bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A hydrolyzed lipid blend diet promotes myelination in neonatal piglets in a region and concentration‐dependent manner
Authors: Louie Allison Y. , Rund Laurie A. , Komiyama‐Kasai Karin A. , Weisenberger Kelsie E. , Stanke Kayla L. , Larsen Ryan J. , Leyshon Brian J. , Kuchan Matthew J. , Das Tapas , Steelman Andrew J.
Published: September 2023

The impact of early life nutrition on myelin development is of interest given that cognitive and behavioral function depends on proper myelination. Evidence shows that myelination can be altered by dietary lipid, but most of these studies have been performed in the context of disease or impairment. Here, we assessed the effects of lipid blends containing various levels of a hydrolyzed fat (HF) system on myelination in healthy piglets. Piglets were sow‐reared, fed a control diet, or a diet containing 12%, 25%, or 53% HF consisting of cholesterol, fatty acids, monoglycerides, and phospholipid from lecithin. At postnatal day 28/29, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to assess changes to brain development, followed by brain collection for microscopic analyses of myelin in targeted regions using CLARITY tissue clearing, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy techniques. Sow‐reared piglets exhibited the highest overall brain white matter volume by MRI. However, a 25% HF diet resulted in the greatest total myelin density in the prefrontal cortex based on 3D modeling analysis of myelinated filaments. Nodal gap length and g‐ratio were inversely correlated with percentage of HF in the corpus callosum, as well as in the PFC and internal capsule for g‐ratio, indicating that a 53% HF diet resulted in the thickest myelin per axon and a 0% HF control diet the thinnest in specific brain regions. These findings indicate that HF promoted myelination in the neonatal piglet in a region‐ and concentration‐dependent manner.
A 1500‐year record of North Atlantic storm flooding from lacustrine sediments, Shetland Islands (UK)
Authors: Hess Katharina , Engel Max , Patel Tasnim , Vakhrameeva Polina , Koutsodendris Andreas , Klemt Eckehard , Hansteen Thor H. , Kempf Philipp , Dawson Sue , Schön Isa , Heyvaert Vanessa M. A.
Published: September 2023

Severe storm flooding poses a major hazard to the coasts of north‐western Europe. However, the long‐term recurrence patterns of extreme coastal flooding and their governing factors are poorly understood. Therefore, high‐resolution sedimentary records of past North Atlantic storm flooding are required. This multi‐proxy study reconstructs storm‐induced overwash processes from coastal lake sediments on the Shetland Islands using grain‐size and geochemical data, and the re‐analysis of historical data. The chronostratigraphy is based on Bayesian age–depth modelling using accelerator mass spectrometry 14C and 137Cs data. A high XRF‐based Si/Ti ratio and the unimodal grain‐size distribution link the sand layers to the beach and thus storm‐induced overwash events. Periods with more frequent storm flooding occurred 980–1050, 1150–1300, 1450–1550, 1820–1900 and 1950–2000 ce, which is largely consistent with a positive North Atlantic Oscillation mode. The Little Ice Age (1400–1850 ce) shows a gap of major sand layers suggesting a southward shift of storm tracks and a seasonal variance with more storm floods in spring and autumn. Warmer phases shifted winter storm tracks towards the north‐east Atlantic, indicating a possible trend for future storm‐track changes and increased storm flooding in the northern North Sea region.
Separation and purification of alkaloids and phenolic acids from Phellodendron chinense by pH‐zone refining and online‐storage inner‐recycling counter‐current chromatography
Authors: Zhu Heng , Geng Yanling , Ding Shangzhi , Li Enxia , Li Lili , Wang Xiao , Yu Jinqian
Published: September 2023

In this work, eight compounds from Phellodendron chinense were separated and purified by pH‐zone refining counter‐current chromatography and traditional counter‐current chromatography coupled with online‐storage inner‐recycling counter‐current chromatography (IRCCC). The pH‐zone‐refining mode was adopted for separating 2.0 g of crude extract with the solvent system of chloroform–methanol–water (4:3:3, v/v), in which 10 mM hydrochloric acid and 10 mM triethylamine were added in the stationary and mobile phases, respectively. Meanwhile, traditional counter‐current chromatography coupled with online‐storage IRCCC separation was performed by the solvent system of n‐hexane‐ethyl acetate‐methanol‐water (5:5:2:8, v/v). Finally, eight compounds, including six alkaloids as 6‐methylpiperidin‐2‐one(1), isoplatydesmine(4), berlambine(5), epiberberine(6), palmatine(7), berberine(8) and two phenolic acids as ferulic acid(2), isoferulic acid(3), were successfully obtained using these three different CCC modes with the purities over 95.0%.
A New Era of Modeling MOF‐Based Membranes: Cooperation of Theory and Data Science
Authors: Demir Hakan , Keskin Seda
Published: September 2023

Membrane‐based separation can offer significant energy savings over conventional separation methods. Given their highly customizable and porous structures, metal–organic frameworks‐ (MOFs) are considered as next‐generation membrane materials that can bring about high separation performance and energy efficiency in various separation applications. Yet, the enormously large number of possible MOF structures necessitates the development and implementation of efficient modeling approaches to expedite the design, discovery, and selection of optimal MOF‐based membranes via directing the experimental efforts, time, and resources to the potentially useful membrane materials. With the recent developments in the field of atomic simulations and artificial intelligence methods, a new era of membrane modeling has started. This review focuses on the recent advances made and key strategies used in the modeling of MOF‐based membranes and highlight the huge potential of combining atomistic modeling of MOFs with machine learning to explore very large number of MOF membranes and MOF/polymer composite membranes for gas separation. Opportunities and challenges related to the implementation of data‐driven approaches to extract useful structure–property relations of MOF‐based membranes and to produce design principles for the high‐performing MOF‐based membranes are discussed.
CDK10 suppresses metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma through inhibition of the ETS2/c‐Raf/p‐MEK/p‐ERK signaling loop
Authors: Zhang Xiujuan , Zhao Yu , Yiminniyaze Ruzetuoheti , Zhu Ning , Zhang Yuanyuan , Wumaier Gulinuer , Xia Jingwen , Dong Liang , Zhou Daibing , Wang Jing , Li Chengwei , Zhang Youzhi , Li Shengqing
Published: September 2023

The repertoire of aberrant signaling underlying the pathogenesis of lung adenocarcinoma remains largely uncharacterized, which precludes an efficient therapy for these patients, especially when distant metastasis occurs. Cyclin‐dependent kinase 10 (CDK10) has been reported to modulate the progression of malignant tumors; however, contradictory effects have been found among different types of malignant tumors. In the present study, we found that CDK10 was downregulated in lung adenocarcinoma compared with the paired adjacent normal lung tissue, and lower expression level of CDK10 was associated with more frequent N2 staged lymph node and distant metastasis, higher TNM stage, and shorter overall survival. Further study indicated that CDK10 inhibited the migration and invasion abilities with no impact on the proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma cells. Mechanistically, CDK10 could bind to and promote the degradation of ETS2, a transcription factor for C‐RAF and MMP2/9, thereby inactivating the downstream c‐Raf/p‐MEK/p‐ERK pathway that drives epithelial–mesenchymal transition and impairing the expression of matrix metalloproteinases involved in cell invasion. In addition, the p‐MEK/p‐ERK pathway conducts a positive feedback regulation on the expression of ETS2. Knockdown of CDK10 in human lung adenocarcinoma cells significantly promoted the formation of metastatic foci in lungs in a xenograft mouse model. In conclusion, CDK10 suppresses metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma by disrupting the ETS2/c‐Raf/p‐MEK/p‐ERK/ETS2 signaling and MMP2/9, providing a new therapeutic target for the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma with metastasis.
A family of inertial‐based derivative‐free projection methods with a correction step for constrained nonlinear equations and their applications
Authors: Liu Pengjie , Shao Hu , Yuan Zihang , Zhou Jianhao
Published: September 2023

Numerous attempts have been made to develop efficient methods for solving the system of constrained nonlinear equations due to its widespread use in diverse engineering applications. In this article, we present a family of inertial‐based derivative‐free projection methods with a correction step for solving such system, in which the selection of the derivative‐free search direction is flexible. This family does not require the computation of corresponding Jacobian matrix or approximate matrix at every iteration and possess the following theoretical properties: (i) the inertial‐based corrected direction framework always automatically satisfies the sufficient descent and trust region properties without specific search directions, and is independent of any line search; (ii) the global convergence of the proposed family is proven under a weaker monotonicity condition on the mapping , without the typical monotonicity or pseudo‐monotonicity assumption; (iii) the results about convergence rate of the proposed family are established under slightly stronger assumptions. Furthermore, we propose two effective inertial‐based derivative‐free projection methods, each embedding a specific search direction into the proposed family. We present preliminary numerical experiments on certain test problems to demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed methods in comparison with existing ones. Additionally, we utilize these methods for solving sparse signal restorations and image restorations in compressive sensing applications.
A new analytical approach to the nonlinear buckling and postbuckling behavior of functionally graded graphene reinforced composite laminated cylindrical, parabolic, and half‐sinusoid shallow imperfect panels
Authors: Nam Vu Hoai , Van Doan Cao , Phuong Nguyen Thi
Published: September 2023

This paper presents and analyzes the nonlinear buckling responses of three types of shallow imperfect panels (cylindrical panel, parabolic panel, and half‐sinusoid panel) made from functionally graded graphene reinforced composite (FG‐GRC) on nonlinear elastic foundations subjected to axial compressive load in thermal environments. The nonlinear governing equations are formulated on Reddy's higher‐order shear deformation shell theory (HSDST) and take into account von Karman‐type nonlinearity. A new approximation technique to determine the stress function in average sense is developed and Galerkin's method is used to obtain the algebraically nonlinear equation system. Then, the simple calculation process can be used to solve the obtained equation systems, and the formulations to calculate the critical buckling loads and postbuckling load‐deflection curves are expressed in explicit form. The results can be flexibly applied to FG‐GRC panels with different curvatures in engineering designs. The effects of panel types, geometrical parameters, temperature increase, initial imperfection, and nonlinear elastic foundations on the critical buckling loads and postbuckling curves of cylindrical, parabolic, and half‐sinusoid FG‐GRC panels are discussed in numerical results. Numerical results also show a small disadvantage in the load‐carrying capacity of cylindrical panels compared to parabolic panels and half‐sinusoid shallow panels.

Highlights

Postbuckling of cylindrical, parabolic, and half‐sinusoid panels are studied.

The panels are made of functionally graded graphene reinforced composite.

Reddy's higher‐order shear deformation shell theory is applied.

A new approximation technique to determine the stress function is developed.

Critical buckling loads and postbuckling expressions are explicitly obtained.
Effects of process parameters on mechanical properties and interface of 3D printed bamboo‐inspired CCFR‐PLA/TPU composites
Authors: Ye Wenguang , Dou Hao , Zhang Dinghua , Yang Fuqiang , Cheng Yunyong , Cai Wenfeng
Published: September 2023

Inspired by the exceptional strength and toughness of fresh bamboo, a low‐cost method for preparing continuous fiber‐reinforced multi‐matrix composites based on 3D printing was proposed in this paper. Through the design of a special extrusion nozzle, the controllable feed of polylactic‐acid (PLA) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) filaments was achieved, allowing for the preparation of continuous carbon fiber reinforced PLA/TPU composites. The effects of various process parameters on the tensile and flexural properties of the CCFR‐PLA/TPU composites were investigated. Additionally, the relationship between process parameters and the formation of the matrix‐fiber interface and PLA‐TPU interface was analyzed. The results show that layer height has the greatest influence on mechanical properties, while the printing speed has the least influence. The mechanical properties of the CCFR‐PLA/TPU composites and the unreinforced blend matrix, prepared using the optimal combination of process parameters, were tested. The results demonstrated that the tensile strength and flexural strength of the CCFR‐PLA/TPU composites increased by 16.95 and 1.80 times, respectively, compared to the unreinforced blend matrix. Further, inspired by the overall structure of bamboo, a stiffness gradient CCFR composite material was designed and prepared. The methodology employed in this study holds significant implications for the advancement of novel multi‐matrix hybrid continuous fiber reinforced composites, particularly in aerospace and related industries.

Highlights

Multi‐matrix continuous fiber reinforced composites were prepared by 3D printing inspired by fresh bamboo.

The effects of process parameters (nozzle temperature, printing speed, extrusion width, layer height) on mechanical properties were investigated.

The optimal printing parameter combination was determined by range analysis.

Stiffness gradient composites were prepared inspired by the overall structure of bamboo.
The epidemiologic trend of respiratory syncytial virus has returned strongly to its origin after the pandemic: Five‐year data from a single center
Authors: Çağlar Hanife Tuğçe , Pekcan Sevgi , Yılmaz Aslı İmran , Ünal Gökçen , Ercan Fatih , Savaş Suat , Akcan Özge Metin , Ünsaçar Mahmut Ziya , Ünsaçar Kübra , Özdemir Mehmet
Published: September 2023

Objective

Only a few studies have investigated the frequency and severity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections after the end of the pandemic regulations. This study aims to investigate the frequency and severity of RSV infections before, during, and after the pandemic in Turkey.

Materials and Methods

Patients under 18 years of age and those who tested positive for RSV between April 2018 and March 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were divided into three groups (pre‐COVID‐19, COVID‐19, and post‐COVID‐19) according to admission date. Among inpatients, data were compared between the three groups to determine the impact of the pandemic on RSV epidemiology and clinical outcomes.

Results

A total of 9567 patients were tested for RSV, of which 1073 (11.2%) were positive and included in the study. Hospitalization occurred in 447 (41.7%) patients. Inpatients were younger than outpatients (p < .000). Among the three inpatient pandemic groups, clinical outcomes were statistically significantly worse in the post‐COVID‐19 group than in the other two groups. SpO2 was lower (p < .000), inhaled salbutamol requirement was higher (p < .000), length of stay was longer (p = .031), and ICU admission was higher (p = .023).

Conclusion

Although the RSV trend changed within 2 years after the COVID‐19 outbreak, it returned to its usual seasonality last year. After the repeal of all COVID‐19 measures and the normal life began, the number of RSV‐positive patients and RSV‐related hospitalizations increased, and the clinical outcomes of RSV worsened. This may be a result of decreased herd immunity due to a change in society's attitude toward epidemic diseases.
Synthesis, acaricidal activity, and structure–activity relationships of novel phenyl trifluoroethyl thioether derivatives containing substituted benzyl groups
Authors: Liu Dongdong , Zhang Jing , Gao Yixing , Hao Haijing , Zhang Chenyang , Wang Feng , Zhang Lixin
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND

To discover and develop novel acaricidal compounds, a series of 2‐fluoro‐4‐methyl/chlorine‐5‐((2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl)thio)aniline/phenol compounds containing N/O‐benzyl moieties were synthesized based on lead compound LZ‐1.

RESULTS

The activity of these compounds against carmine spider mites (Tetranychus cinnabarinus) was determined using the leaf‐spray method. Bioassays indicated that most of the designed target compounds possessed moderate to excellent acaricidal activity against adult T. cinnabarinus. The median lethal concentrations of 25b and 26b were 0.683 and 2.448 mg L−1 against adult mites, respectively; exceeding those of bifenazate (7.519 mg L−1) and lead compound LZ‐1(3.658 mg L−1). Compound 25b exhibited 100% mortality in T. cinnabarinus larvae at 10 mg L−1.

CONCLUSION

Continuing the study of these compounds in field trials, we compared the efficacy of mite killing by compound 25b with the commercial pesticide spirodiclofen and showed that mite control achieved 95.9% and 83.0% lethality at 10 and 22 days post‐treatment. In comparison, spirodiclofen showed 92.7% lethality at 10 days and 77.2% lethality at 22 days post‐treatment at a concentration of 100 mg L−1. Results showed that 25b produced more facile and long‐lasting control against T. cinnabarinus than the commercial acaricide spirodiclofen. Density functional theory analysis and electrostatic potential calculations of various molecular substitutions suggested some useful models to achieve other highly active miticidal compounds. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Millimeter‐Scale Temperature Self‐Calibrated Diamond‐Based Quantum Sensor for High‐Precision Current Sensing
Authors: Liu Qihui , Xie Fei , Peng Xiao , Hu Yuqiang , Wang Nan , Zhang Yonggui , Wang Yang , Li Lingyun , Chen Hao , Cheng Jiangong , Wu Zhenyu
Published: September 2023

The negatively charged nitrogen vacancy (NV) color center in diamond is a type of point defect, which is extensively studied as a promising high‐sensitivity solid‐state magnetic field sensor. However, its transition from research to application is still limited due to the technical challenges of an integrated physical package. Here, an integrated diamond sensor is demonstrated with the essential component on the order of mm3, which is realized by a standard microfabrication process. A microfabrication‐compatible light guiding structure is constructed, providing photon detection efficiency of 66% and thus enabling a magnetic field detection sensitivity reaching 203 pT·Hz1/2. Incorporation of the sensor device with a magnetic yoke enables high‐precision wide‐range direct‐current sensing with current isolation. A current measuring range of 0–400 A with a minimum detection limit of 2 mA is achieved. By utilizing dual spin resonance modulation, the temperature drift is suppressed from 219 to 1.92 ppm∙°C−1. This configuration provides new possibilities as a robust and scalable platform for current quantum sensing technologies.
Constraining the output of discrete‐time systems using sliding mode control with a novel sliding hyperplane
Authors: Latosinski Pawel , Bartoszewicz Andrzej
Published: September 2023

Sliding mode control strategies are widely applicable to systems subject to disturbance and modeling uncertainties. However, since sliding mode controllers are typically only concerned with the evolution of a virtual sliding variable, potential state constraints placed on the system are often neglected when applying such strategies. Motivated by this problem, in this article, we propose a novel sliding mode control strategy for discrete‐time systems with the aim of satisfying constraints placed on their output. The proposed approach uses a new sliding hyperplane designed to ensure a linear relationship between the sliding variable and the system output. The main contribution of the article involves demonstrating that when using this approach, one can indirectly impose bounds on the output rate of change by limiting the convergence rate of the sliding variable to zero. The obtained result has been documented for two cases. In the first part of the article, the proposed approach has been applied to systems with full state information always known. Then, the strategy has been extended to plants with only output signal available, where the full state needs to be estimated.
Study on the coordination of flow and sediment transport, ecological environment, and crop production in the Lower Yellow River since 2000
Authors: Jiang Enhui , Qu Bo , Jia Jia , Liu Chang , Wang Yuanjian , Li Donglin , Li Jieyu
Published: September 2023

The Xiaolangdi Reservoir has been operated for 23 consecutive years, greatly altering the flow and sediment processes of the Lower Yellow River. Many research have separately analyzed the changes of siltation in reservoirs and river channels, discharge capacity of the lower river channel, river regime stability, or ecological environmental benefits under water and sediment regulation. However, the multiple changes of flow and sediment transport, ecological environment, and social economy were seldom considered. We systematically and holistically explored the changes of river system in the Lower Yellow River since 2000, based on the channel erosion and siltation, channel morphology, ecosystem patterns and habitat quality, irrigation water scale, and crop production index. The results show that the discharge capacity of the main channel has been recovered significantly at a bankfull discharge of over 4700 m3/s. The ecological pattern in the Lower Yellow River and the delta has been optimized. The wetland and water ecosystem area has been remarkably increased by 125.82% and 318.54% respectively, and the saline‐alkali land area has been sharply reduced by 89.65%. The habitat quality has been raised to the highest level in nearly 40 years. The irrigation water volume in the irrigation area of the Lower Yellow River has been increased by 31%, and the grain production has maintained a continuous growth for 16 years. Overall, the coordinated development level of flow and sediment transport, ecological environment and crop production in the Lower Yellow River has been continuously improved from the reluctantly coordinated level (before water and sediment regulation) to the highly coordinated level.
Tribochemistry effect on the friction reduction of Al2O3/ethylene glycol composite lubricant between steel self‐mated tribosystem
Authors: Liu Peng , Xu Qing , Zhang Renhui
Published: September 2023

In our previous work, we find that the ethylene glycol (EG) is transferred to amorphous carbon or graphene during sliding under the effect of the tribochemical reactions; herein, in this work, we control the concentration of the modified Al2O3 nanoparticles in the EG solution in order to modulate the tribological properties of the tribosystem sliding in the mixed lubricant consisting of the modified Al2O3 nanoparticles and EG. The tribological tests show that the concentrations of the modified Al2O3 nanoparticles ranging from 0 to 1.0 wt% in the mixed lubricant are helpful for obtaining low wear rate due to the formation of graphene‐like materials induced by tribochemical reactions. On the other hand, when the concentration reaches 1.5 wt.%, the tribosystem exhibits high coefficient of friction (COF) and wear rate, which is attributed to the formation of reunited groups consisting of the modified Al2O3 nanoparticles and graphene‐like materials. This investigation should give a positive guidance for the design of the mixed lubricant with excellent lubrication properties.
Shape Anisotropy‐Governed High‐Performance Nanomagnetosol for In Vivo Magnetic Particle Imaging of Lungs
Authors: Nigam Saumya , Mohapatra Jeotikanta , Makela Ashley V. , Hayat Hanaan , Rodriguez Jessi Mercedes , Sun Aixia , Kenyon Elizabeth , Redman Nathan A. , Spence Dana , Jabin George , Gu Bin , Ashry Mohamed , Sempere Lorenzo F. , Mitra Arijit , Li Jinxing , Chen Jiahui , Wei Guo‐Wei , Bolin Steven , Etchebarne Brett , Liu J. Ping , Contag Christopher H. , Wang Ping
Published: September 2023

Caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has shown extensive lung manifestations in vulnerable individuals, putting lung imaging and monitoring at the forefront of early detection and treatment. Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is an imaging modality, which can bring excellent contrast, sensitivity, and signal‐to‐noise ratios to lung imaging for the development of new theranostic approaches for respiratory diseases. Advances in MPI tracers would offer additional improvements and increase the potential for clinical translation of MPI. Here, a high‐performance nanotracer based on shape anisotropy of magnetic nanoparticles is developed and its use in MPI imaging of the lung is demonstrated. Shape anisotropy proves to be a critical parameter for increasing signal intensity and resolution and exceeding those properties of conventional spherical nanoparticles. The 0D nanoparticles exhibit a 2‐fold increase, while the 1D nanorods have a > 5‐fold increase in signal intensity when compared to VivoTrax. Newly designed 1D nanorods displayed high signal intensities and excellent resolution in lung images. A spatiotemporal lung imaging study in mice revealed that this tracer offers new opportunities for monitoring disease and guiding intervention.
Catholyte Modulation and Prussian Blue/Berlin Green Redox Mediator Enabling Efficient High‐Potential Mn2+/MnO2 Reaction for Aqueous Hybrid Batteries
Authors: Zhang Yaru , Li Mengmeng , Li Hao , Miao Yingchun , Yang Meng , Zhao Xiangyu
Published: September 2023

The use of multielectron Mn2+/MnO2 cathode reaction achieves high‐energy aqueous acid–base asymmetric hybrid batteries. However, the ion crossover through the membrane and the accumulation of unreacted MnO2 lead to serve potential and capacity decay of the cathode during cycling. Herein, the catholyte modulation using the KCl additive and the design of a Prussian blue/Berlin green (PB/BG) redox mediator on the cathode current collector are developed to promote high‐potential Mn2+/MnO2 reaction. The addition of saturated KCl greatly suppresses the ion crossover to maintain the catholyte acidity, thus enabling high‐potential Mn2+/MnO2 reaction and stable high‐voltage discharge plateau of ≈2.2 V for the hybrid battery at a prolonged cycling. The reversible MnO2 deposition is effectively improved by the PB/BG redox mediator, which contributes to significant enhancements in the reversible capacity, rate capability, and cycling stability of the cathode. Importantly, the as‐assembled hybrid battery exhibits the highest energy density of ≈260 Wh kg−1 (based on the mass of the aqueous MnCl2 catholyte and a hydrogen storage anode material) among the previously reported Mn‐based acid–base asymmetric batteries.
A Real‐Time, Noncontact Method for Estimating the Voltage of a Single Cell in Series‐Connected Photovoltaic Cells
Authors: Kobayashi Yasuyuki , Linh Ngo Doan Hoang , Kimura Yuuki
Published: September 2023

On‐site measurement for generating photovoltaic (PV) modules is important for detecting many PV cell failures; however, measuring the working cell voltage in a PV module is impractical. We improve a noncontact estimation method (modulated light–irradiation method) that irradiates modulating laser light to detect the synchronized signal in the PV module output current using an alternating current (AC) clamp sensor and a lock‐in amplifier to realize real‐time observation of the working cell voltage. We used a preamplifier with a high‐pass filter to enhance the sensitivity of the AC clamp sensor and lock‐in amplifier with an electronically modulated semiconductor laser while considering the conditions for the lock‐in amplifier and the preamplifier. Experiments under a solar simulator with weakly vibrating light at 100 Hz and results of time‐fluctuating voltages of all the cells under noise‐reduction‐optimized conditions are performed for validation. This procedure also reduces the time required to scan all cell voltages in PV modules. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Computational biophysics meets cryo‐EM revolution in the search for the functional dynamics of biomolecular systems
Authors: Costa Mauricio G. S. , Gur Mert , Krieger James M. , Bahar Ivet
Published: September 2023

There is a variety of experimental and computational techniques available to explore protein dynamics, each presenting advantages and limitations. One promising experimental technique that is driving the development of computational methods is cryo‐electron microscopy (cryo‐EM). Cryo‐EM provides molecular‐level structural data and first estimates of conformational landscape from single particle analysis but cannot track real‐time protein dynamics and may contain uncertainties in atomic positions especially at highly dynamic regions. Molecular simulations offer atomic‐level insights into protein dynamics; however, their computing time requirements limit the conformational sampling accuracy, and it is often hard, to assess by full‐atomic simulations the cooperative movements of biological interest for large assemblies such as those resolved by cryo‐EM. Coarse‐grained (CG) simulations permit us to explore such systems, but at the costs of lower resolution and potentially incomplete sampling of conformational space. On the other hand, analytical methods may circumvent sampling limitations. In particular, elastic network models‐based normal mode analyses (ENM‐NMA) provide unique solutions for the complete mode spectra near equilibrium states, even for systems of megadaltons, and may thus deliver information on mechanisms of motions relevant to biological function. Yet, they lack atomic resolution as well as temporal information for non‐equilibrium systems. Given the complementary nature of these methods, the integration of molecular simulations and ENM‐NMA into hybrid methodologies has gained traction. This review presents the current state‐of‐the‐art in structure‐based computations and how they are helping us gain a deeper understanding of biological mechanisms, with emphasis on the development of hybrid methods accompanying the advances in cryo‐EM.

This article is categorized under:

Structure and Mechanism > Computational Biochemistry and Biophysics
Insight into the Microstructure of FRW Universe from a P-V Phase Transition
Authors: Abdusattar Haximjan
Published: September 2023

Abstract

The P-V phase transition of the FRW (Friedmann-Robertson-Walker) universe with a perfect fluid has recently been investigated, revealing that the four critical exponents near the critical point are consistent with the values predicted by mean field theory. Notably, the coexistence phase of the P-V phase transition in the FRW universe above the critical temperature, which distinguishes it from van der Waals system and most of AdS black holes system. This unique property allows us to investigate the microstructure of the FRW universe as a thermodynamic system. Our analysis of the Ruppeiner geometry for the FRW universe reveals that the behavior of the thermodynamic scalar curvature near criticality is characterized by a dimensionless constant identical to that of the van der Waals fluid. Additionally, we observe that while repulsive interactions dominate for the coexistence samll phase with higher temperature, the scalar curvature for the coexistence large phase is always negative, indicating attractive interactions, providing new insights into the nature of interactions among the perfect fluid matter constituents in the expanding FRW universe.
Loss of ORP3 induces aneuploidy and promotes bladder cancer cell invasion through deregulated microtubule and actin dynamics
Authors: Wang Xue , Liu Junnan , Azoitei Anca , Eiseler Tim , Meessen Sabine , Jiang Wencheng , Zheng Xi , Makori Arika W. , Eckstein Markus , Hartmann Arndt , Stilgenbauer Stephan , Elati Mohamed , Hohwieler Meike , Kleger Alexander , John Axel , Zengerling Friedemann , Wezel Felix , Bolenz Christian , Günes Cagatay
Published: September 2023

We have recently shown that loss of ORP3 leads to aneuploidy induction and promotes tumor formation. However, the specific mechanisms by which ORP3 contributes to ploidy-control and cancer initiation and progression is still unknown. Here, we report that ORP3 is highly expressed in ureter and bladder epithelium while its expression is downregulated in invasive bladder cancer cell lines and during tumor progression, both in human and in mouse bladder cancer. Moreover, we observed an increase in the incidence of N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-nitrosamine (BBN)-induced invasive bladder carcinoma in the tissue-specific Orp3 knockout mice. Experimental data demonstrate that ORP3 protein interacts with γ-tubulin at the centrosomes and with components of actin cytoskeleton. Altering the expression of ORP3 induces aneuploidy and genomic instability in telomerase-immortalized urothelial cells with a stable karyotype and influences the migration and invasive capacity of bladder cancer cell lines. These findings demonstrate a crucial role of ORP3 in ploidy-control and indicate that ORP3 is a bona fide tumor suppressor protein. Of note, the presented data indicate that ORP3 affects both cell invasion and migration as well as genome stability through interactions with cytoskeletal components, providing a molecular link between aneuploidy and cell invasion and migration, two crucial characteristics of metastatic cells.
Mesenchymal stem cell implantation provides short‐term clinical improvement and satisfactory cartilage restoration in patients with knee osteoarthritis but the evidence is limited: a systematic review performed by the early‐osteoarthritis group of ESSKA‐European knee associates section
Authors: Razak Hamid Rahmatullah Bin Abd , Corona Katia , Totlis Trifon , Chan Li Yi Tammy , Salreta Jose Filipe , Sleiman Obeida , Vasso Michele , Baums Mike H.
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Implantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is a potential cell‐based modality for cartilage repair. Currently, its clinical use largely surrounds focal cartilage defect repair and intra‐articular injections in knee osteoarthritis. The MSCs’ implantation efficacy as a treatment option for osteoarthritis remains contentious. This systematic review aims to evaluate studies that focused on MSCs implantation in patients with knee OA to provide a summary of this treatment option outcomes.

Methods

A systematic search was performed in PubMed (Medline), Scopus, Cinahl, and the Cochrane Library. Original studies investigating outcomes of MSCs implantations in patients with knee OA were included. Data on clinical outcomes using subjective scores, radiological outcomes, and second‐look arthroscopy gradings were extracted.

Results

Nine studies were included in this review. In all included studies, clinical outcome scores revealed significantly improved functionality and better postoperative pain scores at 2–3 years follow‐up. Improved cartilage volume and quality at the lesion site was observed in five studies that included a postoperative magnetic resonance imaging assessment and studies that performed second‐look arthroscopy. No major complications or tumorigenesis occurred. Outcomes were consistent in both single MSCs implantation and concurrent HTO with MSCs implantation in cases with excessive varus deformity.

Conclusion

According to the available literature, MSCs implantation in patients with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis is safe and provides short‐term clinical improvement and satisfactory cartilage restoration, either as a standalone procedure or combined with HTO in cases with axial deformity. However, the evidence is limited due to the high heterogeneity among studies and the insufficient number of studies including a control group and mid‐term outcomes.

Level of evidence

IV.
Balancing health and economic impacts from targeted pandemic restrictions
Authors: Bonaccorsi Giovanni , Scotti Francesco , Flori Andrea , Pammolli Fabio
Published: September 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the necessity for policymakers to design interventions that allow to promptly resume economic activities while taking control of the healthcare emergency. We analyze the response of differentiated policy measures by exploiting a meta-population SEIR model based on transaction data that map human mobility through daily physical transactions performed by cardholders of a major Italian bank. We calibrate multiple counterfactual scenarios and study the impact of alternative combinations of tailored mobility restrictions with different intensity across sectors. Although the Retail sector accounts for the largest portion of mobility and drive results in terms of infections and consumption dynamics, other economic activities, such as those related to Restaurants, have a relevant role in the design of the optimal policy. Finally, we show how the proposed approach can be used by policymakers to evaluate the trade-off between economic and healthcare impacts by identifying the alternative policy restrictions that minimize either the economic impact given a certain level of infections or the spread of contagion for a target value of economic impact.
Assessment of exposure to pesticides: residues in 24 h duplicate diets versus their metabolites in 24 h urine using suspect screening and target analysis
Authors: Nijssen R. , Lommen A. , van den Top H. , van Dam R. , Meuleman-Bot C. , Tienstra M. , Zomer P. , Sunarto S. , van Tricht F. , Blokland M. , Mol H.
Published: September 2023

Human biomonitoring can add value to chemical risk assessment by reducing the assumptions regarding consumption rates, residue occurrence, and processing effects and by integrating exposures from different sources (diet, household use, environmental). However, the relationship between exposure and concentration in human matrices is unknown for most pesticides. Therefore, we conducted a pilot study to gain more insight into the qualitative and quantitative relationship between dietary intake of pesticides (external exposure) and urinary excretion (reflecting internal exposure). In this cross-sectional observational study, 35 healthy consumers aged 18–65 years from the region of Wageningen, Netherlands, collected an exact duplicate portion of their diets during 24 h. On the same day, they also collected all their urine. The duplicate diets were analyzed using target screening by GC- and LC-HRMS; each duplicate diet contained at least five, up to 21, pesticide residues. The 24 h urine samples were analyzed using LC-HRMS in a suspect screening workflow. Metabolites were tentatively detected in all 24 h urine samples, ranging from six metabolites corresponding to four pesticides up to 40 metabolites originating from 16 pesticides in a single urine sample. In total, 65 metabolites originating from 28 pesticides were tentatively detected. After prioritization and additional confirmation experiments, 28 metabolites originating from 10 pesticides were identified with confidence level 1 or 2b. Next, quantitative analysis was performed for a selection of pesticides in duplicate diets and their metabolites in 24 h urine to assess quantitative relationships. In the quantitative comparisons between duplicate diet and 24 h urine, it was found that some metabolites were already present in the duplicate diet, which may give an overestimation of exposure to the parent pesticide based on measurement of the metabolites in urine. Additionally, the quantitative comparisons suggest a background exposure through other exposure routes. We conclude that suspect screening of 24 h urine samples can disclose exposure to mixtures of pesticide on the same day in the general population. However, more research is needed to obtain quantitative relationships between dietary intake and exposure.

Graphical Abstract
Enhanced selective capture of phosphomonoester lipids enabling highly sensitive detection of sphingosine 1-phosphate
Authors: Grasso Giuliana , Sommella Eduardo M. , Merciai Fabrizio , Abouhany Rahma , Shinde Sudhirkumar A. , Campiglia Pietro , Sellergren Börje , Crescenzi Carlo
Published: September 2023

Sphingolipids play crucial roles in cellular membranes, myelin stability, and signalling responses to physiological cues and stress. Among them, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) has been recognized as a relevant biomarker for neurodegenerative diseases, and its analogue FTY-720 has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis. Focusing on these targets, we here report three novel polymeric capture phases for the selective extraction of the natural biomarker and its analogue drug. To enhance analytical performance, we employed different synthetic approaches using a cationic monomer and a hydrophobic copolymer of styrene-DVB. Results have demonstrated high affinity of the sorbents towards S1P and fingolimod phosphate (FTY-720-P, FP). This evidence proved that lipids containing phosphate diester moiety in their structures did not constitute obstacles for the interaction of phosphate monoester lipids when loaded into an SPE cartridge. Our suggested approach offers a valuable tool for developing efficient analytical procedures.

Graphical Abstract
Revalorisation of broccoli crop surpluses and field residues: novel ingredients for food industry uses
Authors: Villaño Débora , Fernández-Pan Idoya , Arozarena Íñigo , Ibañez Francisco C. , Vírseda Paloma , Beriain María José
Published: September 2023

Research on the management of broccoli crop residues and surpluses is critical for improving agricultural practices, optimizing food industrial manufacture, and contributing to better human nutrition. The objective of this study was to obtain novel ingredients based on these residues and surpluses for a wide range of applications in the food industry. The effect of air-drying (60 °C or 80 °C) applied to field residues (broccoli stalks), mimicking industrial conditions, was compared with dehydration by freeze-drying applied to these same field residues and to crop surpluses (broccoli whole plant). Thus, different broccoli flours were obtained and characterised for technological and biological properties including colour, antioxidant activity, nutrients, total polyphenol content, and content of glucosinolates. Flours from field residues showed high levels of dietary fibre (≈ 22% dry weight). Broccoli crop surpluses flours had relevant contents of glucosinolates (≈ 13 mg/g dry weight). Therefore, within the framework of the circular economy, these flours are proposed to revalorise the two main broccoli crop discarded fractions. Such flours could be used in a realistic and simple way by the agri-food industries interested in the development of healthy and conscience foodstuffs, in a cost-efficient manner.

Graphical abstract
Impact of cannabis use on brain metabolism using 31P and 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Authors: Fenzl Maximilian , Backens Martin , Bodea Silviu , Wittemann Miriam , Werler Florian , Brielmaier Jule , Wolf Robert Christian , Reith Wolfgang
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This prospective cross-sectional study investigated the influence of regular cannabis use on brain metabolism in young cannabis users by using combined proton and phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Methods

The study was performed in 45 young cannabis users aged 18–30, who had been using cannabis on a regular basis over a period of at least 2 years and in 47 age-matched controls. We acquired 31P MRS data in different brain regions at 3T with a double-resonant 1H/31P head coil, anatomic images, and 1H MRS data with a standard 20-channel 1H head coil. Absolute concentration values of proton metabolites were obtained via calibration from tissue water as an internal reference, whereas a standard solution of 75 mmol/l KH2PO4 was used as an external reference for the calibration of phosphorus signals.

Results

We found an overall but not statistically significant lower concentration level of several proton and phosphorus metabolites in cannabis users compared to non-users. In particular, energy-related phosphates such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and inorganic phosphate (Pi) were reduced in all regions under investigation. Phosphocreatine (PCr) showed lowered values mainly in the left basal ganglia and the left frontal white matter.

Conclusion

The results suggest that the increased risk of functional brain disorders observed in long-term cannabis users could be caused by an impairment of the energy metabolism of the brain, but this needs to be verified in future studies.
What to report in sellar tumor MRI? A nationwide survey among German pituitary surgeons, radiation oncologists, and endocrinologists
Authors: Huckhagel Torge , Riedel Christian , Flitsch Jörg , Rotermund Roman
Published: September 2023

Purpose

While MRI has become the imaging modality of choice in the diagnosis of sellar tumors, no systematic attempt has yet been made to align radiological reporting of findings with the information needed by the various medical disciplines dealing with these patients. Therefore, we aimed to determine the prevailing preferences in this regard through a nationwide expert survey.

Methods

First, an interdisciplinary literature-based catalog of potential reporting elements for sellar tumor MRI examinations was created. Subsequently, a web-based survey regarding the clinical relevance of these items was conducted among board certified members of the German Society of Neurosurgery, German Society of Radiation Oncology, and the Pituitary Working Group of the German Society of Endocrinology.

Results

A total of 95 experts (40 neurosurgeons, 28 radiation oncologists, and 27 endocrinologists) completed the survey. The description of the exact tumor location, size, and involvement of the anatomic structures adjacent to the sella turcica (optic chiasm, cavernous sinus, and skull base), occlusive hydrocephalus, relationship to the pituitary gland and infundibulum, and certain structural characteristics of the mass (cyst formation, hemorrhage, and necrosis) was rated most important (> 75% agreement). In contrast, the characterization of anatomic features of the nasal cavity and sphenoid sinus as well as the findings of advanced MRI techniques (e.g., perfusion and diffusion imaging) was considered relevant by less than 50% of respondents.

Conclusion

To optimally address the information needs of the interdisciplinary treatment team, MRI reports of sellar masses should primarily focus on the accurate description of tumor location, size, internal structure, and involvement of adjacent anatomic compartments.