bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Colchicine in post-operative Fontan patients
Authors: Goldstein Stephanie A. , Nolan Katherine , Marchetti Kariann , Stoscup Janine K. , Clewis Holli , Jarvis Kathleen , Halligan Nadine L.N. , Dahmer Mary K. , Schumacher Kurt R. , Rocchini Albert
Published: June 2022

Background:

Prolonged effusions post-Fontan procedure are associated with morbidity. Fontan patients have higher pro-inflammatory cytokines in chest tube drainage compared to controls. Colchicine, an anti-inflammatory medication, decreases effusions in adults after cardiac surgery. We hypothesised that patients post-Fontan treated with colchicine would have decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and shorter duration of chest tube drainage.

Methods:

This pilot clinical trial enrolled nine patients (intention to treat); five completed the protocol (per protocol). Post-operative Fontan patients 20 months to 5 years receiving colchicine were compared to a previously published control cohort (n = 25). Per protocol patients received 0.6 mg colchicine daily starting post-operative day 2, ending 1 day after chest tube removal. Chest tube samples were taken on days 1–4, 7 and 10, or until removal and analysed with a 17-cytokine Bio-Plex Assay. Descriptive statistics and basic univariate comparisons were made.

Results:

There was no difference in duration of chest tube drainage or length of stay between intention to treat patients and controls. Per protocol patients had shorter duration of chest tube drainage compared to controls (6 days [interquartile range 4.7–7], versus 10 days [7–11], p = 0.007) and shorter length of stay (7 days [5.5–9] versus 9 days [9–13], p = 0.005). Pro-inflammatory cytokines trended lower in per protocol patients.

Conclusions:

In this pilot cohort, patients who completed the colchicine protocol post-Fontan procedure had shortened duration of chest tube drainage and length of stay. A decrease of pro-inflammatory cytokines may contribute to the mechanism of this change.

ClinicalTrials.gov: Colchicine in Postoperative Fontan Patients (CPFP); NCT03575572; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03575572.
Red meat consumption is associated with prediabetes and diabetes in rural Vietnam: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Nguyen Chau Que , Pham Thuy Thi Phuong , Fukunaga Ami , Hoang Dong Van , Phan Tien Vu , Phan Danh Cong , Huynh Dong Van , Hachiya Masahiko , Le Huy Xuan , Do Hung Thai , Mizoue Tetsuya , Inoue Yosuke
Published: June 2022

Objective:

To examine the association between red/processed meat consumption and glycaemic conditions (i.e. prediabetes (preDM) and diabetes mellitus (DM)) among middle-aged residents in rural Khánh Hòa, Vietnam.

Design:

In this cross-sectional study, a multinomial logistic regression model was used to examine the association between daily consumption of red/processed meat (0–99 g, 100–199 g or ≥ 200 g) and preDM/DM with adjustments for socio-demographic, lifestyle-related and health-related variables.

Setting:

Khánh Hòa Province, Vietnam

Participants:

The study used data collected through a baseline survey conducted during a prospective cohort study on CVD among 3000 residents, aged 40–60 years, living in rural communes in Khánh Hòa Province.

Results:

The multinomial regression model revealed that the relative-risk ratios for DM were 1·00 (reference), 1·11 (95 % CI = 0·75, 1·62) and 1·80 (95 % CI = 1·40, 2·32) from the lowest to the highest red/processed meat consumption categories (Ptrend = 0·006). The corresponding values for preDM were 1·00 (reference), 1·25 (95 % CI = 1·01, 1·54) and 1·67 (95 % CI = 1·20, 2·33) (Ptrend = 0·004). We did not find any evidence of statistical significance in relation to poultry consumption.

Conclusion:

Increased red/processed meat consumption, but not poultry consumption, was positively associated with the prevalence of preDM/DM in rural communes in Khánh Hòa Province, Vietnam. Dietary recommendations involving a reduction in red/processed meat consumption should be considered in low- and middle-income countries.
Possible Dynamic Mechanisms of High‐ and Low‐Latitude Wave Trains Over Eurasia and Their Impacts on Air Pollution Over the North China Plain in Early Winter
Authors: An Xiadong , Chen Wen , Fu Shuo , Hu Peng , Li Chun , Sheng Lifang
Published: June 2022

The Rossby wave train in boreal winter sometimes bifurcates into two branches near the Mediterranean, sometimes not. However, causes for bifurcating of the wave train are still being debated. Additionally, discussions about the differences in the deterioration ability of these wave trains on air pollution are also insufficient. This study uses the empirical orthogonal function (EOF) to obtain two dominant modes of the November‐January season wave trains over Eurasia and discusses their different influences on air pollution over the North China Plain (NCP). From the EOF1 mode, bifurcation of the wave train appears to stem from the Rossby wave reflection near the Mediterranean because the Rossby wave source is located outside of a strong absolute vorticity gradient. From the EOF2 mode, the wave train propagates only along the subtropical westerly jet because the Rossby wave source is located inside of a strong absolute vorticity gradient, so that the wave train tends to be refracted near the Mediterranean. In addition, the wave train associated with the EOF1 is suggested to be related to the eastern Pacific El Niño. The eastern Pacific El Niño tends to force a wave train propagating into East Asia under the charger effect from positive feedback of air‐sea coupling near the far eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, while the wave train associated with the EOF2 is suggested to be mainly induced by natural internal variability. Furthermore, the results indicate that the bifurcation type wave train tends to cause higher PM2.5 concentrations over the NCP through a strengthened Northeast Asia anomalous anticyclone.
High-fidelity carbon dots polarity probes: revealing the heterogeneity of lipids in oncology
Authors: Hu Jingyu , Sun Yuanqiang , Geng Xin , Wang Junli , Guo Yifei , Qu Lingbo , Zhang Ke , Li Zhaohui
Published: June 2022

Polarity is an integral microenvironment parameter in biological systems closely associated with a multitude of cellular processes. Abnormal polarity variations accompany the initiation and development of pathophysiological processes. Thus, monitoring the abnormal polarity is of scientific and practical importance. Current state-of-the-art monitoring techniques are primarily based on fluorescence imaging which relies on a single emission intensity and may cause inaccurate detection due to heterogeneous accumulation of the probes. Herein, we report carbon dots (CDs) with ultra-sensitive responses to polarity. The CDs exhibit two linear relationships: one between fluorescence intensity and polarity and the other between polarity and the maximum emission wavelength. The emission spectrum is an intrinsic property of the probes, independent of the excitation intensity or probe concentration. These features enable two-color imaging/quantitation of polarity changes in lipid droplets (LDs) and in the cytoplasm via in situ emission spectroscopy. The probes reveal the polarity heterogeneity in LDs which can be applied to make a distinction between cancer and normal cells, and reveal the polarity homogeneity in cytoplasm.
Electrical control of quantum emitters in a Van der Waals heterostructure
Authors: White Simon J. U. , Yang Tieshan , Dontschuk Nikolai , Li Chi , Xu Zai-Quan , Kianinia Mehran , Stacey Alastair , Toth Milos , Aharonovich Igor
Published: June 2022

Controlling and manipulating individual quantum systems in solids underpins the growing interest in the development of scalable quantum technologies. Recently, hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) has garnered significant attention in quantum photonic applications due to its ability to host optically stable quantum emitters. However, the large bandgap of hBN and the lack of efficient doping inhibits electrical triggering and limits opportunities to study the electrical control of emitters. Here, we show an approach to electrically modulate quantum emitters in an hBN-graphene van der Waals heterostructure. We show that quantum emitters in hBN can be reversibly activated and modulated by applying a bias across the device. Notably, a significant number of quantum emitters are intrinsically dark and become optically active at non-zero voltages. To explain the results, we provide a heuristic electrostatic model of this unique behavior. Finally, employing these devices we demonstrate a nearly-coherent source with linewidths of ~160 MHz. Our results enhance the potential of hBN for tunable solid-state quantum emitters for the growing field of quantum information science.
Chaotic microlasers caused by internal mode interaction for random number generation
Authors: Ma Chun-Guang , Xiao Jin-Long , Xiao Zhi-Xiong , Yang Yue-De , Huang Yong-Zhen
Published: June 2022

Chaotic semiconductor lasers have been widely investigated for generating unpredictable random numbers, especially for lasers with external optical feedback. Nevertheless, chaotic lasers under external feedback are hindered by external feedback loop time, which causes correlation peaks for chaotic output. Here, we demonstrate the first self-chaotic microlaser based on internal mode interaction for a dual-mode microcavity laser, and realize random number generation using the self-chaotic laser output. By adjusting mode frequency interval close to the intrinsic relaxation oscillation frequency, nonlinear dynamics including self-chaos and period-oscillations are predicted and realized numerically and experimentally due to internal mode interaction. The internal mode interaction and corresponding carrier spatial oscillations pave the way of mode engineering for nonlinear dynamics in a solitary laser. Our findings provide a novel and easy method to create controllable and robust optical chaos for high-speed random number generation.
Low-noise frequency-agile photonic integrated lasers for coherent ranging
Authors: Lihachev Grigory , Riemensberger Johann , Weng Wenle , Liu Junqiu , Tian Hao , Siddharth Anat , Snigirev Viacheslav , Shadymov Vladimir , Voloshin Andrey , Wang Rui Ning , He Jijun , Bhave Sunil A. , Kippenberg Tobias J.
Published: June 2022

Frequency modulated continuous wave laser ranging (FMCW LiDAR) enables distance mapping with simultaneous position and velocity information, is immune to stray light, can achieve long range, operate in the eye-safe region of 1550 nm and achieve high sensitivity. Despite its advantages, it is compounded by the simultaneous requirement of both narrow linewidth low noise lasers that can be precisely chirped. While integrated silicon-based lasers, compatible with wafer scale manufacturing in large volumes at low cost, have experienced major advances and are now employed on a commercial scale in data centers, and impressive progress has led to integrated lasers with (ultra) narrow sub-100 Hz-level intrinsic linewidth based on optical feedback from photonic circuits, these lasers presently lack fast nonthermal tuning, i.e. frequency agility as required for coherent ranging. Here, we demonstrate a hybrid photonic integrated laser that exhibits very narrow intrinsic linewidth of 25 Hz while offering linear, hysteresis-free, and mode-hop-free-tuning beyond 1 GHz with up to megahertz actuation bandwidth constituting 1.6 × 1015Hz/s tuning speed. Our approach uses foundry-based technologies - ultralow-loss (1 dB/m) Si3N4photonic microresonators, combined with aluminium nitride (AlN) or lead zirconium titanate (PZT) microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based stress-optic actuation. Electrically driven low-phase-noise lasing is attained by self-injection locking of an Indium Phosphide (InP) laser chip and only limited by fundamental thermo-refractive noise at mid-range offsets. By utilizing difference-drive and apodization of the photonic chip to suppress mechanical vibrations of the chip, a flat actuation response up to 10 MHz is achieved. We leverage this capability to demonstrate a compact coherent LiDAR engine that can generate up to 800 kHz FMCW triangular optical chirp signals, requiring neither any active linearization nor predistortion compensation, and perform a 10 m optical ranging experiment, with a resolution of 12.5 cm. Our results constitute a photonic integrated laser system for scenarios where high compactness, fast frequency actuation, and high spectral purity are required.
Bicyclic-ring base doping induces n-type conduction in carbon nanotubes with outstanding thermal stability in air
Authors: Horike Shohei , Wei Qingshuo , Akaike Kouki , Kirihara Kazuhiro , Mukaida Masakazu , Koshiba Yasuko , Ishida Kenji
Published: June 2022

The preparation of air and thermally stable n-type carbon nanotubes is desirable for their further implementation in electronic and energy devices that rely on both p- and n-type material. Here, a series of guanidine and amidine bases with bicyclic-ring structures are used as n-doping reagents. Aided by their rigid alkyl functionality and stable conjugate acid structure, these organic superbases can easily reduce carbon nanotubes. n-Type nanotubes doped with guanidine bases show excellent thermal stability in air, lasting for more than 6 months at 100 °C. As an example of energy device, a thermoelectric p/n junction module is constructed with a power output of ca. 4.7 μW from a temperature difference of 40 °C.
Structural basis of template strand deoxyuridine promoter recognition by a viral RNA polymerase
Authors: Fraser Alec , Sokolova Maria L. , Drobysheva Arina V. , Gordeeva Julia V. , Borukhov Sergei , Jumper John , Severinov Konstantin V. , Leiman Petr G.
Published: June 2022

Recognition of promoters in bacterial RNA polymerases (RNAPs) is controlled by sigma subunits. The key sequence motif recognized by the sigma, the −10 promoter element, is located in the non-template strand of the double-stranded DNA molecule ~10 nucleotides upstream of the transcription start site. Here, we explain the mechanism by which the phage AR9 non-virion RNAP (nvRNAP), a bacterial RNAP homolog, recognizes the −10 element of its deoxyuridine-containing promoter in the template strand. The AR9 sigma-like subunit, the nvRNAP enzyme core, and the template strand together form two nucleotide base-accepting pockets whose shapes dictate the requirement for the conserved deoxyuridines. A single amino acid substitution in the AR9 sigma-like subunit allows one of these pockets to accept a thymine thus expanding the promoter consensus. Our work demonstrates the extent to which viruses can evolve host-derived multisubunit enzymes to make transcription of their own genes independent of the host.
Broadband high-Q multimode silicon concentric racetrack resonators for widely tunable Raman lasers
Authors: Zhang Yaojing , Zhong Keyi , Zhou Xuetong , Tsang Hon Ki
Published: June 2022

Multimode silicon resonators with ultralow propagation losses for ultrahigh quality (Q) factors have been attracting attention recently. However, conventional multimode silicon resonators only have high Q factors at certain wavelengths because the Q factors are reduced at wavelengths where fundamental modes and higher-order modes are both near resonances. Here, by implementing a broadband pulley directional coupler and concentric racetracks, we present a broadband high-Q multimode silicon resonator with average loaded Q factors of 1.4 × 106 over a wavelength range of 440 nm (1240–1680 nm). The mutual coupling between the two multimode racetracks can lead to two supermodes that mitigate the reduction in Q factors caused by the mode coupling of the higher-order modes. Based on the broadband high-Q multimode resonator, we experimentally demonstrated a broadly tunable Raman silicon laser with over 516 nm wavelength tuning range (1325–1841 nm), a threshold power of (0.4 ± 0.1) mW and a slope efficiency of (8.5 ± 1.5) % at 25 V reverse bias.
Ultra-high temperature tolerant flexible transparent electrode with embedded silver nanowires bundle micromesh for electrical heater
Authors: Sun Bowen , Xu Ruixue , Han Xu , Xu Jing , Hong Wang , Xu Yimeng , Fu Zhiwei , Zhu He , Sun Xin , Wang Jiangxin , Cui Peng , Chang Jingjing , Xiong Jiaqing , Qian Kai
Published: June 2022

To realize high performance flexible transparent electronics with extreme environmental adaptivity, Ag nanowires (Ag NWs) electrodes should simultaneously meet the requirements of high-temperature tolerance, chemical and mechanical robustness. Herein, a scalable Ag NWs bundle micro-meshes embedded in polyimide (Ag BMs/ePI) conducting film via a facile spray coating and transfer method is reported. Due to the synergistic effect of bundle micromesh and embedded architecture, the Ag BMs/ePI electrode exhibits high thermal stability (370 °C and 400 °C under ambient and nitrogen atmosphere conditions, respectively), low sheet resistance variation (<4%), good corrosion and deformation resistance. As an electrical heater, the Ag BMs/ePI can achieve ~204 °C with the fast thermal response time of ~8 s at 8 V, and exhibits good heating stability under bent condition. This work offers a promising platform for the emerging flexible transparent electronics to adapt extreme environments, especially for those devices which require high-temperature processing.
A multisource database tracking the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the communities of Boston, MA, USA
Authors: Ristea Alina , Tucker Riley , You Shunan , Amiri Mehrnaz , Beauchamp Nicholas , Castro Edgar , Chen Qiliang , Ciomek Alexandra , Das Bidisha , de Benedictis-Kessner Justin , Gibbons Sage , Hangen Forrest , Montgomery Barrett , Papadopoulos Petros , Robinson Cordula , Sheini Saina , Shields Michael , Shu Xin , Wood Michael , Heydari Babak , O’Brien Dan
Published: June 2022

A pandemic, like other disasters, changes how systems work. In order to support research on how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the dynamics of a single metropolitan area and the communities therein, we developed and made publicly available a “data-support system” for the city of Boston. We actively gathered data from multiple administrative (e.g., 911 and 311 dispatches, building permits) and internet sources (e.g., Yelp, Craigslist), capturing aspects of housing and land use, crime and disorder, and commercial activity and institutions. All the data were linked spatially through BARI’s Geographical Infrastructure, enabling conjoint analysis. We curated the base records and aggregated them to construct ecometric measures (i.e., descriptors of a place) at various geographic scales, all of which were also published as part of the database. The datasets were published in an open repository, each accompanied by a detailed documentation of methods and variables. We anticipate updating the database annually to maintain the tracking of the records and associated measures.
Chinese adult brain atlas with functional and white matter parcellation
Authors: Zhu Jingwen , Qiu Anqi
Published: June 2022

Brain atlases play important roles in studying anatomy and function of the brain. As increasing interests in multi-modal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approaches, such as combining structural MRI, diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI), there is a need to construct integrated brain atlases based on these three imaging modalities. This study constructed a multi-modal brain atlas for a Chinese aging population (n = 180, age: 22–79 years), which consists of a T1 atlas showing the brain morphology, a high angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI) atlas delineating the complex fiber architecture, and a rs-fMRI atlas reflecting brain intrinsic functional organization in one stereotaxic coordinate. We employed large deformation diffeomorphic metric mapping (LDDMM) and unbiased diffeomorphic atlas generation to simultaneously generate the T1 and HARDI atlases. Using spectral clustering, we generated 20 brain functional networks from rs-fMRI data. We demonstrated the use of the atlas to explore the coherent markers among the brain morphology, functional networks, and white matter tracts for aging and gender using joint independent component analysis.
Social distancing and mask-wearing could avoid recurrent stay-at-home restrictions during COVID-19 respiratory pandemic in New York City
Authors: Kim Hae-Young , Bershteyn Anna , McGillen Jessica B. , Shaff Jaimie , Sisti Julia , Ko Charles , Wikramanayake Radhika , Newton-Dame Remle , Braithwaite R. Scott
Published: June 2022

Stay-at-home restrictions such as closure of non-essential businesses were effective at reducing SARS-CoV-2 transmission in New York City (NYC) in the spring of 2020. Relaxation of these restrictions was desirable for resuming economic and social activities, but could only occur in conjunction with measures to mitigate the expected resurgence of new infections, in particular social distancing and mask-wearing. We projected the impact of individuals’ adherence to social distancing and mask-wearing on the duration, frequency, and recurrence of stay-at-home restrictions in NYC. We applied a stochastic discrete time-series model to simulate community transmission and household secondary transmission in NYC. The model was calibrated to hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and COVID-attributable deaths over March–July 2020 after accounting for the distribution of age and chronic health conditions in NYC. We projected daily new infections and hospitalizations up to May 31, 2021 under the different levels of adherence to social distancing and mask-wearing after relaxation of stay-at-home restrictions. We assumed that the relaxation of stay-at-home policies would occur in the context of adaptive reopening, where a new hospitalization rate of ≥ 2 per 100,000 residents would trigger reinstatement of stay-at-home restrictions while a new hospitalization rate of ≤ 0.8 per 100,000 residents would trigger relaxation of stay-at-home restrictions. Without social distancing and mask-wearing, simulated relaxation of stay-at-home restrictions led to epidemic resurgence and necessary reinstatement of stay-at-home restrictions within 42 days. NYC would have stayed fully open for 26% of the time until May 31, 2021, alternating reinstatement and relaxation of stay-at-home restrictions in four cycles. At a low (50%) level of adherence to mask-wearing, NYC would have needed to implement stay-at-home restrictions between 8% and 32% of the time depending on individual adherence to social distancing. At moderate to high levels of adherence to mask-wearing without social distancing, NYC would have needed to implement stay-at-home restrictions. In threshold analyses, avoiding reinstatement of stay-at-home restrictions required a minimum of 60% adherence to mask-wearing at 50% adherence to social distancing. With low adherence to mask-wearing and social distancing, reinstatement of stay-at-home restrictions in NYC was inevitable. High levels of adherence to social distancing and mask-wearing could have attributed to avoiding recurrent surges without reinstatement of stay-at-home restrictions.
Analysis of gyrobianisotropic media effect on the input impedance, field distribution and mutual coupling of a printed dipole antenna
Authors: Bouknia Mohamed Lamine , Zebiri Chemseddine , Sayad Djamel , Elfergani Issa , Matin Mohammad , Alibakhshikenari Mohammad , Alharbi Abdullah G. , Hu Yim Fun , Abd-Alhameed Raed , Rodriguez Jonathan , Falcone Francisco , Limiti Ernesto
Published: June 2022

In this paper, we present an analytical study for the investigation of the effects of the magnetoelectric elements of a reciprocal and nonreciprocal bianisotropic grounded substrate on the input impedance, resonant length of a dipole antenna as well as on the mutual coupling between two element printed dipole array in three configuration geometries: broadside, collinear and echelon printed on the same material. This study examines also the effect of the considered bianisotropic medium on the electric and magnetic field distributions that has been less addressed in the literature for antenna structures. Computations are based on the numerical resolution, using the spectral method of moments, of the integral equation developed through the mathematical derivation of the appropriate spectral Green’s functions of the studied dipole configuration. Original results, for chiral, achiral, Tellegen and general bi-anisotropic media cases, are obtained and discussed with the electric and magnetic field distributions for a better understanding and interpretation. These interesting results can serve as a stepping stone for further works to attract more attention to the reciprocal and non-reciprocal Tellgen media in-depth studies.
Role of socioeconomic and parental involvement factors on children foundational learning skills based on MICS (2017–2018) data Punjab, Pakistan
Authors: Kamal Asifa , Amjad Naila , Yaqoob Uzma , Saud Naz , Ijaz Muhammad , Khan Ilyas , Andualem Mulugeta
Published: June 2022

Developing countries lack studies investigated the socioeconomic and parental role on students’ learning skills. This study is helpful to detect bottlenecks in the foundational learning skills (reading skills and numeracy skills) in the education system of Pakistan. Reading skills of children are found better who had no functional disabilities. Mothers with higher education had a significant positive contribution toward children learning skills. Children deprived of books for reading in appropriate language had a negative impact on their reading skills. Rich children had predominantly higher possibilities of good learning skills than poor children. Parents who had not attended children’s school to discuss child progress had a significantly negative effect on children’s numeracy skills. Overall parental involvement in some forms had insignificantly improved children reading and numeracy skills in Punjab, Pakistan.
Monocytes are increased in pregnancy after gestational hypertensive disease
Authors: Castleman James S. , Lip Gregory Y. H. , Shantsila Eduard
Published: June 2022

Monocytes derive from bone marrow and circulate in the blood. They phagocytose, produce cytokines and present antigens. Individual monocyte subsets play distinct roles in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, but their implications in gestational hypertensive disease are unclear. Our objective was to examine the difference in monocyte subsets between pregnant women with or without previous hypertension in pregnancy. Women were enrolled in a prospective observational study in which monoclonal antibodies against cell surface receptors were used to detect monocytes in the peripheral blood by flow cytometry. We compared 17 pregnant women with previous hypertension in pregnancy (Group 1) and 42 pregnant women without previous gestational hypertensive disease (Group 2) with 27 healthy, non-pregnant controls (Group 3). The pregnant women were studied at 13 ± 1 weeks gestation. Monocyte subsets were quantified by flow cytometry: Mon1 (CD14++CD16-CCR2+), Mon2 (CD14++CD16+CCR2+), Mon3 (CD14+CD16+CCR2-), their aggregates with platelets and expression of the surface markers. The groups were well-matched for age, body mass index and ethnicity (P > 0.05 for all). Mon1 counts were higher in women with a history of gestational hypertension or preeclampsia compared to other groups (Group 1 = 441 per µl (376–512); Group 2 = 357 (309–457); Group 3 = 323 (277–397); P < 0.001). Mon3 was higher in both groups of pregnant women compared to non-pregnant controls (Group 1 = 51 (38–62); Group 2 = 38 (29–58); Group 3 = 26 (20–40), P = 0.002). Increased monocytes in women with a previous hypertensive pregnancy generates a hypothesis that these cells may link hypertension in pregnancy, chronic inflammation and future cardiovascular risk.
Van der Waals five-body size-energy universality
Authors: Stipanović Petar , Vranješ Markić Leandra , Boronat Jordi
Published: June 2022

A universal relationship between scaled size and scaled energy is explored in five-body self-bound quantum systems. The ground-state binding energy and structure properties are obtained by means of the diffusion Monte Carlo method. We use pure estimators to eliminate any residual bias in the estimation of the cluster size. Strengthening the inter-particle interaction, we extend the exploration from the halo region to classical systems. Universal scaled size-scaled energy line, which does not depend on the short-range potential details and binding strength, is found for homogeneous pentamers with interaction potentials decaying at long range predominantly as $$r^{-6}$$

r

-
6

. For mixed pentamers, we discuss under which conditions the universal line can approximately describe the size-energy ratio. Our data is compatible with generalized Tjon lines, which assume a linear dependence between the binding energy of the pentamers and the one of tetramers, when both are divided by the trimer energies.
Solidification, remediation and long-term stability of heavy metal contaminated soil under the background of sustainable development
Authors: Li Yuanyuan , Jia Shibo , Liu Jiang
Published: June 2022

At present, the global pollution has seriously exceeded the standard. With the passage of time, pollution has gradually affected people’s daily lives, but the solution to pollution is far from achieving a better treatment effect. For the treatment of pollution, in addition to considering the treatment effect, it is also necessary to consider whether the treatment method will cause pollution and the cost of the treatment of the pollutants. As one of the lifelines of human survival, the land is also suffering from pollution. The impact of heavy metal pollution is particularly serious, and there is no better solution. Based on this, this paper proposes a curing agent based on sustainable remediation to solve the soil pollution of heavy metals. The main material is Basic oxygen furnace slag (BOFS), which has excellent social development characteristics in all aspects, and the raw materials are calcium carbide residue (CCR) and phosphogypsum (PG) to explore a more suitable curing agent. (consisting of BOFS, CCR, and PG, abbreviated as BCP). The experimental results in this paper show that the volume of pores and pores in the agglomerates are slightly reduced, and the content of curing agent is increased from 4 to 10%, while the corresponding volume is only reduced by 0.006 and 0.017 mL/g. Therefore, it can be seen that the reduction of the pore volume between the aggregates of the stabilized species of BCP has made a major contribution to the strength development.
On the mechanism of performance improvement of electroactive polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gel actuators via conductive fillers
Authors: Frank Zachary , Kim Kwang J.
Published: June 2022

The electromechanical actuation of transparent plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gels with conductive fillers were studied. The effects of functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmim]BF4) ionic liquid (IL) on both the electrical conduction and dielectric processes within PVC gels were investigated, and the differences between the two were clarified. Both CNTs and IL were shown to increase the conductivity of the gels and produce larger electromechanical transduction of a contraction actuator, but only CNTs were shown to increase the electrostatic adhesion force of the PVC gels. The addition of charge carriers to the gel via the inclusion of ILs was shown to significantly reduce the conductivity relaxation time, and the transient current upon voltage polarity reversal indicated multiple peaks corresponding to the introduction of carriers with different polarities and mobilities into the gel. This is believed to cause a screening effect, reducing the charge accumulation at the anode that is the foundational basis for PVC gels’ actuation mechanism. A recommendation for preferable conductive fillers for various applications is made.
Diagnostic advantage of thin slice 2D MRI and multiplanar reconstruction of the knee joint using deep learning based denoising approach
Authors: Kakigi Takahide , Sakamoto Ryo , Tagawa Hiroshi , Kuriyama Shinichi , Goto Yoshihito , Nambu Masahito , Sagawa Hajime , Numamoto Hitomi , Miyake Kanae Kawai , Saga Tsuneo , Matsuda Shuichi , Nakamoto Yuji
Published: June 2022

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether thin-slice high-resolution 2D fat-suppressed proton density-weighted image of the knee joint using denoising approach with deep learning-based reconstruction (dDLR) with MPR is more useful than 3D FS-PD multi planar voxel image. Twelve patients who underwent MRI of the knee at 3T and 13 knees were enrolled. Denoising effect was quantitatively evaluated by comparing the coefficient of variation (CV) before and after dDLR. For the qualitative assessment, two radiologists evaluated image quality, artifacts, anatomical structures, and abnormal findings using a 5-point Likert scale between 2D and 3D. All of them were statistically analyzed. Gwet’s agreement coefficients were also calculated. For the scores of abnormal findings, we calculated the percentages of the cases with agreement with high confidence. The CV after dDLR was significantly lower than the one before dDLR (p < 0.05). As for image quality, artifacts and anatomical structure, no significant differences were found except for flow artifact (p < 0.05). The agreement was significantly higher in 2D than in 3D in abnormal findings (p < 0.05). In abnormal findings, the percentage with high confidence was higher in 2D than in 3D (p < 0.05). By applying dDLR to 2D, almost equivalent image quality to 3D could be obtained. Furthermore, abnormal findings could be depicted with greater confidence and consistency, indicating that 2D with dDLR can be a promising imaging method for the knee joint disease evaluation.
Activation of nitrogen species mixed with Ar and H2S plasma for directly N-doped TMD films synthesis
Authors: Cho Jinill , Seok Hyunho , Lee Inkoo , Lee Jaewon , Kim Eungchul , Sung Dougyong , Baek In-Keun , Lee Cheol-Hun , Kim Taesung
Published: June 2022

Among the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMD), tungsten disulfide (WS2) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) are promising sulfides for replacing noble metals in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) owing to their abundance and good catalytic activity. However, the catalytic activity is derived from the edge sites of WS2and MoS2, while their basal planes are inert. We propose a novel process for N-doped TMD synthesis for advanced HER using N2 + Ar + H2S plasma. The high ionization energy of Ar gas enabled nitrogen species activation results in efficient N-doping of TMD (named In situ-MoS2and In situ-WS2). In situ-MoS2and WS2were characterized by various techniques (Raman spectroscopy, XPS, HR-TEM, TOF–SIMS, and OES), confirming nanocrystalline and N-doping. The N-doped TMD were used as electrocatalysts for the HER, with overpotentials of 294 mV (In situ-MoS2) and 298 mV (In situ-WS2) at a current density of 10 mA cm−2, which are lower than those of pristine MoS2and WS2, respectively. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were conducted for the hydrogen Gibbs energy (∆GH) to investigate the effect of N doping on the HER activity. Mixed gas plasma proposes a facile and novel fabrication process for direct N doping on TMD as a suitable HER electrocatalyst.
A clinically annotated post-mortem approach to study multi-organ somatic mutational clonality in normal tissues
Authors: Luijts Tom , Elliott Kerryn , Siaw Joachim Tetteh , Van de Velde Joris , Beyls Elien , Claeys Arne , Lammens Tim , Larsson Erik , Willaert Wouter , Vral Anne , Van den Eynden Jimmy
Published: June 2022

Recent research on normal human tissues identified omnipresent clones of cells, driven by somatic mutations known to be responsible for carcinogenesis (e.g., in TP53 or NOTCH1). These new insights are fundamentally changing current tumor evolution models, with broad oncological implications. Most studies are based on surgical remnant tissues, which are not available for many organs and rarely in a pan-organ setting (multiple organs from the same individual). Here, we describe an approach based on clinically annotated post-mortem tissues, derived from whole-body donors that are routinely used for educational purposes at human anatomy units. We validated this post-mortem approach using UV-exposed and unexposed epidermal skin tissues and confirm the presence of positively selected NOTCH1/2-, TP53- and FAT1-driven clones. No selection signals were detected in a set of immune genes or housekeeping genes. Additionally, we provide the first evidence for smoking-induced clonal changes in oral epithelia, likely underlying the origin of head and neck carcinogenesis. In conclusion, the whole-body donor-based approach provides a nearly unlimited healthy tissue resource to study mutational clonality and gain fundamental mutagenic insights in the presumed earliest stages of tumor evolution.
Maxillary sinus aeration analysis using computational fluid dynamics
Authors: Tretiakow Dmitry , Tesch Krzysztof , Markiet Karolina , Skorek Andrzej
Published: June 2022

The maxillary sinus aeration using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method based on individual adult patients’ computed tomography (CT) scans were analyzed. The analysis was based on CT images of 4 patients: one with normal nose anatomy and three with nasal septal deviation (NSD) and concha bullosa (CB). The CFD simulation was performed using the Reynolds-Average Simulation approach and turbulence closure based on linear eddy viscosity supplemented with the two-equation k-$$\omega$$
ω
SST model. As a result, it was found that the lower part of NSD has the most significant impact on the airflow change within the maxillary sinuses compared to CB and the upper part of NSD. In a healthy nose, the airflow in the sinuses is continuous, while NSD and CB change this flow into pulsatile. Multiple changes in the direction of flow during one respiratory phase were observed. The flow intensity within the maxillary sinus opening is lower on the NSD side. The concept of vorticity measure is introduced to evaluate and compare various patients qualitatively. Typically, the lowest values of such measures are obtained for healthy airways and the highest for pathological changes in the nasal cavity.
A ResNet attention model for classifying mosquitoes from wing-beating sounds
Authors: Wei Xutong , Hossain Md Zakir , Ahmed Khandaker Asif
Published: June 2022

Mosquitoes are vectors of numerous deadly diseases, and mosquito classification task is vital for their control programs. To ease manual labor and time-consuming classification tasks, numerous image-based machine-learning (ML) models have been developed to classify different mosquito species. Mosquito wing-beating sounds can serve as a unique classifier for mosquito classification tasks, which can be adopted easily in field applications. The current study aims to develop a deep neural network model to identify six mosquito species of three different genera, based on their wing-beating sounds. While existing models focused on raw audios, we developed a comprehensive pre-processing step to convert raw audios into more informative Mel-spectrograms, resulting in more robust and noise-free extracted features. Our model, namely ’Wing-beating Network’ or ’WbNet’, combines the state-of-art residual neural network (ResNet) model as a baseline, with self-attention mechanism and data-augmentation technique, and outperformed other existing models. The WbNet achieved the highest performance of 89.9% and 98.9% for WINGBEATS and ABUZZ data respectively. For species of Aedes and Culex genera, our model achieved 100% precision, recall and F1-scores, whereas, for Anopheles, the WbNet reached above 95%. We also compared two existing wing-beating datasets, namely WINGBEATS and ABUZZ, and found our model does not need sophisticated audio devices, hence performed better on ABUZZ audios, captured on usual mobile devices. Overall, our model has potential to serve in mosquito monitoring and prevalence studies in mosquito eradication programs, along with potential implementation in classification tasks of insect pests or other sound-based classifications.
A compact evolved antenna for 5G communications
Authors: Marasco I. , Niro G. , Mastronardi V. M. , Rizzi F. , D’Orazio A. , De Vittorio M. , Grande M.
Published: June 2022

Flexible and bendable electronics are gaining a lot of interest in these last years. In this scenario, compact antennas on flexible substrates represent a strategical technological step to pave the way to a new class of wearable systems. A crucial issue to overcome is represented by the poor radiation properties of compact antennas, especially in the case of flexible and thin substrates. In this paper, we propose an innovative design of a miniaturized evolved patch antenna whose radiation properties have been enhanced with a Split Ring Resonator (SRR) placed between the top and the ground plane. The antenna has been realized on a flexible and biocompatible substrate polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) of 250 μm by means of a new fabrication protocol that involves a three-layer 3D-inkjet printing and an alignment step. The antenna has been characterized in terms of the scattering parameter S11 and the radiation pattern showing a good agreement between simulations and measurements.
A photochemical-responsive nanoparticle boosts doxorubicin uptake to suppress breast cancer cell proliferation by apoptosis
Authors: Zhang Ying , Li Kaiting , Han Xiaoyu , Chen Qing , Shao Lan , Bai Dingqun
Published: June 2022

In the course of chemotherapy for breast cancer, doxorubicin (DOX) is one of the most commonly prescribed agents. However, it has been recognized as clinically circumscribed on account of its poor selectivity and toxic reactions to normal tissues. Fortunately, the distinct merit of photochemical-responsive nanoparticle delivery systems to enhance cellular drugs uptake through localized concentration, adequate selective and minimizing systemic toxicity has aroused substantial interest recently. In this study, we synthesized photochemical-responsive nanoparticle by incorporating DOX, curcumin (CUR), and perfluorooctyl bromide (PFOB) into poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) via double emulsification (DOX–CUR–PFOB–PLGA). The synthesized composite nanoparticles, which featured good ultrasound imaging, engendered photochemical activation for drug release when given laser irradiation. Cumulative release rates for DOX were 76.34%, and for CUR were 83.64%, respectively. Also, MCF-7 cells displayed significant intracellular DOX uptake and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, degraded cytoskeleton, and decreased cell growth and migration capacity. At the molecular level, cellular pAKT levels decreased, which resulted in downregulated HIF-1α and BAX/BCl-2 levels, leading to Caspase-3 activation and thus induction of apoptosis. Therefore, the photochemical-responsive nanoparticles possess the potential to elicit apoptosis in MCF-7 cells via enhanced DOX uptake.
Odor cueing during sleep improves consolidation of a history lesson in a school setting
Authors: Vidal Vanessa , Barbuzza Alejo R. , Tassone Leonela M. , Brusco Luis I. , Ballarini Fabricio M. , Forcato Cecilia
Published: June 2022

Sleep is a key factor in memory consolidation. During sleep, information is reactivated, transferred, and redistributed to neocortical areas, thus favoring memory consolidation and integration. Although these reactivations occur spontaneously, they can also be induced using external cues, such as sound or odor cues, linked to the acquired information. Hence, targeted memory reactivation during sleep represents an advantageous tool for improving memory consolidation in real-life settings. In this study, our goal was to improve the consolidation of complex information such as that of a history lesson, using a school study session in the presence of an odor, and a reactivation round while sleeping at home on the same night of the acquisition, without using additional study sessions. We found that complex information can be associated with an odor in the classroom and that one session of reactivation during the first night of sleep in the students’ houses improves its consolidation. These results bring new evidence for the implementation of reactivation during sleep in real-life settings.
Super-resolved quantum ghost imaging
Authors: Moodley Chané , Forbes Andrew
Published: June 2022

Quantum ghost imaging offers many advantages over classical imaging, including low photon fluxes and non-degenerate object and image wavelengths for imaging light sensitive structures, but suffers from slow image reconstruction speeds. Image reconstruction times depend on the resolution of the required image which scale quadratically with the image resolution. Here, we propose a super-resolved imaging approach based on neural networks where we reconstruct a low resolution image, which we denoise and super-resolve to a high resolution image. To test the approach, we implemented both a generative adversarial network as well as a super-resolving autoencoder in conjunction with an experimental quantum ghost imaging setup, demonstrating its efficacy across a range of object and imaging projective mask types. We achieved super-resolving enhancement of$$4\times$$4×the measured resolution with a fidelity close to 90$$\%$$%at an acquisition time of N$$^2$$2measurements, required for a complete N$$\times$$×N pixel image solution. This significant resolution enhancement is a step closer to a common ghost imaging goal, to reconstruct images with the highest resolution and the shortest possible acquisition time.
The relationship between P16INK4A and TP53 promoter methylation and the risk and prognosis in patients with oesophageal cancer in Thailand
Authors: Poosari Arisara , Nutravong Thitima , Namwat Wises , Wasenang Wiphawan , Sa-ngiamwibool Prakasit , Ungareewittaya Piti
Published: June 2022

DNA methylation can regulate the expression of tumour suppressor genes P16 and TP53, environmental factors, which are both important factors related to an increased risk and prognosis of oesophageal cancer (EC). However, the association between these two genes methylation status, as well as the effects of gene-environment interactions, EC risk remains unclear. A Hospital-based case–control study data were collected from 105 new EC cases and 108 controls. Promoter methylation status was investigated for P16 and TP53 genes using methylation-specific polymerase (MSP) chain reaction methods with SYBR green. Logistic and Cox regression models were used to analyse the association of P16 and TP53 promotor methylation status with EC risk and prognosis, respectively. Our results suggest P16, TP53 methylation significantly increased the risk of EC (OR = 5.24, 95% CI: 2.57–10.66, P < 0.001; OR = 3.38, 95% CI: 1.17–6.67, P < 0.001, respectively). In addition, P16 and TP53 promoter methylation status and the combined effects between environmental factors and its methylations in tissue were correlated with the EC risk and prognosis of EC patients. As a new biomarker, the methylation of P16 and TP53 can serve as a potential predictive biomarker of EC.