bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physical Quality of Fast Sealing Dissolving Edible Films as Food Packaging Based Glucomannan and Gelatin
Authors: Saleha Rischa Amalia , Novitasari Fera , Andrianita Nazma Putri , Manab Abdul , Sawitri Manik Eirry , Andriani Ria Dewi , Rahayu Premy Puspitawati
Published: March 2023

The edible film is an alternative that can be used as eco-friendly packaging material (biodegradable) as a plastic substitute. The material that can be used in making edible films is glucomannan, which can dissolve easily but is less elastic. The development of the necessary edibles that can be applied to foodstuffs requires a combination of ingredients that are easy to dissolve in water. These materials can be used derived from hydrocolloids or polysaccharides. The research to obtain edible film formulated glucomannan and gelatin with the best physical quality, fast sealing and fast dissolving. The research material used glucomannan and gelatin with different concentrations designed by 5 treatments and 3 replications consisting of T1: 0,5% gelatin, T2: 0.625% gelatin, T3: 0.75% gelatin, T4: 0,875 gelatin and T5: 1% gelatin. The variables tested were solubility, total soluble matter, swelling, water content, thickness, L*, a*, b* color, browning index and whiteness index. The research method was experimental, analyzed with Analysis of Variance using Completely Randomized Design and if there were differences continued using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. The results showed highly significant differences (P<0.01) on swelling and thickness. The results showed significant differences (P<0.05) on total soluble matter, water content and L* color. However, there were no significant differences (P>0.05) on solubility, a* color, b* color, browning index and whiteness index. The results of the data based on physical quality consist of solubility ranging from 11.2-24.5%, total soluble matter 27.6-60.6%, swelling 3.49-7.75%, water content 11.5-12.15%, thickness 0.09-0.14 mm, L* color 91.3-92.5, a* color 0.78-1, b* color 1.52-2.81, browning index 2.23-3.7 and whiteness index 94.51-99.34. In conclusion, the use of edible films formulated with glucomannan and gelatin with a concentration of 0.5% produces the best physical quality, the resulting edible film has high solubility and is easy to seal.
Health Economic Evaluations for Alzheimer’s Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Pharmacological Approaches
Authors: Raj Rahul , Paul Prolay , Motwani Yogesh , Sinwal Aashutosh , Ishu
Published: March 2023

Alzheimer's disease (AD) was first described by Alois Alzheimer in 1907 as a slowly progressing form of dementia that affects cognition, behavior, and functional status. It may be identified by the extracellular amyloid b (Ab) plaques as well as neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) deposits that are seen inside the neurons. Early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) and late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) are the two main categories that form the base of AD presentation. EOAD is a condition that develops before the age of 65 and is linked to Mendelian inheritance, which results in a mutation in the genes APP, PSEN1, or PSEN2. So it is familial AD. While LOAD occur after age 65 years of age and, it is not  related to a genetic cause. So it is sporadic AD. To assess and monitor the rate and pattern of cognitive loss, screening measures like the MMSE and the Montreal Cognitive Examination are utilized. Clinical biomarker testing is now available to assist physicians in determining the the presence and severity of AD pathologic alterations, as well as their lasting effects. Fibrillar (plaque) amyloid is detectable on PET. Despite the fact that AD is a public health issue, only two pharmaceutical classes—antagonists of N-methyl d-aspartate (NMDA) and inhibitors of the cholinesterase enzyme (naturally occurring, synthetic, and hybrid variants)—are allowed to be practiced to treat AD. AD is brought on by a decrease in the synthesis of acetylcholine (Ach) Increasing acetylcholine levels by decreasing acetylcholinesterase is one of the therapeutic interventions that enhances neuronal cells and cognitive function. Tacrine was the first cholinesterase inhibitor drug authorized by the FDA to be used for the treatment of AD.
Studies on Flowering Characteristics and Floral Morphology of Some Jamun Genotypes (Syzygium cuminii Skeels) under Semi-arid Lateritic Belt of West Bengal, India
Authors: Halder Agniva , Deb Prahlad
Published: March 2023

A study was conducted to find out the variability of flowering behaviour and floral morphology of randomly selected 10 jamun genotypes (Syzygium cuminii Skeels) from 3 diferent districts namely Bankura, Purulia and Paschim Bardhaman under semi-arid lateritic belt of West Bengal during the year 2022. Only a single plant was considered for a single accession which was taken under the study.  The selection was done on random basis. Significant variation has been observed among the genotypes for the flowering behaviour as well as morphological characters of flowers. Month of panicle emergence among the selected genotypes ranged from 1st week of March to last week of March. Time taken for bud development was observed 21 (days from panicle emergence) from three accessions like JA 9 was shortest among 10 jamun accessions studied. Longest time for bud development was observed in JA 4 (38 days). Duration of flowering was highest of 39 days in genotype JA 6 followed by 35 days in JA 10and 34 days in JA 4. The length of panicle was recorded longest from JA 1 (13.08 cm) and shortest in JA 2 (6.73 cm). Highest flower length was measured from JA 2 (26.39 mm) and lowest from JA 8 (8.31). Maximum number of branchlets per panicle was recorded from accessions like JA 1 (15.02) and it was least in JA 8 (7.39). Maximum number of flowers per branchlets was observed from JA 7 (12.07) followed by JA 4 (11.09). Number of stamens per flower varied between 58.04 and 67.07. The flower colour of all accessions was light yellow except JA 3(pale green). On the basis of this significant findings it can be conclude that the genotype JA 1 has most earliest flowering and biggest size flower from JA 2.
The Role of the Hippocampus in Borderline Personality Disorder: Structural and Functional Abnormalities
Authors: Thornton Owen R. , Li Wenjun , Cole Hunter , Cólon Isabella
Published: March 2023

This review article discusses the structural and functional abnormalities observed in the hippocampus of individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD). The hippocampus plays a critical role in regulating emotions and memories, which has been implicated in the pathophysiology of BPD. The review summarizes the findings from various studies that have used neuroimaging techniques to investigate the hippocampus in BPD. The results suggest that individuals with BPD exhibit reduced hippocampal volume, altered hippocampal activation patterns, and disrupted connectivity with other brain regions. These abnormalities have been linked to several clinical features of BPD, including emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, and unstable self-image. The review also discusses potential mechanisms underlying these abnormalities, such as childhood trauma and chronic stress. Overall, this review highlights the importance of the hippocampus in the etiology of BPD and emphasizes the need for further research to understand its role in this complex disorder fully.
Site Investigation and Shear Strength Properties of Soil
Authors: Apata A. C. , Abdullahi Ismail , Imoh U. U. , Onimisi Praise Dawodu
Published: March 2023

This study examined the soil's shear strength qualities at various depths with natural soil moisture content. At various depths below the surface of the ground, ranging from 400mm to 24.75m for point 1 and 400mm to 11.25m for point 2, the soil sample was taken using the drilling method. Wet sieve analysis was used to determine the distribution of the grains, and each soil sample's natural moisture content was calculated. Other fundamental tests included the Atterberg limit test, specific gravity, and sieve analysis. The data revealed that silt and clay make up the soils at points 1 and 2, with the soil at point 2 being more plastic than the soil at point 1. In Addition, it was discovered from the results that soil shears more quickly at increasing in the depth of from ground surface and that the cohesiveness index and angle of internal friction are negatively associated.
Synthesis of Bimetallic Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) La-Y-PTC for Enhanced Dyes Photocatalytic Degradation
Authors: Adawiah Adawiah , Gunawan Muhammad Shofyan , Aziz Isalmi , Oktavia Wulandari
Published: March 2023

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) is widely utilized as photocatalysts in dye photocatalytic degradation. This study successfully synthesized bimetallic MOFs La-Y-PTC by the solvothermal method. The synthesized La-Y-PTC has a diffractogram pattern with a value of 2θ = 5.69°; 9.57°; 16.8°; 20.05°; 24.8°; 26.15°; 29.77° and 41.93° with a crystal size of 21.45 nm. The La-Y-PTC has symmetric and asymmetric (COO−) at 1591 and 1433 cm−1, La−O and Y−O groups at 596 and 659 cm−1 and a band gap energy of 2.16 eV. Scanning Electron Microscope analysis showed that the morphology of La-Y-PTC is spherical with a particle size of 354.307 nm. La-Y-PTC degrades methylene blue and methyl orange at pH 2 with a degradation efficiency of 69.57% and 93.63%, respectively, under 250 watts of mercury lamp irradiation for 180 min with hydroxyl radical species as a dominant species that play a role in methylene blue and methyl orange degradations. Copyright © 2023 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).
Return to Driving After Critical Illness
Authors: Potter Kelly M. , Danesh Valerie , Butcher Brad W. , Eaton Tammy L. , McDonald Anthony D. , Girard Timothy D.
Published: March 2023

This cross-sectional study examines the postintensive care syndrome in patients who had vs patients who had not resumed driving 1 month after hospitalization for a critical illness.
Collagen Hydrogel Containing Polyethylenimine‐Gold Nanoparticles for Drug Release and Enhanced Beating Properties of Engineered Cardiac Tissues
Authors: Roshanbinfar Kaveh , Kolesnik‐Gray Maria , Angeloni Miriam , Schruefer Stefan , Fiedler Maren , Schubert Dirk W. , Ferrazzi Fulvia , Krstic Vojislav , Engel Felix B.
Published: March 2023

Cardiac tissue engineering is a promising strategy to prevent heart failure. However, several issues remain unsolved, including efficient electrical coupling and incorporating factors to enhance tissue maturation and vascularization. Herein, a biohybrid hydrogel that enhances beating properties of engineered cardiac tissues and allows drug release concurrently is developed. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with different sizes (18–241 nm) and surface charges (33.9–55.4 mV) are synthesized by reducing gold (III) chloride trihydrate using branched polyethyleneimine (bPEI). These nanoparticles increase gel stiffness from ≈91 to ≈146 kPa, enhance electrical conductivity of collagen hydrogels from ≈40 to 49–68 mS cm−1, and allow slow and steady release of loaded drugs. Engineered cardiac tissues based on bPEI‐AuNP‐collagen hydrogels and either primary or human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)‐derived cardiomyocytes show enhanced beating properties. hiPSC‐derived cardiomyocytes exhibit more aligned and wider sarcomeres in bPEI‐AuNP‐collagen hydrogels compared to collagen hydrogels. Furthermore, the presence of bPEI‐AuNPs result in advanced electrical coupling evidenced by synchronous and homogenous calcium flux throughout the tissue. RNA‐seq analyses are in agreement with these observations. Collectively, this data demonstrate the potential of bPEI‐AuNP‐collagen hydrogels to improve tissue engineering approaches to prevent heart failure and possibly treat diseases of other electrically sensitive tissues.
All Knitted and Integrated Soft Wearable of High Stretchability and Sensitivity for Continuous Monitoring of Human Joint Motion
Authors: Gupta Ujjaval , Lau Jun Liang , Chia Pei Zhi , Tan Ying Yi , Ahmed Alvee , Tan Ngiap Chuan , Soh Gim Song , Low Hong Yee
Published: March 2023

E‐textiles have recently gained significant traction in the development of soft wearables for healthcare applications. However, there have been limited works on wearable e‐textiles with embedded stretchable circuits. Here, stretchable conductive knits with tuneable macroscopic electrical and mechanical properties are developed by varying the yarn combination and the arrangement of stitch types at the meso‐scale. Highly extensible piezoresistive strain sensors are designed (>120% strain) with high sensitivity (gauge factor 8.47) and durability (>100,000 cycles), interconnects (>140% strain) and resistors (>250% strain), optimally arranged to form a highly stretchable sensing circuit. The wearable is knitted with a computer numerical control (CNC) knitting machine that offers a cost effective and scalable fabrication method with minimal post‐processing. The real‐time data from the wearable is transmitted wirelessly using a custom designed circuit board. In this work, an all knitted and fully integrated soft wearable is demonstrated for wireless and continuous real‐time sensing of knee joint motion of multiple subjects performing various activities of daily living.
Large Scale BN‐perovskite Nanocomposite Aerogel Scintillator for Thermal Neutron Detection
Authors: Li Pei , Cheng Wei , Zhou Yifan , Zhao Dong , Liu Jun , Li Lingxi , Ouyang Xiaoping , Liu Bo , Jia Wenbao , Xu Qiang , Ostrikov Kostya (Ken)
Published: March 2023

State‐of‐the‐art thermal neutron scintillation detectors rely on rare isotopes for neutron capture, lack stability and scalability of solid‐state scintillation devices, and poorly discriminate between the neutron and gamma rays. The boron nitride (BN)‐CsPbBr3perovskite nanocomposite aerogel scintillator enables discriminative detection of thermal neutrons, features the largest known size (9 cm across), the lowest density (0.17 g cm−3) among the existing scintillation materials, high BN (50%) perovskite (1%) contents, high optical transparency (85%), and excellent radiation stability. The new detection mechanism relies on thermal neutron capture by10B and effective energy transfer from the charged particles to visible‐range scintillation photons between the densely packed BN and CsPbBr3nanocrystals. Low density minimizes the gamma ray response. The neutrons and gamma rays are discriminated by complete decoupling of the respective single pulses in time and intensity. These outcomes open new avenues for neutron detection in resource exploration, clean energy, environmental, aerospace, and homeland security applications.
Ultralong Room‐Temperature Phosphorescence from Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Perovskitoid Based on Metal‐Organic Complex Component
Authors: Wang Zheng , Zhang Xiao‐Yu , Mo Jun‐Ting , Su Cheng‐Yong , Pan Mei
Published: March 2023

Organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite or perovskitoid phosphorescent materials have aroused extensive research interests due to their applications in organic light emitting diodes, anti‐counterfeiting, display, and other fields. Herein, a new strategy is proposed, employing metal‐organic complex (MOC) cations as the organic components, which can increase the spin–orbit coupling (SOC) and intersystem crossing (ISC) efficiencies of the organic units, and hybrid with inorganic parts to form a novel type MOC–inorganic composed perovskitoid. In detail, a lead‐free MOC–inorganic perovskitoid material, named P‐Cl, is synthesized by self‐assembly of preassembled MOC from metallized crown ethers with inorganic cadmium halide component. In the solid state, the assembled perovskitoid exhibits a tunable fluorescence color from blue to green, during which a cold white light emission is achieved. Interestingly, after removal of the radiation source, the perovskitoid still emits a bright and color‐tunable long persistent luminescence (LPL) from cyan to green. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis and theoretical calculations reveal that the bright LPL of P‐Cl arises from the improvement of the metal‐organic part to increase the SOC and the interlocking of metal halogenated layers to inhibit the nonradiative transition. The proposed strategy not only broadens the range of organic–inorganic perovskitoid hybrid materials but also facilitates the design of multifunctional LPL materials.
Self‐Curable Synaptic Ferroelectric FET Arrays for Neuromorphic Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Shin Wonjun , Im Jiyong , Koo Ryun‐Han , Kim Jaehyeon , Kwon Ki‐Ryun , Kwon Dongseok , Kim Jae‐Joon , Lee Jong‐Ho , Kwon Daewoong
Published: March 2023

With the recently increasing prevalence of deep learning, both academia and industry exhibit substantial interest in neuromorphic computing, which mimics the functional and structural features of the human brain. To realize neuromorphic computing, an energy‐efficient and reliable artificial synapse must be developed. In this study, the synaptic ferroelectric field‐effect‐transistor (FeFET) array is fabricated as a component of a neuromorphic convolutional neural network. Beyond the single transistor level, the long‐term potentiation and depression of synaptic weights are achieved at the array level, and a successful program‐inhibiting operation is demonstrated in the synaptic array, achieving a learning accuracy of 79.84% on the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR)‐10 dataset. Furthermore, an efficient self‐curing method is proposed to improve the endurance of the FeFET array by tenfold, utilizing the punch‐through current inherent to the device. Low‐frequency noise spectroscopy is employed to quantitatively evaluate the curing efficiency of the proposed self‐curing method. The results of this study provide a method to fabricate and operate reliable synaptic FeFET arrays, thereby paving the way for further development of ferroelectric‐based neuromorphic computing.
Manufactured doubt and the EPA 2020 chrysotile asbestos risk assessment
Authors: Dement John M. , Loomis Dana
Published: March 2023

While all forms of asbestos have been determined to be carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as well as other authoritative bodies, the relative carcinogenic potency of chrysotile continues to be argued, largely in the context of toxic tort litigation. Relatively few epidemiologic studies have investigated only a single form of asbestos; however, one study that included an asbestos textile plant located in Marshville, North Carolina that processed chrysotile asbestos was used by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2020 to help inform the agency's chrysotile asbestos risk assessment. During the EPA proceedings toxic tort defense consultants submitted comments to the EPA docket and made public presentations asserting that the Marshville plant had processed amphibole asbestos types and should not be used for the chrysotile risk assessment. A detailed evaluation of defense consultant assertions and supporting information and a full assessment of the available information concerning asbestos types used at the Marshville plant was undertaken. The preponderance of evidence continues to support the conclusion that neither amosite nor crocidolite were likely to have been processed in the Marshville textile plant. Defense consultants' assertions about chrysotile use are not supported by the preponderance of evidence and constitute an example of manipulation of information to cast uncertainty and doubt rather than to seek truth and contribute to the body of scientific evidence.
Adapting in the Arctic II: Upper limb diaphyseal robusticity and habitual activity in Late Holocene hunter‐gatherers from Alaska
Authors: Temple Daniel H. , Rosa Emily , Hunt David R. , Ruff Christopher B.
Published: March 2023

Objectives

This study compares humeral diaphyseal robusticity and asymmetry between Late Holocene hunter‐gatherers from Alaska with the goal of reconstructing habitual activity in relation to culture and environment.

Materials and Methods

Ancestral remains from four geographic regions of Alaska were divided into five site groups defined by subsistence strategies and technology: Aleutian Islands, Coastal Bay, Far North Coastal, Inland/Riverine, and Tikeraq. Mid‐distal humeral diaphyseal robusticity was quantified using cross‐sectional geometric properties standardized by estimated body mass and bone length.

Results

Humeral strength and bilateral asymmetry were greatest in Aleutian Island males, moderate in Far North Coastal and Tikeraq males, and reduced in Inland/Riverine males. Left‐biased directional asymmetry and reduced humeral strength were found in Coastal Bay males. Aleutian Island males had relatively mediolaterally strengthened humeri compared with other groups. Aleutian Island females had elevated humeral strength, while humeral asymmetry among females was moderate and did not vary between groups. Humeri were relatively round among Aleutian Island and Tikeraq females and anteroposteriorly (A‐P) strengthened among Coastal Bay, Far North Coastal, and Inland/Riverine females.

Conclusions

These results suggest elevated humeral strength and asymmetry in males that engaged in rowing and unimanual projectile hunting, while reduced humeral strength and asymmetry may reflect bow‐and‐arrow or ensnarement technologies. Left‐biased humeral asymmetry may be associated with net‐fishing. Humeral strength and asymmetry are consistent with select instances of unimanual projectile hunting in females, while differences in humeral A‐P/mediolateral strength may reflect variation in butchery and processing of prey versus rowing and throwing behaviors.
The reaction of NOBF4 with antimony(III) corroles: Fluoride binding to antimony and regioselective nitration of the macrocycle
Authors: Mondal Sruti , Pain Tanmoy , Mandal Astam , Maiti Debabrata , Kar Sanjib
Published: March 2023

The reaction of antimony(III) corroles with nitrosonium tetrafluoroborate in the presence of air led to trans‐difluoroantimony(V) 3,17‐dinitro‐corrole complexes. A trans‐dinitrosylantimony(V) corrole compound has been proposed as a possible reaction intermediate that is subsequently converted into a trans‐dinitroantimony(V) corrole product. The formation of these intermediate species has been established via in situ FT‐IR spectra. This trans‐dinitroantimony(V) corrole species can transfer the nitro group to the β‐pyrrole positions (C3 and C17) of the corrole periphery via a radical pathway. The binding of fluoride to the axial positions of antimony(V) corrole occurs via nucleophilic attack of fluoride ion from BF4−. The trans‐difluoroantimony(V) 3,17‐dinitro‐corrole complexes are fully characterized via X‐ray crystallography, UV‐vis, FT‐IR, and NMR spectroscopy. They catalyze oxygenation reactions under photo‐redox conditions in presence of air and light at ambient temperature by forming singlet oxygen.
Sequence mining yields 18 phloretin C‐glycosyltransferases from plants for the efficient biocatalytic synthesis of nothofagin and phloretin‐di‐C‐glycoside
Authors: Putkaradze Natalia , Gala Valeria Della , Vaitkus Dovydas , Teze David , Welner Ditte Hededam
Published: March 2023

C‐glycosyltransferases (C‐GTs) offer selective and efficient synthesis of natural product C‐glycosides under mild reaction conditions. In contrast, the chemical synthesis of these C‐glycosides is challenging and environmentally harmful. The rare occurrence of C‐glycosylated compounds in Nature, despite their stability, suggests that their biosynthetic enzymes, C‐GTs, might be scarce. Indeed, the number of characterized C‐GTs is remarkably lower than O‐GTs. Therefore, discovery efforts are crucial for expanding our knowledge of these enzymes and their efficient application in biocatalytic processes. This study aimed to identify new C‐GTs based on their primary sequence. 18 new C‐GTs were discovered, 10 of which yielded full conversion of phloretin to its glucosides. Phloretin is a dihydrochalcone natural product, with its mono‐C‐glucoside, nothofagin, having various health‐promoting effects. Several of these enzymes enabled highly selective production of either nothofagin (UGT708A60 and UGT708F2) or phloretin‐di‐C‐glycoside (UGT708D9 and UGT708B8). Molecular docking simulations, based on structural models of selected enzymes, showed productive binding modes for the best phloretin C‐GTs, UGT708F2 and UGT708A60. Moreover, we characterized UGT708A60 as a highly efficient phloretin mono‐C glycosyltransferase (kcat = 2.97 s‒1, KM = 0.1 μM) active in non‐buffered, dilute sodium hydroxide (0.1–1 mM). We further investigated UGT708A60 as an efficient biocatalyst for the bioproduction of nothofagin.
Dried blood spots for doping controls—Development of a comprehensive initial testing procedure with fully automated sample preparation
Authors: Garzinsky Ann‐Marie , Thomas Andreas , Guddat Sven , Görgens Christian , Dib Josef , Thevis Mario
Published: March 2023

Currently, primarily urine, whole blood and serum samples are analyzed for doping‐relevant substances in professional sports, but recently dried blood spots (DBS) have been introduced as complementary matrix, offering advantageous features, e.g. a minimally invasive sampling procedure. In order to cope with the increased application of DBS, a comprehensive initial testing procedure (ITP) was developed, optimized and validated, comprising a total of 233 substances representing all groups on the World Anti‐Doping Agency's (WADA's) Prohibited List. The sample preparation was conducted by employing a fully automated system using an efficient flow‐through extraction of a 4 mm diameter spot followed by LC–HRMS/MS analysis. The procedure was successfully validated in terms of selectivity, limit of detection, reproducibility, carryover and robustness with respect to an alternative manual sample preparation, an alternative dried blood collection device and the sample extract stability, and was thus found to meet the required criteria of the relevant guidelines published by WADA for routine application. As a proof‐of‐concept, DBS samples were analyzed after the administration of the glucocorticoids prednisone and dexamethasone, as well as the stimulant pseudoephedrine and the beta‐blocker propranolol. All substances were detected in post‐administration samples for at least 4 h and up to 24 h after intake, depending on the collection time period, using the developed testing procedure. In particular, for substances that are only banned in‐competition, data obtained from DBS samples can be useful for the interpretation of adverse analytical findings. In conclusion, the developed ITP accounts for the anticipated increasing relevance of DBS in anti‐doping analysis in the future and provides a foundation for optimized approaches for specific substance classes.
A multivalent Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein‐based nanoparticle malaria vaccine elicits a robust and durable antibody response against the junctional epitope and the major repeats
Authors: Pendyala Geetanjali , Calvo‐Calle J. Mauricio , Moreno Alberto , Kane Ravi S.
Published: March 2023

Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) malaria continues to cause considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) is a particularly attractive candidate for designing vaccines that target sporozoites—the first vertebrate stage in a malaria infection. Current PfCSP‐based vaccines, however, do not include epitopes that have recently been shown to be the target of potent neutralizing antibodies. We report the design of a SpyCatcher‐mi3‐nanoparticle‐based vaccine presenting multiple copies of a chimeric PfCSP (cPfCSP) antigen that incorporates these important “T1/junctional” epitopes as well as a reduced number of (NANP)n repeats. cPfCSP‐SpyCatcher‐mi3 was immunogenic in mice eliciting high and durable IgG antibody levels as well as a balanced antibody response against the T1/junctional region and the (NANP)n repeats. Notably, the antibody concentration elicited by immunization was significantly greater than the reported protective threshold defined in a murine challenge model. Refocusing the immune response toward functionally relevant subdominant epitopes to induce a more balanced and durable immune response may enable the design of a more effective second generation PfCSP‐based vaccine.
Matrix‐Metalloproteinase Inhibitory Study of Novel Tetrahydroisoquinoline‐4‐carboxylates: Design, Synthesis, and Molecular Docking Studies
Authors: Devappa Satyanarayan Nayak , Kammathalli Siddappa Manjunatha , Rahman Abdul , Belur Ningegowda Nippu , Sherapura Ankith , Siddesh B. M. , Prabhakar B. T.
Published: March 2023

The design, molecular docking, synthesis and structure‐activity relationship (SAR) of a series of novel methyl 1‐oxo‐2‐(propan‐2‐yl)‐3‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinoline‐4‐carboxylates, were investigated for antiproliferative and cytotoxic studies by screening against cancer cell lines of different origin by MTT, LDH and Trypan Blue Assay. Irrespective of cell lines, among the synthesized nonpeptido‐mimetic analogs 5a–e, 5c has executed potent bio‐potency with IC50 value of 7.00 to 7.21 μM, which further expressed in‐vivo anti‐tumor activity against murine T‐cell lymphoma cell lines (Daltons Lymphoma‐DLA) by regressing tumor growth. The formation of neovessels from the vasculogenesis was diminished reflecting the antitumor activity. The neovessel formation is directly relied on expression of matrix meteloproteases (MMP's) level which was drastically reduced by 5c treatment as evaluated by immonoblot assays. This is further supported by in‐silico ADMET studies performed by ACD I‐Lab 2.0 were in agreement with Lipinski rule of five. Reporting results were assessed as a positive parameter for further validation of the compound for therapeutic potential of cancer by 5c for preclinical studies in near future.
FBO‐RNN: Fuzzy butterfly optimization‐basedRNN‐LSTMfor extracting sentiments from Twitter Emoji database
Authors: Venkataraman Jayalakshmi , Mohandoss Lakshmi
Published: March 2023

Social media networks have seen a significant increase in purpose and scale. Sentimental analysis is a component of social networking platforms that uses shared material to infer information about individual sentiments and emotions. In recent years, sentiment analysis (SA) research has grown in popularity. Twitter is the most popular social media platform, with users from many languages and cultures participating. Emojis are used by users to express themselves, and social media platforms contain a wide range of symbols, emotions, and opinions. A novel framework for SA based on Emojis is presented in this article. Initially, the noise‐free videos and images are filtered. The dictionary of Jieba was obtained by adding the English Emoji lexicon and English Internet slang lexicon to segment English text. Initially, the Emojis are converted into textual features. Different sentiment classes such as positive, very positive, neutral, negative, and very negative classes are classified using long short‐term memory (LSTM) in the recurrent neural network (RNN)‐based Fuzzy Butterfly Optimization (FBO) algorithm. The freeware WEKA software tool with different evaluation measures performs experimental investigations. Ultimately, the proposed model demonstrates superior results in the case of SA than other state‐of‐the‐art methods.
Fluorinated Solid Electrolyte Interphase Derived From Fluorinated Polymer Electrolyte To Stabilize Li Metal
Authors: Fu Jialong , Li Zhuo , Zhou Xiaoyan , Li Zhiyong , Guo Xin
Published: March 2023

Unstable interface between highly reductive Li metal and a conventional liquid electrolyte leads to uncontrollable Li dendrites and Li pulverization, thus limiting the practical applications of Li metal batteries with high energy density. Herein, a fluorinated quasi‐solid polymer electrolyte is synthesized to stabilize Li metal via the C−F/LiF enriched solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) derived from the fluorinated polymer skeleton. Benefiting from the homogenized ion plating/stripping process guided by lithophilic C−F and rapid Li+ transportation assisted by LiF, Li dendrites and Li pulverization are suppressed. As a result, the Li||Li symmetrical cell with the fluorinated quasi‐solid polymer electrolyte remains stable over 1400 h at a current density of 0.3 mA cm−2. LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2||Li battery delivers a long‐term cycling performance, where the capacity retains 87.77 % of its initial state after 300 cycles at 0.5 C in the voltage range from 2.8 to 4.4 V.
On‐board energy scheduling optimization algorithm for nanosatellites
Authors: Vega Martinez Sara , Seman Laio Oriel , Morsch Filho Edemar , Slongo Leonardo Kessler , Bezerra Eduardo Augusto
Published: March 2023

This work proposes a real‐time and online energy scheduling optimization algorithm for nanosatellites operating with a direct energy transfer (DET) architecture. The goal of the algorithm is to optimize energy utilization by maximizing energy harvesting, meeting task deadlines and priorities, and ensuring a minimum quality of service (QoS) for the system. The algorithm is composed of a modified perturb and observe algorithm to reach the best energy efficiency point of the solar panels, a task prioritization algorithm to guarantee their times and minimum QoS, and a backpack optimization problem to maximize the energy efficiency of the satellite. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, simulations of a nanosatellite operating in a given orbit, attitude, and thermal parameters were conducted and compared to other task scheduling strategies. The results showed that the proposed energy scheduling algorithm had the best performance in terms of energy balance and average power consumption, with an energy balance up to 16% higher compared to the other tested strategies. This demonstrates the ability of the proposed algorithm to optimize power consumption and energy utilization, as well as efficiently schedule tasks to maximize energy harvesting. The proposed energy scheduling optimization algorithm has the potential to be a useful tool for the design and optimization of future satellite missions and could potentially guide the design of electrical power systems for new CubeSat missions operating with a DET architecture. The algorithm's ability to optimize energy utilization and ensure a minimum QoS for the system could improve the overall efficiency and performance of the satellite.
Fully covered metallic stents for anastomotic biliary strictures after living donor liver transplantation
Authors: Komatsu Naohiro , Ozawa Eisuke , Fukushima Masanori , Sawase Hironori , Nagata Kazuyoshi , Miuma Satoshi , Miyaaki Hisamitsu , Soyama Akihiko , Hidaka Masaaki , Eguchi Susumu , Nakao Kazuhiko
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Anastomotic biliary strictures (ABSs) are common complications following living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). We evaluated the feasibility of a novel removable, intraductal, fully covered, self‐expandable metallic stent (FCSEMS) for the treatment of ABSs following LDLT.

Methods

Nine patients with duct‐to‐duct ABSs that developed following LDLT were prospectively enrolled in this study. We placed a short FCSEMS with a long lasso and middle waist formation in each patient's ABS above the papilla and removed it 16 weeks later.

Results

The FCSEMS placements were successful in all nine cases. Four patients experienced mild cholangitis, which was resolved with conservative treatment. Additionally, there was one case of distal migration. The FCSEMSs were successfully removed from all the patients, and the clinical success rate was 100%. Stricture recurrence occurred in one (11.1%) patient during the follow‐up period.

Limitations

The small number and lack of comparison with other types of FCSEMSs and plastic stents.

Conclusions

Intraductal placement of FCSEMSs is useful for treating refractory ABSs after LDLT, although further studies are required with larger sample sizes.
Improved Efficiency and Stability of Organic Solar Cells by Interface Modification Using Atomic Layer Deposition of Ultrathin Aluminum Oxide
Authors: Lan Ai , Li Yiqun , Zhu Huiwen , Zhu Jintao , Lu Hong , Do Hainam , Lv Yifan , Chen Yonghua , Chen Zhikuan , Chen Fei , Huang Wei
Published: March 2023

The interfacial contacts between the electron transporting layers (ETLs) and the photoactive layers are crucial to device performance and stability for OSCs with inverted architecture. Herein, atomic layer deposition (ALD) fabricated ultrathin Al2O3 layers are applied to modify the ETLs/active blends (PM6:BTP‐BO‐4F) interfaces of OSCs, thus improving device performance. The ALD‐Al2O3 thin layers on ZnO significantly improved its surface morphology, which led to the decreased work function of ZnO and reduced recombination losses in devices. The simultaneous increase in open‐circuit voltage (), short‐circuit current density () and fill factor (FF) were achieved for the OSCs incorporated with ALD‐Al2O3 interlayers of a certain thickness, which produced a maximum PCE of 16.61%. Moreover, the ALD‐Al2O3 interlayers had significantly enhanced device stability by suppressing degradation of the photoactive layers induced by the photocatalytic activity of ZnO and passivating surface defects of ZnO that may play the role of active sites for the adsorption of oxygen and moisture.
Layered double hydroxide‐derived copper‐based oxygen carriers for chemical looping applications: Oxygen release kinetics and impact of loading on long‐term performance
Authors: High Michael , Song Qilei , Campbell Kyra L. Sedransk , Fennell Paul S.
Published: March 2023

Chemical looping with oxygen uncoupling, a variant of chemical looping combustion, requires chemically and physically stable oxygen carriers over long‐term redox cycling. Copper‐based oxygen carriers are characterised by high oxygen release rates but experience sintering at high temperatures. The use of layered double hydroxides (LDHs), prepared via co‐precipitation, as oxygen carrier precursors has been shown to effectively limit deactivation of copper‐based mixed metal oxides (MMOs) over extended redox cycling. The LDH‐derived MMOs have highly dispersed metal oxide within a stable support; the high dispersion of metals is due to the LDH precursor structure. In this work, a fluidised bed reactor (FBR) was used to study the intrinsic kinetics of oxygen release from CuO/MgAl2O4 oxygen carriers synthesised via the LDH‐MMO design strategy. The long‐term performance of MMOs with higher loadings of CuO, calcined from LDHs with higher Cu contents, was also investigated using an FBR. The intrinsic kinetics were determined using a kinetic model incorporating an effectiveness factor. By minimising the effects of intra‐ and inter‐particle mass transfer, the activation energy and the pre‐exponential factor of the lower loading MMOs were determined to be 51 ± 3 kJ mol−1 and 0.0567 s−1, respectively. All MMOs showed excellent stability over 100 redox cycles in a thermogravimetric analyser. However, the pH during co‐precipitation of the LDHs affected the stability of the MMOs in an FBR. The MMOs calcined from LDHs synthesised at pH 9.5 disintegrated during operation, whilst those produced from LDHs synthesised at pH 11 maintained high conversion and physical integrity over 100 redox cycles. © 2023 The Authors. Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology published by Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Pore‐throat structure characteristics and fluid mobility analysis of tight sandstone reservoirs in Shaximiao Formation, Central Sichuan
Authors: Pan Hui , Jiang Yuqiang , Guo Guian , Yang Changcheng , Deng Haibo , Zhu Xun , Zeng Qinggao , Song Linke , Cao Jixiang , Wang Zhanlei , Li Miao
Published: March 2023

The pore‐throat structure and fluid mobility are the key factors of tight sandstone reservoir classification and evaluation. Taking the Jurassic Shaximiao Formation tight sandstone reservoir in Central Sichuan Basin as an example, 19 samples were analysed by casting thin sections, scanning electron microscopy, high‐pressure mercury injection and nuclear magnetic resonance to clarify the pore‐throat structure, the fluid motility and its controlling factors. The results show that the pore type of Shaximiao Formation tight sandstone reservoir consist of intergranular pores, dissolved pores and a few microfractures. Based on the feature of capillary pressure curve, the pore‐throat structure was classified into three types, corresponding to different movable fluid characteristics. The Type I has large pore and throat radius, good pore‐throat connectivity, small fractal dimension, weak reservoir heterogeneity and strong fluid motility. The distribution range of pore‐throat radius is mainly from 0.3 to 1.1 μm and the average movable fluid porosity (MFP) and movable fluid saturation (MFS) are 6.04% and 49.93%. The Type II has poor pore‐throat sorting, weak fluid motility and the distribution range of pore‐throat radius is 0.01–0.03 μm and 0.2–0.8 μm. The average MFP and MFS of Type II are 1.13% and 14.3%. The Type III has the smallest pore‐throat radius and the largest fractal dimension, corresponding to the most complex pore‐throat structure, which lead to the worst fluid mobility. The average MFP and MFS are 0.49% and 12.76%. The fluid mobility of the tight sandstone reservoir is affected by physical properties and pore‐throat structure. The reservoirs with large pore‐throat size, good connectivity between pore and throat, and low heterogeneity have higher MFP and saturation. Moreover, the mineral compositions have different effects on fluid mobility of the tight sandstone. The feldspar positively affects fluid mobility, while the clay minerals negatively affect fluid mobility.
Ozone oxidation of cysteine in optically trapped aqueous micro‐droplets
Authors: Li Jia‐Rong , Chang Yuan‐Pin
Published: March 2023

The ozone (O3) oxidation kinetics of cysteine in aqueous micro‐droplets at different acidities is investigated in this study via aerosol optical tweezers coupled with Raman spectroscopy. This study exploits the O3 oxidation of cysteine near the interface of micro‐droplets as a model system to elucidate the oxidation damage of amino acids in biosurfaces. For each optically trapped micro‐droplet, Raman spectroscopy is used to determine its droplet radius, concentrations of solutes, and droplet pH, as well as their time evolutions during the kinetics measurements. The bimolecular rate coefficients of the cysteine + O3 reaction measured in micro‐droplets are around 4 × 105 M−1 s−1 and 2 × 104 M−1 s−1 for pH ≈ 5 and 0.5, respectively. These results agree with the previous bulk measurements, indicating that the observed aerosol kinetics can be solely rationalized via diffusion‐limited kinetics. The results also indicate that a high‐ionic strength could enhance the cysteine + O3 reaction, particularly for the zwitterion form of cysteine. The results imply that when surfactant proteins in lung fluids are exposed to ambient O3, the cysteine residues in proteins will be attacked by O3 at first due to the high reactivity of the thiol moiety in cysteine.
Exploring students’ perspectives from two Canadian dental schools toward online learning experiences
Authors: Maragha Tala , Dempster Laura , Shuler Charles , Lee Vincent , Mendes Vanessa , von Bergmann HsingChi
Published: March 2023

Objectives

The utilization of online teaching and learning in dental education has grown during the past two academic years. In addition to its numerous advantages, the modality also has its limitations. The objective of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of oral health sciences students at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the University of Toronto (UofT) regarding their experiences with online learning over the course of 2 pandemic‐impacted years.

Methods

Interpretive Description was used as a methodology to guide semi‐structured data collection. Individual interviews and focus groups were conducted with graduate and undergraduate dental and dental hygiene students at UBC and UofT. Qualitative data were coded and analyzed using a thematic approach.

Results

A total of 31 interviews and 4 focus groups were conducted. Online teaching and learning demonstrated many advantages, including flexibility, sustainability of curricular content, and promoting inclusivity in the classroom. Students indicated that due to online learning, there were opportunities to gain resources in practicing self‐care and additional time to connect with family. Reported limitations of online classrooms included the loss of attentiveness, challenging content, and logistical challenges. Isolation and physical symptoms experienced in online classrooms with prolonged screen times were described as potential threats.

Conclusions

The results of this study call for developing a structured and sustainable blended approach that balances the limitations of online classrooms with the interaction and engagement of in‐person classrooms and patient care experiences. Based on the students’ perspectives toward online learning, a road map was provided to dental educators to consider when designing future dentistry curricula.
Interpretation(s) of essential value in operant demand
Authors: Gilroy Shawn P.
Published: March 2023

The operant demand framework has achieved high levels of adoption as an approach to quantify how various ecological factors influence choice. A central goal of the framework proposed by Hursh and Silberburg (2008) was to isolate the “essential value” of reinforcers—namely, their effects on behavior given various contextual factors. The effect of reinforcers on behavior is a phenomenon that is expected to vary as a function of reinforcer magnitude/dosage (i.e., units of reinforcement), price (i.e., schedule requirements), the intensity of demand (i.e., consumption in free operant conditions), the availability of reinforcers (i.e., supply, presence of alternatives), and the individual's current and historical context. This technical report provides a historical summary of the concept, describes the quantitative basis for essential value in the framework of Hursh and Silberburg (2008), reviews prior attempts to extract a generalizable index of essential value, and presents a newer formulation using exact solution that provides a more succinct and durable index. Proofs and solutions are provided to clarify the bases for novel and existing representations of essential value. Recommendations are provided to improve the precision and accuracy of behavioral economic metrics as well as support consensus regarding their interpretation in the operant demand framework.