bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cascade of transitions in twisted and non-twisted graphene layers within the van Hove scenario
Authors: Chichinadze Dmitry V. , Classen Laura , Wang Yuxuan , Chubukov Andrey V.
Published: December 2022

Motivated by measurements of compressibility and STM spectra in twisted bilayer graphene, we analyze the pattern of symmetry breaking for itinerant fermions near a van Hove singularity. Making use of an approximate SU(4) symmetry of the Landau functional, we show that the structure of the spin/isospin order parameter changes with increasing filling via a cascade of transitions. We compute the feedback from different spin/isospin orders on fermions and argue that each order splits the initially 4-fold degenerate van Hove peak in a particular fashion, consistent with the STM data and compressibility measurements, providing a unified interpretation of the cascade of transitions in twisted bilayer graphene. Our results follow from a generic analysis of an SU(4)-symmetric Landau functional and are valid beyond a specific underlying fermionic model. We argue that an analogous van Hove scenario explains the cascade of phase transitions in non-twisted Bernal bilayer and rhombohedral trilayer graphene.
Antibody feedback regulates immune memory after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination
Authors: Schaefer-Babajew Dennis , Wang Zijun , Muecksch Frauke , Cho Alice , Loewe Maximilian , Cipolla Melissa , Raspe Raphael , Johnson Brianna , Canis Marie , DaSilva Justin , Ramos Victor , Turroja Martina , Millard Katrina G. , Schmidt Fabian , Witte Leander , Dizon Juan , Shimeliovich Irina , Yao Kai-Hui , Oliveira Thiago Y. , Gazumyan Anna , Gaebler Christian , Bieniasz Paul D. , Hatziioannou Theodora , Caskey Marina , Nussenzweig Michel C.
Published: December 2022

Feedback inhibition of humoral immunity by antibodies was first documented in 19091. Subsequent studies showed that, depending on the context, antibodies can enhance or inhibit immune responses2,3. However, little is known about how pre-existing antibodies influence the development of memory B cells. Here we examined the memory B cell response in individuals who received two high-affinity anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies and subsequently two doses of an mRNA vaccine4–8. We found that the recipients of the monoclonal antibodies produced antigen-binding and neutralizing titres that were only fractionally lower compared than in control individuals. However, the memory B cells of the individuals who received the monoclonal antibodies differed from those of control individuals in that they predominantly expressed low-affinity IgM antibodies that carried small numbers of somatic mutations and showed altered receptor binding domain (RBD) target specificity, consistent with epitope masking. Moreover, only 1 out of 77 anti-RBD memory antibodies tested neutralized the virus. The mechanism underlying these findings was examined in experiments in mice that showed that germinal centres formed in the presence of the same antibodies were dominated by low-affinity B cells. Our results indicate that pre-existing high-affinity antibodies bias germinal centre and memory B cell selection through two distinct mechanisms: (1) by lowering the activation threshold for B cells, thereby permitting abundant lower-affinity clones to participate in the immune response; and (2) through direct masking of their cognate epitopes. This may in part explain the shifting target profile of memory antibodies elicited by booster vaccinations9.
The dynamics of extracellular DNA associates with treatment response in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Macáková Kristína , Illésová Júlia , Mlynáriková Vanda , Lesayová Alexandra , Konečná Barbora , Vlková Barbora , Celec Peter , Šteňová Emöke
Published: December 2022

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease increases extracellular DNA (ecDNA). Our previous study has shown that anti-inflammatory treatment reduces ecDNA, but it is unclear whether there is an association with treatment response. The aim of this study was to analyze the changes of ecDNA induced by biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in RA patients with an emphasis on the subcellular origin of ecDNA. Plasma samples from 40 RA patients were collected in three different time-points: before treatment with bDMARDs as well as 3 and 12 months following treatment initiation. Total, nuclear and mitochondrial ecDNA was quantified using fluorometry and real-time PCR. Disease activity score (DAS28) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were used to monitor the clinical status and the response to treatment. Treatment with bDMARDs elicited an overall improvement of the clinical status: DAS28 and CRP showed a significant decrease by 54% and 43%, respectively, after 3 months of treatment. A significant decrease of total ecDNA by 60% and nuclear ecDNA by 58% was detected only in good responders after 3 months of bDMARDs treatment. No significant changes of plasma ecDNA concentration were observed in moderate and non-responders. Deoxyribonuclease activity was not affected by the treatment. None of the analyzed biomarkers differed between the groups at baseline. Plasma ecDNA especially of nuclear origin could potentially be useful to monitor the treatment response in RA. Further studies should shed light on disease-treatment interplay implicated in ecDNA origin potentially linked to neutrophil extracellular traps.
Risk assessment of pollen allergy in urban environments
Authors: Dbouk Talib , Visez Nicolas , Ali Samer , Shahrour Isam , Drikakis Dimitris
Published: December 2022

According to WHO, by 2050, at least one person out of two will suffer from an allergy disorder resulting from the accelerating air pollution associated with toxic gas emissions and climate change. Airborne pollen, and associated allergies, are major public health topics during the pollination season, and their effects are further strengthened due to climate change. Therefore, assessing the airborne pollen allergy risk is essential for improving public health. This study presents a new computational fluid dynamics methodology for risk assessment of local airborne pollen transport in an urban environment. Specifically, we investigate the local airborne pollen transport from trees on a university campus in the north of France. We produce risk assessment maps for pollen allergy for five consecutive days during the pollination season. The proposed methodology could be extended to larger built-up areas for different weather conditions. The risk assessment maps may also be integrated with smart devices, thus leading to decision-aid tools to better guide and protect the public against airborne pollen allergy.
Assessing metabolic syndrome prediction quality using seven anthropometric indices among Jordanian adults: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Al-Shami Islam , Alkhalidy Hana , Alnaser Khadeejah , Mukattash Tareq L. , Al Hourani Huda , Alzboun Tamara , Orabi Aliaa , Liu Dongmin
Published: December 2022

Metabolic syndrome (MSyn) is a considerable health concern in developing and developed countries, and it is a critical predictor of all-cause mortality. Obesity, specifically central obesity, is highly associated with MSyn incidence and development. In this study, seven anthropometric indices (Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist circumference (WC), Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR), A Body Shape Index (ABSI), Body Roundness Index (BRI), conicity index (CI), and the Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI)) were used to identify individuals with MSyn among the Jordanian population. These indices were assessed to identify their superiority in predicting the risk of MSyn. A total of 756 subjects (410 were male and 346 were female) were met between May 2018 and September 2019 and enrolled in this study. Height, weight, and waist circumferences were measured and BMI, WHtR, ABSI, BRI, CI, and VAI were calculated. Fasting plasma glucose level, lipid profile, and blood pressure were measured. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the discriminatory power of the anthropometric indices as classifiers for MSyn presence using the Third Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) definition. MSyn prevalence was 42.5%, and obese women and men have a significantly higher prevalence. BRI and WHtR showed the highest ability to predict MSyn (AUC = 0.83 for both indices). The optimal cutoff point for an early diagnosis of MSyn was > 28.4 kg/m2 for BMI, > 98.5 cm for WC, > 5.13 for BRI, > 0.09 m11/6 kg−2/3 for ABSI, > 5.55 cm2 for AVI, > 1.33 m3/2 kg−1/2 for CI, and > 0.59 for WHtR with males having higher cutoff points for MSyn early detection than females. In conclusion, we found that WHtR and BRI may be the best-suggested indices for MSyn prediction among Jordanian adults. These indices are affordable and might result in better early detection for MSyn and thereby may be helpful in the prevention of MSyn and its complications.
Effect of benznidazole on cerebral microcirculation during acute Trypanosoma cruzi infection in mice
Authors: Gonzaga Beatriz Matheus Souza , Horita Samuel Iwao Maia , Beghini Daniela Gois , Gomes Fabiana , Nisimura Líndice Mitie , dos Santos Isabele Barbieri , Estato Vanessa , de Araújo-Jorge Tania Cremonini , Garzoni Luciana Ribeiro
Published: December 2022

Central nervous system alterations was described in Chagas disease in both human and experimental models, leading to meningoencephalitis, stroke and cognitive impairment. Recently, our group demonstrated that acute infection by Trypanossoma cruzi leads to cerebral microvasculophaty in mice with endothelial dysfunction, capillary rarefaction, increased rolling and leukocyte adhesion. Only benznidazole and nifurtimox are available for clinical treatment, they have an efficiency of 80% in the acute phase and less than 20% in chronic phase. However, the effect of these drugs on brain microcirculation has not yet been evaluated. We hypothesized that early treatment with benznidazole could protect brain microcirculation during acute experimental Chagas disease. Swiss Webster mice were inoculated with 104 trypomastigotes forms of T. cruzi, and after 24 h they were treated with 50 or 100 mg/kg/day of benznidazole for 14 consecutive days. In untreated infected mice, we observed cerebral microvascular rarefaction, increase in leukocyte rolling and adhesion, reduced cerebral blood flow, and increased CD3+ and F4-80+ cells in brain tissue. Early treatment with benznidazole at 100 mg/kg/day and 50 mg/kg/day prevented the occurrence of the alterations mentioned. Here, we show that BZ is able to protect the microcirculation and reduced brain inflammation in acute experimental Chagas disease.
Pathogen-driven gene expression patterns lead to a novel approach to the identification of common therapeutic targets
Authors: Hossain Mohammad Uzzal , Ferdous Nadim , Reza Mahjerin Nasrin , Ahammad Ishtiaque , Tiernan Zachary , Wang Yi , O’Hanlon Fergus , Wu Zijia , Sarker Shishir , Mohiuddin A. K. M. , Das Keshob Chandra , Keya Chaman Ara , Salimullah Md.
Published: December 2022

Developing a common medication strategy for disease control and management could be greatly beneficial. Investigating the differences between diseased and healthy states using differentially expressed genes aids in understanding disease pathophysiology and enables the exploration of protein-drug interactions. This study aimed to find the most common genes in diarrhea-causing bacteria such asSalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium,Campylobacter jejuni,Escherichia coli,Shigella dysenteriae(CESS) to find new drugs. Thus, differential gene expression datasets of CESS were screened through computational algorithms and programming. Subsequently, hub and common genes were prioritized from the analysis of extensive protein–protein interactions. Binding predictions were performed to identify the common potential therapeutic targets of CESS. We identified a total of 827 dysregulated genes that are highly linked to CESS. Notably, no common gene interaction was found among all CESS bacteria, but we identified 3 common genes in bothSalmonella-EscherichiaandEscherichia-Campylobacterinfections. Later, out of 73 protein complexes, molecular simulations confirmed 5 therapeutic candidates from the CESS. We have developed a new pipeline for identifying therapeutic targets for a common medication strategy against CESS. However, further wet-lab validation is needed to confirm their effectiveness.
Vitreous protein networks around ANG2 and VEGF in proliferative diabetic retinopathy and the differential effects of aflibercept versus bevacizumab pre-treatment
Authors: Klaassen Ingeborg , Avery Peter , Schlingemann Reinier O. , Steel David H. W.
Published: December 2022

Extracellular signalling proteins interact in networks rather than in isolation. In this context we investigated vitreous protein levels, including placental growth factor (PlGF), angiopoietin-2 (ANG2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) with variable disease severities, and after anti-VEGF pre-treatment. Vitreous samples of 112 consecutive patients undergoing vitrectomy for PDR and of 52 non-diabetic patients with macular holes as controls were studied. A subset of the PDR patients were treated with either aflibercept (AFB, n = 25) or bevacizumab (BVZ)/ranibizumab (RZB) (n = 13), before surgery. Antibody-based analysis of 35 proteins (growth factors and cytokines) showed a significant increase in expression levels of 27 proteins in PDR patients as compared to controls. In network analysis of co-regulated proteins, a strong correlation in expression levels between VEGF, PlGF, MCP1 and ANG2 was found, mostly clustered around ANG2. In the AFB treatment group, concentrations of several proteins were decreased, including VEGFR1, whereas interleukin 6 and 8 were increased as compared to untreated PDR patients. The observed differences in vitreous protein levels between the different treatments and untreated PDR patients may underlie differences in clinical outcomes in patients with PDR.
Fungal and fungal-like diversity in marine sediments from the maritime Antarctic assessed using DNA metabarcoding
Authors: da Silva Mayanne Karla , de Souza Láuren Machado Drumond , Vieira Rosemary , Neto Arthur Ayres , Lopes Fabyano A. C. , de Oliveira Fábio S. , Convey Peter , Carvalho-Silva Micheline , Duarte Alysson Wagner Fernandes , Câmara Paulo E. A. S. , Rosa Luiz Henrique
Published: December 2022

We assessed the fungal and fungal-like sequence diversity present in marine sediments obtained in the vicinity of the South Shetland Islands (Southern Ocean) using DNA metabarcoding through high-throughput sequencing (HTS). A total of 193,436 DNA reads were detected in sediment obtained from three locations: Walker Bay (Livingston Island) at 52 m depth (48,112 reads), Whalers Bay (Deception Island) at 151 m (104,704) and English Strait at 404 m (40,620). The DNA sequence reads were assigned to 133 distinct fungal amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) representing the phylaAscomycota,Basidiomycota,Mortierellomycota,Chytridiomycota,Glomeromycota,Monoblepharomycota,MucoromycotaandRozellomycotaand the fungal-like Straminopila.Thelebolus balaustiformis,Pseudogymnoascussp., Fungi sp. 1,Ciliophorasp.,Agaricomycetessp. andChaetocerossp. were the dominant assigned taxa. Thirty-eight fungal ASVs could only be assigned to higher taxonomic levels, and may represent taxa not currently included in the available databases or represent new taxa and/or new records for Antarctica. The total fungal community displayed high indices of diversity, richness and moderate to low dominance. However, diversity and taxa distribution varied across the three sampling sites. In Walker Bay, unidentified fungi were dominant in the sequence assemblage. Whalers Bay sediment was dominated by Antarctic endemic and cold-adapted taxa. Sediment from English Strait was dominated byCiliophorasp. andChaetocerossp. These fungal assemblages were dominated by saprotrophic, plant and animal pathogenic and symbiotic taxa. The detection of an apparently rich and diverse fungal community in these marine sediments reinforces the need for further studies to characterize their richness, functional ecology and potential biotechnological applications.
Retraction Note: Enhanced tensile strength and thermal conductivity in copper diamond composites with B4C coating
Authors: Sun Youhong , He Linkai , Zhang Chi , Meng Qingnan , Liu Baochang , Gao Ke , Wen Mao , Zheng Weitao
Published: December 2022

Editor's Note: this Article has been retracted; the Retraction Note is available at https://www.nature.com/articles/10.1038/s41598-022-25431-8
Skin dysbiosis and Cutibacterium acnes biofilm in inflammatory acne lesions of adolescents
Authors: Cavallo Ilaria , Sivori Francesca , Truglio Mauro , De Maio Flavio , Lucantoni Federica , Cardinali Giorgia , Pontone Martina , Bernardi Thierry , Sanguinetti Maurizio , Capitanio Bruno , Cristaudo Antonio , Ascenzioni Fiorentina , Morrone Aldo , Pimpinelli Fulvia , Di Domenico Enea Gino
Published: December 2022

Acne vulgaris is a common inflammatory disorder affecting more than 80% of young adolescents. Cutibacterium acnes plays a role in the pathogenesis of acne lesions, although the mechanisms are poorly understood. The study aimed to explore the microbiome at different skin sites in adolescent acne and the role of biofilm production in promoting the growth and persistence of C. acnes isolates. Microbiota analysis showed a significantly lower alpha diversity in inflammatory lesions (LA) than in non-inflammatory (NI) lesions of acne patients and healthy subjects (HS). Differences at the species level were driven by the overabundance of C. acnes on LA than NI and HS. The phylotype IA1 was more represented in the skin of acne patients than in HS. Genes involved in lipids transport and metabolism, as well as potential virulence factors associated with host-tissue colonization, were detected in all IA1 strains independently from the site of isolation. Additionally, the IA1 isolates were more efficient in early adhesion and biomass production than other phylotypes showing a significant increase in antibiotic tolerance. Overall, our data indicate that the site-specific dysbiosis in LA and colonization by virulent and highly tolerant C. acnes phylotypes may contribute to acne development in a part of the population, despite the universal carriage of the microorganism. Moreover, new antimicrobial agents, specifically targeting biofilm-forming C. acnes, may represent potential treatments to modulate the skin microbiota in acne.
Seasonal variations in presenting symptoms and signs of dry eye disease in Norway
Authors: Eidet Jon Roger , Chen Xiangjun , Ræder Sten , Badian Reza A. , Utheim Tor P.
Published: December 2022

The study investigated the seasonal variations of presenting symptoms and signs of dry eye disease (DED) in Norway. 652 consecutive DED patients examined between August 2012 and May 2015 in Oslo, Norway, were included. Presenting symptoms and signs were related to the season according to when each patient was examined. Weather report data from the examination day were compared with the presenting symptoms and signs. Oslo's mean seasonal temperatures during spring, summer, fall, and winter were 6.4 °C, 15.6 °C, 9.3 °C, and − 2.1 °C, respectively. Dry eye severity level and self-reported symptoms measured by the Ocular surface disease index questionnaire did not differ between seasons. Schirmer I was lower during summer than in other seasons (P < 0.01). The percentage of patients with a pathological tear meniscus height (< 0.2 mm) was higher during fall (P < 0.01) and lower during winter (P < 0.05) compared to the other seasons. Signs and symptoms of DED generally did not correlate with weather report data, although intraocular pressure was weakly associated with mean daily air temperature (r = − 0.22; P < 0.001). Neither dry eye severity level nor dry eye symptoms differ between seasons in Oslo, Norway. However, some parameters for assessing DED show seasonal variations (Schirmer I and tear meniscus height), which are essential to consider when examining patients with DED.
Nutritional status, alcohol-tobacco consumption behaviour and cognitive decline among older adults in India
Authors: Khan Junaid
Published: December 2022

Cognition capacity is essentially age-dependent and it is associated with the overall well-being of an individual. The public health aspects of cognitive research primarily focus on the possible delaying of cognitive decline among the older adult population. In this context, using the most recent round of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India, 2017–2018 data, this study examines the cognition capacity among older adults aged 45 and above subject to their nutritional health and health behaviour (tobacco and alcohol consumption). It is observed that almost one in every tenth individual (10%) above 45 years of age in India shows low cognition scores. Low cognition is much more prevalent among 60 + females than males. Around one-fifth of the underweight older adults (18%) demonstrate low cognition capacity among them. Of those older adults who consume only tobacco, 11% of them demonstrate low cognition than the rest. The partial proportional odds model estimation shows that older adults are at higher risk of developing low cognition with increasing age and beyond age 65, the individuals carry a critically higher risk to experience low cognition. The estimation also shows that with increasing age older adults are higher likely to experience poor cognition independent of nutritional status, but underweight older adults are comparatively more likely to experience low cognition followed by normal and overweight older adults. In terms of alcohol-tobacco consumption behaviour, older adults who consume both are more likely to experience low cognition with increasing age followed by ‘only alcohol consumers’, and ‘only tobacco consumers’.
Quantum ghost imaging of a transparent polarisation sensitive phase pattern
Authors: Saxena Aditya , Kaur Manpreet , Devrari Vipin , Singh Mandip
Published: December 2022

A transparent polarisation sensitive phase pattern exhibits a position and polarisation dependent phase shift of transmitted light and it represents a unitary transformation. A quantum ghost image of this pattern is produced with hyper-entangled photons consisting of Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) and polarisation entanglement. In quantum ghost imaging, a single photon interacts with the pattern and is detected by a stationary detector and a non-interacting photon is imaged on a coincidence camera. EPR entanglement manifests spatial correlations between an object plane and a ghost image plane, whereas a polarisation dependent phase shift exhibited by the pattern is detected with polarisation entanglement. In this quantum ghost imaging, the which-position-polarisation information of a photon interacting with the pattern is not present in the experiment. A quantum ghost image is constructed by measuring correlations of the polarisation-momentum of an interacting photon with polarisation-position of a non-interacting photon. The experiment is performed with a coincidence single photon detection camera, where a non-interacting photon travels a long optical path length of 17.83 m from source to camera and a pattern is positioned at an optical distance of 19.16 m from the camera.
Microgravity environment grown crystal structure information based engineering of direct electron transfer type glucose dehydrogenase
Authors: Okuda-Shimazaki Junko , Yoshida Hiromi , Lee Inyoung , Kojima Katsuhiro , Suzuki Nanoha , Tsugawa Wakako , Yamada Mitsugu , Inaka Koji , Tanaka Hiroaki , Sode Koji
Published: December 2022

The heterotrimeric flavin adenine dinucleotide dependent glucose dehydrogenase is a promising enzyme for direct electron transfer (DET) principle-based glucose sensors within continuous glucose monitoring systems. We elucidate the structure of the subunit interface of this enzyme by preparing heterotrimer complex protein crystals grown under a space microgravity environment. Based on the proposed structure, we introduce inter-subunit disulfide bonds between the small and electron transfer subunits (5 pairs), as well as the catalytic and the electron transfer subunits (9 pairs). Without compromising the enzyme’s catalytic efficiency, a mutant enzyme harboring Pro205Cys in the catalytic subunit, Asp383Cys and Tyr349Cys in the electron transfer subunit, and Lys155Cys in the small subunit, is determined to be the most stable of the variants. The developed engineered enzyme demonstrate a higher catalytic activity and DET ability than the wild type. This mutant retains its full activity below 70 °C as well as after incubation at 75 °C for 15 min – much higher temperatures than the current gold standard enzyme, glucose oxidase, is capable of withstanding.
Self-assembled ZnO microspheres coated with carbon dot-doped CoNi LDH wrinkled films as electrochemical sensors for highly sensitive detection of hydrazine
Authors: Zhang Yu , Wu Jiaying , Zhao Shan , Tang Xin , He Zhiyuan , Huang Ke , Yu Huimin , Zou Zhirong , Xiong Xiaoli
Published: December 2022

Surface folded composites were prepared in situ using CoNi LDH hybrid films loaded with nitrogen-doped carbon dots on self-assembled ZnO microspheres (ZnO@CoNi LDH-NCDs). It acts as an electrode which has excellent sensing performance for hydrazine.
First (e,e) coincidence measurements on solvated sodium benzoate in water using a magnetic bottle time-of-flight spectrometer
Authors: Huart L. , Fournier M. , Dupuy R. , Vacheresse R. , Mailhiot M. , Cubaynes D. , Céolin D. , Hervé du Penhoat M. A. , Renault J. P. , Guigner J.-M. , Kumar A. , Lutet-Toti B. , Bozek J. , Ismail I. , Journel L. , Lablanquie P. , Penent F. , Nicolas C. , Palaudoux J.
Published: December 2022

Sodium benzoate molecules solvated in water are studied using coincidence electron spectroscopy coupled with a liquid microjet device.
Noncovalent wedging effect catalyzed the cis to syn transformation of a surface-adsorbed polymer backbone toward an unusual thermodynamically stable supramolecular product
Authors: Liu Zhi-Xuan , Yang Ling , Chen Yong-Gang , Tian Zhi-Yuan , Yang Zhi-Yong
Published: December 2022

Wedging Me-PTCDI between the alkyl chains of PffBT4T-2OD and the graphite substrate considerably reduces the energy barrier of flipping over a surface-adsorbed alkylthiophene group from the cis to syn conformation.
Renewable electron-driven bioinorganic nitrogen fixation: a superior route toward green ammonia?
Authors: Wang Bo , Zhang Yifeng , Minteer Shelley D.
Published: December 2022

Systematic assessment of the historical development, current state, challenges and future prospects of nature-inspired bioelectrocatalytic nitrogen fixation for green ammonia synthesis.
Honey polyphenols: regulators of human microbiota and health
Authors: Cárdenas-Escudero J. , Mármol-Rojas C. , Escribano Pintor S. , Galán-Madruga D. , Cáceres J. O.
Published: December 2022

A comprehensive review of research over the last decade was conducted to carry out this work.
The fabrication of conductive material-decorated hydrogels for tissue repair
Authors: Cheng Feng , Xu Lei , Yang Qingzhu , He Jinmei , Huang Yudong , Li Hongbin
Published: December 2022

Conductive hydrogels have recently attracted considerable attention as a class of soft medical materials with high water content to mimic the electrophysiological environment of biological tissues for tissue repair applications.
Optimizing the structure and performance of biomimetic water channels
Authors: Kali Ritwick , Mkandawire Wezi D. , Milner Scott T.
Published: December 2022

PAP[n] channels (n > 5) with slightly larger pore diameter offers higher water permeability, while still rejecting ions.
Solid phase crystallization of amorphous silicon at the two-dimensional limit
Authors: Dhungana Daya S. , Bonaventura Eleonora , Martella Christian , Grazianetti Carlo , Molle Alessandro
Published: December 2022

We present a novelty in the synthesis of 2D ultrathin silicon on Ag(111) and silicene-on-Ag(111) by molecular beam epitaxy.
Nanoscopic evaluation on mitochondrial ultrastructures by regulating reactive oxygen species productivity within terpyridyl Zn(ii) complexes with different alkyl chain lengths
Authors: Su Liping , Xian Jinghong , Fu Shiqin , Zhu Yuhan , Cao Hongzhi , Feng Zhihui , Tian Yupeng , Tian Xiaohe
Published: December 2022

Scheme capturing the ultrastructural morphology of mitochondria by regulating ROS productivity within terpyridyl Zn(ii) complexes with different alkyl chain lengths. Mitochondrial (image ID YUOYPde40d) images were drawn using Figdraw.
An antioxidant and antibacterial polydopamine-modified thermo-sensitive hydrogel dressing for Staphylococcus aureus-infected wound healing
Authors: Ge Pengjin , Chang Shuhua , Wang Ting , Zhao Quan , Wang Gang , He Bin
Published: December 2022

An antioxidant and antibacterial polydopamine-modified thermo-sensitive hydrogel dressing was developed for Staphylococcus aureus-infected wound healing.
Complex ligand adsorption on 3D atomic surfaces of synthesized nanoparticles investigated by machine-learning accelerated ab initio calculation
Authors: Kang Dohun , Kim Sungin , Heo Junyoung , Kim Dongjun , Bae Hyeonhu , Kang Sungsu , Shim Sangdeok , Lee Hoonkyung , Park Jungwon
Published: December 2022

High-throughput analysis of ligand adsorption on metal nanoparticles revealed that dispersion interactions largely affect the optimal adsorption energy and configuration.
Tuning the nanostructure and molecular orientation of high molecular weight diketopyrrolopyrrole-based polymers for high-performance field-effect transistors
Authors: Deng Junyang , Guo Yifu , Li Weiwei , Xie Zhenhua , Ke Yubin , Janssen René A. J. , Li Mengmeng
Published: December 2022

The molecular orientation of PDPP3T is efficiently tuned from a face- to an edge-on texture using appropriate solvents, with the formation of a fibril-like nanostructure, leading to a significant performance improvement in field-effect transistors.
DNA conformational equilibrium enables continuous changing of curvatures
Authors: Mao Dake , Paluzzi Victoria E. , Zhang Cuizheng , Mao Chengde
Published: December 2022

Flipping bases in-or-out allows DNA nanostructures to continuously morph.
Bioorthogonal nanozymes: an emerging strategy for disease therapy
Authors: Zhang Zheao , Fan Kelong
Published: December 2022

The highlights for preparing bioorthogonal nanozymes and their therapeutic applications are reported.
Tunnel barrier to spin filter: Electronic-transport characteristics of transition metal atom encapsulated in a small Cadmium Telluride cage
Authors: Chavan Kashinath T. , Chandra Sharat , Kshirsagar Anjali
Published: December 2022

DFT-NEGF based comparative electronic transport studies performed for an atomic chain of Au, a bare Cd9Te9 cage-like cluster, and a single 3d(Ti to Zn) and 4d(Ru to Pd) TM encapsulated Cd9Te9 cluster using Au(111) as electrodes.
Enhanced molecular binding affinity toward aromatic dications by anthracene-derived crown ethers in water
Authors: Zhou Jia-Liang , Li Yan-Hong , Zhang Ying-Ming , Chen Ling , Liu Yu
Published: December 2022

An anthracene-based tetrasulfonated crown ether has been synthesized and studied, which can exhibit high affinitive binding toward a series of organic cations with a large extension of π-stacking interactions.
Kinetics and mechanism of amino acid derived 2-thiohydantoin formation reactions
Authors: Stanić Petar , Šmit Biljana , Milenković Dejan
Published: December 2022

Kinetic and mechanistic 1H NMR and DFT studies propose a two-step mechanism of amino acid-derived 2-thiohydantoin formation reactions.
Electrochemical radical-mediated selective C(sp3)–S bond activation
Authors: Li Yongli , Wang Huamin , Wang Zhuning , Alhumade Hesham , Huang Zhiliang , Lei Aiwen
Published: December 2022

An electrochemical radical-mediated approach to selectively cleave the C(sp3)-S bonds of various thioethers is described.
Diazazethrene bisimide: a strongly electron-accepting π-system synthesizedviathe incorporation of both imide substituents and imine-type nitrogen atoms into zethrene
Authors: Tajima Keita , Matsuo Kyohei , Yamada Hiroko , Fukui Norihito , Shinokubo Hiroshi
Published: December 2022

The development of highly electron-accepting π-systems is a fundamentally challenging issue despite their potential applications as various functional materials.
Dative B←N bonds based crystalline organic framework with permanent porosity for acetylene storage and separation
Authors: Wang Weize , Wang Linxia , Du Fei , Wang Gang-Ding , Hou Lei , Zhu Zhonghua , Liu Bo , Wang Yao-Yu
Published: December 2022

Utilizing a bifunctional organic linker, the first crystalline organic framework based on dative B←N bonds with permanent porosity was synthesized in one step. It sets a benchmark for C2H2uptake and shows effective C2H2/CO2separation.
Inherently chiral calixarenes by a catalytic enantioselective desymmetrizing cross-dehydrogenative coupling
Authors: Zhang Xin , Tong Shuo , Zhu Jieping , Wang Mei-Xiang
Published: December 2022

Reported here is the catalytic enantioselective desymmetrization of calixarene skeletons for the construction of inherently chiral calixarenes through a transannular arene–arene dehydrogenative coupling reaction.
Understanding the different deoxygenation reaction pathways of lauric acid over alumina-supported Ni and Co catalysts
Authors: Kikhtyanin Oleg , Kubička David
Published: December 2022

Ni/Al2O3 and Co/Al2O3 perform differently in the conversion of aliphatic acids as evidenced by the preferred reaction pathways for both catalysts.
Geometrical and physical effects of nanofillers on percolation and electrical conductivity of polymer carbon-based nanocomposites: a general micro-mechanical model
Authors: Payandehpeyman J. , Mazaheri M.
Published: December 2022

A micro-mechanical model was developed to describe the electrical percolation and effective electrical conductivity of nanocomposites containing fillers with different shapes such as graphene nanoplatelets, carbon black, and carbon nanotubes.
3D actuation of foam-core liquid metal droplets
Authors: Chen Yue , Chen Xuanhan , Zhu Zhenhong , Sun Mingyuan , Li Shen , Gan Minfeng , Tang Shi-Yang , Li Weihua , Zhang Shiwu , Sun Lining , Li Xiangpeng
Published: December 2022

The foam-core liquid metal (FCLM) droplets that can maintain the surface properties of LM while significantly reducing the density are developed, enabling 3D manipulation in an electrolyte.
Correction: Mineralized biomimetic collagen/alginate/silica composite scaffolds fabricated by a low-temperature bio-plotting process for hard tissue regeneration: fabrication, characterisation and in vitro cellular activities
Authors: Lee HyeongJin , Kim YongBok , Kim GeunHyung
Published: December 2022

Correction for ‘Mineralized biomimetic collagen/alginate/silica composite scaffolds fabricated by a low-temperature bio-plotting process for hard tissue regeneration: fabrication, characterisation and in vitro cellular activities’ by HyeongJin Lee et al., J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014, 2, 5785–5798, https://doi.org/10.1039/c4tb00931b.
Altered chronic glycemic control in a clinically relevant model of rat thoracic spinal contusion
Authors: Harris Kwamie K. , Welch Bradley A. , Smith Allie M. , Pride Yilianys , Grayson Bernadette E.
Published: December 2022

The lifetime risk for Type 2 diabetes mellitus remains higher in people with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) than in the able-bodied population. However, the mechanisms driving this disparity remain poorly understood. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the impact of a palatable high-fat diet (HFD) on glycemic regulation using a rodent model of moderate thoracic contusion. Animals were placed on either Chow or HFD and tolerance to glucose, insulin, and ENSURE mixed meal were investigated. Important targets in the gut–brain axis were investigated.

HFD consumption equally induced weight gain in SCI and naïve rats over chow (CH) rats. Elevated blood glucose was observed during intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test in HFD-fed rats over CH-fed rats. Insulin tolerance test (ITT) was unremarkable among the three groups. Gavage of ENSURE resulted in high glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) release from SCI rats over naïve controls. An elevation in terminal total GLP-1 was measured, with a marked reduction in circulating dipeptidyl peptidase 4, the GLP-1 cleaving enzyme, in SCI rats, compared with naïve. Increased glucagon mRNA in the pancreas and reduced immunoreactive glucagon-positive staining in the pancreas in SCI rats compared with controls suggested increased glucagon turnover. Finally, GLP-1 receptor gene expression in the ileum, the primary source of GLP-1 production and release, in SCI rats suggests the responsivity of the gut to altered circulating GLP-1 in the body. In conclusion, the actions of GLP-1 and its preprohormone, glucagon, are markedly uncoupled from their actions on glucose control in the SCI rat. More work is required to understand GLP-1 in the human.
Elevator dynamic monitoring and early warning system based on machine learning algorithm
Authors: Zhang Shuai , Yin Qiangguo , Wang Jinlong
Published: December 2022

With the rapid progress of modern society, elevator, as a vertical means of transportation in modern high‐rise buildings, has become an indispensable part of People's Daily life. Because the elevator is a kind of mechanical equipment with a very high frequency of use, the peak hour will reach 250 times per hour, and because the elevator in the daily operation of the running parts work many times, the operating system is complex, good quality. Different passengers lead to frequent elevator failures. The dynamic monitoring and early warning system is a system which, according to the characteristics of the elevator, monitors the change trend of risk factors in the elevator by collecting relevant information, and evaluates the degree of deviation of various risk states from the early warning line, so as to send early warning signals to the decision‐making level and take pre‐control countermeasures in advance. Machine learning is a multi‐domain interdisciplinary discipline, which specialises in studying how computers simulate or realise human learning behaviours to acquire new knowledge or skills and reorganise existing knowledge structures to continuously improve their own performance. This study aims to monitor and warn the elevator dynamics. Machine learning algorithm is introduced in this work, and particle swarm optimisation algorithm is used to improve the model. The model is optimised, and the experimental comparison shows that the optimisation of model parameters can further improve the accuracy of elevator load prediction. Then, the deep network prediction model is constructed, and the number of network layers is determined through experiments. Firstly, a multi‐layer network is trained in the training model, and this process can be used to extract the indicators of inducing factors, so as to avoid the difficult and time‐consuming manual extraction of indicators, and improve the prediction accuracy of the system. After five experiments, the prediction errors of the system are 1.14%, 0.54%, 0.07%, 0.12%, and 0.68%. The experimental results show that machine learning algorithm and particle swarm optimisation algorithm play an active role in the research of elevator dynamic monitoring and warning system.
Analytical modelling and experimental validation of compliance-based low-frequency resonators for water circuits
Authors: Kottapalli Shravan , van de Meerendonk Remco , Waterson Nicholas , Nakiboglu Gunes , Hirschberg Avraham , Smeulders David M.J.
Published: December 2022

Transmission losses of compact compliance-based resonators in water circuits are investigated. Experiments are performed to measure the anechoic transmission losses (TLan) of flexible-plate resonators and a gas resonator designed for frequencies between 10 and 100 Hz. The measurements are compared to theoretical results based on a lumped-element model and a finite-element model. The TLan is measured using a robust form of the multi-microphone method, which gave identical results for open and closed pipe acoustic terminations at the transmission side of the setup. When an estimate of the reflection coefficient at the termination is known, good results are obtained with only one transmission-side microphone. When TLan is high, a single microphone is sufficient on each side. For the flexible-plate resonators the TLan measurements are in agreement with theory except close to resonance, where the transmission signals are below the detection limit. Due to assumptions of a rigid cavity wall and a clamped top-plate, the theoretical resonance frequencies are too high except for the thinnest plate which displays static deformation stiffening. This deformation stiffening limits the possibility to lower the resonance frequency by using a thin flexible plate in a circuit with high static pressure. Low resonance frequencies are easier to reach with a gas resonator, in which a piston separates the water from a volume filled with air. For the gas-resonator, the measurements agree with the theoretical predictions when assuming a significant damping. The friction between the air-water-separation piston and cavity wall is suspected to cause this damping. Theory predicts that the TLan of both resonators designed for same resonance frequencies in absence of losses are equivalent. They therefore have quite similar performances except close to the resonance frequency. The flexible-plate resonator has a higher quality factor and higher (TLan) around the resonance frequency. The gas resonator is more complex and needs more maintenance but allows fine tuning of the resonance frequency by varying the gas volume.
Detection of microcracks and dark spots in monocrystalline PERC cells using photoluminescene imaging and YOLO-based CNN with spatial pyramid pooling
Authors: Binomairah Amran , Abdullah Azizi , Khoo Bee Ee , Mahdavipour Zeinab , Teo Teow Wee , Mohd Noor Nor Shahirah , Abdullah Mohd Zaid
Published: December 2022

Two common defects encountered during manufacturing of crystalline silicon solar cells are microcrack and dark spot or dark region. The microcrack in particular is a major threat to module performance since it is responsible for most PV failures and other types of damage in the field. On the other hand, dark region in which one cell or part of the cell appears darker under UV illumination is mainly responsible for PV reduced efficiency, and eventually lost of performance. Therefore, one key challenge for solar cell manufacturers is to remove defective cells from further processing. Recently, few researchers have investigated deep learning as an alternative approach for defect detection in solar cell manufacturing. The results are quite encouraging. This paper evaluates the convolutional neural network based on heavy-weighted You Only Look Once (YOLO) version 4 or YOLOv4 and the tiny version of this algorithm referred here as Tiny-YOLOv4. Experimental results suggest that the multi-class YOLOv4 is the best model in term of mean average precision (mAP) and prediction time, averaging at 98.8% and 62.9 ms respectively. Meanwhile an improved Tiny-YOLOv4 with Spatial Pyramid Pooling scheme resulted in mAP of 91.0% and runtime of 28.2 ms. Even though the tiny-weighted YOLOv4 performs slightly lower compared to its heavy-weighted counterpart, however the runtime of the former is 2.2 order much faster than the later.
Epicenter of random epidemic spanning trees on finite graphs
Authors: Figueiredo Daniel R. , Iacobelli Giulio
Published: December 2022

Epidemic source detection is the problem of identifying the network node that originated an epidemic from a partial observation of the epidemic process. The problem finds applications in different contexts, such as detecting the origin of rumors in online social media, and has been studied under various assumptions. Different from prior studies, this work considers an epidemic process on a finite graph that starts on a random node (epidemic source) and terminates when all nodes are infected, yielding a rooted and directed epidemic tree that encodes node infections (i.e., a directed spanning tree of the graph with every edge directed away from the epidemic source). Assuming knowledge of the underlying graph and the undirected spanning tree (i.e., the infection edges but not their directions), can the epidemic source be accurately identified? This work tackles this problem by introducing the epicenter, an efficient estimator for the epidemic source, and thus, the direction of every edge in the epidemic tree. When the underlying graph is vertex-transitive the epicenter can be computed in linear time and it coincides with the well-known distance center of the epidemic tree. Moreover, on a complete graph the epicenter is also the most likely estimator for the source. Finally, the accuracy of the epicenter is evaluated numerically on five different graph models and the performance strongly depends on the graph structure, varying from 31% (on complete graphs) to 13% (on sparse power-law graphs). However, for all graph models considered the epicenter exhibited an accuracy higher than the distance center, being three times more accurate on sparse power-law graphs.
Liebe Leserinnen, liebe Leser
Authors: Friedrichsen Hans-Peter , Gröber Uwe
Published: December 2022

nach der modernen Altersforschung kann der Mensch gegenwärtig ein maximales
Alter von etwa 140 Jahren erreichen. Lebensverlängerung ist allerdings nicht
immer gleichbedeutend mit Lebensqualität, aber gerade Lebensqualität
und Vitalität machen das Alter lebenswert. Altern ist ein progressiver,
biologischer und zeitabhängiger Prozess, der sich im Spannungsfeld der
Erbanlagen, multipler Umwelteinflüsse und Lebensstilfaktoren (z. B.
Ernährung, körperliche Aktivität) entwickelt. Im alternden
Organismus kommt es zu vielfältigen physiologischen Veränderungen in
Geweben und Organen, die mit einer Abnahme der physischen und psychischen
Leistungsfähigkeit assoziiert sind. Im Zentrum stehen dabei auf
pathobiochemischer Ebene die altersbedingte Zunahme von Entzündungsprozessen
(Inflammaging), Störungen des Immunsystems (Immunoseneszenz),
Muskelzellverlust (Sarkopenie), Proteinglykosilierung (AGE),
oxidativer/nitrosativer Stress und/oder mitochondriale Dysfunktion
sowie Abnahme der Telomerlänge der Leukozyten (TLT). Die vorliegende Ausgabe
der OM ist zum Jahresausklang dem Thema Altern gewidmet und stellt die Bedeutung
einer optimalen Versorgung mit Mikronährstoffen in den Mittelpunkt.
Anti-Aging und Mikronährstoffe – eine Auswahl an
Anti-Seneszenz-Nutrienten
Authors: Friedrichsen Hans-Peter , Bergemann Jörg , Gröber Uwe
Published: December 2022

Die Bevölkerung in Deutschland ist mit einigen Mikronährstoffen, wie
Vitamin D und E sowie einigen B-Vitaminen und Selen, nicht ausreichend versorgt.
Doch gerade diese Nährstoffe sowie ω-3-Fettsäuren tragen
dazu bei, im Alter Krankheiten vorzubeugen. ω-3-Fettsäuren bilden
bspw. eine tragende Säule in der Anti-Aging-Medizin. Auch Ubichinol und
Magnesium sind daran beteiligt, Alterungsprozesse zu verlangsamen, im Alter die
Vitalität zu verbessern und der Entwicklung von Alterskrankheiten
entgegenzuwirken.
Der TikTok-Aufklärungskanal „wahrscheinlich peinlich“ (MDR/funk)
Authors: Ohms Gorrety
Published: December 2022

„Alles über Liebe, Sex und Pubertät mit Vicky, Philipp und Max“ – das verspricht der Sexualaufklärungskanal „wahrscheinlich peinlich“ des MDR, der über das öffentlich-rechtliche Online-Angebot funk ausgespielt wird. Der vorliegende Praxisbeitrag beschreibt, wie der TikTok-Kanal gestaltet wird und welchen Beitrag Studierende der Sexualwissenschaft von der Hochschule Merseburg dabei in puncto Beratung und Evaluation leisten. Besonderheiten der TikTok-Kurzvideos und ihr Einsatz in der Sexuellen Bildung werden skizziert.