bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oxidation Extent of the Upper Mantle by Subducted Slab and Possible Oxygen Budget in Deep Earth Inferred From Redox Kinetics of Olivine
Authors: Zhao Chengcheng , Yoshino Takashi , Zhang Baohua
Published: February 2022

Redox input by subducted slab into mantle is important for deep cycle and isotopic evolution of volatile elements, whose stable forms are controlled by redox state. Given reduced condition in lower part of the upper mantle, taking redox budget from lithospheric mantle into consideration is crucial in redefining redox state there. To constrain to which extent subducted slab modified redox state of the uppermost mantle and how much oxygen budget slab carried into deep Earth, we investigated redox kinetics of olivine adopting diffusion couple method at 1 GPa and 1,373–1573 K in a piston cylinder apparatus. It is found that redox process in olivine is diffusion‐controlled, and diffusing on the order of 10−12 m2/s at 1473 K. Oxidation process in reduced part is oxygen fugacity (fO2)‐independent with activation enthalpy of 235 ± 56 kJ/mol, while reduction process in oxidized part is fO2‐dependent with an fO2 exponent of 2/5. Diffusion profile analysis reveals that for magnetite‐free couple, redox process is controlled by oxygen grain boundary diffusion (GBD) below ΔFMQ + 1, and rate‐limited by faster species which might be hydrogen related Mg vacancy above ΔFMQ + 1. However, for magnetite‐bearing couple, oxygen GBD dominates redox process across wide fO2 range. The extremely slow rate limits the homogenization of the slab with surrounding mantle so that redox state of the uppermost mantle remains unchanged in the past 3.5 Gyrs. A highly underestimated oxygen reservoir may have formed in deep Earth, when subducted slab transports oxidized components to region deeper than the mantle transition zone.
Deep Learning to Evaluate US NOx Emissions Using Surface Ozone Predictions
Authors: He Tai‐Long , Jones Dylan B. A. , Miyazaki Kazuyuki , Huang Binxuan , Liu Yuyang , Jiang Zhe , White E. Charlie , Worden Helen M. , Worden John R.
Published: February 2022

Emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO + NO2) in the United States have declined significantly during the past three decades. However, satellite observations since 2009 indicate total column NO2 is no longer declining even as bottom‐up inventories suggest continued decline in emissions. Multiple explanations have been proposed for this discrepancy including (a) the increasing relative importance of nonurban NOx to total column NO2, (b) differences between background and urban NOx lifetimes, and (c) that the actual NOx emissions are declining more slowly after 2009. Here, we use a deep learning model trained by NOx emissions and surface observations of ozone to assess consistency between the reported NOx trends between 2005 and 2014 and observations of surface ozone. We find that the satellite‐derived trends best reproduce ozone in low NOx emission (background) regions. The 2010–2014 trend from older satellite‐derived emission estimates produced at low spatial resolution results in the largest bias in surface ozone in regions with high NOx emissions, reflecting the blending of urban and background NOx in these low‐resolution top‐down analyses. In contrast, the trend from higher resolution satellite‐based estimates, which are more capable of capturing the urban emission signature, is in better agreement with ozone in high NOx emission regions, and is consistent with the trend based on surface observations of NO2. Our results confirm that the satellite‐derived trends reflect anthropogenic and background influences.
Holocene Millennial‐Scale Precipitation Variations in the Asian Summer Monsoon Margin of Northwest China and Their Relation to Migrations of Monsoon Northern Boundary via Oxygen Isotope Analysis of Calcareous Root Tubes in Deserts
Authors: Gao Youhong , Li Zhuolun , Zhu Ruixia
Published: February 2022

The Asian summer monsoon (ASM) margin of northwest China is a critical region for studying Asian monsoon variability during the Holocene. However, the pattern of precipitation variations and migration of the ASM northern boundary in arid regions during the Holocene remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed oxygen isotopes of 70 calcareous root tube (CRT) samples from the desert hinterlands in the ASM margin of northwest China, including the Badain Jaran, Tengger, Ulan Buh, and Kubuqi deserts. The CRT samples were analyzed to reconstruct millennial‐scale precipitation variation patterns during the Holocene and further explored the location of the ASM northwestern boundary during the middle Holocene. Our results demonstrated that the δ18O values of CRTs during the late Holocene (4.0–1.0 cal kyr BP) were all less negative than those during the middle Holocene (8.0–4.0 cal kyr BP), which revealed that the precipitation decreased from the middle Holocene to the late Holocene. Moreover, an increase in δ18O values from the southeast to northwest revealed that the precipitation decreased. We argued that the Holocene millennial‐scale precipitation changes in this region were influenced by the migrations in the ASM northern boundary. During the middle Holocene, due to the strong summer solar radiation and reduced ice sheets, the ASM northern boundary in the arid region advanced by at least 250 km to the northwest, which resulted in increased precipitation. During the late Holocene, the ASM northern boundary retreated southeastward, resulting in decreased precipitation.
Porosity Evolution in Metallic Asteroids: Implications for the Origin and Thermal History of Asteroid 16 Psyche
Authors: Nichols‐Fleming Fiona , Evans Alexander J. , Johnson Brandon C. , Sori Michael M.
Published: February 2022

Some M‐type asteroids have measured bulk densities much lower than expected based on their metal‐rich surfaces. In particular, the density of the largest M‐type asteroid 16 Psyche would require a bulk porosity of ∼52 vol% if it has a pure iron composition. We determine that a pure iron Psyche must have cooled to and remained below 800 K to maintain sufficient porosity for that porosity to persist until present. Iron bodies smaller than Psyche could preserve long‐lived high porosities (>40%), yet even the smallest M‐type asteroids would require temperatures below 925 K. Our results indicate that all iron asteroids must cool to and remain at low temperatures prior to a porosity‐adding event in order to retain porosity on timescales longer than a few million years. Accordingly, a pure iron Psyche would not have sufficiently cooled to retain high porosities when large porosity adding events are most likely to have occurred in the early solar system. Hence, Psyche is not likely to be a pure iron exposed core. However, this structure may be more viable for M‐type asteroids smaller than Psyche which cool more quickly.
Topography, Climate and Fire History Regulate Wildfire Activity in the Alaskan Tundra
Authors: Masrur Arif , Taylor Alan , Harris Lucas , Barnes Jennifer , Petrov Andrey
Published: February 2022

Although the link between climate change and tundra fire activity is well‐studied, we lack an understanding of how fire, vegetation, and topography interact to either amplify or dampen climatic effects on these tundra fires at Pan‐Arctic scale. This study investigated the relative influence of fire history, climate, topography and vegetation on fire occurrence and size in Alaskan tundra (1981–2019) and the potential for self‐reinforcing/limiting fire behavior. Regime shift analysis identified a step increase in fire frequency after 2010 with increased average annual area burned (+96%) and area reburned (+61%) over the 2010–2019 period, consistent with climatic thresholds in fire activity being crossed. Correlation analysis shows variation in fire frequency was positively and significantly related to mean summer temperatures. The competing roles of fire history and bio‐climate were investigated via random forest models using (a) environmental conditions and (b) environmental conditions and fire history. Fire occurrence was primarily driven by topographic complexity and elevation, suggesting that areas at 50–200 m elevation with gently rolling terrain such as the Arctic Foothills of the Brooks Range or the Kotzebue Lowlands in northern Alaska will likely become hotspots of fire activity. In contrast, fire size was affected mainly by fire history and winter‐spring climate, which demonstrates the importance of both fuel limitations and self‐reinforcing (e.g., rapid fuel regrowth following smaller‐sized fires) fire‐vegetation interactions in regulating tundra fire activity. Future modeling studies need more nuanced representations of fire‐terrain and fire‐vegetation interactions to accurately project how tundra ecosystems may respond to climatic warming.
Shrinking Pareto Fronts to Guide Reservoir Operations by Quantifying Competition Among Multiple Objectives
Authors: Wang Hong‐Ru , Li Fang‐Fang , Wang Guang‐Qian , Qiu Jun
Published: February 2022

Multiobjective optimization has been widely applied to reservoir operations in order to provide balanced operational schemes considering their multiple functions, including flood control, power generation, and ecological objectives. The Pareto front derived from multiobjective optimization is a set of optimal solutions that cannot quickly provide direct guidance for decision‐makers. In this study, a shrinking method is proposed to reduce the selection range of the optimal solutions on the Pareto front. Based on two proposed indices, that is, competitiveness and the competition efficiency between each pair of dual objectives, the optimal solutions are shrunk twice to accurately focus on the optimal solution region and reduce the difficulty of decision‐making. The proposed methodology is applied to a large‐scale reservoir on the upper reach of the Yellow River, China, simultaneously considering power generation, hydropower output stability, and ecological objectives. The results show that the proposed method could reduce the Pareto front to the solutions performing well in objectives and can be generalized for other multiobjective optimization models.
Solar X-ray and Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (X-EUVI) loaded onto China’s Fengyun-3E Satellite
Authors: Chen Bo , Ding Guang-Xing , He Ling-Ping
Published: February 2022

The solar X-ray and Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (X-EUVI), which was developed by CIOMP, is China’s first space-based solar X-ray and Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) imager; it has been loaded onto the Fengyun-3E Satellite, which is supported by the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), for solar observation. It commenced working on July 11, 2021, and was used to obtain the first X-ray and EUV images in China. X-EUVI employs an innovation dual band design to monitor a much larger temperature range across the Sun, covering the 0.6–8.0 nm wavelength band of the X-ray region and the 19.5 nm band of the EUV region.
Failure to reach hematopoietic allogenic stem cell transplantation in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes planned for transplantation: a population-based study
Authors: Lindholm C. , Olofsson E. , Creignou M. , Nilsson L. , Garelius H. Gravdahl , Cammenga J. , Ljungman P. , Ejerblad E. , Tobiasson M.
Published: February 2022

The only potential cure for patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). However, a proportion of patients who are HCT candidates do not finally get transplanted. This population-based study aimed to characterize HCT candidates were attempting to reach HCT fail and to identify causes and risk factors for failure. Data were collected from (1) the national Swedish registry, enrolling 291 transplant candidates between 2009–2018, and (2) Karolinska University Hospital, enrolling 131 transplantation candidates between 2000 and 2018. Twenty-five % (nation-wide) and 22% (Karolinska) failed to reach HCT. Reasons for failure to reach HCT were progressive and refractory disease (47%), no donor identified (22%), identification of comorbidity (18%), and infectious complications (14%). Factors associated with failure to reach HCT were IPSS-R cytogenetic risk-group very poor, mixed MDS/MPN disease, low blast count (0–4.9%), and low hemoglobin levels (≤7.9 g/dL). Transplanted patients had a longer overall survival (OS) compared to patients who failed to reach transplantation (83 months versus 14 months; p < 0.001). The survival advantage was seen for the IPSS-R risk groups intermediate, high, and very high. This study demonstrated that a high proportion of HCT-candidates fail to reach HCT and underlines the difficulties associated with bridging MDS patients to HCT.
Chemical characterisation of degraded nuclear fuel analogues simulating the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident
Authors: Ding Hao , Gausse Clémence , Wilkins Malin C. Dixon , Mottram Lucy M. , Stennett Martin C. , Grolimund Daniel , Tappero Ryan , Nicholas Sarah , Sun Shikuan , Shiba Tomooki , Paraskevoulakos C. , Hyatt Neil C. , Corkhill Claire L.
Published: February 2022

The Fukushima Daiichi accident generated degraded nuclear fuel material, mixed with other reactor components, known as molten core-concrete interaction (MCCI) material. Simulant MCCI material was synthesised, excluding highly radioactive fission products, containing depleted U, and incorporating Ce as a surrogate for Pu. Multi-modal µ-focus X-ray analysis revealed the presence of the expected suite of U-Zr-O containing minerals, in addition to crystalline silicate phases CaSiO3, SiO2-cristobalite and Ce-bearing percleveite, (Ce,Nd)2Si2O7. The formation of perclevite resulted from reaction between the U-Zr-O-depleted Ce-Nd-O melt and the silicate (SiO2) melt. It was determined that the majority of U was present as U4+, whereas Ce was observed to be present as Ce3+, consistent with the highly reducing synthesis conditions. A range of Fe-containing phases characterised by different average oxidation states were identified, and it is hypothesised that their formation induced heterogeneity in the local oxygen potential, influencing the oxidation state of Ce.
Changes in the incidence and prevalence of ischemic stroke and associations with natural disasters: an ecological study in 193 countries
Authors: Huang Kai-Sen , He Ding-Xiu , Tao Qianlan , Wang Yan-Yan , Yang Yong-Qiang , Zhang Biao , Mai Gang , Guha-Sapir Debarati
Published: February 2022

Epidemiological studies have indicated that natural disasters have important impacts on ischemic stroke. This study determined the associations between natural disasters and the incidence and prevalence of ischemic stroke at the global level. A 28-year ecological trend study was performed to estimate worldwide changes in the incidence and prevalence of ischemic stroke and their associations with natural disasters by analyzing data from 193 countries. Quantum geographic information system-based visualization and multivariable linear regression were used. Changes in the incidence and prevalence of ischemic stroke, as well as disaster occurrence, varied among the different regions over the past 28 years (p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression revealed an independent and positive association between disaster occurrence and the incidence of ischemic stroke in males, females and both sexes combined (standardized coefficients = 0.515, 0.470 and 0.483, p < 0.001); similar associations were found for the prevalence of ischemic stroke (standardized coefficients = 0.471, 0.417 and 0.438, p < 0.001). The incidence and prevalence of ischemic stroke changed significantly at the global level and were independently associated with natural disasters. Both males and females show common but different vulnerabilities to natural disasters. This evidence supports policy making and resource allocation for disaster response and disease burden reduction.
Effective deep learning approaches for predicting COVID-19 outcomes from chest computed tomography volumes
Authors: Ortiz Anthony , Trivedi Anusua , Desbiens Jocelyn , Blazes Marian , Robinson Caleb , Gupta Sunil , Dodhia Rahul , Bhatraju Pavan K. , Liles W. Conrad , Lee Aaron , Ferres Juan M. Lavista
Published: February 2022

The rapid evolution of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in an urgent need for effective clinical tools to reduce transmission and manage severe illness. Numerous teams are quickly developing artificial intelligence approaches to these problems, including using deep learning to predict COVID-19 diagnosis and prognosis from chest computed tomography (CT) imaging data. In this work, we assess the value of aggregated chest CT data for COVID-19 prognosis compared to clinical metadata alone. We develop a novel patient-level algorithm to aggregate the chest CT volume into a 2D representation that can be easily integrated with clinical metadata to distinguish COVID-19 pneumonia from chest CT volumes from healthy participants and participants with other viral pneumonia. Furthermore, we present a multitask model for joint segmentation of different classes of pulmonary lesions present in COVID-19 infected lungs that can outperform individual segmentation models for each task. We directly compare this multitask segmentation approach to combining feature-agnostic volumetric CT classification feature maps with clinical metadata for predicting mortality. We show that the combination of features derived from the chest CT volumes improve the AUC performance to 0.80 from the 0.52 obtained by using patients’ clinical data alone. These approaches enable the automated extraction of clinically relevant features from chest CT volumes for risk stratification of COVID-19 patients.
Enhanced quantitative method for the diagnosis of grade 1 cardiac amyloidosis in 99mTc-DPD scintigraphy
Authors: Mallón Araujo María del Carmen , Abou Jokh Casas Estephany , Abou Jokh Casas Charigan , Aguiar Fernández Pablo , Martínez Monzonís María Amparo , Sopeña Pérez-Argüelles Bernardo , Pubul Núñez Virginia
Published: February 2022

The lack of a standardized cut-off value in the quantitative method and an inter-observer disagreement in the evaluation of the semiquantitative score in 99mTc-DPD scintigraphy leaves several patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA) undiagnosed (grade 1 and H/CL: 1–1.49). This study aims to increase diagnostic productivity of 99mTc-DPD scintigraphy in CA. This is a retrospective study of 170 patients with suspicion of CA. A total of 81 (47.6%) were classified as transthyretin CA (TTR-CA) and 9 (5.3%) as light-chain CA (LC-CA) applying the visual score. An enhanced quantitative method and cut-off point were attempted to reclassify inconclusive patients and reduce inter-observer variability. Applying the proposed quantitative method, of the 19 patients with grade 1 uptake, 2 became grade 0 (none-CA), 2 were reclassified as grade 3 (TTR-CA), and 2 were regrouped as grade 2 (1 TTR-CA and 1 LC-CA). Adjusting the quantitative method’s cut-off value to 1.3, four patients previously inconclusive were reclassified as TTR-CA, the diagnosis was confirmed in 3 and rejected in 1. When a 1.3 threshold is compared to 1.5, the sensitivity increases to 94% without reducing its specificity. The quantitative method improves the visual interpretation, reclassifying doubtful cases. The optimization of the cut-off value from 1.5 to 1.3 reclassifies a higher percentage of patients as TTR-CA with a higher sensitivity without reducing its specificity.
Comprehensive characterization and molecular insights into the salt tolerance of a Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase from an Indian Mangrove, Avicennia marina
Authors: Sarkar Rajat Kanti , Bhowmik Moumita , Biswas Sarkar Moumita , Sircar Gaurab , Bhattacharya Kashinath
Published: February 2022

Superoxide dismutases are important group of antioxidant metallozyme and play important role in ROS homeostasis in salinity stress. The present study reports the biochemical properties of a salt-tolerant Cu, Zn-superoxide from Avicennia marina (Am_SOD). Am_SOD was purified from the leaf and identified by mass-spectrometry. Recombinant Am_SOD cDNA was bacterially expressed as a homodimeric protein. Enzyme kinetics revealed a high substrate affinity and specific activity of Am_SOD as compared to many earlier reported SODs. An electronic transition in 360–400 nm spectra of Am_SOD is indicative of Cu2+-binding. Am_SOD activity was potentially inhibited by diethyldithiocarbamate and H2O2, a characteristic of Cu, Zn-SOD. Am_SOD exhibited conformational and functional stability at high NaCl concentration as well in alkaline pH. Introgression of Am_SOD in E. coli conferred tolerance to oxidative stress under highly saline condition. Am_SOD was moderately thermostable and retained functional activity at ~ 60 °C. In-silico analyses revealed 5 solvent-accessible N-terminal residues of Am_SOD that were less hydrophobic than those at similar positions of non-halophilic SODs. Substituting these 5 residues with non-halophilic counterparts resulted in > 50% reduction in salt-tolerance of Am_SOD. This indicates a cumulative role of these residues in maintaining low surface hydrophobicity of Am_SOD and consequently high salt tolerance. The molecular information on antioxidant activity and salt-tolerance of Am_SOD may have potential application in biotechnology research. To our knowledge, this is the first report on salt-tolerant SOD from mangrove.
Mid-wall striae fibrosis predicts heart failure admission, composite heart failure events, and life-threatening arrhythmias in dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Purmah Yanish , Cornhill Aidan , Lei Lucy Y. , Dykstra Steven , Mikami Yoko , Satriano Alessandro , Labib Dina , Flewitt Jacqueline , Rivest Sandra , Sandonato Rosa , Seib Michelle , Howarth Andrew G. , Lydell Carmen P. , Heydari Bobak , Merchant Naeem , Bristow Michael , Kolman Louis , Fine Nowell M. , White James A.
Published: February 2022

Heart failure (HF) admission is a dominant contributor to morbidity and healthcare costs in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Mid-wall striae (MWS) fibrosis by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) imaging has been associated with elevated arrhythmia risk. However, its capacity to predict HF-specific outcomes is poorly defined. We investigated its role to predict HF admission and relevant secondary outcomes in a large cohort of DCM patients. 719 patients referred for LGE MRI assessment of DCM were enrolled and followed for clinical events. Standardized image analyses and interpretations were conducted inclusive of coding the presence and patterns of fibrosis observed by LGE imaging. The primary clinical outcome was hospital admission for decompensated HF. Secondary heart failure and arrhythmic composite endpoints were also studied. Median age was 57 (IQR 47–65) years and median LVEF 40% (IQR 29–47%). Any fibrosis was observed in 228 patients (32%) with MWS fibrosis pattern present in 178 (25%). At a median follow up of 1044 days, 104 (15%) patients experienced the primary outcome, and 127 (18%) the secondary outcome. MWS was associated with a 2.14-fold risk of the primary outcome, 2.15-fold risk of the secondary HF outcome, and 2.23-fold risk of the secondary arrhythmic outcome. Multivariable analysis adjusting for all relevant covariates, inclusive of LVEF, showed patients with MWS fibrosis to experience a 1.65-fold increased risk (95% CI 1.11–2.47) of HF admission and 1-year event rate of 12% versus 7% without this phenotypic marker. Similar findings were observed for the secondary outcomes. Patients with LVEF > 35% plus MWS fibrosis experienced similar event rates to those with LVEF ≤ 35%. MWS fibrosis is a powerful and independent predictor of clinical outcomes in patients with DCM, identifying patients with LVEF > 35% who experience similar event rates to those with LVEF below this conventionally employed high-risk phenotype threshold.
Efficacy and safety of activated prothrombin complex concentrate for the reversal of vitamin K antagonist major bleeding
Authors: Sheikh-Taha Marwan , Crawley R. Monroe
Published: February 2022

Data on the use of activated prothrombin complex concentrate (aPCC) for the management of warfarin associated major bleeding is sparse. The objective of the study was to assess the achievement of effective clinical hemostasis using aPCC in patients presenting with major bleeding while on warfarin. We also assessed the safety of the drug. This retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary care teaching center in the USA where patients with major bleeding while receiving warfarin, and received aPCC were included. Efficacy of aPCC in achieving effective hemostasis was assessed according to the International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis Scientific and Standardization Subcommittee criteria. Efficacy was also assessed by achieving INR < 1.5 after treatment. The primary safety endpoint was the occurrence of any thromboembolic complications. A total of 67 patients were included in the study. The most common site for bleeding was intracerebral hemorrhage (n = 37, 55.2%), followed by gastrointestinal bleed (n = 26, 38.8%). Clinical hemostasis was achieved in 46 (68.7%) patients and of the 21 (31.3%) patients who did not achieve clinical hemostasis, 16 died. Thirty nine (58.2%) patients achieved INR < 1.5. Five (7.5%) patients developed thromboembolic complications. This study suggests that the use of aPCCs is effective in achieving effective hemostasis in patients on warfarin presenting with major bleeding.
Conducting and characterizing femto flow electrospray ionization
Authors: Li Huishan , Allen Nicholas , Li Mengtian , Li Anyin
Published: February 2022

A submicron emitter tip and relay ESI configuration enable the measurement of the ESI flow rate in the femto liter per minute (fL min−1) range.
ATP synthase: a moonlighting enzyme with unprecedented functions
Authors: Vigneau Jean-Nicolas , Fahimi Peyman , Ebert Maximilian , Cheng Youji , Tannahill Connor , Muir Paul , Nguyen-Dang Thanh-Tung , Matta Chérif F.
Published: February 2022

Novel roles of ATP synthase above and beyond catalysis: a direct participant in energy transduction due to its intrinsic electric field/electrostatic potential.
Hexamethyldisilazane-assisted Mn2+ doping of perovskite nanocrystals under ambient conditions
Authors: Hu Kaiwen , Hu Yongfei , Li Tan , Qiao Fen , Chen Yunxia , Han Jianjun , Li Lee , Ali Ghafar , Xie Yi
Published: February 2022

Mn2+ doping into lead halide perovskite nanocrystals via a hexamethyldisilazane-assisted procedure under ambient conditions to tune the optical properties.
The fate of molecular excited states: modeling donor–acceptor dyes
Authors: Giavazzi D. , Di Maiolo F. , Painelli A.
Published: February 2022

The relaxation of a coherently excited molecule with explicit vibrational modes is described in the Redfield approximation to recover the Kasha rule.
Liquid metals: an ideal platform for the synthesis of two-dimensional materials
Authors: Aukarasereenont Patjaree , Goff Abigail , Nguyen Chung Kim , McConville Chris F. , Elbourne Aaron , Zavabeti Ali , Daeneke Torben
Published: February 2022

This tutorial review describes recently developed methods for the growth of two-dimensional materials using liquid-metal based synthesis approaches. The integration of these materials and their potential applications are also reviewed and discussed.
Experimental and theoretical insights into Co–Ln magnetic exchange and the rare slow-magnetic relaxation behavior of [CoII2Pr]2+ in a series of linear [CoII2Ln]2+ complexes
Authors: Ahmed Naushad , Uddin Ansari Kamal
Published: February 2022

A series of near-linear CoII–Ln–CoII complexes are synthesized, and their experimental static and dynamic magnetic behavior is investigated. SMM behavior is observed for Co2Pr, which is rare. The experimental findings are further rationalized using theoretical studies.
Metalloligand-based coordination polymer embedding the nitrosyl ruthenium complex for photoactive materials with bound nitric oxide
Authors: Vorobyev Vasily , Cheplakova Anastasia M. , Stolyarova Elena D. , Komarov Vladislav Yu. , Kostin Gennadiy A.
Published: February 2022

Incorporation of a ruthenium nitrosyl complex with isonicotinic acid into a zinc-based metal–organic network offers stabilization of the oxygen-coordinated photo-generated ruthenium isonitrosyl states.
Pyrene-based fluorescent Ru(ii)-arene complexes for significant biological applications: catalytic potential, DNA/protein binding, two photon cell imaging andin vitrocytotoxicity
Authors: Pragti  , Kundu Bidyut Kumar , Upadhyay Shrish Nath , Sinha Nilima , Ganguly Rakesh , Grabchev Ivo , Pakhira Srimanta , Mukhopadhyay Suman
Published: February 2022

Pyrene-based fluorescent Ru(ii)-arene complexes modulate the cell redox balance to provide a novel chemotherapeutic direction.
Understanding the magnetic anisotropy for linear sandwich [Er(COT)]+-based compounds: a theoretical investigation
Authors: Ding Man-Man , Shang Tao , Hu Rui , Zhang Yi-Quan
Published: February 2022

High axial symmetry is also preferable for prolate shaped ErIII to behave as a high-performance SIM. A medium ligand ring of benzene is preferable for prolate shaped ErIII ion, which can induce the modest energy splitting and the small TA-QTM.
Insight into natural medium remediation through ecotoxicity correlation with clay catalyst selectivity in organic molecule ozonation
Authors: Benghaffour Amina , Foka-Wembe Eric-Noel , Dami Maroua , Dewez David , Azzouz Abdelkrim
Published: February 2022

The oxidative degradation of diazinon (DAZ) and diclofenac sodium (DCF) in aqueous media was comparatively investigated and correlated with the mortality ofArtemia salinain the presence of clay catalysts.
High pressure synthesis and the valence state of vanadium ions for the novel transition metal pernitride, CuAl2-type VN2
Authors: Asano Shuto , Niwa Ken , Sasaki Takuya , Gaida Nico Alexander , Hasegawa Masashi
Published: February 2022

We report the first synthesis of CuAl2-type VN2 and experimental investigation of the valence state for vanadium ions in VN2.
Pb2Al2B3O8F3: structure and properties of a new fluoroaluminoborate with non-traditional chain-like B3O8 groups
Authors: Jiang Bao , Shu Shan , Yang Zhihua , Zhang Fangfang , Zhang Min , Pan Shilie
Published: February 2022

Pb2Al2B3O8F3 has finite chain-like [B3O8]7− groups, which enriches the structural chemistry of borates. Calculations show that Pb2Al2B3O8F3 has moderate birefringence, and it also has a short UV cutoff edge and a large band gap.
Energetic structure of Sm3+ luminescence centers in Sr2TiO4
Authors: Szczodrowski K. , Górecka N. , Tojek M. , Lazarowska A. , Majewska N. , Mahlik S.
Published: February 2022

Presence of two Sm luminescent centres as a result of different compensation mechanisms in matrix characterized by only one crystallographic site of Sr. Values of energy gap and 4f transitions allow us to determine energetic structure of the system.
Which factors govern the adsorption of peptides to Zr(iv)-based metal–organic frameworks?
Authors: Loosen Alexandra , de Azambuja Francisco , Parac-Vogt Tatjana N.
Published: February 2022

An adsorption study of dipeptides onto different Zr-based metal–organic frameworks (Zr-MOF) unravelled key parameters affecting peptide-MOF interactions in aqueous conditions, and provides unique molecular insights for future designs.
Design of primary amine-functionalized polymer containing chiral isosorbide in the main chain for the asymmetric synthesis of isoquinuclidine derivatives
Authors: Hiba K. , Sreekumar K.
Published: February 2022

A novel isosorbide containing primary amine-functionalized chiral polymer was synthesized and used as the catalyst for the asymmetric synthesis of isoquinuclidines.
Enantioselective synthesis of 2-indolyl methanamine derivatives through disulfonimide-catalyzed Friedel–Crafts C2-alkylation of 3-substituted indoles with imines
Authors: Sun Peng , Jia Zi-Hao , Tang Li , Zheng Hao , Li Zhang-Rui , Chen Ling-Yan , Li Ya
Published: February 2022

A BINOL-derived disulfonimides (DSIs) catalyzed asymmetric Friedel-Crafts C2-alkylation between 3-substituted indoles and imines has been developed. A series of 2-indolyl methanamine derivatives was obtained in good yields and enantioselectivities.
Importance of Ile71 in β-actin on histidine methyltransferase SETD3 catalysis
Authors: Bilgin Nurgül , Moesgaard Laust , Maas Marijn N. , Hintzen Jordi C. J. , Witecka Apolonia , Drozak Jakub , Kongsted Jacob , Mecinović Jasmin
Published: February 2022

Human histidine methyltransferase SETD3 possesses a ‘secondary’ Ile71 binding site that modulates the methylation of His73 in β-actin.
Label-free focusing of viral particles under a temperature gradient coupled with continuous swirling flow
Authors: Luo Danli , Zhao Chao , Xue Guanyang , Cao Zhibo , Oztekin Alparslan , Cheng Xuanhong
Published: February 2022

A microfluidic device employing a temperature field and engineered swirling is shown to enrich nanoparticles and virus under continuous flow.
Synergistic effect of Co catalysts with atomically dispersed CoNx active sites on ammonia borane hydrolysis for hydrogen generation
Authors: Poon Pui-Ching , Wang Yuanhao , Li Weiqun , Suen Dawson Wai-Shun , Lam William Wai Yan , Yap Denise Zi Jing , Mehdi B. Layla , Qi Jun , Lu Xiao-Ying , Wong Eugene Yin Cheung , Yang Chunzhen , Tsang Chi-Wing
Published: February 2022

CNTs that consist of Co nanoparticles and atomically-dispersed Co atoms efficiently generate hydrogen from AB at a rate of 7833 mLH2 gCo−1 min−1.
A spatially efficient “tube-in-tube” hybrid for durable sulfur electrochemistry
Authors: Tong Zhaoming , Huang Liang , Guo Junyan , Zhang Haijun , Jia Quanli , Li Gaoran , Lei Wen , Shao Huaiyu , Zhang Shaowei
Published: February 2022

A spatially efficient “tube-in-tube” carbonaceous host decorated with defective metallic nitride nanoparticles (Fe2N1−x-NCT) is constructed to alleviate the insufficient sulfur utilization and inferior cycling issues of lithium sulfur batteries.
Role of pO2 and film microstructure on the memristive properties of La2NiO4+δ/LaNiO3−δ bilayers
Authors: Maas Klaasjan , Wulles Chloé , Caicedo Roque Jose Manuel , Ballesteros Belén , Lafarge Valentin , Santiso José , Burriel Mónica
Published: February 2022

In mixed-conducting LaNiO3−δ/La2NiO4+δ bilayers the deposition conditions determine the film microstructure and the oxygen defect concentration at the interface (and ) building up an electronic barrier which induces a memristive behavior.
Ferroic phase transition molecular crystals
Authors: Han Xiang-Bin , Chai Chao-Yang , Liang Bei-Dou , Fan Chang-Chun , Zhang Wen
Published: February 2022

Recent developments in ferroic phase transition molecular crystals (ferroelectrics, ferroelastics, and multiferroics) are highlighted.
High-efficiency counter electrodes for quantum dot–sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs): designing graphene-supported CuCo2O4 porous hollow microspheres with improved electron transport performance
Authors: Zhang Qiu , Zhang Tingting , Wang Libo , Li Fengyan , Xu Lin
Published: February 2022

In QDSSCs, the optimized CuCo2O4/RGO12 counter electrode achieved a PCE of 7.04%, which is higher than the conversion efficiencies of many CdS/CdSe-sensitized QDSSCs that have been reported.
Underwater image enhancement with latent consistency learning‐based color transfer
Authors: Yang Hua , Tian Fei , Qi Qi , Wu Q. M. Jonathan , Li Kunqian
Published: February 2022

Due to the inevitable wavelength‐dependent light absorption and forward/backward scattering, underwater images usually suffer severe color distortion and are hazy. It has become quite necessary to improve the visual quality of underwater images for both underwater observation and operation. Traditional enhancement methods and existing deep learning‐based approaches to underwater image enhancement usually produce unsatisfactory results for photographs taken in complicated, wild underwater scenes. In such scenes, complex and diverse degradation‐enhancement mappings are often difficult to model, especially since there are very limited samples available for learning. Inspired by the success of color‐transfer techniques, it is found that clear template image‐assisted color transfer is a promising strategy for underwater image enhancement, including not only color correction but also contrast and visibility improvement. Therefore, instead of directly learning the complex deep enhancement models, it is proposed to select proper color‐transfer templates by learning the latent consistency between the templates and the raw underwater images. The proposed new enhancement strategy alleviates the problem caused by incomplete color‐correction models and provides more stable enhancements by utilizing color transfer with consideration of global color distribution consistency and local visual contrast. Comprehensive experiments conducted on UIEB, RUIE, URPC and SQUID datasets demonstrate the good performance and great potential of the proposed new underwater image enhancement strategy.
Lessening gap loss concentration problems in nanocrystalline cores by alloy gap replacement
Authors: Guo Xuan , Ran Li , Tavner Peter
Published: February 2022

A simple method is proposed here to improve the gap loss concentration problem of a nanocrystalline core in an LCL filter inductor for high switching frequency converters using SiC devices. This alloy‐gapped inductor design aims to reach two primary goals. First, to reduce the concentrated gap loss in a nanocrystalline core. Second, decrease the maximum temperature around the gap region and lead to more even temperature distribution. A finite element (FE) power loss and thermal models, validated by experiment, have been created to evaluate the proposed design. Based on the FE model results, the eddy current loss on the surfaces, which used to have the most severe gap loss is reduced by either 70% or 40% for the two commonly used winding placements. The total eddy current loss can be reduced by 29% and 27% for those two winding placements. In addition, FEA thermal model indicates that the hotspot temperature can be significantly decreased, and the nanocrystalline core can achieve a more uniform temperature distribution by this design, which can be a potential downsize method for the nanocrystalline core inductor.
Precarious Employment amongst Low Income Single Mothers in Malaysia: The Implications on Family Wellbeing
Authors: Md Nor Zarina
Published: February 2022

Single motherhood has been well documented to have adverse impacts on financial wellbeing and they are prone to fall into poverty trap. In Malaysia, the term single mother generally refers to widowed and divorced mothers. Income earned from employment is one of the main sources of livelihood for single mothers, which is sometimes supplemented by child support and other transfers such as pension, welfare assistance, tithe (zakat) and hands out. The types of employment held by low income single mothers are rather limited due to their level of educational attainment, locality, mobility and childcare responsibility. These barriers seem to restrict their work choices and they have to find ways around it, usually by entering informal employment or self-employment sectors. This study discusses employment characteristics of single mothers from the lowest quantile of the society. It is important to explore this issue as these mothers are likely raising their children in constant hardship. This study employs a qualitative quest to gain a deeper understanding of this issue. The respondents of this study come from different states in Peninsular Malaysia. Upon completion of this study, we could suggest that precarious employment of single mothers posed a real threat for the wellbeing of their family. Those involved in informal sectors are the most vulnerable. Without a proper employment contract as in formal sectors, they have no work benefits or protection against unforeseen circumstances. Insufficient and irregular income worry them endlessly as the survival of their family is at stake. Moreover, worries about financial situations could also lead to other health concerns. The findings of this study emphasize the urgency of government intervention that is well planned and targeted. The society at large should also be more sensitive and empathetic towards single mothers and their children. Indeed, children living in poverty should not be tolerated at all.
MRT der Hand
Authors: von Falck Christian
Published: February 2022

Die Hand ist eine komplexe anatomische Region, in der verschiedene Strukturen und
Gewebe auf engem Raum zusammenliegen und ein funktionell wichtiges Tast- und
Greiforgan bilden. Dementsprechend vielgestaltig sind auch die Krankheitsbilder,
die in dieser Region auftreten können. Die MRT bietet die Möglichkeit, eine
Vielzahl pathologischer Veränderungen an der Hand zu erkennen.
An Update on Laboratory Diagnostics in Haemophilia A and B
Authors: Müller Jens , Miesbach Wolfgang , Prüller Florian , Siegemund Thomas , Scholz Ute , Sachs Ulrich J. ,   Standing Commission Labor (STAEKOLA) of the Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis Research (GTH)
Published: February 2022

Haemophilia A (HA) and B (HB) are X-linked hereditary bleeding disorders caused by lack of activity of coagulation factors VIII (FVIII) or IX (FIX), respectively. Besides conventional products, modern replacement therapies include FVIII or FIX concentrates with an extended half-life (EHL-FVIII/FIX). Two main strategies for measuring plasma FVIII or FIX activity are applied: the one-stage clotting assay (OSCA) and the chromogenic substrate assay (CSA), both calibrated against plasma (FVIII/FIX) standards. Due to the structural modifications of EHL-FVIII/FIX, reagent-dependent assay discrepancies have been described when measuring the activity of these molecules. Assay discrepancies have also been observed in FVIII/FIX gene therapy approaches. On the other hand, nonfactor replacement by the bispecific antibody emicizumab, a FVIIIa-mimicking molecule, artificially shortens activated partial thromboplastin time–based clotting times, making standard OSCAs inapplicable for analysis of samples from patients treated with this drug. In this review, we aim to give an overview on both, the currently applied and future therapies in HA and HB with or without inhibitors and corresponding test systems suitable for accompanying diagnostics.
Entzündliche und infektiöse Erkrankungen der Lunge und Pleura bei Kindern und Jugendlichen
Authors: Baldes Natalie , Bölükbas Servet
Published: February 2022

Entzündliche Erkrankungen der Lunge und Pleura bei Kindern und Jugendlichen umfassen ein weites Spektrum von der komplizierten Pneumonie, der Tuberkulose, Mykosen bis hin zur Echinokokkose. Die Häufigkeit hängt stark von der geografischen Herkunft ab. Diese Übersichtsarbeit gibt einen Überblick von der Diagnostik bis hin zur chirurgischen Therapie dieser Erkrankungen beim pädiatrischen Kollektiv.
The Spectrum of Histomorphological Changes and Pathological Tumor Response following Preoperative Oral Metronomic Chemotherapy in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Aravind Sithara , Jose Jasmin , Shenoy Praveen Kumar , Avaronnan Manuprasad , Thavarool Sajith Babu , Nayanar Sangeetha K.
Published: February 2022

Background Oral metronomic chemotherapy (OMCT) represents an emerging concept in cancer treatment involving frequent administration of chemotherapeutic drugs at doses below maximum tolerated doses and with no prolonged drug-free break. OMCT is being tried preoperatively in developing nations with constrained resources to prevent disease progression during the waiting period from diagnosis to surgery (bridge OMCT). The aim of the present study was to assess the spectrum of histomorphological changes and pathological tumor response following bridge OMCT in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to propose a new pathological response scoring system.

Materials and Methods A retrospective single-center study comprised of tissue sections of tumor proper and metastatic lymph nodes of 50, locally advanced OSCC patients treated with bridge OMCT, and had completed definitive surgery were analyzed. The present study evaluated the histomorphological features and proposed a new scoring system for pathologic tumor response. The pathologic tumor response was categorized as complete response (pCR), no response (pNR), and partial response (pPR).

Results Of the total 50 patients, 2 patients had pCR, 3 had pNR, and 45 patients had pPR as per the new proposed scoring system. Note that 96% of the cases showed no disease progression.

Conclusion Bridge OMCT is a novel treatment method that can be used to tide over the waiting period between the diagnosis and surgery in resource-constrained institutions with heavy patient load. This mode of treatment in locally advanced OSCC seems to provide promising results in this setting. Large multicentric trials are warranted to confirm these results.
Sc(OTf)3-Catalyzed [3+2]-Cycloaddition of Diazoacetoacetate Enones and N-Aryl Nitrones: Diastereoselective Synthesis of Functionalized Isoxazolidines with Three Contiguous Stereogenic Centers
Authors: Xu Xichen , Zhao Yingjun , Wu Di
Published: February 2022

A catalytic [3+2]-cycloaddition using Sc(OTf)3 as a Lewis acid catalyst is developed. This catalytic 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition dia­stereoselectively transforms diazoacetoacetate enones and N-aryl nitrones into highly functionalized isoxazolidines bearing three contiguous chiral centers. The feasibility of the uncatalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition is postulated by DFT calculations and substantiated experimentally.
Aortic Thrombosis following COVID-19: A Systematic Review
Authors: Petrov Asen , De Glee Romera Juan Pablo , Wilbring Manuel , Alexiou Konstantin , Kappert Utz , Matschke Klaus Ehrhard , Tugtekin Sems-Malte
Published: February 2022

Background Arterial and venous thromboses associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been well described. These events are caused by a hypercoagulable state due to endotheliopathy and infection-driven coagulopathy. There has been an ever-increasing number of documented cases of aortic thrombosis (AoT) in COVID-19 patients. We conducted a systematic review of current scientific literature to identify and consolidate evidence of AoT in COVID-19 patients.

Methods A systematic review of literature was conducted between March 15, 2020, and May 1, 2021, on PubMed and Cochrane databases. Additionally, a case from our facility was included.

Results A total of 38 studies (12 case series and 26 case reports) and a case from our facility describing AoT in 56 COVID-19 patients were included. Patients were aged 64.8 ± 10.5 years, were predominantly male (75%), and had several comorbidities. AoT was symptomatic in 82,14% of patients; however, when D dimers were reported, they were significantly elevated even in otherwise asymptomatic patients. Most patients had no previous history of aortic disease. Thrombosis was described in all parts of the aorta, with several cases reporting multiple locations. The median reported time until development of AoT was 10 days. Peripheral thrombosis occurred in 73.21% of cases, most commonly causing lower limb ischemia. Mortality rate was 30.4%.

Conclusions AoT can occur with no clinical symptoms or as a primary symptom in otherwise asymptomatic COVID-19 patients. D dimers are a highly sensitive diagnostic tool. Diagnosis of this condition prior to development of complications could be instrumental in saving many lives.