bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CMR provides comparable measurements of diastolic function as echocardiography
Authors: Fujikura Kana , Sathya Bharath , Acharya Tushar , Benovoy Mitchel , Jacobs Matthew , Sachdev Vandana , Hsu Li-Yueh , Arai Andrew E.
Published: May 2024

Clinical application of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is expanding but CMR assessment of LV diastolic function is still being validated. The purpose of this study was to validate assessments of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction (DD) using CMR by comparing with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) performed on the same day. Patients with suspected or diagnosed cardiomyopathy (n = 63) and healthy volunteers (n = 24) were prospectively recruited and included in the study. CMR diastolic parameters were measured on cine images and velocity-encoded phase contrast cine images and compared with corresponding parameters measured on TTE. A contextual correlation feature tracking method was developed to calculate the mitral annular velocity curve. LV DD was classified by CMR and TTE following 2016 guidelines. Overall DD classification was 78.1% concordant between CMR and TTE (p < 0.0001). The trans-mitral inflow parameters correlated well between the two modalities (E, r = 0.78; A, r = 0.90; E/A, r = 0.82; all p < 0.0001) while the remaining diastolic parameters showed moderate correlation (e’, r = 0.64; E/e’, r = 0.54; left atrial volume index (LAVi), r = 0.61; all p < 0.0001). Classification of LV diastolic function by CMR showed good concordance with standardized grades established for TTE. CMR-based LV diastolic function may be integrated in routine clinical practice.

Name of the registry: Technical Development of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Trial registration number: NCT00027170. Date of registration: November 26, 2001. URL of trial registry record: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00027170
Exploration of potential novel drug targets for diabetic retinopathy by plasma proteome screening
Authors: Yuan Weichen , Xu Wei , Xu Xin , Qu Bo , Zhao Fangkun
Published: May 2024

The aim of this study is to identify novel potential drug targets for diabetic retinopathy (DR). A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed using protein quantitative trait loci (pQTL) of 734 plasma proteins as the exposures and clinically diagnosed DR as the outcome. Genetic instruments for 734 plasma proteins were obtained from recently published genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and external plasma proteome data was retrieved from the Icelandic Decoding Genetics Study and UK Biobank Pharma Proteomics Project. Summary-level data of GWAS for DR were obtained from the Finngen Consortium, comprising 14,584 cases and 202,082 population controls. Steiger filtering, Bayesian co-localization, and phenotype scanning were used to further verify the causal relationships calculated by MR. Three significant (p < 6.81 × 10−5) plasma protein-DR pairs were identified during the primary MR analysis, including CFH (OR = 0.8; 95% CI 0.75–0.86; p = 1.29 × 10−9), B3GNT8 (OR = 1.09; 95% CI 1.05–1.12; p = 5.9 × 10−6) and CFHR4 (OR = 1.11; 95% CI 1.06–1.16; p = 1.95 × 10−6). None of the three proteins showed reverse causation. According to Bayesian colocalization analysis, CFH (coloc.abf-PPH4 = 0.534) and B3GNT8 (coloc.abf-PPH4 = 0.638) in plasma shared the same variant with DR. All three identified proteins were validated in external replication cohorts. Our research shows a cause-and-effect connection between genetically determined levels of CFH, B3GNT8 and CFHR4 plasma proteins and DR. The discovery implies that these proteins hold potential as drug target in the process of developing drugs to treat DR.
Hazardous alcohol consumption in slow- and fast-privatized Russian industrial towns
Authors: Gugushvili Alexi , Azarova Aytalina , Irdam Darja , King Lawrence
Published: May 2024

Hazardous drinking, defined as the consumption of homemade, unofficially made alcohol and non-beverages, is prevalent and accounts for a high proportion of alcohol-related deaths in Russia. Individual-level characteristics are important explanations of hazardous drinking, but they are unlikely to explain spatial variation in this type of alcohol consumption. Areas that attracted insufficient attention in the research of hazardous drinking are the legacy of industrialization and the speed of economic reforms, mainly through the privatization policy of major enterprises in the 1990s. Applying mixed-effects logistic regressions to a unique dataset from 30 industrial towns in the European part of Russia, we find that in addition to individual-level characteristics such as gender, age, marital status, education, social isolation, labor market status, and material deprivation, the types of towns where informants’ relatives resided such as industrial structure and speed of privatization also accounted for the variance in hazardous alcohol consumption among both male and female populations of the analyzed towns.
Genomic insights of Salmonella isolated from dry fermented sausage production chains in Spain and France
Authors: Ferrer-Bustins Núria , Yvon Claire , Martín Belén , Leclerc Vincent , Leblanc Jean-Charles , Corominas Laura , Sabaté Sara , Tolosa-Muñoz Eva , Chacón-Villanueva Carme , Bover-Cid Sara , Cadel-Six Sabrina , Jofré Anna
Published: May 2024

The presence of Salmonella in dry fermented sausages is source of recalls and outbreaks. The genomic diversity of 173 Salmonella isolates from the dry fermented sausage production chains (pig carcasses, pork, and sausages) from France and Spain were investigated through their core phylogenomic relationships and accessory genome profiles. Ten different serovars and thirteen sequence type profiles were identified. The most frequent serovar from sausages was the monophasic variant of S. Typhimurium (1,4,[5],12:i:-, 72%) while S. Derby was in pig carcasses (51%). Phylogenomic clusters found in S. 1,4,[5],12:i:-, S. Derby, S. Rissen and S. Typhimurium serovars identified closely related isolates, with less than 10 alleles and 20 SNPs of difference, displaying Salmonella persistence along the pork production chain. Most of the S. 1,4,[5],12:i:- contained the Salmonella genomic island-4 (SGI-4), Tn21 and IncFIB plasmid. More than half of S. Derby strains contained the SGI-1 and Tn7. S. 1,4,[5],12:i:- genomes carried the most multidrug resistance genes (91% of the strains), whereas extended-spectrum β-lactamase genes were found in Typhimurium and Derby serovars. Salmonella monitoring and characterization in the pork production chains, specially S. 1,4,[5],12:i:- serovar, is of special importance due to its multidrug resistance capacity and persistence in dry fermented sausages.
A newly designed anatomical plate for the therapy of posterolateral tibial plateau fracture via a supra-fibular-head approach: a retrospective study
Authors: Zhou Xiaoji , Zhou Jiangshan , Qian Huajun , Zhan Deping , Qian Chunxiao , Pan Lv , Chu Xudong
Published: May 2024

The posterolateral tibial plateau fracture is a special type of intra-articular fracture, for which there is no simple, safe, and effective standardized procedure. In this paper, we evaluate the clinical efficacy and the advantages of the treatment of posterolateral tibial plateau fracture by using our designed proximal lateral tibial rim plate for the posterolateral condyle of the tibial plateau via the space above the fibula head. Thirty-eight patients with posterolateral tibial plateau fractures from June 2018 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. CT scans were used to classify the degree of injury in the included patients. All of them were fixed with reduction using an approach above the fibula head combined with a homemade anatomical plate. The regular postoperative review was performed to instruct functional knee exercises. Postoperative complications were observed and follow-up visits were performed to assess the functional outcome. A total of 38 patients with posterolateral tibial plateau fractures, 13 males and 25 females were included in the study. All patients were followed up for 13–26 months, with a mean of 15.3 months. There were no postoperative complications such as numbness of the limb, knee joint instability, etc. X-ray review showed that the fractures were all healed, and the healing time was 10–16 weeks, with an average of 12.1 weeks; none of the internal fixation loosening and loss of articular surface occurred during the follow-up period. At the last follow-up, according to the HSS knee function score criteria, the scores were 79–98, with an average of 91.3. The HSS score presented excellent in 34 cases (89%) and good in 4 cases (11%). The Rasmussen score was graded as excellent in 29 cases (76%) and good in 9 cases (24%). In conclusion, The treatment of posterolateral tibial plateau fractures by an approach above the fibula head has the advantages of simplicity and safety, small trauma, and no risk of vascular and nerve injuries, and the anatomical proximal lateral tibial rim plate can play a direct and effective supporting role for the bone fragments of the posterolateral condyle, and the combination of both of them has obvious advantages in the treatment of posterolateral condylar fracture of the tibial plateau, and it is a method worth borrowing and popularizing.
Polyp segmentation based on implicit edge-guided cross-layer fusion networks
Authors: Liu Junqing , Zhang Weiwei , Liu Yong , Zhang Qinghe
Published: May 2024

Polyps are abnormal tissue clumps growing primarily on the inner linings of the gastrointestinal tract. While such clumps are generally harmless, they can potentially evolve into pathological tumors, and thus require long-term observation and monitoring. Polyp segmentation in gastrointestinal endoscopy images is an important stage for polyp monitoring and subsequent treatment. However, this segmentation task faces multiple challenges: the low contrast of the polyp boundaries, the varied polyp appearance, and the co-occurrence of multiple polyps. So, in this paper, an implicit edge-guided cross-layer fusion network (IECFNet) is proposed for polyp segmentation. The codec pair is used to generate an initial saliency map, the implicit edge-enhanced context attention module aggregates the feature graph output from the encoding and decoding to generate the rough prediction, and the multi-scale feature reasoning module is used to generate final predictions. Polyp segmentation experiments have been conducted on five popular polyp image datasets (Kvasir, CVC-ClinicDB, ETIS, CVC-ColonDB, and CVC-300), and the experimental results show that the proposed method significantly outperforms a conventional method, especially with an accuracy margin of 7.9% on the ETIS dataset.
High-efficiency self-focusing metamaterial grating coupler in silicon nitride with amorphous silicon overlay
Authors: Fraser William , Benedikovic Daniel , Korcek Radovan , Milanizadeh Maziyar , Xu Dan-Xia , Schmid Jens H. , Cheben Pavel , Ye Winnie N.
Published: May 2024

Efficient fiber-chip coupling interfaces are critically important for integrated photonics. Since surface gratings diffract optical signals vertically out of the chip, these couplers can be placed anywhere in the circuit allowing for wafer-scale testing. While state-of-the-art grating couplers have been developed for silicon-on-insulator (SOI) waveguides, the moderate index contrast of silicon nitride (SiN) presents an outstanding challenge for implementing efficient surface grating couplers on this platform. Due to the reduced grating strength, a longer structure is required to radiate the light from the chip which produces a diffracted field that is too wide to couple into the fiber. In this work, we present a novel grating coupler architecture for silicon nitride photonic integrated circuits that utilizes an amorphous silicon (α-Si) overlay. The high refractive index of the α-Si overlay breaks the coupler’s vertical symmetry which increases the directionality. We implement subwavelength metamaterial apodization to optimize the overlap of the diffracted field with the optical fiber Gaussian mode profile. Furthermore, the phase of the diffracted beam is engineered to focalize the field into an SMF-28 optical fiber placed 55 µm above the surface of the chip. The coupler was designed using rigorous three-dimensional (3D) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations supported by genetic algorithm optimization. Our grating coupler has a footprint of 26.8 × 32.7 µm2 and operates in the O-band centered at 1.31 μm. It achieves a high directionality of 85% and a field overlap of 90% with a target fiber mode size of 9.2 µm at the focal plane. Our simulations predict a peak coupling efficiency of − 1.3 dB with a 1-dB bandwidth of 31 nm. The α-Si/SiN grating architecture presented in this work enables the development of compact and efficient optical interfaces for SiN integrated photonics circuits with applications including optical communications, sensing, and quantum photonics.
Instant interaction driven adaptive gaze control interface
Authors: Qian Kun , Arichi Tomoki , Edwards A. David , Hajnal Joseph V.
Published: May 2024

Gaze estimation is long been recognised as having potential as the basis for human-computer interaction (HCI) systems, but usability and robustness of performance remain challenging . This work focuses on systems in which there is a live video stream showing enough of the subjects face to track eye movements and some means to infer gaze location from detected eye features. Currently, systems generally require some form of calibration or set-up procedure at the start of each user session. Here we explore some simple strategies for enabling gaze based HCI to operate immediately and robustly without any explicit set-up tasks. We explore different choices of coordinate origin for combining extracted features from multiple subjects and the replacement of subject specific calibration by system initiation based on prior models. Results show that referencing all extracted features to local coordinate origins determined by subject start position enables robust immediate operation. Combining this approach with an adaptive gaze estimation model using an interactive user interface enables continuous operation with the 75th percentile gaze errors of 0.7$$^\circ $$

∘

, and maximum gaze errors of 1.7$$^\circ $$

∘

during prospective testing. There constitute state-of-the-art results and have the potential to enable a new generation of reliable gaze based HCI systems.
Cymoxanil disrupts RNA synthesis through inhibiting the activity of dihydrofolate reductase
Authors: Kazmirchuk Thomas David Daniel , Burnside Daniel. J. , Wang Jiashu , Jagadeesan Sasi Kumar , Al-gafari Mustafa , Silva Eshan , Potter Taylor , Bradbury-Jost Calvin , Ramessur Nishka Beersing , Ellis Brittany , Takallou Sarah , Hajikarimlou Maryam , Moteshareie Houman , Said Kamaleldin B. , Samanfar Bahram , Fletcher Eugene , Golshani Ashkan
Published: May 2024

The agricultural fungicide cymoxanil (CMX) is commonly used in the treatment of plant pathogens, such as Phytophthora infestans. Although the use of CMX is widespread throughout the agricultural industry and internationally, the exact mechanism of action behind this fungicide remains unclear. Therefore, we sought to elucidate the biocidal mechanism underlying CMX. This was accomplished by first performing a large-scale chemical-genomic screen comprising the 4000 haploid non-essential gene deletion array of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We found that gene families related to de novo purine biosynthesis and ribonucleoside synthesis were enriched in the presence of CMX. These results were confirmed through additional spot-test and colony counting assays. We next examined whether CMX affects RNA biosynthesis. Using qRT-PCR and expression assays, we found that CMX appears to target RNA biosynthesis possibly through the yeast dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) enzyme Dfr1. To determine whether DHFR is a target of CMX, we performed an in-silico molecular docking assay between CMX and yeast, human, and P. infestans DHFR. The results suggest that CMX directly interacts with the active site of all tested forms of DHFR using conserved residues. Using an in vitro DHFR activity assay we observed that CMX inhibits DHFR activity in a dose-dependent relationship.
Phosphatidylcholine levels regulate hyphal elongation and differentiation in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae
Authors: Suzawa Tetsuki , Iwama Ryo , Fukuda Ryouichi , Horiuchi Hiroyuki
Published: May 2024

Filamentous fungi are eukaryotic microorganisms that differentiate into diverse cellular forms. Recent research demonstrated that phospholipid homeostasis is crucial for the morphogenesis of filamentous fungi. However, phospholipids involved in the morphological regulation are yet to be systematically analyzed. In this study, we artificially controlled the amount of phosphatidylcholine (PC), a primary membrane lipid in many eukaryotes, in a filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae, by deleting the genes involved in PC synthesis or by repressing their expression. Under the condition where only a small amount of PC was synthesized, A. oryzae hardly formed aerial hyphae, the basic structures for asexual development. In contrast, hyphae were formed on the surface or in the interior of agar media (we collectively called substrate hyphae) under the same conditions. Furthermore, we demonstrated that supplying sufficient choline to the media led to the formation of aerial hyphae from the substrate hyphae. We suggested that acyl chains in PC were shorter in the substrate hyphae than in the aerial hyphae by utilizing the strain in which intracellular PC levels were controlled. Our findings suggested that the PC levels regulate hyphal elongation and differentiation processes in A. oryzae and that phospholipid composition varied depending on the hyphal types.
Virtual social grooming in macaques and its psychophysiological effects
Authors: Disarbois Eloïse , Duhamel Jean-René
Published: May 2024

Allogrooming is a widespread, pervasive activity among non-human primates. Besides its hygienic function, it is thought to be instrumental in maintaining social bonds and establishing hierarchical structures within groups. However, the question arises as to whether the physiological and social benefits derived from social touch stem directly from body stimulation, or whether other mechanisms come into play. We address this question by analyzing an elaborate social behavior that we observed in two adult male macaques. This behavior demonstrates the existence of a persistent motivation to interact through a form of simulated grooming, as the animals were housed in adjacent enclosures separated by a glass panel preventing direct tactile contact. We find that such virtual grooming produces similar physiological sensations and social effects as allogrooming. We suggest that this behavior engages affective and reward brain circuits to the same extent as real social touch, and that this is probably achieved through high level processes similar to those involved in bodily illusions or synaesthetic phenomena previously described in humans. This observation reveals the unsuspected capacity of non-human primates to invent alternative, quasi-symbolic strategies to obtain effects similar to those provided by direct bodily interaction, which are so important for maintaining social bonds.
Spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of traditional villages based on geodetector: Jiarong Tibetan in Western Sichuan, China
Authors: Li Yunzhang , Fan Wenling , Yuan Xiaowen , Li Jingya
Published: May 2024

Jiarong Tibetan is a regional group with distinctive regional characteristics and possess precious traditional village resources. Studying the spatial distribution and influencing factors of traditional villages is of vital significance for the protection and renewal of villages and the revitalization of cultural heritage. Nevertheless, due to the fact that the Jiarong Tibetan inhabited area has not been clearly defined for a long time, there is a lack of holistic discussion on the distribution features and driving mechanisms of traditional villages in this region. In order to fill this research gap, the paper is the first to break away from the existing county administrative divisions to define the study area. Moreover, the analysis is carried out by using the nearest neighbor index, kernel density, GoeDa and Geodetector, etc. for traditional villages at national-level and provincial-level. The results show that the spatial distribution of the traditional villages of Jiarong Tibetan is characterized by typical aggregation, with the core intensive area in Danba County and the sub-core intensive area in the central and northern parts. The results of factor detection show that the spatial distribution pattern of the traditional villages is the consequence of the synergistic effect of multiple factors, and the interaction effect is significantly enhanced. The economic level and climatic conditions play a controlling role, and population, elevation, intangible cultural heritage and rivers also have notable effects. The findings of study can offer scientific guidance and suggestions for the inheritance and development of traditional villages in Jiarong Tibetan settlement area.
Retrieving a file binder from a bookshelf using pseudo-curved trajectory generation for a foldable robotic hand
Authors: Ikeda Hidetoshi , Saeki Takumi , Takabayashi Kota
Published: May 2024

Human-assistive robots need to perform trajectory making for and control of a robotic hand along the many rotating mechanisms in our living spaces. If such trajectory control can be performed without high-cost sensors, certainly a significant cost reduction in building the robot will be achieved. This paper describes a method of retrieving a file binder by generating a pseudo-curved trajectory for tilting it using a simple system. A simple claw mechanism with a switch sensor to grasp an object was designed and 3D-printed, and it was attached to a 6-DOF foldable robotic hand developed by the authors. A method for generating a pseudo-curved trajectory using the switch sensor was developed, and the robotic hand was successfully moved along this trajectory to tilt and grasp a file binder to retrieve it from a bookshelf. Experiments to clarify the success rate were also conducted, and it was found that the results depend on the rotational speed of manipulator links and the vibration of the claw mechanism link. A rubber sponge was added to give flexibility to the claw mechanism, which significantly improved the success rate. Furthermore, a control system to recover from tilting failure was constructed, and its effectiveness was validated by experiments.
The association between hematologic traits and aneurysm-related subarachnoid hemorrhage: a two-sample mendelian randomization study
Authors: Peng Kang , Adegboro Abraham Ayodeji , Li Yanwen , Liu Hongwei , Xiong Biao , Li Xuejun
Published: May 2024

Several hematologic traits have been suggested to potentially contribute to the formation and rupture of intracranial aneurysms (IA). The purpose of this study is to explore the causal association between hematologic traits and the risk of IA. To explore the causal association between hematologic traits and the risk of IA, we employed two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Two independent summary-level GWAS data were used for preliminary and replicated MR analyses. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was employed as the primary method in the MR analyses. The stabilities of the results were further confirmed by a meta-analysis. In the preliminary MR analysis, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration (p = 0.0047), basophil count (p = 0.0219) had a suggestive inverse causal relationship with the risk of aneurysm-associated subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The monocyte percentage of white cells (p = 0.00956) was suggestively positively causally correlated with the risk of aSAH. In the replicated MR analysis, only the monocyte percentage of white cells (p = 0.00297) remained consistent with the MR results in the preliminary analysis. The hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, and basophil count no longer showed significant causal relationship (p > 0.05). Meta-analysis results further confirmed that only the MR result of monocyte percentage of white cells reached significance in the random effect model and fixed effect model. None of the 25 hematologic traits was causally associated with the risk of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (uIA). This study revealed a suggestive positive association between the monocyte percentage of white cells and the risk of aSAH. This finding contributes to a better understanding that monocytes/macrophages could participate in the risk of aSAH.
Enhanced quantum coherence of plasmonic resonances with a chiral exceptional points
Authors: Lu Yu-Wei , Liu Jing-Feng , Liu Renming , Jiang Hao-Xiang
Published: May 2024

While strategies to enhance the quantum coherence of plasmonic resonances have attracted a lot of attention in the past, the advent of non-Hermitian optics carries promising possibilities in this direction, mostly of which are still unexplored. In this work, we show that the quantum coherence of plasmonic resonances can be enhanced by integrating a plasmonic antenna in a photonic cavity operated at a chiral exceptional point (CEP), where the phase of light offers an additional degree of freedom for flexibly manipulating the quantum dynamics. The few-mode quantization theory is employed to demonstrate the advantages and related quantum-optics applications of the proposed hybrid cavity in both off- and on-resonance plasmon-photon coupling. For the former case, the local density of states evolves into sub-Lorentzian lineshape, resulting in reduced dissipation of polaritonic states. On resonance, we identify two mechanisms improving the quantum yield by two orders of magnitude at room temperature: the reduction of plasmonic absorption through Fano interference and the enhancement of cavity radiation through superscattering. Our results establish CEP-engineered plasmonic resonances as a promising platform for controlling quantum states and building high-performance quantum devices.
Strong-wind events control barchan dune migration
Authors: Ren Hongjing , Gao Xin , Zhao Yongcheng , Lei Jiaqiang , De Maeyer Philippe , De Wulf Alain
Published: May 2024

Wind is the most important external force in shaping aeolian landforms. Yet, it remains unclear what role the strong-wind events will play in the development of aeolian landforms compared with the effect of regular winds. A fundamental question is, what are the contributions of different wind speed levels to the deformation of aeolian landforms. Here, through in situ measurements of high-sampling-rate wind data and high-resolution topographic data, we analyzed short-term strong-wind events at different levels and monitored the rapid migration of barchan dunes, enabling us to provide a first report on the contribution rate of short-term strong winds to dune migration. Leveraging the linear relationship between sand flux and the migration distance of barchans, we found that the ratio of sand flux generated by short-term strong winds to the total sand flux is equal to the ratio of barchan migration distance caused by strong winds to the total migration distance in the same period. Moreover, a global analysis of three typical barchan fields confirmed the relationship. This study suggests that the development of aeolian landforms is dominantly controlled by the short-term strong-wind events rather than the previously reported time-averaging wind.
Household-level effects of seasonal malaria chemoprevention in the Gambia
Authors: Soremekun Seyi , Conteh Bakary , Nyassi Abdoullah , Soumare Harouna M. , Etoketim Blessed , Ndiath Mamadou Ousmane , Bradley John , D’Alessandro Umberto , Bousema Teun , Erhart Annette , Moreno Marta , Drakeley Chris
Published: May 2024

Background

In 2022 the WHO recommended the discretionary expansion of the eligible age range for seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) to children older than 4 years. Older children are at lower risk of clinical disease and severe malaria so there has been uncertainty about the cost-benefit for national control programmes. However, emerging evidence from laboratory studies suggests protecting school-age children reduces the infectious reservoir for malaria and may significantly impact on transmission. This study aimed to assess whether these effects were detectable in the context of a routinely delivered SMC programme.

Methods

In 2021 the Gambia extended the maximum eligible age for SMC from 4 to 9 years. We conducted a prospective population cohort study over the 2021 malaria transmission season covering 2210 inhabitants of 10 communities in the Upper River Region, and used a household-level mixed modelling approach to quantify impacts of SMC on malaria transmission.

Results

We demonstrate that the hazard of clinical malaria in older participants aged 10+ years ineligible for SMC decreases by 20% for each additional SMC round per child 0–9 years in the same household. Older inhabitants also benefit from reduced risk of asymptomatic infections in high SMC coverage households. Spatial autoregression tests show impacts are highly localised, with no detectable spillover from nearby households.

Conclusions

Evidence for the transmission-reducing effects of extended-age SMC from routine programmes implemented at scale has been previously limited. Here we demonstrate benefits to the entire household, indicating such programmes may be more cost-effective than previously estimated.
Planning to fail? How science can respond to reduced climate mitigation ambition
Authors: Marsden Greg , Schwanen Tim
Published: May 2024

The prospect of remaining within 1.5C of planetary warming relies on developed economies tracking increasingly steep and challenging emission reduction pathways. This paper explores how the UK is now proactively planning to miss its targets, using the surface transport sector as a critical case. It discusses how the research–policy interface might both challenge downgraded ambition and provide more actionable routes forward.
Reduced travel emissions through a carbon calculator with accessible environmental data: a case study in Madison, Wisconsin
Authors: Bulson Erin E. , Kontar Wissam , Ahn Soyoung , Hicks Andrea
Published: May 2024

The echoing environmental toll of the transportation system calls for a drastic need to move beyond carbon-intensive modes of transportation into more sustainable ones. With the rise of emerging modes of transportation, this transition is more promising than ever. In this work, we take a travel-centric approach to promoting and accelerating the transition away from carbon-intensive modes of transportation by informing travelers about their emissions. A carbon calculator—as a function of trip distance and Well-to-Wheel (WTW) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)—was developed and embedded on a website platform. Users would input their trip distance, and the calculator outputs the carbon footprint (CO2e) of the trip if it was to be done through seven different modes: car (gasoline), car (hybrid), car (electric), bus, electric bike, bike, and walking. In addition, the calculator outputs the equivalent of CO2e as cheeseburgers for a more intuitive display. The overall goal of this work is to understand how travelers respond to being exposed to carbon footprint information. This serves as a step forward in realizing a sustainable transportation system. We make available the calculator online through this link. Study results indicated that trip distance, environmental awareness, age, income, and mode of transportation used were the most influential features in predicting modal shifts. Importantly, the majority of modal shifts resulted in reduced CO2e emissions.
Lung-selective nucleic acid vectors generated by in vivo lung-targeting-protein decoration of polyplexes
Authors: Pu Xu , Li Zejuan , Chen Ran , Shi Junqiu , Qin Jinlong , Zhu Yunqing , Du Jianzhong
Published: May 2024

The absorption of lung-targeting proteins on the surface of BSA@polyplexes results in the formation of lung-selective nucleic-acid vectors, facilitating their accumulation in the lungs.
Chemical tools for profiling the intracellular ADP-ribosylated proteome
Authors: Draganov Simeon D. , Gruet Michael J. , Conole Daniel , Balcells Cristina , Siskos Alexandros P. , Keun Hector C. , Haskard Dorian O. , Tate Edward W.
Published: May 2024

6Yn-Pro is a cell-permeable proprobe successfully undergoing metabolic conversion into 6Yn-NAD+for subsequent intracellular labelling of ADP-ribosylated proteins.
Co- and Ni-promoted indium oxide for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol
Authors: Zhu Yicheng , Ma Hongfang , Qian Weixin , Zhang Haitao , Zhang Haojian , Ying Weiyong
Published: May 2024

To improve the methanol production of In2O3 and compare the influence of added cobalt or nickel, two series of In2O3-based catalysts with different Co or Ni mole fractions were synthesized and tested to compare their activity and stability.
Chemspyd: an open-source python interface for Chemspeed robotic chemistry and materials platforms
Authors: Seifrid Martin , Strieth-Kalthoff Felix , Haddadnia Mohammad , Wu Tony C. , Alca Emre , Bodo Leticia , Arellano-Rubach Sebastian , Yoshikawa Naruki , Skreta Marta , Keunen Rachel , Aspuru-Guzik Alán
Published: May 2024

We introduce Chemspyd, a lightweight, open-source Python package for operating the popular laboratory robotic platforms from Chemspeed Technologies.
Lattice solvent- and substituent-dependent spin-crossover in isomeric iron(ii) complexes
Authors: Kuppusamy Senthil Kumar , Mizuno Asato , Kämmerer Lea , Salamon Soma , Heinrich Benoît , Bailly Corinne , Šalitroš Ivan , Wende Heiko , Ruben Mario
Published: May 2024

Studies on iron(ii) complexes composed of isomeric ligands reveal that one of the complexes—1·CH3CN—undergoes bi-stable spin-state switching with T1/2 = 298 K and ΔT1/2 = 44 K.
Raman spectroscopic study of anhydrous and hydrous REE phosphates, oxides, and hydroxides
Authors: Hurtig Nicole C. , Gysi Alexander P. , Smith-Schmitz Sarah E. , Harlov Daniel
Published: May 2024

Rare earth elements (REE) include the lanthanides (La–Lu), Y, and Sc which are critical elements for the green energy transition.
Engineering hierarchical snowflake-like multi-metal selenide catalysts anchored on Ni foam for high-efficiency and stable overall water splitting
Authors: Fan Enze , Zhou Shuangqi , Zhao Hanwei , Ran Jianxin , Zhang Zhuanfang , Dong Guohua , Zhang Wenzhi , Zang Yu , Zhao Ming , Chai Dong-Feng , Huang Xiaoming
Published: May 2024

A W-CoSe300/NF electrocatalyst with snowflake structure was designed, which showed excellent electrocatalytic performance due to the regulation of its intrinsic activity and stability by self-supporting structure and tungsten doping.
Adenosine detection in serum using a surface plasmon resonance biosensor with molecularly imprinted polymers incorporating modified thymidine monomers
Authors: Wild Molly I. , Sullivan Mark V. , Blackburn Chester , Turner Nicholas W.
Published: May 2024

Orientation driven imprinting using specific thymidine-based monomers for Adenosine recognition and detection.
Treasure-bowl style bifunctional site in cerium–tungsten hetero-clusters for superior solar-driven hydrogen production
Authors: Sun Pengliang , Gracia-Espino Eduardo , Tan Fang , Zhang Hua , Kong Qingquan , Hu Guangzhi , Wågberg Thomas
Published: May 2024

Electrochemical water splitting powered by renewable energy sources hold potential for clean hydrogen production.
Recent approaches for the synthesis of heterocycles from amidines via a metal catalyzed C–H functionalization reaction
Authors: Zuo Youpeng , Zuo Pengfei , Liu Meijun , Wang Xiaoqing , Du Jun , Li Xiaoling , Zhang Pinghua , Xu Zhenhua
Published: May 2024

A general illustration of the transition-metal catalyzed C–H activation of amidines for the synthesis of potential bioactive molecules.
Cp*Ir(iii) complexes catalyzed solvent-free synthesis of quinolines, pyrroles and pyridines via an ADC strategy
Authors: Bakibillah Md. , Reja Sahin , Sarkar Kaushik , Mukherjee Deboshmita , Sarkar Dilip , Roy Sumana , Almutairi Tahani Mazyad , Islam Mohammad Shahidul , Das Rajesh Kumar
Published: May 2024

This protocol is solvent free, requires a lower amount of phosphine-free highly stable catalyst, produces an excellent yield with green by-product only. Besides, it's applicability in broad substrate scope and scalable as well.
In-cell chemical construction of a photoswitchable CENP-E using a photochromic covalent inhibitor
Authors: Matsuo Kazuya , Yamaoka Shusuke , Waku Tomonori , Kobori Akio
Published: May 2024

An arylazopyrazole-based covalent inhibitor targeting the mitotic motor protein of centromere-associated protein E (CENP-E) was developed.
Biomimetic total syntheses of renifolin F and antiarone K
Authors: Ahamad Jarish , Khan Faiz Ahmed
Published: May 2024

The utilization of InCl3·4H2O as a mediator in the crucial step represents a novel procedure, particularly in prenylated systems, resulting primarily in the formation of a tertiary alcohol.
Lysozyme activated co-delivery of latanoprost–timolol from mucoadhesive chitosan nanocomposite to manage glaucoma
Authors: Kumara B. N. , Shambhu R. , Shim Yoon-Bo , Prasad K. Sudhakara
Published: May 2024

Lysozyme, the enzyme found in tears, activates delivery of the anti-glaucoma drugs latanoprost and timolol from mucoadhesive chitosan nanocomposites through the cleavage of β-1,4 glycosidic bonds.
A new MOF-based modified adsorbent for the efficient removal of Hg(ii) ions from aqueous media: isotherms and kinetics
Authors: Sobhi Hamid Reza , Yeganeh Mojtaba , Ghambarian Mahnaz , Fallah Sevda , Esrafili Ali
Published: May 2024

Herein, a new MOF-based modified adsorbent for the efficient removal of Hg(ii) ions from water media was successfully prepared. This compound has potential as a highly efficacious adsorbent for the discharge of Hg(ii) from aquatic media.
Design, synthesis and application of a magnetic H-bond catalyst in the preparation of new nicotinonitriles via cooperative vinylogous anomeric-based oxidation
Authors: Navazeni Mahdiyeh , Zolfigol Mohammad Ali , Ahmadi Hossein , Sepehrmansourie Hassan , Khazaei Ardeshir , Hosseinifard Mojtaba
Published: May 2024

Herein, we designed and synthesized a new H-bond magnetic catalyst with 2-tosyl-N-(3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl)hydrazine-1-carboxamide as a sensitive H-bond donor/acceptor in the synthesis of new nicotinonitrile compounds.
A novel magnetic FSM-16 supported ionic liquid/Pd complex as a high performance and recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of pyrano[3,2-c]chromenes
Authors: Jahanbakhshi Azar , Farahi Mahnaz
Published: May 2024

In this work, Fe3O4@FSM-16/IL-Pd was successfully designed and synthesized via a new procedure of palladium(ii) complex immobilization onto magnetic FSM-16 using an ionic liquid, as a novel heterogeneous nanocatalyst.
Beyond the ordinary: exploring the synergistic effect of iodine and nickel doping in cobalt hydroxide for superior energy storage applications
Authors: Yousaf Sheraz , Zulfiqar Sonia , Khalid Muhammad Usman , Warsi Muhammad Farooq , Shakir Imran , Shahid Muhammad , Ahmad Iqbal , Cochran Eric. W.
Published: May 2024

This study explores the iodine and nickel-doped cobalt hydroxide (I & Ni-co-doped-Co(OH)2) as a potential material for energy storage and conversion applications owing to its excellent electrochemical characteristics.
Theoretical study on the hydrogen distribution and diffusion at the PuO2/α-Pu2O3 interface
Authors: Huang Huang , Zhu Min , Guo Ming , Li Longxian , Li Yan
Published: May 2024

The interface will not significantly change the doping characteristics of hydrogen in PuO2 and α-Pu2O3, acting as a buffer layer.
Cool green-emissive Y2Si2O7:Tb3+ nanophosphor: auto-combustion synthesis and structural and photoluminescence characteristics with good thermal stability for lighting applications
Authors: Kumar Pawan , Singh Devender , Kadyan Sonika , Kumar Harish , Kumar Ramesh
Published: May 2024

A cheap, versatile, sustainable and energy-efficient gel-combustion method was applied to develop a series of green-emitting down-converted Y2Si2O7:Tb3+ (YPS:Tb3+) nanophosphors.
Design of Bi-functional mixed oxide electrodes for selective oxidative C–C cleavage of glycerol to formate and synchronized green hydrogen production
Authors: Saha Arindam , Murugiah Vasantharadevi , Ranjan Ravi , Chauhan Inderjeet , Patra Kshirodra Kumar , Bajpai Himanshu , Saha Avisekh , Gopinath Chinnakonda S.
Published: May 2024

NiCoMn oxide nanoneedles with a cactus-like morphology are shown as bifunctional electrocatalysts that selectively oxidize glycerol to HCOOH and concurrently produce H2.
Synthesis of Hofmann-based metal–organic frameworks incorporating a bis-pyrazole linker for various gas separations
Authors: Matthews Brooke L. , Harvey-Reid Nathan C. , Jangodaz Elnaz , Scott Victoria-Jayne , Polson Matthew I. J. , Maibam Ashakiran , Babarao Ravichandar , Telfer Shane G. , Kruger Paul E.
Published: May 2024

We report the synthesis of two novel Hofmann-type metal–organic frameworks, [Co(H2mdp)(Ni(CN)4)] and [Fe(H2mdp)(Ni(CN)4)], using a pyrazole based organic linker. Both materials show good selectivity for C2H2 and C3H6 for several gas separations.
Viologen-based aqueous organic redox flow batteries: materials synthesis, properties, and cell performance
Authors: Yin Tongxin , Duanmu Jiarui , Liu Lei
Published: May 2024

A complete summary of viologen-based aqueous organic redox flow batteries is provided from materials synthesis to physicochemical properties and battery performance on the basis of conventional, π-conjugated extended, and polymeric viologens.
Tailoring solvation chemistry by hydrogen bonds in carbonate electrolytes for highly stable lithium-metal batteries
Authors: Wu Jianyang , Zhong Bing , Zhang Qiaoli , Zhang Shuping , Zhang Xinxiang , Zhang Zhanjun , Zhou Mingyue , Liu Wen , Zhou Henghui
Published: May 2024

An additive based on hydrogen bonds concurrently stabilizes Li-metal anodes, NCM811 cathodes, and electrolytes, shedding light on advanced electrolyte design.
Recent progress and perspectives of liquid organic hydrogen carrier electrochemistry for energy applications
Authors: Tang Jinyao , Xie Rongxuan , Pishva Parsa , Shen Xiaochen , Zhu Yanlin , Peng Zhenmeng
Published: May 2024

This perspective delves into electrochemically active and regenerable liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs), exploring their electrochemical properties and applications in hydrogen storage, regenerative fuel cells, batteries, and flow batteries.
A band structure modulated 2D/2D ZnIn2S4@amorphous polymeric g-C3N4 S-scheme heterojunction for efficient photocatalytic reduction of CO2
Authors: Zhao Hang , Wang Dechao , Xue Xiaoling , Zhu Xun , Ye Dingding , Yang Yang , Wang Hong , Chen Rong , Liao Qiang
Published: May 2024

An S-scheme heterojunction of 2D/2D ZnIn2S4 nanosheets@amorphous polymeric carbon nitride is developed for photocatalytic reduction of CO2.
Thermally stable phenylethylammonium-based perovskite passivation: spontaneous passivation with phenylethylammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide during deposition of PTAA for enhancing photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells
Authors: Nishimura Naoyuki , Kanda Hiroyuki , Katoh Ryuzi , Kogo Atsushi , Murakami Takurou N.
Published: May 2024

Phenylethylammnonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide allows spontaneous perovskite passivation via hole transport material deposition for efficient and thermally stable PTAA-based perovskite solar cells.
Heavy-atom-free BODIPY dendrimer: utilizing the spin-vibronic coupling mechanism for two-photon photodynamic therapy in zebrafish
Authors: Wang Lingfeng , Qian Ying
Published: May 2024

(1) The TM4-BDP dendrimer with the spin-vibronic coupling (SV-ISC) mechanism was synthesized for the near-infrared photodynamic therapy. (2) The TM4-BDP dendrimer has been applied to the two-photon photodynamic therapy in zebrafish.
A small-molecule probe to decipher stress-induced ER microenvironments and ER-Golgi communication
Authors: Dutta Tanoy , Chakraborty Barsha , Nigam Aditya , Minocha Shilpi , Koner Apurba Lal
Published: May 2024

A small molecule organic fluorophore has been developed to monitor the micropolarity inside endoplasmic reticulum in homeostatic and non-homeostatic conditions and visualize ER to Golgi transport.
Supramolecular assembly of isomeric SN-38 prodrugs regulated by conjugation sites
Authors: Tang Zhenhai , Zhang Jianhua , Li Wenting , Wen Kaiying , Gu Zhipeng , Zhou Dongdong , Su Hao
Published: May 2024

By attaching hydrophilic OEG on different conjugation sites of SN38, isomeric self-assembling prodrugs were developed and self-assembled into giant nanotubes and filamentous assemblies, revealing the critical contribution of conjugation sites.
Prudently designed Se@fMWCNT as a peroxidase mimicking nanozyme for distinctive electrochemical detection of H2O2 and glutathione
Authors: Sruthi Vadakke Purakkal , Senthilkumar Sellappan
Published: May 2024

A Se@fMWCNT nanocomposite with peroxidase mimicking activity was used for the electrochemical detection of H2O2 and glutathione. Both analytes were detected using amperometry at a low potential of −0.2 V, with excellent selectivity and sensitivity.
Stabilization of the surface and lattice structure for LiNi0.83Co0.12Mn0.05O2via B2O3 atomic layer deposition and post-annealing
Authors: Li Jiawei , Xiang Junren , Yi Ge , Hu Zhijia , Liu Xiao , Chen Rong
Published: May 2024

The effect of reactive B2O3 coatings and B3+ doping content on the electrochemical performance of a Ni-rich cathode is revealed.
Construction of a supramolecular light-harvesting system based on pillar[5]arene-mediated nanoparticles in water
Authors: Li Xiuxiu , Zhang Qiaona , Dang Xiaoman , Cui Fengyao , Li Zheng-Yi , Sun Xiao-Qiang , Xiao Tangxin
Published: May 2024

An artificial light-harvesting system has been fabricated through the host–guest complexation of WP5 and CPy in water. The resultant materials show adjustable fluorescence and have been employed as a fluorescent ink for information encryption.
RFLSE: Joint radiomics feature‐enhanced level‐set segmentation for low‐contrast SPECT/CT tumour images
Authors: Guo Zhaotong , Qin Pinle , Zeng Jianchao , Chai Rui , Wu Zhifang , Zhang Jinjing , Qin Jia , Jin Zanxia , Zhao Pengcheng , Wang Yixiong
Published: May 2024

Doctors typically use non‐contrast‐enhanced computed tomography (NCECT) in the treatment of kidney cancer to map kidney and tumour structural information to functional imaging single‐photon emission computed tomography, which is then used to assess patient kidney function and predict postoperative recovery. However, the assessment of kidney function and formulation of surgical plans is constrained by the low contrast of tumours in NCECT, which hinders the acquisition of accurate tumour boundaries. Therefore, this study designed a radiomics feature‐enhanced level‐set evolution (RFLSE) to precisely segment small‐sample low‐contrast kidney tumours. Integration of high‐dimensional radiomics features into the level‐set energy function enhances the edge detection capability of low‐contrast kidney tumours. The use of sensitive radiomics features to control the regional term parameters achieves adaptive adjustment of the curve evolution amplitude, improving the level‐set segmentation process. The experimental data used low‐contrast, limited‐sample tumours provided by hospitals, as well as the public datasets BUSI18 and KiTS19. Comparative results with advanced energy functionals and deep learning models demonstrate the precision and robustness of RFLSE segmentation. Additionally, the application value of RFLSE in assisting doctors with accurately marking tumours and generating high‐quality pseudo‐labels for deep learning datasets is demonstrated.
Erstattungsdaten identifizieren Kostentreiber
Authors: Krome Susanne
Published: May 2024

Diffus großzellige B-Zell-Lymphome (DLBCL) machen mit steigender Inzidenz den größten Teil der Non-Hodgkin-Lymphome aus und sind hochaggressiv. Mit Daten von Betriebskrankenkassen ermittelte die Studiengruppe um Borchmann, Köln, die Kosten für die ambulante und stationäre Versorgung pro Patient und Monat. Außerdem wurden die Gesamtkosten für die Erst-, Zweit- und Drittlinientherapie berechnet.