bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A simple prediction model of hyperuricemia for use in a rural setting
Authors: Shi Jia-Cheng , Chen Xiao-Huan , Yang Qiong , Wang Cai-Mei , Huang Qian , Shen Yan-Ming , Yu Jian
Published: December 2021

Currently, the most widely used screening methods for hyperuricemia (HUA) involves invasive laboratory tests, which are lacking in many rural hospitals in China. This study explored the use of non-invasive physical examinations to construct a simple prediction model for HUA, in order to reduce the economic burden and invasive operations such as blood sampling, and provide some help for the health management of people in poor areas with backward medical resources. Data of 9252 adults from April to June 2017 in the Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical College were collected and divided randomly into a training set (n = 6364) and a validation set (n = 2888) at a ratio of 7:3. In the training set, non-invasive physical examination indicators of age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and prevalence of hypertension were included for logistic regression analysis, and a nomogram model was established. The classification and regression tree (CART) algorithm of the decision tree model was used to build a classification tree model. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve and decision curve analyses (DCA) were used to test the distinction, accuracy and clinical applicability of the two models. The results showed age, gender, BMI and prevalence of hypertension were all related to the occurrence of HUA. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the nomogram model was 0.806 and 0.791 in training set and validation set, respectively. The AUC of the classification tree model was 0.802 and 0.794 in the two sets, respectively, but were not statistically different. The calibration curves and DCAs of the two models performed well on accuracy and clinical practicality, which suggested these models may be suitable to predict HUA for rural setting.
Temperature-dependent modelling and spatial prediction reveal suitable geographical areas for deployment of two Metarhizium anisopliae isolates for Tuta absoluta management
Authors: Agbessenou Ayaovi , Akutse Komivi S. , Yusuf Abdullahi A. , Wekesa Sospeter W. , Khamis Fathiya M.
Published: December 2021

Tuta absoluta is one of the most devastating pests of Solanaceae crops in Africa. We previously demonstrated the efficacy of Metarhizium anisopliae isolates ICIPE 18, ICIPE 20 and ICIPE 665 against adult T. absoluta. However, adequate strain selection and accurate spatial prediction are fundamental to optimize their efficacy and formulations before field deployment. This study therefore assessed the thermotolerance, conidial yield and virulence (between 15 and 35 °C) of these potent isolates. Over 90% of conidia germinated at 20, 25 and 30 °C while no germination occurred at 15 °C. Growth of the three isolates occurred at all temperatures, but was slower at 15, 33 and 35 °C as compared to 20, 25 and 30 °C. Optimum temperatures for mycelial growth and spore production were 30 and 25 °C, respectively. Furthermore, ICIPE 18 produced higher amount of spores than ICIPE 20 and ICIPE 665. The highest mortality occurred at 30 °C for all the three isolates, while the LT50 values of ICIPE 18 and ICIPE 20 were significantly lower at 25 and 30 °C compared to those of ICIPE 665. Subsequently, several nonlinear equations were fitted to the mortality data to model the virulence of ICIPE 18 and ICIPE 20 against adult T. absoluta using the Entomopathogenic Fungi Application (EPFA) software. Spatial prediction revealed suitable locations for ICIPE 18 and ICIPE 20 deployment against T. absoluta in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Our findings suggest that ICIPE 18 and ICIPE 20 could be considered as effective candidate biopesticides for an improved T. absoluta management based on temperature and location-specific approach.
Wideband and high-order microwave vortex-beam launcher based on spoof surface plasmon polaritons
Authors: Zhang Lei , Deng Min , Li Weiwen , Yang Guang , Ye Longfang
Published: December 2021

The electromagnetic vortex carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM), which is first studied at optical frequency, has begun to attract widespread attention in the field of radio-frequency/microwave. However, for the OAM mode generated by traditional single antennas, there are problems such as low order and narrow bandwidth, and complex structures such as dual-fed networks may be required. In this paper, based on spoof surface plasmon polariton (SSPP) mode leaky-wave antenna, a single-port traveling-wave ring is proposed to radiate high-order OAM modes working near the cut-off frequency of SSPP state. The achieved 12-order OAM mode within 9.1–10.1 GHz (relative bandwidth of 10.4%) has the main radiation direction close to the antenna surface, forming a plane spiral OAM (PSOAM) wave, which reduces the requirements for mode purity in practical applications. This SSPP ring using periodic units as radiating elements can be an effective radiator for broadband and large-capacity OAM multiplexing communications. The structural characteristics of single feed contribute to the integration of microwave circuits.
The electronic properties of SrTiO3-δ with oxygen vacancies or substitutions
Authors: Rusevich L. L. , Tyunina M. , Kotomin E. A. , Nepomniashchaia N. , Dejneka A.
Published: December 2021

The electronic properties, including bandgap and conductivity, are critical for nearly all applications of multifunctional perovskite oxide ferroelectrics. Here we analysed possibility to induce semiconductor behaviour in these materials, which are basically insulators, by replacement of several percent of oxygen atoms with nitrogen, hydrogen, or vacancies. We explored this approach for one of the best studied members of the large family of ABO3 perovskite ferroelectrics — strontium titanate (SrTiO3). The atomic and electronic structure of defects were theoretically investigated using the large-scale first-principles calculations for both bulk crystal and thin films. The results of calculations were experimentally verified by studies of the optical properties at photon energies from 25 meV to 8.8 eV for in-situ prepared thin films. It was demonstrated that substitutions and vacancies prefer locations at surfaces or phase boundaries over those inside crystallites. At the same time, local states in the bandgap can be produced by vacancies located both inside the crystals and at the surface, but by nitrogen substitution only inside crystals. Wide-bandgap insulator phases were evidenced for all defects. Compared to pure SrTiO3 films, bandgap widening due to defects was theoretically predicted and experimentally detected.
Deep neural network for the determination of transformed foci in Bhas 42 cell transformation assay
Authors: Masumoto Minami , Fukuda Ittetsu , Furihata Suguru , Arai Takahiro , Kageyama Tatsuto , Ohmori Kiyomi , Shirakawa Shinichi , Fukuda Junji
Published: December 2021

Bhas 42 cell transformation assay (CTA) has been used to estimate the carcinogenic potential of chemicals by exposing Bhas 42 cells to carcinogenic stimuli to form colonies, referred to as transformed foci, on the confluent monolayer. Transformed foci are classified and quantified by trained experts using morphological criteria. Although the assay has been certified by international validation studies and issued as a guidance document by OECD, this classification process is laborious, time consuming, and subjective. We propose using deep neural network to classify foci more rapidly and objectively. To obtain datasets, Bhas 42 CTA was conducted with a potent tumor promotor, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, and focus images were classified by experts (1405 images in total). The labeled focus images were augmented with random image processing and used to train a convolutional neural network (CNN). The trained CNN exhibited an area under the curve score of 0.95 on a test dataset significantly outperforming conventional classifiers by beginners of focus judgment. The generalization performance of unknown chemicals was assessed by applying CNN to other tumor promotors exhibiting an area under the curve score of 0.87. The CNN-based approach could support the assay for carcinogenicity as a fundamental tool in focus scoring.
Systematic optimization of visible light-induced crosslinking conditions of gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)
Authors: Sharifi Sina , Sharifi Hannah , Akbari Ali , Chodosh James
Published: December 2021

Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) is one of the most widely used photo-crosslinkable biopolymers in tissue engineering. In in presence of an appropriate photoinitiator, the light activation triggers the crosslinking process, which provides shape fidelity and stability at physiological temperature. Although ultraviolet (UV) has been extensively explored for photo-crosslinking, its application has been linked to numerous biosafety concerns, originated from UV phototoxicity. Eosin Y, in combination with TEOA and VC, is a biosafe photoinitiation system that can be activated via visible light instead of UV and bypasses those biosafety concerns; however, the crosslinking system needs fine-tuning and optimization. In order to systematically optimize the crosslinking conditions, we herein independently varied the concentrations of Eosin Y [(EY)], triethanolamine (TEOA), vinyl caprolactam (VC), GelMA precursor, and crosslinking times and assessed the effect of those parameters on the properties the hydrogel. Our data showed that except EY, which exhibited an optimal concentration (~ 0.05 mM), increasing [TEOA], [VA], [GelMA], or crosslinking time improved mechanical (tensile strength/modulus and compressive modulus), adhesion (lap shear strength), swelling, biodegradation properties of the hydrogel. However, increasing the concentrations of crosslinking reagents ([TEOA], [VA], [GelMA]) reduced cell viability in 3-dimensional (3D) cell culture. This study enabled us to optimize the crosslinking conditions to improve the properties of the GelMA hydrogel and to generate a library of hydrogels with defined properties essential for different biomedical applications.
Comparison of methods to experimentally induce opacification and elasticity change in ex vivo porcine lenses
Authors: Ruiss Manuel , Kronschläger Martin , Schlatter Andreas , Dechat Thomas , Findl Oliver
Published: December 2021

At the moment, cataract, which is the opacification of the eye’s lens, can only be treated by surgery. In order to develop and test new pharmacological treatment strategies for the disease, there is a need for an appropriate in vitro model using ex vivo animal lenses. In this study, porcine lenses were incubated in either culture medium, glucose, triamcinolone acetonide, sodium chloride, hydrogen peroxide, sodium selenite, neutral buffered formalin, or were exposed to microwave heating to experimentally induce lens opacification. Changes in the lens morphology, weight, size, and elasticity were monitored 7 days after treatment. The fastest induction of dense opacification was seen in lenses exposed to sodium chloride, neutral buffered formalin, and microwave heating. No change in the size and weight of the lenses were detected, whereas loss in elasticity could be detected in lenses treated with formalin solution or microwave heating. Thus, neutral buffered formalin- and microwave-treated ex vivo porcine lenses seem to be a suitable model for mature cataracts, whereas hypertonic sodium chloride may be useful for studies on osmolarity-induced lens opacification.
Differentiating features of OCT angiography in diabetic macular edema
Authors: Mirshahi Reza , Riazi-Esfahani Hamid , Khalili Pour Elias , Fadakar Kaveh , Yarmohamadi Parsa , Alemzadeh Sayyed Amirpooya , Chaibakhsh Samira , Falavarjani Khalil Ghasemi
Published: December 2021

The purpose of current study was to evaluate different optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) metrics in eyes with diabetic retinopathy with and without diabetic macular edema (DME). In this retrospective study, macular OCTA images of eyes with non-proliferative or proliferative diabetic retinopathy were evaluated. Vascular density, vascular complexity and non-perfusion densities were compared between eyes with and without DME. One-hundred-thirty-eight eyes of 92 diabetic patients including 49 eyes with DME were included. In multivariate analysis, the presence of DME was positively associated with geometric perfusion deficit (GPD) in superficial capillary plexus (SCP), capillary non-perfusion (CNP) of SCP, and GPD in deep capillary plexus (DCP) (all P < 0.05). In eyes with DME, central foveal thickness was associated with VD ratio (SCP/DCP) (P = 0.001) and FAZ area (P = 0.001). In conclusion, in eyes with diabetic retinopathy, the presence of DME was associated with more extensive capillary non-perfusion compared to those with no macular edema.
The dynamicity of light-up aptamers in one-pot in vitro diagnostic assays
Authors: Citartan Marimuthu
Published: December 2021

The direct modulation of a light-up aptamer that engenders an analyte-specific aptamer-light-up aptamer chimera is readily applicable in any diagnostic assay for a targeted detection.
Dual-wavelength electrochemiluminescence ratiometry for hydrogen sulfide detection based on Cd2+-doped g-C3N4 nanosheets
Authors: Cao Jun-Tao , Fu Yi-Zhuo , Fu Xiao-Long , Ren Shu-Wei , Liu Yan-Ming
Published: December 2021

A dual-wavelength ECL ratiometry sensing platform was constructed for H2S detection.
Determination of dopamine based on a temperature-sensitive PMEO2MA and Au@rGO-MWCNT nanocomposite-modified electrode
Authors: Chen Chao , Wang Chenxi , Zhao Pengcheng , Zhang Jin , Ma Dechong , Fei Junjie
Published: December 2021

Reversible, temperature-controlled “on/off” electrochemical behavior of DA at PMEO2MA/Au@rGO-MWCNT composited film.
Synthesis and characterization of ionic liquid microneedle patches with different carbon chain lengths for antibacterial application
Authors: Chao Xuan , Zhang Chu , Li Xiaodan , Lv Hongqian , Ling Guixia , Zhang Peng
Published: December 2021

The synthesis and characterization of ionic liquids and the corresponding microneedle patches with different carbon chain lengths have been reported.
Hypoxia-alleviated sonodynamic therapy based on a hybrid protein oxygen carrier to enhance tumor inhibition
Authors: Yin Ting , Yin Jia , Ran Hui , Ren Yaguang , Lu Chengyu , Liu Lanlan , Shi Qingxia , Qiu Yuzhi , Pan Hong , Ma Aiqing
Published: December 2021

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is a highly attractive therapy due to its advantages of being non-invasive and having good penetration depth, but tumor hypoxia extremely restricts its therapeutic effect.
Radical-induced denitration of N-(p-nitrophenyl)propiolamides coupled with dearomatization: access to phosphonylated/trifluoromethylated azaspiro[4.5]-trienones
Authors: Mo Kangdong , Zhou Xiaocong , Wu Ju , Zhao Yufen
Published: December 2021

Synthesis of azaspiro[4.5]trienones from electron-deficient heteroarenes coupled with a dearomative denitration process.
Cu-mediated vs. Cu-free selective borylation of aryl alkyl sulfones
Authors: Huang Mingming , Tang Man , Hu Jiefeng , Westcott Stephen A. , Radius Udo , Marder Todd B.
Published: December 2021

Borylation of cyclic aryl–alkyl sulfones gives boronate esters by selective cleavage of C(sp2)–SO2 or C(sp3)–SO2 bonds via Cu-mediated or Cu-free processes.
Dramatic differences in the conformational equilibria of chalcogen-bridged compounds: the case of diallyl ether versus diallyl sulfide
Authors: Poonia Tamanna , Silva Weslley G. D. P. , van Wijngaarden Jennifer
Published: December 2021

Rotational spectroscopy and quantum mechanical calculations reveal a significant change in conformational landscapes when oxygen is substituted with sulfur: observation of features from nine conformers of diallylether versus one of the sulfide.
Coexistence of intrinsic room-temperature ferromagnetism and piezoelectricity in monolayer BiCrX3 (X = S, Se, and Te)
Authors: Song Guang , Zhang Chengfeng , Zhang Zhengzhong , Li Guannan , Li Zhongwen , Du Juan , Zhang Bingwen , Huang Xiaokun , Gao Benling
Published: December 2021

BiCrX3 monolayers are robust intrinsic ferromagnetic semiconductors with high Curie temperatures and large in-plane piezoelectric coefficients.
Post-synthetic modifications in porous organic polymers for biomedical and related applications
Authors: Kim Ji Hyeon , Kang Dong Won , Yun Hongyeol , Kang Minjung , Singh Nem , Kim Jong Seung , Hong Chang Seop
Published: December 2021

Porous organic polymers (POPs) are prepared by crosslinked polymerization of multidimensional rigid aromatic building blocks followed by PSM depending on the application.
Water-soluble sulfonated phosphorus(v) corrolazines and porphyrazines: the effect of macrocycle contraction and pyrazine ring fusion on spectral, acid–base and photophysical properties
Authors: Ivanova Svetlana S. , Salnikov Denis S. , Knorr Gleb , Ledovich Olesja , Sliznev Valerij , Kubat Pavel , Novakova Veronika , Stuzhin Pavel A.
Published: December 2021

Water-soluble sulfophenyl substituted P(v) corrolazines are effective photosensitizers in aqueous solutions. Fluorescence quenching accompanying the acid ionization of the central P(OH)2 moiety can be used for the development of pH-sensors.
The ethylene glycol-mediated sol–gel synthesis of nano AlF3: structural and acidic properties after different post treatments
Authors: Mao Wei , Bai Yanbo , Jia Zhaohua , Qin Yue , Wang Bo , Zhang Wei , Lu Jian , Kemnitz Erhard
Published: December 2021

Nano aluminium fluoride with strong Lewis acidity and/or high thermal stability was prepared by an ethylene glycol mediated synthesis protocol.
Nanocellulose enhances the dispersion and toxicity of ZnO NPs to green algae Eremosphaera viridis
Authors: Yin Jianan , Huang Guohe , An Chunjiang , Feng Renfei
Published: December 2021

The presence of nanocellulose reduces the aggregation of ZnO NPs and enhances the bio-uptake of Zn ions to algal cells.
Combination of air/moisture/ambient temperature compatible organolithium chemistry with sustainable solvents: selective and efficient synthesis of guanidines and amidines
Authors: Elorriaga David , Parra-Cadenas Blanca , Antiñolo Antonio , Carrillo-Hermosilla Fernando , García-Álvarez Joaquín
Published: December 2021

Addition of lithium amides (LiNR2) to carbodiimides/nitriles was achieved in sustainable solvents, under air, allowing the synthesis of guanidines/amidines.
Intrinsic doping limitations in inorganic lead halide perovskites
Authors: Sabino Fernando P. , Zunger Alex , Dalpian Gustavo M.
Published: December 2021

Design principles for an effective doping in halide perovskites: DP(i) – shallow transition levels; DP(ii) – pinning of Fermi level in conduction or valence band; DP(iii) – Large doping-induced Fermi level shift towards conduction or valence band.
Metal organic framework/chitosan/polyethylene oxide composite columnar foam as a sorbent for the enrichment and determination of estrogens in environmental aqueous solutions
Authors: Si Huizhong , He Pingping , Wang Xuemei , Li Lin , Hou Xiaohong
Published: December 2021

A MIL-53(Al)/CS/PEO columnar foam was fabricated for the determination of estrogens in larger-volume environmental water samples by VA-SPE and HPLC-FLD.
Synthesis of the new analogs of morpholine and their antiplasmodial evaluation against the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Upadhyay Charu , Sharma Neha , Kumar Sumit , Sharma Prem Prakash , Fontinha Diana , Chhikara Bhupender S. , Mukherjee Budhaditya , Kumar Dhruv , Prudencio Miguel , Singh Agam P. , Poonam
Published: December 2021

A series of morpholine analogs functionalized with hydroxyethylamine (HEA) pharmacophore was synthesized and assayed for the initial screening against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 in culture, which suggested that analog 6k is a hit molecule with an inhibitory concentration of 5.059 ± 0.2036 μM.
A phase transition-induced photocathodic p-CuFeO2 nanocolumnar film by reactive ballistic deposition
Authors: Ramacharyulu P. V. R. K. , Lee Yong Ho , Kawashima Kenta , Youn Duck Hyun , Kim Jun-Hyuk , Wygant Bryan R. , Mullins C. Buddie , Kim Chang Woo
Published: December 2021

Vertical nanocolumnar Cu–Fe–O electrodes synthesized by the reactive ballistic deposition technique followed by heat treatment in an Ar atmosphere undergo a switch for conductivity at elevated temperatures.
Acylpyrazolones possessing a heterocyclic moiety in the acyl fragment: intramolecularvs.intermolecular zwitterionic structures
Authors: Todorova Stanislava E. , Rusew Rusi I. , Petkova Zhanina S. , Shivachev Boris L. , Nikolova Rositsa P. , Kurteva Vanya B.
Published: December 2021

A series of acylpyrazolones possessing a methylene bridged heterocyclic unit in the acyl fragment are synthesized and characterized in solution and the solid state.
Biosynthesis of cyclopropane in natural products
Authors: Ma Suze , Mandalapu Dhanaraju , Wang Shu , Zhang Qi
Published: December 2021

This review discusses the diverse enzymatic pathways in the biosynthesis of cyclopropane, a unique structural motif with important biochemical properties.
Highly sensitive, flexible and biocompatible temperature sensor utilizing ultra-long Au@AgNW-based polymeric nanocomposites
Authors: Kumar Amit , Shaikh Muhammad Omar , Kumar R. K. Rakesh , Dutt Karishma , Pan Cheng-Tang , Chuang Cheng-Hsin
Published: December 2021

Ultralong and biocompatible Au@AgNWs were synthesized and implemented as conductive filler to prepare a flexible and conductive polymeric nanocomposite. A novel temperature sensing mechanism based on the thermosensitive PEG-coated Au@AgNWs has been successfully demonstrated.
Blue light enhanced Heck arylation at room temperature applied to allenes
Authors: Renzi Polyssena , Azzi Emanuele , Bessone Enrico , Ghigo Giovanni , Parisotto Stefano , Pellegrino Francesco , Deagostino Annamaria
Published: December 2021

A blue light enhanced synthesis of 2-vinyl pirrolidines and piperidines through a domino Heck arylation–cyclisation applied to allenyl amines is described. Essential is the role of the light in the aryl migration in the carbo-palladation step.
Metal-free synthesis of N-sulfonylformamidines via skeletal reconstruction of sulfonyl oximonitriles
Authors: Li Feng , Wu Ziyan , Wang Jingjing , Zhang Siyuan , Yu Jiaxin , Yuan Zhen , Liu Jingya , Shen Renzeng , Zhou Yao , Liu Lantao
Published: December 2021

We firstly develop an unprecedented domino reaction of sulfonyl oximonitriles with secondary amines to streamline synthesis of N-sulfonylformamidines in decent to high yields under mild reaction conditions.
Solution combustion synthesis of ternary Ni/WC/C composites with efficient electrocatalytic oxygen reduction performance
Authors: Chen Pengqi , Tai Yunxiao , Fang Qingqing , Xu Dang , Gao Yufei , Cheng Jigui
Published: December 2021

A Ni/WC/C catalyst synthesized via a rapid combustion method showed considerable efficiency in the oxygen reduction reaction. The excellent performance is attributed to a synergistic effect arising from the ternary composite and solution combustion.
A top-down design for easy gram scale synthesis of melem nano rectangular prisms with improved surface area
Authors: Nikookar Mahsa , Rezaeifard Abdolreza , Maasoumeh Jafarpour  , Grzhegorzhevskii Kirill V. , Ostroushko Alexander A.
Published: December 2021

A novel practical method for the gram scale preparation of melem possessing a nano rectangular prism morphology and improved specific surface area through a top-down depolymerization design was developed.
On the icephobicity of damage-tolerant superhydrophobic bulk nanocomposites
Authors: Vazirinasab E. , Maghsoudi K. , Momen G. , Jafari R.
Published: December 2021

Bulk superhydrophobicity/lcephobicity/self-cleaning properties of nanocomposite.
In situ construction of hetero-structured perovskite composites with exsolved Fe and Cu metallic nanoparticles as efficient CO2 reduction electrocatalysts for high performance solid oxide electrolysis cells
Authors: Xi Xiuan , Fan Yun , Zhang Jiujun , Luo Jing-Li , Fu Xian-Zhu
Published: December 2021

Hetero-structured DP/RP-SFCuM perovskite composites with exsolved Fe and Cu metallic nanoparticles exhibit excellent electrochemical performance in CO2 electrolysis reactions for high performance solid oxide electrolysis cells.
Efficient modulation of the catalytic performance of electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction with transition metals anchored on N/O-codoped graphene by coordination engineering
Authors: Wang Xiaolin , Yang Li-Ming
Published: December 2021

Several efficient catalysts for eNRR from a large family of transition metal anchored N/O-codoped graphene were uncovered via coordination engineering, high-throughput screening and first-principles calculations.
Non-lithium-based metal ion capacitors: recent advances and perspectives
Authors: Nagamuthu Sadayappan , Zhang Yamin , Xu Yan , Sun Jinfeng , Zhang Yamin , Zaman Fakhr uz , Denis Dienguila Kionga , Hou Linrui , Yuan Changzhou
Published: December 2021

A comprehensive overview of the research progress toward non-lithium metal ion capacitors, including the mechanisms, electrode materials, electrolytes, and novel device designs, is presented with further perspectives.
Triplet harvesting aryl carbonyl-based luminescent materials: progress and prospective
Authors: Chen Lifen , Chen Wen-Cheng , Yang Zhiwen , Tan Ji-Hua , Ji Shaomin , Zhang Hao-Li , Huo Yanping , Lee Chun-Sing
Published: December 2021

Aryl carbonyl-based triplet harvesting luminescent materials are reviewed, with special focus on their molecular design strategies and the relationship among their structures, physical properties and performances.
A QM/MM study on through space charge transfer-based thermally activated delayed fluorescence molecules in the solid state
Authors: Zou Haipei , Ma Yuying , Liu Huanling , Mu Qingfang , Zhang Kai , Song Yuzhi , Lin Lili , Wang Chuan-Kui , Fan Jianzhong
Published: December 2021

A QM/MM study on through space charge transfer (TSCT)-based thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) molecules with sky-blue emission.
Multiomics profiling of the expression and prognosis of MCMs in endometrial carcinoma
Authors: Lan Hua , Yuan Jing , Chen Xingyu , Liu Chu , Guo Xiaohui , Wang Xinyu , Song Jiarui , Cao Ke , Xiao Songshu
Published: December 2021

Minichromosome maintenance (MCM) family members are a group of genes involved in regulating DNA replication and cell division and have been identified as oncogenes in various cancer types. Several experimental studies have suggested that MCMs are dysregulated in endometrial carcinoma (EC). However, the expression pattern, clinical value and functions of different MCMs have yet to be analyzed systematically and comprehensively. We analyzed expression, survival rate, DNA alteration, PPT network, GGI network, functional enrichment cancer hallmarks and drug sensitivity of MCMs in patients with EC based on diverse datasets, including Oncomine, GEPIA, Kaplan–Meier Plotter, HPA, Sangerbox and GSCALite databases. The results indicated that most MCM members were increased in EC and showed a prognostic value in survival analysis, which were considerately well in terms of PFS and OS prognostic prediction. Importantly, functional enrichment, PPI network and GGI network suggested that MCMs interact with proteins related to DNA replication and cell division, which may be the mechanism of MCM promote EC progression. Further data mining illustrated that MCMs have broad DNA hypomethylation levels and high levels of copy number aberrations in tumor tissue samples, which may be the mechanism causing the high expression level of MCMs. Moreover, MCM2 can activate or suppress diverse cancer-related pathways and is implicated in EC drug sensitivity. Taking together, our findings illustrate the expression pattern, clinical value and function of MCMs in EC and imply that MCMs are potential targets for precision therapy and new biomarkers for the prognosis of patients with EC.
Individuals With Congenital Amusia Show Degraded Speech Perception but Preserved Statistical Learning for Tone Languages
Authors: Zhu Jiaqiang , Chen Xiaoxiang , Chen Fei , Wiener Seth
Published: December 2021

Purpose:

Individuals with congenital amusia exhibit degraded speech perception. This study examined whether adult Chinese Mandarin listeners with amusia were still able to extract the statistical regularities of Mandarin speech sounds, despite their degraded speech perception.

Method:

Using the gating paradigm with monosyllabic syllable–tone words, we tested 19 Mandarin-speaking amusics and 19 musically intact controls. Listeners heard increasingly longer fragments of the acoustic signal across eight duration-blocked gates. The stimuli varied in syllable token frequency and syllable–tone co-occurrence probability. The correct syllable–tone word, correct syllable-only, correct tone-only, and correct syllable–incorrect tone responses were compared respectively between the two groups using mixed-effects models.

Results:

Amusics were less accurate than controls in terms of the correct word, correct syllable-only, and correct tone-only responses. Amusics, however, showed consistent patterns of top-down processing, as indicated by more accurate responses to high-frequency syllables, high-probability tones, and tone errors all in manners similar to those of the control listeners.

Conclusions:

Amusics are able to learn syllable and tone statistical regularities from the language input. This extends previous work by showing that amusics can track phonological segment and pitch cues despite their degraded speech perception. The observed speech deficits in amusics are therefore not due to an abnormal statistical learning mechanism. These results support rehabilitation programs aimed at improving amusics' sensitivity to pitch.
Stability analysis of sub/super synchronous oscillation in direct‐drive wind farm considering the energy interaction between PMSGs
Authors: Ma Jing , Xu Honglu , Zhang Min , Cheng Peng
Published: December 2021

A method to analyze the stability of sub/super synchronous oscillations in direct‐drive wind farm considering the energy interaction between PMSGs is proposed. First, the dynamic energy model of direct‐drive wind farm considering the energy interaction between PMSGs is built. Then, the farm‐grid interaction energy is divided into three components: the disturbance energy, the self‐coupling energy and the interaction energy between PMSGs, which characterize the initial disturbance effect of PMSG, the self‐induction effect and the interaction between generators, respectively. On this basis, the variation characteristics of disturbance energy, coupling energy and the interaction energy are analyzed using Lyapunov's second stability theorem. It is revealed that, the interaction energy is the key factor that determines whether the oscillation will diverge or converge. In addition, the influences of PMSG integration distance, wind speed and control parameters on the stability are studied. Finally, the model of direct‐drive wind farm is built in RT‐LAB for hardware‐in‐the‐loop tests. Simulation results show that, the longer the PMSG integration distance is or the higher the wind speed where the PMSG is located is, the stronger the interaction between PMSGs is, and the better it is for the sub‐synchronous oscillation to converge. The larger the PMSG current loop parameters, voltage loop parameters and PLL parameters are, the stronger the dissipation effect of the interaction energy between PMSGs is, and the better it is for the super‐synchronous stability control.
A vision for smart and sustainable cities
Authors: Elnashai Amr , Mahmoud Hussam
Published: December 2021

Our built environment is characterized by large, ever‐expanding and highly complex cities. The spatial extent of the interconnected systems that serve these cities leads to higher vulnerability to disruption. On the other hand, climate change and political instability have noticeably increased the frequency of natural and human‐induced hazards. Recalling that risk is the product of vulnerability and hazard, it is evident that large cities are experiencing unprecedented levels of risk. While major investments and numerous research, development and implementation efforts have been dedicated to address natural and human‐induced risk to large cities, there is still a lack of system‐of‐systems level considerations and a comprehensive, interdependent vision for creating cities that respond effectively to severe disruptions. On this note, the authors envision the city of the future, its features and its operational modes. The requirements of creating such smart and sustainable, hence optimally resilient, cities dictate research‐to‐implementation consequences. A high‐level view of these requirements and their implications on research and development is provided.
Disentangling the formation mechanisms of nuclear star clusters
Authors: Fahrion Katja , Leaman Ryan , Lyubenova Mariya , van de Ven Glenn
Published: December 2021

Nuclear star clusters (NSCs) are massive star clusters found ubiquitously in the centres of galaxies, from the dwarf regime to massive ellipticals and spirals. The fraction of nucleated galaxies is as high as > 90% at Mgal ∼ 109 M⊙. However, how NSC formation mechanisms work in different regimes and what determines galaxy nucleation is still unclear. The dissipationless accretion of infalling globular clusters (GCs) and the in situ formation of stars directly at the galactic centre likely operate to grow NSCs in most galaxies; however, their efficiency has been difficult to assess observationally. Here, we provide, for the first time, a quantitative determination of the relative strength of these processes in the build-up of individual NSCs. Using a semi-analytical model of NSC formation based on the orbital evolution of inspiraling GCs, together with observed NSC and GC system properties, we derived the mass fraction of in situ born stars fin, NSC for 119 galaxies with masses from 3 × 107 to 3 × 1011 M⊙, in the Local Volume, the Fornax, and Virgo galaxy clusters. Our analysis reveals that the NSC mass, as well as the ratio of NSC to the total GC system mass, are strong indicators of the dominant NSC formation channel, and not the total galaxy stellar mass as previously suggested. More massive NSCs formed predominantly via the in situ formation of stars (fin, NSC ∼ 0.9), while the lower-mass NSCs are expected to have formed predominantly through the merger of GCs (fin, NSC ∼ 0.2). The results of this simple model are in agreement with recent independent estimates of the dominant NSC formation channel from recent stellar population analysis.
A comparative analysis of pulse time-of-arrival creation methods
Authors: Wang J. , Shaifullah G. M. , Verbiest J. P. W. , Tiburzi C. , Champion D. J. , Cognard I. , Gaikwad M. , Graikou E. , Guillemot L. , Hu H. , Karuppusamy R. , Keith M. J. , Kramer M. , Liu Y. , Lyne A. G. , Mickaliger M. B. , Stappers B. W. , Theureau G.
Published: December 2021

Context.Extracting precise pulse times of arrival (TOAs) and their uncertainties is the first and most fundamental step in high-precision pulsar timing. In the classical method, TOAs are derived from total intensity pulse profiles of pulsars via cross-correlation with an idealised 1D template of that profile. While a number of results have been presented in the literature that rely on the ever increasing sensitivity of these pulsar timing experiments, there is no consensus on the most reliable methods for creating TOAs, and, more importantly, on the associated TOA uncertainties for each scheme.

Aims.We present a comprehensive comparison of TOA determination practices. We focus on creating timing templates, TOA determination methods, and the most useful TOA bandwidth. The aim is to present a possible approach towards TOA optimisation, the (partial) identification of an optimal TOA-creation scheme, and the demonstration of optimisation differences between pulsars and data sets.

Methods.We compared the values of data-derived template profiles with analytic profiles and evaluated the three most commonly used template-matching methods. Finally, we studied the relation between timing precision and TOA bandwidth to identify any potential breaks in this relation. As a practical demonstration, we applied our selected methods to European Pulsar Timing Array data on three test pulsars, PSRs J0218+4232, J1713+0747, and J2145−0750.

Results.Our demonstration shows that data-derived and smoothed templates are typically preferred to some more commonly applied alternatives. The template-matching method called Fourier domain with Markov chain Monte Carlo is generally superior to or competitive with other methods. While the optimal TOA bandwidth is strongly dependent on pulsar brightness, telescope sensitivity, and scintillation properties, some significant frequency averaging seems required for the data we investigated.
Probing inner and outer disk misalignments in transition disks
Authors: Bohn A. J. , Benisty M. , Perraut K. , van der Marel N. , Wölfer L. , van Dishoeck E. F. , Facchini S. , Manara C. F. , Teague R. , Francis L. , Berger J.-P. , Garcia-Lopez R. , Ginski C. , Henning T. , Kenworthy M. , Kraus S. , Ménard F. , Mérand A. , Pérez L. M.
Published: December 2021

Context. Transition disks are protoplanetary disks with dust-depleted cavities, possibly indicating substantial clearing of their dust content by a massive companion. For several known transition disks, dark regions interpreted as shadows have been observed in scattered light imaging and are hypothesized to originate from misalignments between distinct regions of the disk.

Aims. We aim to investigate the presence of misalignments in transition disks. We study the inner disk (<1 au) geometries of a sample of 20 well-known transition disks with Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) GRAVITY observations and use complementary 12CO and 13CO molecular line archival data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to derive the orientation of the outer disk regions (>10 au).

Methods. We fit simple parametric models to the visibilities and closure phases of the GRAVITY data to derive the inclination and position angle of the inner disks. The outer disk geometries were derived from Keplerian fits to the ALMA velocity maps and compared to the inner disk constraints. We also predicted the locations of expected shadows for significantly misaligned systems.

Results. Our analysis reveals six disks to exhibit significant misalignments between their inner and outer disk structures. The predicted shadow positions agree well with the scattered light images of HD 100453 and HD 142527, and we find supporting evidence for a shadow in the south of the disk around CQ Tau. In the other three targets for which we infer significantly misaligned disks, V1247 Ori, V1366 Ori, and RY Lup, we do not see any evident sign of shadows in the scattered light images. The scattered light shadows observed in DoAr 44, HD 135344 B, and HD 139614 are consistent with our observations, yet the underlying morphology is likely too complex to be described properly by our models and the accuracy achieved by our observations.

Conclusions. The combination of near infrared and submillimeter interferometric observations allows us to assess the geometries of the innermost disk regions and those of the outer disk. Whereas we can derive precise constraints on the potential shadow positions for well-resolved inner disks around Herbig Ae/Be stars, the large statistical uncertainties for the marginally resolved inner disks around the T Tauri stars of our sample make it difficult to extract conclusive constraints for the presence of shadows in these systems.
Gaia-ESO Survey: Role of magnetic activity and starspots on pre-main-sequence lithium evolution
Authors: Franciosini E. , Tognelli E. , Degl’Innocenti S. , Prada Moroni P. G. , Randich S. , Sacco G. G. , Magrini L. , Pancino E. , Lanzafame A. C. , Smiljanic R. , Prisinzano L. , Sanna N. , Roccatagliata V. , Bonito R. , de Laverny P. , Gutiérrez Albarrán M. L. , Montes D. , Jiménez-Esteban F. , Gilmore G. , Bergemann M. , Carraro G. , Damiani F. , Gonneau A. , Hourihane A. , Morbidelli L. , Worley C. C. , Zaggia S.
Published: December 2021

Context. It is now well-known that pre-main-sequence models with inflated radii should be taken into account to simultaneously reproduce the colour-magnitude diagram and the lithium depletion pattern observed in young open star clusters.

Aims. We tested a new set of pre-main-sequence models that include radius inflation due to the presence of starspots or to magnetic inhibition of convection. We used five clusters observed by the Gaia-ESO Survey that span the age range ∼10−100 Myr, in which these effects could be important.

Methods. The Gaia-ESO Survey radial velocities were combined with astrometry from Gaia EDR3 to obtain clean lists of high-probability members for the five clusters. A Bayesian maximum likelihood method was adopted to fit the observed cluster sequences to theoretical predictions to derive the best model parameters and the cluster reddening and age. Models were calculated with different values of the mixing length parameter (αML = 2.0, 1.5 and 1.0) for the cases without spots or with effective spot coverage βspot = 0.2 and 0.4. The models were also compared with the observed lithium depletion patterns.

Results. To reproduce the colour-magnitude diagram and the observed lithium depletion pattern in Gamma Vel A and B and in 25 Ori, both a reduced convection efficiency, with αML = 1.0, and an effective surface spot coverage of about 20% are required. We obtained ages of 18−4.0+1.5 Myr and 21−3.0+3.5 Myr for Gamma Vel A and B, respectively, and 19−7.0+1.5 Myr for 25 Ori. However, a single isochrone is not sufficient to account for the lithium dispersion, and an increasing level of spot coverage as mass decreases seems to be required. On the other hand, the older clusters (NGC 2451 B at 30−5.0+3.0 Myr, NGC 2547 at 35−4.0+4.0 Myr, and NGC 2516 at 138−42+48 Myr) are consistent with standard models (i.e. αML = 2.0 and no spots) except at low masses: a 20% spot coverage appears to reproduce the sequence of M-type stars better and might explain the observed spread in lithium abundances.

Conclusions. The quality of Gaia-ESO data combined with Gaia allows us to gain important insights on pre-main-sequence evolution. Models including starspots can provide a consistent explanation of the cluster sequences and lithium abundances observed in young clusters, although a range of starspot coverage is required to fully reproduce the data.
The study of VvMybA1 allele status of the indigenous grapevine varieties with non-colored berries
Authors: Milovanov A.V. , Savenkova D.S. , Zvyagin A.S. , Ilnitskaya E.T. , Troshin L.P.
Published: December 2021

In the present work we describe preliminary results on a partial VvMybA1 locus sequencing of rear indigenous grapevine varieties. Obtained sequences were mostly conservative and have matches in NCBI GenBank. As expected, most of them have a sequence that is typical for varieties with non-colored berries. Surprisingly, however, cultivar Jaj izium biely demonstrated structure typical for varieties with colored berries, which implies another reason for the loss of color. Obviously, Tavlinskii pozdnii and Sypun chernyj varieties had typical for colored cultivars allele structure. Some nucleotide substitutions and differences in structure of sequences were found. Furthemore, we submitted our sequences to the NCBI and here we present their accession numbers: Unji bely (MW633123), Voskeat (MW633125), Tsolikauri (MW633126), Shabash (MW633127), Terbash (MW633130), Bajan Shirei (MW633131), Katta Kurgan (MW633132), Sirgula (MW633135), Khatmi (MW633136), Jaj izium biely (N/A), Tavlinskii pozdnii (MW633139), Sypun chernyj (MW633151). All sequences, excluding Jaj izium biely genotype, were submitted to the GenBank and will be available to the public as soon as possible.
Prospects of using innovations in post-pandemic higher education
Authors: Konkin Andrey Aleksandrovich , Dronova Svetlana Yurievna , Tretyakova Galina Viktorovna , Bermudez-Alekina Aleksey Eduardovich , Kotenko Vladimir Viktorovich
Published: December 2021

The prerequisites of this study were the practices of using innovative educational methods and technologies in higher education during the global COVID-19 pandemic, as well as their potential prospects for using already in the post-pandemic period. The purpose of the study was to assess the prospects and give innovative forecasts used in the framework of distance learning in post-pandemic higher education. To achieve this goal, such methods were used: analysis, inductive-deductive method, comparison method, as well as experimental and forecasting methods. The main result of the study is the conclusion that the prospects for using innovations of the pandemic period in post-pandemic higher education take place mainly in organizing the educational process in a hybrid (or a mixed) format, which involves the simultaneous use of traditional and innovative teaching methods and technologies. At the same time, among the innovative educational technologies that emerged during the pandemic and promising in the post-pandemic period, the following aspects were identified: remote lectures; remote seminars using online whiteboards, online video conferences, virtual and augmented reality technologies; interactive online learning technologies; remote technologies for organizing the educational process. Traditional educational technologies, in turn, included the following: personal consultations with a teacher; personal communication with a supervisor on student research papers; interactive practical classes, as well as a number of other technologies that are built on direct communication between students within a group or on communication between students and a teacher.
Authentic materials in online teaching to improve students  involvement
Authors: Inkova Maria Dmitrievna , Pronina Irina Valerievna , Timoshenko Ludmila Petrovna , Prusakova Daria Alekseevna , Adasova Yana Borisovna
Published: December 2021

Online education is not an innovative product nowadays but when COVID-19 pandemic resulted in total lockdowns, many teachers and students registered numerous challenges in virtual classrooms among which the level of a teacher-student interaction is a focus of this paper. The research shows that isolation, distraction, and lack of immediate connection can actually pose a big problem. As a result, many students lose interest and become passive learners with poor performance. To revive scholars’ involvement research was conducted integrating authentic materials in online classes. A quasi-experimental method was used to collect data. A questionnaire among the students allowed to consider their attitude to studying online while semi-structured interviews and self-written reflections provided rich material for analysis. On the whole, the study revealed positive gains. Being a natural source of practical English, authentic materials bring meaning back into the classrooms and offer teachers an inexhaustible source of relevant language. They help regain students’ engagement if applied thoughtfully. Though there are certain difficulties, with due experience and practice they can be overcome. The results of this study contribute to providing useful guidelines for English teachers and students to enhance the efficacy of teaching and learning activities, particularly in virtual ELT (English Language Teaching) classrooms.