bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparing health outcomes between coronary interventions in frail patients aged 75 years or older with acute coronary syndrome: a systematic review
Authors: van Wyk Gregory W. , Berkovsky Shlomo , Fraile Navarro David , Coiera Enrico
Published: July 2022

Purpose

To assess current evidence comparing the impact of available coronary interventions in frail patients aged 75 years or older with different subtypes of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) on health outcomes.

Methods

Scopus, Embase and PubMed were systematically searched in May 2022 for studies comparing outcomes between coronary interventions in frail older patients with ACS. Studies were excluded if they provided no objective assessment of frailty during the index admission, under-represented patients aged 75 years or older, or included patients with non-ACS coronary disease without presenting results for the ACS subgroup. Following data extraction from the included studies, a qualitative synthesis of results was undertaken.

Results

Nine studies met all eligibility criteria. All eligible studies were observational. Substantial heterogeneity was observed across study designs regarding ACS subtypes included, frailty assessments used, coronary interventions compared, and outcomes studied. All studies were assessed to be at high risk of bias. Notably, adjustment for confounders was limited or not adequately reported in all studies. The comparative assessment suggested a possible efficacy signal for invasive treatment relative to conservative treatment but possibly at the risk of increased bleeding events.

Conclusions

There is a paucity of evidence comparing health outcomes between different coronary interventions in frail patients aged 75 years or older with ACS. Available evidence is at high risk of bias. Given the growing importance of ACS in frail patients aged 75 years or older, new studies are needed to inform optimal ACS care for this population. Future studies should rigorously adjust for confounders.
Comprehensive Rules-Based and Preferences Induced Weights Allocation in Group Decision-Making with BUI
Authors: Li GePeng , Yager Ronald R. , Zhang XinXing , Mesiar Radko , Bustince Humberto , Jin LeSheng
Published: August 2022

Decision-makers’ subjective preferences can be well modeled using preference aggregation operators and related induced weights allocation mechanisms. However, when several different types of preferences occur in some decision environment with more complex uncertainties, repeated uses of preferences induced weights allocation sometimes become unsuitable or less reasonable. In this work, we discuss a common decision environment where several invited experts will offer their respective evaluation values for a certain object. There are three types of preferences which will significantly affect the weights allocations from experts. Instead of unsuitably performing preference induced weights allocation three times independently and then merging the results together using convex combination as some literatures recently did, in this work, we propose some organic and comprehensive rules-based screen method to first rule out some unqualified experts and then take preference induced weights allocation for the refined group of experts. A numerical example in business management and decision-making is presented to show the cognitive reasonability and practical feasibility.
Translation and Genre
Authors: Woodstein B. J.
Published: August 2022

What is a genre? How do genres differ between cultures and languages? How do generic texts get translated, and how does the specific genre affect the act of translation? This Element surveys the concept of genre itself, a number of different genres, and what happens to these genres through translation, while also providing an overview of research into these topics along with research-based approaches for translating work that can perhaps be labelled as generic.
Defaults are not a panacea: distinguishing between default effects on choices and on outcomes
Authors: Kalkstein David A. , De Lima Fabiana , Brady Shannon T. , Rozek Christopher S. , Johnson Eric J. , Walton Gregory M.
Published: August 2022

Recently, defaults have become celebrated as a low-cost and easy-to-implement nudge for promoting positive outcomes, both at an individual and societal level. In the present research, we conducted a large-scale field experiment (N = 32,508) in an educational context to test the effectiveness of a default intervention in promoting participation in a potentially beneficial achievement test. We found that a default manipulation increased the rate at which high school students registered to take the test but failed to produce a significant change in students’ actual rate of test-taking. These results join past literature documenting robust effects of default framings on initial choice but marked variability in the extent to which those choices ultimately translate to real-world outcomes. We suggest that this variability is attributable to differences in choice-to-outcome pathways – the extent to which the initial choice is causally determinative of the outcome.
An Evacuation Simulation in Multiple Neonatal Intensive Care Units Across a Single City: Lessons Learned
Authors: Tullius Zoe , Helgesen Wanda , Mulla Zuber D , Chheda Sadhana
Published: August 2022

Objective:

Evacuations of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in emergency situations pose specialized challenges given their population of critically-ill neonates. Most of the literature on this topic describes planned evacuations and simulations due to natural disasters, usually involving only NICU staff. This study examines a unique emergent NICU evacuation simulation involving multiple responders occurring on a citywide scale.

Methods:

A simulated evacuation in response to a fire was conducted in 6 different NICUs in El Paso, Texas. The exercise utilized response from NICU staff and first responders. A standardized tool, by independent evaluators, was used to evaluate staff competencies while reactions were assessed using post-exercise surveys.

Results:

This city-wide multidisciplinary simulation improved NICU personnel skills in evacuation and also introduced first responders to this specialized patient population. Areas of strength across all NICUs included teamwork, knowledge of evacuation equipment, and patient tracking. Areas for improvement included lack of adequate equipment for post-evacuation care, understanding implications of smoke exposure, alternative evacuation routes, incident command structure, and unified communication.

Conclusions:

This successful, citywide NICU evacuation simulation improved knowledge among participants, introduced first responders to a specialized patient population, and provided valuable lessons on neonate-specific themes that can be incorporated to improve citywide emergency preparedness.
Climate Adaptation Planning for Resilient and Sustainable Cities: Perspectives from the City of Rotterdam (Netherlands) and the City of Antwerp (Belgium)
Authors: van der Berg Angela
Published: August 2022

Climate adaptation planning in pursuit of resilient and sustainable societies has become a focal point in urban policy. Climate adaptation planning is generally regarded as separate from traditional urban planning practices. Globally and in Europe, however, cities are increasingly integrating climate adaptation planning into their traditional urban planning instruments and processes. Recent research indicates that the scope of such integration is at varying stages. The City of Rotterdam (Netherlands) and the City of Antwerp (Belgium) have been identified as two European cities that face similar climate impacts and risks given their proximity to a large river delta. Both cities aim to integrate climate adaptation into their respective urban planning policies, but the scope of their integration differs. This paper critically analyses the urban planning policies of these two cities to distil key lessons learnt that cities with similar climate impacts and approaches to urban planning may potentially face in integrating climate adaptation planning into urban planning policies. The paper finds that identifying and evaluating the synergies, co-benefits or trade-offs of adaptation measures is a key challenge to integrating climate adaptation into urban planning policy. It is a potential stumbling block for long-term sustainable development and climate resilience.
Elastic solid dynamics in a coupled oscillatory Couette flow system
Authors: Parthasarathy Tejaswin , Bhosale Yashraj , Gazzola Mattia
Published: August 2022

We report analytical solutions of a problem involving a visco-elastic solid material layer sandwiched between two fluid layers, in turn confined by two long planar walls that undergo oscillatory motion. The resulting system dynamics is rationalized, based on fluid viscosity and solid elasticity, via wave and boundary layer theory. This allows for physical interpretation of elasto-hydrodynamic coupling, potentially connecting to a broad set of biophysical phenomena and applications, from synovial joint mechanics to elastometry. Further, obtained solutions are demonstrated to be rigorous benchmarks for testing coupled incompressible fluid–hyperelastic solid and multi-phase numerical solvers, towards which we highlight challenging parameter sets. Finally, we provide an interactive online sandbox to build physical intuition, and open-source our code-base.
Evaluating the stretching/compression effect of Richtmyer–Meshkov instability in convergent geometries
Authors: Ge Jin , Li Haifeng , Zhang Xinting , Tian Baolin
Published: August 2022

Richtmyer–Meshkov (RM) instability in convergent geometries (such as cylinders and spheres) plays a fundamental role in natural phenomena and engineering applications, e.g. supernova explosion and inertial confinement fusion. Convergent geometry refers to a system in which the interface converges and the fluids are compressed correspondingly. By applying a decomposition formula, the stretching or compression (S(C)) effect is separated from the perturbation growth as one of the main contributions, which is defined as the averaged velocity difference between two ends of the mixing zone. Starting from linear theories, the S(C) effect in planar, cylindrical and spherical geometries is derived as a function of geometrical convergence ratio, compression ratio and mixing width. Specifically, geometrical convergence stretches the mixing zone, while fluid compression compresses the mixing zone. Moreover, the contribution of geometrical convergence in the spherical geometry is more important than that in the cylindrical geometry. A series of cylindrical cases with high convergence ratio is simulated, and the growth of perturbations is compared with that of the corresponding planar cases. As a result, the theoretical results of the S(C) effect agree well with the numerical results. Furthermore, results show that the S(C) effect is a significant feature in convergent geometries. Therefore, the S(C) effect is an important part of the Bell–Plesset effect. The present work on the S(C) effect is important for further modelling of the mixing width of convergent RM instabilities.
Transfers of energy and helicity in helical rotating turbulence
Authors: Hu Running , Li Xinliang , Yu Changping
Published: August 2022

Helical rotating turbulence is a chiral and anisotropic flow. The energy and helicity transfers of helical rotating turbulence are studied in this paper. First, we discuss the antisymmetry and conservation of energy and helicity transfers. There are three expressions for helicity transfers due to the commutability of differential operators. The first expression is derived here. The second expression violates antisymmetry, and the third one introduces non-physical effects. The relations of these expressions are discussed in detail, including those about the sum of all triads and partial triads, as well as those about helical wave decomposition. Through direct numerical simulations, we find that helicity can reduce inverse energy cascades. The inhibition is mainly associated with transhelical energy fluxes and the interactions of two-dimensional modes. The inverse cascades of decomposed energy fluxes are related to the two-dimensionalization. For helicity, rotation does not affect the total helicity flux but generally suppresses the decomposed helicity fluxes. Positive homochiral and negative heterochiral helicity fluxes are associated with corresponding positive anisotropic transfers. Notably, the transhelical helicity fluxes increase the amplitudes of both positive and negative helicity, which is related to the chirality polarization.
Chordwise flexible aft-tail suppresses jet-switching by reinstating wake periodicity in a flapping foil
Authors: Shah Chhote Lal , Majumdar Dipanjan , Bose Chandan , Sarkar Sunetra
Published: August 2022

The effect of a chordwise flexible aft-tail of a rigid heaving aerofoil on the dynamical transitions of the trailing-wake is studied here. The two-way coupled fluid–solid dynamics is simulated using an in-house fluid–structure interaction (FSI) platform, comprising a discrete forcing immersed boundary method based incompressible Navier–Stokes solver, weakly coupled with a finite difference method based structural solver. The FSI dynamics is studied in comparison to the corresponding rigid tail configuration. For the latter, mild jet-switching due to quasi-periodic movement of the wake vortices gives way to vigorous jet-switching as the dynamics transitions to a state of intermittency, where the quasi-periodic behaviour gets interspersed with chaotic windows. Introduction of a moderately flexible tail regularises this intermittent dynamics, eliminating jet-switching. The wake exhibits a deflected reverse Kármán pattern with fluctuating angles, governed by quasi-periodicity. With a highly flexible tail (very low rigidity), the wake shows almost a symmetric reverse Kármán street as periodicity is restored. Flexibility of the aft-tail is next controlled by changing its length, and flow is regularised and periodicity retained for moderate rigidity for increased length. Different dynamical states are established through robust nonlinear dynamical tools. The underlying flow-field behaviour, instrumental in suppressing the jet-switching phenomenon, is identified through a detailed investigation of the near-field vortex interactions dictated by the dynamics. A suite of measures has also been derived from the unsteady flow field to quantify the interactions of the key near-field vortices with a view to understanding the mechanism of switching and its subsequent suppression through flexibility.
Blocks as Geographic Discontinuities: The Effect of Polling-Place Assignment on Voting
Authors: Tomkins Sabina , Yao Keniel , Gaebler Johann , Konitzer Tobias , Rothschild David , Meredith Marc , Goel Sharad
Published: August 2022

A potential voter must incur a number of costs in order to successfully cast an in-person ballot, including the costs associated with identifying and traveling to a polling place. In order to investigate how these costs affect voter turnout, we introduce two quasi-experimental designs that can be used to study how the political participation of registered voters is affected by differences in the relative distance that registrants must travel to their assigned Election Day polling place and whether their polling place remains at the same location as in a previous election. Our designs make comparisons of registrants who live on the same residential block, but are assigned to vote at different polling places. We find that living farther from a polling place and being assigned to a new polling place reduce in-person Election Day voting, but that registrants largely offset for this by casting more early in-person and mail ballots.
A 50-year-old redescription: molecular and morphometric characterization of Hepatozoon carinicauda Pessôa and Cavalheiro, 1969 in the brown-banded water snake Helicops angulatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: de Paula Fabiane R. , Picelli Amanda M. , Perles Lívia , André Marcos R. , Viana Lúcio A.
Published: August 2022

The combined use of molecular and microscopic techniques has become an increasingly common and efficient practice for the taxonomic and evolutionary understanding of single-celled parasites such as haemogregarines. Based on this integrative approach, we characterized Hepatozoon found in Helicops angulatus snakes from the Eastern Amazonia, Brazil. The gamonts observed caused cell hypertrophy and were extremely elongated and, in some cases, piriform (mean dimensions: 25.3 ± 1.9 × 8.6 ± 1.3 μm). These morphological features correspond to Hepatozoon carinicauda, described 50 years ago in the snake Helicops carinicaudus in the southeast region of Brazil. Phylogenetic and genetic divergence analyses, performed with the sequence obtained from the amplification of a 590 bp fragment of the 18S rRNA gene, revealed that Hepatozoon in He. angulatus differed from the other lineages retrieved from GenBank, and was clustered singly in both the phylogenetic tree and the haplotype network. The integration of these data allowed the identification of H. carinicauda in a new aquatic host, and increased the knowledge of its geographical distribution. Therefore, the present study included the first redescription of a Hepatozoon species in a snake from the Brazilian Amazon.
RBF neural network-based admittance PD control for knee rehabilitation robot
Authors: Almaghout Karam , Tarvirdizadeh Bahram , Alipour Khalil , Hadi Alireza
Published: August 2022

Early-stage rehabilitation therapy for post-stroke patients consists of intensive and accurate training sessions. During these sessions, the therapist moves the patient’s joint within its range of motion repetitively. Patients, at this stage, often cannot control their muscles, and neurological disorders may occur and lead to undesirable movements. Thus, the therapist should train the joint gently to handle any sudden involuntary movements. Otherwise, the joint may undergo excessive torques, which may injure it. In this paper, we address this case and develop a clinical rehabilitation robotic system for training the knee joint taking into account the occurrence of these undesirable movements. The developed system has an innovative mechanism to measure interaction torques exerted by involuntary movements. Then, we introduce a new control approach consisting of an admittance controller and a proportional-derivative controller augmented by a radial basis function (PD-RBF) neural network. The PD-RBF guides the robot joint along a predefined trajectory, while the admittance part tracks any sudden interaction torques and updates the predefined trajectory accordingly. Thus, the robot trains the knee joint and once an undesirable movement occurs the robot gets along with this movement smoothly, then it gets back to the predefined trajectory. To validate the performance of the proposed admittance PD-RBF controller, we consider two controllers, an admittance adaptive sliding mode control and an admittance conventional PD one. Then, a compatarive study is conducted on these controllers via real-world experiments. The obtained results verify the efficiency of the admittance PD-RBF and prove its superiority over the other aforementioned controllers.
International Studies in Theatre and Dance …
Authors: Jackson Esther M.
Published: August 2022

The emergence of the popular arts in the twentieth century, as in earlier periods of Western history, has been characterized by contrary developments: one toward a narrowing of vision – greater subjectivity; and a second toward broadening of that vision –greater objectivity. The sixties and seventies have seen the sharpening of an internal tension within developing kinds, between universality and provinciality– content and form. If the popular arts of the sixties have served to measure the accelerating crises of modern industrial societies, they have done so in contrary patterns. The arts of the sixties and seventies –particularly the performing arts –have been simultaneously personal and universal, irrational and rational.
Monnaie et inflation dans un modèle de cycles réels
Authors: Hairault Jean-Olivier , Portier Franck
Published: August 2022

Nous présentons dans cet article un modèle d'equilibre général
intertemporel qui rend compte de l'influence de l'inflation dans le cycle en
France et aux Etats-Unis. L'adoption d'une fonction d'utilité assez générate
permet de degager l'importance des élasticités de substitution instantanée
et intertemporelle dans la dynamique d'ajustement de l'économie et
l'éventuelle présence d'un effet Tobin. La
simulation stochastique du modèle et sa comparaison avec les données
françaises et américaines montre qu'il permet une reproduction de la
dimension réelle du cycle similaire à celle des modèles
RBC traditionnels. La reproduction de la
dimension nominale du cycle s'avère plus décevante, un étalonnage réaliste
du modèle (en particulier de la valeur des élasticités intertemporelles de
substitution) ne permet pas de reproduire conjointement les faits stylisés
nominaux principaux et les profils de réponses des variables réelles à un
choc monétaire.
Une analyse longitudinale de la fécondité
en Belgique
Authors: Wunsch Guillaume
Published: August 2022

La plupart des études publiées jusqu'à
présent ont analysé la fécondité en Belgique au
moyen d'indices transversaux uniquement; or, les
indices du moment demeurent tous fortement
influencés par les modifications éventuelles du
comportement fondamental des cohortes. En d'autres
termes, une « descendance » calculée en analyse du
moment ne dépend pas seulement de l'intensité
réelle du phénomène par cohorte mais également des
modifications dans le calendrier du phénomène. Cet
« effet accordéon » peut dans certains cas fausser
les conclusions que l'on tirerait d'une analyse
transversale de la fécondité. Une réduction de la
descendance par cohorte peut être masquée en
analyse transversale si l'on assiste parallèlement
à un changement du calendrier de la fécondité par
cohorte ; un accroissement de la descendance
réelle peut être caché pour la même raison. Nous
pouvons également observer le phénomène inverse :
la descendance du moment peut croître ou diminuer
sans que l'on assiste à un mouvement similaire de
la descendance réelle par cohorte.
Miniaturized tunable extended eight-port hybrid coupler for 1.5 T MRI
Authors: Colwell Zachary A. , Sohn Sung-Min
Published: August 2022

This paper presents a miniaturized, tunable, high-power, eight-port hybrid coupler, based on a lumped element hybrid coupler topology. The 90° hybrid couplers are ubiquitous elements used for feeding RF coils in quadrature in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. Due to the low Larmor frequency (64 MHz) of 1.5 T MRI, distributed elements are too large for practical circuits to drive multi-port RF coils. Thus, miniaturization with MRI-compatible, non-magnetic, and high-power components is necessary. First, a miniaturized hybrid coupler is proposed for MRI systems with non-magnetic variable capacitors. Afterwards, the miniaturization methodology is applied to develop an eight-port coupler, capable of supporting both a transmit and a receive quadrature RF coil system. The high-power (up to 1 kilowatt) extended coupler measures 10 cm × 6 cm. Test results show that each port has a return loss of more than 16 dB, each input-isolated port is isolated by more than 24 dB, and each output has an insertion loss of less than 2.5 dB and output phases of 0.0°, 90.8°, 182.1°, and 278.7°.
Magnetotelluric Investigations of the Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaii
Authors: Hoversten G. M. , Gasperikova Erika , Mackie Randall , Myer David , Kauahikaua Jim , Newman Greg. A. , Cuevas Nestor
Published: August 2022

In 2002 and 2003 a collaborative effort was undertaken between Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Menlo Park, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, and Electromagnetic Instruments Inc. to study the Kīlauea volcano in Hawaii using the magnetotelluric (MT) technique. The work was motivated by a desire to improve understanding of the magma reservoirs and conduits within Kīlauea and the East and Southwest Rift zones, which has implications for understanding Kīlauea's plumbing system. An improved understanding of the rift zones has implications in understanding large‐scale landslides that are generated in the Hilina Slump, which produce significant impacts on coastal communities. Up to eight stations operated simultaneously, with multiple remote reference sites, and data were processed using multi‐station robust processing techniques. In total, data were acquired at 70 sites over the Southwest and East rift zones. Good to excellent quality data were obtained even in the harshest conditions, such as those encountered on the fresh lava flows of the East Rift Zone, where electrical contact resistances are on the order of 100 kΩ. A three‐dimensional (3D) MT model study was done to guide interpretation of the observed MT measurements. Synthetic modeling demonstrates that conductive bodies in the upper 3 km can be spatially resolved where MT station sampling is good. Resistivity anomalies in the 3D inversions have a high degree of spatial correlation with previously published seismic velocity anomalies beneath Kīlauea. Melt fractions between 0.096 and 0.117 are calculated for the Kīlauea and Puʻuʻōʻō low resistivity anomalies, respectively.
Suppression of exaggerated NMDAR activity by memantine treatment ameliorates neurological and behavioral deficits in aminopeptidase P1-deficient mice
Authors: Bae Young-Soo , Yoon Sang Ho , Kim Young Sook , Oh Sung Pyo , Song Woo Seok , Cha Jin Hee , Kim Myoung-Hwan
Published: August 2022

Inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) are common causes of neurodevelopmental disorders, including microcephaly, hyperactivity, and intellectual disability. However, the synaptic mechanisms of and pharmacological interventions for the neurological complications of most IEMs are unclear. Here, we report that metabolic dysfunction perturbs neuronal NMDA receptor (NMDAR) homeostasis and that the restoration of NMDAR signaling ameliorates neurodevelopmental and cognitive deficits in IEM model mice that lack aminopeptidase P1. Aminopeptidase P1-deficient (Xpnpep1–/–) mice, with a disruption of the proline-specific metalloprotease gene Xpnpep1, exhibit hippocampal neurodegeneration, behavioral hyperactivity, and impaired hippocampus-dependent learning. In this study, we found that GluN1 and GluN2A expression, NMDAR activity, and the NMDAR-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) of excitatory synaptic transmission were markedly enhanced in the hippocampi of Xpnpep1–/– mice. The exaggerated NMDAR activity and NMDAR-dependent LTP were reversed by the NMDAR antagonist memantine. A single administration of memantine reversed hyperactivity in adult Xpnpep1–/– mice without improving learning and memory. Furthermore, chronic administration of memantine ameliorated hippocampal neurodegeneration, hyperactivity, and impaired learning and memory in Xpnpep1–/– mice. In addition, abnormally enhanced NMDAR-dependent LTP and NMDAR downstream signaling in the hippocampi of Xpnpep1–/– mice were reversed by chronic memantine treatment. These results suggest that the metabolic dysfunction caused by aminopeptidase P1 deficiency leads to synaptic dysfunction with excessive NMDAR activity, and the restoration of synaptic function may be a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of neurological complications related to IEMs.
Exchange-induced spin polarization in a single magnetic molecule junction
Authors: Pei Tian , Thomas James O. , Sopp Simen , Tsang Ming-Yee , Dotti Nicola , Baugh Jonathan , Chilton Nicholas F. , Cardona-Serra Salvador , Gaita-Ariño Alejandro , Anderson Harry L. , Bogani Lapo
Published: August 2022

Many spintronic devices rely on the presence of spin-polarized currents at zero magnetic field. This is often obtained by spin exchange-bias, where an element with long-range magnetic order creates magnetized states and displaces the hysteresis loop. Here we demonstrate that exchange-split spin states are observable and usable in the smallest conceivable unit: a single magnetic molecule. We use a redox-active porphyrin as a transport channel, coordinating a dysprosium-based single-molecule-magnet inside a graphene nano-gap. Single-molecule transport in magnetic field reveals the existence of exchange-split channels with different spin-polarizations that depend strongly on the field orientation, and comparison with the diamagnetic isostructural compound and milikelvin torque magnetometry unravels the role of the single-molecule anisotropy and the molecular orientation. These results open a path to using spin-exchange in molecular electronics, and offer a method to quantify the internal spin structure of single molecules in multiple oxidation states.
Dynamic actuation enhances transport and extends therapeutic lifespan in an implantable drug delivery platform
Authors: Whyte William , Goswami Debkalpa , Wang Sophie X. , Fan Yiling , Ward Niamh A. , Levey Ruth E. , Beatty Rachel , Robinson Scott T. , Sheppard Declan , O’Connor Raymond , Monahan David S. , Trask Lesley , Mendez Keegan L. , Varela Claudia E. , Horvath Markus A. , Wylie Robert , O’Dwyer Joanne , Domingo-Lopez Daniel A. , Rothman Arielle S. , Duffy Garry P. , Dolan Eimear B. , Roche Ellen T.
Published: August 2022

Fibrous capsule (FC) formation, secondary to the foreign body response (FBR), impedes molecular transport and is detrimental to the long-term efficacy of implantable drug delivery devices, especially when tunable, temporal control is necessary. We report the development of an implantable mechanotherapeutic drug delivery platform to mitigate and overcome this host immune response using two distinct, yet synergistic soft robotic strategies. Firstly, daily intermittent actuation (cycling at 1 Hz for 5 minutes every 12 hours) preserves long-term, rapid delivery of a model drug (insulin) over 8 weeks of implantation, by mediating local immunomodulation of the cellular FBR and inducing multiphasic temporal FC changes. Secondly, actuation-mediated rapid release of therapy can enhance mass transport and therapeutic effect with tunable, temporal control. In a step towards clinical translation, we utilise a minimally invasive percutaneous approach to implant a scaled-up device in a human cadaveric model. Our soft actuatable platform has potential clinical utility for a variety of indications where transport is affected by fibrosis, such as the management of type 1 diabetes.
Thermodynamics of organic electrochemical transistors
Authors: Cucchi Matteo , Weissbach Anton , Bongartz Lukas M. , Kantelberg Richard , Tseng Hsin , Kleemann Hans , Leo Karl
Published: August 2022

Despite their increasing usefulness in a wide variety of applications, organic electrochemical transistors still lack a comprehensive and unifying physical framework able to describe the current-voltage characteristics and the polymer/electrolyte interactions simultaneously. Building upon thermodynamic axioms, we present a quantitative analysis of the operation of organic electrochemical transistors. We reveal that the entropy of mixing is the main driving force behind the redox mechanism that rules the transfer properties of such devices in electrolytic environments. In the light of these findings, we show that traditional models used for organic electrochemical transistors, based on the theory of field-effect transistors, fall short as they treat the active material as a simple capacitor while ignoring the material properties and energetic interactions. Finally, by analyzing a large spectrum of solvents and device regimes, we quantify the entropic and enthalpic contributions and put forward an approach for targeted material design and device applications.
A physical wiring diagram for the human immune system
Authors: Shilts Jarrod , Severin Yannik , Galaway Francis , Müller-Sienerth Nicole , Chong Zheng-Shan , Pritchard Sophie , Teichmann Sarah , Vento-Tormo Roser , Snijder Berend , Wright Gavin J.
Published: August 2022

The human immune system is composed of a distributed network of cells circulating throughout the body, which must dynamically form physical associations and communicate using interactions between their cell-surface proteomes1. Despite their therapeutic potential2, our map of these surface interactions remains incomplete3,4. Here, using a high-throughput surface receptor screening method, we systematically mapped the direct protein interactions across a recombinant library that encompasses most of the surface proteins that are detectable on human leukocytes. We independently validated and determined the biophysical parameters of each novel interaction, resulting in a high-confidence and quantitative view of the receptor wiring that connects human immune cells. By integrating our interactome with expression data, we identified trends in the dynamics of immune interactions and constructed a reductionist mathematical model that predicts cellular connectivity from basic principles. We also developed an interactive multi-tissue single-cell atlas that infers immune interactions throughout the body, revealing potential functional contexts for new interactions and hubs in multicellular networks. Finally, we combined targeted protein stimulation of human leukocytes with multiplex high-content microscopy to link our receptor interactions to functional roles, in terms of both modulating immune responses and maintaining normal patterns of intercellular associations. Together, our work provides a systematic perspective on the intercellular wiring of the human immune system that extends from systems-level principles of immune cell connectivity down to mechanistic characterization of individual receptors, which could offer opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
Developing a high-resolution gridded rainfall product for Bangladesh during 1901–2018
Authors: Dewan Ashraf , Shahid Shamsuddin , Bhuian Md. Hanif , Hossain Shaikh M. Jobayed , Nashwan Mohamed Salem , Chung Eun-Sung , Hassan Quazi K. , Asaduzzaman Md
Published: August 2022

A high-resolution (1 km × 1 km) monthly gridded rainfall data product during 1901–2018, named Bangladesh Gridded Rainfall (BDGR), was developed in this study. In-situ rainfall observations retrieved from a number of sources, including national organizations and undigitized data from the colonial era, were used. Leave-one-out cross-validation was used to assess product’s ability to capture spatial and temporal variability. The results revealed spatial variability of the percentage bias (PBIAS) in the range of −2 to 2%, normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) <20%, and correlation coefficient (R2) >0.88 at most of the locations. The temporal variability in mean PBIAS for 1901–2018 was in the range of −4.5 to 4.3%, NRMSE between 9 and 19% and R2 in the range of 0.87 to 0.95. The BDGR also showed its capability in replicating temporal patterns and trends of observed rainfall with greater accuracy. The product can provide reliable insights regarding various hydrometeorological issues, including historical floods, droughts, and groundwater recharge for a well-recognized global climate hotspot, Bangladesh.
Design and validation of cyanobacteria-rhizobacteria consortia for tomato seedlings growth promotion
Authors: Toribio A. J. , Suárez-Estrella F. , Jurado M. M. , López-González J. A. , Martínez-Gallardo M. R. , López M. J.
Published: July 2022

The use of rhizobacteria provide great benefits in terms of nitrogen supply, suppression of plant diseases, or production of vitamins and phytohormones that stimulate the plant growth. At the same time, cyanobacteria can photosynthesize, fix nitrogen, synthesize substances that stimulate rhizogenesis, plant aerial growth, or even suppose an extra supply of carbon usable by heterotrophic bacteria, as well as act as biological control agents, give them an enormous value as plant growth promoters. The present study focused on the in vitro establishment of consortia using heterotrophic bacteria and cyanobacteria and the determination of their effectiveness in the development of tomato seedlings. Microbial collection was composed of 3 cyanobacteria (SAB-M612 and SAB-B866 belonging to Nostocaceae Family) and GS (unidentified cyanobacterium) and two phosphate and potassium solubilizing heterotrophic bacteria (Pseudomonas putida-BIO175 and Pantoea cypripedii-BIO175). The results revealed the influence of the culture medium, incubation time and the microbial components of each consortium in determining their success as biofertilizers. In this work, the most compatible consortia were obtained by combining the SAB-B866 and GS cyanobacteria with either of the two heterotrophic bacteria. Cyanobacteria GS promoted the growth of both rhizobacteria in vitro (increasing logarithmic units when they grew together). While Cyanobacteria SAB-B866 together with both rhizobacteria stimulated the growth of tomato seedlings in planta, leading to greater aerial development of the treated seedlings. Parameters such as fresh weight and stem diameter stood out in the plants treated with the consortia (SAB-B866 and both bacteria) compared to the untreated plants, where the values doubled. However, the increase was more discrete for the parameters stem length and number of leaves. These results suggest that the artificial formulation of microbial consortia can have positive synergistic effects on plant growth, which is of enormous agro-biotechnological interest.
β subunits of GABAA receptors form proton-gated chloride channels: Insights into the molecular basis
Authors: Garifulina Aleksandra , Friesacher Theres , Stadler Marco , Zangerl-Plessl Eva-Maria , Ernst Margot , Stary-Weinzinger Anna , Willam Anita , Hering Steffen
Published: August 2022

Gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABAARs) are ligand gated channels mediating inhibition in the central nervous system. Here, we identify a so far undescribed function of β-subunit homomers as proton-gated anion channels. Mutation of a single H267A in β3 subunits completely abolishes channel activation by protons. In molecular dynamic simulations of the β3 crystal structure protonation of H267 increased the formation of hydrogen bonds between H267 and E270 of the adjacent subunit leading to a pore stabilising ring formation and accumulation of Cl- within the transmembrane pore. Conversion of these residues in proton insensitive ρ1 subunits transfers proton-dependent gating, thus highlighting the role of this interaction in proton sensitivity. Activation of chloride and bicarbonate currents at physiological pH changes (pH50 is in the range 6- 6.3) and kinetic studies suggest a physiological role in neuronal and non-neuronal tissues that express beta subunits, and thus as potential novel drug target.
Proximity to small-scale inland and coastal fisheries is associated with improved income and food security
Authors: Simmance Fiona A. , Nico Gianluigi , Funge-Smith Simon , Basurto Xavier , Franz Nicole , Teoh Shwu J. , Byrd Kendra A. , Kolding Jeppe , Ahern Molly , Cohen Philippa J. , Nankwenya Bonface , Gondwe Edith , Virdin John , Chimatiro Sloans , Nagoli Joseph , Kaunda Emmanuel , Thilsted Shakuntala H. , Mills David J.
Published: August 2022

Poverty and food insecurity persist in sub-Saharan Africa. We conducted a secondary analysis of nationally representative data from three sub-Saharan Africa countries (Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda) to investigate how both proximity to and engagement with small-scale fisheries are associated with household poverty and food insecurity. Results from the analysis suggest that households engaged in small-scale fisheries were 9 percentage points less likely to be poor than households engaged only in agriculture. Households living in proximity to small-scale fisheries (average distance 2.7 km) were 12.6 percentage points more likely to achieve adequate food security and were 15 percentage points less likely to be income poor, compared to the most distant households. Households distant from fishing grounds (>5 km) were 1.5 times more likely to consume dried fish compared to households living close. Conserving the flow of benefits from small-scale fisheries is important for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals in the region.
Hemin functionalized hybrid aerogel-enabled electrochemical chip for real-time analysis of H2O2
Authors: Zhao Peng , Liang Yi , Liu Yiyi , Zhao Shixian , Yang Mei , Huo Danqun , Hou Changjun
Published: August 2022

Herein, a novel hemin functionalized hybrid aerogel (He@GMA) is synthesized and applied to an electrochemical chip for real-time analysis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).
Two-dimensional confinement for generating thin single crystals for applications in time-resolved electron diffraction and spectroscopy: an intramolecular proton transfer study
Authors: Hwang Hyein , Tiwari Vandana , Duan Hong-Guang , Bittmann Simon F. , Tellkamp Friedjof , Jha Ajay , Miller R. J. Dwayne
Published: August 2022

Our work provides a general workflow to make thin organic crystals with large enough area to measure atomically resolved structural dynamics using transmission-based optical and diffraction measurements.
Decarboxylative 1,2-rearrangement of cyclic carbonates promoted by Lewis acid
Authors: Dokai Yoichi , Saito Kodai , Yamada Tohru
Published: August 2022

A Lewis acid-mediated decarboxylative 1,2-rearrangement reaction of cyclic carbonates was developed. The selectivity of the migration of cyclic carbonates was opposite to that of the corresponding 1,2-diols under the same reaction conditions.
Two-photon polymerization lithography enabling the fabrication of PEDOT:PSS 3D structures for bioelectronic applications
Authors: Ruggiero Amedeo , Criscuolo Valeria , Grasselli Sara , Bruno Ugo , Ausilio Chiara , Bovio Claudia Latte , Bettucci Ottavia , Santoro Francesca
Published: August 2022

In this work, an innovative fabrication method for the realization of PEDOT:PSS-based conductive micropillars and 3D cage-like structures is presented, combining 2-photon lithography and electrodeposition techniques.
The influence of a convection field on the growth of high-quality diamond under high-temperature, high-pressure conditions using catalyst systems with different viscosities
Authors: Teng Yu , Wang Chunxiao , Wang Shengxue , Chen Liangchao , Li Yadong , Wang Jian , Ma Hongan , Jia Xiaopeng
Published: August 2022

In this work, the effect of catalyst viscosity on diamond growth was studied by simulating and analyzing the catalyst convection field in a diamond synthesis chamber in different viscous catalyst systems.
Influence of water concentration on the solvothermal synthesis of VO2(B) nanocrystals
Authors: Beidelman Brittney A. , Zhang Xiaotian , Sanchez-Lievanos Karla R. , Selino Annabel V. , Matson Ellen M. , Knowles Kathryn E.
Published: August 2022

Phase and length control of VO2(B) nanocrystals afforded by manipulating the ratio of toluene to water.
Partition of the electronic energy of the PM7 methodviathe interacting quantum atoms approach
Authors: Salazar-Lozas Hugo , Guevara-Vela José Manuel , Pendás Ángel Martín , Francisco Evelio , Rocha-Rinza Tomás
Published: August 2022

We put forward a partition of the electronic energyEof semiempirical methods based on topological wavefunction analysis. This division ofEleads to valuable physical insights of complex systems.
Mechanism underlying liquid-to-solid phase transition in fused in sarcoma liquid droplets
Authors: Li Shujie , Yoshizawa Takuya , Shiramasa Yutaro , Kanamaru Mako , Ide Fumika , Kitamura Keiji , Kashiwagi Norika , Sasahara Naoya , Kitazawa Soichiro , Kitahara Ryo
Published: August 2022

The liquid-to-solid phase transition of FUS liquid condensates were accelerated in the aberrant LLPS (HP-LLPS). Arginine, dopamine, and pyrocatechol suppress the formation of the aberrant LLPS more strongly than the normal LLPS (LP-LLPS).
Mechanism and performance of ionic diodes fabricated from 2D trapezoidal-shaped nanochannels
Authors: Li Mengqi , Hu Lide , Li Deyu , Song Yongxin , Sun Ya
Published: August 2022

The ion rectification mechanism of 2D trapezoidal-shaped nanochannels was investigated both numerically and experimentally.
Fluorinated metal–organic frameworks for gas separation
Authors: Ebadi Amooghin Abtin , Sanaeepur Hamidreza , Luque Rafael , Garcia Hermenegildo , Chen Banglin
Published: August 2022

Fluorinated metal–organic frameworks (F-MOFs) as fast-growing porous materials have revolutionized the field of gas separation due to their tunable pore apertures, appealing chemical features, and excellent stability.
Stimuli-responsive spin crossover nanoparticles for drug delivery and DNA-binding studies
Authors: Polyzou Christina D. , Gkolfi Patroula , Chasapis Christos T. , Bekiari Vlasoula , Zianna Ariadni , Psomas George , Ondrej Malina , Tangoulis Vassilis
Published: August 2022

Aminated silica hybrid, spin-crossover (SCO) nanoparticles (AmNPs) coupled with (S)-naproxen (NAP) are good candidates for drug nanocarriers.
Facile fabrication of self-supporting porous CuMoO4@Co3O4nanosheets as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for efficient overall water splitting
Authors: Dai Fei Fei , Xue Yan Xue , Gao Ding Ling , Liu Yu Xiang , Chen Jian Hua , Lin Qiao Jing , Lin Wei Wei , Yang Qian
Published: August 2022

Research shows that redox complementarity and synergism among the ingredients of heterogeneous catalysts can enhance the performance of the catalyst.
Anserine beneficial effects in hyperuricemic rats by inhibiting XOD, regulating uric acid transporter and repairing hepatorenal injury
Authors: Chen Ming , Ji Hongwu , Song Wenkui , Zhang Di , Su Weiming , Liu Shucheng
Published: August 2022

Hyperuricemic rats were induced with a combination of potassium oxazinate and hypoxanthine. Anserine exhibited anti-hyperuricemia ability by inhibiting XOD, regulating uric acid transporter levels and repairing hepatorenal injury.
Dual antioxidant activity and the related mechanisms of a novel pentapeptide GLP4 from the fermented mycelia ofGanoderma lingzhi
Authors: Huang Ping , Luo Fei-Jun , Ma You-Chu , Wang Si-Xian , Huang Jia , Qin Dan-Dan , Xue Fei-Fei , Liu Bi-Yang , Wu Qiang , Wang Xiao-Ling , Liu Gao-Qiang
Published: August 2022

Oxidative stress causes chronic inflammation, and mediates various diseases.
Self-assembled silk fibroin hydrogels: from preparation to biomedical applications
Authors: Onder Ozgun Can , Batool Syeda Rubab , Nazeer Muhammad Anwaar
Published: August 2022

This review describes the methods to prepare self-assembled silk fibroin hydrogels with a focus on gelation mechanisms and biomedical applications.
Visible light-enabled regioselective chlorination of coumarins using CuCl2via LMCT excitation
Authors: Li Weiming , Liu Jinshan , Zhou Min , Ma Lin , Zhang Min
Published: August 2022

An efficient, regioselective chlorination of electron-deficient coumarins using CuCl2 under blue LED irradiation through LMCT excitation is reported.
Vinyl mercaptoethanol as a reactive monomer for the preparation of functional homo- and copolymers with (meth)acrylates
Authors: Ziegenbalg Nicole , Gruschwitz Franka V. , Adermann Torben , Mayr Lukas , Guriyanova Svetlana , Brendel Johannes C.
Published: August 2022

Vinyl mercaptoethanol is a scalable vinyl thioether monomer, which can readily be polymerized in a free radical process or by controlled methods. It tends to form alternating copolymers if copolymerized with acrylates and methacrylates.
Facile metal-free synthesis of pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrolyl-based conjugated microporous polymers for high-performance photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants
Authors: Wang Jing Han , Chang Chih-Ling , Zhang Zhe Wei , EL-Mahdy Ahmed F. M.
Published: August 2022

An efficient and metal-free approach to the synthesis of new kinds of CMPs (pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrolyl-based CMPs) on a gram scale within a short time has been developed for remarkable adsorbent and photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants.