bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Area-selective atomic layer deposition of Al2O3 on SiNx with SiO2 as the nongrowth surface
Authors: Xu Wanxing , Gasvoda Ryan J. , Lemaire Paul C. , Sharma Kashish , Hausmann Dennis M. , Agarwal Sumit
Published: December 2021

Area-selective atomic layer deposition (ALD) of dielectrics on chemically similar growth and nongrowth surfaces is very challenging. In this study, we use aminosilane inhibitors to achieve selective blocking of ALD of Al2O3 on plasma-deposited SiO2 versus plasma-deposited SiNx. The SiO2 and SiNx surfaces were exposed to bis(dimethylamino)dimethylsilane followed by (N,N-dimethylamino)trimethylsilane through the vapor phase at 150 °C. At the same substrate temperature, Al2O3 films were grown by ALD using dimethylaluminum isoproxide and H2O. In situ surface infrared spectroscopy shows that aminosilane inhibitors react with almost all the surface −SiOH groups on SiO2, but reaction with surface −NHx groups on the SiNx surface is incomplete, thereby leaving potential growth sites for ALD of Al2O3. In situ ellipsometry results shows that a ∼2.7 nm Al2O3 film can be selectively deposited on SiNx versus SiO2. Upon exposure of the plasma-deposited SiNx to the atmosphere, a higher attachment of aminosilanes and longer nucleation delay during the ALD of Al2O3 were observed, indicating the need to remove the native surface oxynitride prior to functionalization. This study shows that while fully passivating the nongrowth surface is necessary for achieving growth inhibition, ALD can initiate on a partially passivated growth surface.
Spatial reconstruction of the sound field in a room in the modal frequency range using Bayesian inference
Authors: Schmid Jonas M. , Fernandez-Grande Efren , Hahmann Manuel , Gurbuz Caglar , Eser Martin , Marburg Steffen
Published: December 2021

Spatial characterization of the sound field in a room is a challenging task, as it usually requires a large number of measurement points. This paper presents a probabilistic approach for sound field reconstruction in the modal frequency range for small and medium-sized rooms based on Bayesian inference. A plane wave expansion model is used to decompose the sound field in the examined domain. The posterior distribution for the amplitude of each plane wave is inferred based on a uniform prior distribution with limits based on the maximum sound pressure observed in the measurements. Two different application cases are studied, namely a numerically computed sound field in a non-rectangular two-dimensional (2D) domain and a measured sound field in a horizontal evaluation area of a lightly damped room. The proposed reconstruction method provides an accurate reconstruction for both examined cases. Further, the results of Bayesian inference are compared to the reconstruction with a deterministic compressive sensing framework. The most significant advantage of the Bayesian method over deterministic reconstruction approaches is that it provides a probability distribution of the sound pressure at every reconstruction point, and thus, allows quantifying the uncertainty of the recovered sound field.
Pan-cancer single-cell landscape of tumor-infiltrating T cells
Authors: Zheng Liangtao , Qin Shishang , Si Wen , Wang Anqiang , Xing Baocai , Gao Ranran , Ren Xianwen , Wang Li , Wu Xiaojiang , Zhang Ji , Wu Nan , Zhang Ning , Zheng Hong , Ouyang Hanqiang , Chen Keyuan , Bu Zhaode , Hu Xueda , Ji Jiafu , Zhang Zemin
Published: December 2021

An atlas of cancer-associated T cells

The tumor microenvironment contains many different kinds of immune cells, the composition, function, and roles of which are unclear. Using single-cell RNA sequencing of T cells in 21 cancer types from more than 300 patients, Zheng
et al
. identified differences in transcript composition that could be used to catalog different T cell types (see the Perspective by van der Leun and Schumacher). These annotations identified the different roles of specific types of CD4
+
and CD8
+
T cells among the different tumor types. Some of these clusters revealed evidence for two developmental paths for T cells, one of which shows a trajectory toward the “exhausted” T cell state, knowledge of which may be useful in developing future cancer immunotherapies. —LMZ
Biological basis of cannabinoid medicines
Authors: Keimpema Erik , Di Marzo Vincenzo , Harkany Tibor
Published: December 2021

Mechanistic insights into cannabinoid signaling could improve therapeutic applications
Synthesis of LaWN
3
nitride perovskite with polar symmetry
Authors: Talley Kevin R. , Perkins Craig L. , Diercks David R. , Brennecka Geoff L. , Zakutayev Andriy
Published: December 2021

Nitrides join the perovskite club

Perovskite structured materials have a variety of uses as photovoltaics, capacitors, and micromechanical actuators, along with other applications. Oxides, halides, and chalcogenides all have large numbers of perovskite structured materials. Examples of perovskite nitrides are conspicuously absent, but Talley
et al
. managed to synthesize one (see the Perspective by Hong). Lanthanum tungsten nitride in the perovskite structure turns out to be piezoelectric, which is ideal for a variety of applications. Perovskite structured nitrides are very attractive because they could easily integrate with the large number of nitride-based semiconducting devices already in use. —BG
Searching for solutions to our soil woes
A World Without Soil: The Past, Present, and Precarious Future of the Earth Beneath Our Feet
Jo Handelsman
Yale University Press, 2021. 272 pp.
Authors: Richter Daniel D.
Published: December 2021

Could a controversial carbon storage plan help restore degraded lands?
Toward single-molecule proteomics
Authors: Bošković Filip , Keyser Ulrich F.
Published: December 2021

Nanopore rereading of single proteins opens a pathway to next-generation proteomics
Scientists see a ‘really, really tough winter’ with Omicron
Authors: Kupferschmidt Kai
Published: December 2021

Another major pandemic wave seems inevitable. The big question is how much severe disease it will bring
Effects of Screen Time and Season on Cardiovascular System Indicators in Primary Schoolchildren
Authors: Pankova N. B. , Alchinova I. B. , Kovaleva O. I. , Lebedeva M. A. , Khlebnikova N. N. , Cherepov A. B. , Noskin L. A. , Karganov M. Yu.
Published: December 2021

Indicators of the cardiovascular system, including heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) variability parameters, were analyzed in primary school students with different computer screen times. The study included 4084 students of grades 1–4 (age 7–12 years) from 66 Moscow schools. The screen time at school and out of school was assessed by teachers, based on the national Sanitary Rules and Regulations: 0, no screen time; 1, screen time matching hygienic standards; 2, screen time at least twice greater than recommended. Physiological examinations were carried out by spiroarteriocardiorhythmography with a face mask, the conditions corresponding to the functional stress test (mild hypercapnia/hypoxia). Testing took place in spring and autumn (independent samples). Statistical data processing was performed using nonparametric criteria. It was revealed that the introduction of computer technologies in school lessons within the limits of hygienic standards was accompanied by an increase, within the normal range, of systolic BP in girls at the end of grade 2 and 4 and in boys at the beginning and end of grade 4. Screen time at least twice higher than the hygienic standard did not have an additional effect on BP, but provoked shifts in the function of autonomic regulation. Boys were more sensitive to the influence of this environmental factor. Their pattern of seasonal variability in total power (TP) of the HR variability spectrum was reversed compared to that of children who did not use computers at school; i.e., higher TP values were observed in spring. In grade 4, the process was accompanied by an increase in spontaneous arterial baroreflex sensitivity and a decrease in the relative power of the LF range in the variability spectrum of systolic BP. The changes were assumed to reflect the adaptive response to changes in educational environment.
Community health worker service delivery for maternal and child health: an observational study from Afghanistan
Authors: Kelly Clare B , Hemat Shafiqullah , Naziri Malalai , Yousufi Khaksar , Edmond Karen M
Published: December 2021

Objective

To understand the reach of the community health worker (CHW) programme in remote and non-remote districts of Afghanistan.

Methods

Using data collected from the Ministry of Public Health’s National Health Management Information System, we conducted a population-based study from 2018 to 2019 in 401 districts across 34 provinces of Afghanistan. We assessed the availability of CHWs, antenatal visits (ANV) and postnatal visits (PNV) conducted by the CHWs, and the availability of CHW supplies. Districts were classified as remote if the district centre was >2 hours by any form of transport from provincial capital, and non-remote if <2 hours. Data were analysed using multivariable regression models.

Results

15 562 CHWs were working in the districts of Afghanistan, 13 482 (87%) in remote and 2080 (13%) in non-remote districts. The mean of the proportion of CHWs per pregnant woman was higher in remote (0.019 (SD 0.011)) compared with non-remote (0.012 (SD 0.006)) districts (adjusted mean difference (AMD) 0.008, 95% CI 0.004 to 0.01). The mean of the proportion of ANVs received from a CHW per pregnant women was higher in remote (0.88 (SD 0.82)) compared with non-remote (0.62 (SD 0.50)) districts (AMD 0.28, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.54). The mean of the proportion of PNVs received from a CHW per pregnant women was higher in remote (0.54 (SD 0.53)) compared with non-remote (0.36 (SD 0.25)) districts (AMD 0.19, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.36). The mean of the proportion of CHWs who reported that they had stocks of cotrimoxazole and oral contraceptives in the previous month per district was higher in remote compared with non-remote districts.

Conclusions

In Afghanistan, the CHW programme appears to be effective and proportionate to need in remote regions.
Universal architecture of corneal segmental tomography biomarkers for artificial intelligence-driven diagnosis of early keratoconus
Authors: Kundu Gairik , Shetty Rohit , Khamar Pooja , Mullick Ritika , Gupta Sneha , Nuijts Rudy , Sinha Roy Abhijit
Published: December 2021

Aims

To develop a comprehensive three-dimensional analyses of segmental tomography (placido and optical coherence tomography) using artificial intelligence (AI).

Methods

Preoperative imaging data (MS-39, CSO, Italy) of refractive surgery patients with stable outcomes and diagnosed with asymmetric or bilateral keratoconus (KC) were used. The curvature, wavefront aberrations and thickness distributions were analysed with Zernike polynomials (ZP) and a random forest (RF) AI model. For training and cross-validation, there were groups of healthy (n=527), very asymmetric ectasia (VAE; n=144) and KC (n=454). The VAE eyes were the fellow eyes of KC patients but no further manual segregation of these eyes into subclinical or forme-fruste was performed.

Results

The AI achieved an excellent area under the curve (0.994), accuracy (95.6%), recall (98.5%) and precision (92.7%) for the healthy eyes. For the KC eyes, the same were 0.997, 99.1%, 98.7% and 99.1%, respectively. For the VAE eyes, the same were 0.976, 95.5%, 71.5% and 91.2%, respectively. Interestingly, the AI reclassified 36 (subclinical) of the VAE eyes as healthy though these eyes were distinct from healthy eyes. Most of the remaining VAE (n=104; forme fruste) eyes retained their classification, and were distinct from both KC and healthy eyes. Further, the posterior surface features were not among the highest ranked variables by the AI model.

Conclusions

A universal architecture of combining segmental tomography with ZP and AI was developed. It achieved an excellent classification of healthy and KC eyes. The AI efficiently classified the VAE eyes as ‘subclinical’ and ‘forme-fruste’.
Measurement properties of the PBC-40 and PBC-27: a Dutch validation study
Authors: de Veer Rozanne C , da Silva Geraldine , van Hooff Maria C , Harms Maren H , Metselaar Herold J , Willemse José , Utomo Elaine , van der Meer Adriaan J
Published: December 2021

Objective

Patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) have an impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Practice guidelines recommend evaluating the HRQoL in all patients with PBC. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of our Dutch translation of the PBC-40, a PBC-specific measure of the HRQoL.

Design

The PBC-40 was translated into Dutch following standardised forward–backward procedures. Participants received the Dutch PBC-40 and the RAND-36 (a validated Dutch version of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey) through postal mail. The PBC-27 is an abridged version of the PBC-40. Internal consistency between the items within the PBC-40/PBC-27 domains was assessed by Cronbach’s alpha. In addition, score distributions were analysed on floor and ceiling effects. Construct validity was assessed by hypotheses testing using Pearson’s correlation between the PBC-40/PBC-27 domains and RAND-36 scales.

Results

177 patients with PBC were included. The mean age was 61.1 (SD 9.9) years and the majority of patients was female (n=164, 92.7%). From the 7080 PBC-40 items, 61 items (0.9%) were missing and 342 items (4.8%) were answered with the ‘does not apply’ option. Each PBC-40 domain had a Cronbach’s α of >0.70, with the highest in the domain fatigue (0.95). For the PBC-27, the lowest Cronbach’s α was 0.69. Floor effects were present in three domains (cognition 19.3%, itch 27.0% and social 25.0% (only for PBC-27)). No ceiling effects were observed. All domains were significantly correlated with the corresponding RAND-36 scale(s) (p<0.001 for all). The strongest correlation was between the PBC-40 domain fatigue and the RAND-36 vitality scale (r=−0.834).

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrate the reliability and validity of the Dutch PBC-40 and PBC-27 for the assessment of the HRQoL in patients with PBC. This PBC-specific measure can be used in Dutch-speaking patients with PBC for both research and clinical purposes.
Long-term effects of payment for performance on maternal and child health outcomes: evidence from Tanzania
Authors: Borghi Josephine , Binyaruka Peter , Mayumana Iddy , Lange Siri , Somville Vincent , Maestad Ottar
Published: December 2021

Background

The success of payment for performance (P4P) schemes relies on their ability to generate sustainable changes in the behaviour of healthcare providers. This paper examines short-term and longer-term effects of P4P in Tanzania and the reasons for these changes.

Methods

We conducted a controlled before and after study and an embedded process evaluation. Three rounds of facility, patient and household survey data (at baseline, after 13 months and at 36 months) measured programme effects in seven intervention districts and four comparison districts. We used linear difference-in-difference regression analysis to determine programme effects, and differential effects over time. Four rounds of qualitative data examined evolution in programme design, implementation and mechanisms of change.

Results

Programme effects on the rate of institutional deliveries and antimalarial treatment during antenatal care reduced overtime, with stock out rates of antimalarials increasing over time to baseline levels. P4P led to sustained improvements in kindness during deliveries, with a wider set of improvements in patient experience of care in the longer term. A change in programme management and funding delayed incentive payments affecting performance on some indicators. The verification system became more integrated within routine systems over time, reducing the time burden on managers and health workers. Ongoing financial autonomy and supervision sustained motivational effects in those aspects of care giving not reliant on funding.

Conclusion

Our study adds to limited and mixed evidence documenting how P4P effects evolve over time. Our findings highlight the importance of undertaking ongoing assessment of effects over time.
Sodium selenate as a disease-modifying treatment for mild–moderate Alzheimer’s disease: an open-label extension study
Authors: Vivash Lucy , Malpas Charles B , Hovens Christopher M , Brodtmann Amy , Collins Steven , Macfarlane Stephen , Velakoulis Dennis , O’Brien Terence J
Published: December 2021

Introduction

Sodium selenate is a potential disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) which reduces hyperphosphorylated tau through activation of the protein phosphatase 2A enzyme. We have shown sodium selenate to be safe and well tolerated in a 24-week, phase 2a double-blind placebo-controlled randomised controlled trial (RCT), also reporting sodium selenate reduced neurodegeneration on diffusion-weighted MRI. This study assessed the safety and tolerability of chronic sodium selenate treatment (up to 23 months) in patients with AD who had been enrolled in the RCT. Cognitive measures served as secondary outcomes of potential disease-modification.

Methods

An open-label extension study of sodium selenate (10 mg three times a day) in patients with AD who had completed the previous RCT. Twenty-eight patients were enrolled. Patients were regularly monitored for safety, adverse events (AEs) and protocol compliance. Cognitive tests were administered for measures of disease progression.

Results

Sixteen patients were discontinued by the sponsor, and 12 discontinued for other reasons. Treatment duration ranged from 6 to 23 months. The majority of AEs were mild (83%), and 33% were treatment-related. Common treatment-related AEs were alopecia (21%) and nail disorder (32%), which both resolved either prior to or following cessation of treatment. Two serious AEs occurred, which were not treatment-related. Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale—Cognitive Subscale 11 score increased 1.8 points over 12 months.

Discussion

Chronic sodium selenate treatment is safe and well tolerated in patients with AD. Cognitive measures suggest a slowing of disease progression though this could not be confirmed as the study was not controlled. Further research into sodium selenate as a treatment for AD is warranted.
Loeys-Dietz and Shprintzen-Goldberg syndromes: analysis of TGF-β-opathies with craniofacial manifestations using an innovative multimodality method
Authors: Almpani Konstantinia , Liberton Denise K. , Jani Priyam , Keyvanfar Cyrus , Mishra Rashmi , Curry Natasha , Orzechowski Pamela , Frischmeyer-Guerrerio Pamela A. , Lee Janice S.
Published: December 2021

Background

Elevated transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signalling has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) and Shprintzen-Goldberg syndrome (SGS). In this study, we provide a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the craniofacial and functional features among the LDS subtypes and SGS.

Methods

We explore the variability within and across a cohort of 44 patients through deep clinical phenotyping, three-dimensional (3D) facial photo surface analysis, cephalometric and geometric morphometric analyses of cone-beam CT scans.

Results

The most common craniofacial features detected in this cohort include mandibular retrognathism (84%), flat midface projection (84%), abnormal eye shape (73%), low-set ears (73%), abnormal nose (66%) and lip shape (64%), hypertelorism (41%) and a relatively high prevalence of nystagmus/strabismus (43%), temporomandibular joint disorders (38%) and obstructive sleep apnoea (23%). 3D cephalometric analysis demonstrated an increased cranial base angle with shortened anterior cranial base and underdevelopment of the maxilla and mandible, with evidence of a reduced pharyngeal airway in 55% of those analysed. Geometric morphometric analysis confirmed that the greatest craniofacial shape variation was among patients with LDS type 2, with distinct clustering of patients with SGS.

Conclusions

This comprehensive phenotypic approach identifies developmental abnormalities that segregate to mutation variants along the TGF-β signalling pathway, with a particularly severe phenotype associated with TGFBR2 and SKI mutations. Multimodality assessment of craniofacial anomalies objectively reveals the impact of mutations of the TGF-β pathway with perturbations associated with the cranium and cranial base with severe downstream effects on the orbit, maxilla and mandible with the resultant clinical phenotypes.
Impact of pathogenicFBN1variant types on the development of severe scoliosis in patients with Marfan syndrome
Authors: Taniguchi Yuki , Takeda Norifumi , Inuzuka Ryo , Matsubayashi Yoshitaka , Kato So , Doi Toru , Yagi Hiroki , Yamauchi Haruo , Ando Masahiko , Oshima Yasushi , Tanaka Sakae
Published: December 2021

Background

Among the several musculoskeletal manifestations in patients with Marfan syndrome, spinal deformity causes pain and respiratory impairment and is a great hindrance to patients’ daily activities. The present study elucidates the genetic risk factors for the development of severe scoliosis in patients with Marfan syndrome.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated 278 patients with pathogenic or likely pathogenicFBN1variants. The patients were divided into those with (n=57) or without (n=221) severe scoliosis. Severe scoliosis was defined as (1) patients undergoing surgery before 50 years of age or (2) patients with a Cobb angle exceeding 50° before 50 years of age. The variants were classified as protein-truncating variants (PTVs), which included variants creating premature termination codons and inframe exon-skipping, or non-PTVs, based on their location and predicted amino acid alterations, and the effect of theFBN1genotype on the development of severe scoliosis was examined. The impact of location ofFBN1variants on the development of severe scoliosis was also investigated.

Results

Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that female sex, PTVs ofFBN1and variants in the neonatal region (exons 25–33) were all independent significant predictive factors for the development of severe scoliosis. Furthermore, these factors were identified as predictors of progression of existing scoliosis into severe state.

Conclusions

We elucidated the genetic risk factors for the development of severe scoliosis in patients with Marfan syndrome. Patients harbouring pathogenicFBN1variants with these genetic risk factors should be monitored carefully for scoliosis progression.
Clinical characteristics and risk factors for survival in affected offspring of von Hippel-Lindau disease patients
Authors: Zhang Kenan , Qiu Jianhui , Yang Wuping , Ma Kaifang , Li Lei , Xie Haibiao , Xu Yawei , Gong Yanqing , Zhou Jingcheng , Cai Lin , Gong Kan
Published: December 2021

Background

Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is an autosomal dominant genetic tumour syndrome with poor prognosis. The clinical manifestation was found to be more serious in affected offspring of patients with VHL disease, but the risk factors and survival for them have never been reported before. We aimed to explore how these patients were influenced by genetic and clinical factors.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we collected 372 affected offspring of VHL patients from 118 unrelated VHL families. Patients were stratified into different groups based on sets of variables. The age-related risk, overall survival and central nervous systemhaemangioblastoma (CHB)-specific survival were analysed between different groups using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analysis.

Results

The estimated median life expectancy and median age of onset for affected offspring of VHL patients were 66 years and 28 years, respectively. The later generation and patients with mutations in exon 3 had an earlier onset age. The first presenting symptom was the only independent risk factor influencing overall survival and CHB-specific survival. Patients that the first presenting symptom is central nervous system (CNS) significantly had a lower life expectancy both in overall survival and CHB-specific survival analysis than abdominal lesions group.

Conclusion

This study indicated that affected offspring of VHL patients with CNS as the first presenting symptom was an independent risk factor for overall survival and CHB-specific survival. Generation and mutation region only had an effect on the onset age, which is helpful to clinical decision-making and generate a more precise surveillance protocol.
Integrating vocational rehabilitation and mental healthcare to improve the return-to-work process for people on sick leave with depression or anxiety: results from a three-arm, parallel randomised trial
Authors: Hoff Andreas , Poulsen Rie Mandrup , Fisker Jonas , Hjorthøj Carsten , Rosenberg Nicole , Nordentoft Merete , Bojesen Anders Bo , Eplov Lene Falgaard
Published: December 2021

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate an integrated mental healthcare and vocational rehabilitation intervention to improve and hasten the process of return-to-work of people on sick leave with anxiety and depression.

Methods

In this three-arm, randomised trial, participants were assigned to (1) integrated intervention (INT), (2) improved mental healthcare (MHC) or (3) service as usual (SAU). The primary outcome was time to return-to-work measured at 12-month follow-up. The secondary outcomes were time to return-to-work measured at 6-month follow-up; levels of anxiety, depression, stress symptoms, and social and occupational functioning at 6 months; and return-to-work measured as proportion in work at 12 months.

Results

631 individuals were randomised. INT yielded a higher proportion in work compared with both MHC (56.2% vs 43.7%, p=0.012) and SAU (56.2% vs 45%, p=0.029) at 12-month follow-up. We found no differences in return-to-work in terms of sick leave duration at either 6-month or 12-month follow-up, with the latter being the primary outcome. No differences in anxiety, depression or functioning between INT, MHC and SAU were identified, but INT and MHC showed lower scores on Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale compared with SAU at 6-month follow-up.

Conclusions

Although INT did not hasten the process of return-to-work, it yielded better outcome with regard to proportion in work compared with MHC and SAU. The findings suggest that INT compared with SAU is associated with a few, minor health benefits. Overall, INT yielded slightly better vocational and health outcomes, but the clinical significance of the health advantage is questionable.

Trial registration number

NCT02872051.
Defects and impurities in colloidal Ga2O3 nanocrystals: new opportunities for photonics and lighting
Authors: Nguyen Khue , Radovanovic Pavle V.
Published: December 2021

Defects, both native and extrinsic, critically determine functional properties of metal oxides. Gallium oxide has recently gained significant attention for its promise in microelectronics, owing to the unique combination of conductivity and high breakdown voltage, and solid-state lighting, owing to the strong photoluminescence in the visible spectral region. These properties are associated with the presence of native defects that can form both donor and acceptor states in Ga2O3. Recently, Ga2O3 nanocrystal synthesis in solution and optical glasses has been developed, allowing for a range of new applications in photonics, lighting, and photocatalysis. This review focuses on the structure and properties of Ga2O3 nanocrystals with a particular emphasis on the electronic structure and interaction of defects in reduced dimensions and their role in the observed photoluminescence properties. In addition to native defects, the effect of selected external impurities, including lanthanide and aliovalent dopants, and alloying on the emission properties of Ga2O3 nanocrystals are also discussed.
Purely leptonic decays of the ground charged vector mesons
Authors: Yang Yueling , Li Zhenglin , Li Kang , Huang Jinshu , Sun Junfeng
Published: December 2021

The study of the purely leptonic decays of the ground charged vector mesons is very interesting and significant in determining the CKM matrix elements, obtaining the decay constant of vector mesons, examining the lepton flavor universality, and searching for new physics beyond the standard model. These purely leptonic decays of the ground charged vector mesons are induced by the weak interactions within the standard model, and usually have very small branching ratios, $$\mathcal{B}({\rho }^{-}{\rightarrow }{\ell }^{-}{\nu }_{\ell })$$

B
(

ρ

-

→

ℓ

-

ν
ℓ

)

$${\sim }$$
∼
$$\mathcal{O}(10^{-13})$$

O
(

10

-
13

)

, $${{{\mathcal {B}}}}(K^{{*}-}{\rightarrow }{\ell }^{-}{\nu }_{\ell })$$

B
(

K

∗

-

→

ℓ

-

ν
ℓ

)

$${\sim }$$
∼
$${{{\mathcal {O}}}}(10^{-13})$$

O
(

10

-
13

)

, $$\mathcal{B}(D_{d}^{{*}-}{\rightarrow }{\ell }^{-}{\nu }_{\ell })$$

B
(

D

d

∗

-

→

ℓ

-

ν
ℓ

)

$${\sim }$$
∼
$$\mathcal{O}(10^{-10})$$

O
(

10

-
10

)

, $$\mathcal{B}(B_{u}^{{*}-}{\rightarrow }{\ell }^{-}{\nu }_{\ell })$$

B
(

B

u

∗

-

→

ℓ

-

ν
ℓ

)

$${\sim }$$
∼
$$\mathcal{O}(10^{-10})$$

O
(

10

-
10

)

, $$\mathcal{B}(D_{s}^{{*}-}{\rightarrow }{\ell }^{-}{\nu }_{\ell })$$

B
(

D

s

∗

-

→

ℓ

-

ν
ℓ

)

$${\sim }$$
∼
$$\mathcal{O}(10^{-6})$$

O
(

10

-
6

)

and $$\mathcal{B}(B_{c}^{{*}-}{\rightarrow }{\ell }^{-}{\nu }_{\ell })$$

B
(

B

c

∗

-

→

ℓ

-

ν
ℓ

)

$${\sim }$$
∼
$$\mathcal{O}(10^{-6})$$

O
(

10

-
6

)

. Inspired by the potential prospects of LHCb, Belle-II, STCF, CEPC and FCC-ee experiments, we discussed the probabilities of experimental investigation on these purely leptonic decays. It is found that the measurements of these decays might be possible and feasible with the improvement of data statistics, analytical technique, and measurement precision in the future. (1) With the hadron-hadron collisions, the purely leptonic decays of $${\rho }^{-}$$

ρ

-

, $$K^{{*}-}$$

K

∗

-

, $$D_{d,s}^{{*}-}$$

D

d
,
s

∗

-

and $$B_{u,c}^{{*}-}$$

B

u
,
c

∗

-

mesons might be accessible at LHC experiments. (2) With the $$e^{+}e^{-}$$

e
+

e
-

collisions, the purely leptonic decays of $$D_{d,s}^{{*}-}$$

D

d
,
s

∗

-

and $$B_{u,c}^{{*}-}$$

B

u
,
c

∗

-

mesons might be measurable with over $$10^{12}$$

10
12

$$Z^{0}$$

Z
0

bosons available at CEPC and FCC-ee experiments. In addition, the $$D_{d,s}^{{*}-}$$

D

d
,
s

∗

-

$${\rightarrow }$$
→
$${\ell }^{-}{\nu }_{\ell }$$

ℓ

-

ν
ℓ

decays could also be studied at Belle-II and SCTF experiments.
Energy exchange calculations in a simple mechanical system to investigate the origin of friction
Authors: Iglesias Maria Luján , Tiwari Mukesh , Kenkre V. M. , Gonçalves Sebastian
Published: December 2021

The microscopic origin of friction is an important topic in science and technology. To date, noteworthy aspects of it remain unsolved. In an effort to shed some light on the possible mechanisms that could give rise to the macroscopic emergence of friction, a very simple 1D system of two particles is considered, one of them is free but moving with an initial velocity, and the other confined by a harmonic potential. The two particles interact via a repulsive Gaussian potential. While it represents in a straightforward manner a tip substrate system in the real world, no analytic solutions can be found for its motion. Because of the interaction, the free particle (tip) may overcome the bound particle (substrate) losing part of its kinetic energy. We solve Newton’s equations of the two particles numerically and calculate the net exchange of energy in the asymptotic state in terms of the relevant parameters of the problem. The effective dissipation that emerges from this simple, classical model with no ad hoc terms shows, surprisingly, a range of rich, nontrivial, behavior. We give theoretical reasoning which provides a satisfactory qualitative description. The essential ingredient of that reasoning is that the transfer of energy from the incoming particle to the confined one can be regarded as the source of the emergent dissipation force the friction experienced by the incoming particle.
Dark soliton solutions of the cubic-quintic complex Ginzburg–Landau equation with high-order terms and potential barriers in normal-dispersion fiber lasers
Authors: Viscarra Marco A. , Urzagasti Deterlino
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we numerically study dark solitons in normal-dispersion optical fibers described by the cubic-quintic complex Ginzburg–Landau equation. The effects of the third-order dispersion, self-steepening, stimulated Raman dispersion, and external potentials are also considered. The existence, chaotic content and interactions of these objects are analyzed, as well as the tunneling through a potential barrier and the formation of dark breathers aside from dark solitons in two dimensions and their mutual interactions as well as with periodic potentials. Furthermore, the homogeneous solutions of the model and the conditions for their stability are also analytically obtained.
Dynamic Analysis of a Rotating Double-Tapered FGM Beam with Various Shear Models Using a Constrained Variational Method
Authors: Zhou Zixuan , Huang Xiuchang , Hua Hongxing
Published: December 2021

A constrained variation modeling method for free vibration analysis of rotating double tapered functionally graded beams with different shear deformation beam theories is proposed in this paper. The material properties of the beam are supposed to continuously vary in the width direction with power-law exponent for different indexes. The mathematical formulation is developed based on the geometrically exact beam theory for each beam segment, the admissible functions denoting motion quantities are then expressed by a series of Chebyshev orthogonal polynomials. The governing equations are eventually derived using the constrained variational method to involve the continuity conditions of adjacent segments. Different shear deformation beam theories have been incorporated in the formulations, and the nonlinear effect of bending–stretching coupling vibration together with the Coriolis effect is taken into account. Comparison of dimensionless natural frequencies is performed with the existing literature to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the proposed method. Comparative discussions are performed on the vibration behaviors of the double tapered rotating functionally graded beam with first-order shear deformation beam theory and other higher-order shear deformation beam theories. The effect of material property graduation, power-law index, rotation speed, hub radius, slenderness ratio, and taper ratios is scrutinized via parametric studies, respectively.
Global mass-preserving solutions to a chemotaxis-fluid model involving Dirichlet boundary conditions for the signal
Authors: Wang Yulan , Winkler Michael , Xiang Zhaoyin
Published: December 2021

The chemotaxis-Stokes system [Formula: see text] is considered subject to the boundary condition [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] and a given nonnegative function [Formula: see text].

In contrast to the well-studied case when the second requirement herein is replaced by a homogeneous Neumann boundary condition for [Formula: see text], the Dirichlet condition imposed here seems to destroy a natural energy-like property that has formed a core ingredient in the literature by providing comprehensive regularity features of the latter problem. This paper attempts to suitably cope with accordingly poor regularity information in order to nevertheless derive a statement on global existence within a generalized framework of solvability which involves appropriately mild requirements on regularity, but which maintains mass conservation in the first component as a key solution property.
Targeting Epigenetic Regulators Using Machine Learning: Potential Sirtuin 2 Inhibitors
Authors: Kessler Andrew , Kouznetsova Valentina L. , Tsigelny Igor F.
Published: December 2021

Sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) is a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent deacetylase that has been identified as a target for many diseases, including Parkinson’s disease (PD) and leukemia. Using 234 SIRT2 inhibitors from the ZINC15 database, we generated molecular descriptors with PaDEL and constructed a machine-learning (ML) model for the binary classification of SIRT2 inhibitors. To predict compounds with novel inhibitory mechanisms, we then applied the model on the ZINC15/FDA subset, yielding 107 potential SIRT2 inhibitors. For validation of these substances, we employed the binding analysis software AutoDock Vina to perform virtual screening, with which 43 compounds were considered best inhibitors at the [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]kcal/mol binding affinity threshold. Our results demonstrate the potential of ligand-based (LB) ML techniques in conjunction with receptor-based virtual screening (RBVS) to facilitate the drug discovery or repurposing.
Effects of Acidic Environment on Dynamic Mechanical Properties and Porosity Evolution Characteristics of Coal
Authors: Gong Shuang , Li Xiaojun , Wang Wen , Yao Shibin , Liu Juan , Niu Dengyun
Published: December 2021

Coal pillars left in coal mines are often subjected to long‐term submersion by groundwater and chemical solutions and are susceptible to deterioration and even destabilization damage under dynamic load disturbance. In order to investigate the effects of acidic environment on dynamic mechanical properties and porosity evolution characteristics of coal, a split Hopkinson bar (SHPB) was used to test the dynamic compressive strength and tensile strength of coal samples under different acid environment. The results showed that the sample density gradually decreased with the increase of the number of wet and dry cycles, but the decrease was significantly related to the pH value. Longitudinal wave velocity of coal sample decreases gradually with the increase of drying and wetting cycles, and the decreasing speed is first fast and then slow. The stronger the acidity of the solution, the more times the dry‐wet cycle, and the higher the water absorption of the sample. In the early stage of dry‐wet cycle, the coal is significantly affected, and the average deterioration degree is large. After that, the influence of cyclic action is reduced, and the average degradation degree is small. Porosity of coal increases continuously under the action of dry‐wet cycle. The stronger the acidity, the greater the change in initial porosity. In the 20th cycle, the porosity of the acidic environment increases significantly at once and then decreases continuously.
Calculation Method for the Critical Thickness of a Karst Cave Roof at the Bottom of a Socketed Pile
Authors: Qingke Nie , Xilai Li , Wei Yuan , Anli Wang , Wei Wang , Xiangxin Jia , Weidong Shang
Published: December 2021

The thickness of a karst cave roof at the bottom of a socketed pile plays an important role in the vertical bearing capacity of the socketed pile in the karst region. In practice, its thickness is simply recommended to be not less than 3 times the diameter of the socketed pile, regardless of the geological conditions and the size of the cave itself. In this study, we present an approach for calculating the critical thickness‐to‐diameter ratio of a karst cave roof η (η = h/d, the ratio of karst cave roof thickness to pile diameter) based on the generalized Hoek–Brown criterion by virtue of the limit analysis method, which considers the pile tip load, hardness degree of the intact rock, and rock mass quality. The analysis results show that less load at the bottom of the pile, higher quality of rock mass, and more hard rock all lead to a smaller critical thickness‐diameter ratio, whereas the critical thickness‐to‐diameter ratio is greater. The validity of the proposed method is verified through a physical model test.
Analysis of User Personalized Retrieval of Multimedia Digital Archives Dependent on BP Neural Network Algorithm
Authors: Wang Zhongke
Published: December 2021

This paper briefly introduces the characteristics of content-based multimedia retrieval under the information background, analyzes the implementation process of these technologies in the multimedia archives retrieval system including video and image information of digital archives, and points out that the content-based multimedia retrieval technology is bound to be organically combined with the traditional text retrieval methods. The information retrieval technologies in the past can only comply with the specific requirements of customers. Due to their characteristics of universality, they can hardly meet the demands of different environments, various purposes, and different times at the same time yet. Researchers have put forward personalized retrieval of multimedia files based on the BP neural network computing. In this way, the interest model of customers can be analyzed based on the characteristics of the different classification areas of users. Subsequently, the corresponding calculations are carried out, and the model is updated accordingly. Through the experiments, it is verified that the probability model put forward in this paper is the optimal solution to express the interest of customers and its changes.
Propofol Inhibits Thyroid Cancer Cell Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion by Suppressing SHH and PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathways via the miR-141-3p/BRD4 Axis
Authors: Zhang Heming , Tan Mingtao , Zhang Jing , Han Xiao , Ma Yue
Published: December 2021

Objective. This study explores the effect and mechanism of propofol for thyroid tumor. Methods. Culture human normal thyroid cells Nthy-ori 3-1 and thyroid cancer cell line TPC-1. TPC-1 cells were divided into the propofol group (treated with propofol), miR-141-3p group (transfected with the miR-141-3p mimic), negative control group (transfected with miR-NC), miR-141-3p + pcDNA-BRD4 group (transfected with the miR-141-3p mimic and pcDNA-BRD4), miR-141-3p + pcDNA group (transfected with the miR-141-3p mimic and pcDNA), siBRD4 group (transfected with siBRD4), and si-control group (transfected with si-control). The detection of miR-141-3p and BRD4 expression in cells was done by RT-qPCR, and the dual-luciferase reporter gene method and western blotting were used to verify the targeting relationship between miR-141-3p and BRD4. MTT method was used to test cell proliferation, transwell method was used to test cell migration and invasion, and western blotting was used to test SHH, GLI1, p-PI3K, and p-AKT protein expression. Results. Compared with Nthy-ori 3-1 cells, the expression of miR-141-3p in TPC-1 cells was markedly decreased. Propofol treatment and excessive expression of miR-141-3p could influence the phenotype of TPC-1 cells. BRD4 is one of the target genes of miR-141-3p, and its expression is negatively regulated by miR-141-3p. Overexpression of BRD4 can partially reverse the restraining effect of miR-141-3p on the TPC-1 cell phenotype. Both miR-141-3p and BRD4 can regulate the activity of SHH and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. Conclusion. Propofol can inhibit the activity of SHH and PI3K/AKT pathways by targeting downregulating BRD4 through miR-141-3p, thereby inhibiting the phenotype of TPC-1 cells.
ADAM8 Activates NLRP3 Inflammasome to Promote Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Lu Hongwei , Meng Yaqin , Han Xinrui , Zhang Wei
Published: December 2021

Stroke is the leading cause of death and disability in humans. Strokes are classified as either ischemic or hemorrhagic. Ischemic stroke accounts for 70–80% of the cases. Inflammation is a key factor in ischemic brain injury. Studies have shown that inflammatory response induced by NLRP3 inflammasome is one of the root causes of brain damage in mice with cerebral ischemia. However, its specific mechanism in cerebral ischemia is still unclear. ADAM8 (a disintegrin and metalloproteases 8) is a transmembrane protein with different functions. It plays an important role in tumors and neuroinflammation-related diseases. However, the role and molecular mechanism of ADAM8 in cerebral ischemia injury are still unclear. This study aims to evaluate the role of ADAM8 in cerebral ischemic injury and explore its signal transduction mechanism. This experiment shows that ADAM8 can significantly cause neurological deficits in MCAO mice and can substantially cause ipsilateral cerebral edema and cerebral infarction in MCAO mice. In addition, ADAM8 can significantly induce cortical cell apoptosis in MCAO mice, leading to the loss of neurons and the expression of proinflammatory factors COX2, iNOS, TNFα, and IL-6. Importantly, we confirmed that ADAM8 mediates the inflammatory response by promoting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, microglia, and astrocytes. These results indicate that ADAM8 may be a candidate drug target for the prevention and treatment of the cerebral ischemic injury.
Active Vibration Control of Helicopter Maneuvering Flight Using Feedforward‐Robust Hybrid Control Based on Reference Signal Reconstruction
Authors: Qin Yifan , Lu Yang , Ma Jinchao , Yue Huiyu
Published: December 2021

Current control laws for active control of helicopter structural vibration are designed for steady‐state flight conditions, while the vibration response of maneuvering flight has not been taken into consideration yet. In order to obtain full‐time vibration suppression capability, the authors propose a filtered least mean square‐mixed sensitivity robust control method based on reference signal reconstruction (LMS‐MSRC), driving piezoelectric stack actuators to suppress helicopter structural vibration response in maneuvering flight. When feedback controller designed by H∞ theory is implemented, active damping is added on the secondary path to weaken the adverse effects of its sudden changes in maneuvering flight state. Furthermore, a reference signal reconstruction scheme is given concerning equivalent secondary path. In addition, the reconstruction accuracy, the convergence speed, stability, and global validity of the hybrid controller are analysed. Compared with multichannel Fx‐LMS, numerical simulations of LMS‐MSRC for vibration suppression are undertaken with a helicopter simplified finite element model under several typical flight conditions. Further experiments of real‐time free‐free beam vibration control are performed, driven by a stacked piezoelectric actuator. The instantaneous overshoot of measured response is 42% less than the peak value and its attenuation reaches 85% within 2.5 s. Numerical and experimental results reveal that the proposed algorithm is practical for suppressing transient disturbance and multifrequency helicopter vibration response during maneuvering flight with faster convergence speed and better robustness.
Implementation of Distributed Operation and Maintenance of Cross-Border e-Commerce Platform Based on Cloud Native Architecture
Authors: Dong YanJiao , Zhang Yang
Published: December 2021

The traditional architecture of e-commerce data management needs to adapt to the new and more complex environment, which needs to provide massive data management, compatibility of different types of data, and better user experience. Cloud computing technology is a synthesis of parallel, distributed, and grid computing and is one of the future directions of information technology development. In this paper, we use cloud computing data management technology to study the data management of e-commerce. It is hoped that the current e-commerce data management can be improved with the help of cloud computing technology. This paper starts from analyzing the current e-commerce representatives Taobao.com and Jingdong Mall to find out the data characteristics of these two enterprises, analyze the existing data problems, and find the aspects that can be improved. Using this open-source cloud computing implementation solution, we solve the storage problem of large files and unstructured small files in the e-commerce system.