bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Case Study of Introducing Security Risk Assessment in Requirements Engineering in a Large Organization
Authors: Ardi Shanai , Sandahl Kristian , Gustafsson Mats
Published: June 2023

Software products are increasingly used in critical infrastructures, and verifying the security of these products has become a necessary part of every software development project. Effective and practical methods and processes are needed by software vendors and infrastructure operators to meet the existing extensive demand for security. This article describes a lightweight security risk assessment method that flags security issues as early as possible in the software project, namely during requirements analysis. The method requires minimal training effort, adds low overhead, and makes it possible to show immediate results to affected stakeholders. We present a longitudinal case study of how a large enterprise developing complex telecom products adopted this method all the way from pilot studies to full-scale regular use. Lessons learned from the case study provide knowledge about the impact that upskilling and training of requirements engineers have on reducing the risk of malfunctions or security vulnerabilities in situations where it is not possible to have security experts go through all requirements. The case study highlights the challenges of process changes in large organizations as well as the pros and cons of having centralized, distributed, or semi-distributed workforce for security assurance in requirements engineering.
Public pension fund investments into hedge funds during the Great Recession: a network analysis
Authors: Listokin Siona , Li Meng-Hao , Siddique Abu Bakkar , Kulkarni Rajendra , Koizumi Naoru
Published: June 2023

State public employee retirement systems in the United States control over $5 trillion in assets, with large investments in alternative asset classes like hedge funds. This paper studies public pension fund investments into hedge funds in the period immediately surrounding the 2008 Financial Crisis and the Great Recession. Using micro-level investment data, the paper examines the characteristics of this network of investment flows and compares these networks to similar investments made by private pension funds. We find that there is considerable overlap among public pension funds in their choice of hedge fund investments. While the analysis is limited by data availability, the paper provides a novel study of actual investment decisions rather than aggregate portfolio outcomes.
Geographic variation in the utilisation of specialist healthcare for patients with severe mental illness in Norway: a population-based registry study
Authors: Bedane Haji Kedir , Lien Lars , Holsen Maria , Bale Marte , Osvoll Knut Ivar , Thoresen Christian , Holman Per Arne
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The aim of this study is to measure geographic variations in mental healthcare service utilisation among patients with severe mental illness in Norway.

Method

We analysed data from the Norwegian patient registry for 2014–2018 for patients with severe mental illness. The outcomes measured in this study were: outpatient contact, admission, bed days and total contact rates. Total contacts were calculated as the sum of observed outpatient contacts plus four times the hospital bed days for each hospital catchment area based on the Norwegian health director’s report on clinical activity and patient treatment cost. Geographic variations were measured using extreme quotient (EQ), coefficient of variation (CV) and systematic component of variation (SCV). Maps, figures, and tables were used to visualise geographic variation.

Results

The geographic variations saw a six-fold increase in the outpatient contact rate and a three-fold increase in the admission rate between the areas with lowest rate and areas with the highest rate. However, there was low geographic variation in calculated total contact rates (Eqs. 5 − 95 =1.77). The low-level geographic variation in the total calculated contact rate was also confirmed with an SCV of less than three.

Conclusion

The levels of geographic variations in the utilisation of outpatient and inpatient mental healthcare services among patients with severe mental illness are high. However, the geographic variation in total services provided by hospital catchment areas calculating the two service modalities together using their treatment cost ratio, is low. This may reflect the relatively equal performance of hospital catchment areas in terms of resource utilisation regardless which service modality they prioritise. Factors contributing to high geographic variation in individual service modalities need further investigation.
Unbalanced diets enhance the complexity of gut microbial network but destabilize its stability and resistance
Authors: Sun Penghao , Wang Mengli , Zheng Wei , Li Shuzhen , Zhu Xiaoyan , Chai Xuejun , Zhao Shanting
Published: June 2023

Stability is a fundamental ecological property of the gut microbiota and is associated with host health. Numerous studies have shown that unbalanced dietary components disturb the gut microbial composition and thereby contribute to the onset and progression of disease. However, the impact of unbalanced diets on the stability of the gut microbiota is poorly understood. In the present study, four-week-old mice were fed a plant-based diet high in refined carbohydrates or a high-fat diet for four weeks to simulate a persistent unbalanced diet. We found that persistent unbalanced diets significantly reduced the gut bacterial richness and increased the complexity of bacterial co-occurrence networks. Furthermore, the gut bacterial response to unbalanced diets was phylogenetically conserved, which reduced network modularity and enhanced the proportion of positive associations between community taxon, thereby amplifying the co-oscillation of perturbations among community species to destabilize gut microbial communities. The disturbance test revealed that the gut microbiota of mice fed with unbalanced diets was less resistant to antibiotic perturbation and pathogenic bacteria invasion. This study may fill a gap in the mechanistic understanding of the gut microbiota stability in response to diet and provide new insights into the gut microbial ecology.
A Hybrid Deep Learning Method to Extract Multi-features from Reviews and User–Item Relations for Rating Prediction
Authors: Lai Chin-Hui , Peng Pang-Yu
Published: June 2023

Currently, the Internet is widely used for shopping. Online reviews have become a crucial factor in helping people to make purchasing decisions. However, the large amount of data overwhelms most users, leading to the problem of information overload. To address this issue, researchers have proposed recommender systems as a solution. The most commonly used method is the collaborative filtering method, which analyzes users’ purchase history or behavior to make recommendations. In addition to user ratings, by analyzing users’ comments and the relationships between users and items more precise preferences can be obtained. In this study, the aspect-based rating prediction with a hybrid deep learning method (ARPH) is proposed. It consists of five parts: aspect detection, sentiment and semantic analysis, user preference analysis, graph attention network analysis, and rating prediction. It initially extracts the implicit aspect features and aspects’ sentiment–semantic features from user and item reviews. The convolutional neural network and matrix factorization methods are then used to generate the predicted ratings of items. Additionally, a graph attention network was built to calculate the predicted ratings based on the relationships between users and items. Finally, a multilayer perceptron was used to automatically adjust the weights for integrating these two predicted ratings. Our method utilizes user–item relationships to predict ratings when there are fewer user reviews. Conversely, the features derived from textual reviews were employed for rating prediction. The experimental results showed that extracting different features is useful in representing user and product preferences. The proposed method effectively improved the accuracy of the rating predictions.
Naltrexone plus bupropion combination medication maintenance treatment for binge-eating disorder following successful acute treatments: randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Grilo Carlos M. , Lydecker Janet A. , Gueorguieva Ralitza
Published: June 2023

Background

Certain treatments have demonstrated acute efficacy for binge-eating disorder (BED) but there is a dearth of controlled research examining pharmacotherapies as maintenance treatments for responders to initial interventions. This gap in the literature is particularly critical for pharmacotherapy for BED which is associated with relapse following discontinuation. The current study tested the efficacy of naltrexone/bupropion maintenance treatment amongst responders to acute treatments for BED.

Methods

Prospective randomized double-blind placebo-controlled single-site trial, conducted August 2017–December 2021, tested naltrexone/bupropion as maintenance treatment for responders to acute treatments with naltrexone/bupropion and/or behavioral weight-loss therapy for BED with comorbid obesity. Sixty-six patients (84.8% women, mean age 46.9, mean BMI 34.9 kg/m2) who responded to acute treatments were re-randomized to placebo (N = 34) or naltrexone/bupropion (N = 32) for 16 weeks; 86.3% completed posttreatment assessments. Mixed models and generalized estimating equations comparing maintenance treatments (naltrexone/bupropion v. placebo) included main and interactive effects of acute treatments.

Results

Intention-to-treat binge-eating remission rates following maintenance treatments were 50.0% (N = 17/34) for placebo and 68.8% (N = 22/32) for naltrexone/bupropion. Placebo following response to acute treatment with naltrexone/bupropion was associated with significantly decreased probability of binge-eating remission, increased binge-eating frequency, and no weight loss. Naltrexone/bupropion following response to acute treatment with naltrexone/bupropion was associated with good maintenance of binge-eating remission, low binge-eating frequency, and significant additional weight loss.

Conclusions

Adult patients with BED with co-occurring obesity who have good responses to acute treatment with naltrexone/bupropion should be offered maintenance treatment with naltrexone/bupropion.
A Catholic Perspective on COVID-19
Authors: Paris John J. , Cummings Brian M.
Published: June 2023

It took nearly two thousand years for society to recognize the Hippocratic insistence that “the doctor knows best”1 was an inadequate approach to medical decisionmaking. Today, patient-centered medicine has come to understand that the individual patient has a significant role in the decisionmaking process.2
Decisional Capacity After Dark: Is Autonomy Delayed Truly Autonomy Denied?
Authors: Appel Jacob M.
Published: June 2023

The model for capacity assessment in the United States and much of the Western world relies upon the demonstration of four skills including the ability to communicate a clear, consistent choice. Yet such assessments often occur at only one moment in time, which may result in the patient expressing a choice to the evaluator that is highly inconsistent with the patient’s underlying values and goals, especially if a short-term factor (such as frustration with the hospital staff) distorts the patient’s preferences momentarily. These challenges are particularly concerning in cases, which arise frequently in hospital settings, in which patients demand immediate self-discharge, often during off-hours, while faced with life-threatening risks. This paper examines the distinctive elements that shape such cases and explores their ethical implications, ultimately offering a model for such situations that can be operationalized.
Prolonged Record of Hydroclimatic Changes at Antoniadi Crater, Mars
Authors: Zaki A. S. , Edgett K. S. , Pajola M. , Kite E. , Davis J. M. , Mangold N. , Madof A. S. , Lucchetti A. , Grindrod P. , Hughes C. M. , Sangwan K. , Thomas N. , Schuster M. , Gupta S. , Cremonese G. , Castelltort S.
Published: June 2023

The first billion years of Martian geologic history consisted of surface environments and landscapes dramatically different from those seen today, with flowing liquid water sculpting river channels and ponding to form bodies of water. However, the hydro‐climatic context, the frequency, and the duration under which these systems existed remain uncertain. Addressing these fundamental questions may improve our understanding of early Mars climate. Here, we reconstruct a long‐lived archive consisting of an array of fluvial systems inside the Antoniadi crater––one of the largest lake basins on Mars (9.58 × 104 km2). We found that the fluvial activity occurred throughout four major intermittent active intervals during the Late Noachian to Early Amazonian (∼3.7 to >2.4 Ga). This resulted in at least two major lakes, which formed during periods of markedly increased surface runoff production. The record of these four riverine phases is preserved in fluvial ridges, valley networks, back‐stepping or down‐stepping fan‐shaped landforms, and terrace‐like formations within an outlet canyon. These morphologies point to lake‐controlled base‐level fluctuations suggestive of episodic precipitation‐fed surface runoff punctuated by intermittent catastrophic floods that were capable of breaching crater‐lake rims and incising outlet canyons. Fluvial‐deposit thickness, junction angles of channels, and lake morphometry suggest that riverine systems lasted at least 103–106 years and episodically occurred under primarily arid and semi‐arid climates. These findings place new regional constraints on the fluvial frequency, longevity, and climatic regime of one of the largest Martian lakes, thereby bolstering the hypothesis that episodic warming likely punctuated the planet's early history.
WMO Weathered the Cold War, but Can It Survive Capitalism?
Authors: Morris Bill
Published: June 2023

After 150 years of international cooperation, meteorology’s “vast machine” is adapting to private weather forecasting.
Highly Contrasted Geochemical Pattern in Sediments of the Okavango Delta, Botswana Driven by Dust Supply, Hydrological Heritage and Biogeochemical Reactions
Authors: Jolivet M. , Dauteuil O. , Dia A. , Davranche M. , Pierson‐Wickmann A.‐C. , Barrier L. , Murray‐Hudson M. , Mazrui Nashaat , Marsac R. , Cheng Feng , Li Xiangzhong
Published: June 2023

The Okavango Delta in North Botswana is a hot‐spot of biodiversity within the semi‐arid central part of the South African plateau. This endorheic ecosystem is highly dependent on the annual flood that brings freshwater from the highlands of Angola to the North. However, in many places, the groundwater of the Delta is saline and contains very high concentrations of metal and metalloid elements, making it toxic to the flora and fauna. These saline waters have been largely studied and their formation is generally explained through evaporation and evapotranspiration processes. However, no studies have investigated the geochemical composition of the sediments that host the aquifers. Here, we provide a complete sedimentological and geochemical investigation (major, traces and rare earth elements, carbon and oxygen stable isotopes ratios, Sr and Nd isotope ratios) of the various geomorphological and ecological compartments that form the landscape of the SW Okavango Delta. We demonstrate that the non‐connected underground aquifer is capped by a clay layer corresponding to a major event of dust deposition from the Makgadikgadi pan. We suggest that this aquifer may extend outside the island, below the floodplain and that the hydrological structure of the Nxaraga area is indeed composed of two non‐connected aquifers of different origins. Challenging the model based on evaporation and evapotranspiration, we propose that the composition of that allochtonous clay and the in situ reactions between sediment, water and organic matter in a confined aquifer explain the geochemical enrichment of the water.
Diurnal and Seasonal Mapping of Martian Ices With EMIRS
Authors: Stcherbinine Aurélien , Edwards Christopher S. , Smith Michael D. , Wolff Michael J. , Haberle Christopher , Al Tunaiji Eman , Smith Nathan M. , Saboi Kezman , Anwar Saadat , Lange Lucas , Christensen Philip R.
Published: June 2023

Condensation and sublimation of ices at the surface of the planet is a key part of both the Martian H2O and CO2 cycles, either from a seasonal or diurnal aspect. While most of the ice is located within the polar caps, surface frost is known to be formed during nighttime down to equatorial latitudes. Here, we use data from the Emirates Mars Infrared Spectrometer onboard the Emirates Mars Mission to monitor the diurnal and seasonal evolution of the ices at the surface of Mars over almost one Martian year. The unique local time coverage provided by the instrument allows us to observe the apparition of equatorial CO2 frost in the second half of the Martian night around the equinoxes, to its sublimation at sunrise.
Unlocking the secrets of the invisible world: incredible deep optical imaging through in-silico clearing
Authors: Xiao Ting-Hui , Zhou Yuqi , Goda Keisuke
Published: June 2023

In-silico clearing enables deep optical imaging of biological samples by correcting image blur caused by scattering and aberration. This breakthrough method offers researchers unprecedented insights into three-dimensional biological systems, with enormous potential for advancing biology and medicine to better understand living organisms and human health.
K235 acetylation couples with PSPC1 to regulate the m6A demethylation activity of ALKBH5 and tumorigenesis
Authors: Zhang Xiao-Lan , Chen Xin-Hui , Xu Binwu , Chen Min , Zhu Song , Meng Nan , Wang Ji-Zhong , Zhu Huifang , Chen De , Liu Jin-Bao , Yan Guang-Rong
Published: June 2023

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification plays important roles in bioprocesses and diseases. AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5) is one of two m6A demethylases. Here, we reveal that ALKBH5 is acetylated at lysine 235 (K235) by lysine acetyltransferase 8 and deacetylated by histone deacetylase 7. K235 acetylation strengthens the m6A demethylation activity of ALKBH5 by increasing its recognition of m6A on mRNA. RNA-binding protein paraspeckle component 1 (PSCP1) is a regulatory subunit of ALKBH5 and preferentially interacts with K235-acetylated ALKBH5 to recruit and facilitate the recognition of m6A mRNA by ALKBH5, thereby promoting m6A erasure. Mitogenic signals promote ALKBH5 K235 acetylation. K235 acetylation of ALKBH5 is upregulated in cancers and promotes tumorigenesis. Thus, our findings reveal that the m6A demethylation activity of ALKBH5 is orchestrated by its K235 acetylation and regulatory subunit PSPC1 and that K235 acetylation is necessary for the m6A demethylase activity and oncogenic roles of ALKBH5.
Subcellular second messenger networks drive distinct repellent-induced axon behaviors
Authors: Baudet Sarah , Zagar Yvrick , Roche Fiona , Gomez-Bravo Claudia , Couvet Sandrine , Bécret Johann , Belle Morgane , Vougny Juliette , Uthayasuthan Sinthuya , Ros Oriol , Nicol Xavier
Published: June 2023

Second messengers, including cAMP, cGMP and Ca2+ are often placed in an integrating position to combine the extracellular cues that orient growing axons in the developing brain. This view suggests that axon repellents share the same set of cellular messenger signals and that axon attractants evoke opposite cAMP, cGMP and Ca2+ changes. Investigating the confinement of these second messengers in cellular nanodomains, we instead demonstrate that two repellent cues, ephrin-A5 and Slit1, induce spatially segregated signals. These guidance molecules activate subcellular-specific second messenger crosstalk, each signaling network controlling distinct axonal morphology changes in vitro and pathfinding decisions in vivo.
Ensemble of CMIP6 derived reference and potential evapotranspiration with radiative and advective components
Authors: Bjarke Nels , Barsugli Joseph , Livneh Ben
Published: June 2023

Assessing changes in future aridity requires an understanding of variations in the atmospheric demand for water. Such assessments are often driven by estimations of potential evapotranspiration (ETP) and/or reference evapotranspiration (ET0), yet no comprehensive and validated estimate of these climate metrics exists to date from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 6 (CMIP6). Here we describe the development and validation of a published dataset of global monthly estimates of the Penman-Monteith derived ET0, its advective and radiation components, Priestley-Taylor derived ETP, and vapor pressure deficit from 16 CMIP6 projections and four emissions scenarios. Historical validation of the ensemble of CMIP6 evaporative demand shows general agreement with observationally-derived baselines of ET0 and ETP from the Climate Research Unit (CRU) and ERA5-Land reanalysis products, with GCM biases driven primarily by regional differences in modeled humidity and advective contributions to ET0. Overall, evaporative demand is projected to increase across all emissions scenarios, with the largest increases over polar regions, and with a larger contribution from advection particularly for regions with higher baseline ET0.
Social influence makes outlier opinions in online reviews offer more helpful information
Authors: Yang Kunhao , Fujisaki Itsuki , Ueda Kazuhiro
Published: June 2023

Identifying helpful information from large-scale online reviews has become a core issue in studies on harnessing wisdom-of-crowds. We investigated whether online reviews expressing dissenting opinions (i.e., outlier reviews) can provide helpful information. Using statistical and simulation methods with a large-scale dataset, we found that, compared with other online reviews, outlier reviews were deemed more helpful because they provided more sufficient, neutral, and concise information. To interpret these results, we considered that in collective behaviours, a prevalent social psychological process—conformity (i.e., changing one’s behaviour in response to pressure from others)—pressured reviewers expressing dissenting opinions. This motivated them to provide more convincing evidence (i.e., sufficient, neutral, and concise information). This study offers a simple yet effective approach for eliciting helpful information from many online reviews and deepens the understanding of the mechanism underlying collective online behaviour. Specifically, conformity was considered to cause biases in the collective behaviour of humans; however, this study revealed that conformity can elicit valuable outcomes in collective behaviour.
Change of world-record rankings of shot put and hammer throw due to the effects of Earth rotation and athlete’s height
Authors: Horváth Gábor , Hegedűs Dénes , Slíz-Balogh Judit
Published: June 2023

The differences between the consecutive world-records of shot put and hammer throw tendentiously decrease. Therefore, nowadays it would be worth taking into account the influence of certain environmental factors on the range L, such as the latitude and release azimuth direction. Both factors exert influence on L by the centrifugal acceleration acentrigugal and Coriolis acceleration aCoriolis induced by the Earth’s rotation. The aim of this work is to reveal how the world-record ranking numbers would change, if acentrigugal and aCoriolis as well as the athletes’ height h were taken into account during the validation of the outdoor world records of senior female and male shot-putters and hammer-throwers. Using computer modelling, we reconstruct here the release velocities v of shots and hammers and the normalized muscle work of shot-putters achieved at the 20 best consecutive world records. We determined numerous changes of world-record ranking numbers of shot put and hammer throw due to the influence of acentrigugal, aCoriolis and h. Height h has the largest effect on the range L, acentrigugal has a medium influence, and aCoriolis possesses the least impact on L. The physically most correct way would be to consider the release velocity v of the shot/hammer (easily measurable with an ultrasound/laser Doppler gauge) as the real performance of athletes, because it is practically independent of the environmental factors, and thus is a much better ranking measure of world records than the range.
Deep neural network analysis models for complex random telegraph signals
Authors: Robitaille Marcel , Yang HeeBong , Wang Lu , Deng Bowen , Kim Na Young
Published: June 2023

Time-fluctuating signals are ubiquitous and diverse in many physical, chemical, and biological systems, among which random telegraph signals (RTSs) refer to a series of instantaneous switching events between two discrete levels from single-particle movements. A reliable RTS analysis is a crucial prerequisite to identify underlying mechanisms related to device performance and sensitivity. When numerous levels are involved, complex patterns of multilevel RTSs occur and make their quantitative analysis exponentially difficult, hereby systematic approaches are often elusive. In this work, we present a three-step analysis protocol via progressive knowledge-transfer, where the outputs of the early step are passed onto a subsequent step. Especially, to quantify complex RTSs, we resort to three deep neural network architectures whose trained models can process raw temporal data directly. We furthermore demonstrate the model accuracy extensively with a large dataset of different RTS types in terms of additional background noise types and amplitude size. Our protocol offers structured schemes to extract the parameter values of complex RTSs as imperative information with which researchers can draw meaningful and relevant interpretations and inferences of given devices and systems.
Electrochemical sensor based on the synergy between Cucurbit[8]uril and 2D-MoS2 for enhanced melatonin quantification
Authors: Martínez-Moro Rut , del Pozo María , Vázquez Luis , Martín-Gago José A. , Petit-Domínguez María Dolores , Casero Elena , Quintana Carmen
Published: June 2023

We present the development of an electrochemical sensor towards melatonin determination based on the synergistic effect between MoS2nanosheets and cucurbit[8]uril. For the sensor construction cucurbit[8]uril suspensions were prepared in water, and MoS2nanosheets were obtained by liquid exfoliation in ethanol:water. The sensing platform was topographically characterized by Atomic Force Microscopy. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy experiments allowed us to study the charge transfer process during melatonin oxidation. Moreover, stoichiometry of the resulting complex has also been determined. After the optimization of the sensor construction and the experimental variables involved in the Differential Pulse Voltammetric response of melatonin, detection limit of 3.80 × 10−7 M, relative errors minor than 3.8% and relative standard deviation lower than 4.4% were obtained. The proposed sensor has been successfully applied to melatonin determination in pharmaceutical and biological samples as human urine and serum, with very good recoveries ranging from 90 to 102%.
The dynamic functional connectivity fingerprint of high-grade gliomas
Authors: Moretto Manuela , Silvestri Erica , Facchini Silvia , Anglani Mariagiulia , Cecchin Diego , Corbetta Maurizio , Bertoldo Alessandra
Published: June 2023

Resting state fMRI has been used in many studies to investigate the impact of brain tumours on functional connectivity (FC). However, these studies have so far assumed that FC is stationary, disregarding the fact that the brain fluctuates over dynamic states. Here we utilised resting state fMRI data from 33 patients with high-grade gliomas and 33 healthy controls to examine the dynamic interplay between resting-state networks and to gain insights into the impact of brain tumours on functional dynamics. By employing Hidden Markov Models, we demonstrated that functional dynamics persist even in the presence of a high-grade glioma, and that patients exhibited a global decrease of connections strength, as well as of network segregation. Furthermore, through a multivariate analysis, we demonstrated that patients’ cognitive scores are highly predictive of pathological dynamics, thus supporting our hypothesis that functional dynamics could serve as valuable biomarkers for better understanding the traits of high-grade gliomas.
CT imaging shows specific pancreatic abnormalities in persons with cystic fibrosis related diabetes
Authors: Alexandre-Heymann Laure , Puerto Marie , Martin Clémence , Burnet Espérie , Mosnier-Pudar Helen , Burgel Pierre-Régis , Larger Etienne
Published: June 2023

Cystic fibrosis related diabetes (CFRD) is observed in 20–50% of adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). Pancreas abnormalities on imaging, e.g. pancreas lipomatosis, are frequent in subjects with CF. We hypothesized that specific abnormalities may characterize patients with CFRD. We performed a retrospective study comparing the computed tomography (CT) of participants with CF with or without diabetes (“CFRD” and “CF control” groups). We classified the pancreas on imaging according to 3 categories: normal, partial lipomatosis and complete lipomatosis of the pancreas. We also assessed the presence or absence of pancreatic calcifications. Forty-one CFRD and 53 CF control participants were included. Only 2% of the patients with CFRD had a normal pancreas, as compared with 30% of the participants from the CF control group (p = 0.0016). Lipomatosis was more frequent in subjects with CFRD and was related to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) and to severe CFTR mutations (classes I to III). Nine participants with diabetes (22%) presented with pancreatic calcifications, versus none of the control participants (p = 0.0003). In conclusion, pancreas imaging was almost always abnormal in subjects with CFRD, while it was normal in a third of the CF control subjects. Pancreatic calcifications were specific of subjects with CFRD.
Chain-specificity of laminin α1-5 LG45 modules in the recognition of carbohydrate-linked receptors and intramolecular binding
Authors: Matsunuma Masumi , Kan Ryuji , Yamada Yuji , Hamada Keisuke , Kanagawa Motoi , Nomizu Motoyoshi , Kikkawa Yamato
Published: June 2023

Laminins are a family of heterotrimers composed of α-, β-, and γ-chains in the basement membrane. Five α chains contain laminin globular (LG) domain consisting of five tandem modules (LG1-5 modules) at their C-terminus. Each LG45 modules is connected to a compact cloverleaf-shaped structure of LG1-3 through a flexible linker. Although the accumulated studies of the LG45 modules have suggested differences in each α chain regarding the binding of carbohydrate chain and intramolecular interaction, this remains unclear. In this study, to characterize their functions comparatively, we produced recombinant proteins of LG45 modules of human laminin α1-5 chains. Dystroglycan (DG) modified with matriglycan readily bound to the LG45 modules of α1 and α2 chains but not to the other α chains. In contrast, heparin bound to the LG45 modules of the α chains, except for α2. The binding of heparan sulfate/heparin-linked syndecans (SDCs) to LG45 modules was influenced by their core proteins. Furthermore, the α1 and α4LG45 modules bound to SDCs in a pH-dependent manner. A cell adhesion assay showed that HEK293 cells could readily adhere to the LG45 modules of α3-5 chains through a combination of SDCs and integrins. Moreover, α5LG45 modules bound to the E8 fragment, which includes the C-terminus of the laminin coiled-coil (LCC) domain and LG1-3 modules, but α2LG45 modules did not. The results suggested that although α5LG45 modules was fixed within the LG domain, α2LG45 modules was freely placed in the vicinity of LG1–3. Our findings provide information for investigation of the structural and functional diversity of basement membranes.
Plastiglomerates from uncontrolled burning of plastic waste on Indonesian beaches contain high contents of organic pollutants
Authors: Utami Dwi Amanda , Reuning Lars , Schwark Lorenz , Friedrichs Gernot , Dittmer Ludwig , Nurhidayati Ayu Utami , Al Fauzan Ahmad , Cahyarini Sri Yudawati
Published: June 2023

This study reports on plastiglomerate and other new forms of plastic pollution in the tropical marine continent of Indonesia. Twenty-five samples were collected from an island beach in the Java Sea where plastiglomerate, plasticrusts, and pyroplastic were formed by the uncontrolled burning of plastic waste. The most common plastic types were polyethylene and polypropylene (PE/PP), as shown by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. However, acrylates/polyurethane/varnish (PU) and a copolymer of styrene and acrylonitrile were found as well. This suggests that plastiglomerates can form from a wider variety of plastic polymers than previously reported. FTIR analysis also indicates thermo-oxidative weathering, making the charred plastic more brittle and susceptible to microplastic formation. A subset of the samples was analyzed for associated chemical contaminants. One plastiglomerate with a PU matrix showed high concentrations of phthalates. All samples had high concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), likely due to the burning of the plastic in open fires. The burning leads to a change in the physical and chemical properties of the plastics contained in the plastiglomerates. Plastiglomerate and plastic waste of similar origin are therefore often more weathered and contaminated with organic pollutants than their parent polymers. The highest PAH concentration was found in a plastitar sample. Plastitar is defined as an agglomerate of tar and plastics that adheres to coastal rocks. In contrast, our study documents a more mobile, clastic plastitar type. This clastic plastitar could pose an additional ecological risk because of its mobility. These new types of plastic pollution could be an important vector for chemical contamination of nearby coastal habitats such as coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangroves.
Ion mobility mass spectrometry for the study of mycobacterial mycolic acids
Authors: Liu Yi , Kaffah Nadhira , Pandor Sufyan , Sartain Mark J. , Larrouy-Maumus Gerald
Published: June 2023

Lipids are highly structurally diverse molecules involved in a wide variety of biological processes. The involvement of lipids is even more pronounced in mycobacteria, including the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which produces a highly complex and diverse set of lipids in the cell envelope. These lipids include mycolic acids, which are among the longest fatty acids in nature and can contain up to 90 carbon atoms. Mycolic acids are ubiquitously found in mycobacteria and are alpha branched and beta hydroxylated lipids. Discrete modifications, such as alpha, alpha’, epoxy, methoxy, keto, and carboxy, characterize mycolic acids at the species level. Here, we used high precision ion mobility-mass spectrometry to build a database including 206 mass-resolved collision cross sections (CCSs) of mycolic acids originating from the strict human pathogen M. tuberculosis, the opportunistic strains M. abscessus, M. marinum and M. avium, and the nonpathogenic strain M. smegmatis. Primary differences between the mycolic acid profiles could be observed between mycobacterial species. Acyl tail length and modifications were the primary structural descriptors determining CCS magnitude. As a resource for researchers, this work provides a detailed catalogue of the mass-resolved collision cross sections for mycolic acids along with a workflow to generate and analyse the dataset generated.
Universal and divergent P-stereogenic building with camphor-derived 2,3-diols
Authors: Zhang Yulong , Zhao Peichao , Sun Shengnan , Wu Qian , Shi Enxue , Xiao Junhua
Published: June 2023

The access to P-stereogenic motifs has always been considered a very challenging and high attractive mission in modern organic synthesis. While several chiral auxiliaries employed by the practical Jugé-Stephan-like methodology have been developed, new type of readily accessible bifunctional ligands toward P-stereogenic building still remain much desirable. Herein, we present a powerful chiral template, camphor-derived 2,3-diols named CAMDOL, which were designed and synthesized from the commercially cheap camphorquinone in high yields at 50 grams scale with a column-free purification. Diverse P(III)-chiral compounds and their borane forms including phosphinous acids, phosphinites, and phosphines, as well as the corresponding P(V)-chiral compounds including phosphinates, phosphine oxides, phosphinothioates, phosphine sulfides, and secondary phosphine oxides were afforded in high yields and ee values through the optimal 2,3-diphenyl CAMDOL platform. An unusual C3-OP bond cleavage following the first P-OC2 bond breaking was observed during the ring-opening process when quenching by NH4Cl solution, which generates a unique but valuable camphor-epoxide scaffold as by-product.
Microneedle-based glucose monitoring: a review from sampling methods to wearable biosensors
Authors: Wang Yan , Wu You , Lei Yifeng
Published: June 2023

Microneedles are designed to mediate biofluid extraction and achieve transdermal biosensing and diagnosis.
Isolation of potassium salt of oxadiazole-2-thione and in vitro anticancer activities of its Cu(ii) and Zn(ii) complexes against MDA-MB-231 human breast carcinoma cells
Authors: Gond M. K. , Rai Nilesh , Chandra Brijesh , Gautam Vibhav , Garai Somenath , Butcher R. J. , Bharty M. K.
Published: June 2023

A potassium 4-(pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thione was isolated in a basic medium, and its complexes [Cu(en)2(pot)2] (1) and [Zn(en)2(pot)2]HBr·CH3OH (2) containing ethylenediamine (en) as secondary ligands were synthesized and fully characterized.
A magnetic nano-sorbent incorporating antimicrobial papain for the rapid and efficient removal of levofloxacin and Pb(ii) from aqueous systems
Authors: Akhgari Mahdi , Mosaffa Elias , Dogari Haniyeh , Ramsheh Nasim Amiri , Ghafuri Hossein , Banerjee Atanu
Published: June 2023

In the contemporary century, bio-based magnetic nanomaterials have received tremendous interest as promising candidates in adsorption procedures owing to their magnetic nature, modifiability, approachability, bioactivity, and pH-responsive dynamics.
PEGylated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles doped with molybdenum-iodide nanoclusters as a promising photodynamic therapy agent against ovarian cancer
Authors: Verger Alexis , Dollo Gilles , Brandhonneur Nolwenn , Martinais Sophie , Cordier Stéphane , Lang Kamil , Amela-Cortes Maria , Kirakci Kaplan
Published: June 2023

A photosensitizing nanosystem based on PEGylated PLGA nanoparticles doped with luminescent molybdenum-iodide nanoclusters displays advantageous features for photodynamic therapy of ovarian cancer.
Graphene-sandwiched nitrogen-enriched π-conjugated molecules as redox-active cathodes for Li-ion batteries
Authors: Chen Kai , Ma Xiaolan , Han Xiaoyan , Yang Yingkui
Published: June 2023

A graphene/nitrogen-enriched sandwiched composite (HAT-CN/Gr) as readily obtained from in-situ combination of HAT-CN and GO through sonication and thermal reduction. The resultant HAT-CN/Gr cathode exhibits excellent lithium storage performance.
Multi-objective Bayesian optimization for the design of nacre-inspired composites: optimizing and understanding biomimetics through AI
Authors: Park Kundo , Song Chihyeon , Park Jinkyoo , Ryu Seunghwa
Published: June 2023

For the designing of bioinspired composite, we employed multi-objective Bayesian optimization, a data-driven method that can determine the pareto-optimal design solutions having optimal balance of material properties.
Surface-engineered double-layered fabrics for continuous, passive fluid transport
Authors: Soltani Mohammad , Lahiri Sudip Kumar , Shabanian Sadaf , Golovin Kevin
Published: June 2023

Double-layered superhydrophobic fabrics with internal water-wicking channels are developed to maintain breathability and enhance textile comfort in wet conditions caused by both sweat and the rain.
Precisely regulating the double-boron-based multi-resonance framework towards pure-red emitters: high-performance OLEDs with CIE coordinates fully satisfying the BT. 2020 standard
Authors: Zou Yang , He Jiawei , Li Nengquan , Hu Yuxuan , Luo Sai , Cao Xiaosong , Yang Chuluo
Published: June 2023

Pure-red multi-resonance emitters are designed through precisely regulating the double-boron-based multi-resonance framework. The resulting OLEDs exhibit high efficiency and ideal CIE coordinates that fully satisfy the BT. 2020 standard.
Hydrogen bonding to oxygen in siloxane bonds drives liquid phase adsorption of primary alcohols in high-silica zeolites
Authors: Radhakrishnan Sambhu , Lejaegere Charlotte , Duerinckx Karel , Lo Wei-Shang , Morais Alysson F. , Dom Dirk , Chandran C. Vinod , Hermans Ive , Martens Johan A. , Breynaert Eric
Published: June 2023

NMR reveals alcohols and water adsorb in high silica zeolites by hydrogen bonding to siloxane bridges. This new mechanism co-exists with chemi- and physi-sorption on Brønsted acid and defect sites and drives pore filling adsorption in MFI zeolites.
TarpiD, a database of putative and validated targets of piRNAs
Authors: Gupta Pooja , Das Gourab , Chattopadhyay Trisha , Ghosh Zhumur , Mallick Bibekanand
Published: June 2023

We developed a freely accessible database, called ‘TarpiD’, that identifies the targets of piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) from diverse species, which will be highly useful for researchers to decode a new layer of gene regulatory mechanisms.
Magnetic nanoparticles for nanowarming: seeking a fine balance between heating performance and biocompatibility
Authors: Ye Zuyang , Liu Sangmo , Yin Yadong
Published: June 2023

Achieving a crucial balance between heating performance and biocompatibility in the design of magnetic nanoparticles for nanowarming is key to overcoming hurdles in cryopreserved organ storage.
Electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction: mechanism, innovative strategies, and beyond
Authors: Wen Ning , Jiao Xiuling , Xia Yuguo , Chen Dairong
Published: June 2023

This review provides a comprehensive review of recent advances in the design of OER catalysts. Specifically, it focuses on the kinetics and stability of OER catalysts, catalytic mechanism and innovative strategies.
Small molecule dopant-free dual hole transporting material for conventional and inverted perovskite solar cells
Authors: Más-Montoya Miriam , Gómez Paula , Wang Junke , Janssen René A. J. , Curiel David
Published: June 2023

Small molecule dopant-free HTL with the ability to self-assemble shows a dual performance that leads to very similar efficiencies in p–i–n and n–i–p perovskite solar cells.
Photoinduced generation of carbocations enabled by the promotion of aromaticity
Authors: Zhang Meilan , Lu Hanwei , Ye Hebo , Li Ziyi , Hai Yu , You Lei
Published: June 2023

A versatile strategy for on-demand light-mediated creation of carbocations was developed, further showcasing their potential as Lewis acid catalysts.
Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of morpholinopyrimidine derivatives as anti-inflammatory agents
Authors: Fatima Sadaf , Zaki Almaz , Madhav Hari , Khatoon Bibi Shaguftah , Rahman Abdur , Manhas Mohd Wasif , Hoda Nasimul , Ali Syed Mansoor
Published: June 2023

Here, we outline the synthesis of a few 2-methoxy-6-((4-(6-morpholinopyrimidin-4-yl)piperazin-1-yl)(phenyl)methyl)phenol derivatives and assess their anti-inflammatory activity in macrophage cells that have been stimulated by LPS.
Modeling the path to >30% power conversion efficiency in perovskite solar cells with plasmonic nanoparticles
Authors: Mashrafi Md. , Anik M. Hussayeen Khan , Israt Mst. Farhana , Habib Ahsan , Islam Sharnali
Published: June 2023

Efficiency enhancement of perovskite solar cells by incorporating an array of plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) into the absorber layer. Inclusion of the NPs increases the absorption by up to 14%, boosting the efficiency from 21.77% to 30.4%.
MPC-based energy management with short-term driving condition prediction for a plug-in hybrid electric truck
Authors: Chai Hua , Zhao Xuan , Shi Peilong , Yu Qiang , Han Qi , Zheng Zichen
Published: June 2023

An ECMS-based MPC for the control of PHET to improve energy utilization efficiency driving on varying gradient roads.
Visible-light driven photocatalytic CO2reduction promoted by organic photosensitizers and a Mn(i) catalyst
Authors: Bassan Elena , Inoue Rei , Fabry David , Calogero Francesco , Potenti Simone , Gualandi Andrea , Cozzi Pier Giorgio , Kamogawa Kei , Ceroni Paola , Tamaki Yusuke , Ishitani Osamu
Published: June 2023

Organic chromophores displaying TADF emission were coupled to a Mn(i)-complex as the catalyst and investigated as photosensitizers for CO2reduction. Upon 470 nm LED excitation, TONCO+HCOOH> 650 and aΦCO+HCOOH= 22.8% were obtained.
Post-liquefaction normospermic human semen behaves as a weak-gel viscoelastic fluid
Authors: Tomaiuolo Giovanna , Fellico Fiammetta , Preziosi Valentina , Cariati Federica , Strina Ida , Votino Carmela , Zullo Fulvio , Longobardi Salavatore , Guido Stefano
Published: June 2023

By using oscillatory shear flow in the linear regime, we found that the data fall on a single master curve based on a weak-gel scaling model even in normospermic samples and that semen viscoelasticity is strongly correlated with sperm motility.
Instability and rupture of surfactant-laden bilayer thin liquid films
Authors: Yang Shu , Kumar Satish , Dutcher Cari S.
Published: June 2023

The stability of surfactant-laden bilayer thin films, where the top layer is subject to van der Waals driven breakup, is of relevance to applications where one liquid layer is spread on another, such as film-forming foams and multilayer coatings.
Boosting ultrasensitive SERS activity on quasi-metallic tungsten oxide through synergistic vibronic coupling and electromagnetic resonance
Authors: Tang Le , Pan Xiancheng , Luo Man , Yang Ruyu , Guo Lulu , Sun Zixu , Jiang Shenlong , Jiang Jun , Zhang Guozhen , Zhu Qing
Published: June 2023

Quasi-metallic-phase tungsten oxide materials doped by main-group IA elements are investigated for synergistic physical and chemical SERS enhancement.
Glycopolymer-based multifunctional antibacterial hydrogel dressings for accelerating cutaneous wound healing
Authors: Cheng Qiuli , Wang Zhihao , Hu Shumin , Peng Yi-Yang , Zhu Rui , Zhang Leitao , Li Junbo , Narain Ravin
Published: June 2023

Antimicrobial hydrogel dressings have received extensive attention for their wide and promising applications in preventing infections associated with wound healing.
Functional anti-bone tumor biomaterial scaffold: construction and application
Authors: Huang Biaotong , Yin Zhifeng , Zhou Fengjin , Su Jiacan
Published: June 2023

This review summarizes the advances in biomaterial scaffolds with different functionalization strategies for bone tumors. It will provide a valuable reference for bone tumor clinical treatment.
3D printable, injectable amyloid-based composite hydrogel of bovine serum albumin and aloe vera for rapid diabetic wound healing
Authors: Naik Kaustubh , Singh Priyanka , Yadav Monika , Srivastava Saurabh Kr , Tripathi Shikha , Ranjan Rahul , Dhar Prodyut , Verma Anita Kamra , Chaudhary Shilpi , Parmar Avanish Singh
Published: June 2023

Protein-based biomaterials, particularly amyloids, have sparked considerable scientific interest in recent years due to their exceptional mechanical strength, excellent biocompatibility and bioactivity.
The effect of Al2O3 electrical shielding on MoS2 energy structure modulation in MoS2/p-Si heterojunction solar cells
Authors: Zhang Yu , Li Zening , Tong Peiyi , Zhang Lukai , Yu Wei , Liu Xiuling
Published: June 2023

The Al2O3 films conduct n-type doping for 2D-MoS2 by the electrostatic fielding effect. The underlying mechanism lies on the charge transfer process forced by Al2O3/MoS2 interfacial electric field and thus Fermi level upshifting on the MoS2 surface.