bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Landscape of mSWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex perturbations in neurodevelopmental disorders
Authors: Valencia Alfredo M. , Sankar Akshay , van der Sluijs Pleuntje J. , Satterstrom F. Kyle , Fu Jack , Talkowski Michael E. , Vergano Samantha A. Schrier , Santen Gijs W. E. , Kadoch Cigall
Published: July 2023

DNA sequencing-based studies of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) have identified a wide range of genetic determinants. However, a comprehensive analysis of these data, in aggregate, has not to date been performed. Here, we find that genes encoding the mammalian SWI/SNF (mSWI/SNF or BAF) family of ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling protein complexes harbor the greatest number of de novo missense and protein-truncating variants among nuclear protein complexes. Non-truncating NDD-associated protein variants predominantly disrupt the cBAF subcomplex and cluster in four key structural regions associated with high disease severity, including mSWI/SNF-nucleosome interfaces, the ATPase-core ARID-armadillo repeat (ARM) module insertion site, the Arp module and DNA-binding domains. Although over 70% of the residues perturbed in NDDs overlap with those mutated in cancer, ~60% of amino acid changes are NDD-specific. These findings provide a foundation to functionally group variants and link complex aberrancies to phenotypic severity, serving as a resource for the chromatin, clinical genetics and neurodevelopment communities.
Philanthropy in art: locality, donor retention, and prestige
Authors: Shekhtman Louis Michael , Barabási Albert-László
Published: July 2023

A significant portion of funding for art comes from foundations, representing a key revenue stream for most art organizations. Little is known, however, about the quantitative patterns that govern art funding, limiting the fundraising efficiency of organizations in need of resources, as well as optimal funding allocation of donors. To address these shortcomings, here we relied on the IRS e-file dataset to identify $36B in grants from 46,643 foundations to 48,766 art recipients between 2010 and 2019, allowing us to quantify donor-recipient relationships in art. We find that philanthropic giving is broadly distributed, following a stable power-law distribution, indicating that some funders give considerably and predictably more than others. Giving is highly localized, with 60% of grants and funds going to recipients in the donor’s state. Furthermore, donors often support multiple local organizations that offer distinct artforms, rather than advancing a particular subarea within art. Donor retention is strong, with nearly 70% of relationships continuing the next year. Finally, we explored the role of institutional prestige in foundation giving, finding that funding does correlate with prestige, with notable exceptions. Our results present the largest and most comprehensive data-driven exploration of giving by foundations to art to date, unveiling multiple insights that could benefit both donors and recipients.
Noncanonical functions of Ku may underlie essentiality in human cells
Authors: Kelly Rachel D. , Parmar Gursimran , Bayat Laila , Maitland Matthew E. R. , Lajoie Gilles A. , Edgell David R. , Schild-Poulter Caroline
Published: July 2023

The Ku70/80 heterodimer is a key player in non-homologous end-joining DNA repair but is involved in other cellular functions like telomere regulation and maintenance, in which Ku’s role is not fully characterized. It was previously reported that knockout of Ku80 in a human cell line results in lethality, but the underlying cause of Ku essentiality in human cells has yet to be fully explored. Here, we established conditional Ku70 knockout cells using CRISPR/Cas9 editing to study the essentiality of Ku70 function. While we observed loss of cell viability upon Ku depletion, we did not detect significant changes in telomere length, nor did we record lethal levels of DNA damage upon loss of Ku. Analysis of global proteome changes following Ku70 depletion revealed dysregulations of several cellular pathways including cell cycle/mitosis, RNA related processes, and translation/ribosome biogenesis. Our study suggests that the driving cause of loss of cell viability in Ku70 knockouts is not linked to the functions of Ku in DNA repair or at telomeres. Moreover, our data shows that loss of Ku affects multiple cellular processes and pathways and suggests that Ku plays critical roles in cellular processes beyond DNA repair and telomere maintenance to maintain cell viability.
Parental burnout and borderline personality stand out to predict child maltreatment
Authors: Schittek Alice , Roskam Isabelle , Mikolajczak Moïra
Published: July 2023

Parental burnout is a severe disorder resulting from the exposure to chronic stress in the parental role, that can translate into neglectful and violent parental behaviors towards the offspring. This study (N = 1003 parents) aims to examine the relative weight of parental burnout, job burnout, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, borderline personality, sadism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism, narcissism, and child abuse potential, in predicting violence and neglect towards the offspring. Social desirability was controlled. When all predictors are entered together in the model, violence and neglect towards the offspring are best predicted by borderline personality and parental burnout. Our results also indicate that sadism is a robust predictor of violence, however weaker than parental burnout and borderline personality. These results emphasize the importance of preventing parental burnout and supporting parents with borderline personality.
Predicting compressive strength of eco-friendly plastic sand paver blocks using gene expression and artificial intelligence programming
Authors: Iftikhar Bawar , Alih Sophia C. , Vafaei Mohammadreza , Javed Muhammad Faisal , Rehman Muhammad Faisal , Abdullaev Sherzod Shukhratovich , Tamam Nissren , Khan M. Ijaz , Hassan Ahmed M.
Published: July 2023

Plastic sand paver blocks provide a sustainable alternative by using plastic waste and reducing the need for cement. This innovative approach leads to a more sustainable construction sector by promoting environmental preservation. No model or Equation has been devised that can predict the compressive strength of these blocks. This study utilized gene expression programming (GEP) and multi-expression programming (MEP) to develop empirical models to forecast the compressive strength of plastic sand paver blocks (PSPB) comprised of plastic, sand, and fibre in an effort to advance the field. The database contains 135 results for compressive strength with seven input parameters. The R2values of 0.87 for GEP and 0.91 for MEP for compressive strength reveal a relatively significant relationship between predicted and actual values. MEP outperformed GEP by displaying a higher R2and lower values for statistical evaluations. In addition, a sensitivity analysis was conducted, which revealed that the sand grain size and percentage of fibres play an essential part in compressive strength. It was estimated that they contributed almost 50% of the total. The outcomes of this research have the potential to promote the reuse of PSPB in the building of green environments, hence boosting environmental protection and economic advantage.
3D assessment of the nasolabial region in cleft models comparing an intraoral and a facial scanner to a validated baseline
Authors: Olmos Manuel , Matta Ragai , Buchbender Mayte , Jaeckel Fabian , Nobis Christopher-Philipp , Weber Manuel , Kesting Marco , Lutz Rainer
Published: July 2023

We aimed to validate the metric accuracy of a 3-dimensional (3D) facial scanner (FS) and an intraoral scanner (IOS) in capturing the nasolabial region in ex vivo unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) models. The nasolabial region of 10 UCLP models was scanned using a 3D FS as well as an IOS and a previously validated stationary 3D scanner as a reference. Intraoral scan was performed directly on the UCLP models. In order to apply the FS on the models, they were embedded in a 3D printed sample face. Both test groups were aligned to the reference by applying a section-based best-fit algorithm. Subsequent analysis of the metric deviation from the reference was performed with a 3D analysis tool. Mean distance and integrated distance served as main parameters for surface and volume comparison. Point comparison served as an additional parameter. Statistical analysis was carried out using t-test for unconnected samples. Considering mean distance and integrated distance as main parameters for 3D evaluation of the scanner’s accuracy, FS and IOS differ significantly in their metric precision in scanning the cleft model compared to the reference. The IOS proved to be significantly more accurate than the FS compared to the previously described stationary 3D scanner as reference and validated baseline. Further validation of the tested IOS and FS for 3D assessment of the nasolabial region is presented by adding the previously validated ATOS III Triple Scan blue light scanner as a reference. The IOS shows, compared to a validated baseline scan, significantly higher metric precision in experimental cleft model scanning. The collected data provides a basis for clinical application of the IOS for 3D assessment of the nasolabial region.
Ecological interactions affect the bioactivity of medicinal plants
Authors: Camina Julia L. , Usseglio Virginia , Marquez Victoria , Merlo Carolina , Dambolena José S. , Zygadlo Julio A. , Ashworth Lorena
Published: July 2023

Essential oils produced by medicinal plants possess important bioactive properties (antibacterial, antioxidant) of high value for human society. Pollination and herbivory can modify the chemical defences of plants and therefore they may influence the bioactivity of essential oils. However, the effect of ecological interactions on plant bioactivity has not yet been evaluated. We tested the hypothesis that cross-pollination and simulated herbivory modify the chemical composition of essential oils, improving the bioactive properties of the medicinal plant Lepechinia floribunda (Lamiaceae). Through controlled experiments, we showed that essential oils from the outcrossed plant progeny had a higher relative abundance of oxygenated terpenes and it almost doubled the bacteriostatic effect on Staphylococcus aureus, compared to inbred progeny (i.e., progeny produced in absence of pollinators). Herbivory affected negatively and positively the production of rare compounds in inbred and outcrossed plants, respectively, but its effects on bioactivity still remain unknown. We show for the first time that by mediating cross-pollination (indirect ecosystem service), pollinators can improve ecosystem services linked to the biological activity of plant’s essential oils. We stress the importance of the qualitative component of pollination (self, cross); an aspect usually neglected in studies of pollination services.
New paleomagnetic results from Neogene to Quaternary volcanic rocks of north of the Lake Van, Eastern Turkey
Authors: Kayın Sercan , İşseven Turgay
Published: July 2023

The Eastern Anatolia is an active tectonic region where the collision between the Arabian and Eurasian plates take place. Due to the subduction of Arabian plate’s oceanic lithosphere under Eurasian plate, widespread volcanism observed in large areas began in Serravallian. There is no consensus in the literature for the tectonic evolution of the region. Therefore, there are many geological and geophysical studies conducted with the intention of explaining the tectonic evolution of Eastern Anatolia by geodynamic models. Our paleomagnetism study aims to reveal the tectonic rotations in order to better understand the development of the prevailing tectonism in the region from the volcanic rocks. Paleomagnetic samples were collected from 86 sites of the Late Miocene–Pleistocene volcanic rocks located at the north of Lake Van. Isothermal remanent magnetization studies show that magnetite is the mineral responsible for magnetization in most rocks, while both magnetite and hematite are responsible for the rest of the rocks. Curie temperatures and alteration degrees of rock samples were also determined by high-temperature susceptibility (HTS) studies. In some samples, titanomagnetite component was observed in the heating phase of the HTS measurements. The absence of this component in the cooling step indicates that Ti-magnetite is transformed into magnetite by alteration. The Pleistocene volcanics show counterclockwise rotation of R ± ΔR = 13.4° ± 3.8°. The Pliocene volcanic rocks were defined in four different groups: south of Erciş Fault, north of Erciş Fault, around Muradiye and north of Van. Also, the remarkable clockwise rotation is observed in the north of Van and near Muradiye R ± ΔR = 24.4° ± 17.0° and R ± ΔR = 6.9° ± 9.4°, respectively. In addition, counterclockwise rotation (R ± ΔR = 14.5° ± 6.1°) is obtained in the southern part of the Erciş Fault, while there is no significant rotation (R ± ΔR = 0.6° ± 7.4°) on the northern side. Late Miocene volcanic rocks show no significant rotation either (R ± ΔR = 1.8° ± 13.7°). Our new paleomagnetic results indicate that the left-lateral strike-slip Çakırbey Fault, located to the east of the Erciş fault and extending roughly in the northeast–southwest direction, may be active.
Pulse oximetry values from 33,080 participants in the Apple Heart & Movement Study
Authors: Shapiro Ian , Stein Jeff , MacRae Calum , O’Reilly Michael
Published: July 2023

Wearable devices that include pulse oximetry (SpO2) sensing afford the opportunity to capture oxygen saturation measurements from large cohorts under naturalistic conditions. We report here a cross-sectional analysis of 72 million SpO2 values collected from 33,080 individual participants in the Apple Heart and Movement Study, stratified by age, sex, body mass index (BMI), home altitude, and other demographic variables. Measurements aggregated by hour of day into 24-h SpO2 profiles exhibit similar circadian patterns for all demographic groups, being approximately sinusoidal with nadir near midnight local time, zenith near noon local time, and mean 0.8% lower saturation during overnight hours. Using SpO2 measurements averaged for each subject into mean nocturnal and daytime SpO2 values, we employ multivariate ordinary least squares regression to quantify population-level trends according to demographic factors. For the full cohort, regression coefficients obtained from models fit to daytime SpO2 are in close quantitative agreement with the corresponding values from published reference models for awake arterial oxygen saturation measured under controlled laboratory conditions. Regression models stratified by sex reveal significantly different age- and BMI-dependent SpO2 trends for females compared with males, although constant terms and regression coefficients for altitude do not differ between sexes. Incorporating categorical variables encoding self-reported race/ethnicity into the full-cohort regression models identifies small but statistically significant differences in daytime SpO2 (largest coefficient corresponding to 0.13% lower SpO2, for Hispanic study participants compared to White participants), but no significant differences between groups for nocturnal SpO2. Additional stratified analysis comparing regression models fit independently to subjects in each race/ethnicity group is suggestive of small differences in age- and sex-dependent trends, but indicates no significant difference in constant terms between any race/ethnicity groups for either daytime or nocturnal SpO2. The large diverse study population and study design employing automated background SpO2 measurements spanning the full 24-h circadian cycle enables the establishment of healthy population reference trends outside of clinical settings.
Heteronuclear multicolor soliton compounds induced by convex-concave phase in fiber lasers
Authors: Zhang Heze , Mao Dong , Du Yueqing , Zeng Chao , Sun Zhipei , Zhao Jianlin
Published: July 2023

Optical solitons emerging from fiber resonators generally possess similar properties that hinge on the system parameters. However, the generation of wavepackets composed of dissimilar solitons within the same laser cavity is still challenging in ultrafast lasers. Here, we report on heteronuclear multicolor soliton compounds composed of chirp-free conventional solitons and chirped dissipative solitons, by introducing convex-concave frequency phases in mode-locked fiber lasers. In spite of different lasing wavelengths, the dissipative solitons always overlap with the conventional solitons, giving birth to trains of modulated wavepackets. The resonant sidebands of two types of solitons follow from the same phase-matching principle dominated by the absolute value of cavity dispersion. Simulations fully substantiate the experimental results, confirming that the overlapping of two solitons is dominated by the co-action of saturable absorption and group-delay compensation. It is demonstrated that the phase-managed dissipative system is capable of supporting multicolor soliton compounds with distinct properties, offering an effective platform to reveal the interaction of dissimilar nonlinear wavepackets.
Explaining machine learning models with interactive natural language conversations using TalkToModel
Authors: Slack Dylan , Krishna Satyapriya , Lakkaraju Himabindu , Singh Sameer
Published: July 2023

Practitioners increasingly use machine learning (ML) models, yet models have become more complex and harder to understand. To understand complex models, researchers have proposed techniques to explain model predictions. However, practitioners struggle to use explainability methods because they do not know which explanation to choose and how to interpret the explanation. Here we address the challenge of using explainability methods by proposing TalkToModel: an interactive dialogue system that explains ML models through natural language conversations. TalkToModel consists of three components: an adaptive dialogue engine that interprets natural language and generates meaningful responses; an execution component that constructs the explanations used in the conversation; and a conversational interface. In real-world evaluations, 73% of healthcare workers agreed they would use TalkToModel over existing systems for understanding a disease prediction model, and 85% of ML professionals agreed TalkToModel was easier to use, demonstrating that TalkToModel is highly effective for model explainability.
Olfactory chemosensation extends lifespan through TGF-β signaling and UPR activation
Authors: De-Souza Evandro A. , Thompson Maximillian A. , Taylor Rebecca C.
Published: July 2023

Animals rely on chemosensory cues to survive in pathogen-rich environments. In Caenorhabditis elegans, pathogenic bacteria trigger aversive behaviors through neuronal perception and activate molecular defenses throughout the animal. This suggests that neurons can coordinate the activation of organism-wide defensive responses upon pathogen perception. In this study, we found that exposure to volatile pathogen-associated compounds induces activation of the endoplasmic reticulum unfolded protein response (UPRER) in peripheral tissues after xbp-1 splicing in neurons. This odorant-induced UPRER activation is dependent upon DAF-7/transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling and leads to extended lifespan and enhanced clearance of toxic proteins. Notably, rescue of the DAF-1 TGF-β receptor in RIM/RIC interneurons is sufficient to significantly recover UPRER activation upon 1-undecene exposure. Our data suggest that the cell non-autonomous UPRER rewires organismal proteostasis in response to pathogen detection, pre-empting proteotoxic stress. Thus, chemosensation of particular odors may be a route to manipulation of stress responses and longevity.
Text-based predictions of COVID-19 diagnosis from self-reported chemosensory descriptions
Authors: Li Hongyang , Gerkin Richard C. , Bakke Alyssa , Norel Raquel , Cecchi Guillermo , Laudamiel Christophe , Niv Masha Y. , Ohla Kathrin , Hayes John E. , Parma Valentina , Meyer Pablo
Published: July 2023

Background

There is a prevailing view that humans’ capacity to use language to characterize sensations like odors or tastes is poor, providing an unreliable source of information.

Methods

Here, we developed a machine learning method based on Natural Language Processing (NLP) using Large Language Models (LLM) to predict COVID-19 diagnosis solely based on text descriptions of acute changes in chemosensation, i.e., smell, taste and chemesthesis, caused by the disease. The dataset of more than 1500 subjects was obtained from survey responses early in the COVID-19 pandemic, in Spring 2020.

Results

When predicting COVID-19 diagnosis, our NLP model performs comparably (AUC ROC ~ 0.65) to models based on self-reported changes in function collected via quantitative rating scales. Further, our NLP model could attribute importance of words when performing the prediction; sentiment and descriptive words such as “smell”, “taste”, “sense”, had strong contributions to the predictions. In addition, adjectives describing specific tastes or smells such as “salty”, “sweet”, “spicy”, and “sour” also contributed considerably to predictions.

Conclusions

Our results show that the description of perceptual symptoms caused by a viral infection can be used to fine-tune an LLM model to correctly predict and interpret the diagnostic status of a subject. In the future, similar models may have utility for patient verbatims from online health portals or electronic health records.
Personalized magnetic tentacles for targeted photothermal cancer therapy in peripheral lungs
Authors: Pittiglio Giovanni , Chandler James H. , da Veiga Tomas , Koszowska Zaneta , Brockdorff Michael , Lloyd Peter , Barry Katie L. , Harris Russell A. , McLaughlan James , Pompili Cecilia , Valdastri Pietro
Published: July 2023

Lung cancer remains one of the most life-threatening diseases and is currently managed through invasive approaches such as surgery, chemo- or radiotherapy. In this work, we introduce a novel method for the targeted delivery of a therapeutic laser for the treatment of tumors in peripheral areas of the lungs. The approach uses a 2.4 mm diameter, ultra-soft, patient-specific magnetic catheter delivered from the end of a standard bronchoscope to reach the periphery of the lungs. Integrated shape sensing facilitates supervised autonomous full-shape control for precise navigation into the sub-segmental bronchi, and an embedded laser fiber allows for treatment via localized energy delivery. We report the complete navigation of eight primary lumina in the bronchi of an anatomically accurate phantom (developed from computed tomography (CT) data) and successful laser delivery for photothermal ablation. We further evaluate the approach in three diverse branches of excised cadaveric lungs, showing a mean improvement in navigation depth of 37% with less tissue displacement when compared to a standard semi-rigid catheter and navigation depth repeatability across all tests of <1 mm.
A volume-based description of transport in incompressible liquid electrolytes and its application to ionic liquids
Authors: Kilchert Franziska , Lorenz Martin , Schammer Max , Nürnberg Pinchas , Schönhoff Monika , Latz Arnulf , Horstmann Birger
Published: July 2023

The assumption of local volume conservation due to incompressibility yields a better description of ion transport in concentrated electrolytes than local momentum conservation.
Tissue discrimination in head and neck cancer using image fusion of IR and optical microscopy
Authors: Al Jedani Safaa , Smith Caroline I. , Ingham James , Whitley Conor A. , Ellis Barnaby G. , Triantafyllou Asterios , Gunning Philip J. , Gardner Peter , Risk Janet M. , Shaw Richard J. , Weightman Peter , Barrett Steve D.
Published: July 2023

Fusion of FTIR with H&E images reveals the contributions of collagen, DNA and cytokeratin in metastatic/lymphoid tissue at high spatial resolution.
Reversible structural transformations and color-tunable emissions in organic manganese halides
Authors: Liu Yu-Hang , Wu Yi-Fan , Feng Li-Juan , Zhao Rui-Rui , Wang Shan-Xiao , Zhang Ming-Ming , Wang Dan-Yang , Kong Xiang-Wen , Lei Xiao-Wu
Published: July 2023

Two zero-dimensional hybrid manganese perovskites exhibit intrinsic green and red light emissions, respectively. Reversible structural and PL transformations can be achieved using dynamic controlling and thermodynamic controlling strategies.
Vascular disruption agent and phototherapeutic assembled nanoparticles for enhanced tumor inhibition
Authors: Pan Tangna , Tang Yuanyu , Pang E. , Zhao Shaojing , Yao Chaoyi , Wang Benhua , Song Xiangzhi , Lan Minhuan
Published: July 2023

Vascular disruption agent (combretastatin A-4 phosphate) and phototherapeutic (IEICO-4F) assembled nanoparticles (IFC NPs) were prepared for the first time.
Heat, pH, and salt: synthesis strategies to favor formation of near-infrared emissive DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters
Authors: Guha Rweetuparna , Rafik Malak , Gonzàlez-Rosell Anna , Copp Stacy M.
Published: July 2023

Synthesis yield of NIR-emissive DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters is significantly enhanced by temperatures of 20 to 40 °C and basic pH.
Ideal trigonal prismatic coordination geometry of Co(ii) in a honeycomb MOF with a triptycene-based ligand
Authors: Shuku Yoshiaki , Suizu Rie , Tsuchiizu Masahisa , Awaga Kunio
Published: July 2023

An ideal trigonal prismatic coordination geometry was achieved in the honeycomb metal–organic framework comprised of Co ions and triptycene-based bridging ligands.
Effect of fusion temperature on the crystallization kinetics of poly(butylene terephthalate)
Authors: Nasr Ahmed , Svoboda Petr
Published: July 2023

A tremendous effect of fusion temperature on the crystallization kinetics of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) was discovered.
Novel carbon allotropes in all-sp2 bonding networks: self-assembling design and first-principles calculations
Authors: Ma Ying , Ying Pan , Luo Kun , Wu Yingju , Li Baozhong , Han Qiaoyi , He Julong
Published: July 2023

H61-carbon (a) and H62-carbon (b) have excellent tensile properties, possessing a superior stretch in the direction of the helical chains.
When catchers meet – a computational study on the dimerization of the Buckycatcher
Authors: Menezes Filipe , Popowicz Grzegorz Maria
Published: July 2023

A multilevel computational study is performed on the dimerization of the buckycatcher against binding to fullerenes. We conclude that, contrary to previous studies, dimerization cannot compete thermodynamically against complexation with fullerenes.
Unveiling the correlation between the catalytic efficiency and acidity of a metal-free catalyst in a hydrogenation reaction. A theoretical case study of the hydrogenation of ethene catalyzed by a superacid arising from a superhalogen
Authors: Li Jin-Feng , Luo Lan , Bai Zhi-Hui , Yin Bing
Published: July 2023

A systematic quantum-chemical study of the hydrogenation of ethene, catalyzed by strong acids HX (X = F, Cl, Br) and superacids HA (A = MgX3, Mg2X5; X = F, Cl, Br) arising from octet superhalogens is explored.
Correction: First-principles modeling of the highly dynamical surface structure of a MoS2 catalyst with S-vacancies
Authors: Wang Po-Yuan , Chen Bo-An , Lee Yu-Chi , Chiu Cheng-chau
Published: July 2023

Correction for ‘First-principles modeling of the highly dynamical surface structure of a MoS2 catalyst with S-vacancies’ by Po-Yuan Wang et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2022, 24, 24166–24172, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CP03384D.
Acceptorless dehydrogenation of 4-methylpiperidine by supported pincer-ligated iridium catalysts in continuous flow
Authors: Chakrabarti Kaushik , Spangenberg Alice , Subramaniyan Vasudevan , Hederstedt Andreas , Abdelaziz Omar Y. , Polukeev Alexey V. , Wallenberg Reine , Hulteberg Christian P. , Wendt Ola F.
Published: July 2023

Finding alternative and sustainable ways to produce, store and convert energy is key for reducing fossil fuel-based CO2 emissions.
Evaluating reduced-form modeling tools for simulating ozone and PM2.5 monetized health impacts
Authors: Simon Heather , Baker Kirk R. , Sellers Jennifer , Amend Meredith , Penn Stefani L. , Bankert Joshua , Chan Elizabeth A. W. , Fann Neal , Jang Carey , McKinley Gobeail , Zawacki Margaret , Roman Henry
Published: July 2023

Reduced-form modeling approaches are an increasingly popular way to rapidly estimate air quality and human health impacts related to changes in air pollutant emissions.
A new impetus for biodesulfurization: bypassing sulfate inhibition in biocatalyst production
Authors: Silva Tiago P. , Paixão Susana M. , Alves Luís
Published: July 2023

Production of cost-effective BDS catalysts using sulfate as S-source.
Modular construction of N-arylated amino acid esters enabled by a photoredox-catalyzed multicomponent reaction
Authors: Li Qing , Sun Hanhan , Yan Fengying , Zhao Yuanyuan , Zhang Yicheng , Zhou Chao , Han Man-yi , Li Hongji , Sui Xianwei
Published: July 2023

An efficient photoredox-catalyzed three-component coupling reaction of aryl amine, glyoxalate and alkyltrifluoroborates has been reported.
Reference-free X-ray fluorescence analysis using well-known polychromatic synchrotron radiation
Authors: Wählisch André , Wansleben Malte , Unterumsberger Rainer , Kayser Yves , Beckhoff Burkhard
Published: July 2023

A reliable and reference-free X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis can be achieved by using accurate knowledge of the spectral distribution of the polychromatic excitation source.
A controllable perfusion microfluidic chip for facilitating the development of retinal ganglion cells in human retinal organoids
Authors: Gong Jing , Gong Yu , Zou Ting , Zeng Yuxiao , Yang Cao , Mo Lingyue , Kang Jiahui , Fan Xiaotang , Xu Haiwei , Yang Jun
Published: July 2023

A controllable perfusion microfluidic chip with the advantages of precisely controlling fluidic shear stress and oxygen concentration distribution is designed to promote the development of retinal organoids.
The co-enhanced effect of Zn-doping and Ag-loading on the selectivity of a p-type Fe2O3 toward acetone
Authors: Qin Qixuan , Liu Na , Zhang Yan , Bu Weiyi , Zhou Zhijie , Hu Changhua , Chuai Xiaohong
Published: July 2023

The Ag@Zn–Fe2O3 energy band diagram (a) before and (b) after Ag@Zn–Fe2O3 contact. The sensing mechanism of the Ag@Zn–Fe2O3 sensor in (c) air and (d) acetone.
Enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production activity of Ni modified TiO2/GO nanosheet composites
Authors: Liu Faxing , Xiang Quanjun , Zhang Xigui , Zhou Haiping
Published: July 2023

Ni modified TiO2/GO nanosheet composites were prepared using a hydrothermal method, and exhibited an enhanced photocatalytic H2-production activity.
Mechanistic insights of the copper(i)-catalysed reaction between chlorohydrazones and terminal alkynes
Authors: Ponti Alessandro , Silvani Alessandra , Molteni Giorgio
Published: July 2023

Deuterium incorporation in pyrazoles and the corresponding alkynylhydrazones from the Cu(i)-catalysed reaction between chlorohydrazones and terminal acetylenes depends on the reaction conditions, which reconciles apparently conflicting literature data.
Preparation and performance of xylan-based Sanguisorba officinalis L. polyphenol preservative films
Authors: Zhang Zhuorui , Yan Yunkai , Wang Jinyang , Song Jianxi , Jiang Guiquan
Published: July 2023

Xylan-based preservative films were prepared using xylan, chitosan, citric acid and Sanguisorba officinalis L. polyphenols (SOPs) as main components.
Control of vortex chirality in a symmetric ferromagnetic ring using a ferromagnetic nanoelement
Authors: Makartsou Uladzislau , Moalic Mathieu , Zelent Mateusz , Mruczkiewicz Michal , Krawczyk Maciej
Published: July 2023

A ferromagnetic nanoelement placed asymmetrically inside a ferromagnetic nanoring controls the chirality of the magnetization vortex state in remanence.
High-performance sorbents from ionic liquid activated walnut shell carbon: an investigation of adsorption and regeneration
Authors: Yang Liu , Yungang Wang , Tao Liu , Li Zou , Yanyuan Bai , Haoran Xiu
Published: July 2023

Ionic reagents have demonstrated a unique capacity to hydrolyze the residual cellulose found in walnut shell-based biomass char. The process leads to the creation of pores within carbon structure, which are crucial for its adsorption capabilities.
High performance N-doped carbon nanosheet/MnO2 cathode derived from bacterial cellulose for aqueous Zn-ion batteries
Authors: Wang Wenhai , Black Ashley P. , Liu Cheng , Martin-Diaconescu Vlad , Simonelli Laura , Tonti Dino
Published: July 2023

Highly performing N-doped carbon nanosheet/MnO2 derived from bacterial cellulose in an aqueous Zn-ion battery show MnO2 dissolution/deposition mechanism.
N and S co-doped nanosheet-like porous carbon derived from sorghum biomass: mechanical nanoarchitecturing for upgraded potassium ion batteries
Authors: Kim Minjun , Ma Liang , Li Zhibin , Mai Wenjie , Amiralian Nasim , Rowan Alan E. , Yamauchi Yusuke , Qin Aimiao , Afzal Rana Arslan , Martin Darren , Nanjundan Ashok Kumar , Li Jinliang
Published: July 2023

Nanosheet-like sorghum biomass obtained by mild alkaline treatment and high-energy ball milling is heteroatom-doped with N and S during pyrolysis. The resulting N, S co-doped carbon shows a significantly improved K-ion storage as an anode material in potassium ion batteries.
CoZnO/C@BCN nanocomposites derived from bimetallic hybrid ZIFs for enhanced electromagnetic wave absorption
Authors: Lin Xuexia , Hong Jiafu , Wang Chong-Chen , Su Mengxing , Zhou Shu-Feng
Published: July 2023

Rational design of dielectric–magnetic integrated nanomaterials to improve impedance matching for the enhancement of electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption.
Effect of channel thickness on radiation hardness of solution-processed oxide thin film transistors
Authors: Kang Hyunwoo , Ho Dongil , Kim Youngseok , Kim Jaeseung , Kim Hyunjung , Kim Choongik
Published: July 2023

The electrical properties of a-ZITO TFTs with different channel thicknesses were characterized under proton irradiation with electrical stress. The device measurements showed stronger radiation-tolerance of oxide TFTs with smaller channel thickness.
Elevated CO2 alters photosynthesis, growth and susceptibility to powdery mildew of oak seedlings
Authors: Sanchez-Lucas Rosa , Mayoral Carolina , Raw Mark , Mousouraki Maria-Anna , Luna Estrella
Published: July 2023

Elevated CO2 (eCO2) is a determinant factor of climate change and is known to alter plant processes such as physiology, growth and resistance to pathogens. Quercus robur, a tree species integrated in most forest regeneration strategies, shows high vulnerability to powdery mildew (PM) disease at the seedling stage. PM is present in most oak forests and it is considered a bottleneck for oak woodland regeneration. Our study aims to decipher the effect of eCO2 on plant responses to PM. Oak seedlings were grown in controlled environment at ambient (aCO2, ∼400 ppm) and eCO2 (∼1000 ppm), and infected with Erysiphe alphitoides, the causal agent of oak PM. Plant growth, physiological parameters and disease progression were monitored. In addition, to evaluate the effect of eCO2 on induced resistance (IR), these parameters were assessed after treatments with IR elicitor β-aminobutyric acid (BABA). Our results show that eCO2 increases photosynthetic rates and aerial growth but in contrast, reduces root length. Importantly, under eCO2 seedlings were more susceptible to PM. Treatments with BABA protected seedlings against PM and this protection was maintained under eCO2. Moreover, irrespectively of the concentration of CO2, BABA did not significantly change aerial growth but resulted in longer radicular systems, thus mitigating the effect of eCO2 in root shortening. Our results demonstrate the impact of eCO2 in plant physiology, growth and defence, and warrant further biomolecular studies to unravel the mechanisms by which eCO2 increases oak seedling susceptibility to PM.
Insights into the central role of N-acetyl-glucosamine-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GlmU) in peptidoglycan metabolism and its potential as a therapeutic target
Authors: Soni Vijay , Rosenn Eric H. , Venkataraman Ramya
Published: July 2023

Several decades after the discovery of the first antibiotic (penicillin) microbes have evolved novel mechanisms of resistance; endangering not only our abilities to combat future bacterial pandemics but many other clinical challenges such as acquired infections during surgeries. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is attributed to the mismanagement and overuse of these medications and is complicated by a slower rate of the discovery of novel drugs and targets. Bacterial peptidoglycan (PG), a three-dimensional mesh of glycan units, is the foundation of the cell wall that protects bacteria against environmental insults. A significant percentage of drugs target PG, however, these have been rendered ineffective due to growing drug resistance. Identifying novel druggable targets is, therefore, imperative. Uridine diphosphate N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) is one of the key building blocks in PG production, biosynthesized by the bifunctional enzyme N-acetyl-glucosamine-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GlmU). UDP-GlcNAc metabolism has been studied in many organisms, but it holds some distinctive features in bacteria, especially regarding the bacterial GlmU enzyme. In this review, we provide an overview of different steps in PG biogenesis, discuss the biochemistry of GlmU, and summarize the characteristic structural elements of bacterial GlmU vital to its catalytic function. Finally, we will discuss various studies on the development of GlmU inhibitors and their significance in aiding future drug discoveries.
Surfactant replacement therapy as promising treatment for COVID-19: an updated narrative review
Authors: Khudadah Khaled , Ramadan Alaa , Othman Ahmed , Refaey Neveen , Elrosasy Amr , Rezkallah Ayoub , Heseba Toka , Moawad Mostafa Hossam El Din , Mektebi Ammar , Elejla Sewar A , Abouzid Mohamed , Abdelazeem Basel
Published: July 2023

Patients with COVID-19 exhibit similar symptoms to neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. SARS-CoV-2 spike protein has been shown to target alveolar type 2 lung cells which synthesize and secrete endogenous surfactants leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome in some patients. This was proven by post-mortem histopathological findings revealing desquamated alveolar type 2 cells. Surfactant use in patients with COVID-19 respiratory distress syndrome results in marked improvement in respiratory parameters but not mortality which needs further clinical trials comparing surfactant formulas and modes of administration to decrease the mortality. In addition, surfactants could be a promising vehicle for specific drug delivery as a liposomal carrier, which requires more and more challenging efforts. In this review, we highlight the current reviews and two clinical trials on exogenous surfactant therapy in COVID-19-associated respiratory distress in adults, and how surfactant could be a promising drug to help fight the COVID-19 infection.
Automated Vowel Articulation Analysis in Connected Speech Among Progressive Neurological Diseases, Dysarthria Types, and Dysarthria Severities
Authors: Illner Vojtech , Tykalova Tereza , Skrabal Dominik , Klempir Jiri , Rusz Jan
Published: July 2023

Purpose:

Although articulatory impairment represents distinct speech characteristics in most neurological diseases affecting movement, methods allowing automated assessments of articulation deficits from the connected speech are scarce. This study aimed to design a fully automated method for analyzing dysarthria-related vowel articulation impairment and estimate its sensitivity in a broad range of neurological diseases and various types and severities of dysarthria.

Method:

Unconstrained monologue and reading passages were acquired from 459 speakers, including 306 healthy controls and 153 neurological patients. The algorithm utilized a formant tracker in combination with a phoneme recognizer and subsequent signal processing analysis.

Results:

Articulatory undershoot of vowels was presented in a broad spectrum of progressive neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, multiple-system atrophy, Huntington's disease, essential tremor, cerebellar ataxia, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, as well as in related dysarthria subtypes including hypokinetic, hyperkinetic, ataxic, spastic, flaccid, and their mixed variants. Formant ratios showed a higher sensitivity to vowel deficits than vowel space area. First formants of corner vowels were significantly lower for multiple-system atrophy than cerebellar ataxia. Second formants of vowels /a/ and /i/ were lower in ataxic compared to spastic dysarthria. Discriminant analysis showed a classification score of up to 41.0% for disease type, 39.3% for dysarthria type, and 49.2% for dysarthria severity. Algorithm accuracy reached an F-score of 0.77.

Conclusions:

Distinctive vowel articulation alterations reflect underlying pathophysiology in neurological diseases. Objective acoustic analysis of vowel articulation has the potential to provide a universal method to screen motor speech disorders.

Supplemental Material:

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.23681529
Anti‐tropical cyclone yaw control of wind turbines based on knowledge learning and expert system
Authors: Cai Zelin , Feng Tao , Yao Qi , Song Qian , Lin Limin
Published: July 2023

A tropical cyclone (TC) is extreme weather severely threatening coastal wind turbines. However, the non‐extreme wind speed period (nEWSP) before and after it can also bring considerable economic benefits to wind farms. Aiming at the working conditions of nEWSP‐TC, this paper analyzes the characteristics of the wind field based on historical actual TC data and constructs a pseudo‐Monte Carlo experiment, uses the experimental results to construct a knowledge base and an inference engine, and forms an expert system to guide the yaw control of wind turbines in nEWSP‐TC. The simulation results show that the yaw error has different effects on the fatigue load of the wind turbine under different working conditions of nEWSP‐TC, and the proposed improved yaw strategy can reduce the fatigue load of the wind turbine under the premise of limited power loss and improve safe operation capability of wind turbines under nEWSP‐TC conditions.
A robust transient energy function‐based controller for enhancing transient stability of virtual power system
Authors: Abazari Saeed , Ghaedi Sadegh
Published: July 2023

This paper offers non‐linear control for enhancing the transient stability in power systems containing a photovoltaic (PV) and doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) by transient energy function (TEF) method and finite‐time observers. At first, the TEF method is utilized to enhance the transient stability in a power system containing a PV, DFIG, and synchronous generator (SG) by constructing a hybrid Lyapunov function. Then, the derivative terms in control are estimated with finite‐time observers. The main contribution of the research is the application of the TEF technique in the transient stability evaluation of a power system consisting of PV, SG, and DFIG. Another innovation of the research is the simultaneous control of DFIG and PV, whose uncertain parameters are estimated with the use of finite‐time observer. The proposed non‐linear control scheme is robust against changes in the configuration of the power system. In order to show the capability of this control scheme, time domain simulations are performed on the IEEE 9‐bus, and the NEW ENGLAND Standard 39‐Bus power system. Using the obtained result, some comparisons are made with the back‐stepping control scheme to clarify the superiority of the proposed method. The comparisons show that the proposed non‐linear control scheme can properly provide extra damping to reduce the first‐swing fluctuations in less time.
Intelligent power distribution live‐line operation robot systems based on stereo camera
Authors: Chen Yutao , Wang Yahao , Tang Xuming , Wu Kai , Wu Shaolei , Guo Rui , Feng Yu , Dong Erbao
Published: July 2023

Maintenance tasks in distribution networks are often accompanied by hazards associated with high altitudes and high voltages. By utilising robots instead of human operators to perform these tasks, potential risks can be avoided, while productivity can be increased. This research proposes an intelligent power distribution live‐line operation robot (PDLOR) system based on a stereo camera to replace human to complete work. The PDLOR system consists of several key components, including dual manipulators, wireless tools, a visual perception system, an insulated bucket truck, and a ground control terminal. Once the task is confirmed, the real‐time vision system identification and positioning enable the adjustment of the insulated bucket to position the robot correctly for its intended work. The stereo camera plays a crucial role in accurately recognising and estimating the object's orientation. Additionally, a simplified reconstruction is performed within a virtual simulation environment, which aids in collision detection during path planning. After obtaining the optimal path, it is then communicated to the real manipulator for execution. To validate the feasibility of the PDLOR system, field experiments were conducted in actual distribution network scenarios. The results demonstrate that the PDLOR effectively completes single‐phase power‐line connection tasks within a remarkable 10‐min timeframe.
Lean Flow: Optimizing Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment and Flow for Obese Patients—A Technique Article
Authors: Blessing Joshua M. , Riley Jeffrey B.
Published: July 2023

The goal of this chart review was to investigate the use of down-sized cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuits for obese patients. The effects of transitioning from larger to smaller oxygenators, reservoirs, and arteriovenous tubing loops were evaluated through a retrospective review of 2,816 adult non-congenital procedure perfusion records. This technique report and case series is a continuation of our original prescriptive CPB circuit quality improvement project. An algorithm was derived to adjust body surface area (BSA) to lower body mass index (BMI) to provide down-sized extracorporeal circuit components capable of meeting the metabolic needs of the patient. As a result of using smaller circuits, decreased priming volumes led to significantly increased hemoglobin (HB) nadirs (p< .05) leading to significant decreases in homologous donor blood product exposures (p< .05). Patients with large BSAs were supported safely with smaller circuits by using lean body mass (LBM)–adjusted BSA and target blood flow algorithm. Based on this case series, large BMI patients may be safely supported with smaller circuits selected based on BSAs adjusted more toward LBM. Use of smaller circuits in high BMI patients led to higher HB nadirs and less donor blood components during the surgical procedure. Renal function and hospital stay were not affected by this approach.