bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advanced tree‐seed optimization based fractional‐order PID controller design for simplified decoupled industrial tank systems
Authors: Kottayathu Rajagopalan Achu Govind , Mahapatra Subhasish , Mahapatro Soumya Ranjan
Published: March 2024

Controlling coupled tank systems is challenging due to interactions between tanks, nonlinear dynamics, time delays, uncertainties, and cross‐coupling effects. The design of effective control strategies to address these complexities while ensuring stability and robust performance is difficult. Hence, this study focuses on presenting an innovative approach to enhance level control in coupled tank systems by employing a fractional‐order proportional‐integral‐derivative (FOPID) controller. The FOPID controller is designed by imposing constraints on the performance metric and closed‐loop gain. Besides, the defined optimization problem is solved by employing a tree seed algorithm. Further, the stability is analyzed graphically using the singular value analysis. The inherent complexities of coupled tank systems are effectively addressed by designing decouplers. The unique characteristics of the tree seed algorithm to navigate complex solution spaces and its effective handling of constraints offer a robust optimization framework. The validity and efficiency of the proposed method are analyzed in a range of simulation experiments conducted on distinct interconnected tank systems. Besides, the stability is verified graphically. The analysis highlights the effectiveness of the control law in handling uncertainties and disturbances. Besides, the proposed method reduces the settling time to around . Through a systematic integration of optimization and comprehensive stability analysis, the study provides a holistic solution for optimizing level control in coupled tank systems.
Development of a SARS‐CoV‐2 neutralization assay based on a pseudotyped virus using a HIV system
Authors: Liang Ziteng , Tong Jincheng , Wu Xi , Liu Shuo , Wu Jiajing , Yu Yuanling , Zhang Li , Zhao Chenyan , Lu Qiong , Nie Jianhui , Huang Weijin , Wang Youchun
Published: March 2024

Regarding the extensive global attention to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) that constitutes an international public health emergency, pseudovirus neutralization assays have been widely applied due to their advantages of being able to be conducted in biosafety level 2 laboratories and having a high safety factor. In this study, by adding a blue fluorescent protein (AmCyan) gene to the HIV system pSG3‐△env backbone plasmid HpaI and truncating the C‐terminal 21 amino acids of the SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein (S), high‐titer SARS‐CoV‐2‐Sdel21‐AmCyan fluorescent pseudovirus was successfully packaged. The fluorescent pseudovirus was used to establish a neutralization assay in a 96‐well plate using 293T cells stably transfected with the AF cells. Then, parameters such as the ratio of backbone and membrane plasmid, sensitive cells, inoculation of cells and virus, as well as incubation and detection time were optimized. The pseudovirus neutralization assay demonstrated high accuracy, sensitivity, repeatability, and a strong correlation with the luminescent pseudovirus neutralization assay. Additionally, we scaled up the neutralizing antibody determination method by increasing the plate size from 96 wells to 384 wells. We have established a robust fluorescent pseudotyped virus neutralization assay for SARS‐CoV‐2 using the HIV system, providing a foundation for serum neutralization antibody detection, monoclonal antibody screening, and vaccine development.
Transfer of disulfide bond formation modules via yeast artificial chromosomes promotes the expression of heterologous proteins in Kluyveromyces marxianus
Authors: Wu Pingping , Mo Wenjuan , Tian Tian , Song Kunfeng , Lyu Yilin , Ren Haiyan , Zhou Jungang , Yu Yao , Lu Hong
Published: March 2024

Kluyveromyces marxianus is a food‐safe yeast with great potential for producing heterologous proteins. Improving the yield in K. marxianus remains a challenge and incorporating large‐scale functional modules poses a technical obstacle in engineering. To address these issues, linear and circular yeast artificial chromosomes of K. marxianus (KmYACs) were constructed and loaded with disulfide bond formation modules from Pichia pastoris or K. marxianus. These modules contained up to seven genes with a maximum size of 15 kb. KmYACs carried telomeres either from K. marxianus or Tetrahymena. KmYACs were transferred successfully into K. marxianus and stably propagated without affecting the normal growth of the host, regardless of the type of telomeres and configurations of KmYACs. KmYACs increased the overall expression levels of disulfide bond formation genes and significantly enhanced the yield of various heterologous proteins. In high‐density fermentation, the use of KmYACs resulted in a glucoamylase yield of 16.8 g/l, the highest reported level to date in K. marxianus. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of cells containing KmYACs suggested increased flavin adenine dinucleotide biosynthesis, enhanced flux entering the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and a preferred demand for lysine and arginine as features of cells overexpressing heterologous proteins. Consistently, supplementing lysine or arginine further improved the yield. Therefore, KmYAC provides a powerful platform for manipulating large modules with enormous potential for industrial applications and fundamental research. Transferring the disulfide bond formation module via YACs proves to be an efficient strategy for improving the yield of heterologous proteins, and this strategy may be applied to optimize other microbial cell factories.
Reduction procedure for obtaining solutions of the scalar additive Jump problem and Riemann boundary value problem in vectorial Clifford analysis
Authors: Tamayo Castro Carlos Daniel , Bory Reyes Juan , Abreu Blaya Ricardo
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we study existence of solutions to the scalar additive Jump problem and the Riemann boundary value problems in the context of vectorial Clifford analysis on domains with fractal boundaries. A reduction procedure is applied with great effectiveness to find the solution of the problems.
Energy‐critical scattering for focusing inhomogeneous coupled Schrödinger systems
Authors: Ghanmi Radhia , Saanouni Tarek
Published: March 2024

This work investigates the time asymptotics of the inhomogeneous coupled Schrödinger equations
, where
, and
. Here, one treats the energy‐critical regime
and
. This is the index of the invariant Sobolev norm under the dilatation
. To the authors knowledge, the technique used in order to prove the scattering of an energy global solution to the above problem in the sub‐critical regime
is no more applicable for
. In order to overcome this difficulty, one uses the Kenig–Merle road map. In order to avoid a singularity of the source term, one considers the case
, which restricts the space dimensions to
. Moreover, in order to use the Sobolev injection
, one restricts the space dimensions to
. Compared with the previous work for the first author (Inhomogeneous coupled non‐linear Schrödinger systems. J. Math. Phys. 62, 101508 (2021)), the method consisting on dividing the integrals in the unit ball and its complementary seems not sufficient to conclude in the present study because of the energy‐critical exponent. Instead, one uses some Caffarelli–Kohn–Nirenberg weighted type inequalities.
Pseudospectra, stability radii and their relationship with backward error for structured nonlinear eigenvlaue problems
Authors: Ahmad Sk. Safique , Nag Gyan Swarup
Published: March 2024

This paper discusses pseudospectra and stability radii for structured nonlinear matrix functions, such as Hermitian, skew‐Hermitian, H‐even, H‐odd, complex symmetric, and complex skew‐symmetric. To compute pseudospectra and stability radii, eigenvalue backward error is required. Hence, we initially present the structured eigenvalue backward error. Subsequently, we compute the structured pseudospectra using the obtained results for the eigenvalue backward error of a class of structured nonlinear matrix functions. Finally, we discuss the stability radii of the above‐structured problems arising in different applications. The paper also generalizes the results on the eigenvalue backward error of matrix polynomials in the literature for the above structures.
A nonlinear finite viscoelastic formulation relative to the viscous intermediate configuration applied to plants
Authors: Platen Jakob , Pauls Bennett , Anantheswar Atul , Lautenschläger Thea , Neinhuis Christoph , Kaliske Michael
Published: March 2024

In the contribution at hand, a new formulation for finite strain viscosity relative to the viscous intermediate configuration is presented. The evolution of the viscous deformations is based upon a new numerical approach, which allows for a consistent consideration of anisotropic finite strain viscoelasticity, according to the authors knowledge. A standard Maxwell model is used to describe viscous behaviour at finite deformations. Furthermore, the orthotropic Yeoh material model is extended to include a distinction between behaviour under tensile and compression loading. The proposed formulation is validated, and parameters of the model are identified by material tests on Sorghum bicolor plants. Subsequently, numerical examples are shown to demonstrate the capabilities of the model. In general, the proposed Yeoh material formulation is shown to accurately represent the inability of fibres to carry compression loading. Furthermore, the viscoelastic approach, developed relative to the viscous intermediate configuration, is demonstrated to be capable of producing plausible results. Additionally, the mechanical behaviour of Sorghum bicolor plants is simulated using the introduced formulation. The results show that the contribution at hand describes a novel methodology to simulate the viscoelastic behaviour of plant materials reliably.
5 questions with Marianne Sipe of Stamats
Authors: Talarico Donna
Published: March 2024

Our recurring “5 questions with” series profiles a communications professional through a brief Q&A. Most often, we feature someone from an institution, but this month we talk to someone who works with colleges and university enrollment teams.
Chrissy Davis Jones: Creating a better enrollment process at Harrisburg Area Community College
Authors: D’Orio Wayne
Published: March 2024

When Dr. Chrissy Davis Jones joined Pennsylvania's Harrisburg Area Community College in April 2021, it was hard to be optimistic about college enrollment. A year into the pandemic, colleges across the country were losing students. And many were already bemoaning the upcoming enrollment cliff that will shrink the number of available students starting in 2025.
The Effect of Surgical Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Blood Pressure and Peripheral Arterial Tonometry
Authors: Tangutur Akshay , Cai Yi , Seay Everett G. , Thaler Erica R. , Keenan Brendan T. , Dedhia Raj C.
Published: March 2024

Objective

To determine the effect of upper airway surgery on cardiovascular function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Study Design

A prospective, self‐controlled study from 2018 to 2023.

Setting

Two academic medical centers.

Methods

Seventy‐four patients underwent surgery for OSA, including: tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, epiglottidectomy, modified uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, maxillary expansion, and maxillomandibular advancement. Twenty‐four‐hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP), peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT)‐based home sleep study, and sleep‐related patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) were captured preoperatively and at 6 months postoperatively. Paired T‐tests evaluated changes in outcomes after surgery.

Results

Forty‐one patients successfully completed preoperative and postoperative assessments. Patients were generally middle‐aged (43.8 ± 12.5 years), obese (BMI 33.0 ± 5.8 kg/m2), male (68%), White (71%), and had severe OSA (apnea‐hypopnea index [AHI] 33.9 ± 29.5 events/h). The 4% oxygen desaturation index (ODI) decreased from 30.7 ± 27.1 to 12.2 ± 13.6 events/h (P < .01) after surgery. There was no significant difference in 24‐h BP following surgery, though clinically meaningful reductions in nocturnal systolic (−1.95 [−5.34, 1.45] mmHg) and nocturnal diastolic (−2.30 [−5.11, 0.52] mmHg) blood pressure were observed. Stratified analysis showed patients undergoing skeletal surgery (n = 17) demonstrated larger average reductions compared to those undergoing soft tissue surgery in nocturnal systolic (−4.12 [−7.72, −0.51] vs −0.10 [−5.78, 5.58] mmHg) and nocturnal diastolic (−3.94 [−7.90, 0.01] vs −0.90 [−5.11, 3.31] mmHg) pressures. No meaningful changes were observed in PAT Autonomic Index (PAI) measurements.

Conclusion

Surgical therapy for OSA did not demonstrate statistically significant improvements in 24‐h BP. However, clinically meaningful reductions in nocturnal BP were observed, particularly in skeletal surgery patients, supporting the need for larger studies of cardiovascular outcomes following OSA surgery.
Effect of fixed carbon on the interfacial compatibility of coal gangue/polyethylene composites was investigated using anthracite as a model compound
Authors: Li Chao , Liao Hongqiang , Gao Hongyu , Cheng Fangqin
Published: March 2024

Coal gangue (CG), a byproduct of coal mining, integrated with polyethylene (PE) offers potential in diverse applications. However, ensuring compatibility between CG and PE remains a challenge due to CG's complex nature. This study explores the influence of fixed carbon, represented by high‐carbon‐content anthracite, on the interface of CG/PE composites. Comprehensive investigations were conducted on physical, mechanical, thermal, microstructural, and chemical aspects. Results revealed that increasing carbon content positively impacted density and hardness while enhancing bending strength and modulus, albeit at a cost of reduced tensile strength. When the C content reached 80%, the hardness and density increased from 50.5 HD and 0.93 g cm−3 to 62.4 HD and 1.18 g cm−3, which were 23.6% and 26.9% higher, respectively. Meanwhile, the bending strength and bending modulus reached 17.2 and 1582.4 MPa, which were 53.6% and 239.1% higher than those of the composites prepared from pure PE (11.2 and 466.7 MPa), respectively. However, the tensile strength decreased by 48.7% from 11.7 to 6.0 MPa. Moderate carbon content positively affected thermal stability, yet higher concentrations posed stability challenges. Microstructural analyses unveiled varied interfacial morphologies, shedding light on carbon's role in enhancing material rigidity and hardness. Surface chemical studies suggested physical entanglement between carbon and PE. Additionally, varying carbon content influenced crystallization, elevating crystallinity and impacting mechanical properties. The findings underscore carbon's potential in reinforcing composite materials. This research provides insights into optimizing CG/PE composites and addressing CG treatment challenges.

Highlights

Unveiled relationships between fixed carbon and properties in composites.

The structure was studied qualitatively and quantitatively by XRD.

The anthracite‐C substitution in composite preparation was unraveled.
Synthesis and characterization of perfluorocyclopentene‐thioether polymers
Authors: Bishop Alexis , Balmaceda Eve , Iacono Scott T. , Jennings Abby R.
Published: March 2024

Due to their unique properties and use in high performance materials, the ability to obtain fluorinated polymers utilizing straightforward synthetic methods remains of interest. In this study, we report the facile synthesis of new fluoropolymers via nucleophilic addition of a di‐thiol to perfluorocyclopentene. Initially, model studies were completed with perfluorocyclopentene, benzenethiol and tetramethylsilane‐protected benzenethiol to identify the optimal reaction conditions for the polymerization. These reaction conditions were then utilized to prepare perfluorocyclopentene‐thioether polymers from perfluorocyclopentene and 4,4′‐thiobisbenzenethiol. The isolated polymers had molecular weight distributions consistent with step‐growth polymers and 19F NMR spectroscopy revealed that the addition of the nucleophile to perfluorocyclopentene was controlled. Analysis by DSC showed that the polymers were amorphous with glass transition temperatures around 65 °C. TGA in both air and nitrogen showed an initial degradation temperature around 370 °C, while the air analysis produced an additional plateau with a degradation temperature near 592 °C. This is the first known report of utilizing perfluorocyclopentene for the preparation of perfluorinated‐thioether polymers. © 2024 Society of Industrial Chemistry. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
Von Schwimmern und Schwärmen
Authors: Iyer Priyanka , Gompper Gerhard
Published: March 2024

Wie schwimmen Mikroorganismen in einer meist wässrigen Umgebung? Für sie erweist sich Wasser als so zähes Medium, dass sie nach einer Schwimmbewegung nicht weitergleiten. Ursache ist eine geringe Trägheit im Verhältnis zu einer relativ hohen Viskosität. Unter den Mikroorganismen gibt es im Wesentlichen zwei Typen: Pusher besitzen ihren Antrieb am Hinter‐, Puller am Vorderende. Auch das Schwarmverhalten von Mikroschwimmern wird teilweise durch die Gesetze der Mikrowelt bestimmt. So können sie die Brownsche Molekularbewegung aktiv zum Ansteuern eines Ziels nutzen. Doch es gibt auch viele Ähnlichkeiten mit dem Schwarmverhalten größerer Teilnehmer. Wie Massenkarambolagen beim Autoscooter oder Staus gibt es auch unter Bakterien das Phänomen der bewegungsinduzierten Aggregation. Ein Forschungsfeld ist die Simulation des Schwarmverhaltens, für das auch die Erkennung der Umgebung und Selbstadaption der Bewegung wichtig sind. Diese Simulationen sind für viele medizinische und technische Anwendungen interessant, zum Beispiel für den Transport medizinischer Wirkstoffe im Körper.
Proinsulin folding and trafficking defects trigger a common pathological disturbance of endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis
Authors: Arunagiri Anoop , Alam Maroof , Haataja Leena , Draz Hassan , Alasad Bashiyer , Samy Praveen , Sadique Nadeed , Tong Yue , Cai Ying , Shakeri Hadis , Fantuzzi Federica , Ibrahim Hazem , Jang Insook , Sidarala Vaibhav , Soleimanpour Scott A. , Satin Leslie S. , Otonkoski Timo , Cnop Miriam , Itkin‐Ansari Pamela , Kaufman Randal J. , Liu Ming , Arvan Peter
Published: March 2024

Primary defects in folding of mutant proinsulin can cause dominant‐negative proinsulin accumulation in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), impaired anterograde proinsulin trafficking, perturbed ER homeostasis, diminished insulin production, and β‐cell dysfunction. Conversely, if primary impairment of ER‐to‐Golgi trafficking (which also perturbs ER homeostasis) drives misfolding of nonmutant proinsulin—this might suggest bi‐directional entry into a common pathological phenotype (proinsulin misfolding, perturbed ER homeostasis, and deficient ER export of proinsulin) that can culminate in diminished insulin storage and diabetes. Here, we've challenged β‐cells with conditions that impair ER‐to‐Golgi trafficking, and devised an accurate means to assess the relative abundance of distinct folded/misfolded forms of proinsulin using a novel nonreducing SDS‐PAGE/immunoblotting protocol. We confirm abundant proinsulin misfolding upon introduction of a diabetogenic INS mutation, or in the islets of db/db mice. Whereas blockade of proinsulin trafficking in Golgi/post‐Golgi compartments results in intracellular accumulation of properly‐folded proinsulin (bearing native disulfide bonds), impairment of ER‐to‐Golgi trafficking (regardless whether such impairment is achieved by genetic or pharmacologic means) results in decreased native proinsulin with more misfolded proinsulin. Remarkably, reversible ER‐to‐Golgi transport defects (such as treatment with brefeldin A or cellular energy depletion) upon reversal quickly restore the ER folding environment, resulting in the disappearance of pre‐existing misfolded proinsulin while preserving proinsulin bearing native disulfide bonds. Thus, proper homeostatic balance of ER‐to‐Golgi trafficking is linked to a more favorable proinsulin folding (as well as trafficking) outcome.
Exploring T‐Duality for Self‐Dual Fields
Authors: Chakrabarti Subhroneel , Raman Madhusudhan
Published: March 2024

Avatars of T‐duality within Sen's formalism for self‐dual field strengths in various dimensions are studied. This formalism is shown to naturally accommodate the T‐duality relation between Type IIA/IIB theories when compactified on a circle without the need for imposing the self‐duality constraint by hand, as is usually done. The study of this formalism is continued on two‐dimensional target spacetimes and its study as a worldsheet theory is initiated. In particular, it is shown that Sen's action provides a natural worldsheet‐based understanding of twisted and asymmetrically twisted strings. Finally, it is shown that the ‐deformed theory of left‐ and right‐chiral bosons described in Sen's formalism possesses a scaling limit that is related via field‐theoretic T‐duality to a recently studied integrable deformation of quantum mechanics.
Safe migration: Re‐embedding as anticipatory, de‐territorial governance
Authors: Molland Sverre
Published: March 2024

In 2019, the United Nations (UN) promulgated the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration which charts the UN's global migration policy strategy, affording central importance to safety in migration. This ascendant focus on safe migration is echoed in a range of national and regional policy initiatives. Despite the policy enthusiasm for safe migration, to date, there is a dearth of critical scholarly attention to this policy shift. This paper builds on 7 years of ethnographic research on safe migration interventions in mainland Southeast Asia. Centring on the Mekong region, this paper examines two interlocking effects of safe migration policy instrumentalisation. On the one hand, safe migration discourse' spatio‐temporal underpinnings dispositions programmes to gravitate towards policy abstractions. Yet, in practice, safe migration interventions heavily depend on informal constellations of sociality, where migrants become re‐embedded as both objects and instruments of policy.
Verruciform Xanthoma of the Glans Penis in a Male with Undiagnosed Genital Lichen Sclerosus
Authors: Chandler David J. , Lee Dong Eun , Quante Mara , Atkinson Lindsay
Published: March 2024

We report the second case of verruciform xanthoma of the penis occurring in a male with genital lichen sclerosus. We suggest that the diagnosis of VEGAS xanthoma should prompt careful examination of the genitalia for evidence of underlying lichen sclerosus, the signs of which may be subtle.
Role of Iridium in n‐Pentane Isomerization, Cyclohexane Ring Opening, and Cumene Cracking Over Ir/Pt‐HZSM5
Authors: Setiabudi H. D. , Abdulkadir B. A. , Jalil A. A.
Published: March 2024

Producing aromatic compounds sustainably from renewable sources is essential to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. This study aims to elucidate the multifunctional behavior of Ir on Pt‐HZSM5, and their influence on the catalytic activity of n‐pentane isomerization, cyclohexane ring opening, and cumene cracking. The results showed that Ir created another active and Lewis's acid site, which increased the acid sites (H+), thus enhancing the catalytic performance of Pt‐HZSM5. Moreover, Ir inhibited the atomic hydrogen bonding interaction and hence improved the main reaction and suppressed the side reaction. Therefore, the mechanism of the main reaction over Ir/Pt‐HZSM5 can be described as the following steps: (i) Interaction of reactant with H+; (ii) Reaction of carbenium ion intermediate; and (iii) Interaction of a carbenium ion intermediate with H−, followed by desorption. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the intricate catalytic pathways, offering insights into the design of efficient multifunctional catalysts for various petrochemical applications.
Vertical‐Channel Cathode Host Enables Rapid Deposition Kinetics toward High‐Areal‐Capacity Sodium‐Chlorine Batteries
Authors: Ma Chenyu , Feng Wenting , Kong Debin , Wei Xinru , Gong Xuelei , Yang Jianhang , Han Junwei , Zhi Linjie
Published: March 2024

Rechargeable sodium chloride (Na‐Cl2) batteries have emerged as promising alternatives for next‐generation energy storage due to their superior energy density and sodium abundance. However, their practical applications are hindered by the sluggish chlorine cathode kinetics related to the aggregation of NaCl and its difficult transformation into Cl2. Herein, the study, for the first time from the perspective of electrode level in Na‐Cl2 batteries, proposes a free‐standing carbon cathode host with customized vertical channels to facilitate the SOCl2 transport and regulate the NaCl deposition. Accordingly, electrode kinetics are significantly enhanced, and the deposited NaCl is distributed evenly across the whole electrode, avoiding the blockage of pores in the carbon host, and facilitating its oxidation to Cl2. With this low‐polarization cathode, the Na‐Cl2 batteries can deliver a practically high areal capacity approaching 4 mAh cm−2 and a long cycle life of over 170 cycles. This work demonstrates the significance of pore engineering in electrodes for mediating chlorine conversion kinetics in rechargeable alkali‐metal‐Cl2 batteries.
Synergistic Effects of Amine Functional Groups and Enriched‐Atomic‐Iron Sites in Carbon Dots for Industrial‐Current–Density CO2 Electroreduction
Authors: Guo Huazhang , Raj Jithu , Wang Zeming , Zhang Tianyu , Wang Kang , Lin Lili , Hou Weidong , Zhang Jiye , Wu Minghong , Wu Jingjie , Wang Liang
Published: March 2024

Metal phthalocyanine molecules with Me‐N4 centers have shown promise in electrocatalytic CO2 reduction (eCO2R) for CO generation. However, iron phthalocyanine (FePc) is an exception, exhibiting negligible eCO2R activity due to a higher CO2 to *COOH conversion barrier and stronger *CO binding energy. Here, amine functional groups onto atomic‐Fe‐rich carbon dots (Af‐Fe‐CDs) are introduced via a one‐step solvothermal molecule fusion approach. Af‐Fe‐CDs feature well‐defined Fe‐N4 active sites and an impressive Fe loading (up to 8.5 wt%). The synergistic effect between Fe‐N4 active centers and electron‐donating amine functional groups in Af‐Fe‐CDs yielded outstanding CO2‐to‐CO conversion performance. At industrial‐relevant current densities exceeding 400 mA cm−2 in a flow cell, Af‐Fe‐CDs achieved >92% selectivity, surpassing state‐of‐the‐art CO2‐to‐CO electrocatalysts. The in situ electrochemical FTIR characterization combined with theoretical calculations elucidated that Fe‐N4 integration with amine functional groups in Af‐Fe‐CDs significantly reduced energy barriers for *COOH intermediate formation and *CO desorption, enhancing eCO2R efficiency. The proposed synergistic effect offers a promising avenue for high‐efficiency catalysts with elevated atomic‐metal loadings.
Faradaic and Non‐Faradaic Self‐Discharge Mechanisms in Carbon‐Based Electrochemical Capacitors
Authors: Zhang Qing , Wei Bingqing
Published: March 2024

Electrochemical capacitors (ECs) play a crucial role in electrical energy storage, offering great potential for efficient energy storage and power management. However, they face challenges such as moderate energy densities and rapid self‐discharge. Addressing self‐discharge necessitates a fundamental understanding of the underlying processes. This review sets itself apart from other reviews by focusing on the basic principles of self‐discharge processes in carbon‐based ECs, particularly examining the nature of the process and the involvement of redox reactions. This study delineates the potential conditions for various self‐discharge processes and proposes plausible criteria for differentiation, complemented by mathematical modeling. Additionally, the model selection, curve fitting, and effective tuning methods are explored to control self‐discharge processes.
Co─Mn Bimetallic Nanowires by Interfacial Modulation with/without Vacancy Filling as Active and Durable Electrocatalysts for Water Splitting
Authors: Jiang Yimin , Song Zekuan , Qu Meijiao , Jiang Yong , Luo Wei , He Rongxing
Published: March 2024

Active and stable nonnoble electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are required for water splitting by sustainable electricity. Here, Mn bonded with O and P is incorporated to modulate Co3S4 and Co2P respectively to enhance the catalytic activity and extend the catalyst lifetime. Mn3O4 adjusts the electronic structure of Co3S4 and Co atom fills the oxygen vacancy in Mn3O4. The interfacial interaction endows Co3S4/Mn3O4 to a lower reaction barrier due to ideal binding energies for OER intermediates. Structure stability of active sites and enhanced Co─S bonds by Operando Raman spectroscopy and theoretical calculations reduce the dissolution of Co3S4/Mn3O4, resulting in a lifetime of 500 h at 50 mA cm−2 for OER. The modulation of Co2P by MnP weakens the interaction between Co sites and adsorbed H*, achieving a high activity under a large current for HER. The assembled electrolyzer affords 50 mA cm−2 at 1.58 V and exhibits a lifetime of 350 h at 50 mA cm−2. The calculations disclose the electron interaction for the activity and stability, as well as the enhanced conductivity. The findings develop new avenues toward promoting catalytic activity and stability, making Co─Mn bimetallic nanowires efficient electrocatalysts for nonnoble water electrolyzers.
Universal Synthesis of Amorphous Metal Oxide Nanomeshes
Authors: Li Youle , Yu Ge , Li Junmin , Bian Zenan , Han Xiao , Wu Bei , Wu Geng , Yang Qing , Hong Xun
Published: March 2024

Constructing the pore structures in amorphous metal oxide nanosheets can enhance their electrocatalytic performance by efficiently increasing specific surface areas and facilitating mass transport in electrocatalysis. However, the accurate synthesis for porous amorphous metal oxide nanosheets remains a challenge. Herein, a facile nitrate‐assisted oxidation strategy is reported for synthesizing amorphous mesoporous iridium oxide nanomeshes (a‐m IrOx NMs) with a pore size of ∼4 nm. X‐ray absorption characterizations indicate that a‐m IrOx NMs possess stretched Ir─O bonds and weaker Ir–O interaction compared with commercial IrO2. Combining thermogravimetric‐fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with differential scanning calorimetry measurements, it is demonstrated that sodium nitrate, acting as an oxidizing agent, is conducive to the formation of amorphous nanosheets, while the NO2 produced by the in situ decomposition of nitrates facilitates the generation of pores within the nanomeshes. As an anode electrocatalyst in proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer, a‐m IrOx NMs exhibit superior performance, maintaining a cell voltage of 1.67 V at 1 A cm−2 for 120 h without obvious decay with a low loading (0.4 mgcatalyst cm−2). Furthermore, the nitrate‐assisted method is demonstrated to be a general approach to prepare various amorphous metal oxide nanomeshes, including amorphous RhOx, TiOx, ZrOx, AlOx, and HfOx nanomeshes.
Prognostic role of p16 overexpression in sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma: A retrospective analysis of Alberta patients
Authors: Querney Jill , Mendez Adrian , Skinner Jamila , Wihlidal Jacob , Ramazani Fatemeh , Biron Vincent , Côté David
Published: March 2024

Objective

Sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC) is rare in the general population. No clear and consistent etiologic correlation between human papillomavirus (HPV) and SNSCC has yet been delineated in the literature. p16 is a tumor suppressor protein used as a surrogate marker for HPV. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between p16 overexpression in SNSCC and its role in prognosis and survival.

Methods

A population‐based retrospective analysis was performed using prospectively collected data from the Northern Alberta Head and Neck Tumour Board, the Alberta Cancer Registry, and the Alberta Cancer Research Biobank. p16 overexpression was analyzed from pathologic samples of patients meeting study criteria, and participants were dichotomized by status. Subsequently, nonparametric analysis of demographics, initial staging, and initial treatment were performed, and a Kapan–Meier curve was developed to assess differences in survival.

Results

Sixteen patients were included in the analysis. p16 overexpression was seen in 68.8% of patients. p16 positive and negative groups were comparable for age, gender, smoking status, stage, and treatment. A statistically significant 5‐year survival advantage was observed in patients with p16 positive SNSCC (P = 0.013).

Conclusions

This is the first Canadian study to demonstrate a high prevalence of p16 positivity in SNSCC and its presence denoting a statistically significant survival advantage. Results demonstrate a previously unconfirmed role of oncogenic HPV in SNSCC.
Epidemiology and molecular characterization of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from neonatal intensive care units in General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, China, 2017–2021
Authors: Qiu Zhuoran , Kang Yuting , Xu Chao , Ma Wanting , Li Gang , Jia Wei , Wang Pengtao
Published: March 2024

Objectives

This study aimed to retrospectively investigate the epidemiology and molecular characteristics of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) isolates from neonatal intensive care units (NICU) between 2017 and 2021.

Methods

The antibacterial susceptibility of all strains was assessed using the VITEK 2 compact system. The presence of antibiotic resistance, virulence genes, sequence types (STs), capsular (K) types, and the wzi genes was determined through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Molecular typing was performed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using the restriction enzyme XbaI. Additionally, the virulence potential of peg344-positive strains was evaluated using the string test and mouse intraperitoneal infection models. Whole-genome sequencing was conducted on the DNB system and PacBio platforms.

Results

A total of 46 CRKP isolates were collected during the study period. Out of these, 93.47% (43/46) were identified as CRKP strains belonging to the ST76-K10 type carrying blaNDM-5. It was observed that CRKP infection resulted in more severe clinical symptoms compared to CRKP colonization. Among the CRKP strains, a hypervirulent CRKP strain called KP-63, belonging to the ST23 type, was identified. This strain exhibited high mortality in the mouse infection model and was found to possess virulence genes. Genomic alignment analysis revealed a significant similarity between the virulence plasmid from KP-63 strain (pKP-63) and pK2044 from the hypervirulent K. pneumoniae strain NTUH-2044.

Conclusions

There has been a potential dissemination of ST76-K10 type CRKP carrying blaNDM-5 in the NICU at Ningxia Hospital. Neonatal CRKP infection has been found to cause more severe clinical symptoms than colonization. Furthermore, we have discovered a CR-hvKP strain of ST23 with serotype K1, which exhibits a significant resemblance in its virulent plasmid to pK2044. Therefore, it is crucial to enforce effective measures to restrict the spread and hinder the evolution of CRKP within the hospital.
Breeding ecology of a high-altitude shorebird in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Halimubieke Naerhulan , Lin Xi , Almalki Mohammed , Huang Qin , Liu Yuelou , Zhang Tongzuo , Zhang Zhengwang , Székely Tamás , Liu Yang
Published: March 2024

Shorebirds are facing global decline as a consequence of anthropogenic effects that include habitat loss, increased predation and climate change. Although some shorebirds are extensively studied, basic data on life history, ecology and behaviour are still lacking especially for populations where climate change is expected to have severe effects. Here, we provide the first detailed investigation of a high-altitude nesting shorebird in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, the Tibetan Sand Plover Charadrius atrifrons. This alpine-breeding Central-Asian species recently split from the Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus that breeds in Eastern Siberia. Understanding the fundamental ecology and behaviour of alpine-breeding shorebirds is important for predicting the challenges these high-altitude species will face given the human-driven environmental changes that are likely to take place in these habitats. Here, we show that Tibetan Sand Plovers in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau have a short breeding season from mid-May to late-June, and exhibit social monogamy and bi-parental care of the clutch. Since they have low hatching success (18 of 57 nests hatched) and no chance of renesting, maintaining population size in the future may pose a challenge. To provide essential information for protection of this species in a vulnerable habitat, further demographic studies are warranted to better understand how climate change will mould adaptations of this specialised high-altitude species to their environment.
Fixed-income average options: a pricing approach based on Gaussian mean-reverting cyclical models
Authors: León-Pérez Belén , Moreno Manuel
Published: March 2024

This paper values fixed-income (discrete- and continuous-time) European Asian and Australian options. We assume that the term structure of interest rates is modelled by the specification proposed in Moreno et al. (Econ Model 72:140–150, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econmod.2018.01.015). We obtain closed-form expressions for the premiums of geometric average options and, for arithmetic average options, premiums are computed by numerical methods. We also perform a sensitivity analysis with respect to different parameters for both (geometric and arithmetic) options.
Analysing the impact of ChatGPT in research
Authors: Picazo-Sanchez Pablo , Ortiz-Martin Lara
Published: March 2024

Large Language Models (LLMs) are a type of machine learning that handles a wide range of Natural Language Processing (NLP) scenarios. Recently, in December 2022, a company called OpenAI released ChatGPT, a tool that, within a few months, became the most representative example of LLMs, automatically generating unique and coherent text on many topics, summarising and rewriting it, or even translating it to other languages. ChatGPT originated some controversy in academia since students can generate unique text for writing assessments being sometimes extremely difficult to distinguish whether it comes from ChatGPT or a person. In research, some journals specifically banned ChatGPT in scientific papers. However, when used correctly, it becomes a powerful tool to rewrite, for instance, scientific papers and, thus, deliver researchers’ messages in a better way. In this paper, we conduct an empirical study of the impact of ChatGPT in research. We downloaded the abstract of over 45,000 papers from over 300 journals from Dec 2022 and Feb 2023 belonging to different research editorials. We use four of the most known ChatGPT detection tools and conclude that ChatGPT played a role in around 10% of the papers published in every editorial, showing that authors from different fields have rapidly adopted such a tool in their research.
An integrated decision framework for evaluating and recommending health care services
Authors: Alshouha Bashar , Serrano-Guerrero Jesus , Chiclana Francisco , Romero Francisco P. , Olivas Jose A.
Published: March 2024

Quality management techniques such as the quality function deployment model can help hospitals assess and improve the quality of their services by integrating the voice of customers. The different quality parameters of this model are usually determined and assessed by experts; nonetheless, obtaining such experts is not always easy or inexpensive. Moreover, in this method, patient opinions are not usually considered directly, although they are the real users of the services and those who can best assess those services. Nevertheless, these opinions are easily accessible today, owing to the development of medical social networks where patients directly convey their opinions about the different services and features of a hospital. Therefore, it is feasible to replace expert knowledge with the information provided by these opinions. Based on this idea, this study proposes a novel fuzzy recommendation model based on the quality function deployment method to rank hospitals depending on patient opinions and preferences regarding hospital services. This model integrates a topic modeling strategy for determining hospital requirements, customer needs, and the relationship between them as well as a sentiment analysis algorithm for assessing customer satisfaction regarding hospital services. To demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed method, several experiments were conducted using patient reviews from real hospitals, and the method was compared against other recommendation models. The results prove that this approach represents a step toward more personalized and effective health care system selection considering patient preferences and opinions.
Ferroptosis mechanisms and regulations in cardiovascular diseases in the past, present, and future
Authors: Fang Wenxi , Xie Saiyang , Deng Wei
Published: March 2024

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the main diseases that endanger human health, and their risk factors contribute to high morbidity and a high rate of hospitalization. Cell death is the most important pathophysiology in CVDs. As one of the cell death mechanisms, ferroptosis is a new form of regulated cell death (RCD) that broadly participates in CVDs (such as myocardial infarction, heart transplantation, atherosclerosis, heart failure, ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, atrial fibrillation, cardiomyopathy (radiation-induced cardiomyopathy, diabetes cardiomyopathy, sepsis-induced cardiac injury, doxorubicin-induced cardiac injury, iron overload cardiomyopathy, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), and pulmonary arterial hypertension), involving in iron regulation, metabolic mechanism and lipid peroxidation. This article reviews recent research on the mechanism and regulation of ferroptosis and its relationship with the occurrence and treatment of CVDs, aiming to provide new ideas and treatment targets for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of CVDs by clarifying the latest progress in CVDs research.

Graphical Abstract

• The identification, development history and characterization of ferroptosis.

• The role of different subcellular organelles and organelle-specific regulators in ferroptosis.

• The mechanism of ferroptosis includes iron metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and lipid metabolism.

• The role of ferroptosis in different cardiovascular cells and cardiovascular diseases.

• The treatment efficacy and pathological mechanism involved in ferroptosis and cardiovascular diseases.
Distribution of carboxy groups in TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils prepared from never-dried Japanese cedar holocellulose, Japanese cedar-callus, and bacterial cellulose
Authors: Ono Yuko , Horikawa Yoshiki , Takeuchi Miyuki , Funada Ryo , Isogai Akira
Published: March 2024

We prepared 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO)-oxidized samples from never-dried Japanese cedar (JC) holocellulose, JC-callus, and bacterial cellulose (BC). The original never-dried samples and their TEMPO-oxidized products were characterized by neutral sugar composition analysis. TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (TEMPO-CNFs) were prepared from the TEMPO-oxidized samples by ultrasonication in water. The carboxy groups in TEMPO-CNFs were position-selectively esterified with 9-anthryl diazomethane (ADAM) to prepare TEMPO-CNF-COOCH2-C14H9 samples, which had UV absorption peak at 365 nm. The mass-average degree of polymerization (DPw) values of 1% lithium chloride/N,N-dimethylacetamide (LiCl/DMAc) solutions of the original samples were determined by size-exclusion chromatography in combination with multi-angle laser-light scattering, ultraviolet absorption, and refractive index detection (SEC/MALLS/UV/RI), and were 5490, 2660, and 2380 for the JC holocellulose, JC-callus, and BC samples, respectively. The TEMPO-CNF-COOCH2-C14H9 sample solutions in 1% LiCl/DMAc were analyzed by SEC/MALLS/UV/RI to obtain SEC elution patterns. The patterns corresponded to the molar mass and carboxy group distributions of the samples, which were detected by RI and UV absorption of anthryl groups, respectively. The carboxy groups existed in the entire molar mass distribution regions of all the TEMPO-CNF samples, although their lower molar mass regions contained higher carboxy group densities. The obtained results indicate that random depolymerization occurred on the cellulose microfibril surfaces at the initial stage of TEMPO-catalyzed oxidation and/or ultrasonication in water. This depolymerization mechanism can explain all the obtained SEC-elution patterns of the TEMPO-CNFs, without considering the presence of periodically disordered regions in the cellulose microfibrils of the never-dried cellulose samples.

Graphical abstract
Inexact direct-search methods for bilevel optimization problems
Authors: Diouane Youssef , Kungurtsev Vyacheslav , Rinaldi Francesco , Zeffiro Damiano
Published: March 2024

In this work, we introduce new direct-search schemes for the solution of bilevel optimization (BO) problems. Our methods rely on a fixed accuracy blackbox oracle for the lower-level problem, and deal both with smooth and potentially nonsmooth true objectives. We thus analyze for the first time in the literature direct-search schemes in these settings, giving convergence guarantees to approximate stationary points, as well as complexity bounds in the smooth case. We also propose the first adaptation of mesh adaptive direct-search schemes for BO. Some preliminary numerical results on a standard set of bilevel optimization problems show the effectiveness of our new approaches.
Impact of inter-country corruption differences on wages and economic growth
Authors: Afonso Óscar , Pinho Mafalda
Published: March 2024

Theoretically and numerically, this paper attempts to examine the macroeconomic effects of corruption by using the two-country directed technical change model. At a single-country level, an increase in corruption levels in one country leads to an intra-country decrease in the demand for labor and wages and a permanent slowdown of technological-knowledge progress and economic growth. At the inter-country level, a country-specific increase in corruption enlarges inter-country wage and technological-knowledge gaps. Overall, higher corruption levels in one country are detrimental to global economic growth. Through calibration, it is shown that when the differences between the corruption of non-corrupt and corrupt countries increase: (1) economic growth is mainly stimulated in the corrupt countries India, Mexico, and Brazil; (2) the lowest wage inequality compared to non-corrupt countries is observed in the corrupt countries Greece, Portugal, and Spain.
Socializing the political: rethinking filter bubbles and social media with Hannah Arendt
Authors: Daus Zachary
Published: March 2024

It is often claimed that social media accelerate political extremism by employing personalization algorithms that filter users into groups with homogenous beliefs. While an intuitive position, recent research has shown that social media users exhibit self-filtering tendencies. In this paper, I apply Hannah Arendt’s theory of political judgment to hypothesize a cause for self-filtering on social media. According to Arendt, a crucial step in political judgment is the imagination of a general standpoint of distinct yet equal perspectives, against which individuals compare their own judgments in order to test their defensibility. I argue that social media inhibit this step by gamifying the pursuit of social status, which encourages users to consider the perspectives of others not for the sake of a general standpoint but for the sake of improving their social status, resulting in self-filtering. Consequently, ameliorating political extremism on social media requires not just reforming the algorithms that deliver content to users, but the interfaces on which users present their social identities.