bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A new multidisciplinary non-destructive protocol for the analysis of stony meteorites: gamma spectroscopy, neutron and muon techniques supported by Raman microscopy and SEM-EDS
Authors: Rossini Riccardo , Di Martino Daniela , Agoro Toluwalase , Cataldo Matteo , Gorini Giuseppe , Hillier Adrian D. , Laubenstein Matthias , Marcucci Giulia , Musa Maya , Riccardi Maria Pia , Scherillo Antonella , Clemenza Massimiliano
Published: November 2022

The physical and chemical characterisation of meteorites is of paramount importance in the study of the formation of the Solar System.
Terbium-modified two-dimensional zirconium-based metal–organic frameworks for photoluminescence detection of nitrite
Authors: Chen You-Liang , Shen Cheng-Hui , Huang Chi-Wei , Kung Chung-Wei
Published: November 2022

Terbium ions were installed on nodes of a two-dimensional Zr-based MOF, and the material was applied for photoluminescence nitrite detection.
Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of the antimony–tin oxide nanomaterial and its application as a high-performance asymmetric supercapacitor, photocatalyst, and antibacterial agent
Authors: Amutha Eswaran , Rajaduraipandian Subramanian , Sivakavinesan Minnalkodi , Annadurai Gurusamy
Published: November 2022

The hydrothermal method is used to demonstrate the chemical synthesis of antimony–tin oxide (ATO) nanoparticles. Antibacterial activity, photocatalytic activity and electrochemical analysis of ATO nanoparticles was evaluated.
Enhanced photoelectrochemical water oxidation over a surface-hydroxylated BiVO4photoanode: advantageous charge separation and water dissociation
Authors: Li Yaru , Xie Fangxia , Sun Zijun , Yu Zhuobin , Liu Jianxin , Zhang Xiaochao , Wang Yawen , Wang Yunfang , Li Rui , Fan Caimei
Published: November 2022

This work affords a practical surface hydroxylation method to improve the intrinsic photoelectrochemical performance of BiVO4photoanodes.
Mechano-bactericidal interactions of nanoclay-bacteria for inhibiting inflammatory response to enhance wound healing
Authors: Wang Dongyue , Tang Aidong , Yang Huaming
Published: November 2022

Excellent inflammation suppression and wound healing using calcined kaolinite have been achieved.
Low-dimensional transition metal sulfide-based electrocatalysts for water electrolysis: overview and perspectives
Authors: Liang Tingting , Wang Aiqin , Ma Douqin , Mao Zhiping , Wang Jian , Xie Jingpei
Published: November 2022

The common preparation processes of low-dimensional transition metal sulfide materials and the promotion of their electrocatalytic performance are summarized, and our unique opinions for the development of them are put forward.
Regulating Li nucleation/deposition by bamboo-shoot like lithiophilic particles anchored on carbon cloth for a dendrite-free lithium metal anode
Authors: Liu Yuchi , Song Zhicui , Wang Zihao , Xing Jianxiong , Zou Wei , Li Jingze
Published: November 2022

Uniform Li deposition is achieved by lithiophilic bamboo-shoot like particles wherein the initial electrochemical process is deposition or dissolution.
An intramolecular hydrogen bond-promoted “green” Ugi cascade reaction for the synthesis of 2,5-diketopiperazines with anticancer activity
Authors: Li Jie , Huang Jiu Hong , Wang Jing Ya , Xu Zhi Gang , Chen Zhong Zhu , Lei Jie
Published: November 2022

We report an intramolecular hydrogen bond-promoted Ugi cascade reaction for solvent-free synthesis of 2,5-diketopiperazines. Compounds (±) 5c and (±) 5e displayed potent antitumor activity against acute myeloid leukaemia and prostate cancer cell lines, respectively.
Mesoporous acidic polymeric ionic liquids as novel solid acids for catalytic hydrolysis of ketoxime reactions
Authors: Zhao Shanshan , Ma Zhengxiang , Cheng Peng , Wang Yanji , Zhao Xinqiang , Yang Qiusheng , Zhang Junqi , Zhang Dongsheng
Published: November 2022

In this study, a series of mesoporous acidic polymeric ionic liquids were successfully synthesized and characterized to explore their structures and properties.
A methodology, Excel Solver tool based, to determine the kinetic parameters of enzymatic ping-pong reactions: application to an esterification reaction
Authors: Gómez M. , Murcia M. D. , Gómez E. , Gómez J. L. , Hidalgo A. M. , Montiel M. C. , Hernández J. M.
Published: November 2022

In this work, a new methodology to calculate the kinetic parameters of enzymatic reactions has been developed.
Endofungal bacteria boost anthelminthic host protection with the biosurfactant symbiosin
Authors: Büttner Hannah , Pidot Sacha J. , Scherlach Kirstin , Hertweck Christian
Published: November 2022

Bacterial endosymbionts of the saprotrophic soil fungus Mortierella verticillata NRRL 6337 produce a previously unknown lipodepsipeptide, symbiosin, which boosts the anthelmintic activity of necroxime to protect the host against fungivorous nematodes.
Wireless electrochemical light emission in ultrathin 2D nanoconfinements
Authors: Beladi-Mousavi S. Mohsen , Salinas Gerardo , Bouffier Laurent , Sojic Neso , Kuhn Alexander
Published: November 2022

2D nanoconfinement in the walls of a soap bubble can reduce the electric field required for the wireless generation of electrochemiluminescence by up to three orders of magnitude, which is critical in sensitive environments such as those for bio-imaging.
Chemical tools for study and modulation of biomolecular phase transitions
Authors: Berkeley Raymond F. , Debelouchina Galia T.
Published: November 2022

Chemical tools provide the ability to illuminate and manipulate the behavior of intrinsically disordered proteins and their phase transitions.
Fifty years of impact on treating bone disease: a commentary on Gasser et al.
Authors: Dent Elena L. , Ryan Michael J.
Published: November 2022

The precise control of whole-body calcium is essential for the maintenance of normal physiological function. Disruptions in calcium homeostasis can lead to pathology including osteoporosis, kidney stone formation, and cardiac arrythmias. During the 1960s and early 1970s, a full understanding of calcium metabolism was still emerging. This commentary spotlights a seminal Clinical Science paper published in 1972 that significantly advanced the field and contributed to the eventual approval of bisphosphonate drugs commonly used to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis, cancer metastases, and other calcium disorders.
Validating Four Hmong Word Recognition Tests With Normal-Hearing Bilingual Hmong Individuals
Authors: Lor Maichou , Richmond Burke , Ploch Jennifer , Brown Roger , Xiong Bao , O'Donnell Elizabeth , Rao Rajiv
Published: November 2022

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to validate four digitally recorded and phonetically balanced 50-word recognition lists in the White Hmong dialect with normal-hearing bilingual Hmong adults.

Method:

Using a randomized, incomplete-block design, each participant listened to and repeated four unique Hmong lists delivered by a female and a male talker. Participants were also tested with an English word list—List 1A of the Northwestern University Auditory Test No. 6. Participants' correct pronunciation of each word was scored. A nonparametric Mann–Whitney
U
Location Difference Test for Equivalence using two one-sided tests equivalence hypothesis: −0.02 < [(List_1) – (List_2)] < 0.02 was conducted to assess equivalence among all four Hmong and the English lists.

Results:

Seventy Hmong speakers participated in this study (35 women, 35 men;
M
age
= 29.5 years,
SD
= 7.1). In all four Hmong lists, 93.5% (187/200) words met the validation criteria for ≥ 92% correct pronunciation. The 13 difficult words were deemed adequate by a Hmong panel and, therefore, were included to maintain four unique, balanced word lists. The test revealed that the Hmong and English word lists were considered equivalent at the 2% bound.

Conclusion:

The four Hmong word lists were validated to ensure an equal range of word difficulty across the lists.
Bullying and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Teacher Perspectives and the Role of the Speech-Language Pathologist
Authors: Plumb Allison M. , Moates Ashley E. , Piazza Lindsey I. , Mauldin Erin Ofe
Published: November 2022

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to investigate teachers' perceptions of bullying of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their views of the speech-language pathologist (SLP) as a source of support regarding bullying management.

Method:

A web-based survey was created and distributed through e-mail and Facebook. One hundred twenty-six general and special education teachers completed the survey. The majority of teachers indicated teaching elementary grades (
n
= 81, 64%). The remainder indicated teaching middle school, high school, or specialized school. The teachers' experience ranged from less than 1 year to greater than 10 years. All teachers reported teaching at least one student with ASD within the past 5 years.

Results:

The majority of participants acknowledged bullying of children with ASD as a problem and witnessed bullying at their schools. Teachers were least likely to select SLPs as school professionals who could play a valuable role in the management of bullying.

Conclusions:

SLPs' training in social communication places them in a unique position to contribute to bullying management. School-based SLPs should therefore educate school personnel on the unique and necessary role they can play to help foster a safe and inclusive school culture for students with disabilities, including those with ASD.

Supplemental Material:

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.21554814
A higher prediction accuracy–based alpha–beta filter algorithm using the feedforward artificial neural network
Authors: Khan Junaid , Lee Eunkyu , Kim Kyungsup
Published: November 2022

The alpha–beta filter algorithm has been widely researched for various applications, for example, navigation and target tracking systems. To improve the dynamic performance of the alpha–beta filter algorithm, a new prediction learning model is proposed in this study. The proposed model has two main components: (1) the alpha–beta filter algorithm is the main prediction module, and (2) the learning module is a feedforward artificial neural network (FF‐ANN). Furthermore, the model uses two inputs, temperature sensor and humidity sensor data, and a prediction algorithm is used to predict actual sensor readings from noisy sensor readings. Using the novel proposed technique, prediction accuracy is significantly improved while adding the feed‐forward backpropagation neural network, and also reduces the root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE). We carried out different experiments with different experimental setups. The proposed model performance was evaluated with the traditional alpha–beta filter algorithm and other algorithms such as the Kalman filter. A higher prediction accuracy was achieved, and the MAE and RMSE were 35.1%–38.2% respectively. The final proposed model results show increased performance when compared to traditional methods.
The maximal secondary throughput in cognitive radio networks with energy harvesting
Authors: Ge Haijiang , Zheng Kechen , Chi Kaikai , Liu Xiaoying
Published: November 2022

In terms of spectrum reuse and lifetime prolongation, the energy‐harvesting cognitive radio networks (EH‐CRNs) have been a hot issue in the wireless networking research community. While satisfying the minimal throughput demand of primary users (PUs), it is aimed to maximize the throughput of secondary users (SUs) in the EH‐CRN with multiple SUs. Specifically, the problem of secondary throughput maximization (STM) is first formulated as a non‐linear optimization problem, then its convexity is proven, and finally an efficient algorithm is proposed that jointly uses the Fibonacci search method and equal interval search method to obtain the optimal time allocation among primary transmitter (PT)'s energy transfer and each SU's packet transmission, and the optimal transmit power of PT. Furthermore, for the scenarios where the circuit power is negligible, the convex problem is first proven, and a more efficient algorithm is presented for the problem of STM. Simulation results demonstrate that, with the increase of the minimal throughput demand of PUs, the reduction rate of the maximal secondary throughput increases.
Potential effects of stellar winds on gas dynamics in debris disks leading to observable belt winds
Authors: Kral Q. , Pringle J. E. , Matrà L. , Thébault P.
Published: November 2022

Context. Gas has been successfully detected in many extrasolar systems around mature stars aged between 10 Myr and ∼1 Gyr that include planetesimal belts. Gas in these mature disks is thought to be released from planetesimals and has been modeled using a viscous disk approach where the gas expands inwards and outwards from the belt where it is produced. Therefore, the gas has so far been assumed to make up the circumstellar disk orbiting the star; however, at low densities, this may not be an adequate assumption, as the gas could be blown out by the stellar wind instead.

Aims. In this paper, we aim to explore the timeframe in which a gas disk transitions to such a gas wind and whether this information can be used to determine the stellar wind properties around main sequence stars, which are otherwise difficult to obtain.

Methods. We developed an analytical model for A to M stars that can follow the evolution of gas outflows and target the moment of transition between a disk or a wind in order to make a comparison with current observations. The crucial criterion here is the gas density for which gas particles are no longer protected from the impact of stellar wind protons at high velocities and on radial trajectories.

Results. We find that: (1) belts with a radial width, ΔR, with gas densities <7 (ΔR/50 au)−1 cm−3, would create a wind rather than a disk, which would explain the recent outflowing gas detection in NO Lup; (2) the properties of this belt wind can be used to measure stellar wind properties such as their densities and velocities; (3) very early-type stars can also form gas winds due to the star’s radiation pressure, instead of a stellar wind; (4) debris disks with low fractional luminosities, f, are more likely to create gas winds, which could be observed with current facilities.

Conclusions. Systems containing low gas masses, such as Fomalhaut or TWA 7, or more generally, debris disks with fractional luminosities of f ≲ 10−5(L⋆/L⊙)−0.37 or stellar luminosity ≳20 L⊙ (A0V or earlier) are more likely to create gas outflows (or belt winds) than gas disks. Gas that is observed to be outflowing at high velocity in the young system NO Lup could be an example of such belt winds. Future observing predictions in this wind region should account for the stellar wind in the attempt to detect the gas. The detection of these gas winds is possible with ALMA (CO and CO+ could serve as good wind tracers). This would allow us to constrain the stellar wind properties of main-sequence stars, as these properties are otherwise difficult to measure, since, for example, there are no successful measures around A stars at present.
The unaltered pulsar: GRO J1750-27, a supercritical X-ray neutron star that does not blink an eye
Authors: Malacaria C. , Ducci L. , Falanga M. , Altamirano D. , Bozzo E. , Guillot S. , Jaisawal G. K. , Kretschmar P. , Ng M. , Pradhan P. , Rothschild R. , Sanna A. , Thalhammer P. , Wilms J.
Published: November 2022

When accreting X-ray pulsars (XRPs) undergo bright X-ray outbursts, their luminosity-dependent spectral and timing features can be analyzed in detail. The XRP GRO J1750-27 recently underwent one such episode, during which it was observed withNuSTARand monitored with NICER. Such a data set is rarely available, as it samples the outburst over more than 1 month at a luminosity that is always exceeding ∼5 × 1037 erg s−1. This value is larger than the typical critical luminosity value, where a radiative shock is formed above the surface of the neutron star. Our data analysis of the joint spectra returns a highly (NH ∼ (5 − 8)  ×  1022 cm−2) absorbed spectrum showing a Kαiron line, a soft blackbody component likely originating from the inner edge of the accretion disk, and confirms the discovery of one of the deepest cyclotron lines ever observed, at a centroid energy of ∼44 keV corresponding to a magnetic field strength of 4.7 × 1012 G. This value is independently supported by the best-fit physical model for spectral formation in accreting XRPs which, in agreement with recent findings, favors a distance of 14 kpc and also reflects a bulk-Comptonization-dominated accretion flow. Contrary to theoretical expectations and observational evidence from other similar sources, the pulse profiles as observed by NICER remain remarkably steady through the outburst rise, peak and decay. The NICER spectrum, including the iron Kαline best-fit parameters, also remain almost unchanged at all probed outburst stages, similar to the pulsed fraction behavior. We argue that all these phenomena are linked and interpret them as resulting from a saturation effect of the emission from the accretion column, which occurs in the high-luminosity regime.
Grundlagen der Vitrektomie unter Verwendung intraokularer Tamponaden – ein chirurgischer Basiskurs
Authors: Framme Carsten , Sachs Helmut G. , Wachtlin Joachim , Bechrakis Nikolaos E. , Hoerauf Hans , Gabel Veit-Peter
Published: November 2022

In diesem Artikel sollen die Grundlagen zur Verwendung intraokularer Tamponaden in der Glaskörper-/Netzhautchirurgie bei Ablatio retinae und anderen Pathologien anhand zusätzlichen
Videomaterials anschaulich dargestellt werden. Behandelt werden die verschiedenen Gase, Silikonöle und flüssigen Perfluorocarbone mit ihren Indikationen, ihrer Anwendung und insbesondere der
intraoperativen Handhabung mit Fallstricken und Komplikationen. Charakteristische Animationen zeigen dabei nachvollziehbar die Prinzipien in der chirurgischen Handhabung. Seitens der beiden
Erstautoren ist dieser Artikel ihrem Lehrer Herrn Prof. Dr. V.-P. Gabel gewidmet, der in den frühen 90er-Jahren die ersten Vitrektomiekurse für Augenärzte an der Universitäts-Augenklinik
Regensburg erfolgreich im jährlichen Rhythmus etabliert hat und in denen viele heute noch netzhautchirurgisch tätige Kolleginnen und Kollegen ihre ersten Schritte in diesem Segment erlernt
haben. Die weiteren Co-Autoren partizipierten unter seiner Leitung an jährlichen Vitrektomie-Wetlabs im Rahmen der Augenärztlichen Akademie Deutschlands.
Piezoelectric thick film for power-efficient haptic actuator
Authors: Song Longfei , Glinsek Sebastjan , Drnovsek Silvo , Kovacova Veronika , Malic Barbara , Defay Emmanuel
Published: November 2022

Emerging haptic technology based on piezoelectric actuators enables to realize innovative tactile human–machine interface. The standard solution is based on stand-alone bulk ceramics glued directly on the haptic device. Thin-film actuators with metal–insulator–metal structure have been developed to directly integrate actuators on haptic plates. The thickness of thin films is limited to 2 μm, leading to large capacitance and, thus, too high-power consumption. To solve this issue, we developed haptic devices based on a 10 μm-thick PZT film deposited on a 0.65 mm-thick platinized silicon substrate. These thick films are made of a PZT composite slurry associated with sol-gel sol infiltration. They are dense and exhibit a permittivity of 1000 and dielectric loss lower than 0.05. Our fabricated haptic device containing three actuators connected in series exhibits an antisymmetric Lamb wave resonant mode at 62.0 kHz, in line with finite element modeling. At the limit of touch detection (1 μm out of plane deflection), the power consumption of the haptic device is 150 mW at 40 V. This represents a 15-fold consumption reduction with respect to the same haptic device made with 0.5 μm-thick PZT thin films.
Room temperature single-photon emission from InGaN quantum dot ordered arrays in GaN nanoneedles
Authors: Saha Pratim K. , Rana Kanchan Singh , Thakur Navneet , Parvez Bazila , Bhat Shazan Ahmad , Ganguly Swaroop , Saha Dipankar
Published: November 2022

GaN-based single-photon sources have received immense attention for applications in quantum technologies. An isolated semiconductor quantum dot (QD) is an attractive and proven choice. Most experimental demonstrations involve epitaxial growth or etching of the QD embedded in a vertical nanopillar/nanowire structure. Here, we demonstrate room-temperature single-photon emission from an InGaN QD embedded in a GaN nanoneedle. The nanoneedle is tapered at the bottom and is formed by a succession of inductively coupled plasma reactive ion etching and crystallographic direction-dependent wet etching techniques. The nanofabrication process steps yield reproducible and uniform-sized QDs in the needle structures. Cross-sectional SEM images show needles are centered at the center of a hexagonal base, which confirms a good crystalline property of the QD. Micro-photoluminescence measurements on a single QD manifest a short time constant for radiative decay channels without any prominent non-radiative decay path. Second-order correlation measurements confirm the antibunching of the emitted photons. Higher spectral purity and smaller value of the second-order correlation are maintained up to a good excitation power, indicating the usefulness of the methodology for quantum technologies.
Insight into the stability in cation substitution of Magnéli phase Ti4O7
Authors: Yuan Tingting , Jin Na , Cheng Wenyu , Yun Yuyang , Tian Xin , Wang Lu , Ye Jinwen
Published: November 2022

Doping Magnéli phase Ti4O7 by cation substitution has attracted some interest for modulating structure and properties enhancement, but it remains a big problem to understand how doping elements impact the thermodynamic and structural stability of Ti4O7. We utilized first-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) combined with machine learning (ML) to forecast the stability of doped Ti4O7. DFT calculations are used to model the thermodynamic and structural stability, as well as the electronic structure, of doped (Ti,M)4O7 complexes (M = Sc, Y, La, Ce, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, and W). The results reveal that even if all (Ti,M)4O7 are thermodynamically stable, the introduction of rare earth elements Y, La, and Ce causes great structural distortion. Employing Zr, Nb, Mo, and W can improve Ti4O7 thermodynamic stability due to strong bond strength and minimal lattice distortion. The relevance of 78 doping element qualities and one processing feature (doping site) for (Ti,M)4O7 stability is discovered using ML. The results show that modulus of rigidity and entropy of solid of doping atoms have the greatest influence on the thermodynamic and structural stability of doped Ti4O7, which is useful for predicting additional (Ti,M)4O7 stability without DFT calculations. At a low doping concentration, Ce-doped Ti4O7 with massive lattice distortion was synthesized, supporting the DFT results. This study not only applies to all doped Ti4O7 complexes, setting the groundwork for stability of the planned high-performance cation substitution in defect Ti4O7, but also introduces a unique way of predicting stability in defect engineering.
A warm hug from a robot: A dual-mode e-skin with programming compliance
Authors: Liu Zhe , Chen Diansheng , Ma Junlin , Shen Zhenyang , Wu Tianhao , Jia Zining , Jiang Yongkang
Published: November 2022

Recent achievements in the field of electronic skin (e-skin) have provided promising technology for service robots. However, the development of a bionic perception system that exhibits superior performance in terms of safety and interaction quality remains a challenge. Here, we demonstrate a biomimetic soft e-skin that is composed of an array of capacitors and air pouches. It is a single platform that shows dual-mode sensing capabilities of tactile sensing and proximity perception. We optimized the shape and area of the electrode via simulation of the approach of a robot to an object. Moreover, the compliance and temperature of the e-skin can be actively adjusted by tuning the pressure and heat of the air inside the pouches. The e-skin provided dual-mode sensing feedback and soft touch for humanoid service robots, for example, when a robot hugged a man, which illustrated the potential of this e-skin for applications in human–robot interactions.
Large magnetostriction over a wide temperature range in a Nd0.2TbxDy0.8−xFe1.93 Laves compound
Authors: Shi Y. G. , Ding H. H. , Xia C. R. , Ke X. Q. , Tang S. L.
Published: November 2022

Rare-earth-based magnetostrictive alloys exhibit giant low-field magnetostriction due to anisotropy compensation at specific compositions and temperatures. However, the normally strong temperature dependency of magnetostriction is a common issue that limits its application temperature range. Here, we found that low-field magnetostrictive properties were optimized over a wide temperature range in a low-cost Nd0.2TbxDy0.8−xFe1.93 system. A 140 K temperature window with λ ≥ 750 ppm at 2 kOe was achieved in the Nd0.2Tb0.3Dy0.5Fe1.93 compound, which is about 2.7 times wider than that in the well-known Terfenol-D composition. The construction of the Nd0.2TbxDy0.8−xFe1.93 spin reorientation phase diagram revealed a slightly steeper slope of the phase boundary than that of the Nd-free system. Further analysis shows that a steep phase boundary allows the optimized composition to maintain low magnetocrystalline anisotropy and, thus, large low-field magnetostriction in a wide temperature range. The findings in this work may provide a route for designing wide-temperature-operating magnetostrictive materials by searching the phase boundary with a steep slope.
Surface-enhanced photoacoustic wave generation from light absorbers located in the gap of high-refractive-index dielectric nanoparticles
Authors: Zhang Ying , Fang Hui
Published: November 2022

Plasmonic nanoparticles, such as Au nanoparticles, have been used as effective exogeneous contrast agents in photoacoustic imaging. However, using these particles to enhance photoacoustic wave generation from other light absorbers is difficult because the signal is overwhelmed by the signal from plasmonic nanoparticles themselves. In this study, we realized the surface-enhanced photoacoustic effect by using high-refractive-index dielectric nanoparticles in their ultralow light absorption Ohmic-loss wavelength band. We performed finite element method simulation on a model with gallium phosphide nanorod dimmer and light absorbers in the dimmer gap. The Au nanowire, carbon nanotube, and nanotube filled with melanin molecules were sequentially considered as the light absorber. It is found that a photoacoustic wave surface enhancement factor of approximately 10 was achieved and the enhanced photoacoustic wave ensures the photoacoustic spectral signature of the light absorber. The potential of optimization for boosting enhancement factors was further analyzed. These results can provide considerable insight into molecular photoacoustic sensing and imaging.
Optimized carrier concentration and enhanced thermoelectric properties in GeSb4-xBixTe7 materials
Authors: Wang Siyu , Xing Tong , Hu Ping , Wei Tian-Ran , Bai Xudong , Qiu Pengfei , Shi Xun , Chen Lidong
Published: November 2022

As the pseudo-binary alloys between GeTe and Sb2Te3, GeSbTe-based compounds are promising thermoelectric materials. Although Ge2Sb2Te5 and GeSb2Te4 have widely been studied, the thermoelectric properties of GeSb4Te7 have not been well understood yet. In this work, we design a series of GeSb4-xBixTe7 solid solutions and systematically study the variation in the crystal structure, electrical, and thermal transport properties. Alloying Bi effectively reduces the carrier concentration and, thus, enhances the Seebeck coefficient. Meanwhile, the thermal conductivity is greatly reduced via large mass fluctuations. A maximum zT of 0.69 at 550 K and an average zT value of 0.52 between 300 and 700 K have been achieved for GeSb1.5Bi2.5Te7. These findings will promote the understanding and development of GeSbTe-based thermoelectric materials.
Static structures and dynamic responses of polar topologies in oxide superlattices
Authors: Liu Junfu , Liu Yiqian , Lan Shun , Yang Bingbing , Dou Lvye , Yang Letao , Kong Xi , Nan Ce-Wen , Lin Yuan-Hua
Published: November 2022

Polar topologies in ferroelectric/paraelectric superlattices have been an important substance to explore exotic physical properties. Although enormous efforts have been paid to this field, the universality of the formation of polar topologies in various superlattices and their electric field dynamics is still unknown. Herein, we employ a phase-field model to construct three types of ferroelectric/paraelectric superlattices with tetragonal, rhombohedral, and orthorhombic symmetries and investigate their static structures and dynamic responses as a function of epitaxial strain. It is found that all superlattices undergo a similar vortex–spiral–in-plane topology transition, which corresponds to peaked dielectric permittivity curves and ferroelectric-, antiferroelectric-, and paraelectric-like hysteresis loops. Such polarization behaviors are attributed to the triple-well free energy landscape. The flexibility of hysteresis loops generates high energy density and efficiency of ferroelectric/paraelectric superlattices. This study offers a systematic view of the generality of polar topologies in multilayered ferroelectrics.
Dual-comb spectroscopy using free-running mechanical sharing dual-comb fiber lasers
Authors: Tian Haochen , Li Runmin , Endo Takeru , Kato Takashi , Asahara Akifumi , Sterczewski Lukasz A. , Minoshima Kaoru
Published: November 2022

We demonstrate balanced-detection dual-comb spectroscopy using two free-running mechanical sharing dual-comb fiber lasers assisted by an all-computational digital phase correction algorithm. The mutual coherence between the combs allows us perform mode-resolved spectroscopy of gaseous hydrogen cyanide by digitally compensating residual timing and offset frequency fluctuations of the dual-comb signal. Setting the repetition rate difference between the combs to 500 Hz (1.5 kHz) yields more than 2000 resolved radio frequency comb lines after phase correction in a 3-dB bandwidth centered at 1560 nm of wavelength. Through coadding the corrected interferograms, we obtain a single time-domain trace with a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 6378 (13 960) and 12.64 (13.77) bits of dynamic range in 1 s of averaging. The spectral SNR of the coadded trace reaches 529 (585), corresponding to a figure of merit of SNR of 1.3 × 106 (1.4 × 106). The measured absorption spectrum of hydrogen cyanide agrees well with the HITRAN database.
One experiment makes a direct comparison of structural recovery with equilibrium relaxation
Authors: Richert Ranko
Published: November 2022

For a molecular glass-former, propylene glycol, we directly compare the equilibrium fluctuations, measured as “structural” relaxation in the regime of linear response, with structural recovery, i.e., field induced physical aging in the limit of a small perturbation. The two distinct correlation functions are derived from a single experiment. Because the relaxation time changes only 2% during structural recovery, no aging model is needed to analyze the results. Although being conceptually different processes, dielectric relaxation and recovery dynamics are observed to be identical for propylene glycol, whereas single-particle dynamics as seen by photon correlation spectroscopy are significantly faster. This confirms the notion that structural recovery and aging are governed by all modes observed by dielectric spectroscopy, i.e., including cross correlations, not only by single-particle dynamics. A comparison with analogous results for other materials suggests that the relation between relaxation and recovery time scales may be material specific rather than universal.
Cation effect on the electrochemical reduction of polyoxometalates in room temperature ionic liquids
Authors: Phillips Juliette I. , Azuma Shinya , Lee Junqiao , Ueda Tadaharu , Silvester Debbie S.
Published: November 2022

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are compounds that undergo multiple successive one-electron redox transitions, making them convenient model reactants to study ion solvation effects. Room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) are solvents made entirely of ions, and are expected to have interactions with the highly negatively charged POM reduction products. In this work, 12 RTILs with a range of different anions ([FSI]−=bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide, [TFSI]−=bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [BETI]−=bis(pentafluoroethylsulfonyl)imide, [BF4]−, [PF6]−) and cations (imidazolium, pyrrolidinium, sulfonium, ammonium, phosphonium) were employed as solvents to study the kinetics and thermodynamics of [S2W18O62]4− reduction, to shed light on solvation effects and ion-pairing effects caused by different RTIL structures. Up to six reversible reduction processes (producing highly negatively charged [S2W18O62]10−) were observed. For the RTILs that showed multiple processes, a clear trend in both the thermodynamics (inferred from the reduction peak potentials) and kinetics (inferred from the peak-to-peak separation) was observed, in the order: imidazolium < sulfonium ≈ ammonium < pyrrolidinium < phosphonium, supporting strong interactions of the negatively charged POM reduction products with the cation. Two related POMs, [P2W18O62]6− and [PW12O40]3−, were also studied in the optimum RTIL found for [S2W18O62]4− ([C2mim][FSI]=1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide), revealing fast kinetics and asymmetric peaks for [PW12O40]3−. This work demonstrates the importance of understanding the solvation effects of RTIL ions for highly charged electrogenerated products, allowing tuning of the RTIL structure to achieve the optimum kinetics and thermodynamics for an electrochemical process.
Revisiting the morphological aspects of the Anomalodesmata (Mollusca: Bivalvia): a phylogenetic approach
Authors: Machado Fabrizio Marcondes , Passos Flávio Dias
Published: November 2022

The Anomalodesmata Dall, 1899 includes some of the rarest and most specialised species of marine bivalves. This rarity has consequently constituted the greatest obstacle for understanding the internal relationships due to the low representativeness of species present in any phylogenetic reconstructions. Therefore, with the primary purpose of creating a more comprehensive morphological analysis, data including all the anomalodesmatan families were gathered into a cladistic analysis. Our data set includes, for the first-time, information about members of the families Clistoconchidae, Cetoconchidae, Protocuspidariidae, Spheniopsidae and the recently described Bentholyonsiidae. Information on shell morphology, anatomy and behaviour of anomalodesmatans was compiled through a review of the literature (from 1895 to 2022) and a re-analysis of shells and internal anatomy of some freshly collected and archived specimens in museum collections around the world. Our analysis suggests a deep division of the Anomalodesmata into two distinct clades: the first generally composed of shallow water species from 12 families and a second clade of a carnivorous lineage mainly comprising deep water species from 10 families. Consequently, a new topology for Anomalodesmata is suggested bringing new insights into the interfamilial relationships of this sometimes bizarre clade of bivalves.
Glacial origin of bat ensembles in tropical Western Australia
Authors: McKenzie N. L. , Wyrwoll K.-H. , Bullen R. D.
Published: November 2022

Western Australia’s tropical bat fauna comprises two communities; both are strict ensembles. One involves up to 19 species and occupies mangrove forest; the other, its landward counterpart, involves up to 22 species. Each includes habitat-generalist, productivity-dependent and cave-dependent species, so they achieve their full diversity in mangrove or riparian ecosystems associated with cavernous landscapes. Periods of significantly reduced rainfall are recognised in the climate record of the last ∼20 000 years, during which mangrove and upland riparian forests were the only highly productive ecosystems remaining in tropical Western Australia. During glacial cycles, these two refugia for mesic-adapted bats become geographically separated by the exposed continental shelf, a flat coastal plain more than 100 km wide. We review mangrove forests as evolutionary refuges during the Pleistocene, and use information on geographic range, endemism and habitat specificity to investigate the role of climatic and sea-level fluctuations in generating bat community structure. We conclude that mangrove forests provided a glacial refuge for all ensemble components; that the separation drove the evolution of two different ensembles. Northern Territory populations of Western Australia’s landward and mangrove specialists occupy landward as well as mangrove ecosystems, implying that mangrove refugia were not accessible during glacials.
Classifying relationships that define interactions between native and invasive species in Australian ecosystems
Authors: Gaschk Joshua L. , Clemente Christofer J.
Published: November 2022

Australia was isolated for approximately 40 million years from the presence of eutherian predation until the introduction of the dingo (Canis familiaris; 4000 years ago), foxes (Vulpes vulpes; 1871) and feral cats (Felis catus; post-1788). The arrival of these invasive species coincides with the decline and extinction of many native mammals, specifically within the critical weight range (35–5500 g). These extinctions are likely a result of competition and predation, where locomotor performance and the associated behaviours contribute largely to overall fitness. We used the population responses of native fauna in the presence of introduced predators to establish a research framework. Introduction/extinction timelines, predator diets, and prey occurrence were used to identify invasive/native relationships where predation may define the population outcome. We then examined the locomotor performance of these species using current data (maximum speeds). Consumption of prey items does not seem to be associated with the probability of the predator encountering the prey. Dingoes had the most variable mammalian prey of all invasive predators, likely due to higher maximal speeds. Feral cats favour Dasyuridae and smaller species, preying upon these prey groups more than dingoes and foxes. The role of locomotor performance in invasive ecology is not well understood; we identified relationships for further exploration.
Seasonal differences in parasite load in a short-lived lizard
Authors: Lee Ko-Huan , Whiting Martin J. , Leu Stephan T.
Published: November 2022

Parasite load can vary with seasonality, but this is rarely quantified. The garden skink (Lampropholis guichenoti) is host to multiple species of endoparasite. To measure seasonal effects of parasite transmission we established three captive groups of wild-caught individuals in which 2 of 16 individuals (12.5%) were initially infected with nematodes. We collected three faecal samples from each lizard, a sample at the beginning and at the end of the non-activity season and at the end of the following activity season. We measured parasite load (ascarid group) by counting parasite eggs per gram of faeces using a microscope. We found that parasite load was significantly higher in the activity season than in the non-activity season. The prevalence of parasites increased from 15.9% in the non-activity season to 72.5% in the activity season. The activity season is characterised by greater host activity and warmer ambient temperatures, which promote parasite egg survival in the environment as well as egg development. Taken together, this facilitates parasite transmission and could ultimately explain the higher parasite load during the activity season.
A blood–brain penetrant RNA-targeted small molecule triggers elimination of r(G
4
C
2
)
exp
in c9ALS/FTD via the nuclear RNA exosome
Authors: Bush Jessica A. , Meyer Samantha M. , Fuerst Rita , Tong Yuquan , Li Yue , Benhamou Raphael I. , Aikawa Haruo , Zanon Patrick R. A. , Gibaut Quentin M. R. , Angelbello Alicia J. , Gendron Tania F. , Zhang Yong-Jie , Petrucelli Leonard , Heick Jensen Torben , Childs-Disney Jessica L. , Disney Matthew D.
Published: November 2022

A hexanucleotide repeat expansion in intron 1 of the
C9orf72
gene is the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia, or c9ALS/FTD. The RNA transcribed from the expansion, r(G
4
C
2
)
exp
, causes various pathologies, including intron retention, aberrant translation that produces toxic dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs), and sequestration of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) in RNA foci. Here, we describe a small molecule that potently and selectively interacts with r(G
4
C
2
)
exp
and mitigates disease pathologies in spinal neurons differentiated from c9ALS patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and in two c9ALS/FTD mouse models. These studies reveal a mode of action whereby a small molecule diminishes intron retention caused by the r(G
4
C
2
)
exp
and allows the liberated intron to be eliminated by the nuclear RNA exosome, a multi-subunit degradation complex. Our findings highlight the complexity of mechanisms available to RNA-binding small molecules to alleviate disease pathologies and establishes a pipeline for the design of brain penetrant small molecules targeting RNA with novel modes of action in vivo.
EBF1 is continuously required for stabilizing local chromatin accessibility in pro-B cells
Authors: Zolotarev Nikolay , Bayer Marc , Grosschedl Rudolf
Published: November 2022

The establishment of de novo chromatin accessibility in lymphoid progenitors requires the “pioneering” function of transcription factor (TF) early B cell factor 1 (EBF1), which binds to naïve chromatin and induces accessibility by recruiting the BRG1 chromatin remodeler subunit. However, it remains unclear whether the function of EBF1 is continuously required for stabilizing local chromatin accessibility. To this end, we replaced EBF1 by EBF1-FKBP
F36V
in pro-B cells, allowing the rapid degradation by adding the degradation TAG13 (dTAG13) dimerizer. EBF1 degradation results in a loss of genome-wide EBF1 occupancy and EBF1-targeted BRG1 binding. Chromatin accessibility was rapidly diminished at EBF1-binding sites with a preference for sites whose occupancy requires the pioneering activity of the C-terminal domain of EBF1. Diminished chromatin accessibility correlated with altered gene expression. Thus, continuous activity of EBF1 is required for the stable maintenance of the transcriptional and epigenetic state of pro-B cells.
Wasteosomes (corpora amylacea) as a hallmark of chronic glymphatic insufficiency
Authors: Riba Marta , del Valle Jaume , Molina-Porcel Laura , Pelegrí Carme , Vilaplana Jordi
Published: November 2022

In different organs and tissues, the lymphatic system serves as a drainage system for interstitial fluid and is useful for removing substances that would otherwise accumulate in the interstitium. In the brain, which lacks lymphatic circulation, the drainage and cleaning function is performed by the glymphatic system, called so for its dependence on glial cells and its similar function to that of the lymphatic system. In the present article, we define glymphatic insufficiency as the inability of the glymphatic system to properly perform the brain cleaning function. Furthermore, we propose thatcorpora amylaceaor wasteosomes, which are protective structures that act as waste containers and accumulate waste products, are, in fact, a manifestation of chronic glymphatic insufficiency. Assuming this premise, we provide an explanation that coherently links the formation, distribution, structure, and function of these bodies in the human brain. Moreover, we open up new perspectives in the study of the glymphatic system since wasteosomes can provide information about which variables have the greatest impact on the glymphatic system and which diseases occur with chronic glymphatic insufficiency. For example, based on the presence of wasteosomes, it seems that aging, sleep disorders, and cerebrovascular pathologies have the highest impact on the glymphatic system, whereas neurodegenerative diseases have a more limited impact. Furthermore, as glymphatic insufficiency is a risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases, information provided by wasteosomes could help to define the strategies and actions that can prevent glymphatic disruptions, thus limiting the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases.
Escherichia coli
O157:H7 senses microbiota-produced riboflavin to increase its virulence in the gut
Authors: Liu Bin , Liu Yutao , Yang Bin , Wang Qian , Liu Xingmei , Qin Jingliang , Zhao Ke , Li Fan , Feng Xiaohui , Li Linxing , Wu Pan , Liu Miaomiao , Zhu Siwei , Feng Lu , Wang Lei
Published: November 2022

Riboflavin is produced by most commensal bacteria in the human colon, where enterohemorrhagic
Escherichia coli
(EHEC) colonizes and causes diseases. Sensing environmental signals to site-specifically express the type-III secretion system (T3SS), which injects effectors into host cells leading to intestinal colonization and disease, is key to the pathogenesis of EHEC. Here, we reveal that EHEC O157:H7, a dominant EHEC serotype frequently associated with severe diseases, acquired a previously uncharacterized two-component regulatory system
rbfSR
, which senses microbiota-produced riboflavin to directly activate the expression of LEE genes encoding the T3SS in the colon.
rbfSR
is present in O157:H7 and O145:H28 but absent from other EHEC serotypes. The binding site of RbfR through which it regulates LEE gene expression was identified and is conserved in all EHEC serotypes and
Citrobacter rodentium
, a surrogate for EHEC in mice. Introducing
rbfSR
into
C. rodentium
enabled bacteria to sense microbiota-produced riboflavin in the mouse colon to increase the expression of LEE genes, causing increased disease severity in mice. Phylogenic analysis showed that the O55:H7 ancestor of O157:H7 obtained
rbfSR
which has been kept in O157:H7 since then. Thus, acquiring
rbfSR
represents an essential step in the evolution of the highly pathogenic O157:H7. The expression of LEE genes and cell attachment ability of other EHEC serotypes in the presence of riboflavin significantly increased when
rbfSR
was introduced into them, indicating that those serotypes are ready to use RbfSR to increase their pathogenicity. This may present a potential public health issue as horizontal gene transfer is frequent in enteric bacteria.
Identification and functional validation of super-enhancers in
Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Zhao Hainan , Yang Mingyu , Bishop Jade , Teng Yuhan , Cao Yingxue , Beall Brandon D. , Li Shuanglin , Liu Tongxin , Fang Qingxi , Fang Chao , Xin Haoyang , Nützmann Hans-Wilhelm , Osbourn Anne , Meng Fanli , Jiang Jiming
Published: November 2022

Super-enhancers (SEs) are exceptionally large enhancers and are recognized to play prominent roles in cell identity in mammalian species. We surveyed the genomic regions containing large clusters of accessible chromatin regions (ACRs) marked by deoxyribonuclease (DNase) I hypersensitivity in
Arabidopsis thaliana
. We identified a set of 749 putative SEs, which have a minimum length of 1.5 kilobases and represent the top 2.5% of the largest ACR clusters. We demonstrate that the genomic regions associating with these SEs were more sensitive to DNase I than other nonpromoter ACRs. The SEs were preferentially associated with topologically associating domains. Furthermore, the SEs and their predicted cognate genes were frequently associated with organ development and tissue identity in
A. thaliana
. Therefore, the
A. thaliana
SEs and their cognate genes mirror the functional characteristics of those reported in mammalian species
.
We developed CRISPR/Cas-mediated deletion lines of a 3,578-bp SE associated with the thalianol biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC). Small deletions (131–157 bp) within the SE resulted in distinct phenotypic changes and transcriptional repression of all five thalianol genes. In addition, T-DNA insertions in the SE region resulted in transcriptional alteration of all five thalianol genes. Thus, this SE appears to play a central role in coordinating the operon-like expression pattern of the thalianol BGC.