bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mitofusin 1 and 2 regulation of mitochondrial DNA content is a critical determinant of glucose homeostasis
Authors: Sidarala Vaibhav , Zhu Jie , Levi-D’Ancona Elena , Pearson Gemma L. , Reck Emma C. , Walker Emily M. , Kaufman Brett A. , Soleimanpour Scott A.
Published: April 2022

The dynamin-like GTPases Mitofusin 1 and 2 (Mfn1 and Mfn2) are essential for mitochondrial function, which has been principally attributed to their regulation of fission/fusion dynamics. Here, we report that Mfn1 and 2 are critical for glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) primarily through control of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content. Whereas Mfn1 and Mfn2 individually were dispensable for glucose homeostasis, combined Mfn1/2 deletion in β-cells reduced mtDNA content, impaired mitochondrial morphology and networking, and decreased respiratory function, ultimately resulting in severe glucose intolerance. Importantly, gene dosage studies unexpectedly revealed that Mfn1/2 control of glucose homeostasis was dependent on maintenance of mtDNA content, rather than mitochondrial structure. Mfn1/2 maintain mtDNA content by regulating the expression of the crucial mitochondrial transcription factor Tfam, as Tfam overexpression ameliorated the reduction in mtDNA content and GSIS in Mfn1/2-deficient β-cells. Thus, the primary physiologic role of Mfn1 and 2 in β-cells is coupled to the preservation of mtDNA content rather than mitochondrial architecture, and Mfn1 and 2 may be promising targets to overcome mitochondrial dysfunction and restore glucose control in diabetes.
Nonlinearity-mediated digitization and amplification in electromechanical phonon-cavity systems
Authors: Miao Tongqiao , Zhou Xin , Wu Xuezhong , Li Qingsong , Hou Zhanqiang , Hu Xiaoping , Wang Zenghui , Xiao Dingbang
Published: April 2022

Electromechanical phonon-cavity systems are man-made micro-structures, in which vibrational energy can be coherently transferred between different degrees of freedom. In such devices, the energy transfer direction and coupling strength can be parametrically controlled, offering great opportunities for both fundamental studies and practical applications such as phonon manipulation and sensing. However, to date the investigation of such systems has largely been limited to linear vibrations, while their responses in the nonlinear regime remain yet to be explored. Here, we demonstrate nonlinear operation of electromechanical phonon-cavity systems, and show that the resonant response differs drastically from that in the linear regime. We further demonstrate that by controlling the parametric pump, one can achieve nonlinearity-mediated digitization and amplification in the frequency domain, which can be exploited to build high-performance MEMS sensing devices based on phonon-cavity systems. Our findings offer intriguing opportunities for creating frequency-shift-based sensors and transducers.
Direct observation of elemental fluctuation and oxygen octahedral distortion-dependent charge distribution in high entropy oxides
Authors: Su Lei , Huyan Huaixun , Sarkar Abhishek , Gao Wenpei , Yan Xingxu , Addiego Christopher , Kruk Robert , Hahn Horst , Pan Xiaoqing
Published: April 2022

The enhanced compositional flexibility to incorporate multiple-principal cations in high entropy oxides (HEOs) offers the opportunity to expand boundaries for accessible compositions and unconventional properties in oxides. Attractive functionalities have been reported in some bulk HEOs, which are attributed to the long-range compositional homogeneity, lattice distortion, and local chemical bonding characteristics in materials. However, the intricate details of local composition fluctuation, metal-oxygen bond distortion and covalency are difficult to visualize experimentally, especially on the atomic scale. Here, we study the atomic structure-chemical bonding-property correlations in a series of perovskite-HEOs utilizing the recently developed four-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy techniques which enables to determine the structure, chemical bonding, electric field, and charge density on the atomic scale. The existence of compositional fluctuations along with significant composition-dependent distortion of metal-oxygen bonds is observed. Consequently, distinct variations of metal-oxygen bonding covalency are shown by the real-space charge-density distribution maps with sub-ångström resolution. The observed atomic features not only provide a realistic picture of the local physico-chemistry of chemically complex HEOs but can also be directly correlated to their distinctive magneto-electronic properties.
Covalent organic frameworks with high quantum efficiency in sacrificial photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
Authors: Li Chunzhi , Liu Jiali , Li He , Wu Kaifeng , Wang Junhui , Yang Qihua
Published: April 2022

Organic semiconductors offer a tunable platform for photocatalysis, yet the more difficult exciton dissociation, compared to that in inorganic semiconductors, lowers their photocatalytic activities. In this work, we report that the charge carrier lifetime is dramatically prolonged by incorporating a suitable donor-acceptor (β-ketene-cyano) pair into a covalent organic framework nanosheet. These nanosheets show an apparent quantum efficiency up to 82.6% at 450 nm using platinum as co-catalyst for photocatalytic H2 evolution. Charge carrier kinetic analysis and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy characterizations verify that these modified covalent organic framework nanosheets have intrinsically lower exciton binding energies and longer-lived charge carriers than the corresponding nanosheets without the donor-acceptor unit. This work provides a model for gaining insight into the nature of short-lived active species in polymeric organic photocatalysts.
How coherence is governing diffuson heat transfer in amorphous solids
Authors: Zhang Zhongwei , Guo Yangyu , Bescond Marc , Chen Jie , Nomura Masahiro , Volz Sebastian
Published: April 2022

Thermal transport in amorphous materials has remained one of the fundamental questions in solid state physics while involving a very large field of applications. Using a heat conduction theory incorporating coherence, we demonstrate that the strong phase correlation between local and non-propagating modes, commonly named diffusons in the terminology of amorphous systems, triggers the conduction of heat. By treating the thermal vibrations as collective excitations, the significant contribution of diffusons, predominantly relying on coherence, further reveals interesting temperature and length dependences of thermal conductivity. The propagation length of diffuson clusters is found to reach the micron, overpassing the one of propagons. The explored wavelike behavior of diffusons uncovers the unsolved physical picture of mode correlation in prevailing models and further provides an interpretation of their ability to transport heat. This work introduces a framework for understanding thermal vibrations and transport in amorphous materials, as well as an unexpected insight into the wave nature of thermal vibrations.
Neurogenesis mediated plasticity is associated with reduced neuronal activity in CA1 during context fear memory retrieval
Authors: Evans Alexandria , Terstege Dylan J. , Scott Gavin A. , Tsutsui Mio , Epp Jonathan R.
Published: April 2022

Postnatal hippocampal neurogenesis has been demonstrated to affect learning and memory in numerous ways. Several studies have now demonstrated that increased neurogenesis can induce forgetting of memories acquired prior to the manipulation of neurogenesis and, as a result of this forgetting can also facilitate new learning. However, the mechanisms mediating neurogenesis-induced forgetting are not well understood. Here, we used a subregion-based analysis of the immediate early gene c-Fos as well as in vivo fiber photometry to determine changes in activity corresponding with neurogenesis induced forgetting. We found that increasing neurogenesis led to reduced CA1 activity during context memory retrieval. We also demonstrate here that perineuronal net expression in areas CA1 is bidirectionally altered by the levels or activity of postnatally generated neurons in the dentate gyrus. These results suggest that neurogenesis may induce forgetting by disrupting perineuronal nets in CA1 which may otherwise protect memories from degradation.
Utilizing interdigital and supershape geometries for the design of frequency selective surfaces with high angular and polarization stabilities
Authors: Khajevandi Amir , Oraizi Homayoon
Published: April 2022

In this research article, the superformula is used to design the geometry of a frequency selective surface (FSS) unit cell, which resembles the shapes found in nature. The designed shape of unit cell is like petals, which may take different form by varying the values of six parameters. The proposed FSS unit cell has both angular and polarization stabilities of incident wave. For the miniaturization of FSS and decrease of resonance frequency, interdigital capacitances (IDCs) are devised in the FSS structure, which do not deteriorate angular and polarization stabilities. The dimensions of the unit cell are 10 mm × 10 mm and the resonance frequency is specified as 3.5 GHz. An equivalent circuit is derived for the unit cell to evaluate its frequency responses. Its performance as the transmission coefficient is obtained by the equivalent circuit and full-wave simulation. The effects of variations of the geometrical dimensions of the FSS unit cell on its performance are studied. A prototype model of proposed FSS is fabricated and measured. The performance of its equivalent circuit, full-wave computer simulation results and measured data are compared and are shown to be in good agreement.
A turning point in the bacterial nanocellulose production employing low doses of gamma radiation
Authors: Al-Hagar Ola E. A. , Abol-Fotouh Deyaa
Published: April 2022

In the recent years, huge efforts have been conducted to conceive a cost-effective production process of the bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), thanks to its marvelous properties and broadening applications. Herein, we unveiled the impact of gamma irradiation on the BNC yield by a novel bacterial strain Komagataeibacter hansenii KO28 which was exposed to different irradiation doses via a designed scheme, where the productivity and the structural properties of the BNC were inspected. After incubation for 240 h, the highest BNC yield was perceived from the culture treated twice with 0.5 kGy, recording about 475% higher than the control culture. Furthermore, almost 92% of its BNC yield emerged in the first six days. The physicochemical characteristics of the BNCs were investigated adopting scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). Additionally, the water holding capacity, water release rate, surface area (BET), and mechanical properties were configured for the BNC generated from the control and the irradiated cultures. As a whole, there were no significant variations in the properties of the BNC produced by the irradiated cultures versus the control, proposing the strain irradiation as a valuable, facile, and cheap route to augment the BNC yield.
Analyzing the learning curve of vaginal pelvic reconstruction surgery with and without mesh by the cumulative summation test (CUSUM)
Authors: Wu Chin-Jui , Huang Kuan-Ju , Chang Wen-Chun , Li Ying-Xuan , Wei Lin-Hung , Sheu Bor-Ching
Published: April 2022

Women who underwent vaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery with or without mesh consecutively between 2004 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed to determine the learning curve in vaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery. With cumulative summation (CUSUM) analysis of surgical failure and operation time, we assessed the learning curve of vaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery, including sacrospinous ligament fixation, anterior colporrhaphy, posterior colporrhaphy, and optional vaginal hysterectomy with or without mesh placement. The study is based on two individual surgeons who performed vaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery with or without mesh. Two hundred and sixty-four women with stage III or IV pelvic organ prolapse underwent vaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery by surgeons A or B. The median follow-up time of 44 months ranged from 24 to 120 months. Surgical proficiency was achieved in 32–33 vaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery procedures without mesh and 37–47 procedures in the same surgery with mesh. The total surgical success rates for surgeons A and B were 82.2% and 94.1%, with median follow-up times of 60 and 33 months, respectively. More procedures were needed for the learning curve of vaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery with mesh. Having crossed the proficiency boundary, the surgical success rate and operation time were improved.
Doping of carbon nanotubes by halogenated solvents
Authors: Taborowska Patrycja , Stando Grzegorz , Sahlman Mika , Krzywiecki Maciej , Lundström Mari , Janas Dawid
Published: April 2022

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) play a unique role in the area of flexible conductors as they have remarkably high electrical conductivity and bend easily without deformation. Consequently, CNTs are commonly deposited on substrates as conductive tracks/coatings. Halogenated solvents are often employed to facilitate the deposition process because they dry rapidly due to their high volatility. In this work, we report that halogenated solvents can dope CNTs considerably. The study showed that the use of dichloromethane, chloroform, or bromoform for the CNT deposition significantly impacts the chemical potential of the material, thereby modifying its charge transport characteristics. As a consequence, up to four-fold improvement in electrical conductivity is noted due to doping.
Modified lateral pressure formula of shallow and circular silo considering the elasticities of silo wall and storage materials
Authors: Xu Zhijun , Liang Pengfei
Published: April 2022

For the shallow and circular silo (SCS), when the aspect ratio is between 1.0 and 1.5, the lateral pressure especially dynamic pressure may cause destruction if the size of the silo is large. This paper proposed a modified calculation method of lateral pressure on the silo wall of SCS, considering the elasticities of silo wall and storage materials. The availability of shallow silo and deep silo methods, and the modified method were compared with the experiment and simulation. The results show that the Rankine’s formula is too conservative for the static lateral pressure, and the results of the modified method and Janssen formula are close to that of the experimental and simulation. For the dynamic lateral pressure calculation, Rankine theory is unsafe for the discharging load. The relative error of the dynamic lateral pressure based on Janssen theory is between 20 and 30%, which is too large. The dynamic lateral pressure calculated by the modified method is in good agreement with that of the experimental and simulation, and the relative error is less than 10%. Therefore, the modified method of lateral pressure formula is reasonable, which can provide guidance for the safety design of silo structure.
Effects of conservation tillage strategies on soil physicochemical indicators and N2O emission under spring wheat monocropping system conditions
Authors: Yuan Jianyu , Yan Lijuan , Li Guang , Sadiq Mahran , Rahim Nasir , Wu Jiangqi , Ma Weiwei , Xu Guorong , Du Mengyin
Published: April 2022

As one of the important greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide (N2O) has attracted much attention globally under climate change context. Agricultural practices are the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Nevertheless, scarcity of literature is available on the effects of different tillage measures on soil N2O emission under spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) ecosystem in the semi-arid area of the Loess Plateau. The main objective of the experimental study was to explore the influence of conservation tillage techniques on soil physicochemical properties, nitrous oxide emission and yield in the Northern semi-arid Dingxi region of China. Four treatments viz., conventional tillage (CT), no tillage (NT), straw mulch with conventional tillage (TS) and stubble-return with no-till (NTS) were evaluated under randomized complete block design with three replications. Our results depicted that compared with conventional tillage, bulk density and water content of topsoil was increased and soil pH value was reduced under conservation tillage techniques. Conservation tillage NT, TS and NTS increased organic carbon, TN, MBN and NH4+-N and reduced the accumulation of NO3–N. Additionally, although the N2O emission under NT, TS and NTS was 8.95, 41.90 and 21.05% respectively higher than under T treatment, the corresponding wheat yield was 15.40, 31.97 and 63.21% higher than T treatment. Moreover, correlation analysis showed that soil moisture and temperature were the most significant factors affecting soil N2O emission. The NTS treatment pointedly increased crop yield without significantly increasing soil N2O emission. Consequently, based on economic and environmental benefits and considering N2O emission and crop yield, we suggest that NTS technique is the best conservation tillage strategy in the semi-arid environmental zone of the Loess Plateau of Dingxi China.
Detection and genetic diversity of Bartonella species in small mammals from the central region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China
Authors: Yu Juan , Li Qingduo , Lu Liang , Li Shoujiang , Song Xiuping , Li Dongmei , Rao Huaxiang
Published: April 2022

In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence and molecular characteristics of Bartonella infections in small mammals from the central region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Toward this, small mammals were captured using snap traps in Yushu City and Nangqian County, West China, and the spleen tissue was used for Bartonella culture. The suspected positive colonies were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and by sequencing the citrate synthase (gltA) gene. We discovered that 31 out of the 103 small mammals tested positive for Bartonella, with an infection rate of 30.10%. Sex differences between the mammals did not result in a significant difference in infection rate (χ2 = 0.018, P = 0.892). However, there was a significant difference in infection rates in different small mammals (Fisher’s exact probability method, P = 0.017) and habitats (χ2 = 7.157, P = 0.028). Additionally, 31 Bartonella strains belonging to three species were identified, including B. grahamii (25), B. japonica (4) and B. heixiaziensis (2), among which B. grahamii was the dominant epidemic strain (accounting for 80.65%). Phylogenetic analyses showed that most of the B. grahamii isolates identified in this study may be closely related to the strains isolated from Japan and China. Genetic diversity analyses revealed that B. grahamii strains had high genetic diversity, which showed a certain host and geographical specificity. The results of Tajima’s test suggested that the B. grahamii followed the progressions simulated by a neutral evolutionary model in the process of evolution. Overall, a high prevalence and genetic diversity of Bartonella infection were observed in small mammals in the central region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. B. grahamii as the dominant epidemic strain may cause diseases in humans, and the corresponding prevention and control measures should be taken into consideration in this area.
Incorporating local ancestry improves identification of ancestry-associated methylation signatures and meQTLs in African Americans
Authors: Li Boyang , Aouizerat Bradley E. , Cheng Youshu , Anastos Kathryn , Justice Amy C. , Zhao Hongyu , Xu Ke
Published: April 2022

Here we report three epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) of DNA methylation on self-reported race, global genetic ancestry, and local genetic ancestry in admixed Americans from three sets of samples, including internal and external replications (Ntotal = 1224). Our EWAS on local ancestry (LA) identified the largest number of ancestry-associated DNA methylation sites and also featured the highest replication rate. Furthermore, by incorporating ancestry origins of genetic variations, we identified 36 methylation quantitative trait loci (meQTL) clumps for LA-associated CpGs that cannot be captured by a model that assumes identical genetic effects across ancestry origins. Lead SNPs at 152 meQTL clumps had significantly different genetic effects in the context of an African or European ancestry background. Local ancestry information enables superior capture of ancestry-associated methylation signatures and identification of ancestry-specific genetic effects on DNA methylation. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating local ancestry for EWAS in admixed samples from multi-ancestry cohorts.
Combinatorial optimization with photonics-inspired clock models
Authors: Honari-Latifpour Mostafa , Mills Matthew S. , Miri Mohammad-Ali
Published: April 2022

NP-hard combinatorial optimization problems are in general hard problems that their computational complexity grows faster than polynomial scaling with the size of the problem. Thus, over the years there has been a great interest in developing unconventional methods and algorithms for solving such problems. Here, inspired by the nonlinear optical process of q-photon down-conversion, in which a photon is converted into q degenerate lower energy photons, we introduce a nonlinear dynamical model that builds on coupled single-variable phase oscillators and allows for efficiently approximating the ground state of the classical q-state planar Potts Hamiltonian. This reduces the exhaustive search in the large discrete solution space of a large class of combinatorial problems that are represented by the Potts Hamiltonian to solving a system of coupled dynamical equations. To reduce the problem of trapping into local minima, we introduce two different mechanisms by utilizing controlled chaotic dynamics and by dynamical formation of the cost function through adiabatic parameter tuning. The proposed algorithm is applied to graph-q-partitioning problems on several complex graphs.
Novel Electrolytic Processes
Authors: Mitsudo KOICHI
Published: April 2022

This chapter describes the recent advances in electrochemical processes used for organic synthesis, including parallel batch systems and flow systems. Parallel batch systems allow simultaneous electrochemical reactions to be performed with multiple batches, and flow systems allow efficient sequential syntheses to be carried out by changing the substrates pumped into the flow reactor. The use of bipolar electrodes, which are not connected to the electrodes, has enabled the production of polymer brushes and microfibers with patterned gradients.
Vanadium(v)-induced Oxidative Cross-coupling of Enolate Species
Authors: Amaya Toru
Published: April 2022

The selective intermolecular oxidative cross-coupling of enolates provides a potentially direct method for the synthesis of unsymmetrical 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds, which are common substructures found in natural products and pharmaceuticals and their synthetic intermediates, as well as building blocks for the construction of various heterocyclic compounds. The main point of this reaction is achieving selective cross-coupling, as well as minimizing undesired homocoupling. The proposed strategy depends on the selective one-electron oxidation of one enolate, resulting in a Lewis acid-activated electrophilic carbonyl α-radical species, followed by trapping with another enolate. This chapter summarizes the oxovanadium(v)-induced oxidative cross-coupling of enolates between boron and silyl enolates that have been developed in the author's studies.
Alternative Approaches for Scalable Artificial Photosynthesis via Sustainable Redox Processes
Authors: Soo Han Sen
Published: April 2022

Redox chemistry plays a pivotal role in natural and artificial photosynthesis. To mimic the natural process, artificial photosynthetic systems need to consist of similarly sustainable redox half-reactions. In this chapter, some of the latest developments by the author's group and others in the catalytic oxidation of nonfood biomass lignocellulose and nonbiodegradable plastics as scalable half-reactions to supply electrons for the production of fuels during the reduction of CO2 or water will be discussed. The focus will be on electrocatalytic and photocatalytic processes that can, in principle, be driven by renewable energy. In addition, the benefits and shortcomings of homogeneous versus heterogeneous catalyses will be evaluated. The recent renaissance in the study of metal halide perovskites for optoelectronic materials has also inspired their applications in artificial photosynthesis, which will be discussed here. These alternative and scalable redox processes for artificial photosynthesis have the potential to overcome not only global climate change but possibly global plastics pollution as well.
Redox-active Polymeric Materials
Authors: Shida Naoki , Inagi Shinsuke
Published: April 2022

Redox-active polymers are deeply involved in our lives in various forms, such as in displays, for energy storage, and in actuators. Besides, the unique redox properties derived from the macromolecular structure have garnered a high level of attention. In this chapter, the recent development of redox-active polymeric materials is described. The chapter is divided into several sections based on the types of redox-active polymers, namely conjugated polymers, nonconjugated polymers with redox-active units, and polymers bearing both of these features. The unique redox properties of various polymers are summarized to highlight the difference from those of small molecular counterparts.
Chiral Metal Electrodes for Enantioselective Analysis, Synthesis, and Separation
Authors: Wattanakit Chularat , Kuhn Alexander
Published: April 2022

The development of chiral electrodes plays an important role in various areas, including chemical science, materials engineering, analytical chemistry, pharmaceutics, cosmetics, and catalysis. Over the past decades, various approaches have been used to design chiral electrodes, such as the adsorption of chiral/achiral molecules on metal electrode surfaces, binding of chiral ligands to metal surfaces, cutting a bulk metal to break the symmetric metal structure, and molecular imprinting. In this chapter, we discuss recent progress related to the development of such chiral metal electrodes by following these different strategies. In addition, their potential applications with respect to enantioselective analysis, asymmetric synthesis, and chiral separation will be discussed. This chapter will also illustrate perspectives for the fabrication and use of chiral metal electrodes in the frame of chiral technologies.
Magnetic structure and internal field nuclear magnetic resonance of cobalt nanowires
Authors: Scholzen Pascal , Lang Guillaume , Andreev Andrey S. , Quintana Alberto , Malloy James , Jensen Christopher J. , Liu Kai , d’Espinose de Lacaillerie Jean-Baptiste
Published: April 2022

The anisotropic response of Internal Field NMR establishes that grain boundaries control the magnetic anisotropy in cobalt nanowires.
Planar in Brooker's mode and twisted in Reichardt's mode: defying the steric forces in biphenyl types of zwitterionic systems through metameric resonance stabilizations
Authors: Sitha Sanyasi
Published: April 2022

In biphenyl types zwitterionic systems, planar configurations can be obtained by defying the steric forces (responsible for twisting) present at the junction sites. Possible only when resonance forces overpower the forces of steric repulsions.
In situ surface analysis of palladium–platinum alloys in methane oxidation conditions
Authors: Large Alexander I. , Bennett Roger A. , Eralp-Erden Tugce , Held Georg
Published: April 2022

Pd and Pd–Pt alloys are studied with NAP-XPS under methane oxidation conditions. Pd–Pt catalysts showed greater resistance to oxidation under reaction conditions, with this coupled to surface restructuring and Pt migration away from the surface.
A rational design of copper–selenium nanoclusters that cures sepsis by consuming endogenous H2S to trigger photothermal therapy and ROS burst
Authors: Gao Yin , Wang Zekun , Li Yuqing , Yang Jie , Liao Ziyu , Liu Jing , Guo Feng , Yang Endong , Wang Weiyun , Sun Dongdong
Published: April 2022

Design and synthesis core–shell nanomaterials Se@Cu2O, in situ sulfided Se@Cu2O with endogenous H2S to generate Se@Cu9S8, synergistic antibacterial treatment of mouse sepsis by triggering ROS burst and photothermal effect.
A library of Rhodamine6G-based pH-sensitive fluorescent probes with versatile in vivo and in vitro applications
Authors: Swanson W. Benton , Durdan Margaret , Eberle Miranda , Woodbury Seth , Mauser Ava , Gregory Jason , Zhang Boya , Niemann David , Herremans Jacob , Ma Peter X. , Lahann Joerg , Weivoda Megan , Mishina Yuji , Greineder Colin F.
Published: April 2022

Acidic pH is critical to the function of nearly every cell in the body. Based on Rhodamine 6G, we have developed a versatile molecular platform for non-invasive, real-time fluorescence imaging of acidic microenvironments based on Rhodamine 6G.
Water-soluble bright NIR AIEgens with hybrid ROS for wash-free mitochondrial “off–on” imaging and photodynamic therapy
Authors: Xu Fang-Zhou , Wang Cheng-Yun , Wang Qi , Zou Jian-Wei , Qiao Yi-Jie , Guo Zhi-Qian , Zhao Weijun , Zhu Wei-Hong
Published: April 2022

The AIEgen TEPP exhibits both bright near-infrared emission (φF = 17.8%) and high hybrid ROS productivity (including OH˙ and 1O2).
Co-crystals of tetrachloroauric acid and 1,3,5-(methylacetamide)benzene-based tectons: consistent trapping of high energy molecular conformation
Authors: Shaffer Cassandra C. , Oliver Allen G. , Smith Bradley D.
Published: April 2022

Four co-crystals consistently reveal the presence of three dominant supramolecular interactions that trap a sterically-geared organic tecton in a high energy molecular conformation.
Towards a new packing pattern of Li adsorption in two-dimensional pentagonal BCN
Authors: Ananchuensook Aroon , Dabsamut Klichchupong , Thanasarnsurapong Thanasee , Maluangnont Tosapol , T-Thienprasert Jiraroj , Jungthawan Sirichok , Boonchun Adisak
Published: April 2022

Li atoms adsorbed on penta-BCN via different packing patterns are investigated.
Understanding of the interactions between azole-anion-based ionic liquids and 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol from the experimental perspective: the cage effect
Authors: Fu Xue , Tang Xiaochen , Chen Tingting , Xu Yingjie , Luo Xiang , Lu Yueqing , Wang Xuming , Qin Dandan , Zhang Lin
Published: April 2022

The cage effect has been found in AIL + MBY mixtures: MBY first enters the cage formed by the aggregation of the alkyl chain of [P66614]+, and then forms H-bonds with the azole-based anions in the cage.
All-inorganic ferric wheel based on hexaniobate-anion linkers
Authors: Baranov Mark , Polin Libi , Leffler Nitai , Leitus Gregory , Shames Alexander I. , Weinstock Ira A.
Published: April 2022

Eight hexaniobate cluster-anions link eight Fe(iii) ions that are antiferromagnetically coupled through long-distance interactions in an all-inorganic ferric wheel.
Strategies for induced defects in metal–organic frameworks for enhancing adsorption and catalytic performance
Authors: Hou Xiaotong , Wang Jichao , Mousavi Bibimaryam , Klomkliang Nikom , Chaemchuen Somboon
Published: April 2022

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged among porous materials.
An efficient dual functional Raman and Fluorescence detection platform achieved by controlling the electromagnetic enhanced field in three-dimensional Ag/ZnO composited arrays
Authors: Yin Yongqi , Liu Xiao , Wang Mengqi , Li Shuang , Chen Yan , Sun Ye
Published: April 2022

Integrating SERS and MEF into a single platform is a challenge. Here, we design a three-dimensional electromagnetic field via decorating Ag nanoparticles onto ZnO nanorod arrays to realize dual-function detection by SERS and MEF simultaneously.
In vitroandIn silicoanticancer activities of Mn(ii), Co(ii), and Ni(ii) complexes: synthesis, characterization, crystal structures, and DFT studies
Authors: Gond M. K. , Pandey Shivendra Kumar , Singh R. , Bharty Manoj K. , Manna Partha Pratim , Singh V. K. , Maiti B. , Prasad L. B. , Butcher R. J.
Published: April 2022

Complexes 1, 2 and 3 showed significant activity against K562, MCF-7, and DL cancer cell lines. Complexes 1–3 showed higher growth inhibition than metal salts or ligands in tumour cell growth and colony formation. Complex 1 exhibited higher anticancer activity than cisplatin.
A novel method of preparing vanadium-based precursors and their enhancement mechanism in vanadium nitride preparation
Authors: Wen Ailian , Cai Zhenlei , Zhang Yimin , Liu Hong
Published: April 2022

The particle size of the precursor is reduced, while it is easier for N2 to enter the material. A new porous structure appeared and the specific surface area increased, which increases the reaction interface.
Synthesis and characterizations of YZ-BDC:Eu3+,Tb3+ nanothermometers for luminescence-based temperature sensing
Authors: Kieu Giang Lam Thi , Trejgis Karolina , Marciniak Łukasz , Opalińska Agnieszka , Koltsov Iwona E. , Łojkowski Witold
Published: April 2022

In the present work, nanothermometers based on amorphous zirconium metal–organic frameworks co-doped with rare-earth ions (YZ-BDC:Eu3+,Tb3+) with sizes of about 10–30 nm were successfully synthesized via a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method at 120 °C for 15 min.
Smartphone-based surface plasmon resonance sensing platform for rapid detection of bacteria
Authors: Wen Junlin , Zhu Yufan , Liu Jianbo , He Daigui
Published: April 2022

In this study, we propose a novel and practical method for bacterial detection based on smartphones using the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomena of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs).
Correction: Ultrasensitive recognition of AP sites in DNA at the single-cell level: one molecular rotor sequentially self-regulated to form multiple different stable conformations
Authors: Feng Beidou , Wang Kui , Yang Yonggang , Wang Ge , Zhang Hua , Liu Yufang , Jiang Kai
Published: April 2022

Correction for ‘Ultrasensitive recognition of AP sites in DNA at the single-cell level: one molecular rotor sequentially self-regulated to form multiple different stable conformations’ by Beidou Feng et al., Chem. Sci., 2019, 10, 10373–10380, DOI: 10.1039/C9SC04140K.
Life cycle analysis (LCA) and economic evaluation of catalytic fast pyrolysis: implication of co-product's end-usage, catalyst type, and process parameters
Authors: Gupta Shubhi , Patel Pushpraj , Mondal Prasenjit
Published: April 2022

The study intends to determine the influence of catalyst introduction and co-product utilization on the environmental impact and economics of the pyrolysis process.
Enhancing the coupling effect in a sandwiched FeNiPS3/graphite catalyst derived from graphite intercalation compounds for efficient oxygen evolution reaction
Authors: Wei Licheng , Huang Song , Zhang Yufei , Ye Minghui , Li Cheng Chao
Published: April 2022

The FeNiPS3/GL sandwich-structure prepared via in situ transforming FeCl3-NiCl2-GIC exhibits excellent catalytic OER performance, which results from the coupling effect between FeNiPS3 and graphite layers facilitating electron transfer.
Indenofluorenes for organic optoelectronics: the dance of fused five- and six-membered rings enabling structural versatility
Authors: Can Ayse , Facchetti Antonio , Usta Hakan
Published: April 2022

This article reviews the historical and recent advances in the design, synthesis, and implementation of the 6-5-6-5-6 π-fused-ring indenofluorene-based semiconductors in organic transistor and solar cell devices.
Robust decentralized control of interval DC linked hybrid microgrids network
Authors: Nabi Behrouz , Seyedtabaii Saeid
Published: April 2022

Here, a robust sparse decentralized controller (RSDC) for uncertain DC‐linked hybrid microgrids is designed. The robustness against load/generation uncertainty is guaranteed using Kharitonov's stability criteria and sparsity is promoted by appending an l1 term to the typical Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR). To improve the convergence rate, the differentiable term of the composite cost function is second order approximated, the coordinate descent technique is adopted, and the “active set” idea which limits the search to the effective regions is employed. In addition, the level of sparsity is automatically and optimally adjusted not to compromise the system's stability and robustness. The algorithm is applied to a 69‐bus (consist of 7 hybrid microgrid) distribution system and the controller sparsity percentage, design convergence rate, and performances are compared with the H2 and H∞ designs. The results indicate that the proposed method is superior to the others in all aspects, which are presented by the numerical indices, the time‐domain transient responses, and the closed‐loop poles map.
Lion swarm optimisation‐based tuning method for generalised predictive fractional‐order PI to control the speed of brushless direct current motor
Authors: Wang Tingting , Wang Hongzhi , Hu Huangshui , Qing Jinhui , Wang Chuhang
Published: April 2022

In order to enhance the speed tracking performance of brushless direct current motor (BLDCM), a new generalised predictive fractional‐order PI (GPFOPI) control algorithm ground on lion swarm optimisation (LSO‐GPFOPI) is proposed in this paper. First, GPFOPI combines robust generalised predictive control with scalable fractional‐order PI, whose optimal control law is obtained through the model parameters and the predicted speed reference values. Next, the lion swarm algorithm is utilised to optimally tune the three parameters of GPFOPI, so as to make them be optimised. Finally, the optimal control signal is input into the system of BLDCM to control its speed. To verify the effectiveness of LSO‐GPFOPI, its performance is compared with other algorithms. The results show that LSO‐GPFOPI has better response speed, speed tracking ability, anti‐interference ability, robustness, and self‐adaptability than other algorithms. Moreover, an experimental platform of the BLDCM drive system is built to verify the feasibility of the LSO‐GPOPI algorithm, and the test results prove that LSO‐GPOPI can guarantee the smooth and accurate operation of BLDCM.
Supervised dual tight frame learning with deep thresholding network for phase retrieval
Authors: Shi Baoshun , Lian Qiusheng , Su Yueming
Published: April 2022

Data‐driven tight frames are popular for solving imaging inverse problems. However, the imaging quality is limited by the representation ability of single tight frame and thresholds tuned manually. In this work, a supervised dual tight frame learning framework fused with an elaborated deep thresholding network (DTN) is proposed, and the issue of low‐quality reconstructions in previous phase retrieval (PR) algorithms is addressed. To effectively learn dual tight frames, a loss function is formed using the mean square error, tight constraint, dual constraint, and sparse constraint terms. Moreover, to determine the thresholds adaptively, the thresholds are extracted from the frame coefficients via DTN. By an end‐to‐end supervised learning manner, the dual tight frames and DTN are jointly trained from labels and their counterparts corrupted by Gaussian noise. Using the Gaussian denoiser constructed by dual tight frames, a regularisation model is firstly designed, and then exploited to formulate a PR optimisation problem. The image filtering and image updating steps are performed alternatively for solving this problem. Particularly, the image updating subproblem is tackled by an inertial epigraph solver. The simulation experiments show that the proposed PR algorithm can obtain higher‐quality reconstructions compared with the benchmark ones.
An improved sliding mode control (SMC) approach for enhancement of communication delay in vehicle platoon system
Authors: Li Handong , Wu Haimeng , Gulati Ishita , Ali Saleh A. , Pickert Volker , Dlay Satnam
Published: April 2022

Vehicle platoon systems are widely recognized as key enablers to address mass‐transport. Vehicle‐to‐vehicle (V2V) and vehicle‐to‐infrastructure (V2I) are two technologies that drive platooning. The inter‐vehicle spacing and collaboration velocity in the platoon are important parameters that must be controlled. A new mass‐transport system called the Tracked Electric Vehicles (TEV) has been proposed which has reduced the inter‐vehicular spacing to only a quarter of the regular car length. This enables mass transport at uniform speed for cars with speed of 200km/h. However, conventional radar based adaptive cruise control (ACC) system fail to control each vehicle in these scenarios. Lately, sliding mode control (SMC) has been applied to control platoons with communication technology but with low speed and without delay. This paper proposes a novel SMC design for TEV using global dynamic information with the communication delay. Also, graph theory has been employed to investigate different V2V communication topology structures. To address issues of node vehicle stability and string stability, Lyapunov candidate function is chosen and developed. Additionally, this paper uses first‐order vehicle models with different acceleration/deceleration parameters for simulation validations under communication delay. The results show that this SMC has a significant tolerance ability and meets the design requirements of TEV.
The properties of the X-ray corona in the distant (z= 3.91) quasar APM 08279+5255
Authors: Bertola E. , Vignali C. , Lanzuisi G. , Dadina M. , Cappi M. , Gilli R. , Matzeu G. A. , Chartas G. , Piconcelli E. , Comastri A.
Published: April 2022

We present new jointXMM-NewtonandNuSTARobservations of APM 08279+5255, a gravitationally-lensed, broad-absorption line quasar (z = 3.91). After showing a fairly stable flux (f2 − 10 ≃ 4 − 5.5 × 10−13erg s−1) from 2000 to 2008, APM 08279+5255 was found in a fainter state in the latest X-ray exposures (f2 − 10 ≃ 2.7 × 10−13erg s−1), which can likely be ascribed to a lower X-ray activity. Moreover, the 2019 data present a prominent Fe Kαemission line and do not show any significant absorption line. This fainter state, coupled to the first hard X-ray sampling of APM 08279+5255, allowed us to measure X-ray reflection and the high-energy cutoff in this source for the first time. From the analysis of previousXMM-NewtonandChandraobservations, X-ray reflection is demonstrated to be a long-lasting feature of this source, but less prominent prior to 2008, possibly due to a stronger primary emission. The estimated high-energy cutoff (Ecut = 99−35+91keV) sets a new redshift record for the farthest ever measured and places APM 08279+5255 in the allowed region of the compactness-temperature diagram of X-ray coronae, in agreement with previous results on high-zquasars.
The GAPS Programme at TNG
Authors: Borsa F. , Giacobbe P. , Bonomo A. S. , Brogi M. , Pino L. , Fossati L. , Lanza A. F. , Nascimbeni V. , Sozzetti A. , Amadori F. , Benatti S. , Biazzo K. , Bignamini A. , Boschin W. , Claudi R. , Cosentino R. , Covino E. , Desidera S. , Fiorenzano A. F. M. , Guilluy G. , Harutyunyan A. , Maggio A. , Maldonado J. , Mancini L. , Micela G. , Molinari E. , Molinaro M. , Pagano I. , Pedani M. , Piotto G. , Poretti E. , Rainer M. , Scandariato G. , Stoev H.
Published: April 2022

The detection of lines in emission in planetary atmospheres provides direct evidence of temperature inversion. We confirm the trend of ultra-hot Jupiters orbiting A-type stars that show temperature inversions on their daysides by detecting metals emission lines in the dayside of KELT-20b. We first detected the planetary emission by using the G2 stellar mask of the HARPS-N pipeline, which is mainly composed of neutral iron lines, as a template. Using neutral iron templates, we performed a retrieval of the atmospheric temperature-pressure profile of the planet, confirming a thermal inversion. Then we created models of planetary emission of different species using the retrieved inverted temperature-pressure profile. By using the cross-correlation technique, we detected Fe I, Fe II, and Cr I at signal-to-noise ratio levels of 7.1, 3.9, and 3.6, respectively. The latter was detected in emission in the atmosphere of an exoplanet for the first time. Contrary to Fe I, Fe II and Cr I were detected only after the occultation and not before, hinting at different atmospheric properties in view during the pre- and post-occultation orbital phases. A further retrieval of the temperature-pressure profile performed independently during the pre- and post-occultation phases, while not highly significant, points to a steeper thermal inversion in the post-occultation.
The Gravitational Wave Universe Toolbox
Authors: Yi Shu-Xu , Stoppa Fiorenzo , Nelemans Gijs , Cator Eric
Published: April 2022

Context:TheGW-Universe Toolboxis a software package that simulates observations of the gravitational wave (GW) Universe with different types of GW detectors, including Earth-based and space-borne laser interferometers and pulsar timing arrays. It is accessible as a website, and can also be imported and run locally as a Python package.

Methods:We employ the method used by theGW-Universe Toolboxto generate a synthetic catalogue of detection of stellar-mass binary black hole (BBH) mergers. As an example of its scientific application, we study how GW observations of BBHs can be used to constrain the merger rate as a function of redshift and masses. We study advanced LIGO (aLIGO) and theEinsteinTelescope (ET) as two representatives of the second and third generation GW observatories, respectively. We also simulate the observations from a detector that is half as sensitive as the ET at its nominal designed sensitivity, which represents an early phase of the ET. We used two methods to obtain the constraints on the source population properties from the catalogues: the first uses a parameteric differential merger rate model and applies a Bayesian inference on the parameters; the other is non-parameteric and uses weighted Kernel density estimators.

Results:Our results show the overwhelming advantages of the third generation detector over those of the second generation for the study of BBH population properties, especially at redshifts higher than ∼2, where the merger rate is believed to peak. With the simulated aLIGO catalogue, the parameteric Bayesian method can still give some constraints on the merger rate density and mass function beyond its detecting horizon, while the non-parametric method loses the constraining ability completely there. The difference is due to the extra information placed by assuming a specific parameterisation of the population model in the Bayesian method. In the non-parameteric method, no assumption of the general shape of the merger rate density and mass function are placed, not even the assumption of its smoothness. These two methods represent the two extreme situations of general population reconstruction. We also find that, despite the numbers of detected events of the half ET can easily be compatible with full ET after a longer observation duration, and the catalogue from the full ET can still give much better constraints on the population properties due to its smaller uncertainties on the physical parameters of the GW events.