bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Search graph structure and its implications for multi-graph constrained routing and scheduling problems
Authors: Weiszer Michal , Burke Edmund K. , Chen Jun
Published: September 2022

Multi-graphs where several edges connect a pair of nodes are an important modelling approach for many real-world optimisation problems. The multi-graph structure is often based on infrastructure and available connections between nodes. In this study, we conduct case studies for a special type of constrained routing and scheduling problems. Using the airport ground movement problem as an example, we analyse how the number of parallel edges and their costs in multi-graph structure influence the quality of obtained solutions found by the routing algorithm. The results show that the number of parallel edges not only affects the computational complexity but also the number of trade-off solutions and the quality of the found solutions. An indicator is further proposed which can estimate when the multi-graph would benefit from a higher number of parallel edges. Furthermore, we show that including edges with dominated costs in the multi-graph can also improve the results in the presence of time window constraints. The findings pave the way to an informed approach to multi-graph creation for similar problems based on multi-graphs.
Increased risk of abortion after frozen-thawed embryo transfer in women with polycystic ovary syndrome phenotypes A and D
Authors: Wang Qiumin , Zheng Yanjun , Li Ping , Zhang Guanqun , Gao Shanshan , Wang Ze , Hao Baozhen , Shi Yuhua
Published: September 2022

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including an increased risk of abortion, premature delivery, and even neonatal outcomes. After removing the effect of COH on patients, studying the pregnancy outcomes of patients with different PCOS phenotypes after FET may better reflect the impact of different PCOS phenotypes on ART outcomes. Data of 8903 patients who underwent FET between January 2017 and October 2019 were retrospectively collected and evaluated. All patients were divided into a control group and four phenotype groups based on Rotterdam criteria. The main outcomes were pregnancy outcomes after FET. We found significantly higher abortion (P = 0.010) and lower ongoing pregnancy (P = 0.023) rates for women with PCOS phenotypes A and D compared to those in the control group. After adjusting for potential confounders, PCOS phenotypes A and D were associated with an elevated risk of abortion (adjusted OR, 1.476, P = 0.016; adjusted OR, 1.348, P = 0.008, respectively). The results of this study suggest that when performing FET, clinicians should individually manage women with PCOS phenotypes A and D to reduce the rate of abortion and increase the rate of LB, and achieve better pregnancy outcomes.
Predicting the effects of climate change on the cross-scale epidemiological dynamics of a fungal plant pathogen
Authors: Miller Ian F. , Jiranek Juliana , Brownell Mckenna , Coffey Sarah , Gray Barrett , Stahl Maria , Metcalf C. Jessica E.
Published: September 2022

The potential for climate change to exacerbate the burden of human infectious diseases is increasingly recognized, but its effects on infectious diseases of plants have received less attention. Understanding the impacts of climate on the epidemiological dynamics of plant pathogens is imperative, as these organisms play central roles in natural ecosystems and also pose a serious threat to agricultural production and food security. We use the fungal ‘flax rust’ pathogen (Melampsora lini) and its subalpine wildflower host Lewis flax (Linum lewisii) to investigate how climate change might affect the dynamics of fungal plant pathogen epidemics using a combination of empirical and modeling approaches. Our results suggest that climate change will initially slow transmission at both the within- and between-host scales. However, moderate resurgences in disease spread are predicted as warming progresses, especially if the rate of greenhouse gas emissions continues to increase at its current pace. These findings represent an important step towards building a holistic understanding of climate effects on plant infectious disease that encompasses demographic, epidemiological, and evolutionary processes. A core result is that neglecting processes at any one scale of plant pathogen transmission may bias projections of climate effects, as climate drivers have variable and cascading impacts on processes underlying transmission that occur at different scales.
Lack of extracellular matrix switches TGF-β induced apoptosis of endometrial cells to epithelial to mesenchymal transition
Authors: Ruiz-Mitjana Anna , Navaridas Raúl , Vidal-Sabanés Maria , Perramon-Güell Aida , Yeramian Andree , Felip Isidre , Eritja Núria , Egea Joaquim , Encinas Mario , Matias-Guiu Xavier , Dolcet Xavier
Published: September 2022

The extracellular matrix and the correct establishment of epithelial cell polarity plays a critical role in epithelial cell homeostasis and cell polarity. In addition, loss of tissue structure is a hallmark of carcinogenesis. In this study, we have addressed the role of extracellular matrix in the cellular responses to TGF-β. It is well known that TGF-β is a double-edged sword: it acts as a tumor suppressor in normal epithelial cells, but conversely has tumor-promoting effects in tumoral cells. However, the factors that determine cellular outcome in response to TGF-β remain controversial. Here, we have demonstrated that the lack of extracellular matrix and consequent loss of cell polarity inhibits TGF-β-induced apoptosis, observed when endometrial epithelial cells are polarized in presence of extracellular matrix. Rather, in absence of extracellular matrix, TGF-β-treated endometrial epithelial cells display features of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. We have also investigated the molecular mechanism of such a switch in cellular response. On the one hand, we found that the lack of Matrigel results in increased AKT signaling which is sufficient to inhibit TGF-β-induced apoptosis. On the other hand, we demonstrate that TGF-β-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition requires ERK and SMAD2/3 activation. In summary, we demonstrate that loss of cell polarity changes the pro-apoptotic function of TGF-β to tumor-associated phenotype such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. These results may be important for understanding the dual role of TGF-β in normal versus tumoral cells.
HSP expression depends on its molecular construction and different organs of the chicken: a meta-analysis
Authors: Siddiqui Sharif Hasan , Khan Mousumee , Choe Hosung , Kang Darae , Shim Kwanseob
Published: September 2022

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) expression protect the cell from stress, this expression varies on tissue and stress level. Here, we investigated the structure and functional expression of HSPs in different chicken organs using meta-analysis. A total of 1253 studies were collected from three different electronic databases from January 1, 2015 to February 1, 2022. Of these studies, 28 were selected based on the specific criteria for this meta-analysis. The results for the expression of HSPs and the comparative expression of HSPs (HSP90, HSP70, and HSP60) in different chicken organs (brain, heart, liver, muscle, and intestine) were analyzed using the odds ratio or the random-effects model (REM) at a confidence interval (CI) of 95%. Compared to the thermoneutral groups, heat stress groups exhibited a significant (P < 0.01) change in their HSP70 expression in the chicken liver (8 trials: REM = 1.41, 95% CI: 0.41, 4.82). The expression of different HSPs in various chicken organs varied and the different organs were categorized according to their expression levels. HSP expression differed among the heart, liver, and muscle of chickens. HSPs expression level depends on the structure and molecular weight of the HSPs, as well as the type of tissue.
Effect of louver baffles installation on hydrodynamics of bubbling fluidization in biomass gasifier
Authors: Phuakpunk Kiattikhoon , Chalermsinsuwan Benjapon , Assabumrungrat Suttichai
Published: September 2022

Biomass gasification by a bubbling bed gasifier has been a promising process to produce fuels from biomass. However, the performance is limited by gas aggregation in the gasifier. In this study, CFD simulations were used to investigate hydrodynamics in bubbling bed gasifiers installed with multilayer louver baffles to understand the roles of baffles on different aspects including gas aggregation, biomass-bed mixing, gas-biomass contact, and pressure drop. The designed baffles could reduce the gas aggregation particularly when the biomass is fed at the middle of the baffle zone. The baffles could enhance the biomass-bed mixing and the gas-biomass contact throughout the bed except near the biomass inlet. The installation of baffles would not significantly affect the overall pressure drop but slightly affect at the mid-level of the bed. For the system in this study, the baffled gasifier with biomass feeding at the middle of the baffled zone and the gas inlet velocity of 0.7 m/s could provide the best performance in term of hydrodynamics.
Metabolic profiling of Lantana camara L. using UPLC-MS/MS and revealing its inflammation-related targets using network pharmacology-based and molecular docking analyses
Authors: El-Banna Alaa A. , Darwish Reham S. , Ghareeb Doaa A. , Yassin Abdelrahman M. , Abdulmalek Shaymaa A. , Dawood Hend M.
Published: September 2022

Lantana camara L. is widely used in folk medicine for alleviation of inflammatory disorders, but studies that proved this folk use and that revealed the molecular mechanism of action in inflammation mitigation are not enough. Therefore, this study aimed to identify L. camara phytoconstituents using UPLC-MS/MS and explain their multi-level mechanism of action in inflammation alleviation using network pharmacology analysis together with molecular docking and in vitro testing. Fifty-seven phytoconstituents were identified in L. camara extract, from which the top hit compounds related to inflammation were ferulic acid, catechin gallate, myricetin and iso-ferulic acid. Whereas the most enriched inflammation related genes were PRKCA, RELA, IL2, MAPK 14 and FOS. Furthermore, the most enriched inflammation-related pathways were PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling pathways. Molecular docking revealed that catechin gallate possessed the lowest binding energy against PRKCA, RELA and IL2, while myricetin had the most stabilized interaction against MAPK14 and FOS. In vitro cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory testing indicated that L. camara extract is safer than piroxicam and has a strong anti-inflammatory activity comparable to it. This study is a first step in proving the folk uses of L. camara in palliating inflammatory ailments and institutes the groundwork for future clinical studies.
Antioxidant, cytotoxic, and antibacterial activities of Clitoria ternatea flower extracts and anthocyanin-rich fraction
Authors: Jeyaraj Ethel Jeyaseela , Lim Yau Yan , Choo Wee Sim
Published: September 2022

Clitoria ternateaflower is a traditional medicinal herb that has been used as a natural food colourant. As there are limited studies on investigating the bioactivities of the anthocyanin-rich fraction ofClitoria ternateaflower, this study aimed to determine an efficient column chromatography method to obtain the anthocyanin-rich fraction from this flower and characterise its composition, antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxic activities. Amberlite XAD-16 column chromatography was more efficient in enriching the total anthocyanin content (TAC) of the fraction with the highest TAC to total phenolic content (TPC) ratio of 1:6 than that using C18-OPN. A total of 11 ternatin anthocyanins were characterised in the anthocyanin-rich fraction by LC–MS analysis. The antioxidant activity of the anthocyanin-rich fraction was more potent in the chemical-based assay with an IC50value of 0.86 ± 0.07 mg/mL using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay than cellular antioxidant assay using RAW 264.7 macrophages. In vitro cytotoxicity assay using human embryonic kidney HEK-293 cell line showed the anthocyanin-rich fraction to be more toxic than the crude extracts. The anthocyanin-rich fraction had more potent antibacterial activity than the crude extracts againstBacillus cereus,Bacillus subtilis, andEscherichia coli. The anthocyanin-rich fraction ofC. ternateahas the potential to be used and developed as a functional food ingredient or nutraceutical agent.
The mediating role of controllability appraisals and coping strategies on adaptive functioning after job loss: a path model
Authors: Socastro Angela , Contreras Alba , Peinado Vanesa , Trucharte Almudena , Valiente Carmen , Vazquez Carmelo , Sanchez-Lopez Alvaro
Published: September 2022

Job loss is a stressful event that increases the risk of experiencing depression and anxiety, especially during the initial months of unemployment. This study examined differences in psychological symptoms and resilient functioning accounted by employment status. The results pointed out that recently unemployed compared to currently employed individuals had lower levels of perceived controllability and resilience as well as higher levels of depression and anxiety. Path analyses showed that lower controllability appraisals at wave 1 of recently unemployed compared to employed individuals, in turn, predicted a lower use of active coping and reappraisal at wave 2, with the latter further accounting for lower levels in resilience. Higher use of distraction further mediated the relation between employment status and higher levels of depression and anxiety symptoms. Our findings demonstrate the importance of controllability appraisals and coping strategies used to promote adaptive psychological functioning following job loss.
Visualizing localized, radiative defects in GaAs solar cells
Authors: Hamadani Behrang H. , Stevens Margaret A. , Conrad Brianna , Lumb Matthew P. , Schmieder Kenneth J.
Published: September 2022

We have used a calibrated, wide-field hyperspectral imaging instrument to obtain absolute spectrally and spatially resolved photoluminescence images in high growth-rate, rear-junction GaAs solar cells from 300 to 77 K. At the site of some localized defects scattered throughout the active layer, we report a novel, double-peak luminescence emission with maximum peak energies corresponding to both the main band-to-band transition and a band-to-impurity optical transition below the band gap energy. Temperature-dependent imaging reveals that the evolution of the peak intensity and energy agrees well with a model of free-to-bound recombination with a deep impurity center, likely a gallium antisite defect. We also analyzed the temperature dependence of the band-to-band transition within the context of an analytical model of photoluminescence and discuss the agreement between the modeling results and external device parameters such as the open circuit voltage of the solar cells over this broad temperature range.
Molecular characterization of multi drug resistant Escherichia coli isolates at a tertiary hospital in Abuja, Nigeria
Authors: Medugu Nubwa , Aworh Mabel Kamweli , Iregbu Kenneth , Nwajiobi-Princewill Philip , Abdulraheem Khadija , Hull Dawn M. , Harden Lyndy , Singh Pallavi , Obaro Stephen , Egwuenu Abiodun , Thakur Siddhartha
Published: September 2022

Infections caused by multi-drug resistant Escherichia coli cause significant morbidity and mortality especially in developing countries. In this study, we describe the molecular characteristics of E. coli isolated from clinical specimens and the patients’ outcomes. Phenotypic methods were used in the identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of E. coli from clinical specimens from a tertiary hospital in Abuja, Nigeria. Whole genome sequencing was used to describe the antimicrobial resistance genes, serotypes, sequence types/clonal complexes, and mobile genetic elements. The mean age of the patients was 20.3 years with 70.1% females and majority of isolates 75% from urine, 21% from blood cultures, and 3% each from cerebrospinal fluid and endo-cervical swabs. Of the 107 non-duplicate E. coli isolates, 101 (94.3%) were resistant to ampicillin, 95 (88.8%) to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, 86 (80.4%) to ceftriaxone, 60 (56.1%) to gentamicin, and eight (7.5%) to meropenem. There were 102 (95.3%) isolates that were multi-drug resistant (MDR). Expression of Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL) phenotype was detected in 54 (50%) and blaCTX-M-15 genes detected in 75 (70.1%) isolates. The carbapenemase genes blaNDM-1 and blaNDM-5 were detected in six (5.6%), while the AmpC gene- blaCMY-2, was detected in seven (6.5%) isolates. Two (1.9%) isolates simultaneously harboured the blaOXA-1, blaCMY-2, blaCTX-M-15, and blaNDM-5 genes. In total, 35 sequence types (STs) were found with the majority being ST131 (n = 23; 21.5%). The most common serotype was O25:H4 associated with all 23 strains of ST131, followed by O1:H6/ST648 (n = 6). The ST410, ST671, and ST101 strains displayed phenotypic resistance to wide array of antibiotic classes and harbored high numbers of antibiotic resistance genes via in-silico analysis. The ST410 strain in particular harbored a higher number of antibiotic resistance genes and was phenotypically resistant to a wider array of antibiotics. Four pairs of isolates were closely related with three isolates (ST131, ST38, ST652) having a pairwise SNP difference of zero. 71/72 75/76 52/14. The MDR E. coli lineages circulating in this setting pose a clinical and public health threat as they can hinder effective prevention and management of infections. The genetic diversity and MDR E. coli with the emergence of ST410 and ST101 clones is concerning because of the potential for rapid dissemination in hospitals and communities- further increasing the problems of antibiotic resistance. Continuous routine surveillance of E. coli infections for AMR in hospitals becomes imperative, aimed at development of effective antimicrobial stewardship programs, facilitating prudent use of antimicrobial agents, and limiting dissemination of resistant strains.
Low dose aspirin associated with greater bone mineral density in older adults
Authors: Liu Hongzhan , Xiao Xungang , Shi Qiaojing , Tang Xianzhe , Tian Yun
Published: September 2022

The use of low-dose aspirin in older adults is increasing as is the prevalence of osteoporosis. Aspirin has been shown in numerous studies to affect bone metabolism. However, there is no clear link between low-dose aspirin use and bone mineral density (BMD). This study examined differences in bone mineral density between low-dose aspirin users and non-aspirin users in adults aged 50–80 years. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 15,560 participants who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-March 2020. We used a multivariate logistic regression model to evaluate the relationship between low-dose aspirin and femoral neck BMD, femoral total BMD, intertrochanteric BMD, and the first lumbar vertebra BMD (L1 BMD) in patients aged 50 to 80 years. A total of 1208 (Group 1: femoral neck BMD, total femur BMD, and intertrochanter BMD) and 1228 (Group 2: L1 BMD) adults were included in this study. In both group 1 and group 2, BMD was higher in the low-dose aspirin group than in the non-aspirin group (Total femur BMD β = 0.019, 95% CI 0.004–0.034; Femoral neck BMD β = 0.017, 95% CI 0.002–0.032; Intertrochanter BMD β = 0.025, 95% CI 0.007–0.043; L1 BMD β = 0.026, 95% CI 0.006–0.046). In subgroup analyses stratified by gender, this positive association existed in both gender after adjusting for confounders. On subgroup analyses stratified by age, this positive association existed in three different age groups after adjusting for confounders. To test whether the effect of low-dose aspirin on BMD was affected by gender and age, the interaction P value was greater than 0.05. These findings from a human study looking into the relationship between low-dose aspirin use and BMD suggest that regular low-dose aspirin may be associated with a higher BMD. The association between low-dose aspirin and BMD did not differ by age group or gender.
Preoperative albumin–bilirubin score as a prognostic indicator in patients with stage III colon cancer
Authors: Lee Hyun Gu , Lim Seok-Byung , Lee Jong Lyul , Kim Chan Wook , Yoon Yong Sik , Park In Ja , Kim Jin Cheon
Published: September 2022

The albumin–bilirubin (ALBI) score was created to assess the severity of liver dysfunction and to predict prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of the ALBI score in patients with stage III colon cancer using propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. This study analyzed 510 patients with stage III colon cancer who had surgery between 2014 and 2015. The ALBI score was calculated as follows: (log10 bilirubin (μmol/L) $$\times$$
×
0.66) + (albumin (g/L) $$\times$$
×
−0.0852), and the optimal cut-off value was determined using a receiver operating characteristic analysis and the Youden Index. According to the calculated cut-off value, patients were divided into two groups: Group A (ALBI ≤  − 2.54) and Group B (ALBI >  − 2.54). The average ALBI score was − 2.68 (from − 3.39 to − 0.69). Group A had a significantly higher 5-year disease-free survival rate (85.5% vs 75.7%, p = 0.02), 5-year cancer-specific survival rate (93.7% vs 84.4%, p = 0.02), and 5-year overall survival rate (90.6% vs 77.4%, p = 0.01) than Group B. High ALBI scores were found to be an independent risk factor for both disease-free survival (HR 1.68, p = 0.048) and cancer-specific survival (HR 2.24, p = 0.028). The preoperative ALBI score was found to be a promising prognostic indicator for predicting recurrence and survival in patients with stage III colon cancer in this study. Because the ALBI score is simple and inexpensive to obtain, it has the potential to be a useful clinical marker for colon cancer patients.
Mass oscillations and matter wave’s phase and amplitude modulations of relativistic quantum particles induced by Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle
Authors: Tang Jau , Tang Qiang , Hu Z. B.
Published: September 2022

We present a flip-flop dual-component model to treat quantum dynamics of relativistic particles with a rest mass and investigate the matter waves’ phase and amplitude modulations due to Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. Their matter waves behave like a traveling Gaussian-shaped wave packet accompanied by a guiding pilot wave, and the phase modulations result in mass oscillations. These effects are more prominent for light-weighted elementary particles, such as neutrinos and electrons. This mechanism is solely due to the uncertainty principle and has nothing to do with the flavor-mixing of neutrinos. Simulations using neutrinos and electrons are presented, which indicate an oscillation period on the order of ps. This study primarily focuses on the predicted mass oscillations induced by the uncertainty principle. A slit-type interference experiment using neutrinos and electrons from reactors is proposed to test the predicted behaviors.
Beyond nylon 6: polyamides via ring opening polymerization of designer lactam monomers for biomedical applications
Authors: Varghese Maria , Grinstaff Mark W.
Published: September 2022

This review highlights recent developments in nylon polymer synthesis techniques, novel monomer structures developed, and biomedical applications of nylon polymers.
In situ preparation of glyco-micromotors and their bacteria loading/guiding ability
Authors: Shan Fangjian , Hu Jun , Gu Chuan , Zhou Yue , Zhang Zexin , Chen Gaojian
Published: September 2022

We successfully synthesized glyco-micromotors in situ directed by multifunctional glycopolymers. The fabricated glyco-micromotor presents abilities in loading and guiding bacteria.
Cesium carbonate-catalyzed synthesis of phosphorothioates via S-phosphination of thioketones
Authors: Chen Ze-Wei , Pratheepkumar Annamalai , Bai Rekha , Hu Yongyi , Badsara Satpal Singh , Huang Kuo-Wei , Lee Chin-Fa
Published: September 2022

A highly efficient and environmentally-friendly base-mediated transition metal-free direct thiophilic catalytic approach is reported for the synthesis of S-benzhydryl-phosphorothioates by reacting phosphite nucleophiles with diarylmethanethione.
Photocatalytic properties of anisotropic β-PtX2 (X = S, Se) and Janus β-PtSSe monolayers
Authors: Jamdagni Pooja , Kumar Ashok , Srivastava Sunita , Pandey Ravindra , Tankeshwar K.
Published: September 2022

Electrostatic potential, bands alignment, anisotropic carrier mobility and absorption spectrum of β-PtSSe monolayer.
CB6Al0/+: Planar hexacoordinate boron (phB) in the global minimum structure
Authors: Das Prasenjit , Patra Shanti Gopal , Chattaraj Pratim Kumar
Published: September 2022

Density functional theory-based computations predict planar hexacoordinate boron (phB) in global minimum CB6Al0/+. The systems are kinetically stable and show σ- and π-electronic delocalization.
Evolving aprotic Li–air batteries
Authors: Wu Zhenzhen , Tian Yuhui , Chen Hao , Wang Liguang , Qian Shangshu , Wu Tianpin , Zhang Shanqing , Lu Jun
Published: September 2022

Written for a broad spectrum of readers, this review presents the evolution history and perspectives of lithium-air batteries, including the constantly emerging design, fabrication, modification, and optimization strategies.
Lignin to value-added chemicals and advanced materials: extraction, degradation, and functionalization
Authors: Gan Mei Jiao , Niu Yu Qin , Qu Xue Jing , Zhou Chun Hui
Published: September 2022

The recently developed strategies for the degradation and functionalization of lignin enable it to be converted into a wide variety of value-added -chemicals, -and advanced materials.
Metal-free, visible-light-promoted decarboxylative alkylation of Baylis–Hillman acetates withN-(acyloxy)phthalimides
Authors: Zhang De-Run , Hu Lin-Ping , Liu Feng-Lin , Huang Xiao-Hong , Li Xia , Liu Bo , Huang Guo-Li
Published: September 2022

A visible light-driven metal- and oxidant-free procedure for the decarboxylative alkylation of Baylis–Hillman acetates withN-(acyloxy)phthalimides to access trisubstituted alkyl acrylates under mild reaction conditions is reported.
Magnetoelectric core–shell CoFe2O4@BaTiO3 nanorods: their role in drug delivery and effect on multidrug resistance pump activity in vitro
Authors: Mushtaq Sadaf , Shahzad Khuram , Rizwan Muhammad , Ul-Hamid Anwar , Abbasi Bilal Haider , Khalid Waqas , Atif Muhammad , Ahmad Nafees , Ali Zulqurnain , Abbasi Rashda
Published: September 2022

Surface functionalized magnetoelectric core–shell cobalt ferrite barium titanate nanorods (CFO@BTO NRs) offer efficient magnetic field assisted drug delivery in cancer cells, resulting in enhanced cytotoxicity.
Novel Janus MoSiGeN4 nanosheet: adsorption behaviour and sensing performance for NO and NO2 gas molecules
Authors: Weng Yixin , Ma Xinguo , Yuan Gang , Lv Hui , Yuan Zhongyong
Published: September 2022

A novel Janus MoSiGeN4 nanosheet is proposed for detecting poisonous gas molecules.
High molecular weight PE elastomers through 4,4-difluorobenzhydryl substitution in symmetrical α-diimino-nickel ethylene polymerization catalysts
Authors: Zheng Yuting , Jiang Shu , Liu Ming , Yu Zhixin , Ma Yanping , Solan Gregory A. , Zhang Wenjuan , Liang Tongling , Sun Wen-Hua
Published: September 2022

N,N-Diaryl-2,3-dimethyl-1,4-diazabutadiene-nickel complexes appended with 4,4-difluorobenzhydryl groups can efficiently mediate the formation of polyethylene elastomers with molecular weights approaching one million g mol−1.
Rational design of 2D ferroelectric heterogeneous catalysts for controllable hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Wan Tsz Lok , Liu Junxian , Tan Xin , Liao Ting , Gu Yuantong , Du Aijun , Smith Sean , Kou Liangzhi
Published: September 2022

In this work, the controllable hydrogen evolution reaction is achieved by ferroelectric switching. The finding provides a fundamental understanding of ferroelectric catalysis and a new strategy to design ferroelectric heterostructure catalysts.
The amount of dextran in PLGA nanocarriers modulates protein corona and promotes cell membrane damage
Authors: Antonio Luana Corsi , Ribovski Laís , Pincela Lins Paula Maria , Zucolotto Valtencir
Published: September 2022

Control over the amount of dextran added to the formulation of doxorubicin-loaded PLGA nanocarriers impacts their interaction with non-phagocytic cells due to the decrease of protein adsorption with the increase of dextran amount.
Diamond surface engineering for molecular sensing with nitrogen—vacancy centers
Authors: Janitz Erika , Herb Konstantin , Völker Laura A. , Huxter William S. , Degen Christian L. , Abendroth John M.
Published: September 2022

Quantum sensing with shallow nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond offer promise for chemical analysis. Preserving favorable NV spin and charge properties while enabling molecular surface functionalization remains a critical challenge.
Health Behavior and Motivational Engagement Models Can Explain and Modify Teleaudiology Uptake
Authors: Abrams Harvey B. , Callahan Christina
Published: September 2022

Purpose:

The remote delivery of health care services (i.e., telehealth) has steadily increased across the health care landscape over the past decade with a dramatic increase following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote audiology delivery (i.e., teleaudiology), by contrast, has traditionally been characterized by relatively low utilization. While teleaudiology services increased during the COVID-19 lockdown period, most of those services were generally limited to follow-up care and postfitting consultations to existing patients. Furthermore, there is reason to believe that, despite the benefits that remote care provides, the use of teleaudiology services has decreased as in-person care has increased following the lifting of mandatory COVID-related lockdowns. The purpose of this viewpoint article is to posit that existing theories of health behavior, usually applied to patient-specific behaviors (e.g., hearing aid uptake) may explain the reluctance of audiologists to “uptake” a teleaudiology model of care. We also explore the potential of motivational engagement strategies as a means to allow audiologists to examine their sources of ambivalence as they consider adopting a remote service-delivery model.

Conclusions:

Health behavior models such as the Health Belief, Transtheoretical, and capability, opportunity, motivation, and behavior (COM-B) models represent theories that may help to explain audiologists' resistance to adopting remote delivery services. Motivational engagement strategies, such as decisional balance, can provide useful tools for audiologists to examine their attitudes toward the adoption of teleaudiology.
What Is the Role of Questioning in Young Children’s Fluency?
Authors: Garbarino Julianne , Bernstein Ratner Nan
Published: September 2022

Purpose:

Most therapy programs for young children who stutter (CWS) involve caregiver counseling and adjustment of caregiver behavior to maximize opportunities for the child to be more fluent. One component sometimes included as a recommended adjustment is a reduction in caregiver question asking, as question asking is hypothesized to increase language formulation demands on the child. However, there is limited research to guide clinician advisement to caregivers that has controlled for numerous potential confounding factors, including utterance length and grammaticality, that may impact potential stressors on children. Our aim was to assess whether there was an empirical basis for such recommendations by comparing disfluency profiles of answers to questions and nonanswer utterances produced by children during spontaneous play with parents and examiners.

Method:

We analyzed fluency and structural properties as well as pragmatic function of 15,782 utterances from language samples produced by 32 CWS and 32 children who do not stutter (CWNS) who were between 28 and 50 months of age. CWS and CWNS were matched on gender and age within 4 months and were matched as closely as possible on maternal education.

Results:

For utterances produced by CWS, answers to adult questions were significantly
less
likely to contain stuttering-like disfluencies than other utterance types, and this was still true after controlling for utterance length and grammaticality. In contrast, for utterances produced by CWNS, answers to questions were significantly
more
likely to be disfluent than other utterance types after controlling for length and grammaticality.

Conclusion:

Given the current findings, some prior research, and the documented potential benefits in language development for adult question asking of children, we do not believe that clinicians need to recommend changes to typical question-asking behavior by caregivers of CWS.
Designing flexible electrodes for brain-computer interfaces
Authors: Piccone Ashley
Published: September 2022

By developing stable and reliable electrodes, noninvasive interfaces can better extract and analyze cerebral cortical electroencephalogram signals.
Density functional study of twisted graphene L1-FePd heterogeneous interface
Authors: Uemoto Mitsuharu , Adachi Hayato , Naganuma Hiroshi , Ono Tomoya
Published: September 2022

Graphene on L10-FePd(001), which has been experimentally studied in recent years, is a heterogeneous interface with a significant lattice symmetry mismatch between the honeycomb structure of graphene and tetragonal alloy surface. In this work, we report on the density functional study of its atomic-scale configurations, electronic and magnetic properties, and adsorption mechanism, which have not been well understood in previous experimental studies. We propose various atomic-scale models, including simple nontwisted and low-strain twisted interfaces, and analyze their energetical stability by performing structural optimizations using the van der Waals interactions of both DFT-D2 and optB86b-vdW functionals. The binding energy of the most stable structure reached EB=−0.22 eV/atom for DFT-D2 (EB=−0.19 eV/atom for optB86b-vdW). The calculated FePd-graphene spacing distance was approximately 2 Å, which successfully reproduced the experimental value. We also find out characteristic behaviors: the modulation of π-bands, the suppression of the site-dependence of adsorption energy, and the rise of moiré-like corrugated buckling. In addition, our atomic structure is expected to help build low-cost computational models for investigating the physical properties of L10 alloys/two-dimensional interfaces.
Simulation of two-phase flows at large density ratios and high Reynolds numbers using a discrete unified gas kinetic scheme
Authors: Lai Jun , Xiao Zuoli , Wang Lian-Ping
Published: September 2022

In order to treat immiscible two-phase flows at large density ratios and high Reynolds numbers, a three-dimensional code based on the discrete unified gas kinetic scheme (DUGKS) is developed, incorporating two major improvements. First, the particle distribution functions at cell interfaces are reconstructed using a weighted essentially non-oscillatory scheme. Second, the conservative lower-order Allen–Cahn equation is chosen instead of the higher-order Cahn–Hilliard equation to evolve the free-energy-based phase field governing the dynamics of two-phase interfaces. Five benchmark problems are simulated to demonstrate the capability of the approach in treating two-phase flows at large density ratios and high Reynolds numbers, including three two-dimensional problems (a stationary droplet, Rayleigh–Taylor instability, and a droplet splashing on a thin liquid film) and two three-dimensional problems (binary droplets collision and Rayleigh–Taylor instability). All results agree well with the previous numerical and experimental results. In these simulations, the density ratio and the Reynolds number can reach a large value of O(1000). Our improved approach sets the stage for the DUGKS scheme to handle realistic two-phase flow problems.
Slow but steady progress seen for carbon-ion cancer therapy
Authors: Kramer David
Published: September 2022

Although Japan has adopted the treatment modality for a broad range of cancers, carbon ions continue to lack the validation provided by randomized clinical trials.
EBF1 primes B-lymphoid enhancers and limits the myeloid bias in murine multipotent progenitors
Authors: Lenaerts Aurelie , Kucinski Iwo , Deboutte Ward , Derecka Marta , Cauchy Pierre , Manke Thomas , Göttgens Berthold , Grosschedl Rudolf
Published: September 2022

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and multipotent progenitors (MPPs) generate all cells of the blood system. Despite their multipotency, MPPs display poorly understood lineage bias. Here, we examine whether lineage-specifying transcription factors, such as the B-lineage determinant EBF1, regulate lineage preference in early progenitors. We detect low-level EBF1 expression in myeloid-biased MPP3 and lymphoid-biased MPP4 cells, coinciding with expression of the myeloid determinant C/EBPα. Hematopoietic deletion of Ebf1 results in enhanced myelopoiesis and reduced HSC repopulation capacity. Ebf1-deficient MPP3 and MPP4 cells exhibit an augmented myeloid differentiation potential and a transcriptome with an enriched C/EBPα signature. Correspondingly, EBF1 binds the Cebpa enhancer, and the deficiency and overexpression of Ebf1 in MPP3 and MPP4 cells lead to an up- and downregulation of Cebpa expression, respectively. In addition, EBF1 primes the chromatin of B-lymphoid enhancers specifically in MPP3 cells. Thus, our study implicates EBF1 in regulating myeloid/lymphoid fate bias in MPPs by constraining C/EBPα-driven myelopoiesis and priming the B-lymphoid fate.
Photo-enhanced O−, H− and Br− ion production in caesium sputter negative ion source—no evidence for resonant ion pair production
Authors: Hossain A , Tarvainen O , Reponen M , Kronholm R , Julin J , Kalvas T , Toivanen V , Kivekäs M , Laitinen M
Published: September 2022

It has been proposed that the negative ion yield of a caesium sputter ion source could be enhanced by promoting neutral caesium atoms to electronically excited 7p states supporting resonant ion pair production. We have tested this hypothesis by illuminating the cathode of a caesium sputter ion source with an adjustable wavelength laser and measuring its effect on the extracted beam currents of O−, H− and Br− anions. The laser exposure causes the beam currents to increase but the effect is independent of the wavelength in the range of 440–460 nm, which leads us to conclude that there is no evidence for resonant ion pair production. The photon-induced beam current enhancement scales with the applied laser power and, depending on the ion source conditions, can more than double the extracted beam current. We present a qualitative explanation for the observed effect. The model, based on photoelectron emission and subsequent increase of the caesium sputtering rate, thus liberating negative ions from the cathode, is supported by the data demonstrating that the caesium sputter ion source can produce Br− beams without thermal surface ionization as a source of Cs+ ions, i.e. in external laser-driven mode without heating the surface ionizer.
Lax pair formulation for the open boundary Osp(1∣2) spin chain
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyu , Hao Kun
Published: September 2022

Based on the Lax pair formulation, we study the integrable conditions of the Osp(1∣2) spin chain with open boundaries. We consider both the non-graded and graded versions of the Osp(1∣2) chain. The Lax pair operators M
± for the boundaries can be induced by the Lax operator M

j
for the bulk of the system. They correspond to the reflection equations (RE) and the Yang–Baxter equation, respectively. We further calculate the boundary K-matrices for both the non-graded and graded versions of the model with open boundaries. The double row monodromy matrix and transfer matrix of the spin chain have also been constructed. The K-matrices obtained from the Lax pair formulation are consistent with those from Sklyanin’s RE. This construction is another way to prove the quantum integrability of the Osp(1∣2) chain. We find that the Lax pair formulation has advantages in dealing with the boundary terms of the supersymmetric model.
Extension of sound field reconstruction based on element radiation superposition method in a sparsity framework
Authors: Gao Yuan , Yang Bo-Quan , Shi Sheng-Guo , Zhang Hao-Yang
Published: September 2022

Nearfield acoustic holography (NAH) is a powerful tool for realizing source identification and sound field reconstruction. The wave superposition (WS)-based NAH is appropriate for the spatially extended sources and does not require the complex numerical integrals. Equivalent source method (ESM), as a classical WS approach, is widely used due to its simplicity and efficiency. In the ESM, a virtual source surface is introduced, on which the virtual point sources are taken as the assumed sources, and an optimal retreat distance needs to be considered. A newly proposed WS-based approach, the element radiation superposition method (ERSM), uses piston surface source as the assumed source with no need to choose a virtual source surface. To satisfy the application conditions of piston pressure formula, the sizes of pistons are assumed to be as small as possible, which results in a large number of pistons and sampling points. In this paper, transfer matrix modes (TMMs), which are composed of the singular vectors of the vibro-acoustic transfer matrix, are used as the sparse basis of piston normal velocities. Then, the compressive ERSM based on TMMs is proposed. Compared with the conventional ERSM, the proposed method maintains a good pressure reconstruction when the number of sampling points and pistons are both reduced. Besides, the proposed method is compared with the compressive ESM in a mathematical sense. Both simulations and experiments for a rectangular plate demonstrate the advantage of the proposed method over the existing methods.
The costs and benefits of fire management for carbon mitigation in Alaska through 2100
Authors: Elder Molly , Phillips Carly A , Potter Stefano , Frumhoff Peter C , Rogers Brendan M
Published: September 2022

Climate change is intensifying fire regimes across boreal regions, and thus both burned area and carbon emissions from combustion are expected to increase significantly over the next several decades. Fire management through initial suppression of fires is effective at reducing burned area, but limited work has addressed the role that fire management can play in reducing wildfire carbon emissions and their impacts on climate change. In this work, we draw on historical data covering fire and fire management in Alaska to project burned area and management outcomes to 2100. We allow management to both respond to and impact variations in annual burned area and carbon emissions, while keeping decadal-average burned area at or above historical levels. The total cost of a fire is calculated as the combination of management expenditures and the social cost of carbon (SCC) emissions during combustion, using the SCC framework. Incorporating the tradeoff between management expenditures and burned area, we project that by 2100, increasing management effort by 5–10 times relative to current expenditures would minimize combined management and emissions costs. This is driven by the finding that the social costs of carbon emissions greatly exceed management costs unless burned area is constrained to near the average historical level. Our analysis does not include the many health, economic, and non-CO2 climate impacts from fires, so we likely underestimate the benefits of increased fire suppression and thus the optimal management level. As fire regimes continue to intensify, our work suggests increased management expenditures will be necessary to counteract increasing carbon combustion and lower overall climate impact.
Inhibitory Factor and Matrix Metalloproteinases Expression in Rats With Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Yu Hui-Zhen , Zheng Xi , Lu Li-Hong , Gao Jie , Pan Wei , Zhu Peng-Li , Yu Peng
Published: September 2022

Background

To investigate the effect of tissue kallikrein 1 (TK-1) overexpression on cardiac remodeling and myocardial expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) in myocardial infarction (MI) rats.

Methods

MI was induced by ligating left anterior descending arteries of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Fifty-five SD rats were divided into sham operation, MI, MI + control adenovirus type 5 (Ad5), and MI + Ad5-TK-1 groups (n = 10–15 per group). Parameters of cardiac function were obtained by cardiac catheterization. Infarct area and infiltration of inflammatory cells were determined by Masson staining and hematoxylin and eosin staining, respectively. Angiogenesis was detected by CD34 immunofluorescence intensity. Transfection with recombinant adenovirus and TK-1 expression in myocardium of rats were verified by immunofluorescence and western blot. MIF, MMP-2, and MMP-9 expression was determined by western blot.

Results

Compared with sham controls, rats in MI and control virus groups showed a significantly reduced cardiac function, increased infarct area and infiltration of inflammatory cells, decreased angiogenesis in the infarcted myocardium, and increased expression of MIF, MMP-2, and MMP-9 (P < 0.05). Notably, Ad5-TK-1 treatment significantly improved cardiac function (P < 0.05), markedly reduced infarct area, less inflammatory cell infiltration and elevated angiogenesis in the MI rats. The expression of MIF, MMP-2, and MMP-9 in the infarcted myocardium was decreased by Ad5-TK-1 treatment (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

TK-1 overexpression partially reverses cardiac remodeling in MI rats, and this effect is associated with downregulation of MIF, MMP-2, and MMP-9 in the myocardium.
Impact of Intraoperative Hemodynamic Fluctuation on Postoperative Complications in Patients With Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma Surgery
Authors: Gong Can-Sheng , Li Yan-Zhen , Yang Rui-Zhi , Chen Meng-Nan , Qiu Hang-Ling , Jiang Jun-Dan , Zheng Xiao-Chun , Lin Cai-Zhu
Published: September 2022

Background

To identify the effect of hemodynamic fluctuations on severe postoperative complications in patients undergoing surgery for pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL).

Methods

Patients with PPGL confirmed by postoperative pathologic examination in Fujian Provincial Hospital from January 2015 to January 2021 were enrolled. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, preoperative examinations, preoperative preparation, intraoperative data, and postoperative complications were collected. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to calculate the cutoff point of intraoperative standard deviation of systolic blood pressure for prediction of severe postoperative complication. According to the cutoff point, patients were divided into fluctuation and nonsevere fluctuation groups. Incidence of postoperative complication, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, length of stay after the operation, and length of ICU stay between the 2 groups was compared. The cumulative incidence and hazard ratio of postoperative complications were evaluated by Kaplan�Meier method and Cox regression analysis.

Results

A total of 126 patients were included in the study with 41 and 85 cases in the severe fluctuation and nonsevere fluctuation groups, respectively. Compared with the nonsevere fluctuation group, the incidence of postoperative complications (58.5% vs. 16.5%, P < 0.001), ICU admission rate (26.8% vs. 10.6%, P = 0.019), postoperative hospital stay, and ICU stay (P < 0.05) were higher in the severe fluctuation group. The Kaplan–Meier curve showed a higher incidence of postoperative complications in patients with severe blood pressure fluctuations (P < 0.05). The Cox regression analysis also showed that patients in the severe fluctuation group were more susceptible to postoperative complications (hazard ratio = 3.010, 95% confidence interval 1.334–6.806).

Conclusions

For patients with PPGL, the intraoperative hemodynamic fluctuations are associated with an increased risk of severe postoperative complications.