bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A study on the improvement of ion conductivity of lithium aluminum titanium phosphate-based solid-state electrolyte by the addition of divalent cations
Authors: Jeong Wonjong , Liu Liyu , Lim Hyung-Sik , Chung Jaeyeop , Chen Kai , Ryu Bong Ki
Published: August 2024

Na like super ionic conductors (NASICON)-structure Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 solid electrolyte have attracted attention as high ion conductivity and chemical stability. The M1–M2 voids between the TiO6 octahedra and PO4 tetrahedra in a Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3-based solid electrolyte is a major path for lithium-ion conduction, and it can be widened to increase lithium-ion conductivity by doping. In this study, divalent ions are doped into the Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3-based electrolyte and widened ion-conduction path and improved ion conductivity. Making doped Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 samples starts with melting, then transformed into glass, pulverized, and then subjected to uniaxial compression molding and sintering, after which they are analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and their impedance resistances were measured. The LiTi2(PO4)3 is generated by thermal treatment and crystallized to form an electrolyte whose lattice parameter values depend on the dopant ion and its content, with each divalent ion distorting the lattice and the M1–M2 bottleneck structure differently. Only Mg2+ doping led to a structural change that increases Li-ion conductivity to 1.55 × 10−3 S/cm at 5 mol% of magnesium ion, with the observed threefold increase in conductivity compared to the 4.73 × 10−4 S/cm ion conductivity of LATP ascribable to a widening of the ion-conduction path. Overall, doping an LATP-based solid electrolyte with an appropriate divalent cation is a promising way of improving performance in a manner that has various applications.
Ecosystem restoration and EU Law: an introduction to the symposium
Authors: Chiti Edoardo
Published: August 2024

This short Introduction outlines the purpose and structure of the Symposium on Ecosystem Restoration and EU Law. It opens by highlighting the potential relevance of the ecological move taken by the EU political institutions in the framework of the Green Deal. It then presents the issues addressed in the Symposium and the main overall argument emerging from its four contributions: whilst the EU ecological policy reflects the intention to shift from the traditional understanding of environmental protection as social regulation to a genuinely ecological and holistic vision, the functional rationale of such a move remains, for the moment, elusive and under-specified. Clarifying such rationale is an inescapable but complex task, as it requires a fresh discussion on the relationship between law and ecology, as well as a true understanding of the implications of ecosystem restoration for the evolving features of the EU polity.
Reservoir Operating Rules to Create Effective Fish Migration Passages in a Reservoir
Authors: Yang B. H. , Yin X. A. , Gao Z. J. , Liu H. R. , Xu Z. H.
Published: August 2024

Low flow velocity disrupts the potential fish migration passages in a reservoir, and causes reservoirs to become labyrinths for migratory fish. Previous studies showed that fish migration passages in a reservoir can be restored by modifying reservoir operation. However, reservoir operating rules that are specifically designed to support fish migration have not been established, leading to low success for fish migration and high socioeconomic losses. In this research, we established new reservoir operating rules to improve the migration success rate while also reducing socioeconomic losses. Under the new rules, two parameters (reservoir water level and predicted reservoir inflows) were adapted to trigger water releases to open migration passages. The two parameters were optimized by considering hydrological processes, fish migration processes below the dam, the swimming ability of fish, and the socioeconomic benefits provided by the reservoir. We used data from China's Danjiangkou Reservoir to test the effectiveness of the proposed method. We found that the new method can not only improve the migration success rate (from 0.1% to 4.2%), but can also slightly reduce the reservoir's socioeconomic losses (by 3.7%–7.0%). The new method effectively balances the needs of fish migration with the need for socioeconomic development in the areas surrounding dammed rivers.
On the Relationship Between Condensed Water Content and Liquid‐Ice Mixing Homogeneity in Mixed‐Phase Stratiform Clouds
Authors: Deng Yuting , Yang Jing , Yin Yan , Lu Chunsong , Chen Baojun , Dong Xiaobo , Wang Zhien , Zhang Bo , Bao Xinghua , Hou Tuanjie
Published: August 2024

As a key factor influencing the cloud life cycle and radiative properties, liquid‐ice mass partitioning remains a major source of uncertainties in modeling mixed‐phase clouds. One of the unresolved problems is that liquid‐ice mixing is highly inhomogeneous, but it has not been well understood and quantified for parameterization. In this study, the liquid‐ice mixing homogeneity (χ) is quantified using the information‐theoretic entropy based on airborne measurements. It is demonstrated that χ is positively correlated with the condensed water content (CWC). Cloud regions with low χ are consist of liquid and ice clusters. With the increase in χ, the size and frequency of continuous mixed‐phase clusters increase. For a given CWC, χ is lower at relatively warm temperatures as sedimentation of large ice crystals can enhance the inhomogeneity. The strong positive relationship between CWC and χ indicates CWC should be considered when parameterizing the liquid‐ice mixing in models.
Potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily H member 2 (KCNH2) is a promising target for incretin secretagogue therapies
Authors: Yuan Ying-Chao , Wang Hao , Jiang Ze-Ju , Liu Chang , Li Qi , Zhou Si-Rui , Yang Jin-Kui
Published: August 2024

Derived from enteroendocrine cells (EECs), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) are pivotal incretin hormones crucial for blood glucose regulation. Medications of GLP-1 analogs and GLP-1 receptor activators are extensively used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity. However, there are currently no agents to stimulate endogenous incretin secretion. Here, we find the pivotal role of KCNH2 potassium channels in the regulation of incretin secretion. Co-localization of KCNH2 with incretin-secreting EECs in the intestinal epithelium of rodents highlights its significance. Gut epithelial cell-specific KCNH2 knockout in mice improves glucose tolerance and increases oral glucose-triggered GLP-1 and GIP secretion, particularly GIP. Furthermore, KCNH2-deficient primary intestinal epithelial cells exhibit heightened incretin, especially GIP secretion upon nutrient stimulation. Mechanistically, KCNH2 knockdown in EECs leads to reduced K+ currents, prolonged action potential duration, and elevated intracellular calcium levels. Finally, we found that dofetilide, a KCNH2-specific inhibitor, could promote incretin secretion in enteroendocrine STC-1 cells in vitro and in hyperglycemic mice in vivo. These findings elucidate, for the first time, the mechanism and application of KCNH2 in regulating incretin secretion by EECs. Given the therapeutic promise of GLP-1 and GIP in diabetes and obesity management, this study advances our understanding of incretin regulation, paving the way for potential incretin secretagogue therapies in the treatment of diabetes and obesity.
Crizotinib and its enantiomer suppress ferroptosis by decreasing PE-O-PUFA content
Authors: Cen Si-Yu , Lin Fang , Li Xuan , Hu Yanglin , Liu Jin-Pin , Xue Zian , Gao Yun , Sun Yi-Ping , Zhu Sanyong , Dang Yongjun , Zhao Yahui , Yuan Hai-Xin
Published: August 2024

Ferroptosis is a specific form of cell death characterized by excessive accumulation of cellular lipid peroxides. Ferroptosis is closely associated with various diseases, inhibition of which may help alleviate multi-organ injury caused by ischemia-reperfusion and enhance the anti-tumor effect by promoting the immunity of T cells. However, clinical approved drugs targeting ferroptosis process remain rare. In this study, we unexpectedly found that (R)-crizotinib, the first-generation ALK inhibitor, has potent inhibitory activity against ferroptosis across various cell lines. Moreover, its chiral molecule (S)-crizotinib, which was considered to share no common targets with (R)-crizotinib, also suppresses ferroptosis with an efficacy similar to that of (R)-crizotinib. We further demonstrated that both crizotinib enantiomers inhibit ferroptosis independently of their known targets, but through a common mechanism involving the targeting of AGPAT3-mediated synthesis of ether-linked polyunsaturated fatty acids (PE-O-PUFA), which are known to promote lipid-ROS generation and ferroptosis. In line with their activity in cell lines, (R)-crizotinib and (S)-crizotinib effectively mitigate renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice. Furthermore, the two compounds also inhibit lipid-ROS accumulation in CD8+ T cells in draining lymph nodes of B16-F10 subcutaneous xenograft mice, thereby promoting anti-tumor effects. Collectively, our study firstly reports a common activity shared by (R)-crizotinib and (S)-crizotinib in ferroptosis regulation. As a clinically approved drug, (R)-crizotinib has well-established pharmacokinetics and safety, which makes it a promising candidate for repurposing. Given the current lack of FDA-approved ferroptosis inhibitors, our findings suggest therapeutically repurposing (R)-crizotinib as well as its enantiomer (S)-crizotinib for treating ferroptosis-related diseases.
Genomic sequencing in newborn screening: balancing consent with the right of the asymptomatic at-risk child to be found
Authors: Knoppers Bartha Maria , Bonilha Ana Eliza , Laberge Anne-Marie , Ahmed Arzoo , Newson Ainsley J.
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we explore key aspects of the complex ethical and legal landscape surrounding consent in the context of incorporating genomic sequencing into existing newborn bloodspot screening programs. In particular, we consider the potential impact of genomic sequencing on the health rights of the child in relation to existing consent practices in newborn screening. We begin with an introduction to newborn screening programs and their population health goals. We then discuss public health ethics as a rationale underpinning newborn screening before turning to consent. We go on to describe seven current research projects on genomic sequencing in newborn screening and then introduce the ‘right of the asymptomatic at-risk child to be found’ as a useful concept to draw on when considering consent to newborn screening. We draw on this novel right to argue for the adoption of “appropriate consent” when it comes to certain uses of genomics in newborn screening. We contend that, for ‘virtual panels’ at least, appropriate consent proportionately balances the ongoing universality of newborn screening for important health conditions with an acknowledgement of the complex outcomes that bringing a complicated diagnostic technology into the screening domain will generate.
Machine learning assisted prediction of organic salt structure properties
Authors: Shapera Ethan P. , Bučar Dejan-Krešimir , Prasankumar Rohit P. , Heil Christoph
Published: August 2024

We demonstrate a machine learning-based approach which predicts the properties of crystal structures following relaxation based on the unrelaxed structure. Use of crystal graph singular values reduces the number of features required to describe a crystal by more than an order of magnitude compared to the full crystal graph representation. We construct machine learning models using the crystal graph singular value representations in order to predict the volume, enthalpy per atom, and metal versus semiconductor/insulator phase of DFT-relaxed organic salt crystals based on randomly generated unrelaxed crystal structures. Initial base models are trained to relate 89,949 randomly generated structures of salts formed by varying ratios of 1,3,5-triazine and HCl with the corresponding volumes, enthalpies per atom, and phase of the DFT-relaxed structures. We further demonstrate that the base model is able to be extended to related chemical systems (isomers, pyridine, thiophene and piperidine) with the inclusion of 2000 to 10,000 crystal structures from the additional system. After training a single model with a large number of data points, extension can be done at significantly lower cost. The constructed machine learning models can be used to rapidly screen large sets of randomly generated organic salt crystal structures and efficiently downselect the structures most likely to be experimentally realizable. The models can be used as a stand-alone crystal structure predictor, but may serve CSP efforts best as a filtering step in more sophisticated workflows.
A genome-wide investigation into the underlying genetic architecture of personality traits and overlap with psychopathology
Authors: Gupta Priya , Galimberti Marco , Liu Yue , Beck Sarah , Wingo Aliza , Wingo Thomas , Adhikari Keyrun , Kranzler Henry R. ,   VA Million Veteran Program, Stein Murray B. , Gelernter Joel , Levey Daniel F.
Published: August 2024

Personality is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors and is associated with other psychiatric traits such as anxiety and depression. The ‘big five’ personality traits, which include neuroticism, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness, are a widely accepted and influential framework for understanding and describing human personality. Of the big five personality traits, neuroticism has most often been the focus of genetic studies and is linked to various mental illnesses, including depression, anxiety and schizophrenia. Our knowledge of the genetic architecture of the other four personality traits is more limited. Here, utilizing the Million Veteran Program cohort, we conducted a genome-wide association study in individuals of European and African ancestry. Adding other published data, we performed genome-wide association study meta-analysis for each of the five personality traits with sample sizes ranging from 237,390 to 682,688. We identified 208, 14, 3, 2 and 7 independent genome-wide significant loci associated with neuroticism, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness, respectively. These findings represent 62 novel loci for neuroticism, as well as the first genome-wide significant loci discovered for agreeableness. Gene-based association testing revealed 254 genes showing significant association with at least one of the five personality traits. Transcriptome-wide and proteome-wide analysis identified altered expression of genes and proteins such as CRHR1, SLC12A5, MAPT and STX4. Pathway enrichment and drug perturbation analyses identified complex biology underlying human personality traits. We also studied the inter-relationship of personality traits with 1,437 other traits in a phenome-wide genetic correlation analysis, identifying new associations. Mendelian randomization showed positive bidirectional effects between neuroticism and depression and anxiety, while a negative bidirectional effect was observed for agreeableness and these psychiatric traits. This study improves our comprehensive understanding of the genetic architecture underlying personality traits and their relationship to other complex human traits.
Structural basis of LRPPRC–SLIRP-dependent translation by the mitoribosome
Authors: Singh Vivek , Moran J. Conor , Itoh Yuzuru , Soto Iliana C. , Fontanesi Flavia , Couvillion Mary , Huynen Martijn A. , Churchman L. Stirling , Barrientos Antoni , Amunts Alexey
Published: August 2024

In mammalian mitochondria, mRNAs are cotranscriptionally stabilized by the protein factor LRPPRC (leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat-containing protein). Here, we characterize LRPPRC as an mRNA delivery factor and report its cryo-electron microscopy structure in complex with SLIRP (SRA stem-loop-interacting RNA-binding protein), mRNA and the mitoribosome. The structure shows that LRPPRC associates with the mitoribosomal proteins mS39 and the N terminus of mS31 through recognition of the LRPPRC helical repeats. Together, the proteins form a corridor for handoff of the mRNA. The mRNA is directly bound to SLIRP, which also has a stabilizing function for LRPPRC. To delineate the effect of LRPPRC on individual mitochondrial transcripts, we used RNA sequencing, metabolic labeling and mitoribosome profiling, which showed a transcript-specific influence on mRNA translation efficiency, with cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and 2 translation being the most affected. Our data suggest that LRPPRC–SLIRP acts in recruitment of mitochondrial mRNAs to modulate their translation. Collectively, the data define LRPPRC–SLIRP as a regulator of the mitochondrial gene expression system.
Control over the spatial correlation of perforations in silica thin films as a function of solution conditions
Authors: Castets Julien , Labeyrie Louise , Morvan Estelle , Montero David , Roach Lucien , Drisko Glenna L.
Published: August 2024

A perforated silica layer with structural correlation is engineered using sol–gel chemistry, applied to large-scale flat and curved surfaces.
Improvements in the evaluation of electrocatalytic ammonia oxidation reactions
Authors: Zhang Ting , Jin Yongzhen , Liu Yang , Chen Runze , Wang Jianhui
Published: August 2024

The revised standard electrode potentials and improved protocol will accelerate the R&D of high-performance catalysts and electrolytes for electrocatalytic ammonia oxidation reactions.
Designed additive suppresses interpenetration in IRMOF-10
Authors: Carey Cassidy A. , Foroughi Leila M. , Matzger Adam J.
Published: August 2024

MOF interpenetration leads to reduced surface areas and diminution of guest storage capacity. Here we report an additive strategy to suppress interpenetration within IRMOF-10 resulting in improved surface area and crystallinity upon activation.
Organocatalytic enantioselective (4+3) cyclization for the synthesis of spiro-fused heterocyclic compounds containing isoindolinone, oxepine and indole moieties
Authors: Rui Kanghua , Huang Shaoying , Wu Yinong , Shen Hanxiao , Lin Xufeng
Published: August 2024

Asymmetric (4+3) cyclization of α-(3-isoindolinonyl) propargylic alcohols with 2-indolylmethanols was developed, providing the chiral spiro isoindolinone-oxepino-fused indoles derivatives.
Solid-state [2+2] photodimerization of eniminium salts: stereoselective syntheses of 1,3-diacetylcyclobutanes
Authors: Yamada Shinji , Honda Yuka
Published: August 2024

Eniminium salts arranged in the head-to-tail orientation through cation–π interactions are useful for stereoselective 1,3-diacetylcyclobutane synthesis via solid-state photodimerization.
Six cobalt(ii), zinc(ii), nickel(ii) and copper(ii) complexes based on bis-benzimidazolyl bidentate ligands with phenolyl ether linkers: synthesis, structural studies and recognition of HSO4−
Authors: Zhao Zhixiang , Yang Yue , Hu Linhai , Wang Jianhua , Yu Jie , Liu Qingxiang
Published: August 2024

Six metal complexes based on bis-benzimidazolyl ligands were prepared, and the recognition of HSO4− by complex 1 was studied.
Bioelectronics for electrical stimulation: materials, devices and biomedical applications
Authors: Huang Ya , Yao Kuanming , Zhang Qiang , Huang Xingcan , Chen Zhenlin , Zhou Yu , Yu Xinge
Published: August 2024

Bioelectronics is a hot research topic, yet an important tool, as it facilitates the creation of advanced medical devices that interact with biological systems to effectively diagnose, monitor and treat a broad spectrum of health conditions.
Determination of ultra-trace level krypton concentration in high-purity nitrogen using a static vacuum mass spectrometer
Authors: Fang Sui , Li Zhiming , Guan Yedong , Xu Jiang , Li Meng , Kang Tai , Wang Wei , Wei Guanyi
Published: August 2024

This paper has developed newly an sample processing system combined with a static vacuum mass spectrometer to study how to measure 10−12 level krypton in high-purity nitrogen.
Enhanced luminescence of Ni3S4:Co nanoparticles with fast nanosecond lifetimes
Authors: Xing Jidan , Liu Zhipeng , Ou Pingping , Chuai Mingyan , Chai Guoliang
Published: August 2024

Ni3S4:Co nanoparticles with fast nanosecond lifetimes have broad application prospects in the short pulse and the semiconductor laser fields.
Biological evaluation of some novel 1,3-bis substituted-2-isopropylamidines by in silico molecular dynamics and simulation studies
Authors: P. S. Pradeep Kumar , A. S. Jeevan Chakravarthy , A Shriraksha , K Sunil
Published: August 2024

A tandem one-pot synthesis of some novel 1,3-bis substituted-2-isopropylamidines has been reported. The binding affinities of the purified 1,3-bis substituted-2-isopropylamidines with a wide range of protein targets is assessed using molecular docking and a range of molecular dynamics simulations.
Screening of red phosphorus supported transition metal single-atom catalysts for efficient photocatalytic water splitting H2 generation
Authors: Lu Lu , Sun Mingzi , Wu Tong , Lu Qiuyang , Chen Baian , Chan Cheuk Hei , Wong Hon Ho , Huang Bolong
Published: August 2024

Comprehensive theoretical calculations are performed to screen red phosphorus-supported transition metal single-atom catalysts to realize efficient photocatalytic H2 generation, offering important references for future design of photocatalysts.
A yeast–malic acid crosslinker/polyacrylic acid hydrogel containing doxycycline for the treatment of periodontitis
Authors: Qaiser Muhammad , Asmatullah Muhammad , Shahwar Dure , Aqeel Muhammad , Ameer Nabeela , Mahmood Khalid , Hanif Muhammad , Sajid Chughtai Fazal Rahman , Usman Abid Hafiz Muhammad , Bukhari Syed Waqas
Published: August 2024

A yeast–malic acid crosslinker/polyacrylic acid hydrogel containing doxycycline for local drug delivery was developed.
Crystal structure, spectroscopy, DFT, and thermal studies of 3-cyano-2(1H)-pyridones as potential anticancer agents
Authors: Hurtado-Rodríguez Diana , Becerra Diana , Rojas Hugo , Gómez Castaño Jovanny A. , Macías Mario A. , Castillo Juan-Carlos
Published: August 2024

3-Cyano-2(1H)-pyridones 4a–c were synthesized in good yields using a microwave-assisted multicomponent approach. Additionally, their crystal structures, spectroscopy, DFT, thermal, and anticancer studies were investigated.
The isolation of novel pregnane steroids from Aglaia pachyphylla Miq. and the cytotoxicity against breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7)
Authors: Safriansyah Wahyu , Sinaga Siska Elisahbet , Rustaman  , Farabi Kindi , Azmi Mohamad Nurul , Maharani Rani , Nurlelasari  , Supratman Unang , Fajriah Sofa , Harneti Desi
Published: August 2024

Steroid groups isolated from many plants are known to play a significant role in various biological systems.
Direct measurements & simplified models of colloidal interactions & diffusion with adsorbed macromolecules
Authors: Ellingson Mikael O. , Bevan Michael A.
Published: August 2024

We report direct measurements and simplified models of 3D trajectories of ensembles of micron sized colloidal particles near interfaces with and without adsorbed macromolecules.
Factors Influencing Pediatric Cochlear Implant Use
Authors: Gagnon Erika B. , Thompson Erin M. , Park Lisa R.
Published: August 2024

Purpose:

Cochlear implant device use, quantified by hearing hours percentage (HHP), is a known variable that impacts pediatric spoken language outcomes. Isolating specific factors that impact HHP could help clinicians intervene to reduce the implications of barriers and amplify the positive facets. The aim of this study is to identify variables that predict HHP in children.

Method:

A retrospective chart review was completed using data collected from 2019 to 2023. Subjects were included if they were under the age of 18 years at the time of data collection and had data logging recorded in the clinical patient database. A mixed-effects model weighed the influence of year of the clinical visit (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023), race/ethnicity (White, African American, Asian, Hispanic, Mixed Race, or Other), listener type (bilateral simultaneous, sequential, bimodal, unilateral hearing loss, or unilateral listener; one cochlear implant and a contralateral deaf ear), insurance type (private, Medicaid, or military, or none), age at surgery, presence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or an intellectual development delay (IDD), and age at test on HHP.

Results:

There were a total of 5,106 data points from 958 subjects. The mean HHP of the cohort was 64.2% (
SD
= 26.94%). Lower HHP was associated with the presence of IDD or ASD, use of Medicaid, and older age at surgery. HHP increased with age. Subjects of color did not have a significantly different HHP than those who were White. There was an interaction between year of data collection and listener type. Each listener type's HHP was impacted differently by the year of data collection; however, years of the COVID-19 pandemic yielded lower HHP for all listener types.

Conclusions:

The group mean of 64.9% is lower than the recommended 80% HHP goal, indicating that pediatric cochlear implant recipients have slightly more than half the access to sound as their age-matched typically hearing peers. Several variables that impact HHP were identified in this study. Cochlear implant teams can utilize these data to support vulnerable patients to increase HHP. Additional investigation is needed to determine what interventions most effectively improve HHP.
Visual information perception system of coal mine comprehensive excavation working face for edge computing terminal
Authors: Zhao Dongyang , Su Guoyong , Wang Pengyu
Published: August 2024

Aiming at the problems of low detection accuracy, high computational complexity and long‐time consumption of visual perception model in a complex mining environment, this research designs a visual information perception system of coal mine comprehensive excavation working face for an edge computing terminal. Firstly, the C3‐Fast feature extraction module, spatial pyramid pooling with cross‐stage partial connection (SPPCSPC) pooling module, bi‐directional feature pyramid network and lightweight decoupled detection head are used to optimize the YOLOv5s model, so as to construct the FSBD‐YOLOv5s multi‐object detection model. Secondly, the pruning and distillation algorithm is used to lighten the FSBD‐YOLOv5s model, and the model complexity is greatly reduced while maintaining the model detection accuracy. Further, the lightweight FSBD‐YOLOv5s model is migrated and deployed to the edge computing terminal platform and the TensorRT engine is used to accelerate model inference. Finally, experiments are carried out based on the data set of the coal mine comprehensive excavation working face. The experimental results show that on the edge computing terminal platform, the parameters and computational volume of the lightweight FSBD‐YOLOv5s model are reduced by 50.8% and 34.0%, while its detection accuracy and speed reach 94.0% and 43.7 fps, which can fully satisfy the requirements of the accuracy and real‐time for the coal mine engineering applications.
Flap-Based Reconstruction in Patients with Autoimmune Disease: An Institutional Experience with the Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator Flap and Review of the Literature
Authors: Manasyan Artur , Stanton Eloise W. , Moshal Tayla , Daar David A. , Carey Joseph N. , Koesters Emma
Published: August 2024

Background Autoimmune diseases are associated with characteristic chronic inflammation, aberrations in tissue perfusion, and hypercoagulability, and thus have considerable implications for local and free-flap reconstruction. We seek to summarize the current evidence on outcomes of flap-based reconstruction in patients with pre-existing autoimmune disease and present our experience with autologous breast reconstruction in this population.

Methods PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science were searched for relevant articles, and pertinent data were presented qualitatively. Institutional data were queried for patients who underwent autologous breast reconstruction with deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps between 2015 and 2024. A retrospective review was conducted to identify DIEP patients with a history of autoimmune disease. Data on patient demographics, medication history, flap outcomes, and perioperative complications were collected.

Results The majority of existing studies found no increased independent risk of flap complications. However, other complications, predominantly wound dehiscence, were independently associated with autoimmune disease. Regarding immunosuppressant therapy, the literature demonstrated that perioperative glucocorticoid use was consistently associated with all complications, including seroma, infection, wound disruption, and partial flap loss.

Our 13-patient institutional experience identified no cases of total flap loss or microvascular thrombotic complications. There was one case of partial flap necrosis further complicated by abdominal site cellulitis, and one case of recipient-site dehiscence managed with local wound care. No patients required re-operation for flap or donor-site complications.

Conclusion The literature suggests that flap reconstruction can be performed safely in patients with autoimmune conditions, which was also supported by our institutional experience. While there is likely minimal risk of microsurgical complications in the context of free tissue transfer, donor-site morbidity and wound dehiscence remain major concerns for patients with a history of autoimmune disease. Limiting the use of immunosuppressive agents, especially corticosteroids, may potentially improve outcomes of flap reconstruction.
Skeletal Reorganization: Approaches towards the Synthesis of Aza-Heterocyclic Cores
Authors: Das Asish R. , Das Dwaipayan , Mandal Rahul Dev , Mukherjee Prasun , Bhattacharya Pranabes
Published: August 2024

The impetuous development of the pharmaceutical industry and material science stimulates the search for new synthetic approaches and new methods for the synthesis and functionalization of aza-heterocycles; these are some of the key objectives of modern organic chemistry. As a result, an advanced method towards the synthesis of functionalized N-heterocycles that circumvents the limitations associated with traditional methods needs to be devised. In recent decades, rearrangement/reorganization reactions have emerged as a powerful tool for the efficient synthesis of the aza-heterocycle. In this illustration, we summarize some our recent efforts in the development of few complex aza-heterocyclic cores.

1 Introduction

2 Skeletal Rearrangement of Small Heterocycles via Domino Ring-Opening and Ring-Closing (DROC) Strategy

3 Ru(II)-Catalyzed Skeletal Rearrangement of the Quinazoline Ring

4 Lewis Acid Catalyzed Skeletal Rearrangement of Furans to Indolizine Cores

5 Skeletal Rearrangement of Donor–Acceptor Cyclopropanes via Domino Ring-Opening and Ring-Closing (DROC) Strategy

6 Lewis Acid Mediated Skeletal Rearrangement of Donor–Acceptor Spirocyclopropylpyrazolones

7 Skeletal Rearrangement through Ring Distortion Strategy

8 Conclusion
Fe(II)-Catalyzed Metal–Ligand Cooperative Approach for Selective C3-Alkylation of Indoles
Authors: Mandal Sutanuva , Paul Nanda D. , Chakraborty Subhajit
Published: August 2024

Herein, we report a straightforward approach for synthesizing C3-alkylated indoles selectively via an iron-catalyzed alkylation of indoles using alcohols as the alkylating agents. A well-defined, air-stable, and easy-to-prepare Fe(II) catalyst of a redox-active tridentate arylazo scaffold was used as a catalyst. Various C3-alkylated indoles were prepared selectively in moderate to good isolated yields by coupling indoles with different substituted alcohols. The methodology is compatible with the gram-scale synthesis. Control experiments were performed to unveil the mechanism, which revealed that the alkylation reaction proceeds via borrowing-hydrogen pathway where the coordinated azo-aromatic ligand actively participates during catalysis, acting as an electron and hydrogen reservoir.
Coherent distributions of the symmetry algebra of spinor regularization generator and hydrogen atom
Authors: Novikova E. M.
Published: August 2024

A new approach is developed for solving spectral problems for operators with continuous spectrum, which consists in the integral transform of the problem by using coherent Schwartz distributions. The constructed family of coherent distributions is a complete analogue of the family of ordinary coherent states. More precisely, it satisfies all Gazeau–Klauder axioms satisfied by the usual coherent states. But in contrast to the coherent states belonging to the point spectrum of the annihilation operator (or operators), the coherent distributions belong to the continuous spectrum of some Hermitian operators. Therefore, the coherent distributions work better than the coherent states as the kernel of the integral representation of generalized eigenfunctions of operators with continuous spectrum. In this work, this approach is demonstrated with an example of solving a basic problem of quantum mechanics, i.e., the problem of the continuous part of the spectrum of the Hamiltonian of the hydrogen atom.
Large-grain scintillator screens for proton radiography
Authors: Morris C. L. , Allison J. C. , Cool Steven , Cude-Woods C. , Freeman M. S. , McClellan K. J. , Mariam F. G. , Meijer W. Z. , Neukirch L. P. , Schanz M. , Schmidt J. L. , Smith E. , Tupa D. , Tang Z. , Wang Z.
Published: August 2024

Protons from the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center have been used for pulsed radiography in dynamic experiments for the past 25 years. Pulses of protons are imaged on a scintillator, and the light from these images is captured by fast gated cameras. The need for fast, bright scintillators has led to some compromises in image quality due to tiling the scintillators and backgrounds with totally internally reflected light. We show how large-grain scintillator screens, made using a thin plastic binder, solve these problems.
Improved self-correction of nonlinearity error in 3-step phase-shifting profilometry
Authors: Zhang Wen , Li Ze , Shan Shuo , Xu Peng , Liu Jintao , Wang Jianhua
Published: August 2024

The generic self-correction method for nonlinearity-induced phase error (GSCN) can effectively suppress nonlinear error. However, GSCN directly ignores the periodic error of the 2N multiplication frequency in the error analysis stage, which still leads to errors in the suppressed results. In this paper, we propose a new method named improved generic self-correction method for nonlinearity-induced phase error in three-step phase-shifting profilometry. We retain the periodic error of the 2N multiplication frequency in the error analysis stage. In addition, based on the error model, we directly use the original fringes to compute the wrapped phases with -π/6, π/6, and π/3 phase shifts, respectively. Then, we use the original wrapped phase as the target phase and shifted the other three groups of wrapped phases to the target phase. Finally, we unwrap and fuse the four sets of wrapped phases to obtain the final corrected phase. Based on experimental results, the proposed method yields excellent reconstruction results and effectively suppresses nonlinear errors, making it highly efficient and precise.
Optoelectronic oscillator based on a silicon microring modulator
Authors: Li Xiang , Sia Jia Xu Brian , Wang Jiawei , Qiao Zhongliang , Wang Wanjun , Guo Xin , Wang Hong , Liu Chongyang
Published: August 2024

An optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) system is built up with a high-speed silicon microring modulator. The modulator is based on a p-n doped ring resonator with a radius of 10 μm. Its electro-optic (EO) 3 dB bandwidth is ∼31.7 GHz, which makes it suitable for generating multi-GHz radio frequency signals. By using this modulator, one of the essential components of an OEO, the EO converter, has been dramatically miniaturized. At the same time, assisted by the ring resonator, the phase noise of the generated 10 GHz signal (nearly −90 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset) is not compromised compared to other integrated OEOs with mm footprint modulators. This is an important step toward a compact, scalable, and fully integrated silicon photonics-based OEO system together with our existing integrated light sources and photodetectors.
Investigating the characteristics of horseshoe vortex around a vertical circular cylinder in waves using particle image velocimetry: An experimental study
Authors: He Fang , Weng Junkang , Lin Yuan , Pan Jiapeng , Wei Maoxing
Published: August 2024

This study experimentally investigates the characteristics of the horseshoe vortex (HSV) surrounding a vertical circular cylinder under wave conditions, with a particular emphasis on the impact of Keulegan-Carpenter (KC) numbers and the variation of the HSV during a wave period. Utilizing time-resolved particle image velocimetry, the evolution of the HSV is analyzed using the swirling strength λci, with circulation strength serving as a measure of vortex strength. The findings highlight a marked presence of an HSV upstream of the cylinder, which evolves into a triple-vortex formation at KC numbers exceeding 6. The downstream HSV exhibits a lower intensity compared to its upstream counterpart. Interestingly, the primary HSV's strength is closely correlated with wave phase changes, exhibiting an initial decreasing and then increasing trend within a wave period.
Implementation of an impurity diagnostic suite on the Pegasus-III experiment
Authors: Rodriguez Sanchez C. , Bongard M. W. , Diem S. J. , Goetz J. A. , Nornberg M. D. , Reusch J. A. , Tierney T. N. , Sontag A. C.
Published: August 2024

A suite of diagnostics used to assess impurity content and dynamics has been updated, upgraded, and installed on the Pegasus-III Experiment. Typical plasma parameters during local helicity injection start-up are τshot ∼ 10 ms, ne ∼ 1 × 1019 m−3, and Te ∼ 50 eV. The deployed diagnostics are compatible with this modest temperature and density regime and provide species identification, source localization, and estimation of radiation losses. Impurity species are determined by recording time-evolving, single line-of-sight spectra at 1.25 kfps using a SPRED (Survey, Poor Resolution, Extended Domain) vacuum ultraviolet spectrometer. SPRED is equipped with 450 g/mm grating, giving a spectral resolution of 0.33 nm and a spectral range from ∼10 to 110 nm, useful to identify light impurity species in this temperature and density range. An absolutely calibrated spectrometer that collects light from the plasma at Rtan = 15.9 cm and Δt ≥ 2 ms is used as a visible survey spectrometer and for continuum measurements. The radiated power from the plasma is estimated with a photodiode-based diagnostic. Two 16-channel absolute extreme ultraviolet diode arrays are placed behind pinhole apertures, resulting in 32 lines of sight at Z = 0, with a spatial resolution of 2–3 cm and a time response of 60 kHz. A photometrically calibrated collinear Dα/near infrared filtered photodiode-based system measures the Dα emission and around 1040 nm. All these instruments have been designed to suppress electromagnetic interference from megawatt-class switching power supplies.
Key findings from the 2023 ‘ACT NOW on Global HIV Migration, Mobility and Health Equity’ community forum
Authors: Wells N. , Ong J. J. , Stackpool-Moore L. , Warner Melissa , Carter D. J. , McGoldrick R. , Wlodek A. , Riley B. , Holland J. , Heath-Paynter D. , Stratigos A. , Murphy E. , Haerry D. , Parczewski M. , Poonkasetwattana M. , Medland N. , Wade S. , Allan B.
Published: August 2024

Background People living with HIV continue to face laws, policies, and practices that impact their potential for travel and migration. These laws include: mandatory HIV testing and involuntary disclosure of HIV; lack of access to affordable HIV-related health care, treatment and counselling during the migration process; deportation of foreign nationals living with HIV; and restrictions on the length of stays. Methods HIV migration laws were the topic of a half-day community forum held as part of the 12th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science held in Brisbane, Australia, in July 2023. Over 150 delegates attended and, after a series of presentations, delegates were invited to participate in structured, facilitated conversations about issues related to policy, health and law concerning migration of people living with HIV. In this paper, we report on key themes from those discussions and identify areas for ongoing investigation. Results Advocates recommended the removal of unfair and unjust migration laws and policies that contribute to HIV stigma and discrimination; updated migration policies that reflect the current context and cost of biomedical approaches to HIV management and prevention; expanded and equitable access to HIV-related care regardless of migration or residency status; and the development of advocacy networks to promote changes to migration policies. Conclusions Laws limiting the migration of people living with HIV actively discourage individuals from seeking HIV testing, treatment and care. Ultimately, restrictive migration laws and policies undermine global efforts to end AIDS as a public health concern and to virtually eliminate HIV transmission by 2030.
Addressing epistasis in the design of protein function
Authors: Lipsh-Sokolik Rosalie , Fleishman Sarel J.
Published: August 2024

Mutations in protein active sites can dramatically improve function. The active site, however, is densely packed and extremely sensitive to mutations. Therefore, some mutations may only be tolerated in combination with others in a phenomenon known as epistasis. Epistasis reduces the likelihood of obtaining improved functional variants and dramatically slows natural and lab evolutionary processes. Research has shed light on the molecular origins of epistasis and its role in shaping evolutionary trajectories and outcomes. In addition, sequence- and AI-based strategies that infer epistatic relationships from mutational patterns in natural or experimental evolution data have been used to design functional protein variants. In recent years, combinations of such approaches and atomistic design calculations have successfully predicted highly functional combinatorial mutations in active sites. These were used to design thousands of functional active-site variants, demonstrating that, while our understanding of epistasis remains incomplete, some of the determinants that are critical for accurate design are now sufficiently understood. We conclude that the space of active-site variants that has been explored by evolution may be expanded dramatically to enhance natural activities or discover new ones. Furthermore, design opens the way to systematically exploring sequence and structure space and mutational impacts on function, deepening our understanding and control over protein activity.
Predicting undetected native vascular plant diversity at a global scale
Authors: Daru Barnabas H.
Published: August 2024

Vascular plants are diverse and a major component of terrestrial ecosystems, yet their geographic distributions remain incomplete. Here, I present a global database of vascular plant distributions by integrating species distribution models calibrated to species’ dispersal ability and natural habitats to predict native range maps for 201,681 vascular plant species into unsurveyed areas. Using these maps, I uncover unique patterns of native vascular plant diversity, endemism, and phylogenetic diversity revealing hotspots in underdocumented biodiversity-rich regions. These hotspots, based on detailed species-level maps, show a pronounced latitudinal gradient, strongly supporting the theory of increasing diversity toward the equator. I trained random forest models to extrapolate diversity patterns under unbiased global sampling and identify overlaps with modeled estimations but unveiled cryptic hotspots that were not captured by modeled estimations. Only 29% to 36% of extrapolated plant hotspots are inside protected areas, leaving more than 60% outside and vulnerable. However, the unprotected hotspots harbor species with unique attributes that make them good candidates for conservation prioritization.
Optimizing restoration: A holistic spatial approach to deliver Nature’s Contributions to People with minimal tradeoffs and maximal equity
Authors: Gopalakrishna Trisha , Visconti Piero , Lomax Guy , Boere Esther , Malhi Yadvinder , Roy Parth Sarathi , Joshi Pawan K. , Fedele Giacomo , Yowargana Ping
Published: August 2024

Ecosystem restoration is inherently a complex activity with inevitable tradeoffs in environmental and societal outcomes. These tradeoffs can potentially be large when policies and practices are focused on single outcomes versus joint achievement of multiple outcomes. Few studies have assessed the tradeoffs in Nature’s Contributions to People (NCP) and the distributional equity of NCP from forest restoration strategies. Here, we optimized a defined forest restoration area across India with systematic conservation planning to assess the tradeoffs between three NCP: i) climate change mitigation NCP, ii) biodiversity value NCP (habitat created for forest-dependent mammals), and iii) societal NCP (human direct use of restored forests for livelihoods, housing construction material, and energy). We show that restoration plans aimed at a single-NCP tend not to deliver other NCP outcomes efficiently. In contrast, integrated spatial forest restoration plans aimed at achievement of multiple outcomes deliver on average 83.3% (43.2 to 100%) of climate change mitigation NCP, 89.9% (63.8 to 100%) of biodiversity value NCP, and 93.9% (64.5 to 100%) of societal NCP delivered by single-objective plans. Integrated plans deliver NCP more evenly across the restoration area when compared to other plans that identify certain regions such as the Western Ghats and north-eastern India. Last, 38 to 41% of the people impacted by integrated spatial plans belong to socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, greater than their overall representation in India’s population. Moving ahead, effective policy design and evaluation integrating ecosystem protection and restoration strategies can benefit from the blueprint we provide in this study for India.
Magnetisation control of the nematicity direction and nodal points in a superconducting doped topological insulator
Authors: Khokhlov D A , Akzyanov R S , Kapranov A V
Published: August 2024

We study the effects of magnetisation on the properties of the doped topological insulator of the

Bi
2

Se
3

family with nematic superconductivity. We found that the direction of the in-plane magnetisation fixes the direction of the nematicity in the system. The chiral state is more favourable than the nematic state for large values of out-of-plane magnetisation. Overall, the critical temperature of the nematic superconductivity is robust against magnetisation. We explore in detail the spectrum of the system with the pinned direction of the nematic order parameter

Δ

y

. Without magnetisation, there is a full gap in the spectrum because of finite hexagonal warping. At an out-of-plane mz
or orthogonal in-plane mx
magnetisation that is strong enough, the spectrum is closed at the nodal points that are split by the magnetisation. Flat Majorana surface states connect such split bulk nodal points. Parallel magnetisation my
lifts the nodal points and opens a full gap in the spectrum. We discuss relevant experiments and propose experimental verifications of our theory.