A novel multi-functional microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD) integrated with ion imprinted polymers (IIPs) for separation and rGO/pSPCE for sensing was proposed for specific, portable and low-cost detection of trace Cd(ii) in water.
Enzyme-free electrochemical sensor platforms based on transition metal nanostructures for clinical diagnostics
Authors: Maduraiveeran Govindhan
Published: November 2023

This minireview aims to highlight the advancement of enzyme-free electrochemical lactic acid and glucose sensors platforms based on transition metal-derived nanostructures for clinical diagnostics.
Expression of concern: High cytotoxic activity of ZnO@leucovorin nanocomposite based materials against an MCF-7 cell model
Authors: Sanad Mohamed Fathi , Abu Serea Esraa Samy , Bazid Shereen Magdy , Nabih Shimaa , Ahsan Md Ariful , Shalan Ahmed Esmail
Published: November 2023

Expression of concern for ‘High cytotoxic activity of ZnO@leucovorin nanocomposite based materials against an MCF-7 cell model’ by Mohamed Fathi Sanad et al, Anal. Methods, 2020, 12, 2176–2184, https://doi.org/10.1039/D0AY00498G.
Discovery and engineering of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide (RiPP) natural products
Authors: Li He , Ding Wei , Zhang Qi
Published: November 2023

The major approaches (i.e. bioactivity-guided screening, genome mining, and biosynthetic engineering) employed in the exploration of RiPP (ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides) natural products are discussed in this review.
A dual encapsulation strategy to generate anion-responsive luminescent lanthanide hydrogels
Authors: Bodman Samantha E. , Breen Colum , Hambleton Annaliese Rebecca , Butler Stephen J. , Willcock Helen
Published: November 2023

We report a new method to generate ion-responsive luminescent hydrogels, involving encapsulation of a luminescent lanthanide probe within crosslinked amphiphilic polymer particles and subsequent entrapment within a hydrogel.
Fabrication of NiMn2O4/C hollow spheres with a trilaminar shell structure as an anode material for sodium-ion batteries
Authors: Liu Tao , Wang Xuejie , Han Yang , Wu Yingqi , Zhang Liuyang , Yu Jiaguo
Published: November 2023

NiMn2O4/C hollow spheres with sandwich-structured shells as an anode material exhibit improved rate capability and prolonged cycling durability for sodium ion storage.
N-Methylene-C bridged tetrazole and 1,2,4-triazole energetic salts as promising primary explosives
Authors: Zhang Lingfeng , Wang Yu , Wang Yefeng , Liu Shuai , Zhang Na , Yang Mingmin , Ma Haixia , Guo Zhaoqi
Published: November 2023

New energetic salts based on N-methylene-C bridged tetrazole and triazole were developed as safe primary explosives, which are free from heavy metal ions and azide groups and show high energy property, good stability, and reliable ignition ability.
Pressure effect on the magnetism and crystal structure of magnetoelectric metal–organic framework [CH3NH3][Co(HCOO)3]
Authors: Zhou Houjian , Ding Hao , Gao Xin , Shen Zhiwei , Zhai Kun , Wang Bochong , Mu Congpu , Wen Fusheng , Xiang Jianyong , Xue Tianyu , Shu Yu , Wang Lin , Liu Zhongyuan
Published: November 2023

We revealed the evolution of magnetic transition temperature under high pressure by measuring ACMS. By using high pressure X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy, a structural phase transition occurring at P = 6.13 GPa was identified.
Influence of ab initio derived site-dependent hopping parameters on electronic transport in graphene nanoribbons
Authors: Davoudiniya Masoumeh , Yang Bo , Sanyal Biplab
Published: November 2023

Graphene Nano Ribbons (GNRs) have been studied extensively due to their potential applications in electrical transport, optical devices, etc.
Elucidating TH301's influence on the torsion angle of CRY1 W399 using replica exchange with solute tempering (REST) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations
Authors: Cho Yeongrae , Li Kexin , Lee Jin Hyup , Pack Seung Pil , Cho Art E.
Published: November 2023

The torsion angle of CRY1's W399 during the MD simulation.
The tunneling electroresistance effect in a van der Waals ferroelectric tunnel junction based on a graphene/In2Se3/MoS2/graphene heterostructure
Authors: Liu Yu-Zhu , Dai Jian-Qing , Yuan Jin , Zhao Miao-Wei
Published: November 2023

The schematic diagram of the Gr/In2Se3/MoS2/Gr vdW FTJs. Switching the polarization direction of In2Se3 can result in a different tunneling current and thus realizes two ideal “1” and “0” states for data storage.
The effect of weak π–π interactions on single-molecule electron transport properties of the tetraphenylethene molecule and its derivatives: a first-principles study
Authors: Wang Zhiye , Li Yunchuan , Sun Mingjun
Published: November 2023

The extremely weak π–π interactions in the V-shaped configurations are able to provide special through-space electron transport pathways.
Theoretical insights into surface-phase transition and ion competition during alkali ion intercalation on the Cu4Se4 nanosheet
Authors: Yu Yang-Xin
Published: November 2023

Cu4Se4 nanosheet is predicted to be promising electrode materials due to its excellent electrical conductivity, high capacity, fast diffusion and little volume change. They are also applicable to aqueous Na/K batteries with decreased capacities.
Investigating the applicability of COPERT 5.5 emission software in Bangladesh and developing countrywide vehicular emission inventories
Authors: Kawsar Sakie , Biswas Sourav , Noor Muntasir , Mamun Md. Shahid
Published: November 2023

This study investigated the applicability of the European software COPERT 5.5 (Computer Program to Estimate Emissions from Road Traffic) for Bangladesh, proposed emission factors, and developed countrywide vehicular emission inventories.
Elimination of charge accumulation by a self-assembled cocrystal interlayer for efficient and stable perovskite solar cells
Authors: Wang Xueying , Zhong Yang , Luo Xiao , Sheng Wangping , Yang Jia , Tan Licheng , Chen Yiwang
Published: November 2023

A SAM-CL has been introduced in n–i–p perovskite solar cells to optimize interfacial energy level arrangement and eliminate interfacial charge accumulation. The large pyrene rings and F atoms of SAM-CL inhibit severe ion migration and moisture erosion, thus improving device stability.
Preparation and characterisation of wheat starch-based aerogels for procyanidin encapsulation to enhance stability
Authors: Yang Tian-Xiao , Li Hang , Zhu Yuan , Gao Yu , Lv Hong-Ning , Zha Sheng-Hua , Sun Xiao-Li , Zhao Qing-Sheng
Published: November 2023

Procyanidins (PC) are formed by the polymerisation of flavan-3-ol monomers, which have excellent bioactivity and present great health benefits.
Evidence of oxygen vacancy-mediated ultrahigh SERS sensitivity of Niobium pentoxide nanoparticles through defect engineering: theoretical and experimental studies
Authors: Ghosal Sirsendu , Bora Abhilasha , Giri P. K.
Published: November 2023

Oxygen vacancy engineering in Nb2O5 nanoparticles enables high SERS sensitivity through defect mediated charge transfer and electromagnetic enhancement.
Achieving high hybridization density at DNA biosensor surfaces using branched spacer and click chemistry
Authors: Kavand Alireza , Robin Perrine , Mayoraz Lucas , Mensi Mounir , Gerber-Lemaire Sandrine
Published: November 2023

Surface functionalization of glass involving peptide-based branched spacer and click chemistry allows for efficient covalent conjugation of single-strand DNA to achieve high hybridization density tailored for biosensing applications.
Pt nanoparticles-decorated molybdenum nitrides for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Wang Jie , Zhang Xiaorong
Published: November 2023

Molybdenum nitrides with Pt-doping are fabricated to enhance the catalytic activity for HER in acidic solution.
Triplet dynamic nuclear polarization of pyruvate via supramolecular chemistry
Authors: Hamachi Tomoyuki , Nishimura Koki , Sakamoto Keita , Kawashima Yusuke , Kouno Hironori , Sato Shunsuke , Watanabe Go , Tateishi Kenichiro , Uesaka Tomohiro , Yanai Nobuhiro
Published: November 2023

Formation of supramolecular complexes with cyclodextrins improves the dispersibility of pentacene derivatives in polar matrices, resulting in the first triplet dynamic nuclear polarization of an important bioprobe, pyruvate.
An orbitally adapted push–pull template for N2 activation and reduction to diazene-diide
Authors: Specklin David , Boegli Marie-Christine , Coffinet Anaïs , Escomel Léon , Vendier Laure , Grellier Mary , Simonneau Antoine
Published: November 2023

The first two-fold Lewis acid adduct of a terminal N2 ligand was prepared by employing a bis(borane). The influence of double coordination is benchmarked against the adduct of a related, non-chelating Lewis acid.
Dimethyl carbonate synthesis from CO2 and methanol over CeO2: elucidating the surface intermediates and oxygen vacancy-assisted reaction mechanism
Authors: Stoian Dragos , Sugiyama Toshiyuki , Bansode Atul , Medina Francisco , van Beek Wouter , Hasegawa Jun-ya , Nakayama Akira , Urakawa Atsushi
Published: November 2023

Oxygen vacancy-assisted reaction mechanisms and key surface intermediates were uncovered by operando spectroscopic and DFT-based molecular dynamics simulations in direct dimethyl carbonate (DMC) synthesis from CO2 and methanol over CeO2 catalyst.
Solution-state mechanochromic luminescence of Pt(ii)-complexes displayed within micellar aromatic capsules
Authors: Hashimoto Yoshihisa , Katagiri Yuri , Tanaka Yuya , Yoshizawa Michito
Published: November 2023

Whereas mechanochromic luminescence (MCL) is observed only in the solid state, solution-state MCL from Pt(ii)-complexes was generated upon encapsulation by aromatic capsules. The resultant host–guest composite exhibited strong red MCL (Φ = 33%) via metal–metal interactions in water.
Recent progress in digital immunoassay: how to achieve ultrasensitive, multiplex and clinical accessible detection?
Authors: Zhang Yutong , Gu Hongchen , Xu Hong
Published: November 2023

This review focuses on elucidating the core strategies and approaches to enhance the performance of digital immunoassay across three key dimensions: sensitivity, multiplexing, and clinical accessibility.
A glutathione-responsive PEGylated nanogel with doxorubicin-conjugation for cancer therapy
Authors: Li Shufen , Wang Qiang , Duan Xiao , Pei Zhen , He Zhipeng , Guo Wei , Han Lingna
Published: November 2023

A glutathione (GSH)-responsive polyethylene glycol (PEG)ylated nanogel conjugated with doxorubicin (Dox) was prepared based on a linker with disulfide bonds, PEG, and Dox using a one-pot method.
Nano-scale drug delivery systems for luteolin: advancements and applications
Authors: Shang Jinlu , Yang Jing , Deng Qinmin , Zhou Meiling
Published: November 2023

Nano-scale drug delivery systems including micelles, nanocarrier-based systems, emulsified drug delivery systems, and vesicular drug delivery systems were designed for luteolin.
Improved energy storage performance in flexible (PbLa)ZrO3 thin films via nanocrystalline engineering
Authors: Yin Chao , Zhang Tiandong , Zhang Changhai , Jeong Chang Kyu , Hwang Geon-Tae , Chi Qingguo
Published: November 2023

Flexible film capacitors with high energy storage density (Wrec) and charge–discharge efficiency (η) are a cutting-edge research topic in the current field of energy storage.
Thuja occidentalis – viel mehr als eine Arznei für
Impffolgen und Warzen
Authors: Abermann Christoph , Gründl Alexandra , Pircher Claudia
Published: November 2023

Thuja ist eine häufig verschriebene Arznei, vorrangig für
Impffolgen und Warzen. Auch andere Allgemein- und Lokalsymptome sind gut
bekannt. Das Gemütsbild hingegen findet man in der Literatur nicht
umfassend beschrieben, auf der psychischen Ebene scheint Thuja nicht greifbar.
„Nicht greifbar“ trifft auch auf den Thuja-Patienten zu, was das
Erkennen der Arznei und die Verschreibung als Konstitutionsmittel schwierig
macht und sie ein Schattendasein unter den Polychresten führen
lässt. Auch Thuja-Patienten stehen oft „im Schatten“
– ein typisches Merkmal, das es zu verstehen gilt. Erfahrungen an
eigenen Patienten und eingehende Beschäftigung mit der Arznei
ließen mich über die Jahre ein klareres Gemütsbild von
Thuja erkennen, das in diesem Artikel anhand einer kurzen Arzneimittellehre
präsentiert und mittels 3 Falldarstellungen veranschaulicht werden
soll.
Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis from Solid Tumor Malignancies: Treatment Strategies and Biomarkers
Authors: Malani Rachna , Bhatia Ankush , Warner Allison Betof , Yang Jonathan T.
Published: November 2023

Leptomeningeal metastases/diseases (LMDs) are a late-stage complication of solid tumor or hematologic malignancies. LMD is spread of cancer cells to the layers of the leptomeninges (pia and arachnoid maters) and subarachnoid space seen in 3 to 5% of cancer patients. It is a disseminated disease which carries with it significant neurologic morbidity and mortality. Our understanding of disease pathophysiology is currently lacking; however, advances are being made. As our knowledge of disease pathogenesis has improved, treatment strategies have evolved. Mainstays of treatment such as radiotherapy have changed from involved-field radiotherapy strategies to proton craniospinal irradiation which has demonstrated promising results in recent clinical trials. Systemic treatment strategies have also improved from more traditional chemotherapeutics with limited central nervous system (CNS) penetration to more targeted therapies with better CNS tumor response. Many challenges remain from earlier clinical detection of disease through improvement of active treatment options, but we are getting closer to meaningful treatment.
Normative analysis of the paternity presumption in Article 1073 of the Civil Code of China
Authors: You Wenting , Feng Jun
Published: November 2023

The legal system of parentage is a mature rule in traditional civil law, encompassing the acknowledgment and denial of parent-child relationships. In China, the parentage legal system outlined in the Civil Code is a guiding provision that requires supplementary operational rules. The rule of parentage presumption, as a crucial component of the parentage legal system, serves as the premise and foundation of the entire parentage system. China’s parentage presumption involves both legal and factual presumptions. To elucidate the legislative intent and objective expression of the legal provisions concerning parentage in the Civil Code, it is necessary to clarify the legal attributes, logic, and effects of parentage presumption. Based on this, deviations in legal application due to inconsistent interpretations by different judges should be identified and adjusted. There exist four challenges in the practical application of the parentage presumption rule within the Chinese judicial system. It is imperative for judges to possess a precise and consistent understanding of these challenges. Article 1073 of the Civil Code and judicial interpretations constitute a remedial mechanism for parentage presumption. However, for this article to yield the intended legal effects, detailed specifications are needed regarding the parties eligible to file denial lawsuits of legitimate children, the grounds for denial, and the statute of limitations. Additionally, the implied recognition system reflected in the legal provision should also be supplemented with unified and applicable regulations to ensure operability within China’s legal system. Only with consistent legislative interpretations and applications can the consistency of legal application in parentage relationships be safeguarded, thereby upholding the authority of the Civil Code.
China’s climate governance for carbon neutrality: regulatory gaps and the ways forward
Authors: Xu Shengqing
Published: November 2023

The realisation of global carbon neutrality is crucial for combating climate change. As the largest emitter, China declared to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. However, substantial changes in the energy structure are far from being achieved. Using time series data from 2001 to 2019 and the ARDL-ECM method, this paper explored the effectiveness of climate policies in controlling China’s carbon emissions. The results show that economic and technical factors such as economic growth and energy structure are the determinants of carbon emissions. A green paradox is shown since increasing climate policy density does not significantly reduce carbon emissions. The main regulatory gaps in China’s climate governance include weaknesses in the rule of law, lack of accountability, and insufficient arrangements for equitable energy transitions. A binding legal system is necessary to realise absolute reduction and secure carbon neutrality, especially one including specific climate change legislation, binding reduction targets, and combining energy justice with regulatory efficiency.
Modelling the influence of managerial competence on managerial performance in the Ghanaian banking sector
Authors: Yahaya Rafida , Segbenya Moses
Published: November 2023

The importance of human resource for the success and growth of every organisation, including banks in developing economies, cannot be underestimated. The banking sector in Ghana, a developing economy, has recently faced some significant performance-related difficulties, such as suspending the licences of new banks, raising the minimum capital required, and recording fraud cases. These developments in the banking sector seriously questioned the managerial competencies of bank managers providing leadership roles to these banks in Ghana. It was for this purpose that this study examined the influence of managerial competence on the performance of branch and operational managers in the Ghanaian banking sector. The study sought to achieve, among other things, to explore how managerial competencies such as customer value management, interpersonal, leadership and intrapersonal relate to managerial performance in the banking sector of Ghana. The study adopted the quantitative approach from the positivist philosophical perspective and, specifically, the cross-sectional survey method. A sample of 127 branch and operation managers from the sixteen administrative regions of Ghana was drawn for the study. Data were collected with an adopted questionnaire and analysed with partial least square structural equation modelling. The study found a significant relationship between customer value management, interpersonal, leadership, intrapersonal, technical competencies and managerial performance in the banking sector. The relative importance of each of the five managerial competencies found was customer value management competence, interpersonal competence, leadership competence, intrapersonal competence and technical competence. The study concluded that managerial competence relates to managerial performance in the banking sector in Ghana. The implications of the findings of this study are that human resource managers in the banking sector should pay attention to these managerial competencies in hiring and developing managers for their branch and operational managerial positions in developing economies.
Discrete breathers in Klein–Gordon lattices: A deflation-based approach
Authors: Martin-Vergara F. , Cuevas-Maraver J. , Farrell P. E. , Villatoro F. R. , Kevrekidis P. G.
Published: November 2023

Deflation is an efficient numerical technique for identifying new branches of steady state solutions to nonlinear partial differential equations. Here, we demonstrate how to extend deflation to discover new periodic orbits in nonlinear dynamical lattices. We employ our extension to identify discrete breathers, which are generic exponentially localized, time-periodic solutions of such lattices. We compare different approaches to using deflation for periodic orbits, including ones based on Fourier decomposition of the solution, as well as ones based on the solution’s energy density profile. We demonstrate the ability of the method to obtain a wide variety of multibreather solutions without prior knowledge about their spatial profile.