bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intronic NEFH variant is associated with reduced risk for sporadic ALS and later age of disease onset
Authors: Theunissen Frances , Anderton Ryan S. , Mastaglia Frank L. , James Ian , Bedlack Richard , Akkari P. Anthony
Published: August 2022

Neurofilament heavy (NEFH) is one of the critical proteins required for the formation of the neuronal cytoskeleton and polymorphisms in NEFH are reported as a rare cause of sporadic ALS (sALS). In the current study, a candidate tetranucleotide (TTTA) repeat variant in NEFH was selected using an in-silico short structural variant (SSV) evaluation algorithm and investigated in two cohorts of North American sALS patients, both separately and combined (Duke cohort n = 138, Coriell cohort n = 333; combined cohort n = 471), compared to a group of healthy controls from the Coriell Institute biobank (n = 496). Stratification according to site of disease onset revealed that the 9 TTTA allele was associated with reduced disease risk, specifically confined to spinal-onset sALS patients in the Duke cohort (p = 0.001). Furthermore, carriage of the 10 TTTA allele was associated with a 2.7 year later age of disease onset in the larger combined sALS cohort (p = 0.02). These results suggest that the 9 and 10 TTTA motif length may have a protective advantage for potentially lowering the risk of sALS and delaying the age of disease onset, however, these results need to be replicated in larger multicenter and multi-ethnic cohorts.
Levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 and 2 are associated with survival after ST segment elevation myocardial infarction
Authors: Befekadu Rahel , Grenegård Magnus , Larsson Anders , Christensen Kjeld , Ramström Sofia
Published: August 2022

The soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2) are suggested to play dual roles on physiological and pathophysiological actions of TNF-α. The aim of this study was to investigate the dynamic changes of these biomarkers in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Blood was collected from 165 STEMI patients at admission, 1–3 days and 3 months after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and from 40 healthy blood donors. sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 were measured with ELISA. The plasma levels of both sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 were significantly higher than in healthy donors at all three time points. We found no significant differences in sTNFR1 or sTNFR2 when comparing patients with patent versus occluded culprit vessels, or between patients having a thrombus aspiration or not. Survival analysis was performed comparing patients with levels of biomarkers above and below the median values at that time point. We found significant differences in survival for sTNFR2 in acute samples (p = 0.0151) and for both sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 in samples 1–3 days after PCI (p = 0.0054 and p = 0.0003, respectively). Survival analyses suggest that sTNFR1 or sTNFR2 could be promising markers to predict mortality in STEMI patients after PCI.
Association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolically healthy deterioration across different body shape phenotypes at baseline and change patterns
Authors: Lei Liu , Changfa Wang , Jiangang Wang , Zhiheng Chen , Ting Yuan , Xiaoling Zhu , Yuling Deng , Yaqin Wang
Published: August 2022

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome (MetS), and the relationship between NAFLD and metabolic deterioration remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate dynamic changes in metabolically healthy phenotypes and to assess the impact of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) on the conversion from metabolically healthy (MH) to metabolically unhealthy (MU) phenotypes across body shape phenotypes and phenotypic change patterns. We defined body shape phenotypes using both the body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) and defined metabolic health as individuals scoring ≤ 1 on the NCEP-ATP III criteria, excluding WC. A total of 12,910 Chinese participants who were MH at baseline were enrolled in 2013 and followed-up in 2019 or 2020. During a median follow-up of 6.9 years, 27.0% (n = 3,486) of the MH individuals developed an MU phenotype. According to the multivariate Cox analyses, NAFLD was a significant predictor of conversion from the MH to MU phenotype, independent of potential confounders (HR: 1.12; 95% confidence interval: 1.02–1.22). For the MH-normal weight group, the relative risk of NAFLD in phenotypic conversion was 1.21 (95% CI 1.03–1.41, P = 0.017), which was relatively higher than that of MH-overweight/obesity group (HR: 1.14, 95% CI 1.02–1.26, P = 0.013). Interestingly, the effect of NAFLD at baseline on MH deterioration was stronger in the “lean” phenotype group than in the “non-lean” phenotype group at baseline and in the “fluctuating non-lean” phenotype change pattern group than in the “stable non-lean” phenotype change pattern group during follow-up. In conclusion, lean NAFLD is not as benign as currently considered and requires more attention during metabolic status screening.
Reassessment of somatostatin receptor SST4 expression in bronchopulmonary and gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms using the novel rabbit monoclonal anti-human SST4 antibody 7H49L61
Authors: Ehms Blanca , Kaemmerer Daniel , Sänger Jörg , Schulz Stefan , Lupp Amelie
Published: August 2022

Somatostatin receptors SST1, SST2, and SST5 are overexpressed in neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs), but little is known about SST4 expression in NENs because of a lack of specific monoclonal antibodies. We recently developed and thoroughly characterised a rabbit monoclonal anti-human SST4 antibody, 7H49L61, and showed that it is well suited for identifying SST4 expression in routine pathology samples. The present study aimed to re-evaluate SST4 expression in a large set of NEN samples using this antibody. For this purpose, we assessed SST4 expression in 722 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded NEN samples from 274 patients by immunohistochemistry using the novel antibody 7H49L61. The immunostaining was semiquantitatively evaluated using the 12-point immunoreactivity score (IRS), and the results were correlated with clinicopathological data. SST4 was detected in 39.3% of all NENs, but with a median IRS of 2.0, its expression intensity was negligible overall. In all cases, both cytoplasmic and membraneous staining was observed. SST4 expression was somewhat higher in bronchopulmonary NEN (BP-NEN) than in gastroenteropancreatic NEN (GEP-NEN) but still very low. SST4 expression positively correlated with favourable patient outcomes in BP-NEN but had a positive association with Ki-67 index or tumour grading and a negative interrelationship with overall survival in GEP-NEN. In conclusion, unlike that of other SST subtypes, SST4 expression in both BP-NEN and GEP-NEN is negligible and of no diagnostic or therapeutic relevance.
Neuropathologic and molecular aspects of a canine distemper epizootic in red foxes in Germany
Authors: Geiselhardt Franziska , Peters Martin , Kleinschmidt Sven , Chludzinski Elisa , Stoff Melanie , Ludlow Martin , Beineke Andreas
Published: August 2022

In the last fifteen years, an epidemic of canine distemper virus (CDV) with marked neurotropism has occurred in Europe after a longer period of endemic transmission. Many wildlife species have been infected, with red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) being particularly affected. Given that this species is assumed to mediate cross-species CDV infections to domestic and wild animals, tissue samples from foxes with confirmed CDV infection in North-Western Germany were investigated to better understand the neurotropic aspects of the disease. This analysis included histopathology, virus distribution and cell tropism, phenotyping of inflammatory responses and determination of the genotype of the viruses based on the phylogeny of the hemagglutinin (H) gene. The predominant lesion type is gliosis in both gray and white matter areas associated with an accumulation of Iba1+ macrophages/microglia and upregulation of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules in the brain, while sequestration of CD3+ T and Pax5+ B cell in CDV-infected foxes is limited. Demyelination is found in few foxes, characterized by reduced myelin staining with loss of CNPase+ oligodendrocytes in the cerebellar white matter and brainstem. In addition, axonal damage, characterized by β-amyloid precursor protein expression, is found mainly in these brain regions. In situ hybridization reveals a primary infection of the cerebral and cerebellar gray matter and brain stem. Iba1+ cells and NeuN+ neurons represent the main CDV targets. Sequencing of the CDV H open reading frame from fox tissues reveals that the virus strains belongs to three different sub-lineages of the Europe-1/South America-1 genotype, suggesting independent transmission lines.
Structure–function characterization of an aldo–keto reductase involved in detoxification of the mycotoxin, deoxynivalenol
Authors: Abraham Nadine , Schroeter Kurt L. , Zhu Yan , Chan Jonathan , Evans Natasha , Kimber Matthew S. , Carere Jason , Zhou Ting , Seah Stephen Y. K.
Published: August 2022

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a mycotoxin, produced by filamentous fungi such as Fusarium graminearum, that causes significant yield losses of cereal grain crops worldwide. One of the most promising methods to detoxify this mycotoxin involves its enzymatic epimerization to 3-epi-DON. DepB plays a critical role in this process by reducing 3-keto-DON, an intermediate in the epimerization process, to 3-epi-DON. DepBRleg from Rhizobium leguminosarum is a member of the new aldo–keto reductase family, AKR18, and it has the unusual ability to utilize both NADH and NADPH as coenzymes, albeit with a 40-fold higher catalytic efficiency with NADPH compared to NADH. Structural analysis of DepBRleg revealed the putative roles of Lys-217, Arg-290, and Gln-294 in NADPH specificity. Replacement of these residues by site-specific mutagenesis to negatively charged amino acids compromised NADPH binding with minimal effects on NADH binding. The substrate-binding site of DepBRleg is larger than its closest structural homolog, AKR6A2, likely contributing to its ability to utilize a wide range of aldehydes and ketones, including the mycotoxin, patulin, as substrates. The structure of DepBRleg also suggests that 3-keto-DON can adopt two binding modes to facilitate 4-pro-R hydride transfer to either the re- or si-face of the C3 ketone providing a possible explanation for the enzyme’s ability to convert 3-keto-DON to 3-epi-DON and DON in diastereomeric ratios of 67.2% and 32.8% respectively.
Recurrence of neovascular age-related macular degeneration after cessation of treat and extend regimen
Authors: Hirata Yuki , Oishi Akio , Maekawa Yuki , Tsuiki Eiko , Machida Akira , Kurihara Junko , Kitaoka Takashi
Published: August 2022

The appropriate timing of treatment cessation after treat and extend (TAE) regimen for age-related macular degeneration has not been established. This study aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors of recurrence after cessation of the TAE regimen. We included patients who received and discontinued the TAE regimen, after extension of the treatment interval to ≥ 12 weeks. Forty-nine patients were included in the study. The estimated recurrence rates were 33% at 1 year and 48% at 2 years after treatment cessation, respectively. Good visual acuity at cessation and a large number of injections in the 6 months before cessation were significant risk factors. Higher chances of recurrence were associated with < 0.1 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) at cessation (P < 0.002). Meanwhile, five patients with visual acuity ≥ 1.0 logMAR at cessation did not show recurrence. Among the 25 recurrences, two lines of vision loss were noted in only two cases after resumed treatment. This study confirmed the importance of the number of injections in reducing recurrence and the association between visual acuity and recurrence. Recurrence is generally well-controlled with resumed treatment.
Geological constraints on dynamic changes of fluid pressure in seismic cycles
Authors: Hosokawa Takahiro , Hashimoto Yoshitaka
Published: August 2022

Fluid pressure along faults plays a significant role in fault behaviors in seismic cycles in subduction zones. When a thermal pressurization event occurs, the fluid pressure rises; conversely, when a fault-valve behavior event occurs, the fluid pressure falls. The stress state changes with seismic cycles from a reverse fault regime to a normal fault regime, as observed in both geophysical observations and geological records. Fluid pressure has been estimated for both modern accretionary prisms and exhumed accretionary complexes. However, changes in fluid pressure on seismogenic faults have not been connected to seismic cycles. Here, we quantitatively show the dynamic change in fluid pressure in a seismogenic fault with geological evidence from an exhumed accretionary complex. We found extensional veins related to seismogenic fault records that exchanged stress states the during seismic cycles. We also constrained the fluid pressure quantitatively, both at an increasing stage during an event and at a decreasing stage after an event. In this procedure, we propose new methods to constrain the magnitude of vertical stress and rock tensile strength.
Digital twin key technology on rare earth process
Authors: Yang Hui , Kuang Zhiqin , Zhu Jianyong , Xu Fangping , Nie Feiping , Sun Shuchen
Published: August 2022

Digital twin can be defined as a digital equivalent of an object of which it can mirror its behavior and status or virtual replicas of real physical entities in Cyberspace. To an extent, it also can simulate and predict the states of equipment or systems through smart algorithms and massive data. Hence, the digital twin is emerging used in intelligent manufacturing Systems in real-time and predicting system failure and also has introduced into a variety of traditional industries such as construction, Agriculture. Rare earth production is a typical process industry, and its Extraction Process enjoys the top priority in the industry. However, the extraction process is usually characterized by nonlinear behavior, large time delays, and strong coupling of various process variables. In case of failures happened in the process, the whole line would be shut down. Therefore, the digital twin is introduced into the design of process simulation to promote the efficiency and intelligent level of the Extraction Process. This paper proposes the techniques to build the rare earth digital twin such as soft measurement of component content, component content process simulation, control optimization strategy, and virtual workshop, etc. At the end, the validity of the model is verified, and a case study is conducted to verify the feasibility of the whole Digital twin framework.
Decreased NHE3 expression in colon cancer is associated with DNA damage, increased inflammation and tumor growth
Authors: Laubitz Daniel , Gurney Michael A. , Midura-Kiela Monica , Clutter Christy , Besselsen David G. , Chen Hao , Ghishan Fayez K. , Kiela Pawel R.
Published: August 2022

Dysregulation of intra- and extracellular pH in cancer contributes to extracellular matrix remodeling, favors cell migration, proliferation, and metastasis. Although the primary attention has been focused on the role of the ubiquitous Na+/H+ exchanger isoform NHE1, the role of NHE3, the predominant apical isoform in colonic surface epithelium in the pathogenesis of colon cancer has not been investigated. Here, we show that NHE3 mRNA expression is significantly reduced in colorectal cancer patients and that low NHE3 expression is associated with poorer survival. Deletion of NHE3 in ApcMin mice evaluated at 15 weeks of age (significant mortality was observed beyond this time) led to lower body weights, increased mucosal inflammation, increased colonic tumor numbers, evidence of enhanced DNA damage in tumor surface epithelium, and to significant alteration in the gut microbiota. In the absence of the inflammatory and microbial pressors, ca. 70% knockdown of NHE3 expression in SK-CO15 cells led to reduced intracellular pH, elevated apical pH, dramatic differences in their transcriptomic profile, increased susceptibility to DNA damage, increased proliferation, decreased apoptosis and reduced adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins. Our findings suggest that loss of NHE3 in the surface epithelium of colonic tumors has profound consequences for cancer progression and behavior.
Activation of recombinational repair in Ewing sarcoma cells carrying EWS-FLI1 fusion gene by chromosome translocation
Authors: Tanaka Kazuhiro , Suzuki Keiji , Miyashita Kaname , Wakasa Kentaro , Kawano Masanori , Nakatsu Yoshimichi , Tsumura Hiroshi , Yoshida Mitsuaki A. , Oda Shinya
Published: August 2022

Chromosome translocation (TL) is an important mode of genomic changes underlying human tumorigenesis, the detailed mechanisms of which are, however, still not well understood. The two major modalities of DNA double strand break repair, i.e. homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ), have been hypothesized. In a typical TL+ human neoplasm, Ewing sarcoma, which is frequently associated with t(11;22) TL encoding the EWS-FLI1 fusion gene, NHEJ has been regarded as a model to explain the disease-specific TL. Using comprehensive microarray approaches, we observed that expression of the HR genes, particularly of RAD51, is upregulated in TL+ Ewing sarcoma cell lines, WE-68 and SK-N-MC, as in the other TL+ tumor cell lines and one defective in DNA mismatch repair (MMR). The upregulated RAD51 expression indeed lead to frequent focus formation, which may suggest an activation of the HR pathway in these cells. Furthermore, sister chromatid exchange was frequently observed in the TL+ and MMR-defective cells. Intriguingly, ionizing irradiation revealed that the decrease of 53BP1 foci was significantly retarded in the Ewing sarcoma cell lines, suggesting that the NHEJ pathway may be less active in the cells. These observations may support an HR involvement, at least in part, to explain TL in Ewing sarcoma.
Aberrant expression of miR-133a in endothelial cells inhibits angiogenesis by reducing pro-angiogenic but increasing anti-angiogenic gene expression
Authors: Ahmed Suhail , Kurusamy Sathishkumar , David Ezra Leander Santhosh , Khan Kinza , Kalyanakrishnan Krithika , Ian-Gobo Miebaka , Kola Teja Manidhar , Wilkinson Robert N. , Kannappan Vinodh , Wang Weiguang , Gómez Manuel J. , Redondo Juan Miguel , Cotton James , Armesilla Angel L.
Published: August 2022

Angiogenesis is a multi-factorial physiological process deregulated in human diseases characterised by excessive or insufficient blood vessel formation. Emerging evidence highlights a novel role for microRNAs as regulators of angiogenesis. Previous studies addressing the effect of miR-133a expression in endothelial cells during blood vessel formation have reported conflicting results. Here, we have assessed the specific effect of mature miR-133a strands in angiogenesis and the expression of endothelial angiogenic genes. Transfection of miR-133a-3p or -5p mimics in primary human endothelial cells significantly inhibited proliferation, migration, and tubular morphogenesis of transfected cells. Screening of gene arrays related to angiogenic processes, and further validation by TaqMan qPCR, revealed that aberrant expression of miR-133a-3p led to a decrease in the expression of genes encoding pro-angiogenic molecules, whilst increasing those with anti-angiogenic functions. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis of a collection of genes differentially expressed in cells harbouring miR-133a-3p, predicted decreased cellular functions related to vasculature branching and cell cycle progression, underlining the inhibitory role of miR-133a-3p in angiogenic cellular processes. Our results suggest that controlled delivery of miR-133a-3p mimics, or antagomirs in diseased endothelial cells, might open new therapeutic interventions to treat patients suffering from cardiovascular pathologies that occur with excessive or insufficient angiogenesis.
Electrokinetic Janus micromotors moving on topographically flat chemical patterns
Authors: Huang Tao , Misko Vyacheslav , Caspari Anja , Synytska Alla , Ibarlucea Bergoi , Nori Franco , Fassbender Jürgen , Cuniberti Gianaurelio , Makarov Denys , Baraban Larysa
Published: August 2022

Ionic and molecular selectivity are considered unique for the nanoscale and not realizable in microfluidics. This is due to the scale-matching problem—a difficulty to match the dimensions of ions and electrostatic potential screening lengths with micron-sized confinements. Here, we demonstrate a microscale realization of ionic transport processes closely resembling those specific to ionic channels or in nanofluidic junctions, including selectivity, guidance and flow focusing. As a model system, we explore electrokinetic spherical Janus micromotors moving over charged surfaces with complex charge distribution and without any topographical wall. We discuss peculiarities of the long-range electrostatic interaction on the behavior of the system including interface crossing and reflection of positively charged particles from negatively charged interfaces. These results are crucial for understanding the electrokinetic transport of biochemical species under confinement, have the potential to increase the precision of lab-on-chip-based assays, as well as broadening use cases and control strategies of nano-/micromachinery.
Neuronal and glial cell co-culture organization and impedance spectroscopy on nanocolumnar TiN films for lab-on-a-chip devices
Authors: Abend Alice , Steele Chelsie , Schmidt Sabine , Frank Ronny , Jahnke Heinz-Georg , Zink Mareike
Published: August 2022

Co-cultured neuronal SH-SY5Y and U-87 MG cells grown with various ratios on TiN, TiN nano, and ITO exhibit distinct cellular organization, proliferation, and electrochemical impedance results depending on cell ratio and electrode material.
Recent developments in bismuth oxyhalide-based functional nanomaterials for biomedical applications
Authors: Chen Guobo , Li Yuhao , Liu Baolin , Miao Yuqing
Published: August 2022

This review summarizes the methods for functionalizing BiOX (BiOCl, BiOBr, and BiOI) nanomaterials and discusses their applications in biomedicine especially focusing on anticancer, antibacterial, and bioimaging.
One-step asparaginyl endopeptidase (OaAEP1)-based protein immobilization for single-molecule force spectroscopy
Authors: Ding Xuan , Wang Ziyi , Zheng Bin , Shi Shengchao , Deng Yibing , Yu Hanyang , Zheng Peng
Published: August 2022

Enzymatic protein ligation has become the most powerful and widely used method for high-precision atomic force microscopy-based single-molecule force spectroscopy (AFM-SMFS) study of protein mechanics.
Single component white-OLEDs derived from tris(β-diketonato) europium(iii) complexes bearing the large bite angle N^N 2-(4-thiazolyl)benzimidazole ligand
Authors: Ilmi Rashid , Yin Jiaxuan , Dutra José D. L. , Al Rasbi Nawal K. , Oliveira Willyan F. , Zhou Liang , Wong Wai-Yeung , Raithby Paul R. , Khan Muhammad S.
Published: August 2022

Two novel europium(iii) complexes have been synthesized and successfully employed as an emitting layer to fabricate single component white-OLEDs.
Optimization of smashing tissue and ultrasonic extraction of tanshinones and their neuroprotective effect on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting parthanatos
Authors: Huang Ping , Jin Weifeng , Xu Shouchao , Jin Lei , Chen Jianzhen , Zhang Ting , Mao Kunjun , Wan Haitong , He Yu
Published: August 2022

Optimize smashing tissue and ultrasonic extraction of tanshinones and investigate their neuroprotective effect on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting parthanatos.
Phase matching achieved by isomorphous substitution in IR nonlinear optical material Ba2SnSSi2O7with an undiscovered [SnO4S] functional motif
Authors: Shi Yong-Fang , Ma Zuju , Li Bing-Xuan , Wu Xin-Tao , Lin Hua , Zhu Qi-Long
Published: August 2022

A new paradigm for designing high-performance PM NLO crystals: a novel PM fresnoite oxychalcogenide, Ba2SnSSi2O7, has been successfully designed and obtained by the isomorphous substitution strategy, on the basis of the NPM parent Ba2TiOSi2O7.
Adipogenesis or osteogenesis: destiny decision made by mechanical properties of biomaterials
Authors: Su Ting , Xu Mimi , Lu Feng , Chang Qiang
Published: August 2022

Regenerative medicine affords an effective approach for restoring defect-associated diseases, and biomaterials play a pivotal role as cell niches to support the cell behavior and decide the destiny of cell differentiation.
Advances in functional guest materials for resistive gas sensors
Authors: Wang Ze , Zhu Lei , Wang Jingzhao , Zhuang Rui , Mu Pengfei , Wang Jianan , Yan Wei
Published: August 2022

The introduction of functional guest materials is an effective way to improve the sensing performance of resistive gas sensors.
Synthesis of polyaspartic acid-capped 2-aminoethylamino acid as a green water treatment agent and study of its inhibition performance and mechanism for calcium scales
Authors: Cai Yong-Hong , Zhao Jia-Li , Guo Xin-Yu , Zhang Xiao-Juan , Zhang Ran-Ran , Ma Shao-Rong , Cheng Ya-Min , Cao Zhong-Yan , Xu Ying
Published: August 2022

A novel phosphorus-free PASP–ED2A antiscalant exhibits good scale inhibition performance against calcium scale at a low concentration or a high temperature, better than that of PASP.
Roles of cysteine in the structure and metabolic function of Mycobacterium tuberculosis CYP142A1
Authors: Lu Yun , Sun Lilan , Pang Jing , Li Congran , Wang Xiukun , Hu Xinxin , Li Guoqing , Li Xue , Zhang Youwen , Wang Hao , Yang Xinyi , You Xuefu
Published: August 2022

Substitution of the six cysteine residues resulted in changes in Mtb CYP142A1 structure, binding ability, thermal stability and oxidation efficiency.
Promotion of cytoplasmic localization of oligonucleotides by connecting cross-linked duplexes
Authors: Hirano Yu , Komatsu Yasuo
Published: August 2022

An interstrand cross-linked duplex (CD) modification promoted antisense oligonucleotide to be localized in the cytoplasm, resulting in effective knockdown microRNA in cytoplasm. In contrast, single-stranded antisense was confined in the nucleus.
Catalytic selective ethane dehydrogenation at low-temperature with low coke formation
Authors: Watanabe Kosuke , Higo Takuma , Tsuneki Hideaki , Maeda Shun , Hashimoto Kunihide , Sekine Yasushi
Published: August 2022

Catalytic ethane dehydrogenation for improving efficient production of ethylene, an extremely important chemical feedstock.
Insight into nanocrystal synthesis: from precursor decomposition to combustion
Authors: Abebe Buzuayehu , Tsegaye Dereje , Ananda Murthy H. C.
Published: August 2022

The LaMar model visualizes the process of nanocrystal formation. The solution combustion synthesis approach is a noble methodology resulting in highly stable and ordered porous nanomaterials.
Palladium-catalysed C–H arylation of benzophospholes with aryl halides
Authors: Xu Shibo , Nishimura Kazutoshi , Saito Kosuke , Hirano Koji , Miura Masahiro
Published: August 2022

A palladium-catalysed C–H arylation of benzophospholes with aryl halides has been developed to form the corresponding acceptor–donor–acceptor-type molecules and highly condensed heteroacene-type molecules of potent interest in material chemistry.
A hydro-thermophoretic trap for microparticles near a gold-coated substrate
Authors: Nalupurackal Gokul , Gunaseelan M. , Roy Srestha , Lokesh Muruga , Kumar Sumeet , Vaippully Rahul , Singh Rajesh , Roy Basudev
Published: August 2022

Optical tweezers have revolutionised micromanipulation from physics and biology to material science.
Highly stable Pebax® Renew® thin-film nanocomposite membranes with metal organic framework ZIF-94 and ionic liquid [Bmim][BF4] for CO2 capture
Authors: Martínez-Izquierdo Lidia , Téllez Carlos , Coronas Joaquín
Published: August 2022

Ionic liquid [Bmim][BF4] and metal organic framework ZIF-8 and ZIF-94 nanoparticles were incorporated into polymer Pebax® Renew® 30R51 to obtain highly efficient thin-film nanocomposite membranes, ca. 300 nm thick.
Recent advances in TMD interfaces with seamless contacts
Authors: Aftab Sikandar , Iqbal Muhammad Zahir , Iqbal Muhammad Waqas , Asghar Mazia , Ullah Hamid
Published: August 2022

Two-dimensional (2D) hetero-phase homojunctions have become increasingly popular in recent years.
A latency‐reduced SC flip decoding algorithm for polar codes
Authors: Yang Dong , Mao Yinyou , Liu Xingcheng
Published: August 2022

The successive cancellation flip (SC Flip) decoding algorithm was recently suggested for decoding polar codes, which could improve the performance of the frame error rate (FER). The performance of the SC Flip (SCF) decoding algorithm is strong, and its computational complexity tends to be the same as that of the SC decoder at medium to high signal‐to‐noise ratios (SNRs). However, the decoding latency of the SCF decoding algorithm is large. In this paper, a new method for detecting whether or not the flipped bit is correct is proposed. The proposed method makes a decision according to the changing log likelihood ratio (LLR) value caused by the flipped bit to ensure that the decoding process can be terminated in advance and the decoding latency is reduced. The simulation results show that the proposed Latency‐Reduced SCF decoding algorithm can decrease computational complexity and decoding latency, while also achieving similar decoding performance compared to its counterpart.
Suppression of third‐order harmonic current in transformerless MMC
Authors: Yadav Ankit , Singh Sri Niwas , Das Shyama Prasad
Published: August 2022

The modular multilevel converter (MMC) based high voltage DC (HVDC) system can be effectively used for bulk power transmission. The MMC topology for the voltage source converter (VSC) has several advantages. In this work, the transformerless operation of MMC is explored. The internal dynamic of MMC can induce a third‐order zero‐sequence harmonic current. Its effect on the system is analysed, including the adverse impacts on energy requirement per arm and power transfer capability. The internal dynamic equations of the transformerless MMC configuration are derived, and two different controllers: the proportional‐resonant (PR) controller and proportional‐integral (PI) controller, were applied to suppress the unwanted third‐order current. The performance analysis of these controllers is presented and the results indicate that the controllers efficiently suppress the third‐order harmonic current. Moreover, the electromagnetic transient (EMT) models of MMC under different configurations have been developed on the real‐time digital simulator (RTDS) platform. An analysis of internal variables of the MMC is also included to ensure that the controller does not adversely affect the system. Lastly, the state‐space model is developed, and the stability is analysed.
Tidally induced spiral arm wraps encoded in phase space
Authors: Antoja T. , Ramos P. , López-Guitart F. , Anders F. , Bernet M. , Laporte C. F. P.
Published: August 2022

Context. The impact of Sagittarius and other satellite galaxies such as the Large Magellanic Cloud on our Galaxy and in particular its disc is gradually being disclosed. Simulations tailored to the interaction of the Milky Way (MW) and Sagittarius show rings and spiral arms appearing in the Galaxy disc. However, spiral arms can also be induced by the bar or by disc instabilities.

Aims. We aim to study the dynamics of tidally induced spiral arms in the context of the different encounters with Sagittarius and determine their kinematic signatures in the shape of ridges and waves in angular momentum, similar to those detected with Gaia DR2.

Methods. We built toy models of the interaction between a host and a satellite galaxy using orbital integrations after a tidal distant encounter. We derived analytically the shape of the structures seen in phase space as a function of time for simple power-law potential models. We compared these models to a more realistic N-body simulation of the MW Sagittarius-like interaction and also to real data from Gaia DR3.

Results. As previously found, an impulsive distant tidal approach of a galactic satellite generates a kick in velocities that leads to a two-armed spiral structure. The arms are made of orbits in between their apocentres and pericentres, thus, they correspond to regions with average negative galactocentric radial velocity. The two-arm pattern rotates at an angular speed of ω − 1/2κ which depends on Galactocentric radius, thus causing winding with time range of 0.8–2.1 Gyr, respectively. This winding produces ridges in the R − Vϕ projection with alternating signs of VR and oscillations of VR in the LZ − ϕ space, similar to those observed in the Gaia data. The frequency of these kinematic features increases with time, offering a powerful means to infer the potential and the perturbation’s onset time and azimuthal phase. Fourier analysis allows us to date the impact times of simple models and even to date perturbations induced from subsequent pericentric passages that appear as simultaneous waves. For the MW, the Fourier analysis indicates a superposition of two different frequencies, confirming previous studies. Assuming that both are due to impulsive and distant pericentre passages, we find perturbation times < 0.6 Gyr and in the range of 0.8–2.1 Gyr. The latter is compatible with a previous pericentre of Sagittarius and would be associated to about four wraps of the spiral arms in the observed radial range.

Conclusions. Further work on the self-gravitating response of galactic discs and possible degeneracies with secular processes induced by the bar is necessary. Our study is a first step towards shedding more light on the elusive structure and dynamics of the spiral arms of the Galaxy.
An Observational Time Study of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Multidisciplinary Rounds
Authors: Gisondo Carly , Lawrence Christin , Cham Parul , Weiner Gary , Vartanian Rebecca J. , Ellsworth Lindsay
Published: August 2022

Objective In this observational study, we aimed to describe the rounding structure in a high acuity neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to identify potential barriers to efficient multidisciplinary rounds.

Study Design We observed daily medical rounds (January–December 2018) on the resident teaching service in a 46-bed academic level IV NICU. Daily census, duration of rounds, and causes for rounding delays were recorded. During a subset of the study period, additional data were collected describing the time spent on specific activities and the room-to-room pathway followed by the rounding team. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the census, total rounding time, time spent on each activity, and rounding time by day of the week and by attending.

Results A total of 208 rounding days were observed. During the study period, the teaching service mean daily census was 17 patients and total rounding time (mean ± standard deviation) was 136 ± 31 minutes. Mean rounding time and time/patient varied between the nine attendings (total time range 109 minutes to 169 minutes, time/patient range 6.4 minutes/patient to 10.0 minutes/patient). In total, 91% of rounding time focused on patient care, teaching, and discussions with parents, while 9% of the time was spent deciding which patient to see next, moving between rooms, and waiting for members of the team to be ready to start rounds.

Conclusion On average, the medical team spent over 2 hours per day making multisciplinary rounds in the NICU with substantial variation between attending providers. While most time was spent on patient care, teaching, and talking with parents, we identified opportunities to improve rounding efficiency.

Key Points
Providing Positive End-Expiratory Pressure during Neonatal Resuscitation: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Bellos Ioannis , Pillai Anish , Pandita Aakash
Published: August 2022

Our objective was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the effects of administering positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) during neonatal resuscitation at birth. Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Clinicaltrials.gov databases were systematically searched from inception to 15 December 2020. Randomized controlled trials and cohort studies were held eligible. Studies were included if they compared the administration of PEEP using either a T-piece resuscitator or a self-inflating bag with a PEEP valve versus resuscitation via a self-inflating bag without a PEEP valve. Data were extracted by two reviewers independently. The credibility of evidence was appraised with the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations approach. Random-effects models were fitted to provide pooled estimates of risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Overall, 10 studies were included, comprising 4,268 neonates. This included five randomized controlled trials, one quasi-randomized trial, and four cohort studies. The administration of PEEP was associated with significantly lower rates of mortality till discharge (odds ratio [OR]: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.49–0.74, moderate quality of evidence). The association was significant in preterm (OR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.46–0.69) but not in term (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 0.52–2.02) neonates. Low-to-moderate quality evidence suggests that providing PEEP during neonatal resuscitation is associated with lower rates of mortality in preterm neonates. Evidence regarding term neonates is limited and inconclusive. Future research is needed to determine the optimal device and shed more light on the long-term effects of PEEP administration during neonatal resuscitation. This study is registered with PROSPERO with registration number: CRD42020219956.

Key Points
Management of Complex Upper Extremity Trauma with Associated Vascular Injury
Authors: Mahajan Ravi K. , Srinivasan Krishnan , Jain Adish , Bhamre Abhishek , Narayan Udit , Sharma Manish
Published: August 2022

Introduction Combined soft tissue and vascular injuries of the upper extremity pose several challenges at once to the plastic surgeon. Many decisions have to be taken urgently that will influence the salvage or amputation of the affected extremity. The aim of this article was to provide an evidence-based outline for the management of such injuries. Learning objectives of this article are as follows: (1) approach to a patient with upper extremity composite tissue and vascular injury presenting to the emergency, (2) decision-making as to when to salvage and when to go for amputation of the traumatized upper extremity, (3) role of imaging in emergency situation, (4) role of fasciotomy, (5) intraoperative sequencing of steps, and (6) options for vascular reconstruction and the flaps used for coverage. After reading this article, the reader should have a clear understanding of the management of vascular injury in a patient with composite defects of upper extremity.
Capillary flow in Y-shaped junctions with open- and closed-end branches
Authors: Kaneuji Yuya
Published: August 2022

The capillary flow in asymmetric junctions can delay the liquid invasion of the wide branch, which has important implications for the liquid imbibition in porous media with elongated pores. For the capillary flow in Y-shaped junctions with two open-end branches of different radii, the delay time of the liquid invasion of the wide branch depends on the pressure at the junction. In Y-shaped junctions with open- and closed-end branches, the gas compression in the closed-end branch is required for determining the pressure at the junction. A closer investigation of the capillary flow in such junctions is necessary to predict the liquid imbibition in porous media that comprise continuous and discontinuous elongated pores. This study presents a theoretical model considering the effect of gas compression in closed-end branches and analyzes this effect on the capillary-flow dynamics. The analytical results obtained suggest that the initiation of capillary flow in the open-end wide branch is governed by the trapped-gas pressure in the closed-end narrow branch. In this case, the delay time of the liquid invasion of the open-end branch decreases with a decrease in the length of the closed-end branch; this is because the decreased length causes the pressure difference at the junction to approach that at the liquid–gas interface in the open-end branch early. Additionally, for open- and closed-end branches, the velocity of capillary flow in the open-end branch increases because the volume rate of flow in the closed-end branch decreases owing to the increase in the trapped-gas pressure in this branch.
First-principles insights into the electronic, optical, mechanical, and thermodynamic properties of lead-free cubic ABO3 [A = Ba, Ca, Sr; B = Ce, Ti, Zr] perovskites
Authors: Hasan Mehedi , Nasrin Sharifa , Islam M. Nazrul , Hossain A. K. M. Akther
Published: August 2022

A comparative study on mechanical, thermodynamic, electronic, and optical properties has been performed on various compounds having an ABO3, where A = Ba, Ca, Sr and B = Ce, Ti, Zr, perovskite structure using first-principles calculations. These materials’ properties have been thoroughly investigated for their ground states under the same computational parameters. The computed lattice parameters in the ground state agreed with other theoretical studies. Elastic moduli, ductility or brittleness, elastic anisotropy, mechanical stability, and stiffness of solid materials are studied. Enthalpy (H), entropy (S), and free energy (F) were reported from the vibrational properties of the materials. The temperature-dependent heat capacity and Debye temperature are investigated. The electronic band structure as a function of energy, of different perovskite structures at the ground state, is also studied. From this study, the ABO3 perovskite has emerged as the most promising material for applications in optoelectronics, photonics, and mechanical and thermoelectric devices.
Three-dimensional unsteady axisymmetric vortex solutions to the Bellamy-Knights equation and the distribution of boundary conditions
Authors: Takahashi Koichi
Published: August 2022

The Bellamy-Knights equation gives three-dimensional unsteady axisymmetric incompressible vortex solutions that are disconnected from the known exact steady solutions. In this paper, by introducing a new parameter that allows a change of the time scale, the Bellamy-Knights equation is transformed into an integro-differential equation that continuously connects with the equation for steady vortices. The new equation is viewed as describing the one-dimensional motion of a particle under conserved and nonconserved forces and leads to new regular solutions, in which the particle initially undergoes almost sinusoidal oscillations around the minimum of potential followed by a very rapid approach to the extrema of the potential. The regular solutions distribute discretely in the space of boundary conditions and are classified into types that are specified by the pattern of sequence of small and large oscillations of the axial component of velocity. Extending the solutions to singular ones, the boundary conditions for solutions of the same type are shown to form a continuous one-dimensional set, which we call a branch. The set of branches forms dense self-similar patterns with accumulation points, some of which coalesce to a single point. In an arbitrary neighborhood of the accumulation or coalescent point, any two distinct boundary conditions whose distance in the space of boundary conditions is arbitrarily small give mutually distinctive solutions with a finite difference at some region of the spatial distance. This feature of the equations signifies the extreme sensitivity of inflowing vortex solutions to boundary conditions.
SARS-CoV-2 variant spike and accessory gene mutations alter pathogenesis
Authors: McGrath Marisa E. , Xue Yong , Dillen Carly , Oldfield Lauren , Assad-Garcia N. , Zaveri Jayshree , Singh Natasha , Baracco Lauren , Taylor Louis J. , Vashee Sanjay , Frieman Matthew B.
Published: August 2022

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is a major public health crisis. Despite the development and deployment of vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the pandemic persists. The continued spread of the virus is largely driven by the emergence of viral variants, which can evade the current vaccines through mutations in the spike protein. Although these differences in spike are important in terms of transmission and vaccine responses, these variants possess mutations in the other parts of their genome that may also affect pathogenesis. Of particular interest to us are the mutations present in the accessory genes, which have been shown to contribute to pathogenesis in the host through interference with innate immune signaling, among other effects on host machinery. To examine the effects of accessory protein mutations and other nonspike mutations on SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, we synthesized both viruses possessing deletions in the accessory genes as well as viruses where the WA-1 spike is replaced by each variant spike gene in a SARS-CoV-2/WA-1 infectious clone. We then characterized the in vitro and in vivo replication of these viruses and compared them to both WA-1 and the full variant viruses. Our work has revealed that the accessory proteins contribute to SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and the nonspike mutations in variants can contribute to replication of SARS-CoV-2 and pathogenesis in the host. This work suggests that while spike mutations may enhance receptor binding and entry into cells, mutations in accessory proteins may alter clinical disease presentation.
Mapping the per-residue surface electrostatic potential of CAPRIN1 along its phase-separation trajectory
Authors: Toyama Yuki , Rangadurai Atul Kaushik , Forman-Kay Julie D. , Kay Lewis E.
Published: August 2022

Electrostatic interactions and charge balance are important for the formation of biomolecular condensates involving proteins and nucleic acids. However, a detailed, atomistic picture of the charge distribution around proteins during the phase-separation process is lacking. Here, we use solution NMR spectroscopy to measure residue-specific near-surface electrostatic potentials (
ϕ
ENS
) of the positively charged carboxyl-terminal intrinsically disordered 103 residues of CAPRIN1, an RNA-binding protein localized to membraneless organelles playing an important role in messenger RNA (mRNA) storage and translation. Measured
ϕ
ENS
values have been mapped along the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)–induced phase-separation trajectory. In the absence of ATP,
ϕ
ENS
values for the mixed state of CAPRIN1 are positive and large and progressively decrease as ATP is added. This is coupled to increasing interchain interactions, particularly between aromatic-rich and arginine-rich regions of the protein. Upon phase separation, CAPRIN1 molecules in the condensed phase are neutral (
ϕ
ENS

≈

0 mV), with ∼five molecules of ATP associated with each CAPRIN1 chain. Increasing the ATP concentration further inverts the CAPRIN1 electrostatic potential, so that molecules become negatively charged, especially in aromatic-rich regions, leading to re-entrance into a mixed phase. Our results collectively show that a subtle balance between electrostatic repulsion and interchain attractive interactions regulates CAPRIN1 phase separation and provides insight into how nucleotides, such as ATP, can induce formation of and subsequently dissolve protein condensates.