bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nanoparticle-based DNA vaccine protects against SARS-CoV-2 variants in female preclinical models
Authors: Guimaraes Lays Cordeiro , Costa Pedro Augusto Carvalho , Scalzo Júnior Sérgio Ricardo Aluotto , Ferreira Heloísa Athaydes Seabra , Braga Ana Carolina Soares , de Oliveira Leonardo Camilo , Figueiredo Maria Marta , Shepherd Sarah , Hamilton Alex , Queiroz-Junior Celso Martins , da Silva Walison Nunes , da Silva Natália Jordana Alves , Rodrigues Alves Marco Túllio , Santos Anderson Kenedy , de Faria Kevin Kelton Santos , Marim Fernanda Martins , Fukumasu Heidge , Birbrair Alexander , Teixeira-Carvalho Andréa , de Aguiar Renato Santana , Mitchell Michael J. , Teixeira Mauro Martins , Vasconcelos Costa Vivian , Frezard Frederic , Guimaraes Pedro Pires Goulart
Published: January 2024

A safe and effective vaccine with long-term protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) is a global health priority. Here, we develop lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to provide safe and effective delivery of plasmid DNA (pDNA) and show protection against VOCs in female small animal models. Using a library of LNPs encapsulating unique barcoded DNA (b-DNA), we screen for b-DNA delivery after intramuscular administration. The top-performing LNPs are further tested for their capacity of pDNA uptake in antigen-presenting cells in vitro. The lead LNP is used to encapsulate pDNA encoding the HexaPro version of SARS-CoV-2 spike (LNP-HPS) and immunogenicity and protection is tested in vivo. LNP-HPS elicit a robust protective effect against SARS-CoV-2 Gamma (P.1), correlating with reduced lethality, decreased viral load in the lungs and reduced lung damage. LNP-HPS induce potent humoral and T cell responses against P.1, and generate high levels of neutralizing antibodies against P.1 and Omicron (B.1.1.529). Our findings indicate that the protective efficacy and immunogenicity elicited by LNP-HPS are comparable to those achieved by the approved COVID-19 vaccine from Biontech/Pfizer in animal models. Together, these findings suggest that LNP-HPS hold great promise as a vaccine candidate against VOCs.
Acetylcholine receptor based chemogenetics engineered for neuronal inhibition and seizure control assessed in mice
Authors: Nguyen Quynh-Anh , Klein Peter M. , Xie Cheng , Benthall Katelyn N. , Iafrati Jillian , Homidan Jesslyn , Bendor Jacob T. , Dudok Barna , Farrell Jordan S. , Gschwind Tilo , Porter Charlotte L. , Keravala Annahita , Dodson G. Steven , Soltesz Ivan
Published: January 2024

Epilepsy is a prevalent disorder involving neuronal network hyperexcitability, yet existing therapeutic strategies often fail to provide optimal patient outcomes. Chemogenetic approaches, where exogenous receptors are expressed in defined brain areas and specifically activated by selective agonists, are appealing methods to constrain overactive neuronal activity. We developed BARNI (Bradanicline- and Acetylcholine-activated Receptor for Neuronal Inhibition), an engineered channel comprised of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ligand-binding domain coupled to an α1 glycine receptor anion pore domain. Here we demonstrate that BARNI activation by the clinical stage α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-selective agonist bradanicline effectively suppressed targeted neuronal activity, and controlled both acute and chronic seizures in male mice. Our results provide evidence for the use of an inhibitory acetylcholine-based engineered channel activatable by both exogenous and endogenous agonists as a potential therapeutic approach to treating epilepsy.
Mobility networks in Greater Mexico City
Authors: Flores-Garrido Marisol , de Anda-Jáuregui Guillermo , Guzmán Plinio , Meneses-Viveros Amilcar , Hernández-Álvarez Alfredo , Cruz-Bonilla Erika , Hernández-Rosales Maribel
Published: January 2024

Based on more than 11 billion geolocated cell phone records from 33 million different devices, daily mobility networks were constructed over a 15-month period for Greater Mexico City, one of the largest and most diverse metropolitan areas globally. The time frame considered spans the entire year of 2020 and the first three months of 2021, enabling the analysis of population movement dynamics before, during, and after the COVID-19 health contingency. The nodes within the 456 networks represent the basic statistical geographic areas (AGEBs) established by the National Institute of Statistics, Geography, and Informatics (INEGI) in Mexico. This framework facilitates the integration of mobility data with numerous indicators provided by INEGI. Edges connecting these nodes represent movement between AGEBs, with edge weights indicating the volume of trips from one AGEB to another. This extensive dataset allows researchers to uncover travel patterns, cross-reference data with socio-economic indicators, and conduct segregation studies, among other potential analyses.
A chromosome-level genome assembly of the Echiura Urechis unicinctus
Authors: Cheng Yunying , Chen Ruanni , Chen Jinlin , Huang Wanlong , Chen Jianming
Published: January 2024

Echiura is a distinctive family of unsegmented sausage-shaped marine worms whose phylogenetic relationship still needs strong evidence from the phylogenomic analysis. In this family, Urechis unicinctus is known for its high nutritional and medicinal value and adaptation to harsh intertidal conditions. Herein, we combined PacBio long-read, short-read Illumina and Hi-C sequencing, generating a high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly of U. unicinctus. The assembled genome spans ~1,138.6 Mb with a scaffold N50 of 68.3 Mb, of which 1,113.8 Mb (97.82%) were anchored into 17 pseudo-chromosomes. The BUSCO analysis demonstrated the completeness of the genome assembly and gene model prediction are 93.5% and 91.5%, respectively. A total of 482.1 Mb repetitive sequences, 21,524 protein-coding genes, 1,535 miRNAs, 3,431 tRNAs, 124 rRNAs, and 348 snRNAs were annotated. This study significantly improves the quality of U. unicinctus genome assembly, sets the footsteps for molecular breeding and further study in genome evolution, genetic and molecular biology of U. unicinctus.
A dataset of oracle characters for benchmarking machine learning algorithms
Authors: Wang Mei , Deng Weihong
Published: January 2024

Oracle bone script is an ancient Chinese writing system engraved on turtle shells and animal bones, serving as a valuable resource for interpreting ancient culture, history, and language. We introduce the Oracle-MNIST dataset, comprising of 28 × 28 grayscale images of 30,222 ancient characters from 10 categories, designed for benchmarking pattern classification, with particular challenges related to image noise and distortion. The training set totally consists of 27,222 images, and the test set contains 300 images per class. Oracle-MNIST follows the same data format with the original MNIST dataset, enabling direct compatibility with all existing classifiers and systems, but it constitutes a more challenging classification task than MNIST. The images of ancient characters suffer from (1) extremely serious and unique noises caused by three-thousand years of burial and aging and (2) dramatically variant writing styles by ancient Chinese, which all make them realistic for machine learning research.
Geospatial data on the sediments of Lake Balaton
Authors: Kocsis Mihály , Pásztor László , Makó András , Kassai Piroska , Csermák Kálmán , Csermák Alice , Aradvári-Tóth Erzsébet , Szatmári Gábor
Published: January 2024

Freshwater lakes in most inhabited areas of the world are threatened by water quality issues. Standard water conservation measures have shown efficiency in the past; however, polluted lakes have only partially recovered from eutrophication. Our knowledge is still incomplete about the sensitivity of these lakes to different anthropogenic sources and to the changes in their internal processes due to global warming. In this article, we present a database comprising sediment data from Lake Balaton (Hungary), which can facilitate further analysis helping to better understand the internal processes and changes occurring in the lake. The published dataset includes the following parameters measured in 4211 lake bed sediment samples: pHKCl, calcium carbonate (CaCO3), organic carbon (Corg), total nitrogen (Ntotal), soluble phosphorus (AL-P2O5) and soluble potassium (AL-K2O), magnesium (Mg2+), zinc (Zn2+), copper (Cu2+) and manganese (Mn2+). We are confident that our database serves as a strong basis for further research relating to freshwater lakes influenced by human activities.
Depth-dependent microbial metagenomes sampled in the northeastern Indian Ocean
Authors: Wang Xiaomeng , Zain Ul Arifeen Muhammad , Hou Shengwei , Zheng Qiang
Published: January 2024

The northeastern Indian Ocean exhibits distinct hydrographic characteristics influenced by various local and remote forces. Variations in these driving factors may alter the physiochemical properties of seawater, such as dissolved oxygen levels, and affect the diversity and function of microbial communities. How the microbial communities change across water depths spanning a dissolved oxygen gradient has not been well understood. Here we employed both 16S rDNA amplicon and metagenomic sequencing approaches to study the microbial communities collected from different water depths along the E87 transect in the northeastern Indian Ocean. Samples were collected from the surface, Deep Chlorophyll Maximum (DCM), Oxygen Minimum Zone (OMZ), and bathypelagic layers. Proteobacteria were prevalent throughout the water columns, while Thermoproteota were found to be abundant in the aphotic layers. A total of 675 non-redundant metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were constructed, spanning 21 bacterial and 5 archaeal phyla. The community structure and genomic information provided by this dataset offer valuable resources for the analysis of microbial biogeography and metabolism in the northeastern Indian Ocean.
Metagenomic analysis of Mesolithic chewed pitch reveals poor oral health among stone age individuals
Authors: Kırdök Emrah , Kashuba Natalija , Damlien Hege , Manninen Mikael A. , Nordqvist Bengt , Kjellström Anna , Jakobsson Mattias , Lindberg A. Michael , Storå Jan , Persson Per , Andersson Björn , Aravena Andrés , Götherström Anders
Published: January 2024

Prehistoric chewed pitch has proven to be a useful source of ancient DNA, both from humans and their microbiomes. Here we present the metagenomic analysis of three pieces of chewed pitch from Huseby Klev, Sweden, that were dated to 9,890–9,540 before present. The metagenomic profile exposes a Mesolithic oral microbiome that includes opportunistic oral pathogens. We compared the data with healthy and dysbiotic microbiome datasets and we identified increased abundance of periodontitis-associated microbes. In addition, trained machine learning models predicted dysbiosis with 70–80% probability. Moreover, we identified DNA sequences from eukaryotic species such as red fox, hazelnut, red deer and apple. Our results indicate a case of poor oral health during the Scandinavian Mesolithic, and show that pitch pieces have the potential to provide information on material use, diet and oral health.
A new (T-X$$^\theta$$) family of distributions: properties, discretization and estimation with applications
Authors: Mandouh Rasha M. , Mahmoud Mahmoud R. , Abdelatty Rasha E.
Published: January 2024

In this paper, a new class of distributions called the T-X$$^\theta$$

θ

family of distributions for bounded—(0,1)—and unbounded—$$(0,\infty )$$

(
0
,
∞
)

—supported random variables is suggested. Some special sub-models of the proposed family are utilized. A new sub-model is selected to be studied in details. The statistical properties of the suggested family including quantile function, moments, moment generating function, order statistics and Rényi entropy are discussed. The maximum likelihood method is provided to estimate the parameters of the distribution and a Monte Carlo simulation study is used. The discretized T-X$$^\theta$$

θ

family provided many sub-families and sub-models. In addition, eight real data sets are utilized to demonstrate the flexibility of the proposed continuous and discrete family’s multiple sub models.
Rapid detection method of bacterial pathogens in surface waters and a new risk indicator for water pathogenic pollution
Authors: Gao Min , Tan Feiyang , Shen Yuan , Peng Yao
Published: January 2024

In this study, a accurate, rapid quantitative PCR method for the simultaneous detection of 4 kinds of pathogenic bacteria in water was established, and the distribution of pathogenic bacteria in surface waters with different levels of pollution (Yulin region, China) was detected. The results showed that the detection accuracy was 94%; the detection limit was 2.7 in bacterial cells. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar typhimurium and Salmonella dysenteria were always present in water when the universal primer for pathogenic bacteria abundance detection was greater than 104 copies 100 mL−1. When the detection value is lower than 104 copy 100 mL−1, the bacteria in the water are rarely pathogenic bacteria, so the detection value of 104 copy 100 mL−1 can be used as a new indicator of waterborne pathogen pollution.
Potassium humate and cobalt enhance peanut tolerance to water stress through regulation of proline, antioxidants, and maintenance of nutrient homeostasis
Authors: Elshamly Ayman M. S. , Parrey Zubair Ahmad , Gaafar Abdel-Rhman Z. , Siddiqui Manzer H. , Hussain Sadam
Published: January 2024

Water stress is an important factor that substantially impacts crop production. As a result, there is a need for various strategies that can mitigate these negative effects. One such strategy is the application of potassium humate (Kh) and cobalt (Co), which have been reported to enhance the resistance of crop plants. Therefore, the present experiment was designed to investigate whether the application of Kh and Co could positively affect proline, chlorophyll and mineral elements contents, and antioxidant defense systems which in turn will mitigate the negative impact of water stress under different irrigation strategies. In 2021 and 2022, an open-field experiments were conducted by using a split-plot design. The main plots were divided to represent different irrigation strategies (ST), with additional control of full irrigation requirements (ST1). Four STs were implemented, with ST1, followed by the application of 75%, 50%, and 25% irrigation strategies in ST2, ST3, and ST4 respectively, in the next irrigation, followed by the full requirements, and so on. In the subplots, peanut plants were treated with tap water (Control), Kh at 2 g l−1 and 3 g l−1, Co, Co + Kh 2 g l−1 and Co + Kh 3 g l−1. The yield was negatively affected by the implementation of ST4, despite the increase in proline contents. Furthermore, there was a decrease in relative water content, chlorophyll content, antioxidant enzymes, protein, and mineral nutrient elements. However, the application of Kh or Co showed better improvements in most of the studied parameters. It is worth noting that there was an antagonistic relationship between Co and iron/manganese, and the intensity of this relationship was found to depend on the STs implemented. The highest mineral nutrient accumulation, chlorophyll content, relative water content, protein content, oil content, seed yield, and water productivity were observed when peanut plants were treated with Kh 3 g l−1 + Co under the ST2 water strategy.
Development and validation of a prognostic nomogram for predicting in-hospital mortality of patients with acute paraquat poisoning
Authors: Tang Guo , Jiang Zhen , Xu Lingjie , Yang Ying , Yang Sha , Yao Rong
Published: January 2024

This study aimed to develop and validate a predictive model to determine the risk of in-hospital mortality in patients with acute paraquat poisoning. This retrospective observational cohort study included 724 patients with acute paraquat poisoning whose clinical data were collected within 24 h of admission. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Patients were randomly divided into training and validation cohorts (7/3 ratio). In the training cohort, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression models were used for data dimension reduction and feature selection. Multivariate logistic regression was used to generate a predictive nomogram for in-hospital mortality. The prediction model was assessed for both the training and validation cohorts. In the training cohort, decreased level of consciousness (Glasgow Coma Scale score < 15), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, carbon dioxide combining power, and paraquat plasma concentrations at admission were identified as independent predictors of in-hospital mortality in patients with acute paraquat poisoning. The calibration curves, decision curve analysis, and clinical impact curves indicated that the model had a good predictive performance. It can be used on admission to the emergency department to predict mortality and facilitate early risk stratification and actionable measures in clinical practice after further external validation.
b map evaluation and on-fault stress state for the Antakya 2023 earthquakes
Authors: Convertito V. , Tramelli A. , Godano C.
Published: January 2024

The analysis of on-fault seismicity can enlighten the current stress state on the fault itself. Its definition is relevant to individuate fault patches that have not released all the accumulated stress even after the occurrence of a high magnitude earthquake. We use the b value to characterize the stress state on the fault of the Antakya 2023 main events, being b inversely proportional to the stress. The small magnitude seismicity occurring on the maximum slip fault-patches does not allow the b value estimation. This represents a strong indication that the maximum slip zone released most of the stress previously accumulated. Conversely, the lowest b values are located at the bends of the faults and close to the nucleation zone suggesting that, there, still exists not released stress implying that it could be reactivated in the future.
Mechanisms of rainfall-induced landslides and interception dynamic response: a case study of the Ni changgou landslide in Shimian, China
Authors: Li Yu , Yang Xuezhi , Hu Xiao , Wan Liyan , Ma Erlong
Published: January 2024

Geological hazards, especially landslides and mudslides, are frequent in Caoke County, Sichuan Province, China. In September 2022, the mechanical parameters of the soil were obtained through a basic investigation of the landslide characteristics of Ni changgou. Upon that, the finite element-discrete element method was used to reconstruct the three-dimensional numerical model of the landslide on the right bank of Ni changgou, and the initiation mechanism of rainfall on landslide and the formation of debris flow impact dam process were simulated. Furthermore, the pore pressure, stability coefficient as well as displacement of the landslide body were analyzed. It turned out that with the increase of rainfall intensity, the pore water pressure value also increases, where pore water pressure rises rapidly. the slope is close to the unstable edge, Eventually, it tends to one under rainfall conditions, and due to gravity, the slide of the landslide is induced. The duration of landslide movement is about 200 s, the maximum average velocity of the landslide reaches 4.85 m/s, and the average movement distance is close to 500 m. In addition, this method is applied to the Chutougou debris flow, and the corresponding hazard analysis is added which could better show the treatment and application of debris flow in actual engineering.
Construction of a near infrared fluorescence system for imaging of biological tissues
Authors: Zhao Xu , Li Shilin , Song Yue , Fan Lianhui
Published: January 2024

Surgical procedures often rely on unaided visual observation or endoscopic assistance, which may pose challenges in cases involving intricate anatomical relationships. Real-time imaging technologies capable of intraoperative visualization of target organs have the potential to enhance the precision of surgical procedures by facilitating accurate identification, separation, and protection of vital tissues or organs. Despite these advantages, the widespread adoption of such technologies has been hindered by factors such as the prohibitive cost of equipment. This study aims to optimize and develop a device based on Indocyanine Green (ICG) for fluorescence imaging. The objective is to monitor changes in the average fluorescence intensity of ICG in the bladder, offering valuable guidance for surgeries involving the bladder. 1. Male rabbits were administered 0.01 mg/ml ICG via the renal pelvis and ear vein to obtain fluorescence images of the ureter, bladder, and small intestine. 2. After ligating the bilateral ureters of male rabbits, a retrograde bladder perfusion of 5 ml 0.01 mg/ml ICG was conducted to capture fluorescence images of the bladder over time. The average fluorescence intensity was computed using Image Pro Plus 6.0, and the corresponding curve was generated using Prism 8.0. Using a similar methodology, the average fluorescence intensity of male rabbits without ureteral ligation was measured and plotted over time. 1. The developed device facilitated imaging of the ureter, bladder, and small intestine. 2. The bladder's average fluorescence intensity exhibited changes over time in response to urine production and ureteral ligation, contrasting with observations without ureteral ligation. We have successfully constructed and optimized a modular fluorescence imaging system for organs and tissues. This system proves effective in imaging experiments involving hollow organs in animals and offers valuable insights for relevant surgical procedures.
Bacterial community and diversity in the rumen of 11 Mongolian cattle as revealed by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing
Authors: Jia Yijiu , Shi Yali , Qiao Huiyan
Published: January 2024

Through microorganism in the rumen of ruminant, plant fiber can be converted to edible food such as meat and milk. Ruminants had a rich and complex microbial community within the rumen, and the bacteria comprised the dominant proportion of the ruminal microbes. High-throughput sequencing offered a viable solution for the study of rumen microbes. In this study, rumen fluid samples were taken from 11 cattle from Inner Mongolian, the DNA of 11 rumen fluid samples were extracted and bacterial amplicons of the V4 regions of 16S rRNA were subjected to Illumina sequencing. More than 90,000 raw reads and 60,000 effect Tags per sample were obtained. 28,122 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were observed from 11 samples, in average 2557 ± 361 OTUs for each sample. Bacteroidetes (44.41 ± 7.31%), Firmicutes (29.07 ± 3.78%), and Proteobacteria (7.18 ± 5.63%) were the dominant phyla among the bacteria of rumen, accounting for 82%. At the genus level, the highest relative abundance was Prevotella. Their functions were predicted using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). The results showed that they included metabolism, genetic information processing, environmental information processing and cellular processes. It explored the bacterial community diversity and composition of the rumen of Mongolian cattle. On the whole, our research showed that there was a high diversity as well as rich bacterial flora function of rumen bacteria in Mongolian cattle. Meanwhile, these findings provided information for further studies on the relationship between the community, diversity, functions of rumen bacteria and the nutritional physiological functions of the host.
Immediate reuse of patch-clamp pipettes after ultrasonic cleaning
Authors: Jehasse Kevin , Jouhanneau Jean-Sébastien , Wetz Sophie , Schwedt Alexander , Poulet James F. A. , Neumann-Raizel Peter , Kampa Björn M.
Published: January 2024

The patch-clamp technique has revolutionized neurophysiology by allowing to study single neuronal excitability, synaptic connectivity, morphology, and the transcriptomic profile. However, the throughput in recordings is limited because of the manual replacement of patch-pipettes after each attempt which are often also unsuccessful. This has been overcome by automated cleaning the tips in detergent solutions, allowing to reuse the pipette for further recordings. Here, we developed a novel method of automated cleaning by sonicating the tips within the bath solution wherein the cells are placed, reducing the risk of contaminating the bath solution or internal solution of the recording pipette by any detergent and avoiding the necessity of a separate chamber for cleaning. We showed that the patch-pipettes can be used consecutively at least ten times and that the cleaning process does not negatively impact neither the brain slices nor other patched neurons. This method, combined with automated patch-clamp, highly improves the throughput for single and especially multiple recordings.
Self-powered triboelectric nanogenerator sensor for detecting humidity level and monitoring ethanol variation in a simulated exhalation environment
Authors: Mohamadbeigi Nima , Shooshtari Leyla , Fardindoost Somayeh , Vafaiee Mohaddese , Iraji zad Azam , Mohammadpour Raheleh
Published: January 2024

Respiration stands as a vital process reflecting physiological and pathological human health status. Exhaled breath analysis offers a facile, non-invasive, swift, and cost-effective approach for diagnosing and monitoring diseases by detecting concentration changes of specific biomarkers. In this study, we employed Polyethylene oxide/copper (I) oxide composite nanofibers (PCNFs), synthesized via the electrospinning method as the sensing material to measure ethanol levels (1–200 ppm) in an exhaled breath simulator environment. The integrated contact-separation triboelectric nanogenerator was utilized to power the self-powered PCNFs exhaled breath sensor. The PCNFs-based gas sensor demonstrates promising results with values of 0.9 and 3.2 for detecting 5 ppm and 200 ppm ethanol, respectively, in the presence of interfering gas at 90% relative humidity (RH). Notably, the sensor displayed remarkable ethanol selectivity, with ratios of 10:1 to methanol and 25:1 to acetone. Response and recovery times for 200 ppm ethanol at 90 RH% were rapid, at 2.7 s and 5.8 s, respectively. The PCNFs-based exhaled breath sensor demonstrated consistent and stable performance in practical conditions, showcasing its potential for integration into wearable devices. This self-powered breath sensor enabling continuous monitoring of lung cancer symptoms and facilitating compliance checks with legal alcohol consumption limits.
Empirical Bayes single nucleotide variant-calling for next-generation sequencing data
Authors: Karimnezhad Ali , Perkins Theodore J.
Published: January 2024

One of the fundamental computational problems in cancer genomics is the identification of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) from DNA sequencing data. Many statistical models and software implementations for SNV calling have been developed in the literature, yet, they still disagree widely on real datasets. Based on an empirical Bayesian approach, we introduce a local false discovery rate (LFDR) estimator for germline SNV calling. Our approach learns model parameters without prior information, and simultaneously accounts for information across all sites in the genomic regions of interest. We also propose another LFDR-based algorithm that reliably prioritizes a given list of mutations called by any other variant-calling algorithm. We use a suite of gold-standard cell line data to compare our LFDR approach against a collection of widely used, state of the art programs. We find that our LFDR approach approximately matches or exceeds the performance of all of these programs, despite some very large differences among them. Furthermore, when prioritizing other algorithms’ calls by our LFDR score, we find that by manipulating the type I-type II tradeoff we can select subsets of variant calls with minimal loss of sensitivity but dramatic increases in precision.
Synergetic effect of essential oils and calcium phosphate nanoparticles for enhancement the corrosion resistance of titanium dental implant
Authors: Zaher Heba Tarek , Hefnawy Mahmoud A. , Medany Shymaa S. , Kamel S. M. , Fadlallah Sahar A.
Published: January 2024

Calcium phosphate (CaPO4) coating is one of various methods that is used to modify the topography and the chemistry of Ti dental implant surface to solve sever oral problems that result from diseases, accidents, or even caries due to its biocompatibility. In this work, anodized (Ti-bare) was coated by CaPO4 prepared from amorphous calcium phosphate nanoparticles (ACP-NPs) and confirmed the structure by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) techniques. Ti-bare was coated by prepared CaPO4 through the casting process, and the morphology of Ti/CaPO4 was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) where the nano-flakes shape of CaPO4 and measured to be 60 ~ 80 nm was confirmed. The stability of Ti-bare and coated Ti/CaPO4 was studied in a simulated saliva solution using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and linear polarization techniques to deduce their corrosion resistance. Furthermore, three essential oils (EO), Cumin, Thyme, and Coriander, were used to stimulate their synergistic effect with the CaPO4 coat to enhance the corrosion resistance of Ti implant in an oral environment. The fitting EIS parameters based on Rs [RctC]W circuit proved that the charge transfer resistance (Rct) of Ti/CaPO4 increased by 264.4, 88.2, and 437.5% for Cumin, Thyme, and Coriander, respectively, at 2% concentration.
Reduction of sulfur in fuel oil using Fe2O3 hybrid nanoadsorbent by solvent deasphalting and optimization of operational parameters with CCD
Authors: Malek Mohammadreza , Samipourgiri Mohammad , Rashidi Alimorad , Majidian Nasrolah
Published: January 2024

The present study investigated and tested the effect of adding three types of nanoadsorbents (multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT)) in pure form, multi-walled carbon nanotubes with Fe2O3 particles (MWCNT-Fe2O3) hybrid, and Silanated-Fe2O3 hybrid to heavy fuel oil to reduce sulfur using a deasphalting process with solvent. First, all three types of nanoadsorbents were synthesized. Then, the Central Composite Design (CCD) method was used to identify the parameters effective in deasphalting, such as the type of nanoadsorbent, the weight percentage of nanoadsorbent, and the solvent-to-fuel ratio, and to obtain their optimal values. Based on the optimization result, under laboratory temperature and pressure conditions, the highest percentage of sulfur reduction in deasphalted fuel (DAO) was obtained by adding 2.5% by weight of silanated-Fe2O3 nano-adsorbent and with a solvent-to-fuel ratio of 7.7 (The weight percentage of sulfur in DAO decreased from 3.5% by weight to 2.46%, indicating a decrease of 30%). Additionally, by increasing the temperature to 70 °C, in optimal conditions, the results revealed that the remaining sulfur percentage in DAO decreased to 2.13% by weight, indicating a decrease of 40%. Synthesized nanoadsorbents and asphaltene particles adsorbed on the surfaces of nanoadsorbents were evaluated by XRD, FTIR, FESEM, and TEM techniques.
Solid mineral potential evaluation using integrated aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric datasets
Authors: Ogah Arewa James , Abubakar Fahad
Published: January 2024

The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was employed to delineate the mineralisation potential across the notable schist belts in northwestern Nigeria. High-resolution aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric datasets were taken into consideration. This was achieved by using advanced signal enhancement techniques to study the structures, identify the hydrothermal alteration zones (that could serve as a pathway for mineralisation), and understand the geologic settings. Amongst the enhancement techniques are first vertical gradient, analytic signal, CET grid analysis and porphyry, Euler deconvolution, and K/Th ratio. The analytic signal reveals lithologic contact, structures and anomalous occurrences that aided the classification of the site into three magneto-lithologic zones: high (> 0.094 nT/m), intermediate (0.028 to 0.094 nT/m), and low magnetic zones (< 0.028 nT/m). The high magnetic zones (HMZ) were considered the main magnetic source outlines, which are inferred to be dominantly intrusive zones for hydrothermal activities. The 3-dimensional Euler deconvolution reveals highly magnetic and intrusive depth sources to be within the range of < 100 to 500 m. The Centre for Exploration Targeting (CET) grid technique revealed the structural distribution from which the lineament density map was produced. The orientations of the prevalent structural anomalies are E-W, NE-SW, WNW-ESE and NW–SE, with similar orientations observed from the first vertical gradient and the analytic signal. The highly dense structural zones coincide with the high magnetic zones and high-frequency amplitudes of the analytic signal and the vertical gradient map, respectively. Additionally, the CET porphyry detects the centres of the intrusive porphyries to be within zones of high lineament density. This reveals that the mineralisation potential of the area is structurally controlled. On the other hand, radioelement maps (eU, eTh, and K%) and ternary maps were used for lithological classification. The radiometric ternary map revealed the highly radioactive zones and the superior concentration of individual radioelements in their respective areas. The K/eTh ratio map delineates highly potassic alteration zones. The AHP model and weighted overlay tool were employed to integrate the analytic signal, lineament density, and K/Th ratio. Consequently, the mineralisation potential of the study site was revealed and classified into high, moderate, and low. This result was validated using known mine sites. There was a total agreement, with 87.5% of mines plotting within the high mineralisation potential class and 12.5% in the moderate class. Promising targets were identified for development.
Production of Cement mortars from glass powder and municipal incinerated bottom ash
Authors: Kumpueng Park , Phutthimethakul Lalitsuda , Supakata Nuta
Published: January 2024

The objective of this research is to find the optimal ratio of glass power (GP) and municipal incinerated bottom ash (MIBA) for producing environmentally friendly interlocking paving blocks. To achieve this, 15 different ratios of mortar samples, sized 5 × 5 × 5 cm, were produced using a 1:3 cement-to-aggregate ratio and a 0.5 water-to-cement ratio. GP was used to substitute cement at 0, 10, and 20% by weight, while MIBA was used to substitute aggregate at 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40% by volume. The samples were divided into two groups and cured with water for 28 and 90 days. Physical testing was performed on the mortar samples after curing. The results show that at 28 days of curing, BA10 and BA20 had compressive strengths of 42.28 and 40.92 MPa respectively, which is higher than the standard for interlocking concrete block (40 MPa) according to TIS 827-2531. At 90 days of curing, GP10BA10, BA10, GP10, GP10BA20, GP20, BA20, and BA30 had compressive strengths of 47.62, 43.63, 43.51, 43.48, 42.73, 42.40, and 40.40 MPa respectively, which also meets the TIS standards.
Macrophages reprogramming improves immunotherapy of IL-33 in peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer
Authors: Che Keying , Luo Yuting , Song Xueru , Yang Zhe , Wang Hanbing , Shi Tao , Wang Yue , Wang Xuan , Wu Hongyan , Yu Lixia , Liu Baorui , Wei Jia
Published: January 2024

Peritoneal metastasis (PM) has a suppressive tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) that limits the effects of immunotherapy. This study aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of intraperitoneal administration of IL-33, a cytokine that is reported to potentiate antitumor immunity and inhibit metastasis. We found survival was significantly prolonged in patients with high IL-33 mRNA expression. In immunocompetent mice, intraperitoneal administration of IL-33 could induce a celiac inflammatory environment, activate immunologic effector cells, and reverse the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, which effectively delayed tumor progression and PM of gastric cancer. Mechanistically, IL-33 could induce M2 polarization by activating p38-GATA-binding protein 3 signaling. IL-33 combined with anti-CSF1R or p38 inhibitor to regulate tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) had a synergistic antitumor effect. Inducing a local inflammatory milieu by IL-33 administration provided a novel approach for treating peritoneal metastasis, which, when combined with TAM reprogramming to reshape TIME, can achieve better treatment efficacy.
Ion-imprinted chitosan prepared without cross-linking agent for efficient selective adsorption of Al(iii) from rare earth solution
Authors: Ding Dan , Kuang Jingzhong , Yuan Weiquan , Huang Zheyu , Lin Bo , Yang Yiqiang
Published: January 2024

In this study, ion-imprinted chitosan (IIP-CS) was prepared by a simple one-step hydrothermal method without a cross-linking agent for the efficient adsorption of trace amounts of Al(iii) from a rare earth solution.
A Tröger's base-linked aluminium phthalocyanine polymer for discriminative electrochemical sensing of the antibiotic isoniazid
Authors: Xiang Gang , Xu Wensi , Zhuge Wenfeng , Huang Qing , Zhang Cuizhong , Peng Jinyun
Published: January 2024

A novel sensing platform based on a Tröger's base-linked aluminium phthalocyanine polymer was proposed for specific, rapid and low-cost detection of the antibiotic isoniazid in pharmaceutical and biological fluids.
Improved capacitive performances and electrocatalytic reduction activity by regulating the bonding interaction between Zn-bistriazole-pyrazine/pyridine units and diverse Anderson-type polyoxometalates
Authors: Liang Ju-Ju , Lin Yu-Chun , Chang Zhi-Han , Wang Xiuli
Published: January 2024

This study achieved a controllable bond transition from hydrogen to coordination bonds by tuning nitrogen sites in ligands and Anderson POMs, enhancing the Anderson POM-MOUs interaction to improve capacitance and electrocatalytic activity.
Observation of different Li intercalation states and local doping in epitaxial mono- and bilayer graphene on SiC(0001)
Authors: Huang Wei , Seo Jeong Ah , Canavan Mark P. , Gambardella Pietro , Stepanow Sebastian
Published: January 2024

Li intercalation is commonly used to enhance the carrier density in epitaxial graphene and mitigate coupling to the substrate. We observe different intercalation phases and measure their local charge transport properties using scanning potentiometry.
Physicochemical surface properties of Chlorella vulgaris: a multiscale assessment, from electrokinetic and proton uptake descriptors to intermolecular adhesion forces
Authors: Lesniewska Nicolas , Duval Jérôme F. L. , Caillet Céline , Razafitianamaharavo Angelina , Pinheiro José P. , Bihannic Isabelle , Gley Renaud , Le Cordier Hélène , Vyas Varun , Pagnout Christophe , Sohm Bénédicte , Beaussart Audrey
Published: January 2024

We address here the physicochemical surface properties of C. vulgaris, including electrostatics and hydrophobicity, at various biological organisation scales using soft surface electrokinetics, proton titration and chemical force spectroscopy.
Polypeptide-inspired supramolecular assemblies for enantioselective sorption of chiral molecules
Authors: Zhu Chengfeng , Mu Yongfei , Li Ying , Wang Kun-Yu , Ma Xiaoyu , Tu Siyu , Fu Yanming , Cheng Lanjun , Wu Xiang , Li Yougui
Published: January 2024

Inspired by the self-assembly of polypeptides, two chiral supramolecular architectures were constructed with amino acid-derived coordination chains, which enable separation of various racemic alcohols, diols and epoxides with ee values up to 95%.
Synthesis of branched-chain sugars and higher-carbon sugars enabled by site-selective C–H alkylation relying on 1,5-hydrogen atom transfer of ethylenoxy radicals
Authors: Li Dongwei , Wang Lingjun , Wang Jianjun , Wang Peng , Song Ni , Chen Pengwei , Li Ming
Published: January 2024

Branched-chain sugars and higher-carbon sugars have been efficiently prepared by site-selective C–H alkylation mediated by 1,5-HAT of ethylenoxy radicals.
Composite MAX phase/MXene/Ni electrodes with a porous 3D structure for hydrogen evolution and energy storage application
Authors: Sergiienko Sergii A. , Lajaunie Luc , Rodríguez-Castellón Enrique , Constantinescu Gabriel , Lopes Daniela V. , Shcherban Nataliya D. , Calvino José J. , Labrincha João A. , Sofer Zdenek , Kovalevsky Andrei V.
Published: January 2024

The MAX phase/MXene/Ni composite with 3D porous structure prepared was assessed for energy conversion and storage application, using the hydrogen evolution reaction under alkaline conditions as a model system.
Au/ZnO/In2O3 nanoparticles for enhanced isopropanol gas sensing performance
Authors: Zhang Yuhong , Wang Lvqing , Li Shenghui , Yang Shengjue , Liu Hang
Published: January 2024

In this paper, a series of Au/ZnO/In2O3 nanoparticles are synthesized by a facile one-step hydrothermal method.
New fluorene-based bipolar charge transporting materials
Authors: Jegorovė Aistė , Daškevičienė Marytė , Kantminienė Kristina , Jankauskas Vygintas , Čepas Romualdas Jonas , Gruodis Alytis , Getautis Vytautas , Genevičius Kristijonas
Published: January 2024

Air-stable and solution-processable fluorene-based bipolar charge transporting materials (CTMs) were designed, synthesized, and analyzed.
Treatment of oil-based drilling cuttings by floatation-advanced oxidation two-step process
Authors: Xu Qian , Zhang Ding , Ma Liang , Zhang Linjing , Zhang Yichen , Song Yingfa , Fang Shenwen
Published: January 2024

In this paper, a floatation-advanced oxidation two-step process was proposed for deep oil removal of oil-based drilling cuttings (OBDC).
Valorisation of sulphonated lignin as a dye for the sustainable colouration of wool fabric using sustainable mordanting agents: enhanced colour yield, colourfastness, and functional properties
Authors: Hassan Mohammad Mahbubul
Published: January 2024

Wool fabric was coloured using sulphonated lignin as a natural dye and a range of sustainable mordanting agents that considerably improved colourfastness to washing and introduced new functional properties.
One-dimensional van der Waals transition metal chalcogenide as an anode material for advanced lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Choi Woosung , Oh Seungbae , Hwang Sunhyun , Chae Sudong , Park Hyunyoung , Lee Wontae , Woo Chaeheon , Dong Xue , Choi Kyung Hwan , Ahn Jungyoon , Kim Yeongjin , Zhang Xiaojie , Kang Jinsu , Bang Hyeon-Seok , Jeon Jiho , Oh Hyung-Suk , Kim Jongsoon , Choi Jae-Young , Yoon Won-Sub
Published: January 2024

1D vdW Nb2Se9 is a promising advanced anode material for LIBs due to superior electrochemical performance originating from its unique structural properties, which allow swift transport of Li ions and buffer the volume changes during Li-ion storage.
Evaluation of acenes as potential acceptors in thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitters and the promise of a phenoxazine–naphthalene emitter for OLEDs
Authors: Lee Oliver S. , Sharma Nidhi , Matulaitis Tomas , Slawin Alexandra M. Z. , Olivier Yoann , Samuel Ifor D. W. , Gather Malte C. , Zysman-Colman Eli
Published: January 2024

Linear acenes, such as naphthalene, can act as acceptors in donor–acceptor type TADF emitters. We demonstrate this strategy through a computational screen and by synthesizing a novel diphenoxazine-substituted naphthalene TADF emitter.
Resolving the effect of roadside vegetation barriers as a near-road air pollution mitigation strategy
Authors: Hashad Khaled , Steffens Jonathan T. , Baldauf Richard W. , Heist David K. , Deshmukh Parikshit , Zhang K. Max
Published: January 2024

A multi-regime framework adequately resolves the complex physical mechanisms of roadside barriers on near-road air quality in a computationally efficient Gaussian-based model.
Automatic monitoring and early warning method for power grid infrastructure investment progress using building information model and blockchain
Authors: Lu Jing , Yu Weidong , Wu Shihong
Published: January 2024

In order to improve the precise control level of power grid infrastructure investment, this paper proposes a monitoring and early warning method of power grid infrastructure investment progress based on building information model and blockchain. By capturing the project construction progress images, the features of the power grid infrastructure are extracted automatically. Combined with the technical characteristics of distributed, tamper‐proof, and traceable blockchain, statistical indicators are generated automatically, monitoring and early warning of the investment progress execution deviation are triggered by the rules running on the smart contracts. The case study results show that the mean absolute error of the target image recognition method based on the image features is 4.32%, and the prediction accuracy of the incoming line is better than that of the engineering civil and substation. The early warning model of investment statistics based on smart contracts can automatically monitor the investment progress and generate early warnings, which provides a basis for the dynamic adjustment of the investment plan, and effectively improves the refined management level of power grid infrastructure investment projects.
A novel multi‐model 3D object detection framework with adaptive voxel‐image feature fusion
Authors: Liu Zhao , Fu Zhongliang , Li Gang , Zhang Shengyuan
Published: January 2024

The multifaceted nature of sensor data has long been a hurdle for those seeking to harness its full potential in the field of 3D object detection. Although the utilisation of point clouds as input has yielded exceptional results, the challenge of effectively combining the complementary properties of multi‐sensor data looms large. This work presents a new approach to multi‐model 3D object detection, called adaptive voxel‐image feature fusion (AVIFF). Adaptive voxel‐image feature fusion is an end‐to‐end single‐shot framework that can dynamically and adaptively fuse point cloud and image features, resulting in a more comprehensive and integrated analysis of the camera sensor and the LiDar sensor data. With the aid of the adaptive feature fusion module, spatialised image features can be adroitly fused with voxel‐based point cloud features, while the Dense Fusion module ensures the preservation of the distinctive characteristics of 3D point cloud data through the use of a heterogeneous architecture. Notably, the authors’ framework features a novel generalised intersection over union loss function that enhances the perceptibility of object localsation and rotation in 3D space. Comprehensive experimentation has validated the efficacy of the authors’ proposed modules, firmly establishing AVIFF as a novel framework in the field of 3D object detection.