bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early prediction of functional prognosis in neurofibromatosis type 2 patients based on genotype–phenotype correlation with targeted deep sequencing
Authors: Teranishi Yu , Miyawaki Satoru , Nakatomi Hirofumi , Ohara Kenta , Hongo Hiroki , Dofuku Shogo , Okano Atsushi , Takayanagi Shunsaku , Ota Takahiro , Yoshimura Jun , Qu Wei , Mitsui Jun , Morishita Shinichi , Tsuji Shoji , Saito Nobuhito
Published: June 2022

Regardless of treatment, the clinical progression of neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), particularly in terms of hearing, swallowing, and gait, tend to worsen throughout the patients’ lives. We performed a retrospective analysis of functional outcomes in Japanese NF2 patients to predict their functional prognosis. We analyzed genotype–phenotype correlation based on genetic data from a cohort of 57 patients with a mean follow-up of 14.5 ± 6.0 years. Their functional outcomes, including hearing, swallowing, and ambulation, were reviewed. Performing a targeted deep sequencing, germlineNF2mutations were identified in 28 patients (49.1%), and mosaic NF2 was identified in 20 patients (20, 35.0%). The functional preservation period and outcome differed significantly depending on clinical/genetic factors. Among these factors, “Truncating”, “Mosaic”, and “Age of symptom onset ≥ 25” had the most significant effects on functional disability. By applying a combination of anNF2mutation type/location, and age of symptom onset, we classified different degrees of functional preservation and progression, schwannoma growth rate and total interventions per year per patient. The prediction of detailed functional outcomes in NF2 patients can plan better strategies for life-long disease management and social integration.
Comparison of the extractability of organophosphorus flame retardants in landfill media using organic and green solvents
Authors: Sibiya Innocentia Velaphi , Okonkwo Okechukwu Jonathan
Published: June 2022

Organic solvents are mainly used in the extraction of organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) because of their availability and having been tested as good extracting solvents for most environmental pollutants. However, organic solvents are toxic, flammable, and costly. Hence, there is an ongoing quest for less hazardous chemicals such as green deep eutectic solvents (DES) that are cheap, recyclable, non-toxic and degradable in the environment, which can be used to extract organic pollutants such as OPFRs in environmental samples. This study assessed the extractability of OPFRs in municipal landfill leachate and sediment, using organic solvents and DES. Of the fourteen targeted OPFRs, 11 (80%) and 7 (50%) were detected in the leachate and sediment samples, using hexane; whereas 14 (100%) and 13 (90%) OPFRs were detected in the same order of samples using DES. The concentrations of OPFRs obtained for the leachate using optimum organic and DES ranged from below the limit of quantification (< LOQ)—516 ± 8.10 ng/L and < LOQ—453 ± 8.10 ng/L respectively. Correspondingly, the concentrations of OPFRs in sediment samples ranged from < LOQ—135 ± 2.89 ng/g dw and < LOQ—395 ± 2.24 ng/g dw, respectively. The results from this study, therefore, highlight the potential of DES to extract more OPFR from complex matrices such as landfill leachate and sediment. This finding infers that green hydrophilic DES can serve as good replacement for organic solvents such as hexane in liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) and solid–liquid extraction (SLE) techniques for landfill leachate and sediment.
Differences in the plasma phospholipid profile of patients infected with tick-borne encephalitis virus and co-infected with bacteria
Authors: Groth Monika , Łuczaj Wojciech , Dunaj-Małyszko Justyna , Skrzydlewska Elżbieta , Moniuszko-Malinowska Anna
Published: June 2022

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an infectious viral disease, the pathogenesis of which is still not fully understood. Additionally, TBE can be complicated by co-infections with various bacteria that are also transmitted by ticks, which can affect the proper diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate changes in the plasma phospholipid (PL) and ceramide (CER) profile of patients with TBE and patients with bacterial co-infection (B. burgdorferi or A. phagocytophilum) in relation to healthy subjects. For this purpose, a high-resolution LC-QTOF-MS/MS platform as well as univariate and multivariate statistics were used. The results of this study showed that the levels of phosphatidylcholines (PC) and lysophosphatidylcholines (LPC) species were increased in the plasma of patients with TBE and patients with TBE co-infected with bacteria. On the other hand, observed differences in the content of phosphoethanolamines (PE) and sphingomyelins (SM) make it possible to distinguish TBE patients from patients with co-infections. The opposite direction of changes was also observed in the CER content. This study showed significant modifications to the metabolic pathways of linoleic (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA), as confirmed by the quantitative analysis of these fatty acids. The obtained results allow to distinguish the pathomechanism of TBE from TBE with bacterial co-infection, and consequently may improve the diagnostic process and enable more efficient pharmacotherapy against both pathogens.
Effect of remelting heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of SnBi solder under high-speed self-propagation reaction
Authors: Wan Yang , Zhou Longzao , Wu Fengshun
Published: June 2022

The heat source based on the self-propagation reaction of Al/Ni thin foil has the characteristics of concentrated heat, fast temperature rise/fall rate and small heat-affected zone; it can complete the melting and solidification crystallization of solder within milliseconds to realize solder interconnection, which can solve the problems of damage to heat-sensitive materials and components caused by monolithic heating of package structure. However, due to the highly non-stationary interconnection process, the resulting microstructure morphology may affect the service performance of the interconnected joints. In view of this, to investigate the post-solder microstructure of solder based on the self-propagation reaction, this paper analyzes the effect of the initial microstructure on the post-solder microstructure by heating 300-μm-thick SnBi solder with a 40-μm Al/Ni thin foil. The results indicated that the short melting time could resulted in the incomplete melting of heterogeneous phases and the non-uniform distribution of elements during the melting process, which had a significant effect on the morphology and composition distribution of the solidified microstructure, as well as the hardness distribution of the melted zone. The above conclusions have the potential to improve the interconnection process based on the self-propagation reaction, which is critical for both theoretical guidance and engineering application.
The efficacy and safety of intravenous tranexamic acid on blood loss during total ankle replacement: a retrospective study
Authors: Tan Gang , Xie Li wei , Yi Shi Jiu , Chen Yu , Liu Xi , Zhang Hui
Published: June 2022

Only a few of studies have reported whether Tranexamic acid (TXA) has the same benefits during total ankle replacement as hip and knee replacements. In our study, we hypothesized that TXA was effective in reducing the perioperative blood loss without increasing the risk of symptomatic venous thromboembolism of patients during total ankle replacement. We retrospectively reviewed 71 patients who underwent total ankle replacement at the foot and ankle surgery center of our institution between January 2017 and May 2021. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they received intravenous tranexamic acid or not. Patients who received intravenous TXA showed significantly lower estimated intraoperative blood loss, hidden blood loss and total blood loss. The early AOFAS score and ROM at the first month follow up of TXA group were better than the NO-TXA group and the incidence of early wound infection and poor healing (< 1 month postoperative) was significant lower than NO-TXA group. Use of TXA was not associated with significant changes in the incidence of postoperative symptomatic venous thromboembolism. We conclude that intravenous TXA can safely and effectively reduce perioperative blood loss and the incidence of early wound infection and poor healing in total ankle replacement, without increasing the risk of symptomatic venous thromboembolism.The application of TXA following total ankle replacement helped improve ankle function and patient quality of life during the early stage.
Real-time single particle characterization of oxidized organic aerosols in the East China Sea
Authors: Liu Zhe , Chen Hui , Li Li , Xie Guangzhao , Ouyang Huiling , Tang Xu , Ju Ruiting , Li Bo , Zhang Renhe , Chen Jianmin
Published: June 2022

Knowledge of the chemical characteristics and sources of organic aerosols (OA) over marine is needed for evaluating their effects on climate change and air quality. Here, a quadrupole aerosol chemical speciation monitor (Q-ACSM) and a single-particle aerosol mass spectrometry (SPAMS) were synchronously employed to investigate the chemical composition, mixing state, and oxidation degree of oxidized organic aerosols (OOA) in PM1over the East China Sea (ECS) from 3 to 27 June 2017. Both aerosol mass spectrometers demonstrated that a higher oxidation state of OOA in aerosol particles could be generated during marine air mass-dominated periods (MDP) than that generated during land air mass-dominated periods (LDP). Two OOA factors including semi-volatile oxidized organic aerosol (SV-OOA) and low-volatility oxidized organic aerosol (LV-OOA) were distinguished based on Q-ACSM. Fifty-seven percent of the total detected particles with obvious signals of organic markers were identified as oxidized organic carbon (OOC) particles via SPAMS and further divided into lower oxidized organic carbon (LOOC) particles and more oxidized organic carbon (MOOC) particles. All OOC-containing particles were clustered into seven particle subgroups. The EC and K subgroups dominated the LOOC and MOOC particles, respectively, during periods controlled by land air masses, indicating that notable OOC formation was influenced by continental sources. OOA with higher oxygen states were found to dominate near ports. This suggested that OOA chemical characteristics over the ESC are seriously affected by continental, ship, and port emissions, which should be synergistically considered in evaluating their effects on solar radiation transfer and cloud processes.
An analytic model of the tropical cyclone outer size
Authors: Wang Shuai , Toumi Ralf
Published: June 2022

There are simple conceptual models of tropical cyclone intensification and potential intensity. However, such a framework has been lacking to describe the evolution of the outer circulation. An analytic growth model of the tropical cyclone outer size is derived from the angular momentum equation. The growth model fits a full-physics idealized tropical cyclone simulation. The lifecycle composite of the best-track outer size growth shows a strong super-linear nature, which supports an exponential growth as predicted by the growth model. The climatology of outer size growth measured by the radius of gale-force wind in the North Atlantic and Eastern Pacific during the period 2004–2017, can be understood in terms of four growth factors of the model: the initial size, the growth duration, the mean growth latitude, and the mean top-of-boundary-layer effective local inflow angle. All four variables are significantly different between the two basins. The observed lifetime maximum size follows a lognormal distribution, which is in line with the law of the proportionate effect of this exponential growth model. The growth model fits the observed outer size well in global basins. The time constant of the exponential size growth is approximately equal to the product of the Coriolis parameter and the mean effective inflow angle above the boundary layer. Further sensitivity experiments with the growth model suggest that the interannual variability of the global lifetime maximum size is largely driven by the variation of growth duration.
Symmetry progression and possible polar metallicity in NiPS3 under pressure
Authors: Harms Nathan C. , Matsuoka Takahiro , Samanta Subhasis , Clune Amanda J. , Smith Kevin A. , Haglund Amanda V. , Feng Erxi , Cao Huibo , Smith Jesse S. , Mandrus David G. , Kim Heung-Sik , Liu Zhenxian , Musfeldt Janice L.
Published: June 2022

van der Waals solids are ideal platforms for the discovery of new states of matter and emergent properties under external stimuli. Under pressure, complex chalcogenides like MPS3 (M = Mn, Ni, Co, V) host sliding and structural transitions, insulator-to-metal transitions, the possibility of an orbitally-selective Mott state, piezochromism, and superconductivity. In this work, we bring together diamond anvil cell techniques, infrared and Raman scattering spectroscopies, and X-ray diffraction with a detailed symmetry analysis and first-principles calculations to uncover a series of high-pressure phases in NiPS3. Remarkably, we find five different states of matter between ambient conditions and 39 GPa—quite different than in the other MPS3 materials. Even more strikingly, infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction combined with a symmetry analysis reveal both metallicity and loss of the inversion center above ~23 GPa suggesting that NiPS3 may be a polar metal with a P3m1 space group under these conditions and P1 symmetry under maximum compression. In addition to identifying a candidate polar metal ripe for further inquiry, we suggest that pressure may tune other complex chalcogenides into this elusive state.
Electronic friction and tuning on atomically thin MoS2
Authors: Shi Bin , Gan Xuehui , Yu Kang , Lang Haojie , Cao Xing’an , Zou Kun , Peng Yitian
Published: June 2022

Friction is an energy dissipation process. However, the electronic contribution to energy dissipation channels remains elusive during the sliding friction process. The friction and dissipation on atomically thin MoS2 with semiconductive characteristics are studied and tuned by the gate-modulated carrier concentration. The electronic contribution to energy dissipation of friction on atomically thin MoS2 was confirmed and regulated through tuning the strength of the electron-phonon coupling. The electron-phonon coupling can be strengthened and depressed to increase and decrease friction by the gate-modulation of the carrier concentration. The fitting of the friction on atomically thin MoS2 and carrier concentration is approximately linear which is in accordance with Langevin equation induced friction. Then the active, dynamical, and repeated tuning of friction on atomically thin MoS2 with semiconductive properties is achieved by the active modulation of carrier concentration with gate voltage. These observations help us to understand the electronic friction in essence, provide a utility approach to tune the friction intelligently on atomically thin two-dimensional materials with semiconductive properties and achieve superlubric properties for the application in various micro-and nanoelectromechanical systems.
Stony coral tissue loss disease decimated Caribbean coral populations and reshaped reef functionality
Authors: Alvarez-Filip Lorenzo , González-Barrios F. Javier , Pérez-Cervantes Esmeralda , Molina-Hernández Ana , Estrada-Saldívar Nuria
Published: June 2022

Diseases are major drivers of the deterioration of coral reefs and are linked to major declines in coral abundance, reef functionality, and reef-related ecosystems services. An outbreak of a new disease is currently rampaging through the populations of the remaining reef-building corals across the Caribbean region. The outbreak was first reported in Florida in 2014 and reached the northern Mesoamerican Reef by summer 2018, where it spread across the ~450-km reef system in only a few months. Rapid spread was generalized across all sites and mortality rates ranged from 94% to <10% among the 21 afflicted coral species. Most species of the family Meandrinadae (maze corals) and subfamily Faviinae (brain corals) sustained losses >50%. This single event further modified the coral communities across the region by increasing the relative dominance of weedy corals and reducing reef functionality, both in terms of functional diversity and calcium carbonate production. This emergent disease is likely to become the most lethal disturbance ever recorded in the Caribbean, and it will likely result in the onset of a new functional regime where key reef-building and complex branching acroporids, an apparently unaffected genus that underwent severe population declines decades ago and retained low population levels, will once again become conspicuous structural features in reef systems with yet even lower levels of physical functionality.
Three dimensional reconstruction of the mouse cerebellum in Hedgehog-driven medulloblastoma models to identify Norrin-dependent effects on preneoplasia
Authors: Pokrajac Nenad T. , Gurdita Akshay , Tachibana Nobuhiko , Tokarew Nicholas J. A. , Wallace Valerie A.
Published: June 2022

Spontaneous mouse models of medulloblastoma (MB) offer a tractable system to study malignant progression in the brain. Mouse Sonic Hedgehog (Shh)-MB tumours first appear at postnatal stages as preneoplastic changes on the surface of the cerebellum, the external granule layer (EGL). Here we compared traditional histology and 3DISCO tissue clearing in combination with light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) to identify and quantify preneoplastic changes induced by disrupting stromal Norrin/Frizzled 4 (Fzd4) signalling, a potent tumour inhibitory signal in two mouse models of spontaneous Shh-MB. We show that 3DISCO-LSFM is as accurate as traditional histology for detecting Norrin/Fzd4-associated changes in PNL formation in Ptch+/− mice and EGL hyperplasia in Neurod2-SmoA1+/− mice. Moreover, we show that the anti-tumour effect of Norrin/Fzd4 signalling is restricted to the posterior region of the cerebellum and is characterized by defective neural progenitor migration away from the EGL. In conclusion, 3DISCO-LSFM is a valid way to monitor tumour initiation events in mouse MB models and reveals an unanticipated regional restriction of stromal signalling in constraining tumour initiation.
Molecular mechanisms of exceptional lifespan increase of Drosophila melanogaster with different genotypes after combinations of pro-longevity interventions
Authors: Shaposhnikov Mikhail V. , Guvatova Zulfiya G. , Zemskaya Nadezhda V. , Koval Liubov A. , Schegoleva Eugenia V. , Gorbunova Anastasia A. , Golubev Denis A. , Pakshina Natalya R. , Ulyasheva Natalia S. , Solovev Ilya A. , Bobrovskikh Margarita A. , Gruntenko Nataly E. , Menshanov Petr N. , Krasnov George S. , Kudryavseva Anna V. , Moskalev Alexey A.
Published: June 2022

Aging is one of the global challenges of our time. The search for new anti-aging interventions is also an issue of great actuality. We report on the success of Drosophila melanogaster lifespan extension under the combined influence of dietary restriction, co-administration of berberine, fucoxanthin, and rapamycin, photodeprivation, and low-temperature conditions up to 185 days in w1118 strain and up to 213 days in long-lived E(z)/w mutants. The trade-off was found between longevity and locomotion. The transcriptome analysis showed an impact of epigenetic alterations, lipid metabolism, cellular respiration, nutrient sensing, immune response, and autophagy in the registered effect.
Synchronous vegetation response to the last glacial-interglacial transition in northwest Europe
Authors: Engels Stefan , Lane Christine S. , Haliuc Aritina , Hoek Wim Z. , Muschitiello Francesco , Baneschi Ilaria , Bouwman Annerieke , Bronk Ramsey Christopher , Collins James , de Bruijn Renee , Heiri Oliver , Hubay Katalin , Jones Gwydion , Laug Andreas , Merkt Josef , Müller Meike , Peters Tom , Peterse Francien , Staff Richard A. , ter Schure Anneke T. M. , Turner Falko , van den Bos Valerie , Wagner-Cremer Frederike
Published: June 2022

The North Atlantic region experienced abrupt high-amplitude cooling at the onset of the Younger Dryas stadial. However, due to chronological uncertainties in the available terrestrial records it is unclear whether terrestrial ecosystem response to this event was instantaneous and spatially synchronous, or whether regional or time-transgressive lags existed. Here we use new palynological results from a robustly dated lake sediment sequence retrieved from lake Hämelsee (north Germany) to show that vegetation change started at 12,820 cal. yr BP, concurrent with the onset of changes in local climate. A comparison of the Hämelsee results to a compilation of precisely dated palynological records shows instant and, within decadal-scale dating uncertainty, synchronous response of the terrestrial plant community to Late-Glacial climate change across northwest Europe. The results indicate that the environmental impact of climate cooling was more severe than previously thought and illustrates the sensitivity of natural terrestrial ecosystems to external forcing.
Peptide/protein-based macrocycles: from biological synthesis to biomedical applications
Authors: Wu Wen-Hao , Guo Jianwen , Zhang Longshuai , Zhang Wen-Bin , Gao Weiping
Published: June 2022

Peptide- and protein-based macrocycles have been biologically synthesized and evolved with enhanced stability and high bioactivity that are superior to their linear counterparts for diverse biomedical applications.
Impact of global warming on regional cycling of mercury and persistent organic pollutants on the Tibetan Plateau: current progress and future prospects
Authors: Chai Lei , Zhou Yunqiao , Wang Xiaoping
Published: June 2022

Global warming profoundly affects not only mountainous and polar environments, but also the global and regional cycling of pollutants.
Detection and detoxification of imidacloprid in food samples through ionic liquid-stabilized CuNi alloy nanoparticle-decorated multiwall carbon nanotubes
Authors: Kumar Manish , Kaur Navneet , Singh Narinder
Published: June 2022

Ionic liquid-stabilized CuNi alloy nanoparticle-decorated multiwall carbon nanotubes have been developed, which demonstrate the electrochemical detection as well as catalytical degradation of imidacloprid insecticide in food samples.
Evaluating the thermal behaviour of benzimidazolylidene sources for thin-film applications
Authors: Veinot Alex J. , Griffiths Matthew B. E. , Singh Ishwar , Zurakowski Joseph A. , Lummis Paul A. , Barry Seán T. , Crudden Cathleen M.
Published: June 2022

We show that the N-heterocyclic carbene precursor employed has a significant influence on the purity of the resulting films prepared by vapour-phase deposition.
Aggregation-induced enhanced fluorescence by hydrogen bonding in π-conjugated tricarbocycles with a CF2CF2-containing cyclohexa-1,3-diene skeleton
Authors: Ohsato Haruka , Morita Masato , Yamada Shigeyuki , Agou Tomohiro , Fukumoto Hiroki , Konno Tsutomu
Published: June 2022

A novel π-conjugated tricarbocycle with a CF2CF2-containing cyclohexa-1,3-diene skeleton was revealed to show aggregation-induced enhancement emission, which would pave the way for novel solid-state fluorescence materials.
Entropic control of nanoparticle self-assembly through confinement
Authors: Hou Cuiling , Gao Lijuan , Wang Yuming , Yan Li-Tang
Published: June 2022

Spatial confinement or a crowding environment offers an important approach to control entropy effects, allowing a conceptually new approach for designer nanomaterials.
Richly electron-deficient BCxO3−x anodes with enhanced reaction kinetics for sodium/potassium-ion batteries
Authors: Wang Huiqi , Bai Na , Wang Mei , Wang Liyong , Li Ying , Chen Jingpeng , Hu Shengliang , Chen Chenmeng
Published: June 2022

In this work, integrating the merits of architectural and electron structure design, hollow BCxO3−x nanocages with rich electron deficiencies are constructed through an in situ doping boron strategy, resulting in fast ion and charge transport.
Applications of nanocomposites based on zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 in photodynamic and synergistic anti-tumor therapy
Authors: Kang Wen , Tian Ying , Zhao Ying , Yin Xindao , Teng Zhaogang
Published: June 2022

In this paper, the synthesis mechanism of ZIF-8 nanoplatform and its application in photodynamic therapy and synergistic therapy are reviewed.
Study on adsorption of phosphate from aqueous solution by zirconium modified coal gasification coarse slag
Authors: Yang Baoguo , Han Fenglan , Xie Zuoming , Yang Zhe , Jiang Fengcheng , Yang Sen , Li Yilian
Published: June 2022

The phosphate adsorption mechanism of CGCS-Zr4 included electrostatic attraction between the protonated metal oxide surface and the phosphate anions; ligand exchange between the phosphate and hydroxyl groups on the metal oxide surface of CGCS-Zr4.
One-pot selective hydroconversion of levulinic acid to 2-methyltetrahydrofuran catalyzed by Ni-based catalysts derived from phyllosilicates
Authors: Lu Kaiyun , Li Ziyi , Hai Chunhua , Li Jifan , Liu Chun-Ling , Dong Wen-Sheng
Published: June 2022

In this work, two types of Ni phyllosilicates (2 : 1 and 1 : 1 Ni phyllosilicates) are prepared for the one-pot selective conversion of levulinic acid (LA) to 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (2-MTHF).
Heterogeneous In/Mo cooperative bandgap engineering for promoting visible-light-driven CO2 photoreduction
Authors: Gao Guoyang , Wang Qiuye , Zhu Peifen , Zhu Hongyang , Qu Yang , Wang Guofeng
Published: June 2022

The Mo-modified InOOH/In(OH)3 heterojunction photocatalyst with excellent visible-light photocatalytic activity was achieved due to its high-efficiency photogenerated charge separation and transfer efficiency.
Ultra-fast 137Cs sequestration via a layered inorganic indium thioantimonate
Authors: Zeng Xi , Zeng Min , Cai Ping-Wei , Tang Jun-Hao , Ma Wen , Feng Mei-Ling , Huang Xiao-Ying
Published: June 2022

The ultra-fast and selective elimination of 137Cs from complex aqueous solutions is achieved through the ion exchange method by employing layered K2In2Sb2S7·2.2H2O obtained from cation activation of [(CH3)2NH2]2In2Sb2S7.
Spatial patterns in ecological systems: from microbial colonies to landscapes
Authors: Martinez-Garcia Ricardo , Tarnita Corina E. , Bonachela Juan A.
Published: June 2022

Self-organized spatial patterns are ubiquitous in ecological systems and allow populations to adopt non-trivial spatial distributions starting from disordered configurations. These patterns form due to diverse nonlinear interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment, and lead to the emergence of new (eco)system-level properties unique to self-organized systems. Such pattern consequences include higher resilience and resistance to environmental changes, abrupt ecosystem collapse, hysteresis loops, and reversal of competitive exclusion. Here, we review ecological systems exhibiting self-organized patterns. We establish two broad pattern categories depending on whether the self-organizing process is primarily driven by nonlinear density-dependent demographic rates or by nonlinear density-dependent movement. Using this organization, we examine a wide range of observational scales, from microbial colonies to whole ecosystems, and discuss the mechanisms hypothesized to underlie observed patterns and their system-level consequences. For each example, we review both the empirical evidence and the existing theoretical frameworks developed to identify the causes and consequences of patterning. Finally, we trace qualitative similarities across systems and propose possible ways of developing a more quantitative understanding of how self-organization operates across systems and observational scales in ecology.
Robust 3D brain segmentation in magnetic resonance image with weighted feature fusion
Authors: Xia Jing , Sha Jintao , Zhang Qian
Published: June 2022

Accurate tissue segmentation in brain magnetic resonance image is of paramount importance for brain reconstruction and analysis. Supervoxels analysis enables relatively robust segmentation of brain tissues, by assigning the supervoxels to tissue clusters according to the inherent information of multiple features captured from the supervoxels. In this popular framework, difficulties are encountered in clustering imposed by the insufficient selection, deficient utilisation of features, and rough supervoxel boundaries due to the influence of noise. To address these aforementioned challenges, the authors propose a weighted feature fusion clustering segmentation method for dividing supervoxels into three tissues on the basis of a robust feature fused similarity matrix. To comprehensively capture the similarities of features among the supervoxels, we construct three complementary similarity matrices on the basis of multiple features from three aspects, that is, appearance, shape, and space location. Next, the authors propose a weighted similarity network fusion method to discriminatively fuse the three similarity matrices into one single matrix. This novel fusion process cannot only extract the common and complementary information of features, but also automatically adjust the weight of similarities according to its reliability. Finally, we achieve initial segmentation results by performing spectral clustering on the fused similarity matrix. To optimise the segmented boundaries affected by noise in the initial segmentation results, the authors construct a voxel‐wise diffusion energy function by considering the intensity information of neighbouring voxels. Experiments on two public brain magnetic resonance image datasets demonstrate the robustness of the proposed approach.
Substitution of synthetic waxes by plant-based waxes in lipsticks
Authors: de Clermont-Gallerande Hélène , Daquin Caroline , Malvezin Chantal , Lesbros Charlotte , Nagahiro Chikako , Bertron Emilie , Slaim Nabila , Sanchez Marie-Anne , Pichoutou Olivia , Guarillof Philippe
Published: June 2022

The ultimate symbol of femininity, lipstick is often a brand’s most attractive makeup product. First created several thousand years ago, its composition has evolved a great deal since then, particularly in the 20th century, when petroleum and its derivatives were discovered. But today, with the emergence of Clean Beauty, customers are looking to go back to more natural compositions that respect the environment and their health. However, the total substitution of synthetic waxes has inevitably brought with its problems of product stability, lipstick solidity, sweating, incompatibilities and oxidation, which today’s ever more demanding consumers are not ready to accept. Beyond stability, the sensoriality and the performance of lipsticks can be altered by such substitution. The objective of this study is therefore to find plant-based substitutes for synthetic waxes, which do not reduce the stability and the overall quality of lipsticks. To this end, the physicochemical properties of plant-based waxes will first be measured, and the best candidates will then be introduced into an all-natural lipstick formula. Some waxes tested have a value equivalent to synthetic wax on one physico-chemical parameter but are less efficient on another. The mixtures of waxes with oils of different polarities show that no wax is as ubiquitous as petroleum wax. To conclude, none of the waxes evaluated can substitute the synthetic wax weight for weight in a formula.
Unseasonal super ionospheric plasma bubble and scintillations seeded by the 2022 Tonga Volcano Eruption related perturbations
Authors: Sun Wenjie , Kaippallimyalil Kuriakose Ajith , Li Guozhu , Li Yu , Zhao Xiukuan , Hu Lianhuan , Yang Sipeng , Xie Haiyong , Li Yi , Ning Baiqi , Liu Libo
Published: June 2022

The Hunga–Tonga volcano eruption at 04:14:45 UT on 15 January 2022 produced various waves propagating globally, disturbing the background atmosphere and ionosphere. Coinciding with the arrival of perturbation waves, several equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) were consecutively generated at post-sunset hours over the East/Southeast Asian region, with the largest extension to middle latitudes. These EPBs caused intenseL-band amplitude scintillations at middle-to-low latitudes, with signal fading depths up to ~16 dB. Considering the very rare occurrence of EPBs during this season in the East/Southeast Asian sector and the significantly modulated background ionosphere, we believe that the perturbation waves launched by the volcano eruption triggered the generation of the unseasonal super EPBs. The ionospheric perturbations linked with the 2022 Tonga volcano eruption propagated coincidently through the East/Southeast Asia longitude sector near sunset, modulated the equatorial F region bottomside plasma density, and acted as the seeding source for the generation of the unseasonal super bubbles. Our results implicate that volcano eruption could indirectly affect the satellite communication links in the region more than ten thousand kilometers away.
ESC-Leitlinien 2021: Conduction System Pacing
Authors: Richter Sergio
Published: June 2022

Die aktuellen ESC-Leitlinien von 2021 bezüglich des direkten Pacings an den Strukturen des ventrikulären myokardialen Erregungsleitungssystems sind sehr defensiv ausgelegt. Verglichen mit
den Leitlinienempfehlungen aus Japan oder USA wird diese Art der „physiologischen Stimulation“ in Europa eher in den Schatten gestellt. Auch wenn randomisierte Studien mit harten Endpunkten
zur His-Bündel- und Linksschenkelstimulation fehlen, konnten doch in einer Vielzahl von Untersuchungen die Sicherheit, Effektivität und auch klinische Überlegenheit gegenüber einer
klassischen rechtsventrikulären oder biventrikulären Stimulation gezeigt werden. Die vorliegende Leitlinienfassung der ESC zur Herzschrittmachertherapie ist in diesem Punkt daher durchaus
diskutabel.
Screening auf Gestationsdiabetes mellitus (GDM) – Welchen Weg weisen die neuen Studien? Übersicht und Kommentar
Authors: Kleinwechter Helmut , Demandt Norbert , Nolte Andreas
Published: June 2022

Das Screening auf Gestationsdiabetes mellitus (GDM) wird international nicht einheitlich durchgeführt. In Deutschland wird allen Schwangeren ein zweizeitiges Screening angeboten, zunächst ein 50-g Vortest (nicht nüchtern), im positiven Fall gefolgt von einem 75-g oralen Gluksetoleranztest (oGTT) über 2 h (nüchtern). Im Jahr 2021 sind zwei randomisierte Screeningstudien publiziert worden, in denen einzeitiges Screenen ohne Vortest mit dem zweizeitigen Screenen verglichen wurde. Einzeitiges Screenen erhöht die GDM-Prävalenz um das 2,3-fache ohne Vorteile für klinisch relevante Endpunkte von Müttern und Neugeborenen und um den Preis unnötiger Pharmakotherapie sowie Belastung der Ressourcen bei den Betreuern. Beim zweizeitigen Screening benötigen nur 20% der Frauen einen oGTT. Darüber hinaus wird die zweizeitige Strategie von den Frauen präferiert.
SOP – N. fibularis-Parese –
Fallfuß
Authors: Margold Michelle , Schönlau Lars
Published: June 2022

Der akut aufgetretene Fallfuß ist meist Folge einer Läsion des
N. fibularis oder einer Wurzelläsion L5. Mit der klinischen
Untersuchung und der Myografie kann die Differenzialdiagnose geklärt
werden. Die SOP gibt einen Vorschlag zur rationalen
Stufendiagnostik.
Synthesis of Nitrogen Heterocycles by Domino C–N Coupling/Hydroamination Reactions
Authors: Langer Peter
Published: June 2022

The present article presents a personalized Account on the synthesis of nitrogen heterocycles by domino C–N coupling/hydroamination reactions and related processes. The starting materials, 2-alkynyl-1-halohetarenes, are regioselectively available by Sonogashira reactions of various 1,2-dihalogenated heterocycles, such as thiophenes, benzothiophenes, furans and benzofurans, pyridines, quinolines, pyrimidines, and other ring systems. More complex products are formed by domino C–N coupling/hydroamination/C–H arylation reactions of 2-alkynyl-1-halohetarenes with 2-bromoanilines. In these reactions, not only two, but three bonds are formed in one step. In many cases, the products constitute new heterocyclic core structures and show interesting pharmacological or fluorescence properties.

1 Introduction

2 Domino C–N Coupling/Hydroamination Reactions

3 Domino C–N Coupling/Hydroamination/C–H Arylation Reactions

4 Conclusions
Can Peripheral Perfusion Index (PPI) Predict Disease Severity in COVID-19 Patients in the Emergency Department?
Authors: Korkut Mustafa , Bedel Cihan , Selvi Fatih , Zortuk Ökkeş
Published: June 2022

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes significant mortality and morbidity in severe patients.

Objective In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship between COVID-19 disease severity and peripheral perfusion index (PPI).

Patients and Methods This prospective observational study included COVID-19 patients admitted to the tertiary hospital emergency department. Basal clinical and demographic data of the patients and PPI values at the time of admission were recorded. The patients were categorized to severe and nonsevere groups according to clinical severity. The relationship between COVID-19 severity and PPI was examined in comparison with the control group.

Results A total of 324 patients who met the inclusion criteria were analyzed. COVID-19 (+) was detected in 180 of these patients. Ninety-two of the COVID-19 (+) patients were in the severe group, and 88 of them were in the non severe group. Note that 164 COVID-19 (–) patients were in the control group. PPI average was found to be 1.44 ± 1.12 in the severe group, and 3.69 ± 2.51 in the nonsevere group. PPI average was found to be significantly lower in the severe group than the nonsevere group (p< 0.01) As for the nonsevere group and control group, PPI averages were found to be 3.69 ± 2.51 and3.54 ± 2.32, respectively, and a significant difference was determined between the two groups (p< 0.05). PPI COVID-19 severity predicting activity was calculated as area under the curve: 0.833, sensitivity:70.4%, andspecificity:71%(p = 0.025) at 2.2 cutoff value.

Conclusion The results of our study showed that PPI is an easy-to-apply and useful parameter in the emergency department in determining the severity of COVID-19 patients.
The significance of infant research for psychoanalysis
Authors: Zhang Wei , Pan Qi , Guo Benyu
Published: June 2022

Psychoanalysis and infant research have strengthened cooperation in the current interdisciplinary dialog. The theoretical significance of infant research for psychoanalysis includes the consideration of individual “sociality” from birth, as opposed to the traditional psychoanalytic hypothesis of the “autistic” infant; such research creates openness in existing psychoanalytic mental models. It can also provide reliable evidence for the early development of various abilities and childhood amnesia, support psychoanalysis beyond linear causality, and create a framework for the theoretical integration of psychoanalysis. Infant research for psychoanalysis may present evidence of the healing effect of analyst–client relationships, encourage analysts to prioritize nonverbal information during treatment, and create opportunities for new psychoanalytic therapy technologies.
Ferroelectric coupling for dual-mode non-filamentary memristors
Authors: Gao Zhan , Wang Yan , Lv Ziyu , Xie Pengfei , Xu Zong-Xiang , Luo Mingtao , Zhang Yuqi , Huang Shenming , Zhou Kui , Zhang Guohua , Duan Guangxiong , Zhou Ye , Han Su-Ting
Published: June 2022

Memristive devices and systems have emerged as powerful technologies to fuel neuromorphic chips. However, the traditional two-terminal memristor still suffers from nonideal device characteristics, raising challenges for its further application in versatile biomimetic emulation for neuromorphic computing owing to insufficient control of filament forming for filamentary-type cells and a transport barrier for interfacial switching cells. Here, we propose three-terminal memristors with a top-gate field-effect geometry by employing a ferroelectric material, poly(vinylidene fluoride–trifluoroethylene), as the dielectric layer. This approach can finely modulate ion transport and contact barrier at the switching interface in non-filamentary perovskite memristors, thus, creating two distinct operation modes (volatile and nonvolatile). Additionally, perovskite memristors show desirable resistive switching performance, including forming-free operation, high yield of 88.9%, cycle-to-cycle variation of 7.8%, and low operating current of sub-100 nA. The dual-mode memristor is capable of emulating biological nociception in both active (perceiving pain) and blocked states (suppressing pain signaling).
Thin-film lithium niobate dual-polarization IQ modulator on a silicon substrate for single-carrier 1.6 Tb/s transmission
Authors: Wang Xuanhao , Shang Chenglin , Pan An , Cheng Xingran , Gui Tao , Yuan Shuai , Gui Chengcheng , Zheng Keshuang , Zhang Peijie , Song Xiaolu , Li Yanbo , Li Liangchuan , Zeng Cheng , Xia Jinsong
Published: June 2022

We successfully demonstrate a monolithic integrated dual-polarization in-phase/quadrature (IQ) modulator based on thin-film lithium niobate platform with a silicon substrate, which consists of IQ modulators, spot-size converters, and a polarization rotator combiner. When coupled with polarization maintaining fibers, the measured insertion loss of the modulator is 12 dB. In addition, we experimentally achieve a single-carrier 1.6 Tb/s net bitrate transmission.
Wave and Fourier Optics
Authors: Mondal Partha Pratim
Published: June 2022

Although ray optics is successful in explaining light propagation through different media and reflection and refraction at interfaces, it does have limitations. For example, observations of interference and diffraction of light cannot be explained by ray optics. These effects have been observed on numerous occasions. For example, light exhibits a particular intensity distribution as it passes through a small opening or aperture, e.g., a pinhole or slit. Barring the shadow of the aperture on the observation screen, a pattern of alternating bright and dark concentric circles of decreasing intensity at greater diameters can be observed. Another notable example is Young’s double-slit experiment, where one observes a pattern of alternating dark and bright spots on a distant screen when two adjacent slits are simultaneously illuminated. These observations appear to be distinct, but their origin is the same (related to the phase of light). Moreover, these phenomena (diffraction and interference) seem inconsistent with light as simply a ray. To explain these effects and associated phenomena, a much more generalized approach seems necessary, and it is strongly felt that there is more to light than simply viewing it as a ray. We shall see that this is related to the wave nature of light, specifically its phase.
Electromagnetic Optics and Polarization of Light
Authors: Mondal Partha Pratim
Published: June 2022

Light has been treated both as a ray (in ray optics) and as a wave (in wave optics). While light behaves in both ways depending on the dimension of obstacles or apertures around or through which it passes, it is observed to have electric effects and interacts with electric charges. In addition, light also exhibits non-zero magnetic effects. A close inspection, however, reveals that there are indeed two types of fields (electric and magnetic) associated with light. In fact, these field properties along with their configuration enable light to travel through a vacuum (medium-free) for long distances (e.g., between galaxies). In this chapter, we will lay the foundation of electromagnetic optics and discuss light propagation through a variety of media (vacuum, dielectric, and conductive). Moreover, we will discuss the polarization of light, polarization-active optical elements, and the vectorial states of light.
Programming and training rate-independent chemical reaction networks
Authors: Vasić Marko , Chalk Cameron , Luchsinger Austin , Khurshid Sarfraz , Soloveichik David
Published: June 2022

Embedding computation in biochemical environments incompatible with traditional electronics is expected to have a wide-ranging impact in synthetic biology, medicine, nanofabrication, and other fields. Natural biochemical systems are typically modeled by chemical reaction networks (CRNs) which can also be used as a specification language for synthetic chemical computation. In this paper, we identify a syntactically checkable class of CRNs called noncompetitive (NC) whose equilibria are absolutely robust to reaction rates and kinetic rate law, because their behavior is captured solely by their stoichiometric structure. In spite of the inherently parallel nature of chemistry, the robustness property allows for programming as if each reaction applies sequentially. We also present a technique to program NC-CRNs using well-founded deep learning methods, showing a translation procedure from rectified linear unit (ReLU) neural networks to NC-CRNs. In the case of binary weight ReLU networks, our translation procedure is surprisingly tight in the sense that a single bimolecular reaction corresponds to a single ReLU node and vice versa. This compactness argues that neural networks may be a fitting paradigm for programming rate-independent chemical computation. As proof of principle, we demonstrate our scheme with numerical simulations of CRNs translated from neural networks trained on traditional machine learning datasets, as well as tasks better aligned with potential biological applications including virus detection and spatial pattern formation.
近義詞的詞彙語義互補性
Authors: Chiu Liching Livy
Published: June 2022

本文探討機率副詞「也許、可能」、時間副詞「曾經、已經」、強調副詞「真是、實在是」，以及語氣副詞「難道、究竟」，以上四組近義詞的語法語義特點，以及搭配的句式和助詞。筆者認為近義詞的難點在於辨析各組語義徵性，甚至母語者也不理解細微的語義差異，而這四組副詞恰巧對應到副詞的四個語義面向，因此別具代表性。本篇研究發現副詞近義詞間的「互補性」非常重要：一、機率副詞「也許」的主觀性、直觀性比「可能」較強，情態副詞「可能」需要推測的依據與條件，「也許」則無心理預測、真值性較低；二、時間副詞「已經」表動貌時，皆以現在時的觀點，時間參照點可移動，句子的命題為已然狀態。而「曾經」的時間參照點永遠是現在，可當定語和句首修飾語，表示過去和現在的對比或對現在的否定。三、強調副詞「真是」以及「實在是」，兩者均可用來描述程度，經常搭配「是」的焦點標記，也常置句末來表達非成分的評價義。四、「難道」、「究竟」當語氣副詞時，與疑問句和語氣助詞的搭配，呈現「互補分布」。「難道」可用於是非問句，表反詰或測度，一般與「嗎」搭配；「究竟」跟「是」的共現頻率很高，與「呢」搭配。總結來說，副詞的語法功能在修飾謂語，以上四組近義詞恰巧對應謂語可被修飾之四種面向，卻都強調句法語義互補，幫助我們全面性窺探副詞的特色。
Perceptions of effective foreign language teaching
Authors: Xie Yan , Ziebart Laura
Published: June 2022

Differences between teacher and student perceptions of effective language teaching methods can have an immense
effect on learning outcomes, and discrepancies between what teachers believe and practice can likewise have a great impact. This
study investigated how the perceptions of college instructors and learners on effective Chinese language teaching can be compared.
It also explored what consistencies and inconsistencies existed between what teachers believed were effective practices and what
they actually practiced. The results displayed several differences between teacher and student perceptions. It was also discovered
that most of the teachers taught according to their perceptions of effective teaching. Applying this knowledge implies that
teachers should incorporate culture into their teaching, introduce Chinese characters earlier, use communicative teaching methods
and a variety of learning activities to ensure a good learning outcome. Instructors should also increase their awareness of their
perceptions of effective teaching and attain regular feedback from their students.