bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Water removal during automated peritoneal dialysis assessed by remote patient monitoring and modelling of peritoneal tissue hydration
Authors: Stachowska-Pietka Joanna , Naumnik Beata , Suchowierska Ewa , Gomez Rafael , Waniewski Jacek , Lindholm Bengt
Published: August 2021

Water removal which is a key treatment goal of automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) can be assessed cycle-by-cycle using remote patient monitoring (RPM). We analysed ultrafiltration patterns during night APD following a dry day (APDDD; no daytime fluid exchange) or wet day (APDWD; daytime exchange). Ultrafiltration for each APD exchange were recorded for 16 days using RPM in 14 patients. The distributed model of fluid and solute transport was applied to simulate APD and to explore the impact of changes in peritoneal tissue hydration on ultrafiltration. We found lower ultrafiltration (mL, median [first quartile, third quartile]) during first and second vs. consecutive exchanges in APDDD(−61 [−148, 27], 170 [78, 228] vs. 213 [126, 275] mL; p < 0.001), but not in APDWD(81 [−8, 176], 81 [−4, 192] vs. 115 [4, 219] mL; NS). Simulations in a virtual patient showed that lower ultrafiltration (by 114 mL) was related to increased peritoneal tissue hydration caused by inflow of 187 mL of water during the first APDDDexchange. The observed phenomenon of lower ultrafiltration during initial exchanges of dialysis fluid in patients undergoing APDDDappears to be due to water inflow into the peritoneal tissue, re-establishing a state of increased hydration typical for peritoneal dialysis.
Mueller matrix imaging for collagen scoring in mice model of pregnancy
Authors: Lee Hee Ryung , Saytashev Ilyas , Du Le Vinh Nguyen , Mahendroo Mala , Ramella-Roman Jessica , Novikova Tatiana
Published: August 2021

Preterm birth risk is associated with early softening of the uterine cervix in pregnancy due to the accelerated remodeling of collagen extracellular matrix. Studies of mice model of pregnancy were performed with an imaging Mueller polarimeter at different time points of pregnancy to find polarimetric parameters for collagen scoring. Mueller matrix images of the unstained sections of mice uterine cervices were taken at day 6 and day 18 of 19-days gestation period and at different spatial locations through the cervices. The logarithmic decomposition of the recorded Mueller matrices mapped the depolarization, linear retardance, and azimuth of the optical axis of cervical tissue. These images highlighted both the inner structure of cervix and the arrangement of cervical collagen fibers confirmed by the second harmonic generation microscopy. The statistical analysis and two-Gaussians fit of the distributions of linear retardance and linear depolarization in the entire images of cervical tissue (without manual selection of the specific regions of interest) quantified the randomization of collagen fibers alignment with gestation time. At day 18 the remodeling of cervical extracellular matrix of collagen was measurable at the external cervical os that is available for the direct optical observations in vivo. It supports the assumption that imaging Mueller polarimetry holds promise for the fast and accurate collagen scoring in pregnancy and the assessment of the preterm birth risk.
Application of RR-XGBoost combined model in data calibration of micro air quality detector
Authors: Liu Bing , Tan Xianghua , Jin Yueqiang , Yu Wangwang , Li Chaoyang
Published: August 2021

Grid monitoring is the current development direction of atmospheric monitoring. The micro air quality detector is of great help to the grid monitoring of the atmosphere, so higher requirements are put forward for the accuracy of the micro air quality detector. This paper presents a model to calibrate the measurement data of the micro air quality detector using the monitoring data of the air quality monitoring station. The concentration of six types of air pollutants is the research object of this study to establish a calibration model for the measurement data of the micro air quality detector. The first step is to use correlation analysis to find out the main factors affecting the concentration of the six types of pollutants. The second step uses Ridge Regression (RR) to select variables, find out the factors that have significant effects on the concentration of pollutants, and give the quantitative relationship between these factors and the pollutants. Finally, the predicted value of the ridge regression model and the measurement data of the micro air quality detector are used as input variables, and the Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) algorithm is used to give the final pollutant concentration prediction model. We named the combined model of ridge regression and XGBoost algorithm RR-XGBoost model. Relative Mean Absolute Percent Error (MAPE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), goodness of fit (R2), and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) were used to evaluate the prediction accuracy of the RR-XGBoost model. The results show that the model is superior to some commonly used pollutant prediction methods such as random forest, support vector machine, and multilayer perceptron neural network in the evaluation of various indicators. The model not only has a good prediction effect on the training set but also on the test set, indicating that the model has good generalization ability. Using the RR-XGBoost model to calibrate the data of the micro air quality detector can make up for the shortcomings of the data monitoring accuracy of the micro air quality detector. The model plays an active role in the deployment of micro air quality detectors and grid monitoring of the atmosphere.
Characterization of the structural forces governing the reversibility of the thermal unfolding of the human acidic fibroblast growth factor
Authors: Agrawal Shilpi , Govind Kumar Vivek , Gundampati Ravi Kumar , Moradi Mahmoud , Kumar Thallapuranam Krishnaswamy Suresh
Published: August 2021

Human acidic fibroblast growth factor (hFGF1) is an all beta-sheet protein that is involved in the regulation of key cellular processes including cell proliferation and wound healing. hFGF1 is known to aggregate when subjected to thermal unfolding. In this study, we investigate the equilibrium unfolding of hFGF1 using a wide array of biophysical and biochemical techniques. Systematic analyses of the thermal and chemical denaturation data on hFGF1 variants (Q54P, K126N, R136E, K126N/R136E, Q54P/K126N, Q54P/R136E, and Q54P/K126N/R136E) indicate that nullification of charges in the heparin-binding pocket can significantly increase the stability of wtFGF1. Triple variant (Q54P/K126N/R136E) was found to be the most stable of all the hFGF1 variants studied. With the exception of triple variant, thermal unfolding of wtFGF1 and the other variants is irreversible. Thermally unfolded triple variant refolds completely to its biologically native conformation. Microsecond-level molecular dynamic simulations reveal that a network of hydrogen bonds and salt bridges linked to Q54P, K126N, and R136E mutations, are responsible for the high stability and reversibility of thermal unfolding of the triple variant. In our opinion, the findings of the study provide valuable clues for the rational design of a stable hFGF1 variant that exhibits potent wound healing properties.
Prognostic significance of the albumin-to-globulin ratio for advanced urothelial carcinoma treated with pembrolizumab: a multicenter retrospective study
Authors: Taguchi Satoru , Kawai Taketo , Nakagawa Tohru , Nakamura Yu , Kamei Jun , Obinata Daisuke , Yamaguchi Kenya , Kaneko Tomoyuki , Kakutani Shigenori , Tokunaga Mayuko , Uemura Yukari , Sato Yusuke , Fujimura Tetsuya , Fukuhara Hiroshi , Enomoto Yutaka , Nishimatsu Hiroaki , Takahashi Satoru , Kume Haruki
Published: August 2021

Although the albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR) is a promising biomarker, no study has investigated its prognostic significance for advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC). This study conformed to the REporting recommendations for tumor MARKer prognostic studies (REMARK) criteria. We retrospectively reviewed 176 patients with advanced UC treated with pembrolizumab between 2018 and 2020. We evaluated the associations between pretreatment clinicopathological variables, including the AGR and performance status (PS), with progression-free survival, cancer-specific survival, and overall survival. The Cox proportional hazards model was used for univariate and multivariable analyses. The AGR was dichotomized as < 0.95 and ≥ 0.95 based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. After excluding 26 cases with missing data from the total of 176 cases, 109 (73%) patients experienced disease progression, 75 (50%) died from UC, and 6 (4%) died of other causes (median survival = 12 months). Multivariate analyses identified PS ≥ 2 and pretreatment AGR < 0.95 as independent poor prognostic factors for all endpoints. Furthermore, a prognostic risk model incorporating these two variables achieved a relatively high concordance index for all endpoints. This is the first report to evaluate the significance of AGR in advanced UC. Pretreatment AGR < 0.95 may serve as a prognostic marker for advanced UC treated with pembrolizumab.
Implication of specific retinal cell-type involvement and gene expression changes in AMD progression using integrative analysis of single-cell and bulk RNA-seq profiling
Authors: Lyu Yafei , Zauhar Randy , Dana Nicholas , Strang Christianne E. , Hu Jian , Wang Kui , Liu Shanrun , Pan Naifei , Gamlin Paul , Kimble James A. , Messinger Jeffrey D. , Curcio Christine A. , Stambolian Dwight , Li Mingyao
Published: August 2021

Age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) is a blinding eye disease with no unifying theme for its etiology. We used single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze the transcriptomes of ~ 93,000 cells from the macula and peripheral retina from two adult human donors and bulk RNA sequencing from fifteen adult human donors with and without AMD. Analysis of our single-cell data identified 267 cell-type-specific genes. Comparison of macula and peripheral retinal regions found no cell-type differences but did identify 50 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with about 1/3 expressed in cones. Integration of our single-cell data with bulk RNA sequencing data from normal and AMD donors showed compositional changes more pronounced in macula in rods, microglia, endothelium, Müller glia, and astrocytes in the transition from normal to advanced AMD. KEGG pathway analysis of our normal vs. advanced AMD eyes identified enrichment in complement and coagulation pathways, antigen presentation, tissue remodeling, and signaling pathways including PI3K-Akt, NOD-like, Toll-like, and Rap1. These results showcase the use of single-cell RNA sequencing to infer cell-type compositional and cell-type-specific gene expression changes in intact bulk tissue and provide a foundation for investigating molecular mechanisms of retinal disease that lead to new therapeutic targets.
MyD88-dependent BCG immunotherapy reduces tumor and regulates tumor microenvironment in bladder cancer murine model
Authors: de Queiroz Nina M. G. P. , Marinho Fabio V. , de Araujo Ana Carolina V. S. C. , Fahel Julia S. , Oliveira Sergio C.
Published: August 2021

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is the only FDA approved first line therapy for patients with nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer. The purpose of this study is to better understand the role of innate immune pathways involved in BCG immunotherapy against murine bladder tumor. We first characterized the immunological profile induced by the MB49 mouse urothelial carcinoma cell line. MB49 cells were not able to activate an inflammatory response (TNF-α, IL-6, CXCL-10 or IFN-β) after the stimulus with different agonists or BCG infection, unlike macrophages. Although MB49 cells are not able to induce an efficient immune response, BCG treatment could activate other cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). We evaluated BCG intratumoral treatment in animals deficient for different innate immune molecules (STING−/−, cGAS−/−, TLR2−/−, TLR3−/−, TLR4−/−, TLR7−/−, TLR9−/−, TLR3/7/9−/−, MyD88−/−, IL-1R−/−, Caspase1/11−/−, Gasdermin-D−/− and IFNAR−/−) using the MB49 subcutaneous mouse model. Only MyD88−/− partially responded to BCG treatment compared to wild type (WT) mice, suggesting a role played by this adaptor molecule. Additionally, BCG intratumoral treatment regulates cellular infiltrate in TME with an increase of inflammatory macrophages, neutrophils and CD8+ T lymphocytes, suggesting an immune response activation that favors tumor remission in WT mice but not in MyD88−/−. The experiments using MB49 cells infected with BCG and co-cultured with macrophages also demonstrated that MyD88 is essential for an efficient immune response. Our data suggests that BCG immunotherapy depends partially on the MyD88-related innate immune pathway.
Comparative analysis of some evolutionary-based models in optimization of dam reservoirs operation
Authors: Sharifi Mohammad Reza , Akbarifard Saeid , Qaderi Kourosh , Madadi Mohamad Reza
Published: August 2021

Deriving optimal operation policies for multi-reservoir systems is a complex engineering problem. It is necessary to employ a reliable technique to efficiently solving such complex problems. In this study, five recently-introduced robust evolutionary algorithms (EAs) of Harris hawks optimization algorithm (HHO), seagull optimization algorithm (SOA), sooty tern optimization algorithm (STOA), tunicate swarm algorithm (TSA) and moth swarm algorithm (MSA) were employed, for the first time, to optimal operation of Halilrood multi-reservoir system. This system includes three dams with parallel and series arrangements simultaneously. The results of mentioned algorithms were compared with two well-known methods of genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. The objective function of the optimization model was defined as the minimization of total deficit over 223 months of reservoirs operation. Four performance criteria of reliability, resilience, vulnerability and sustainability were used to compare the algorithms’ efficiency in optimization of this multi-reservoir operation. It was observed that the MSA algorithm with the best value of objective function (6.96), the shortest CPU run-time (6738 s) and the fastest convergence rate (< 2000 iterations) was the superior algorithm, and the HHO algorithm placed in the next rank. The GA, and the PSO were placed in the middle ranks and the SOA, and the STOA placed in the lowest ranks. Furthermore, the comparison of utilized algorithms in terms of sustainability index indicated the higher performance of the MSA in generating the best operation scenarios for the Halilrood multi-reservoir system. The application of robust EAs, notably the MSA algorithm, to improve the operation policies of multi-reservoir systems is strongly recommended to water resources managers and decision-makers.
A CpG island promoter drives the CXXC5 gene expression
Authors: Yaşar Pelin , Kars Gizem , Yavuz Kerim , Ayaz Gamze , Oğuztüzün Çerağ , Bilgen Ecenaz , Suvacı Zeynep , Çetinkol Özgül Persil , Can Tolga , Muyan Mesut
Published: August 2021

CXXC5 is a member of the zinc-finger CXXC family that binds to unmethylated CpG dinucleotides. CXXC5 modulates gene expressions resulting in diverse cellular events mediated by distinct signaling pathways. However, the mechanism responsible for CXXC5 expression remains largely unknown. We found here that of the 14 annotated CXXC5 transcripts with distinct 5′ untranslated regions encoding the same protein, transcript variant 2 with the highest expression level among variants represents the main transcript in cell models. The DNA segment in and at the immediate 5′-sequences of the first exon of variant 2 contains a core promoter within which multiple transcription start sites are present. Residing in a region with high G–C nucleotide content and CpG repeats, the core promoter is unmethylated, deficient in nucleosomes, and associated with active RNA polymerase-II. These findings suggest that a CpG island promoter drives CXXC5 expression. Promoter pull-down revealed the association of various transcription factors (TFs) and transcription co-regulatory proteins, as well as proteins involved in histone/chromatin, DNA, and RNA processing with the core promoter. Of the TFs, we verified that ELF1 and MAZ contribute to CXXC5 expression. Moreover, the first exon of variant 2 may contain a G-quadruplex forming region that could modulate CXXC5 expression.
A deep-learning method using computed tomography scout images for estimating patient body weight
Authors: Ichikawa Shota , Hamada Misaki , Sugimori Hiroyuki
Published: August 2021

Body weight is an indispensable parameter for determination of contrast medium dose, appropriate drug dosing, or management of radiation dose. However, we cannot always determine the accurate patient body weight at the time of computed tomography (CT) scanning, especially in emergency care. Time-efficient methods to estimate body weight with high accuracy before diagnostic CT scans currently do not exist. In this study, on the basis of 1831 chest and 519 abdominal CT scout images with the corresponding body weights, we developed and evaluated deep-learning models capable of automatically predicting body weight from CT scout images. In the model performance assessment, there were strong correlations between the actual and predicted body weights in both chest (ρ = 0.947,p < 0.001) and abdominal datasets (ρ = 0.869,p < 0.001). The mean absolute errors were 2.75 kg and 4.77 kg for the chest and abdominal datasets, respectively. Our proposed method with deep learning is useful for estimating body weights from CT scout images with clinically acceptable accuracy and potentially could be useful for determining the contrast medium dose and CT dose management in adult patients with unknown body weight.
Enhancement of ice-phase precipitation caused by thermal forcing produces ghost echoes over the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Chen Yilun , Zhang Aoqi , Chen Shumin , Tu Chaoyong , Li Weibiao , Fu Yunfei
Published: August 2021

Whether tall storms produce heavy precipitation is currently a controversial topic. Here, we used seven years of observations from the dual-frequency precipitation radar and found that there is a rare but unique vertical precipitation structure over the Tibetan Plateau. The radar echo peaks above the freezing height, which we refer to as a “ghost echo”. The existence of a ghost echo increases the echo-top height but suppresses the increase in droplet size below it, and therefore weakens the near-surface precipitation. Compared with normal echoes, ghost echoes appear more often in the afternoon. The potentially unstable environment produced by thermal forcing is the main cause of ghost echoes, rather than the dynamic factor of wind shear. The ghost echo, which is essentially a mechanism of ice-phase precipitation enhancement, represents a type of tall but weak precipitation. Its existence adds to our current perception of the nature of precipitation.
Efficient harmonic generation in an adiabatic multimode submicron tapered optical fiber
Authors: Ha Chang Kyun , Nam Kee Hwan , Kang Myeong Soo
Published: August 2021

Optical nanotapers fabricated by tapering optical fibers have attracted considerable interest as an ultimate platform for high-efficiency light-matter interactions. While previously demonstrated applications relied exclusively on the low-loss transmission of only the fundamental mode, the implementation of multimode tapers that adiabatically transmit several modes has remained very challenging, hindering their use in various emerging applications in multimode nonlinear optics and quantum optics. Here, we report the realization of multimode submicron tapers that permit the simultaneous adiabatic transmission of multiple higher-order modes including the LP02 mode, through introducing deep wet-etching of conventional fiber before fiber tapering. Furthermore, as a critical application, we demonstrate fundamental-to-fundamental all-fiber third-harmonic generation with high conversion efficiencies. Our work paves the way for ultrahigh-efficiency multimode nonlinear and quantum optics, facilitating nonclassical light generation in the multimode regime, multimode soliton interactions and photonic quantum gates, and manipulation of the evanescent-field-induced optical trapping potentials of atoms and nanoparticles.
A new lateral flow assay to detect sIL-2R during T-cell mediated rejection after kidney transplantation
Authors: Seiler Lisa K. , Jonczyk Rebecca , Lindner Patrick , Phung Ncog Linh , Falk Christine S. , Kaufeld Jessica , Gwinner Wilfried , Scheffner Irina , Immenschuh Stephan , Blume Cornelia
Published: August 2021

In this work a novel point of care test to detect sIL-2R during acute kidney rejection with high specificity and sensitivity was developed.
An oxidation responsive nano-radiosensitizer increases radiotherapy efficacy by remolding tumor vasculature
Authors: Wang Xiaohui , Niu Xiaoyan , Sha Weizhou , Feng Xiaoyue , Yu Licheng , Zhang Zhenjie , Wang Wei , Yuan Zhi
Published: July 2021

An amazing nanoplatform (Au@SA-QBA) was utilized to specifically normalize tumor vessels and significantly improve the radiotherapy effect.
Ultrafast H2-selective nanoporous multilayer graphene membrane prepared by confined thermal annealing
Authors: Kim Jeong Pil , Choi Eunji , Kang Junhyeok , Choi Seung Eun , Choi Yunkyu , Kwon Ohchan , Kim Dae Woo
Published: August 2021

Ultrafast and H2-selective nanoporous graphene membrane was fabricated by thermally treating the GO layer in a confined space under high pressure.
One-pot mechanochemical synthesis to encapsulate functional guests into a metal–organic framework for proton conduction
Authors: Wang Yang , Lu Ying , Li Zhuo , Sun Xiu-Wei , Zhang Wan-Yu , Zhang Shan , Wang Jie , Dang Tian-Yi , Zhang Zhong , Liu Shu-Xia
Published: August 2021

A series of NENU-3 materials loaded with functional guests were rapidly synthesized by a mechanochemical method, which display remarkably increased proton conductivities.
Selective formation of a supramolecular coordination complex in the nanometre scale with a ferrocene-based phospholane ligand
Authors: Hoy Reinhard , Grell Toni , Lönnecke Peter , Hey-Hawkins Evamarie
Published: August 2021

A supramolecular coordination complex in the nanometre scale based on a tetrakisphosphine ligand and gold(i) is presented and the formation of a 4 : 2 [M : L] instead of a 2 : 1 [M : L] complex is rationalised based on the ligand structure.
A Fe2O3–Fe3C heterostructure encapsulated into a carbon matrix for the anode of lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Zheng Jihui , Kong Fanjun , Tao Shi , Qian Bin
Published: August 2021

The heterostructure formed by Fe2O3 and Fe3C can create a strong internal E-field, which reduces the charge-transfer resistance and accelerates the diffusion of lithium ions.
One dimensional halogen bond design: Br⋯N versus I⋯N with fluoroarenes
Authors: Peloquin Andrew J. , McMillen Colin D. , Pennington William T.
Published: August 2021

29 structures of 1,4-dibromo- and 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene, as well as 4,4′-dibromo- and 4,4′-diiodooctafluorobiphenyl with bifunctional amines were synthesized, exposing correlations of halogen bond length with both electrostatic potential and percent buried volume.
Mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of newly introduced graphene-like borophanes: a reactive molecular dynamics study
Authors: Dethan Jacob F. N.
Published: August 2021

Mechanical and thermal properties of newly introduced graphene-like borophanes.
Microscopic insights into water adsorption in carbon nanopores – the role of acidic and basic functional groups and their configurations
Authors: Liu Lumeng , Zeng Wenmao , Tan Shiliang (Johnathan) , Liu Meng , Do D. D.
Published: August 2021

Microscopic configurations of functional groups dictate the shape of water clusters and subsequent pore filling.
Colloidal synthesis of metal chalcogenide nanomaterials from metal–organic precursors and capping ligand effect on electrocatalytic performance: progress, challenges and future perspectives
Authors: Khan Malik Dilshad , Opallo Marcin , Revaprasadu Neerish
Published: August 2021

The article highlights the use of molecular precursors and surfactants for controlled synthesis of nanocrystals. Moreover, the effect of surfactants on electrocatalysis and strategies to remove them from the surface of nanocrystals are discussed.
Biogas upgrading through blends of deep eutectic solvents and monoethanol amine: 4 E analysis (energy, exergy, environmental, and economic)
Authors: Haider Junaid , Kazmi Bilal , Naquash Ahmad , Abdul Qyyum Muhammad , Ali Imran , Lee Moonyong , Lim Hankwon
Published: August 2021

Blends of monoethanol amine (MEA) with an aqueous deep eutectic solvent (DES), with MEA present in various proportions of 5, 10, and 15 wt%, are used in process design for biogas upgrading.
Nanocapsules formed by interactions between chondroitin sulfate and egg white protein for encapsulating hydrophilic ingredients
Authors: Wang Yuxiao , Tao Haiteng , Wang Kunli , Li Mo , Wen Xin , Fu Rao , Qin Chenqiang , Ni Yuanying
Published: August 2021

Nanocapsules formed via the CS–EWP interaction provide an environmentally friendly and sustainable method for efficiently encapsulating various hydrophilic food or pharmaceutical ingredients.
Regioselective and water-assisted surface esterification of never-dried cellulose: nanofibers with adjustable surface energy
Authors: Beaumont Marco , Otoni Caio G. , Mattos Bruno D. , Koso Tetyana V. , Abidnejad Roozbeh , Zhao Bin , Kondor Anett , King Alistair W. T. , Rojas Orlando J.
Published: August 2021

We report a versatile and simple preparation of hydrophobic cellulose nanofibers through a spatially confined modification of the primary surface hydroxyl groups.
Simultaneous single-cell phenotype analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma CTCs using a SERS-aptamer based microfluidic chip
Authors: Gao Rongke , Zhan Changbiao , Wu Chunyu , Lu Yang , Cao Baoqiang , Huang Jing , Wang Feng , Yu Liandong
Published: August 2021

A novel SERS-aptamer based microfluidic chip is proposed for simultaneous single-cell phenotype analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma CTCs.
Identification of molecular glues of the SLP76/14-3-3 protein–protein interaction
Authors: Soini Lorenzo , Redhead Martin , Westwood Marta , Leysen Seppe , Davis Jeremy , Ottmann Christian
Published: August 2021

The stabilisation of protein–protein interactions (PPIs) through molecular glues is a novel and promising approach in drug discovery.
Rapid and label-free cancer theranostics via in situ bio-self-assembled DNA–gold nanostructures loaded exosomes
Authors: Semcheddine Farouk , El Islem Guissi Nida , Liu Weiwei , Tayyaba  , Gang Lv , Jiang Hui , Wang Xuemei
Published: August 2021

In situ ex vivo bio-self-assembled ring-shaped DNA–Au nanostructures and DNA–Au nanostructures loaded exosomes with strong dual fluorescence and rapid cellular uptake, reaching the nucleus 10 min post-incubation as an outstanding theranostic platform.
Silica–sulfuric acid and alumina–sulfuric acid: versatile supported Brønsted acid catalysts
Authors: Pramanik Amit , Bhar Sanjay
Published: August 2021

–SO3H functionalized silica and alumina have emerged as efficient and eco-compatible heterogeneous solid acid catalysts for the construction of various important molecular skeletons.
Ball-milling method encapsulated α-Fe2O3 into g-C3N4 as efficient and stable photo-catalysts
Authors: Shao Huijuan , Yao Peng , Chen Yi , Yao Yue , Li Guangbi , Liao Xiaoyuan
Published: August 2021

Ball-milling method encapsulated α-Fe2O3 into g-C3N4 as efficient and stable photo-catalysts.
Material strategies in the electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction to ammonia production
Authors: Jung Wonsang , Hwang Yun Jeong
Published: August 2021

Nanostructure electrocatalysts are demonstrated for nitrate reduction reaction to ammonia production. Based on the understanding of material parameters and reaction intermediates, origins of the enhanced activity and perspectives are provided.
Synergistic effect of Sn doping and hydrogenation on hematite electrodes for photoelectrochemical water oxidation
Authors: Jeon Tae Hwa , Cho Hae-in , Park Hyunwoong , Kim Hyoung-il , Choi Wonyong
Published: August 2021

A hematite photoanode with dual-modification by Sn doping and H2treatment exhibits outstanding photoelectrochemical water splitting performance with improved charge transport and separation because of the synchronous presence of Sn4+and Vo.
Air stable and highly efficient Bi3+-doped Cs2SnCl6 for blue light-emitting diodes
Authors: Yao Yue , Zhang Si-Wei , Liu Zijian , Wang Chun-Yun , Liu Ping , Ma Lan , Wei Guodan , Kang Feiyu
Published: August 2021

A Bi3+-doped Cs2SnCl6 exhibits photoluminescence at around 456 nm and a photoluminescence quantum yield of 31%. The blue LED based on the Bi3+-doped Cs2SnCl6 phosphor exhibits a long life of 120 hours and a CIE color coordinates of (0.14, 0.11).
Facile synthesis of vacancy-induced 2H-MoS2 nanosheets and defect investigation for supercapacitor application
Authors: Wang Hai , Xu Xingping , Neville Anne
Published: August 2021

In this paper, a 2D molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheet is prepared via a one-step hydrothermal method as electrode material for supercapacitors.
Engineering aspects of FlowNMR spectroscopy setups for online analysis of solution-phase processes
Authors: Saib Asad , Bara-Estaún Alejandro , Harper Owen J. , Berry Daniel B. G. , Thomlinson Isabel A. , Broomfield-Tagg Rachael , Lowe John P. , Lyall Catherine L. , Hintermair Ulrich
Published: August 2021

In this article we review some fundamental engineering concepts and evaluate components and materials required to assemble and operate safe and effective FlowNMR setups that reliably generate meaningful results.
Framework of the kinetic analysis of O2-dependent oxidative biocatalysts for reaction intensification
Authors: Lorente-Arevalo Alvaro , Ladero Miguel , Bolivar Juan M.
Published: August 2021

A framework for kinetic modelling and evaluation of the reaction intensification of O2-dependent enzyme catalyzed reactions is built from measurements of consumption rates of the initially dissolved O2 in homogeneous liquid phase.
Catalyst-free valorization of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate to crotonic acid
Authors: Kang Shimin , Chen Rujie , Fu Jinxia , Liang Jianhao , Chen Suxia , Lu Lijun , Miao Rongrong
Published: August 2021

A novel catalyst-free valorization process of PHB to CA in inert nonpolar solvents is developed. CA was obtained with a yield of 89 wt% and a purity of 91% via a simple consecutive process of pyrolysis at 210 °C and vacuum distillation at 60 °C.
Layered BiOCl/H+TiNbO5− heterojunctions for boosting visible-light-driven photocatalytic RhB degradation
Authors: Liu Chao , Gao Xin , Zhangai Caijun , Cheng Ting , Wang Yan , Zhang Beibei , Dong Pengyu , Chen Xiaowei , Xi Xinguo , Zou Zhigang
Published: August 2021

The construction of a layered heterojunction photocatalyst could profoundly promote the charge carrier separation and thus boost the photocatalytic activity.
Ca4Sb2O and Ca4Bi2O: two promising mixed-anion thermoelectrics
Authors: Rahim Warda , Skelton Jonathan M. , Scanlon David O.
Published: August 2021

Using first-principles modelling we predict Ca4Sb2O and Ca4Bi2O to have ultra-low lattice thermal conductivity, making them promising earth-abundant oxide thermoelectrics.
Oligomerized imide and thioimide organic cathode materials via a H-transfer mechanism for high capacity lithium ion batteries
Authors: Tu Xing-Chao , Wu Zhenzhen , Geng Xin , Qu Lu-Lu , Sun Hong-Mei , Lai Chao , Li Dong-Sheng , Zhang Shanqing
Published: August 2021

A H-transfer process for oligomerized imide and thioimide is proposed offering ultra-high theoretical capacities of 1246 and 908 mA h g−1 and practical capacities of 464.6 and 820.6 mA h g−1. This work provides a new energy storage mechanism for organic electrode materials.
Graphene-coated copper-doped ZnO quantum dots for sensitive photoelectrochemical bioanalysis of thrombin triggered by DNA nanoflowers
Authors: Li Yuxuan , Wang Wenqing , Gong Hexiang , Xu Jianhui , Yu Zhichao , Wei Qiaohua , Tang Dianping
Published: August 2021

This work reports a photoelectrochemical biosensing platform for thrombin using graphene oxide-coated copper-doped zinc oxide quantum dots as the photoactive materials and glucose oxidase-encapsulated DNA nanoflowers for signal amplification.
Conservation of endo-glucanase 16 (EG16) activity across highly divergent plant lineages
Authors: Behar Hila , Tamura Kazune , Wagner Edward R. , Cosgrove Daniel J. , Brumer Harry
Published: August 2021

Plant cell walls are highly dynamic structures that are composed predominately of polysaccharides. As such, endogenous carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes) are central to the synthesis and subsequent modification of plant cells during morphogenesis. The endo-glucanase 16 (EG16) members constitute a distinct group of plant CAZymes, angiosperm orthologs of which were recently shown to have dual β-glucan/xyloglucan hydrolase activity. Molecular phylogeny indicates that EG16 members comprise a sister clade with a deep evolutionary relationship to the widely studied apoplastic xyloglucan endo-transglycosylases/hydrolases (XTH). A cross-genome survey indicated that EG16 members occur as a single ortholog across species and are widespread in early diverging plants, including the non-vascular bryophytes, for which functional data were previously lacking. Remarkably, enzymological characterization of an EG16 ortholog from the model moss Physcomitrella patens (PpEG16) revealed that EG16 activity and sequence/structure are highly conserved across 500 million years of plant evolution, vis-à-vis orthologs from grapevine and poplar. Ex vivo biomechanical assays demonstrated that the application of EG16 gene products caused abrupt breakage of etiolated hypocotyls rather than slow extension, thereby indicating a mode-of-action distinct from endogenous expansins and microbial endo-glucanases. The biochemical data presented here will inform future genomic, genetic, and physiological studies of EG16 enzymes.
Area human sensing via ambient Wi‐Fi signals
Authors: Xu Zhimeng , Xi Jianwei , Chen Liangqin
Published: August 2021

Indoor human wireless sensing is crucial for many applications such as smart homes and security monitoring. It needs to understand both the number of people and their activities, which is often difficult, especially in large spaces. This paper proposes a combined people number counting and action recognition method by using the channel state information (CSI) of Wi‐Fi signal, which aims to simultaneously estimate the number of people and their actions in wireless sensing applications. First, a jump region removal algorithm is developed to calibrate the phase difference. Second, a cumulative sliding variance algorithm is designed for the detection of moving targets in the environment. Then a multi‐dimensional feature is formed by the amplitude, frequency domain, and phase difference of CSI, and based on it, a two‐level classifier based on the SVM algorithm is used to estimate the number of people and their actions. Experimental results show that the average accuracy of the system for the people counting is 93.5%, and the activity recognition rate of one‐person and two‐person is 99.6% and 94.6% respectively.
An observer‐based current reconstruction of induction motor driven water pump with improved power flow control by ANN based DPC of PV‐grid interactive system
Authors: Shukla Saurabh , Singh Bhim , Al‐Durra Ahmad
Published: August 2021

An efficient power sharing between the solar PV array and the utility is the core aim of this work. A mechanical sensorless direct torque controlled (DTC) induction motor (IM) is implemented for the water pumping application. The PV array is operated at maximum power point (MPP), ensuring full utilization. Therefore, the integrated system ensures uninterrupted power for water pump operation regardless of the irradiance level. For serving the purpose of grid integration and IM control, two voltage source converters (VSCs) are used. The two VSCs share a common DC link. An artificial neural network (ANN) based direct power control is utilized to maintain the power transfer in both directions between the PV array‐grid integration and an induction motor drive with a water pump. Moreover, an observer based current adaptive approach is used for motor current estimation from a single current sensor used for DC link current sensing. The overall system comprising of the three‐phase grid in conjugation with PV array operating induction motor drive used for water pumping, is simulated and verified through test results. MATLAB/Simulink environment with Sim‐power system toolbox is used to perform the software simulation. In the laboratory, a test bed of grid connected water pumping system is developed.
SNR‐dependent drone classification using convolutional neural networks
Authors: Dale Holly , Baker Chris , Antoniou Michail , Jahangir Mohammed , Atkinson George , Harman Stephen
Published: July 2021

Radar sensing offers a method of achieving 24‐h all‐weather drone surveillance, but in order to be maximally effective, systems need to be able to discriminate between birds and drones. This work examines drone‐bird classification performance as a function of signal to noise ratio (SNR). Classification at low SNR values is necessary in order to classify drones with a small radar cross‐section (RCS), as well as to facilitate reliable classification at longer ranges. To investigate the relationship between classification performance and SNR, Gaussian noise is added to an experimentally obtained dataset of radar spectrograms. Classification is performed by convolutional neural networks (CNNs). It is shown that for the data available classification accuracy drops with falling SNR, as might be expected for any given CNN. The degree to which performance degrades with reduced SNR is presented. It is further shown that simpler network architectures are more robust to noise. Finally, it is demonstrated that data augmentation can be used as a means of enhancing classification accuracy at lower SNR values. Bayesian optimisation is used to find the optimal augmentation hyperparameters and overall, classification accuracies of 92% are achieved at low SNR.
In memoriam Thierry Frébourg
Authors: Saugier-Veber Pascale , Cossée Mireille , Lévy Nicolas
Published: August 2021

Le Professeur Thierry Frébourg est décédé brutalement le 13 mars 2021 à l’âge de 60 ans. Ses collègues et amis généticiens de la Filière FILNEMUS lui rendent hommage, lui qui a tant fait pour les maladies rares.
Patients with Central Hypothyroidism are Less Sufficiently Treated with Levothyroxine than Patients with Primary Hypothyroidism
Authors: Samec Barbara , Setnikar Gaja , Gaberscek Simona , Kocjan Tomaz
Published: July 2021

Background Contrary to patients with hypothyroidism after radioiodine (HRI) or after thyroidectomy (HTh), patients with central hypothyroidism (CH) cannot rely on thyrotropin (TSH) level to guide their treatment with L-thyroxine (L-T4). Consequently, they are at constant risk of under- or overtreatment. We aimed to establish the adequacy of L-T4 treatment in patients with CH in our cohort.

Methods Consecutive patients with CH on L-T4 treatment were compared with patients adequately treated for HRI or HTh. Levels of free thyroxine (fT4) and free triiodothyronine (fT3) were evaluated and the fT4/fT3 ratio was calculated.

Results Forty patients with CH, 136 patients with HRI and 43 patients with HTh were included in this study. Patients with HRI were significantly younger than patients with HTh and CH (p<0.001 for both). Levels of fT4 were significantly lower in CH than in adequately treated patients with HRI and HTh (median (range), 15.6 (12.7–21.3), 18.4 (12.2–28.8), and 18.7 (13.8–25.5) pmol/L, respectively, p<0.001 for both comparisons). Levels of fT3 did not differ significantly (p=0.521) between CH, HRI and HTh (median (range), 4.5 (2.7–5.9), 4.3 (3.2–6.2), and 4.4 (2.9–5.5) pmol/L, respectively). Accordingly, the fT4/fT3 ratio was significantly lower in the CH group than in HRI and HTh groups (median (range), 3.7 (2.5–5.2), 4.2 (1.2–7.7), and 4.4 (2.5–6.1), respectively, p<0.001 for both comparisons).

Conclusions Patients with CH have lower fT4 levels and lower fT4/fT3 ratios than patients adequately treated for HRI or HTh. The cause for this difference may be the unreliable TSH levels in patients with CH.
Increasing Pediatric Audiology Services via Telehealth
Authors: Evans Tommy , Nejman Timothy , Stewart Erin , Windmill Ian
Published: August 2021

Telehealth as a means to deliver health care services has been used by physicians for many years, but the use of telehealth in audiology, specifically in pediatrics, has been minimal. Barriers such as licensure, reimbursement, technology, and equipment have been cited as reasons for audiologists not participating in telehealth. However, the COVID-19 pandemic created the need for telehealth services to be widely used to safely increase access to healthcare, and emergent orders helped reduce previous barriers so that audiologists could participate in telehealth service delivery. This article details three cases where audiologists delivered telehealth services to children. These case studies demonstrate portions of the Division of Audiology Telehealth Program of the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and how they increased access to hearing healthcare in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Endotherapy for Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
Authors: Birda Chhagan L. , Kumar Antriksh , Samanta Jayanta
Published: July 2021

Nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (NVUGIH) is a common GI emergency with significant morbidity and mortality. Triaging cases on the basis of patient-related factors, restrictive blood transfusion strategy, and hemodynamic stabilization are key initial steps for the management of patients with NVUGIH. Endoscopy remains a vital step for both diagnosis and definitive management. Multiple studies and guidelines have now defined the optimum timing for performing the endoscopy after hospitalization, to better the outcome. Conventional methods for achieving endoscopic hemostasis, such as injection therapy, contact, and noncontact thermal therapy, and mechanical therapy, such as through-the-scope clips, have reported to have 76 to 90% efficacy for primary hemostasis. Newer modalities to enhance hemostasis rates have come in vogue. Many of these modalities, such as cap-mounted clips, coagulation forceps, and hemostatic powders have proved to be efficacious in multiple studies. Thus, the newer modalities are recommended not only for management of persistent bleed and recurrent bleed after failed initial hemostasis, using conventional modalities but also now being advocated for primary hemostasis. Failure of endotherapy would warrant radiological or surgical intervention. Some newer tools to optimize endotherapy, such as endoscopic Doppler probes, for determining flow in visible or underlying vessels in ulcer bleed are now being evaluated. This review is focused on the technical aspects and efficacy of various endoscopic modalities, both conventional and new. A synopsis of the various studies describing and comparing the modalities have been outlined. Postendoscopic management including Helicobacter pylori therapy and starting of anticoagulants and antiplatelets have also been outlined.
Transformative opportunities in superconductor vortex physics
Authors: McConnon Aili
Published: August 2021

New advances in superconductor vortex physics from using simulations to predict the defect landscape and create optimal superconducting properties to designing advanced microscopy techniques that could image vortex-defect interactions
Limit theorems and soft edge of freezing random matrix models via dual orthogonal polynomials
Authors: Andraus Sergio , Hermann Kilian , Voit Michael
Published: August 2021

N-dimensional Bessel and Jacobi processes describe interacting particle systems with N particles and are related to β-Hermite, β-Laguerre, and β-Jacobi ensembles. For fixed N, there exist associated weak limit theorems (WLTs) in the freezing regime β → ∞ in the β-Hermite and β-Laguerre case by Dumitriu and Edelman [Ann. Inst. Henri Poincare, Sect. B 41, 1083 (2005)] with explicit formulas for the covariance matrices ΣN in terms of the zeros of associated orthogonal polynomials. Recently, the authors derived these WLTs in a different way and computed ΣN−1 with formulas for the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of ΣN−1 and thus of ΣN. In the present paper, we use these data and the theory of finite dual orthogonal polynomials of de Boor and Saff to derive formulas for ΣN from ΣN−1, where, for β-Hermite and β-Laguerre ensembles, our formulas are simpler than those of Dumitriu and Edelman. We use these polynomials to derive asymptotic results for the soft edge in the freezing regime for N → ∞ in terms of the Airy function. For β-Hermite ensembles, our limit expressions are different from those of Dumitriu and Edelman.
Examining normal modes as fundamental heat carriers in amorphous solids: The case of amorphous silicon
Authors: Moon Jaeyun
Published: August 2021

Normal mode decomposition of atomic vibrations has been used to provide microscopic understanding of thermal transport in amorphous solids for decades. In normal mode methods, it is naturally assumed that atoms vibrate around their equilibrium positions, and that individual normal modes are the fundamental vibrational excitations transporting heat. With the abundance of predictions from normal mode methods and experimental measurements now available, we carefully analyze these calculations in amorphous silicon, a model amorphous solid. We find a number of discrepancies, suggesting that treating individual normal modes as fundamental heat carriers may not be accurate in amorphous solids. Furthermore, our classical and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of amorphous silicon demonstrate a large degree of atomic diffusion, especially at high temperatures, leading to the conclusion that thermal transport in amorphous solids could be better described starting from the perspectives of liquid physics rather than from crystalline solids.
Large deviation principles for Langevin equations in random environment and applications
Authors: Nguyen Nhu N. , Yin George
Published: August 2021

In contrast to the study of Langevin equations in a homogeneous environment in the literature, the study on Langevin equations in randomly varying environments is relatively scarce. Almost all the existing works require random environments to have a specific formulation that is independent of the systems. This paper aims at considering large deviation principles (LDPs) of Langevin equations involving a random environment that is a process taking values in a measurable space and that is allowed to interact with the systems, without specified formulation on the random environment. Examples and applications to statistical physics are provided. Our formulation of the random environment presents the main challenges and requires new approaches. Our approach stems from the intuition of the Smoluchowski–Kramers approximation. The techniques developed in this paper focus on the relation between the solutions of the second-order equations and the associated first-order equations. We obtain the desired LDPs by showing that a family of processes enjoy the exponential tightness and local LDPs with an appropriate rate function.
Highly efficient non-doped blue OLED based on perylene
Authors: Liang N. , Zhao Y. K. , Wu Y. Z. , Zhang C. R. , Shao M.
Published: August 2021

An efficient non-doped blue organic light-emitting diode with several-nanometer-thick easy-to-aggregate fluorescent material perylene is reported in which two thin layers of perylene as blue emitters are located at both the sides of ambipolar material, 4,4′-N,N′-dicarbazole-biphyenyl (CBP), and the aggregation behavior of perylene in films is prevented. The maximum luminance and external quantum efficiency are 16 000 ± 600 cd/m2 and 3.0% ± 0.02% (3.70 ± 0.03 cd/A), respectively. Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage co-ordinates are basically x = 0.14 and y = 0.15. Although Föster energy transfer from CBP to perylene is efficient, the carrier confining induced exciton direct formation mechanism is considered to dominate the process of electroluminescence.