bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interfacial Denaturation at the Droplet Simplifies the Formation of Drug‐Loaded Protein Nanocapsules to Enhance Immune Response of Cells
Authors: Chali Sharafudheen Pottanam , Kang Jinhong , Fichter Michael , Speth Kai Robert , Mailänder Volker , Landfester Katharina
Published: July 2024

Nanocapsules enable multicomponent encapsulation of therapeutic cargoes with high encapsulation content and efficiency, which is vital for cancer immunotherapy. In the past, chemical crosslinking is used to synthesize nanocapsules, which can impede the regulatory approval process. Therefore, a new class of protein nanocapsules is developed by eliminating the need for chemical crosslinking by utilizing protein denaturation through a process that is referred to as “baking at the droplet interface”. Such protein nanocapsules with antigens incorporated in the shell and a combination of encapsulated drugs showed an enhancement in the immune response of cells.
Hypoxia‐Responsive Prodrug of ATR Inhibitor, AZD6738, Selectively Eradicates Treatment‐Resistant Cancer Cells
Authors: Barnieh Francis M. , Morais Goreti Ribeiro , Loadman Paul M. , Falconer Robert A. , El‐Khamisy Sherif F.
Published: July 2024

Targeted therapy remains the future of anti‐cancer drug development, owing to the lack of specificity of current treatments which lead to damage in healthy normal tissues. ATR inhibitors have in recent times demonstrated promising clinical potential, and are currently being evaluated in the clinic. However, despite the considerable optimism for clinical success of these inhibitors, reports of associated normal tissues toxicities remain a concern and can compromise their utility. Here, ICT10336 is reported, a newly developed hypoxia‐responsive prodrug of ATR inhibitor, AZD6738, which is hypoxia‐activated and specifically releases AZD6738 only in hypoxic conditions, in vitro. This hypoxia‐selective release of AZD6738 inhibited ATR activation (T1989 and S428 phosphorylation) and subsequently abrogated HIF1a‐mediated adaptation of hypoxic cancers cells, thus selectively inducing cell death in 2D and 3D cancer models. Importantly, in normal tissues, ICT10336 is demonstrated to be metabolically stable and less toxic to normal cells than its active parent agent, AZD6738. In addition, ICT10336 exhibited a superior and efficient multicellular penetration ability in 3D tumor models, and selectively eradicated cells at the hypoxic core compared to AZD6738. In summary, the preclinical data demonstrate a new strategy of tumor‐targeted delivery of ATR inhibitors with significant potential of enhancing the therapeutic index.
3D Bulk Metamaterials with Engineered Optical Dispersion at Terahertz Frequencies Utilizing Amorphous Multilayered Split‐Ring Resonators
Authors: Huang Ying , Kida Takanori , Wakiuchi Shun , Okatani Taiyu , Inomata Naoki , Kanamori Yoshiaki
Published: July 2024

A 3D bulk metamaterial (MM) containing amorphous multilayered split‐ring resonators is proposed, fabricated, and evaluated. Experimentally, the effective refractive index is engineered via the 3D bulk MM, with a contrast of 0.118 across the frequency span from 0.315 to 0.366 THz and the index changing at a slope of 2.314 per THz within this frequency range. Additionally, the 3D bulk MM exhibits optical isotropy with respect to polarization. Moreover, the peak transmission and optical dispersion are tailored by adjusting the density of the split‐ring resonators. Compared to reported conventional approaches for constructing bulk MMs, this approach offers advantages in terms of the potential for large‐scale manufacturing, the ability to adopt any shape, optical isotropy, and rapid optical dispersion. These features hold promise for dispersive optical devices operating at THz frequencies, such as high‐dispersive prisms for high‐resolution spectroscopy.
A Flexible, Architected Soft Robotic Actuator for Motorized Extensional Motion
Authors: Kim Taekyoung , Kaarthik Pranav , Truby Ryan L.
Published: July 2024

To advance the design space of electrically‐driven soft actuators, a flexible, architected soft robotic actuator is presented for motor‐driven extensional motion. The actuator comprises a 3D printed, cylindrical handed shearing auxetic (HSA) structure and a deformable, internal rubber bellows shaft. The actuator linearly extends upon applying torque from a servo motor; the rubber bellows shaft is stretchable but resistant to torsional deflection, allowing it to transmit torque from the servo motor to the other end of the HSA. The high flexibility of the HSA and rubber bellows shaft enable the actuator to adaptively extend even when bent. The actuator's two components and its performance are mechanically characterized. Actuation strains of 45% elongation and a maximum blocked pushing force of about 8 N are demonstrated. The actuator's capabilities are showcased in two separate demonstrations: a crawling robot and a sensorized artificial muscle that integrates a microfluidic, liquid metal strain sensor. The architected material design approach for a robust, motor‐driven soft actuator provides several unique features—including a compact form factor and ease of use—over other motorized soft robotic actuators based on HSA assemblies or cable tendon mechanisms.
Functionalized Thienopyrazines on NiOx Film as Self‐Assembled Monolayer for Efficient Tin‐Perovskite Solar Cells Using a Two‐Step Method
Authors: Kuan Chun‐Hsiao , Afraj Shakil N. , Huang Yu‐Ling , Velusamy Arulmozhi , Liu Cheng‐Liang , Su Ting‐Yu , Jiang Xianyuan , Lin Jhih‐Min , Chen Ming‐Chou , Diau Eric Wei‐Guang
Published: July 2024

Three functionalized thienopyrazines (TPs), TP‐MN (1), TP‐CA (2), and TPT‐MN (3) were designed and synthesized as self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) deposited on the NiOx film for tin‐perovskite solar cells (TPSCs). Thermal, optical, electrochemical, morphological, crystallinity, hole mobility, and charge recombination properties, as well as DFT‐derived energy levels with electrostatic surface potential mapping of these SAMs, have been thoroughly investigated and discussed. The structure of the TP‐MN (1) single crystal was successfully grown and analyzed to support the uniform SAM produced on the ITO/NiOx substrate. When we used NiOx as HTM in TPSC, the device showed poor performance. To improve the efficiency of TPSC, we utilized a combination of new organic SAMs with NiOx as HTM, the TPSC device exhibited the highest PCE of 7.7 % for TP‐MN (1). Hence, the designed NiOx/TP‐MN (1) acts as a new model system for the development of efficient SAM‐based TPSC. To the best of our knowledge, the combination of organic SAMs with anchoring CN/CN or CN/COOH groups and NiOx as HTM for TPSC has never been reported elsewhere. The TPSC device based on the NiOx/TP‐MN bilayer exhibits great enduring stability for performance, retaining ~80 % of its original value for shelf storage over 4000 h.
Oxygen‐Assisted Supercapacitive Swing Adsorption of Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Bilal Muhammad , Li Jiajie , Kumar Neelesh , Mosevitzky Bar , Wachs Israel E. , Landskron Kai
Published: July 2024

We report on the supercapacitive swing adsorption (SSA) of carbon dioxide at different voltage windows in the presence of oxygen using activated carbon electrodes, and deliquescent, aqueous electrolytes. The presence of O2 in the CO2/N2 gas mixture results in an up to 11 times higher CO2 adsorption capacity with 3 M MgBr2 (at 0.6 V) and up to 4–5 times higher adsorption capacity with 3 M MgCl2 (at 1 V). A tradeoff between high CO2 adsorption capacities and lower coulombic efficiencies was observed at voltages above 0.6 V. The energetic and adsorptive performance of the electrodes in the presence of oxygen below 0.5 V was similar to the performance with a CO2/N2 mixture without oxygen at 1 V. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) of the electrodes demonstrate that the specific capacitance increases while the diffusion resistance decreases in the presence of oxygen. Oxygen concentrations ranging between 5–20 % give similar energetic and adsorptive performance. The electrodes exhibit stable performance for up to 100 cycles of operation.
Switching Product Selectivity in CO2 Electroreduction via Cu−S Bond Length Variation
Authors: Wei Xiaoqian , Li Zijian , Jang Haeseong , Gyu Kim Min , Liu Shangguo , Cho Jaephil , Liu Xien , Qin Qing
Published: July 2024

Regulating competitive reaction pathways to direct the selectivity of electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction toward a desired product is crucial but remains challenging. Herein, switching product from HCOOH to CO is achieved by incorporating Sb element into the CuS, in which the Cu−S ionic bond is coupled with S−Sb covalent bond through bridging S atoms that elongates the Cu−S bond from 2.24 Å to 2.30 Å. Consequently, CuS with a shorter Cu−S bond exhibited a high selectivity for producing HCOOH, with a maximum Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 72 %. Conversely, Cu3SbS4 characterized by an elongated Cu−S bond exhibited the most pronounced production of CO with a maximum FE of 60 %. In situ spectroscopy combined with density functional theory calculations revealed that the altered Cu−S bond length and local coordination environment make the *HCOO binding energy weaker on Cu3SbS4 compared to that on CuS. Notably, a volcano‐shaped correlation between the Cu−S bond length and adsorption strength of *COOH indicates that Cu−S in Cu3SbS4 as double‐active sites facilitates the adsorption of *COOH, and thus results in the high selectivity of Cu3SbS4 toward CO.
Anode‐Electrolyte Interfacial Acidity Regulation Enhances Electrocatalytic Performances of Alcohol Oxidations
Authors: Huang Bingji , Yan Jiabiao , Li Zhenhua , Chen Lisong , Shi Jianlin
Published: July 2024

The local acidity at the anode surface during electrolysis is apparently stronger than that in bulk electrolyte due to the deprotonation from the reactant, which leads to the deteriorated electrocatalytic performances and product distributions. Here, an anode‐electrolyte interfacial acidity regulation strategy has been proposed to inhibit local acidification at the surface of anode and enhance the electrocatalytic activity and selectivity of anodic reactions. As a proof of the concept, CeO2‐x Lewis acid component has been employed as a supporter to load Au nanoparticles to accelerate the diffusion and enrichment of OH− toward the anode surface, so as to accelerate the electrocatalytic alcohol oxidation reaction. As the result, Au/CeO2‐x exhibits much enhanced lactic acid selectivity of 81 % and electrochemical activity of 693 mA⋅cm−2 current density in glycerol oxidation reaction compared to pure Au. Mechanism investigation reveals that the introduced Lewis acid promotes the mass transport and concentration of OH− on the anode surface, thus promoting the generation of lactic acid through the simultaneous enhancements of Faradaic and non‐Faradaic processes. Attractively, the proposed strategy can be used for the electro‐oxidation performance enhancements of a variety of alcohols, which thereby provides a new perspective for efficient alcohol electro‐oxidations and the corresponding electrocatalyst design.
The Coking of a Solid Catalyst Rationalized with Combined Raman and Fluorescence Lifetime Microscopy
Authors: Vogel Robin , Versluis Caroline , Frijsen Rowie , Prins P. Tim , Vogt Eelco T. C. , Rabouw Freddy T. , Weckhuysen Bert M.
Published: July 2024

The formation of carbon deposits is a major deactivation pathway for solid catalysts. Studying coking on industrially relevant catalysts is, however, often challenging due to the sample heterogeneity. That is especially true for zeolite‐containing catalysts where fluorescence often hampers their characterization with Raman spectroscopy. We turned this disadvantage into an advantage and combined Raman and fluorescence (lifetime) microscopy to study the coking behavior of an equilibrium catalyst material used for fluid catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons. The results presented illustrate that this approach can yield new insights in the physicochemical processes occurring within zeolite‐containing catalyst particles during their coking process. Ex situ analyses of single catalyst particles revealed considerable intra‐sample heterogeneities. The sample‐averaged Raman spectra showed a higher degree of graphitization when the sample was exposed to more hexane, while the sample‐averaged fluorescence lifetime showed no significant trend. Simultaneous in situ Raman and fluorescence (lifetime) microscopy, used to follow the coking and the regeneration of single particles, gave more insights in the changing fluorescence dynamics. During the coking, the rise and decline of the average fluorescence lifetime suggested the prolonged presence of smaller coke species that are quenched more and more by adjacent larger polyaromatics acting as Förster‐resonance‐energy‐transfer acceptors.
Se‐Elemental Concentration Gradient Regulation for Efficient Sb2(S,Se)3 Solar Cells With High Open‐Circuit Voltages
Authors: Chen Junwei , Xu Chenchen , Li Gaoyang , Xu Zhiheng , Wang Yichao , Zhang Yan , Chen Chong , Wang Mingtai , He Liqing , Xu Jun
Published: July 2024

Antimony selenosulfide (Sb2(S,Se)3), featuring large absorption coefficient, excellent crystal structure stability, benign non‐toxic characteristic, outstanding humidity and ultraviolet tolerability, has recently attracted enormous attention and research interest regarding its photoelectric conversion properties. However, the open‐circuit voltage (Voc) for Sb2(S,Se)3‐based photovoltaic devices is relatively low, especially for the device with a high power conversion efficiency (η). Herein, an innovative Se‐elemental concentration gradient regulation strategy has been exploited to produce high‐quality Sb2(S,Se)3 films on TiO2/CdS substrates through a thioacetamide(TA)‐synergistic dual‐sulfur source hydrothermal‐processed method. The Se‐elemental gradient distribution produces a favorable energy band structure, which suppresses the energy level barriers for hole transport and enhances the driving force for electron transport in Sb2(S,Se)3 film. This facilitates efficient charge transport/separation of photogenerated carriers and boosts significantly the Voc of Sb2(S,Se)3 photovoltaic devices. The champion TA‐Sb2(S,Se)3 planar heterojunction (PHJ) solar cell displays an considerable η of 9.28 % accompanied by an exciting Voc rising to 0.70 V that is currently the highest among Sb2(S,Se)3‐based solar cells with efficiencies exceeding 9.0 %. This research is anticipated to contribute to the preparation of high‐quality Sb2(S,Se)3 thin film and the achievement of efficient inorganic Sb2(S,Se)3 PHJ photovoltaic device.
Biomimetic Phthalocyanine‐Based Covalent Organic Frameworks with Tunable Pendant Groups for Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction
Authors: Xie Tao , Chen Shuai , Yue Yan , Sheng Tian , Huang Ning , Xiong Yujie
Published: July 2024

Electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) is an effective way of converting CO2 into value‐added products using renewable energy, whose activity and selectivity can be in principle maneuvered by tuning the microenvironment near catalytic sites. Here, we demonstrate a strategy for tuning the microenvironment of CO2RR by learning from the natural chlorophyll and heme. Specifically, the conductive covalent organic frameworks (COFs) linked by piperazine serve as versatile supports for single‐atom catalysts (SACs), and the pendant groups modified on the COFs can be readily tailored to offer different push‐pull electronic effects for tunable microenvironment. As a result, while all the COFs exhibit high chemical structure stability under harsh conditions and good conductivity, the addition of −CH2NH2 can greatly enhance the activity and selectivity of CO2RR. As proven by experimental characterization and theoretical simulation, the electron‐donating group (−CH2NH2) not only reduces the surface work function of COF, but also improves the adsorption energy of the key intermediate *COOH, compared with the COFs with electron‐withdrawing groups (−CN, −COOH) near the active sites. This work provides insights into the microenvironment modulation of CO2RR electrocatalysts at the molecular level.
Numerical study on the influence of cell gas on the compression behavior of expanded polypropylene
Authors: Grüber Bernd , Koch Ilja , Müller‐Pabel Michael , Meuchelböck Johannes , Gude Maik , Ruckdäschel Holger
Published: July 2024

Expanded polypropylene (EPP) bead foam mainly consists of entrapped gas within closed polymer cells. This numerical study presents a method to account for the influence of this entrapped gas on the compression behavior of EPP foam. The method developed combines a finite element (FE) model of the foam structure with a smoothed particle hydrodynamics model to simulate the effect of the cell gas. The foam structure is modeled using the open‐source software neper, the FE simulations are conducted using the explicit FE solver of LS‐Dyna. Numerically obtained stress–strain curves for the investigated foam materials, both with and without considering the cell gas, are compared with experimental data from tests using a specially designed vacuum test chamber. The comparison shows a good agreement between numerical and experimental results, indicating that entrapped cell gas increases the structural stiffness under compression. However, in load‐hold‐unload tests, the numerical model fails to accurately capture the stress relaxation behavior observed during the hold phase of the experiment. This study highlights the significant impact of cell gas on the compression behavior of EPP foam and the need for further refinement in simulation strategy to capture effects like the stress relaxation and multiaxial loading.
UV‐cured epoxy‐acrylate interpenetrating polymer networks with different contents of epoxidized soybean oil
Authors: Samoilenko T. F. , Yarova N. V. , Yashchenko L. M. , Brovko O. O.
Published: July 2024

This work aims to study the effect of epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) concentration on the process of formation and characteristics of UV‐cured ternary epoxy‐acrylate interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs). Whereas the amount of triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) keeps constant, the one of ESO incorporated to substitute the respective quantity of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) is equal to 10, 20, and 30 parts by weight (pbw). A total of 30 pbw of ESO is found to be the most effective content for altering the conversion degree of epoxy groups and for enhancing the impact resistance of cured materials while providing their transparency. The addition of ESO induces the decrease in cross‐linking density and in the values of glass transition temperature. The samples exhibite good water and chemical resistance with some variations dependent on their composition. Thermooxidative stability of the specimens gradually reduces as the content of aromatic epoxy decreases. Overall, the introduction of ESO into epoxy‐acrylate IPNs not only lessens the fraction of synthetic epoxide but also facilitates the photopolymerization process of DGEBA and diminishes its brittleness. Considering fine atmospheric resistance testified by accelerated weathering test, given materials may be purposed as transparent films or protective coatings for both indoor and outdoor applications.
Improving bee feed recipes to safeguard honeybee colonies during times of food scarcity
Authors: Wang Xue , Zheng Xing , Guo Nana , Geng Mingyang , Wang Rongshen , Huang Ting , Ji Quanzhi , Liu Zhenxing , Zhao Yazhou
Published: July 2024

In beekeeping, when natural nectar or pollen sources become limited, it is crucial to provide supplemental bee feed to maintain the viability of the bee colony. This study was conducted during the autumn food shortage season, during which bees were fed with different proportions of modified bee feed. We identified an optimal bee diet by evaluating honeybee longevity, food consumption, body weight, and gut microbe distribution, with natural pollen serving as a control diet. The results indicated that bees preferred a mixture of 65% defatted soy flour, 20% corn protein powder, 13% wheat germ flour, 2% yeast powder, and a 50% sucrose solution. This bee food recipe significantly increased the longevity, feed consumption, and body weight of bees. The group fed the natural pollen diet exhibited a greater abundance of essential intestinal bacteria. The bee diets used in this study contained higher protein levels and lower concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids and vitamins than did the diets stored within the colonies. Therefore, we propose that incorporating both bee feed and natural pollen in beekeeping practices will achieve more balanced nutritional intake.
Selection of the most informative wavenumbers to improve prediction accuracy of milk fatty acid profile based on milk mid‐infrared spectra data
Authors: Lou Wenqi , Brito Luiz F. , Zhao Xiuxin , Bonfatti Valentina , Li Jianbin , Wang Yachun
Published: July 2024

Milk mid‐infrared (MIR) spectra have been shown to provide valuable information on a wide range of traits to be used in dairy cattle breeding programs. Selecting the most informative variables from complex data can improve the prediction accuracy and model robustness and, consequently, the interpretability of MIR spectra. Thus, we aimed to investigate the prediction performance of feature selection methods based on MIR spectra data, using the milk fatty acid (FA) profile as an example to illustrate the evaluated procedure. Data of MIR spectra, milk test‐day records, and reference FA concentrations of 155 first‐parity Holstein cows were used in the analyses. Four models comprising different explanatory variables and three feature selection methods were evaluated. The results indicated that competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) method can effectively select the most informative variables from the MIR spectra, resulting in higher prediction accuracies than other variable selection approaches. The model including selected MIR spectra and cow information variables yielded the best FA profile predictions based on partial least square regression. C8:0, C10:0, C14:1, C17:0 isomers, C18:1, C18:1 isomer, medium‐chain FA, unsaturation FA, monounsaturated FA, and polyunsaturated FA presented accuracies based on the determination coefficient ranging from 0.66 to 0.85 in internal validation and from 0.65 to 0.84 in external validation. The most related wavenumbers to 35 FAs were found within 1003 to 1145 cm−1. Generally, using CARS and cow information improved predictions of FAs based on MIR spectra in Chinese Holstein dairy cows. Additional validation studies should be conducted as larger datasets become available.
Free iron accumulation and oxidative stress burden induce ferroptotic atrophy of chicken yolk sac during the late embryogenesis
Authors: Liu Huichao , Song Zehe , He Xi , Zhang Haihan
Published: July 2024

The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of iron homeostasis and the ferroptosis pathway for yolk sac atrophy during late embryogenesis. To study the mechanism of yolk sac atrophy, 100 eggs were used. Further, 500 eggs were randomly divided into five treatments and in ovo feeding with different iron sources, such as FeSO4, ferrous glycinate (Fe‐Gly), or deferoxamine (DFO), to study the effects of free iron content on hatching quality and embryonic development. The results showed that total iron content of yolk decreased, but yolk sac increased from embryonic(E)13 to E19 (p < 0.05). Comparison of gene expression of iron transport systems showed that free iron accumulation and dysfunction occurred in the yolk sac. Yolk sac metabolites at E19 compared to E13 were more enriched in histidine and sulfur pathways, suppressing glutathione synthesis and resulting in oxidative stress damage in the yolk sac. Combined analysis of differential metabolites and gene expression in ferroptosis pathway at E13 and E19 revealed the activation of the yolk sac during late embryogenesis was probably through up‐regulation of ACSL4 expression and down‐regulation of GPX4 expression. Furthermore, in ovo feeding FeSO4 shortened the incubation time compared to CON, while Fe‐Gly or DFO delayed the hatching peak and increased hatching weight with less residual yolk. Collectively, it can be concluded that yolk sac atrophy during late embryogenesis may be mediated by iron disorders and provides a novel insight to modulate yolk sac nutrition, and hatching efficiency in chickens.
A Nanostructured Phenazine‐Based Conjugated Microporous Polymer Hybrid Anode Boosts Power and Practicability of Organic‐Manganese Hydronium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Grieco Rebecca , Fombona‐Pascual Alba , Patil Nagaraj , Alvan Diego , Liras Marta , Marcilla Rebeca
Published: July 2024

Organic‐manganese hydronium‐ion batteries are gaining attention for their safety, sustainability, and high rate capabilities. However, their electrochemical performance faces challenges due to organic active‐materials’ inferior properties, including low conductivity and solubility, and limited content (<60 wt %) and loading (<2 mg cm−2) in the anode. To address this, we developed a high‐performance battery using a phenazine‐based conjugated microporous polymer hybrid anode (IEP‐27‐SR), utilizing hydronium‐ion coordination/un‐coordination chemistry. The IEP‐27‐SR anode features enhanced structural characteristics, such as a high BET specific surface area, mixed micro‐/mesoporosity, nanostructurization, and hybridization, enabling rapid hydronium‐ion mobility. The resulting IEP‐27‐SR//MnO2@GF full‐cell demonstrates high capacity (101 mAh g−1 at 2 C), excellent rate performance (41 mAh g−1 at 100 C), ultrafast‐charging capability (80 % charged in 18 seconds), and impressive cycling stability with 83 % capacity retention over 20400 cycles at 30 C with a regular polymer mass loading of 2 mg cm−2, despite its high content (80 wt %) in the anode. Moreover, it shows operability at low temperatures (63 mAh g−1 at −40 °C). Most importantly, the full‐cell with a high‐mass‐loading polymer anode (30 mg cm−2) achieves practically relevant areal capacity (3.4 mAh cm−2 at 4 mA cm−2) and sustains 2 mAh cm−2 under an extremely high areal current (50 mA cm−2). This breakthrough highlights the progress of organic hydronium‐ion batteries, representing progress toward practical, sustainable energy storage solutions.
Teaching approach for deep reinforcement learning of robotic strategies
Authors: Podobnik Janez , Udir Ana , Munih Marko , Mihelj Matjaž
Published: July 2024

This paper presents the development of a teaching approach for Reinforcement Learning (RL) for students at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana. The approach is designed to introduce students to the basic concepts, approaches, and algorithms of RL through examples and experiments in both simulation environments and on a real robot. The approach includes practical programs written in Python and presents various RL algorithms. The Q‐learning algorithm is introduced and a deep Q network is implemented to introduce the use of neural networks in deep RL. The software is user‐friendly and allows easy modification of learning parameters, reward functions, and algorithms. The approach was tested successfully on a Franka Emika Panda robot, where the robot manipulator learned to move to a randomly generated target position, shoot a real ball into the goal, and push various objects into target position. The goal of the presented teaching approach is to serve as a study aid for future generations of students of robotics to help them better understand the basic concepts of RL and apply them to a wide variety of problems.
A Peptide Strategy for Inhibiting Different Protein Aggregation Pathways
Authors: Garfagnini Tommaso , Ferrari Luca , Koopman Margreet B. , Dekker Françoise A. , Halters Sem , Van Kappel Eline , Mayer Guy , Bressler Shachar , Maurice Madelon M. , Rüdiger Stefan G. D. , Friedler Assaf
Published: July 2024

Protein aggregation correlates with many human diseases. Protein aggregates differ in structure and shape. Strategies to develop effective aggregation inhibitors that reach the clinic failed so far. Here, we developed a family of peptides targeting early aggregation stages for both amorphous and fibrillar aggregates of proteins unrelated in sequence and structure. They act on dynamic precursors before mechanistic differentiation takes place. Using peptide arrays, we first identified peptides inhibiting the amorphous aggregation of a molten globular, aggregation‐prone mutant of the Axin tumor suppressor. Optimization revealed that the peptides activity did not depend on their sequences but rather on their molecular determinants: a composition of 20–30 % flexible, 30–40 % aliphatic and 20–30 % aromatic residues, a hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity ratio close to 1, and an even distribution of residues of different nature throughout the sequence. The peptides also suppressed fibrillation of Tau, a disordered protein that forms amyloids in Alzheimer's disease, and slowed down that of Huntingtin Exon1, an amyloidogenic protein in Huntington's disease, both entirely unrelated to Axin. Our compounds thus target early stages of different aggregation mechanisms, inhibiting both amorphous and amyloid aggregation. Such cross‐mechanistic, multi‐targeting aggregation inhibitors may be lead compounds for developing drug candidates against various protein aggregation diseases.
Comparison of Outcomes of Edge‐to‐Edge Mitral Valve Repair Versus Surgical Mitral Valve Repair for Functional Mitral Regurgitation
Authors: Wang Xiqiang , Ma Yanpeng , Liu Zhongwei , Zhu Ling , Wang Junkui , Guan Gongchang , Pan Shuo , Zhang Yong , Hao Yuanyuan
Published: July 2024

Aims

Patients affected by functional mitral regurgitation represent an increasingly high‐risk population. Edge‐to‐edge mitral valve repair (TEER) has emerged as a promising treatment option for these patients. However, there is limited research on the comparative outcomes of TEER versus surgical mitral valve repair (SMVr). This study seeks to compare the demographics, complications, and outcomes of TEER and SMVr based on a real‐world analysis of the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database.

Methods and Results

In the NIS database, from the years 2016 to 2018, a total of 6233 and 2524 patients who underwent SMVr and TEER were selected, respectively. The mean ages of the patients were 65.68 years (SMVr) and 78.40 years (TEER) (p < 0.01). The mortality rate of patients who received SMVr was similar to that of patients who were treated with TEER (1.7% vs. 1.9%, p = 0.603). Patients who underwent SMVr more likely suffered from perioperative complications including cardiogenic shock (2.3% vs. 0.4%, p < 0.001), cardiac arrest (1.7% vs. 1.1%, p = 0.025), and cerebrovascular infarction (0.9% vs. 0.4%, p = 0.013). The average length of hospital stay was longer (8.59 vs. 4.13 days, p < 0.001) for SMVr compared to TEER; however, the average cost of treatment was higher ($218 728.25 vs. $215 071.74, p = 0.031) for TEER compared to SMVr. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that SMVr was associated with worse adjusted cardiogenic shock (OR, 7.347 [95% CI, 3.574−15.105]; p < 0.01) and acute kidney injury (OR, 2.793 [95% CI, 2.356−3.311]; p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Patients who underwent TEER demonstrated a notable decrease in postoperative complications and a shorter hospitalization period when compared to those who underwent SMVr.
Coumarin‐Based Aldo‐Keto Reductase Family 1C (AKR1C) 2 and 3 Inhibitors
Authors: Jonnalagadda Sravan K. , Duan Ling , Dow Louise F. , Boligala Geetha P , Kosmacek Elizabeth , McCoy Kristyn , Oberley‐Deegan Rebecca , Chhonker Yashpal Singh , Murry Darryl J. , Reynolds C. Patrick , Maurer Barry J. , Penning Trevor M. , Trippier Paul C.
Published: July 2024

A series of 7‐substituted coumarin derivatives have been characterized as pan‐aldo‐keto reductase family 1C (AKR1C) inhibitors. The AKR1C family of enzymes are overexpressed in numerous cancers where they are involved in drug resistance development. 7‐hydroxy coumarin ethyl esters and their corresponding amides have high potency for AKR1C3 and AKR1C2 inhibition. Coumarin amide 3 a possessed IC50 values of 50 nM and 90 nM for AKR1C3 and AKR1C2, respectively, and exhibits ‘drug‐like’ metabolic stability and half‐life in human and mouse liver microsomes and plasma. Compound 3 a was employed as a chemical tool to determine pan‐AKR1C2/3 inhibition effects both as a radiation sensitizer and as a potentiator of chemotherapy cytotoxicity. In contrast to previously reported pan‐AKR1C inhibitors, 3 a demonstrated no radiation sensitization effect in a radiation‐resistant prostate cancer cell line model. Pan‐AKR1C inhibition also did not potentiate the in vitro cytotoxicity of ABT‐737, daunorubicin or dexamethasone, in two patient‐derived T‐cell ALL and pre‐B‐cell ALL cell lines. In contrast, a highly selective AKR1C3 inhibitor, compound K90, enhanced the cytotoxicity of both ABT‐737 and daunorubicin in the T‐cell ALL cell line model. Thus, the inhibitory profile required to enhance chemotherapeutic cytotoxicity in leukemia may be AKR1C isoform and drug specific.
Novel optimized implementations for the Piccolo cipher based on field‐programmable gate arrays
Authors: Feng Jingya , Wei Yongzhuang , Wei Bohua
Published: July 2024

In the era of the highly pervasive Internet of Things (IoT), the optimized implementation of lightweight cryptographic algorithms for protecting data security has extensively received attention, for instance, the Piccolo cipher. Piccolo is an ultra‐lightweight block cipher designed for extremely resource‐constrained devices. Currently, many optimized implementations of Piccolo have been proposed; however, these implementations are heavily rely on optimizing different architectures. Actually, these implementation schemes have all neglected the optimization of the core components. How to achieve the new optimized implementation of the Piccolo cipher (via both the architectures and the core components) appears to be an interesting problem. In this article, new circuit structures for components (key schedules and round functions) of the Piccolo are first proposed using fewer logic gates. Based on these circuit structures, three architectures (iterative, integrated iterative, and scalar) are proposed to maximize implementation performances. To demonstrate their effectiveness and practicality, these architectures are simulated and synthesized on different field‐programmable gate arrays (FPGA) devices. Compared with the existing architectures of Piccolo, the results indicate that the iterative architectures and the integrated iterative architecture provide a better trade‐off between area and throughput, and the scalar architectures provide the highest throughput. Especially for Piccolo‐128, the area of its iterative architecture is 30 look‐up tables (LUTs) and 22 slices less than the best known implementation; the throughput and efficiency are 68.56% higher and twice higher than the best known implementation, respectively. Compared with other block ciphers, the efficiency and area‐delay product of the Piccolo‐128 iterative architecture outperform PRESENT, GIFT, SIMON, Midori, SIMON, and SIMECK. Compared with the best results, its encryption efficiency has increased by 31.53%, and the area‐delay product has decreased by 44.63%.
Stable gullies provide a suitable habitat for functional insects and reduce the threat of pests on crops in farmland of Northeast China
Authors: Zhang Haijun , Zhang Shaoliang , Zhang Chengbo , Xiao Ziliang , Yan Pengke , Aurangzeib Muhammad
Published: July 2024

Gullies with lower altitudes compared to the surrounding environment are widely distributed in farmland of the watershed and their numbers are still expanding. However, it is still unclear how these gullies regulate the functional insects in farmland. In this study, land use types combined with the herbaceous plant, herbicide application, soil moisture, topography and climatic factors during crop growth were considered to understand how gullies influence the dynamics of functional insects in farmland from a watershed (240 ha) of Northeast China. The primary findings demonstrate that the richness and abundance of functional insects are generally greatest in gullies, particularly in stable gullies, and decrease in the following order: forest belts, grasslands, and farmlands within the watershed. Notably, the ratios of beneficial insects to pests (BI/Pest) in terms of richness and abundance were lower in gullies before July but reversed after July, in comparison to farmland. Stable gullies exhibited higher BI/Pest abundance and diversity ratios than developing gullies. The richness and abundance of functional insects were higher in the middle sections of gullies compared to their heads and tails. Furthermore, the ratios of BI/Pest were generally lower in farmlands than in any gully position. Functional insect dynamics were mainly determined by season, followed by plant abundance and biomass in the gullies, and rarely by soil moisture in the both watershed and single gullies scales. Generally, the richness and abundance of functional insects in farmland were mainly influenced by gullies, especially influenced by the gully middle position. Insect composition in farmland influenced by stable gullies was stronger than by developing gullies, and stable gullies were more beneficial in reducing the threat of pests to crops in the farmland of the watershed.
Testing for variation in photoperiodic plasticity in a butterfly: Inconsistent effects of circadian genes between geographic scales
Authors: Lindestad Olle , Nylin Sören , Wheat Christopher W. , Gotthard Karl
Published: July 2024

Abstract

The genetic components of the circadian clock have been implicated as involved in photoperiodic regulation of winter diapause across various insect groups, thereby contributing to adaptation to adverse seasonal conditions. So far, the effects of within‐population variation in these genes have not been well explored. Here, we present an experimental test of the effects of within‐population variation at two circadian genes, timeless and period, on photoperiodic responses in the butterfly Pararge aegeria. While nonsynonymous candidate SNPs in both of these genes have previously shown to be associated with diapause induction on a between‐population level, in the present experiment no such effect was found on a within‐population level. In trying to reconcile these results, we examine sequence data, revealing considerable, previously unknown protein‐level variation at both timeless and period across Scandinavian populations, including variants unique to the population studied here. Hence, we hypothesize that these variants may counteract the previously observed diapause‐averting effect of the candidate SNPs, possibly explaining the difference in results between the experiments. Whatever the cause, these results highlight how the effects of candidate SNPs may sometimes vary across genetic backgrounds, which complicates evolutionary interpretations of geographic patterns of genetic variation.
Color aberration in malachite kingfishers: Insights from community science observations in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
Authors: Warner Bethany H. , Weiss Katherine C. B. , Allen Maximilian L.
Published: July 2024

Color aberrations in birds corresponds with important ecological functions, including thermoregulation and physiological impacts, camouflage and increased predation, and social interactions with conspecifics. Color aberrations in birds have been reported frequently in the scientific literature, but aberrations in many species remain undocumented or understudied. We investigated records of leucism in malachite kingfishers (Corythornis cristatus) from observations of community scientists on iNaturalist and eBird in Uganda. Leucistic kingfishers were only observed within the Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP), Uganda. When considering all observations of malachite kingfishers that included photographs within the QENP, leucistic individuals accounted for 13.0% and 10.4% of total malachite kingfisher observations within the study area from iNaturalist and eBird, respectively. Leucistic observations were recorded from September 2015 through February 2017, making up 60.0% and 68.2% of observations of malachite kingfishers within the study area from iNaturalist and eBird during that time, respectively. The localized and short documentation period suggests observations represent a single individual, while the high observation rate likely corresponds with collection bias due to the novelty of the individual. Our findings help to better understand the ecological importance and potential consequences for color‐aberrant individuals, although color aberration did not appear to inhibit our subject's ability to find a mate. Our work also highlights how participatory science can promote the documentation of color‐aberrant individuals in wild populations, although it poses challenges when trying to estimate abundance.
Crustal uplift rates implied by synchronously investigating Late Quaternary marine terraces in the Milazzo Peninsula, Northeast Sicily, Italy
Authors: Meschis M. , Romano D. , Palano M. , Scicchitano G. , De Santis V. , Scardino G. , Gattuso A. , Caruso C. G. , Sposito F. , Lazzaro G. , Scappuzzo S. S. Sciré , Semprebello A. , Morici S. , Longo M.
Published: July 2024

Late Quaternary crustal uplift is well recognized in northeast Sicily, southern Italy, a region also prone to damaging earthquakes such as the 1908 “Messina” earthquake (Mw 7.1), the deadliest seismic event reported within the Italian Earthquake Catalogue. Yet it is still understudied if, within the Milazzo Peninsula, crustal uplift rates are varying spatially and temporally and whether they may be either influenced by (i) local upper‐plate faulting activity or (ii) deep geodynamic processes.

To investigate the long‐term crustal vertical movements in northeast Sicily, we have mapped a flight of Middle‐Late Pleistocene marine terraces within the Milazzo Peninsula and in its southern area and refined their chronology, using a synchronous correlation approach driven by published age controls. This has allowed a new calculation of the associated crustal uplift rates, along a north–south oriented coastal‐parallel transect within the investigated area. Our results show a decreasing uplift rate from south to north across the Milazzo Peninsula and beyond, and that the associated rates of uplift have been constant through the Late Quaternary. This spatially varying yet temporally constant vertical deformation helps to constrain the amount of uplift, allowing us to explore which is the driving mechanism(s), proposing a few related scenarios.

We discuss our results in terms of tectonic implications and emphasize the importance of using appropriate approaches, as such applying a synchronous correlation method, to refine chronologies of undated palaeoshorelines when used for tectonic investigations.
Probiotic characteristics and whole genome sequence analysis of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ZFM518 isolated from infant feces
Authors: Zhang Yingjuan , Zhou Qingqing , Chen Ziqi , Ye Zhongdu , Jin Ying , Li Ping , Gu Qing
Published: July 2024

Emerging research has shown that lactic acid bacteria in the intestines of newborns play a beneficial role in the growth, immune function, and metabolism of infants after birth. In this study, four strains of Lactobacillus were isolated from fecal samples of newborns, and a safe Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ZFM518 (ZFM518) strain was obtained after the screening, which showed excellent antibacterial activity and adhesion potential. The strain exhibited excellent ability to survive in acidic environments, simulated gastric juice, and simulated intestinal environments, respectively. ZFM518 had a bacteriostatic zone of 31.12 ± 0.33 mm against Staphylococcus aureus, a hydrophobic rate of 76.97% ± 3.35%, and a survival activity of 96.54% ± 0.14% under a simulated intestinal fluid environment. Moreover, ZFM518 can produce up to 161.11 ± 9.67 ng/mL of folate. A genome‐wide investigation of ZFM518 revealed that the majority of its genes were involved in the metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates, adhesion, immunological defense, and antibacterial activity. In addition, only one antibiotic resistance gene of the antimicrobial peptide was annotated. These results indicate that ZFM518 is a new strain with a strong comprehensive ability and probiotic potential. This study can provide practical support for screening potential probiotics from infant feces and provide a theoretical basis for developing probiotic resources.
Infections in patients with mantle cell lymphoma
Authors: Abalo Kossi D. , Ekberg Sara , Andersson Therese M. L. , Pahnke Simon , Albertsson‐Lindblad Alexandra , Smedby Karin E. , Jerkeman Mats , Glimelius Ingrid
Published: July 2024

Advancements in treatments have significantly improved the prognosis for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), and there is a growing population of survivors with an increased susceptibility to infections. We assessed the incidence of infections by clinical characteristics and treatment both before and after MCL diagnosis in Sweden. Patients with a diagnosis of MCL ≥ 18 years between 2007 and 2019 were included, along with up to 10 matched comparators. Infectious disease diagnosis and anti‐infective drug dispensation were identified by the National Patient and the Prescribed Drug Registers, respectively. Patients and comparators were followed from the diagnosis/matching date until death, emigration, or June 30, 2020. Overall, 1559 patients and 15,571 comparators were followed for a median duration of 2.9 and 5 years, respectively. The infection rate among patients was twofold higher, RRadj = 2.14 (2.01–2.27), contrasted to the comparator group. There was a notable rise in infection rates already 4 years before MCL diagnosis, which reached a fourfold increase in the first year after diagnosis and persisted significantly increased for an additional 8 years. Among patients, 69% (n = 1080) experienced at least one infection during the first year of follow‐up. Influenza, pneumonia, other bacterial infections, urinary tract infections, and acute upper respiratory infections were the most frequent. Notably, MCL remained to be the primary leading cause of death among patients (57%, n = 467/817). Infections as the main cause of death were rare (2.6%, n = 21). Our study highlights the importance of thoroughly assessing infectious morbidity when appraising new treatments. Further investigations are warranted to explore strategies for reducing infectious disease burden.
CFIFusion: Dual‐Branch Complementary Feature Injection Network for Medical Image Fusion
Authors: Xie Yiyuan , Yu Lei , Ding Cheng
Published: July 2024

The goal of fusing medical images is to integrate the diverse information that multimodal medical images hold. However, the challenges lie in the limitations of imaging sensors and the issue of incomplete modal information retention, which make it difficult to produce images encompassing both functional and anatomical information. To overcome these obstacles, several medical image fusion techniques based on CNN or transformer architectures have been presented. Nevertheless, CNN technique struggles to establish extensive dependencies between the fused and source images, and transformer architecture often overlooks shallow complementary features. To augment both the feature extraction capacity and the stability of the model, we introduce a framework, called dual‐branch complementary feature injection fusion (CFIFusion) technique, a for multimodal medical image fusion framework that combines unsupervised models of CNN model and transformer techniques. Specifically, in our framework, the entire source image and segmented source image are input into an adaptive backbone network to learn global and local features, respectively. To further retain the source images' complementary information, we design a multi‐scale complementary feature extraction framework as an auxiliary module, focusing on calculating feature differences at each level to capture the shallow complementary information. Then, we design a shallow information preservation module tailored for sliced image characteristics. Experimental results on the Harvard whole brain atlas dataset demonstrate that CFIFusion shows greater benefits than recent state‐of‐the‐art algorithms in terms of both subjective and objective evaluations.