bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variations and Predictors of Post-COVID Syndrome Severity in Patients Attending a Post-COVID Outpatient Clinic
Authors: Lemhöfer Christina , Bahmer Thomas , Baumbach Philipp , Besteher Bianca , Boekel Andrea , Finke Kathrin , Katzer Katrin , Lehmann-Pohl Katja , Lewejohann Jan-Christoph , Loudovici-Krug Dana , Nowka Matthias , Puta Christian , Quickert Stefanie , Reuken Philipp Alexander , Walter Martin , Stallmach Andreas
Published: June 2023

A relevant proportion of patients suffer from long-lasting impairments following an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. The proposed post-COVID syndrome (PCS) score may improve comparison in the course and classification of affected patients. A prospective cohort of 952 patients presenting to the post-COVID outpatient clinic at Jena University Hospital, Germany, was enrolled. Patients received a structured examination. PCS score was calculated per visit. A total of 378 (39.7%) and 129 (13.6%) patients of the entire population visited the outpatient clinic two or three times, respectively (female: 66.4%; age: 49.5 (SD = 13) years). The initial presentation took place, on average, 290 (SD = 138) days after acute infection. The most frequently reported symptoms were fatigue (80.4%) and neurological impairments (76.1%). The mean PCS scores of patients with three visits were 24.6 points (SD = 10.9), 23.0 points (SD = 10.9) and 23.5 points (SD = 11.5) (p = 0.407), indicating moderate PCS. Female sex (p < 0.001), preexisting coagulation disorder (p = 0.021) and coronary artery disease (p = 0.032) were associated with higher PCS scores. PCS is associated with a multitude of long-lasting problems. The PCS score has proven its capability to objectify and quantify PCS symptoms in an outpatient setting. The influence of therapeutic measures on various PCS aspects should be the subject of further analyses.
Reply to Mistry et al. The Two Substrate Reduction Therapies for Type 1 Gaucher Disease Are Not Equivalent. Comment on “Hughes et al. Switching between Enzyme Replacement Therapies and Substrate Reduction Therapies in Patients with Gaucher Disease: Data from the Gaucher Outcome Survey (GOS). J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11, 5158”
Authors: Hughes Derralynn A. , Deegan Patrick , Giraldo Pilar , Göker-Alpan Özlem , Lau Heather , Lukina Elena , Revel-Vilk Shoshana , Scarpa Maurizio , Botha Jaco , Gadir Noga , Zimran Ari
Published: June 2023

Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to respond to the commentary from Mistry and colleagues (Comment: The two substrate reduction therapies for type 1 Gaucher disease are not equivalent) [...]
How May Longer Console Times Influence Outcomes after Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RARP)?
Authors: Farzat Mahmoud , Elsherif Mohamed , Wagenlehner Florian M.
Published: June 2023

Longer operating time in radical prostatectomy may increase the risk of perioperative complications. Various factors such as cancer extent, the procedure’s level of difficulty, habitus and previous surgeries may lengthen robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and therefore compromise outcomes. Objective: this study investigates the influence of operating time on outcomes after RARP in real life settings in a monocentric single surgeon study. Methods: a total of 500 sequential patients who were operated on between April 2019 and August 2022 were involved. Men were allocated to three groups short (n = 157; 31.4%), under or equal to 120 min; average (n = 255; 51%), between 121 and 180 min; long (n = 88; 17.6%), above 180 min console time. Demographic, baseline and perioperative data were analyzed and compared between groups. Univariate logistic regression was completed to investigate the association between console time and outcomes and to predict factors which may prolong surgery. Results: hospital stay and catheter days were significantly longer in group 3 with medians of 6 and 7 days (p < 0.001 and <0.001, respectively). Those findings were confirmed in univariate analysis, with p = 0.012 for catheter days and p < 0.001 for hospital stay. Moreover, major complications were higher in patients with longer procedures, at p = 0.008. Prostate volume was the only predictor of a prolonged console time (p = 0.005). Conclusion: RARP is a safe procedure and most patients will be discharged uneventfully. Yet, a longer console time is associated with a longer hospital stay, longer catheter days and major complications. Caution has to be taken in the large prostate to avoid longer procedures, which may prevent postoperative adverse events.
Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Skills: Age and Gender Differences at 12 to 19 Years Old
Authors: Feraco Tommaso , Meneghetti Chiara
Published: June 2023

Individuals use social, emotional, and behavioral (SEB) skills to build and maintain social relationships, regulate emotions, and manage goal-directed behaviors. A promising integrative framework of SEB skills was recently proposed, showing that they matter for positive outcomes during adolescence. Nothing is known about how and whether they differ between 12 and 19 years old and whether such differences depend on gender (males or females). Uncovering their age trajectories is fundamental because SEB skills are highly needed during this period of life. Educators, psychologists, and policymakers need to understand when, why, and how interventions concerning SEB skills should be proposed, potentially considering male and female profiles. To cover this gap, we cross-sectionally analyzed data from 4106 participants (2215 females, 12–19 years old). We highlighted age and gender differences in the five domains of SEB skills (self-management, innovation, cooperation, social engagement, and emotional resilience). Our results show that each SEB skill follows a specific age trend: emotional resilience and cooperation skills increase naturally between 12 and 19 years old, while innovation, social engagement, and self-management skills decline, especially between 12 and 16 years old, and grow later. The trajectories of self-management, social engagement, and emotional resilience skills also differ between males and females. Importantly, we detected declines in SEB skills (especially for social engagement and innovation skills) that can inform policies and interventions to sustain SEB skills in youths to favor their well-being and success in this crucial period.
Overexpression of the Capebp2 Gene Encoding the PEBP-like Protein Promotes the Cap Redifferentiation in Cyclocybe aegerita
Authors: Cheng Bopu , Tao Nan , Ma Yuanhao , Chai Hongmei , Liu Ping , Chen Weimin , Zhao Yongchang
Published: June 2023

Phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP) is widely involved in various physiological behaviors, such as the transition from vegetative growth to reproductive growth in plants, tumorigenesis in the human, etc. However, few functional studies have examined pebp genes affecting the development of fungi. In this study, Capebp2 was cloned from Cyclocybe aegerita AC0007 strains based on the genome sequence and gene prediction, and the sequence alignment of CaPEBP2 with other PEBP proteins from other biological sources including plant, animal, fungi, and bacteria indicated that PEBP had low sequence similarity in fungi, whereas all protein sequences had some conserved motifs such as DPDAP and HRY. Expression analysis showed the transcription level of Capebp2 increased approximately 20-fold in fruiting bodies compared with mycelia. To uncover the function of Capebp2 in C. aegetita development, Capebp2 was cloned into a pATH vector driven by the actin promoter for obtaining overexpression transformant lines. Fruiting experiments showed the transformed strains overexpressing Capebp2 exhibited redifferentiation of the cap on their surface, including intact fruiting bodies or partial lamella during fruiting development stage, and the longitudinal section indicated that all regenerated bodies or lamella sprouted from the flesh and shared the epidermis with the mother fruiting bodies. In summary, the sequence characterization of Capebp2, expression level during different development stages, and function on fruiting body development were documented in this study, and these findings provided a reference to study the role of pebp in the development process of basidiomycetes. Importantly, gene mining of pebp, function characterization, and the regulating pathways involved need to be uncovered in further studies.
Reply to Graziosi et al. Rationale in the Use of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in pT3N0M0 Gastric Cancer Resected Patients. Comment on “Chen et al. Prognostic Factors and the Role of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Pathological Node-Negative T3 Gastric Cancer. J. Pers. Med. 2023, 13, 553”
Authors: Chen Yi-Fu , Le Puo-Hsien , Huang Shih-Chiang , Chou Wen-Chi , Hsu Jun-Te
Published: June 2023

We appreciate the authors very much for their interest in our article “Prognostic factors and the role of adjuvant chemotherapy in pathological node-negative T3 gastric cancer” [...]
A Multi-Criteria Group Decision-Making Method for Risk Assessment of Live-Streaming E-Commerce Platform
Authors: Su Jiafu , Wang Dan , Zhang Fengting , Xu Baojian , Ouyang Zhiguang
Published: June 2023

Live-streaming e-commerce is the future development direction of the retail industry. When retailers choose a live-streaming e-commerce platform, they face the test of various risks of the platform, such as insecure control of capital flow, insufficient support of public domain traffic, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the risks of the platform to help retailers identify the platform with the lowest risk. Considering the complexity of the risks of live-streaming e-commerce platforms and the ambiguity of the decision-makers thinking, the current method for multi-criteria group decision-making (MCGDM) method in a fuzzy environment rarely discusses the decision-makers weight for the criterion. This paper proposes interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy multi-criteria group decision-making based on the decision-makers’ professionalism to evaluate the platform’s risks. This method determines the decision-maker’s weight for the criterion based on the professionalism of the decision-maker and uses the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) method to rank the alternative platforms. Finally, a risk assessment of the agricultural product live-streaming e-commerce platforms is used as a case study to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method. This research will not only provide practical guidance for retailers to choose the live-streaming e-commerce platform with the lowest comprehensive risk but also provide ideas for the research of live-streaming e-commerce from the perspective of risk assessment.
China’s CO2 Emissions: A Thorough Analysis of Spatiotemporal Characteristics and Sustainable Policy from the Agricultural Land-Use Perspective during 1995–2020
Authors: Liu Shuting , Jia Junsong , Huang Hanzhi , Chen Dilan , Zhong Yexi , Zhou Yangming
Published: June 2023

Agricultural land use is an important source of CO2 emissions. Therefore, taking the CO2 emissions of China’s agricultural land use during 1995–2020 as a case, we firstly calculated its composition and analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics. Then, the Tapio decoupling model and logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) were, respectively, used to identify the decoupling relationship between the CO2 emission change and economic growth, and analyze the driving factors for CO2 emissions. (1) The CO2 emissions of China’s agricultural land use were composed of two main phases (fluctuating growth phase (1995–2015) and rapid decline phase (2016–2020)). The total CO2 emissions exhibited a non-equilibrium spatial distribution. The inter-provincial CO2 emissions differences first expanded and then shrank, but the inter-provincial differences of CO2 emissions intensity continuously decreased. (2) The total CO2 emissions of China’s agricultural land use increased from 50.443 Mt in 1995 to 79.187 Mt in 2020, with an average annual growth rate of 1.82%. Fertilizer, agricultural diesel and agricultural (plastic) film were the main sources of anthropogenic agricultural-land-use CO2 emissions. Controlling the use of fertilizer and agricultural diesel and improving the utilization efficiency of agricultural (plastic) film could be an effective way to reduce CO2 emissions. (3) The Tapio decoupling relationship between the CO2 emission change and economic growth was a weak decoupling state during 1995–2015 and a strong decoupling state during 2016–2020. This result indicates that China’s agricultural land use can be effectively controlled. (4) The agricultural economic level is the decisive factor in promoting CO2 emissions increase, and its cumulative contribution was 476.09%. Inversely, the CO2 emission intensity, agricultural structure and agricultural labor force were three key factors, with cumulative contributions of −189.51%, −16.86% and −169.72%, respectively. Collectively, based on the findings obtained from the present research, we have proposed some suggestions to promote the sustainable use of agriculture lands in China.
Novel Hydrogenated Derivatives of Chemically Modified Curcumin CMC2.24 Are Potent Inhibitors of Melanogenesis in an In Vitro Model: Influence of Degree of Hydrogenation
Authors: Goenka Shilpi
Published: June 2023

Chemically modified curcumin, CMC2.24, is a promising therapeutic that has shown efficacy in ameliorating excessive pigmentation in our previous studies. However, its inherent disadvantages of color, stability, solubility, and cytotoxicity to melanocytes and keratinocytes at concentrations > 4 µg/mL posed challenges in its use in cosmetic formulations. To overcome these limitations, chemical reduction by hydrogenation of CMC2.24 (compound 1) was developed to yield products at different time points of hydrogenation (1 h, 2 h, 4 h, and 24 h) referred to as partially (2, 3, 4) or fully hydrogenated (5) products, and the effects of the degree of hydrogenation on melanogenesis in vitro were explored. Compound 1 and products 2–5 were evaluated using mushroom tyrosinase activity assays with two substrates (L-tyrosine and L-DOPA), then cellular assays using B16F10 mouse melanoma cells, MNT-1 human melanoma cells, and physiological normal human melanocytes (HEMn-DP cells). The cytotoxicity, melanin contents, cellular tyrosinase activities, and cellular oxidative stress were evaluated. Moreover, the recovery of melanin contents in HEMn-DP cells was also studied. Our results provide novel insights into the role of the degree of hydrogenation of compound 1 on the biological effects of melanogenesis, which were dependent on cell type. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show that in HEMn-DP cells, the anti-melanogenic efficacy of the yellow-colored CMC2.24 is retained as early as 1 h after its hydrogenation; this efficacy is enhanced with longer durations of hydrogenation, with a robust efficacy achieved for the 24 h hydrogenated product 5 at the lowest concentration of 4 µg/mL. A similar potency could be achieved for product 4 at higher concentrations, although interestingly, both differ only by a minor amount of dihydro-CMC2.24. Our results indicate promise for using products 4 & 5 as a skin-lightener in cosmetic formulations with the advantages of lack of color combined with a potency much greater than that of the parent compound 1 at lower concentrations and reversibility of the effects on melanocytes. This, along with the easy synthesis and scale-up of the hydrogenation method for CMC2.24 and the documented higher solubility, stability, and bioavailability of tetrahydrocurcumin, provides further impetus to incorporating these derivatives in cosmetic formulations. The results of this study can help to extend the therapeutic window of the lead compound CMC2.24 by providing options for selecting partially or fully hydrogenated derivatives for cosmetic applications where a trade-off between color and efficacy is needed. Thus, the degree of hydrogenation can be tuned for desired biological effects. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the efficacy of products 4 & 5 at suppressing pigmentation in 3D skin-tissue equivalents and in vivo models.
Using a Pulse Protocol to Fix the Individual Dosage of Transcranial and Transspinal Direct Current Electrical Stimulation
Authors: Blagovechtchenski Evgeny , Kostromina Svetlana , Shaboltas Alla
Published: June 2023

The non-invasive current stimulation protocol differs significantly between the brain and spinal cord, such that when comparing the two, there is a clear predominance of protocols using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for the brain and of protocols using pulsed stimulation for the spinal cord (psSC). These protocols differ in their effects on the central nervous system and in such important parameters as stimulation intensity. In most cases, tDCS has a fixed amplitude for all subjects/patients, while psSC is usually chosen on a case-by-case basis, according to the thresholds of muscle responses. In our opinion, it is possible to use the experience of identifying thresholds during psSC to adjust the dose of the direct current for transcranial and transspinal electrical stimulation, an approach that may provide more homogeneous tDCS data.
Thermoelectric Properties of n-Type Bi4O4SeX2 (X = Cl, Br)
Authors: Wang Tao , Hu Wanghua , Lou Zhefeng , Xu Zhuokai , Yang Xiaohui , Le Tian , Wang Jialu , Lin Xiao
Published: June 2023

The multiple anion superlattice Bi4O4SeCl2 has been reported to exhibit extremely low thermal conductivity along the stacking c-axis, making it a promising material for thermoelectric applications. In this study, we investigate the thermoelectric properties of Bi4O4SeX2 (X = Cl, Br) polycrystalline ceramics with different electron concentrations by adjusting the stoichiometry. Despite optimizing the electric transport, the thermal conductivity remained ultra-low and approached the Ioffe–Regel limit at high temperatures. Notably, our findings demonstrate that non-stoichiometric tuning is a promising approach for enhancing the thermoelectric performance of Bi4O4SeX2 by refining its electric transport, resulting in a figure of merit of up to 0.16 at 770 K.
Novel Red Phosphor of Gd3+, Sm3+ co-Activated AgxGd((2−x)/3)−0.3−ySmyEu3+0.30☐(1−2x−2y)/3WO4 Scheelites for LED Lighting
Authors: Morozov Vladimir A. , Lazoryak Bogdan I. , Savina Aleksandra A. , Khaikina Elena G. , Leonidov Ivan I. , Ishchenko Alexey V. , Deyneko Dina V.
Published: June 2023

Gd3+ and Sm3+ co-activation, the effect of cation substitutions and the creation of cation vacancies in the scheelite-type framework are investigated as factors influencing luminescence properties. AgxGd((2−x)/3)−0.3−ySmyEu3+0.3☐(1−2x)/3WO4 (x = 0.50, 0.286, 0.20; y = 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.3) scheelite-type phases (AxGSyE) have been synthesized by a solid-state method. A powder X-ray diffraction study of AxGSyE (x = 0.286, 0.2; y = 0.01, 0.02, 0.03) shows that the crystal structures have an incommensurately modulated character similar to other cation-deficient scheelite-related phases. Luminescence properties have been evaluated under near-ultraviolet (n–UV) light. The photoluminescence excitation spectra of AxGSyE demonstrate the strongest absorption at 395 nm, which matches well with commercially available UV-emitting GaN-based LED chips. Gd3+ and Sm3+ co-activation leads to a notable decreasing intensity of the charge transfer band in comparison with Gd3+ single-doped phases. The main absorption is the 7F0 → 5L6 transition of Eu3+ at 395 nm and the 6H5/2 → 4F7/2 transition of Sm3+ at 405 nm. The photoluminescence emission spectra of all the samples indicate intense red emission due to the 5D0 → 7F2 transition of Eu3+. The intensity of the 5D0 → 7F2 emission increases from ~2 times (x = 0.2, y = 0.01 and x = 0.286, y = 0.02) to ~4 times (x = 0.5, y = 0.01) in the Gd3+ and Sm3+ co-doped samples. The integral emission intensity of Ag0.20Gd0.29Sm0.01Eu0.30WO4 in the red visible spectral range (the 5D0 → 7F2 transition) is higher by ~20% than that of the commercially used red phosphor of Gd2O2S:Eu3+. A thermal quenching study of the luminescence of the Eu3+ emission reveals the influence of the structure of compounds and the Sm3+ concentration on the temperature dependence and behavior of the synthesized crystals. Ag0.286Gd0.252Sm0.02Eu0.30WO4 and Ag0.20Gd0.29Sm0.01Eu0.30WO4, with the incommensurately modulated (3 + 1)D monoclinic structure, are very attractive as near-UV converting phosphors applied as red-emitting phosphors for LEDs.
Longitudinal Study of Bone Height Change between Two Approaches for Sinus Floor Elevation
Authors: Park Jun-Hyeong , Kim Yong-Gun , Suh Jo-Young , Lee Du-Hyeong , Kim Jin-Wook , Lee Jae-Mok
Published: June 2023

Background and Objectives: The purpose of this study is to assess the long-term maintenance of each approach of sinus elevation, the crestal approach and lateral approach, by comparing the radiographic results of each technique. Materials and Methods: In total, 103 patients who had undergone an implant procedure with either the crestal approach or lateral approach method applied to their maxillary molar edentulous area were included. Using orthopantomographs, the radiographic changes were consistently evaluated over 3 years after the procedure (immediately after procedure and 1 year, 2 years and 3 years after implant placement) Results: The radiographic evaluation after 3 years of implantation with sinus elevation showed a significant amount of bone formation (8.07 mm for crestal approach and 12.00 mm for lateral approach method). The largest amount of grafted height loss occurred during the 1 year, but the resorption was minimal (0.98 mm for crestal approach and 0.95 mm for lateral approach method) over the entire 3 years. Conclusions: Although the lateral approach showed more bone growth, the amount of bone resorption was similar to that of the crestal approach. Both methods showed the highest amount of bone resorption in the first year, and the amount of change thereafter was insignificant. It is judged that both methods can be used according to the situation to help implant placement.
Effective Removal of Acetaldehyde Using Piperazine/Nitric Acid Co-Impregnated Bead-Type Activated Carbon
Authors: Kang Yu-Jin , Kim Yu-Jin , Yoon Seong-Jin , Seo Dong-Jin , Cho Hye-Ryeong , Oh Kyeongseok , Yoon Seong-Ho , Park Joo-Il
Published: June 2023

Acetaldehyde (CH3CHO) in the atmosphere is associated with adverse health effects. Among the various options for use in removing CH3CHO, adsorption is often employed because of its convenient application and economical processes, particularly when using activated carbon. In previous studies, the surface of activated carbon has been modified with amines to remove CH3CHO from the atmosphere via adsorption. However, these materials are toxic and can have harmful effects on humans when the modified activated carbon is used in air-purifier filters. Therefore, in this study, a customized bead-type activated carbon (BAC) with surface modification options via amination was evaluated for removing CH3CHO. Various amounts of non-toxic piperazine or piperazine/nitric acid were used in amination. Chemical and physical analyses of the surface-modified BAC samples were performed using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller measurements, elemental analyses, and Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The chemical structures on the surfaces of the modified BACs were analyzed in detail using X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The amine and carboxylic acid groups on the surfaces of the modified BACs are critical in CH3CHO adsorption. Notably, piperazine amination decreased the pore size and volume of the modified BAC, but piperazine/nitric acid impregnation maintained the pore size and volume of the modified BAC. In terms of CH3CHO adsorption, piperazine/nitric acid impregnation resulted in a superior performance, with greater chemical adsorption. The linkages between the amine and carboxylic acid groups may function differently in piperazine amination and piperazine/nitric acid treatment.
Multiple Metabolic Engineering Strategies to Improve Shikimate Titer in Escherichia coli
Authors: Bo Taidong , Wu Chen , Wang Zeting , Jiang Hao , Wang Feiao , Chen Ning , Li Yanjun
Published: June 2023

Shikimate is a valuable chiral precursor for synthesizing oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) and other chemicals. High production of shikimate via microbial fermentation has attracted increasing attention to overcome the unstable and expensive supply of shikimate extracted from plant resources. The current cost of microbial production of shikimate via engineered strains is still unsatisfactory, and thus more metabolic strategies need to be investigated to further increase the production efficiency. In this study, we first constructed a shikimate E. coli producer through the application of the non-phosphoenolpyruvate: carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (non-PTS) glucose uptake pathway, the attenuation of the shikimate degradation metabolism, and the introduction of a mutant of feedback-resistant 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate (DAHP) synthase. Inspired by the natural presence of bifunctional 3-dehydroquinate dehydratase (DHD)-shikimate dehydrogenase (SDH) enzyme in plants, we then designed an artificial fusion protein of DHD-SDH to decrease the accumulation of the byproduct 3-dehydroshikimate (DHS). Subsequently, a repressed shikimate kinase (SK) mutant was selected to promote shikimate accumulation without the supplementation of expensive aromatic substances. Furthermore, EsaR-based quorum sensing (QS) circuits were employed to regulate the metabolic flux distribution between cell growth and product synthesis. The final engineered strain dSA10 produced 60.31 g/L shikimate with a yield of 0.30 g/g glucose in a 5 L bioreactor.
Modeling the Impact of Phonon Scattering with Strain Effects on the Electrical Properties of MoS2 Field-Effect Transistors
Authors: Chin Huei Chaeng , Hamzah Afiq , Alias Nurul Ezaila , Tan Michael Loong Peng
Published: June 2023

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has distinctive electronic and mechanical properties which make it a highly prospective material for use as a channel in upcoming nanoelectronic devices. An analytical modeling framework was used to investigate the I–V characteristics of field-effect transistors based on MoS2. The study begins by developing a ballistic current equation using a circuit model with two contacts. The transmission probability, which considers both the acoustic and optical mean free path, is then derived. Next, the effect of phonon scattering on the device was examined by including transmission probabilities into the ballistic current equation. According to the findings, the presence of phonon scattering caused a decrease of 43.7% in the ballistic current of the device at room temperature when L = 10 nm. The influence of phonon scattering became more prominent as the temperature increased. In addition, this study also considers the impact of strain on the device. It is reported that applying compressive strain could increase the phonon scattering current by 13.3% at L = 10 nm at room temperature, as evaluated in terms of the electrons’ effective masses. However, the phonon scattering current decreased by 13.3% under the same condition due to the existence of tensile strain. Moreover, incorporating a high-k dielectric to mitigate the impact of scattering resulted in an even greater improvement in device performance. Specifically, at L = 6 nm, the ballistic current was surpassed by 58.4%. Furthermore, the study achieved SS = 68.2 mV/dec using Al2O3 and an on–off ratio of 7.75 × 104 using HfO2. Finally, the analytical results were validated with previous works, showing comparable agreement with the existing literature.
Dual-Band Dielectric Resonator Antenna with Filtering Features for Microwave and Mm-Wave Applications
Authors: Bizan Mohamed Sedigh , Naseri Hassan , Pourmohammadi Peyman , Melouki Noureddine , Iqbal Amjad , Denidni Tayeb A.
Published: June 2023

This paper presents a new design for a dual-band double-cylinder dielectric resonator antenna (CDRA) capable of efficient operation in microwave and mm-wave frequencies for 5G applications. The novelty of this design lies in the antenna’s capability to suppress harmonics and higher-order modes, resulting in a significant improvement in antenna performance. Additionally, both resonators are made of dielectric materials with different relative permittivities. The design procedure involves the utilization of a larger cylinder-shaped dielectric resonator (D1), which is fed by a vertically mounted copper microstrip securely attached to its outer surface. An air gap is created at the bottom of (D1), and a smaller CDRA (D2) is inserted inside this gap, with its exit facilitated by a coupling aperture slot etched on the ground plane. Furthermore, a low-pass filter (LPF) is added to the feeding line of D1 to eliminate undesirable harmonics in the mm-wave band. The larger CDRA (D1) with a relative permittivity of 6 resonates at 2.4 GHz, achieving a realized gain of 6.7 dBi. On the other hand, the smaller CDRA (D2) with a relative permittivity of 12 resonates at a frequency of 28 GHz, reaching a realized gain of 15.2 dBi. The dimensions of each dielectric resonator can be independently manipulated to control the two frequency bands. The antenna exhibits excellent isolation between its ports, with scattering parameters (S12) and (S21) falling below −72/−46 dBi at the microwave and mm-wave frequencies, respectively, and not exceeding −35 dBi for the entire frequency band. The experimental results of the proposed antenna’s prototype closely align with the simulated results, validating the design’s effectiveness. Overall, this antenna design is well-suited for 5G applications, offering the advantages of dual-band operation, harmonic suppression, frequency band versatility, and high isolation between ports.
Broadband All-Optical THz Modulator Based on Bi2Te3/Si Heterostructure Driven by UV-Visible Light
Authors: Xi Yayan , Zhou Yixuan , Cao Xueqin , Wang Jing , Lei Zhen , Lu Chunhui , Wu Dan , Shi Mingjian , Huang Yuanyuan , Xu Xinlong
Published: June 2023

All-optical terahertz (THz) modulators have received tremendous attention due to their significant role in developing future sixth-generation technology and all-optical networks. Herein, the THz modulation performance of the Bi2Te3/Si heterostructure is investigated via THz time-domain spectroscopy under the control of continuous wave lasers at 532 nm and 405 nm. Broadband-sensitive modulation is observed at 532 nm and 405 nm within the experimental frequency range from 0.8 to 2.4 THz. The modulation depth reaches 80% under the 532 nm laser illumination with a maximum power of 250 mW and 96% under 405 nm illumination with a high power of 550 mW. The mechanism of the largely enhanced modulation depth is attributed to the construction of a type-II Bi2Te3/Si heterostructure, which could promote photogenerated electron and hole separation and increase carrier density dramatically. This work proves that a high photon energy laser can also achieve high-efficiency modulation based on the Bi2Te3/Si heterostructure, and the UV-Visible control laser may be more suitable for designing advanced all-optical THz modulators with micro-level sizes.
Dissolution Property of Serpentine Surface and the Effect on Particle–Particle Interaction Behavior in Solution
Authors: Li Zhihang , Cheng Hongfei , Fu Yafeng , Zuo Kesheng , Gao Peng , Han Yuexin
Published: June 2023

The dissolution property of serpentine and its effect on the interaction between particles are reported here. Dissolution experiments showed that magnesium ions and hydroxyl were removed from the surface after mechanically stirring in solution, leading to the incongruent dissolution of ions. SEM, XPS, and Zeta potential analysis uncovered a significant change in serpentine surface potential and elements distribution after dissolution. Meanwhile, dramatic morphology changes on the surface were observed. A settlement test was carried out to explore the effect of dissolution on particle interaction. The results indicated that the settlement rate rises with increasing pH, but the fine particles had a lower settlement rate, showing the close connection between dissolution and particle interaction. AFM analysis revealed that the interparticle force could be changed because of surface properties at different pH values, leading to different interaction behaviors in the solution. In general, the adhesion force gradually increased and even changed from repulsive to attractive as pH ranged from 4 to 11, reflecting the adhesion behavior among particles in water. Moreover, compared to −45 + 38 μm samples, −38 μm particles are more likely to be kept repulsive in acid solution.
The Role of Stereological Assumptions in Bubble Size Estimations and Their Implications for Assessing Critical Coalescence Concentrations
Authors: Vinnett Luis , Mesa Diego
Published: June 2023

Accurate measurement of bubble size is critical for assessing flotation performance. However, the 3D nature of bubbles, in contrast to the 2D nature of photographs obtained using a bubble viewer apparatus, may lead to distortions related to stereological assumptions. This study aimed to quantify the impact of these stereological effects on bubble size measurements in frother characterisations. Our results showed that different assumptions regarding bubble shape and volume resulted in variations in bubble size calculations of up to 10%. Furthermore, these stereological effects were propagated to the calculation of the critical coalescence concentration, leading to uncertainties of up to 14% depending on the type of frother. These findings emphasise the importance of considering stereological effects and selecting an appropriate calculation method when measuring bubble size for flotation and reagent assessments.
Two New Compounds Based on Bi-Capped Keggin Polyoxoanions and Cu-Bpy Cations Contain Both CuII and CuI Complexes: Synthesis, Characterization and Properties
Authors: Liu Yabing , Zhao Wentong , Zheng Jijun , Wang Huan , Cui Xiaobing , Chi Yaodan
Published: June 2023

Two inorganic–organic hybrid complexes based on bi-capped Keggin-type cluster, {([CuII(2,2′-bpy)2]2[PMoVI8VV2VIV2O40(VIVO)2])[CuI(2,2′-bpy)]}∙2H2O (1) and {[CuII(2,2′-bpy)2]2[SiMoVI8.5MoV2.5VIVO40(VIVO)2]}[CuI0.5(2,2′-bpy)(H2O)0.5] (2) (bpy = bipyridine), had been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, TGA, PXRD and X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis. Compound 1 consists of a novel 1-D chain structure constructed from [CuI(2,2′-bpy)]+ unit linking bi-supported POMs anion {[CuII(2,2′-bpy)2]2[PMoVI8VV2VIV2O40(VIVO)2]}−. Compound 2 is a bi-capped Keggin cluster bi-supported Cu-bpy complex. The main highlights of the two compounds are that Cu-bpy cations contain both CuI and CuII complexes. Furthermore, the fluorescence properties, the catalytic properties, and the photocatalytic performance of compounds 1 and 2 have been assessed, and the results show that both compounds are active for styrene epoxidation and degradation and adsorption of Methylene blue (MB), Rhodamine B (RhB) and mixed aqueous solutions.
CXCR4-Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals for the Imaging and Therapy of Malignant Tumors
Authors: Yu Jingjing , Zhou Xu , Shen Langtao
Published: June 2023

C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4), also known as fusin or CD184, is a 7-transmembrane helix G-protein-coupled receptor that is encoded by the CXCR4 gene. Involved in various physiological processes, CXCR4 could form an interaction with its endogenous partner, chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12), which is also named SDF-1. In the past several decades, the CXCR4/CXCL12 couple has attracted a large amount of research interest due to its critical functions in the occurrence and development of refractory diseases, such as HIV infection, inflammatory diseases, and metastatic cancer, including breast cancer, gastric cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer. Furthermore, overexpression of CXCR4 in tumor tissues was shown to have a high correlation with tumor aggressiveness and elevated risks of metastasis and recurrence. The pivotal roles of CXCR4 have encouraged an effort around the world to investigate CXCR4-targeted imaging and therapeutics. In this review, we would like to summarize the implementation of CXCR4-targeted radiopharmaceuticals in the field of various kinds of carcinomas. The nomenclature, structure, properties, and functions of chemokines and chemokine receptors are briefly introduced. Radiopharmaceuticals that could target CXCR4 will be described in detail according to their structure, such as pentapeptide-based structures, heptapeptide-based structures, nonapeptide-based structures, etc. To make this review a comprehensive and informative article, we would also like to provide the predictive prospects for the CXCR4-targeted species in future clinical development.
Triptonodiol, a Diterpenoid Extracted from Tripterygium wilfordii, Inhibits the Migration and Invasion of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Ni Xiaochen , Jiang Xiaomin , Yu Shilong , Wu Feng , Zhou Jun , Mao Defang , Wang Haibo , Liu Yanqing , Jin Feng
Published: June 2023

Lung cancer is the most prevalent oncological disease worldwide, with non-small-cell lung cancer accounting for approximately 85% of lung cancer cases. Tripterygium wilfordii is a traditional Chinese herb that is widely used to treat rheumatism, pain, inflammation, tumors, and other diseases. In this study, we found that Triptonodiol extracted from Tripterygium wilfordii inhibited the migration and invasion of non-small-cell lung cancer and inhibited cytoskeletal remodeling, which has not been previously reported. Triptonodiol significantly inhibited the motility activity of NSCLC at low toxic concentrations and suppressed the migration and invasion of NSCLC. These results can be confirmed by wound healing, cell trajectory tracking, and Transwell assays. We found that cytoskeletal remodeling was inhibited in Triptonodiol-treated NSCLC, as evidenced by the reduced aggregation of actin and altered pseudopod morphology. Additionally, this study found that Triptonodiol induced an increase in complete autophagic flux in NSCLC. This study suggests that Triptonodiol reduces the aggressive phenotype of NSCLC by inhibiting cytoskeletal remodeling and is a promising anti-tumor compound.
A Comparative Evaluation of the Photosensitizing Efficiency of Porphyrins, Chlorins and Isobacteriochlorins toward Melanoma Cancer Cells
Authors: Castro Kelly A. D. F. , Moura Nuno M. M. , Simões Mário M. Q. , Mesquita Mariana M. Q. , Ramos Loyanne C. B. , Biazzotto Juliana C. , Cavaleiro José A. S. , Faustino M. Amparo F. , Neves Maria Graça P. M. S. , da Silva Roberto S.
Published: June 2023

Skin cancer is one of the cancers that registers the highest number of new cases annually. Among all forms of skin cancer, melanoma is the most invasive and deadliest. The resistance of this form of cancer to conventional treatments has led to the employment of alternative/complementary therapeutic approaches. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) appears to be a promising alternative to overcome the resistance of melanoma to conventional therapies. PDT is a non-invasive therapeutic procedure in which highly reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated upon excitation of a photosensitizer (PS) when subjected to visible light of an adequate wavelength, resulting in the death of cancer cells. In this work, inspired by the efficacy of tetrapyrrolic macrocycles to act as PS against tumor cells, we report the photophysical characterization and biological assays of isobacteriochlorins and their corresponding chlorins and porphyrins against melanoma cancer cells through a photodynamic process. The non-tumoral L929 fibroblast murine cell line was used as the control. The results show that the choice of adequate tetrapyrrolic macrocycle-based PS can be modulated to improve the performance of PDT.
Mitigation of Hepatotoxicity via Boosting Antioxidants and Reducing Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Carbendazim-Treated Rats Using Adiantum Capillus-Veneris L. Extract
Authors: Seif Mohamed , Aati Hanan , Amer May , Ragauskas Arthur J. , Seif Amr , El-Sappah Ahmed H. , Aati Abdulrahman , Madboli Abd El-Nasser A. , Emam Mahmoud
Published: June 2023

Exposure to food contaminants continues to be a substantial source of human health risks all over the world, particularly in developing countries. Carbendazim (CBZ) is a chemical fungicide used to control the spread of various fungi and other pathogens in the agriculture and veterinary sectors. The hazardous effects of CBZ on human health occur due to the accumulation of its residues in agricultural food products. In this study, the possible hepatoprotective effects of Adiantum capillus-veneris L. (ACVL) extract were evaluated in CBZ-treated rats. A GC-MS analysis revealed that ACVL extract contained several bioactive hydrocarbon components and fatty acids, and that the components exerted hepatic protection by mitigating oxidative stress via upregulating antioxidant agents and neutralizing nitrogen and oxygen free radicals. Moreover, ACVL extracts relieved hepatic inflammation via decreasing NO, NF-κB, and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-a, IL-6) in the liver of CBZ-treated rats, both at protein and mRNA levels. In addition, the protective effect of ACVL has appeared in the histopathological figures and function markers in the livers of CBZ-treated rats. According to the present results, ACVL extract can protect the hepatic tissue and restore its functions to a control level in CBZ-treated rats; this effect may be attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.
The Effect of Terbinafine and Its Ionic Salts on Certain Fungal Plant Pathogens
Authors: Wang Tao , Wang Qiuxiao , Zhou Yifei , Shi Yaolin , Gao Haixiang
Published: June 2023

Terbinafine, an inhibitor of squalene epoxidase in ergosterol biosynthesis, is chiefly utilized as an antifungal medication with potential uses in pesticide applications. This study explores the fungicidal efficacy of terbinafine against prevalent plant pathogens and confirms its effectiveness. To augment its water solubility, five ionic salts of terbinafine were synthesized by pairing them with organic acids. Among these salts, TIS 5 delivered the most impressive results, amplifying the water solubility of terbinafine by three orders of magnitude and lessening its surface tension to facilitate better dispersion during spraying. The in vivo experiments on cherry tomatoes showed that TIS 5 had a superior therapeutic activity compared to its parent compound and two commonly used broad−spectrum fungicides, pyraclostrobin and carbendazim. The results highlight the potential of terbinafine and its ionic salts, particularly TIS 5, for use as fungicides in agriculture due to their synergistic effects with furan−2−carboxylate.
Computation of Entropy Measures for Metal-Organic Frameworks
Authors: Imran Muhammad , Khan Abdul Rauf , Husin Mohamad Nazri , Tchier Fairouz , Ghani Muhammad Usman , Hussain Shahid
Published: June 2023

Entropy is a thermodynamic function used in chemistry to determine the disorder and irregularities of molecules in a specific system or process. It does this by calculating the possible configurations for each molecule. It is applicable to numerous issues in biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, and other relevant fields. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are a family of molecules that have piqued the curiosity of scientists in recent years. They are extensively researched due to their prospective applications and the increasing amount of information about them. Scientists are constantly discovering novel MOFs, which results in an increasing number of representations every year. Furthermore, new applications for MOFs continue to arise, illustrating the materials’ adaptability. This article investigates the characterisation of the metal–organic framework of iron(III) tetra-p-tolyl porphyrin (FeTPyP) and CoBHT (CO) lattice. By constructing these structures with degree-based indices such as the K-Banhatti, redefined Zagreb, and the atom-bond sum connectivity indices, we also employ the information function to compute entropies.
Validation of a Liquid–Liquid Extraction Method to Study the Temporal Production of D-Series Resolvins by Head Kidney Cells from Atlantic Salmon (Salmon salar) Exposed to Docosahexaenoic Acid
Authors: Araujo Pedro , Iqbal Sarah , Arnø Aleksander , Espe Marit , Holen Elisabeth
Published: June 2023

A simple and rapid method for the extraction of D-series resolvins (RvD1, RvD2, RvD3, RvD4, RvD5) released into Leibovitz’s L-15 complete medium by head kidney cells from Atlantic salmon and the further determination of liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry is proposed. A three-level factorial design was proposed to select the optimal concentrations of internal standards that were used in the evaluation of the performance parameters, such as linear range (0.1–50 ng mL−1), limits of detection and quantification (0.05 and 0.1 ng mL−1, respectively), and recovery values ranging from 96.9 to 99.8%. The optimized method was used to determine the stimulated production of resolvins by head kidney cells exposed to docosahexaenoic acid, and the results indicated that it is possible that the production was controlled by circadian responses.
Thickness Optimization of Charge Transport Layers on Perovskite Solar Cells for Aerospace Applications
Authors: Lee Doowon , Kim Kyeong Heon , Kim Hee-Dong
Published: June 2023

In aerospace applications, SiOx deposition on perovskite solar cells makes them more stable. However, the reflectance of the light changes and the current density decreases can lower the efficiency of the solar cell. The thickness of the perovskite material, ETL, and HTL must be re-optimized, and testing the number of cases experimentally takes a long time and costs a lot of money. In this paper, an OPAL2 simulation was used to find the thickness and material of ETL and HTL that reduces the amount of light reflected by the perovskite material in a perovskite solar cell with a silicon oxide film. In our simulations, we used an air/SiO2/AZO/transport layer/perovskite structure to find the ratio of incident light to the current density generated by the perovskite material and the thickness of the transport layer to maximize the current density. The results showed that when 7 nm of ZnS material was used for CH3NH3PbI3-nanocrystalline perovskite material, a high ratio of 95.3% was achieved. In the case of CsFAPbIBr with a band gap of 1.70 eV, a high ratio of 94.89% was shown when ZnS was used.