bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Donor cord blood aging accelerates in recipients after transplantation
Authors: Onizuka Makoto , Imanishi Tadashi , Harada Kaito , Aoyama Yasuyuki , Amaki Jun , Toyosaki Masako , Machida Shinichiro , Kikkawa Eri , Yamada Sanetoshi , Nakabayashi Kazuhiko , Hata Kenichiro , Higashimoto Ken , Soejima Hidenobu , Ando Kiyoshi
Published: February 2023

Cord blood stem cell transplantation is an important alternative for patients needing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. However, it is unclear how cord blood cells, which are 0 years old, age in the recipient’s body after allogeneic transplantation. We performed DNA methylation (DNAm) age analysis to measure the age of cells using post-transplant peripheral blood in 50 cases of cord blood transplantation. The median chronological age (the time elapsed from the date of the cord blood transplant to the day the sample was taken for DNAm analysis) of donor cells was 4.0 years (0.2–15.0 years), while the median DNAm age was 10.0 years (1.3–30.3 years), and the ratio of DNAm age to chronological age (AgeAccel) was 2.7 (1.2–8.2). When comparing the mean values of AgeAccel in cord blood transplant cases and controls, the values were significantly higher in cord blood transplant cases. The characteristics of patients and transplant procedures were not associated with AgeAccel in this analysis, nor were they associated with the development of graft-versus-host disease. However, this analysis revealed that transplanting 0-year-old cord blood into a recipient resulted in cells aging more than twice as quickly as the elapsed time. The results shed light on the importance of the mismatch between cord blood stem cells and donor environmental factors in stem cell aging.
A machine learning based approach for quantitative evaluation of cell migration in Transwell assays based on deformation characteristics
Authors: Zhang Fei , Zhang Rongbiao , Wei Mingji , Li Guoxiao
Published: February 2023

A machine learning-based approach for quantitative evaluation of cell migration in Transwell assays using deformation characteristics was developed, providing a more efficient and automated evaluation way and adapting artificial intelligence trend.
Evaluation of kasugamycin as a chiral selector in capillary electrophoresis
Authors: Zhang Chunyan , Fan Yifeng , Cai Liangliang , Ma Xiaofei
Published: February 2023

This work describes the chiral separation performances of kasugamycin as a new chiral selector in capillary electrophoresis for six pairs of stereoisomers.
Automated cellular stimulation with integrated pneumatic valves and fluidic capacitors
Authors: Adeoye Damilola I. , Wang Yao , Davis Joshua J. , Roper Michael G.
Published: February 2023

To address flow control challenges in microfluidic systems with vacuum-driven flow, integrated valves and capacitors were used to deliver smooth stimulant profiles to murine islets of Langerhans for dynamic insulin secretion measurements.
Organic thermoelectric generators: working principles, materials, and fabrication techniques
Authors: Eryilmaz Ilknur Hatice , Chen Yan-Fang , Mattana Giorgio , Orgiu Emanuele
Published: February 2023

Organic thermoelectric generators are devices based on organic (semi)conductors that allow to recycle waste heat by partially converting it to electrical power.
A high-capacity, high-power organic electrode via supercritical CO2 impregnation into activated carbon micropores
Authors: Nakayasu Yuta , Sokabe Shu , Hiraga Yuya , Watanabe Masaru
Published: February 2023

A quinone-impregnation process using scCO2 yielded nearly twice the specific capacity and higher rate properties than that with liquid sonication.
SERS microsensors for pH measurements in the lumen and ECM of stem cell derived human airway organoids
Authors: Skinner William H. , Robinson Nicola , Hardisty Gareth R. , Fleming Holly , Geddis Ailsa , Bradley Mark , Gray Robert D. , Campbell Colin J.
Published: February 2023

SERS microsensors (SERS-MS) are polymer microparticles coated in gold nanoparticles and functionalised with mercaptobenzoic acid. SERS-MS were incorporated into human airway organoids to measured pH optically.
Reduction of transient carnosine radicals depends on β-alanyl amino group charge
Authors: Morozova Olga B. , Yurkovskaya Alexandra V.
Published: February 2023

The CIDNP study revealed that the rate constant of reduction of transient carnosine (β-alanyl-histidine) radicals via proton-coupled electron transfer from tryptophan depends on the protonation state of the amino group of the β-alanyl residue.
Composition-dependent chemical ordering predicted in Pt–Ag nanoalloys
Authors: Front Alexis , Mottet Christine
Published: February 2023

Pt–Ag nanoalloys display an astonishing chemical organization depending on their size and composition.
Optical frequency comb-based measurements and the revisited assignment of high-resolution spectra of CH2Br2 in the 2960 to 3120 cm−1 region
Authors: Sadiek Ibrahim , Hjältén Adrian , Roberts Frances C. , Lehman Julia H. , Foltynowicz Aleksandra
Published: February 2023

We introduce two independent frequency comb spectroscopy measurements of the absorption cross-section of CH2Br2 in the mid-infrared region and revisit its spectral assignment.
Digital synthetic polymers for information storage
Authors: Yu Li , Chen Baiyang , Li Ziying , Huang Qijing , He Kaiyuan , Su Yue , Han Zeguang , Zhou Yongfeng , Zhu Xinyuan , Yan Deyue , Dong Ruijiao
Published: February 2023

This tutorial review summarizes recent advances in salient features of digital synthetic polymers for data storage, including encoding, decoding, editing, erasing, encrypting, and repairing.
Parallel generation of extra advanced glycation end-products during co-digestion of whey proteins and α-dicarbonyls in a simulated gastrointestinal model
Authors: Zhang Qiaozhi , Jiang Yuhao , Li Huatao , Gao Zhongshan , Yu Gang , Xie Hujun , Wang Yanbo , Fu Linglin
Published: February 2023

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are additionally formed during co-digestion of whey proteins and α-dicarbonyls, i.e., methylglyoxal and glyoxal, in a simulated gastrointestinal model, which constitutes another source of dietary AGEs.
In vivo administration of gut bacterial consortia replicates urolithin metabotypes A and B in a non-urolithin-producing rat model
Authors: Iglesias-Aguirre Carlos E. , González-Sarrías Antonio , Cortés-Martín Adrián , Romo-Vaquero María , Osuna-Galisteo Leire , Cerón José Joaquín , Espín Juan Carlos , Selma María Victoria
Published: February 2023

The two bacterial consortia colonized the intestine of rats and converted UM-0 (non-urolithin-producing) animals into urolithin-producing animals mimicking the UM-A and UM-B metabotypes.
Valorisation of red beet waste: one-step extraction and separation of betalains and chlorophylls using thermoreversible aqueous biphasic systems
Authors: Rosa Marguerita E. , Ferreira Ana M. , Neves Catarina M. S. S. , Almeida Mafalda R. , Barros Rafael , Cristovão Ana C. , Sousa Ana C. A. , Reis Patrícia M. , Rebelo Luís Paulo N. , Esperança José M. S. S. , Coutinho João A. P. , Freire Mara G.
Published: February 2023

An integrated extraction–separation process: extraction and selective separation of chlorophylls and betalains using thermoreversible aqueous biphasic systems.
An interlayer spacing design approach for efficient sodium ion storage in N-doped MoS2
Authors: Wang Peng , Gou Wenshan , Jiang Tian , Zhao Wenjing , Ding Kunpeng , Sheng Huanxing , Liu Xin , Xu Qingyu , Fan Qi
Published: February 2023

MoS2 in a graphene-like structure that possesses a large interlayer spacing is a promising anode material for sodium ions batteries (SIBs).
Rich nitrogen atoms in an azine covalent organic framework for gas uptake
Authors: Xing Ce , Zhang Yuwei , Wei Dongxue , Zhang Chunyu , Zhao Lina
Published: February 2023

An azine-linked COF (Ns-COF) exhibited high porosity and rich N-atoms on the walls, suggesting good carbon dioxide and iodine capture.
Optically and electrically invariant multi-color single InGaN/GaN nanowire light-emitting diodes on a silicon substrate under mechanical compression
Authors: Qu Juntian , Wang Renjie , Pan Peng , Du Linghao , Sun Yu , Liu Xinyu
Published: February 2023

Opto-electro-mechanical characterization of single InGaN/GaN nanowire light-emitting diodes (LEDs) reveals no significant effect of mechanical stress on the LED performance.
Structural effects on the luminescence properties of CsPbI3 nanocrystals
Authors: Vukovic Olivera , Folpini Giulia , Wong E Laine , Leoncino Luca , Terraneo Giancarlo , Albaqami Munirah D. , Petrozza Annamaria , Cortecchia Daniele
Published: February 2023

By studying the temperature and pressure response of CsPbI3 nanocrystals, we demonstrated that the lattice deformation mechanism strongly affects the material's bandgap and recombination dynamics in nanocrystals with different sizes.
Perspectives for the conversion of perovskite indoor photovoltaics into IoT reality
Authors: Zhu Xinyi , Xu Jie , Cen Hanlin , Wu Zhaoxin , Dong Hua , Xi Jun
Published: February 2023

This minireview discloses the underlying challenges of perovskite indoor photovoltaics and summarizes the advanced strategies for indoor efficiency improvement.
Atomistic simulations on the carbidisation processes in Pd nanoparticles
Authors: Kordatos Apostolos , Mohammed Khaled , Vakili Reza , Goguet Alexandre , Manyar Haresh , Gibson Emma , Carravetta Marina , Wells Peter , Skylaris Chris - Kriton
Published: February 2023

The carbidisation mechanisms in PdCx nanoparticles are investigated through DFT. Insights on the preferential migration pathways from the surface to the interior are obtained towards the maximum interstitial C concentration.
DFT insights into Nb-based 211 MAX phase carbides: Nb2AC (A = Ga, Ge, Tl, Zn, P, In, and Cd)
Authors: Das Prima , Jahan N. , Ali M. A.
Published: February 2023

Comparison of (a) stiffness constants and (b) elastic moduli of Nb2AC (A = Ga, Ge, Tl, Zn, P, In, Cd, and Al) MAX phases.
Hollow nanotube arrays of nickle–cobalt metal sulfide for high energy density supercapacitors
Authors: Shen Ding , Li MingYue , Liu Yaohan , Fu Xiaofan , Yu Haoran , Dong Wei , Yang ShaoBin
Published: February 2023

Electrochemical performance of the NiCo2S4 hollow nanotube array as a promising electrode material for high energy density supercapacitors.
In situ synthesis of a Bi2O3 quantum dot decorated BiOCl heterojunction with superior photocatalytic capability for organic dye and antibiotic removal
Authors: Zhang Mingliang , Duo Fangfang , Lan Jihong , Zhou Jianwei , Chu Liangliang , Wang Chubei , Li Lixiang
Published: February 2023

A BiOCl nanosheet decorated with Bi2O3 quantum dots was firstly synthesized by a facile one-step in situ chemical deposition method and exhibited significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance for the rhodamine B and ciprofloxacin degradation.
The impact of SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease mutations on nirmatrelvir inhibitory efficiency. Computational insights into potential resistance mechanisms
Authors: Ramos-Guzmán Carlos A. , Andjelkovic Milorad , Zinovjev Kirill , Ruiz-Pernía J. Javier , Tuñón Iñaki
Published: February 2023

The use of antiviral drugs can promote the appearance of mutations in the target protein that increase the resistance of the virus to the treatment.
The vibronic state dependent predissociation of H2S: determination of all fragmentation processes
Authors: Zhao Yarui , Chen Junjie , Luo Zijie , Chang Yao , Yang Jiayue , Zhang Weiqing , Wu Guorong , Crane Stuart W. , Hansen Christopher S. , Ding Hongbin , An Feng , Hu Xixi , Xie Daiqian , Ashfold Michael N. R. , Yuan Kaijun , Yang Xueming
Published: February 2023

The comprehensive picture of the fragmentation behaviour of H2S has been provided by detecting the H, S(1D) and S(1S) atom products at wavelengths 155–120 nm.
Approaches to construct high-performance Mg–air batteries: from mechanism to materials design
Authors: Zhang Jiahe , Zhang Hanfang , Zhang Yingge , Wang Xuemei , Li Hongfen , Feng Feng , Wang Ke , Zhang Gaixia , Sun Shuhui , Zhang Yihe
Published: February 2023

Critical Mg–air battery researches is reviewed on battery mechanisms and electrode materials. The effect of reaction characteristics on battery performance and the impact of energy storage mechanisms on material design are discussed with emphasis.
Graphene family in cancer therapy: recent progress in cancer gene/drug delivery applications
Authors: Borzooee Moghadam Negin , Avatefi Manizheh , Karimi Mahnaz , Mahmoudifard Matin
Published: February 2023

In the past few years, the development in the construction and architecture of graphene based nanocomplexes has dramatically accelerated the use of nano-graphene for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes, fostering a new area of nano-cancer therapy.
Non-enzymatic electrochemical detection of creatinine based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with a Pd/Cu2O decorated polypyrrole (PPy) nanocomposite: an analytical approach
Authors: Nagarajan A. , Sethuraman V. , Sasikumar R.
Published: February 2023

A creatinine sensor was developed involving the use of a simple yet effective alternative to the commonly utilized Pd/Cu2O/PPy nanocomposite. A Pd/Cu2O/PPy/GCE newer electrode was fabricated for creatinine detection.
An aminopeptidase N-based color-convertible fluorescent nano-probe for cancer diagnosis
Authors: Yang Jiapei , Shen Chengshuo , Zhu Ting , Qian Qiuhui , Diao Xuebo , Huang Wei , Yasen Wumaier , Su Yue , Zhu Xinyuan , Shi Leilei
Published: February 2023

Recognition mechanism of the APN–SUB nanoprobe as the color-convertible probe toward APN.
An optimisation method of whole‐process restoration decision‐making of power systems considering disturbance‐resisting ability of the restored network
Authors: Gu Xueping , Bai Yansong , Li Shaoyan , Liu Ke , Liu Yutian , Wang Hongtao
Published: February 2023

Disturbance‐resisting ability (DRA) of the restored network needs to be considered when making a restoration scheme of power systems, to ensure system security and reduce secondary blackout risk. This paper proposes an optimisation method of whole‐process restoration decision‐making with DRA of the restored network in consideration. Firstly, a load rate balance (LRB) index of the restored network is defined to represent the DRA index during restoration. Then, an optimisation model of whole‐process restoration decision‐making is established, considering the LRB index of the restored system. To solve the model by a linear programming method, the non‐linear terms in the model are transformed into linear forms. Finally, a time‐step decoupling method to reduce solving difficultness of the established model with the LRB index is derived, with purpose of accelerating the solving process. The numerical results of the IEEE 30‐bus system and a practical power system verify effectiveness of the proposed method to obtain a restoration scheme to balance the system restoration benefit and security.
A lightweight image splicing tampering localization method based on MobileNetV2 and SRM
Authors: Shi Xiaoqian , Li Ping , Wu Hao , Chen Qidong , Zhu Haoyu
Published: February 2023

The architectures of many state‐of‐the‐art local tempering detection models are complexity, and the training process of those models is also time‐consuming. Therefore, this paper constructs a lightweight local tampering detection method based on the convolutional network MobileNetV2 and a dual‐stream network. Specifically, the algorithm first improves the MobileNetv2, which not only reduces the multiple of its downsampling operator to retain richer traces of image tampering, but also introduces the dilated convolution in it to expand the receptive field of feature maps. The dual‐stream network uses RGB stream to extract image tampering features such as strong contrast difference and unnatural tampered boundaries, and implements spatial rich model (SRM) stream to extract image tampered area and noise features of real area. Finally, the features extracted from two streams are fused through an improved attention mechanism called parallel convolutional block attention module (CBAM), which can improve the sensitivity of the model to important features in RGB and SRM. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm still has higher positioning accuracy than some existing algorithms, while achieving lightweight.
Parallel inverter control method based on adaptive parameters
Authors: Liu Chun , Ding Shichuan , Wu Zhongdong , Guo Xiaoxuan , Li Jiangwei
Published: February 2023

In the inverter parallel system, due to the uncertainty of the working environment, the output voltage cannot meet the requirements, and the power distribution accuracy by the traditional droop control method is low. To increase the control accuracy of the output voltage of the inverter parallel system and improve the power distribution accuracy between parallel modules, this paper proposes a parallel inverter control method based on adaptive parameters. This method is improved on the basis of traditional P‐V droop control, and an adaptive parameter control method is implemented by the Lyapunov function, which can effectively improve the control accuracy of the output voltage and ensure that the output voltage remains within a certain constraint range under any load conditions. In order to further improve the output voltage control accuracy, the adaptive parameter control method is adopted. The parameter optimization strategy was deduced, and the steady‐state and dynamic control performances were significantly improved. Simulation and experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed control method.
Discovery of the luminous X-ray ignition eRASSt J234402.9−352640
Authors: Homan D. , Krumpe M. , Markowitz A. , Saha T. , Gokus A. , Partington E. , Lamer G. , Malyali A. , Liu Z. , Rau A. , Grotova I. , Cackett E. M. , Buckley D. A. H. , Ciroi S. , Di Mille F. , Gendreau K. , Gromadzki M. , Krishnan S. , Schramm M. , Steiner J. F.
Published: February 2023

In November 2020, a new, bright object, eRASSt J234402.9−352640, was discovered in the second all-sky survey of SRG/eROSITA. The object brightened by a factor of at least 150 in 0.2–2.0 keV flux compared to an upper limit found six months previous, reaching an observed peak of 1.76−0.24+0.03 × 10−11 erg cm−2 s−1. The X-ray ignition is associated with a galaxy at z = 0.10, making the peak luminosity log10(L0.2−2 keV/[erg s−1]) = 44.7 ± 0.1. Around the time of the rise in X-ray flux, the nucleus of the galaxy brightened by approximately 3 mag. in optical photometry, after correcting for the host contribution. We present X-ray follow-up data from Swift, XMM-Newton, and NICER, which reveal a very soft spectrum as well as strong 0.2–2.0 keV flux variability on multiple timescales. Optical spectra taken in the weeks after the ignition event show a blue continuum with broad, asymmetric Balmer emission lines, and high-ionisation ([OIII]λλ4959,5007) and low-ionisation ([NII]λ6585, [SII]λλ6716,6731) narrow emission lines. Following the peak in the optical light curve, the X-ray, UV, and optical photometry all show a rapid decline. The X-ray light curve shows a decrease in luminosity of ∼0.45 over 33 days and the UV shows a drop of ∼0.35 over the same period. eRASSt J234402.9−352640 also shows a brightening in the mid-infrared, likely powered by a dust echo of the luminous ignition. We find no evidence in Fermi-LAT γ-ray data for jet-like emission. The event displays characteristics of a tidal disruption event (TDE) as well as of an active galactic nucleus (AGN), complicating the classification of this transient. Based on the softness of the X-ray spectrum, the presence of high-ionisation optical emission lines, and the likely infrared echo, we find that a TDE within a turned-off AGN best matches our observations.
„Wir müssen die Heimdialyse stärken“: Der 10-Punkte-Plan der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Nephrologie (DGfN)
Authors: Pavenstädt Hermann , Galle Jan C.
Published: February 2023

Die Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nephrologie e. V. (DGfN) befasst sich seit Langem mit dem Thema Heimdialyse aus medizinischer Sicht, doch in den letzten Jahren wurden Heimverfahren wegen gesellschaftlicher Entwicklungen auf besondere Weise in den Fokus der Nephrologie gerückt: Der Trend hin zur Individualisierung der Therapie, das wachsende Problem des Pflegemangels und Gründe des Umwelt- und Klimaschutzes sind dabei vorrangig zu nennen. Seit Veröffentlichung der Studie MAU-PD (MAU-PD: Multidimensionale Analyse der Ursachen für die niedrige Prävalenz der ambulanten Peritonealdialyse in Deutschland) und nach Anfrage aus dem Gemeinsamen Bundesausschuss (G-BA) hat sich die DGfN zur Stellungnahme entschieden und die Frage bearbeitet, wie Heimverfahren gestärkt werden können. In den Diskussionen wurde deutlich, dass die relativ geringe Rate an Heimdialysepatient*innen viele Gründe hat und dass man der Herausforderung, die Rate perspektivisch anzuheben, „ganzheitlich“ und auf vielen Ebenen begegnen muss. Mit einem 10-Punkte-Plan skizzierte die DGfN die Maßnahmen, die eine Trendwende herbeiführen könnten. Nun arbeitet sie an der Umsetzung des Plans und nutzt dazu unter anderem die Expertise ihrer Kommissionen.
Transplantation of Ultra-Long Cross-Donor Conjoined Perforator Flaps
with Multiple Blood Supply Sources for Wound Repair
Authors: Liu Zhijin , Liu Shengzhe , Cheng Junnan , Yang Lin , Zhang Tao , Ju Jihui , Hou Ruixing
Published: February 2023

Objective There are reports about the surgical method and clinical
efficacy of using ultra-long cross-donor perforator skin flap transplantation
with multiple blood supply sources to repair wounds.

Method Between January 2013 and March 2019, 29 wounds were repaired using
ultra-long skin flaps from the donor site of the chest, abdomen and
anterolateral thigh. All patients were followed up on a regular basis with a
view to the following: appearance of skin flap, function of recipient area and
healing of donor area.

Result After the operation, all 28 skin flaps were fine. On the fifth day
after the operation, one case of a 47-cm anterolateral thigh flap had dark skin
color in the distal-most area measuring about 5 cm×4 cm,
and the incision showed slow bleeding. In 11 cases, linear scars with soft edges
and no obvious contractures were left in the donor area of the chest and
abdomen. Eighteen cases with lateral femoral donor sites healed successfully,
with linear scars forming without contracture. Three cases with lateral femoral
donor sites had wide linear scars that were slightly above skin level and
exhibited no contracture.

Conclusion Transplantation of ultra-long conjoined cross-donor perforator
flaps with multiple blood supply is beneficial to wound repair and worthy of
clinical promotion.
Perinatal Outcomes during versus Prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Role of Maternal Depression and Perceived Stress: A Report from the ECHO Program
Authors: McKee Kimberly S. , Tang Xiaodan , Tung Irene , Wu Guojing , Alshawabkeh Akram N. , Arizaga Jessica A. , Bastain Theresa M. , Brennan Patricia A. , Breton Carrie V. , Camargo Carlos A. , Cioffi Camille C. , Cordero Jose F. , Dabelea Dana , Deutsch Arielle R. , Duarte Cristiane S. , Dunlop Anne L. , Elliott Amy J. , Ferrara Assiamira , Karagas Margaret R. , Lester Barry , McEvoy Cindy T. , Meeker John , Neiderhiser Jenae M. , Herbstman Julie , Trasande Leonardo , O'Connor Thomas G. , Hipwell Alison E. , Comstock Sarah S. ,   on behalf of program collaborators for Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes
Published: February 2023

Objective We sought to evaluate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on perinatal outcomes while accounting for maternal depression or perceived stress and to describe COVID-specific stressors, including changes in prenatal care, across specific time periods of the pandemic.

Study Design Data of dyads from 41 cohorts from the National Institutes of Health Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes Program (N = 2,983) were used to compare birth outcomes before and during the pandemic (n = 2,355), and a partially overlapping sample (n = 1,490) responded to a COVID-19 questionnaire. Psychosocial stress was defined using prenatal screening for depression and perceived stress. Propensity-score matching and general estimating equations with robust variance estimation were used to estimate the pandemic's effect on birth outcomes.

Results Symptoms of depression and perceived stress during pregnancy were similar prior to and during the pandemic, with nearly 40% of participants reporting mild to severe stress, and 24% reporting mild depression to severe depression. Gestations were shorter during the pandemic (B =  − 0.33 weeks, p = 0.025), and depression was significantly associated with shortened gestation (B =  − 0.02 weeks, p = 0.015) after adjustment. Birth weights were similar (B =  − 28.14 g, p = 0.568), but infants born during the pandemic had slightly larger birth weights for gestational age at delivery than those born before the pandemic (B = 0.15 z-score units, p = 0.041). More women who gave birth early in the pandemic reported being moderately or extremely distressed about changes to their prenatal care and delivery (45%) compared with those who delivered later in the pandemic. A majority (72%) reported somewhat to extremely negative views of the impact of COVID-19 on their life.

Conclusion In this national cohort, we detected no effect of COVID-19 on prenatal depression or perceived stress. However, experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic in pregnancy was associated with decreases in gestational age at birth, as well as distress about changes in prenatal care early in the pandemic.

Key Points
An Unusual Manifestation of Brucella-Associated Uveitis in a Young Male Patient
Authors: Lazaridou Athina , Kalogeropoulos Dimitrios , Bagli Eleni , Christodoulou Aikaterini , Kittas Christos , Kalogeropoulos Chris
Published: February 2023

This is a unique case of retinoschisis as an ocular manifestation of brucellosis. A 38-year-old male presented with recurrent episodes of bilateral eye redness, predominately in his left
eye. His visual acuity was not affected, and he did not report any other symptoms. On slit lamp examination, binocular Koeppe nodules of the iris and cells in the left anterior chamber were
observed. Fundoscopy followed by meticulous multimodal imaging confirmed left inferior retinoschisis. The patient was diagnosed with panuveitis, and a series of laboratory examinations
revealed positive anti-IgM Brucella antibodies. Ocular brucellosis can cause variable, atypical, and serious presentations, hence, early diagnosis is paramount to avoid
complications.
Acute Limb Ischemia after Cardiovascular Surgery: A Deadly Duo Combination with High Mortality
Authors: Indriani Suci , Dewangga Raditya , Adiarto Suko , Siddiq Taofan , Dakota Iwan , Andriantoro Hananto , Vuylsteke Marc
Published: February 2023

Acute limb ischemia (ALI) is a predictor of high morbidity and mortality. Previous studies showed that ALI developed after cardiac surgery may increase mortality.

This study aimed to elucidate the clinical course and identify risk factors contributing to mortality in patients with ALI after cardiovascular surgery.

This is a single-center retrospective cohort study. We analyzed data from 52 patients with ALI after cardiovascular surgery between 2016 and 2020. We evaluated the risk factors for 1-year mortality using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.

Most of the patients with ALI were male and the median age was 56 years (23–72 years). Most of the patients with ALI had coronary artery diseases. The 1-year mortality rate was 55.8% (n = 29 patients). Multivariable analysis revealed that cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time ≥ 100 minutes (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.067, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.158–8.120) and postoperative acute kidney injury (HR: 2.927, 95% CI: 1.358–6.305) were significantly increasing the risk of mortality in patients with ALI after an operation. ALI after cardiovascular surgery was associated with high 1-year mortality in our study and long CPB time and postoperative acute kidney injury contributed to the mortality.
Portal Vein Embolization: Indications, Outcomes, and Complications
Authors: Fountain Chandler
Published: February 2023

Portal vein embolization (PVE) is performed with the goal of causing hypertrophy of the future liver remnant (FLR) in patients prior to partial liver resections for either hepatocellular carcinoma or metastatic liver tumors. Since its earliest description in 1984, PVE has evolved technically and has proven to be a safe and effective means of causing predictable FLR hypertrophy. PVE allows patients who would have otherwise not been candidates to proceed with safe hepatic resection, particularly extended hepatic resections. Despite advances in equipment and techniques, complications do occur with PVE. This article discusses the indications, outcomes, and complications of PVE while providing historical perspective and technical insights.
Building an ultra low-power analog-to-digital converter for medical applications
Authors: Thompson Avery
Published: February 2023

Medical implant devices require as little power consumption as possible, and a collection of new techniques enables even lower limits.
Addressing the memory bottleneck with in-memory computing
Authors: Thompson Avery
Published: February 2023

Performing operations within the memory unit could speed up computing time and benefit select applications.
Temperature measurement and error analysis of the transverse plane of oil-jet-lubrication herringbone gear with infrared pyrometers
Authors: Wang Lin , Du Ze-kai , Wang Yong , Zheng Zhi-zhen , Chen Guo-ding
Published: February 2023

Frictional power losses of high-speed and heavy-load herringbone gearboxes increase the temperature of the gearbox. Thus, real-time surface temperature measurement is significant for evaluating the gearbox lubrication design. A rotating gear test rig with an infrared pyrometer is developed in this paper to conduct real-time and accurate temperature measurements of the transverse plane of the oil-jet-lubrication herringbone gear. First, the influencing factors and measuring errors of surface temperature are analyzed using the infrared pyrometer. The emissivity of the measured surface of a gear tooth painted with matte black is experimentally calibrated. Second, the temperature measurement tests of the oil-jet-lubrication herringbone gear under different conditions are carried out. Measurement errors resulting from purge air pressure, purge air temperature, and oil-jet temperature are also experimentally studied. The results indicate that the purge gas flow can reduce the measurement errors of the infrared pyrometer resulting from oil mist with an appropriate purge air pressure and purge air temperature. Finally, a mathematical curve-fitting of the measurement results between the infrared pyrometer and thermocouple is carried out. The calculated temperatures by the curve-fitting formula are compared with the measured thermocouple temperature, with the relative differences being less than 1 °C. Thus, the curve-fitting formula is credible for the real-time measurement of surface temperature, while the relevant measuring method is also valuable for engineering applications of high-speed gear systems under oil-jet-lubrication conditions.
Effects of asymmetric MgZnO barriers on polar optical phonon-limited electron mobility in wurtzite ZnO thin films
Authors: Wang J. X. , Qu Y. , Ban S. L.
Published: February 2023

MgZnO barriers are commonly applied to passivate wurtzite ZnO films to enhance electron mobility, while the Mg mole fraction x is usually controlled below 0.4 to avoid phase separation. Few theoretical analyses have focused on electron mobility at large x since the phase separation leads to a complex scattering mechanism. This work investigates the effects of asymmetric MgZnO barriers on electron mobility, which is one source of complexity. Four asymmetric quantum wells simultaneously contribute to the electron mobility in proportions when the wurtzite and rock salt coexist in the mixed-phase MgZnO barriers with large Mg mole fractions. Besides, built-in electric fields also contribute to the asymmetry by tilting the bands. The polar optical phonon-limited electron mobility in asymmetric MgxZn1−xO/ZnO/Mg0.45Zn0.55O quantum wells is simulated between 176 and 333 cm2/V s as x ranges from 0.1 to 1. Our calculations show that confined optical phonons play a leading role in the quantum well with wurtzite barriers. Interface optical phonons are primary in the wells with rock salt barriers since most electrons are pushed close to the interface by the strong built-in electric field. The results indicate that wurtzite barriers are more favorable to achieving stable high mobility above 238 cm2/V s as the Mg mole fraction ranges from 0.14 to 0.33, which is commonly applied in practice.
Spin wave dispersion relation engineering by magnonic crystals with arbitrary symmetry
Authors: García Jomaso Yesenia Angélica , Ley Dominguez David , Peña Espinoza Francisco Javier , Mendoza Sandoval Elizabeth , Reyes Almanza Arturo , Qureshi Naser , Ordóñez-Romero César Leonardo , Pirruccio Giuseppe
Published: February 2023

The use of metasurfaces to engineer the response of magnetic materials is of utmost importance in the field of magnon-spintronics. Here, we demonstrate a method to fabricate one- and two-dimensional magnonic crystals with arbitrary symmetry and use it to engineer the amplitude-frequency characteristic of magnetostatic surface spin waves excited in a magnetic material. The technique is based on the gentle microablation of the sample surface by focused femtosecond laser pulses. Tightly focused illumination allows using modest pulse energy while achieving micrometer precision. By raster scanning the incident laser spot on the sample surface, we control the shape and size of the building blocks constituting the unit cell of the crystal along with its symmetry and lattice parameter. Remarkable and controlled changes in the measured transmission characteristics reveal the strong and complex symmetry-dependent interaction of the spin waves with Bravais and non-Bravais lattices. The described single-step microfabrication method facilitates and speeds up the realization of integrated spintronics components and provides an efficient tool to explore complex magnetic dynamics in scattering lattices.
Self-organized collective oscillations in networks of stochastic spiking neurons
Authors: Chen Lei , Yu Chaojun , Zhai Jian
Published: February 2023

The theory of self-organized bistability (SOB) is the counterpart of self-organized criticality for systems tuning themselves to the edge of bistability of a discontinuous phase transition, rather than to the critical point of a continuous one. As far as we are concerned, there are currently few neural network models that display SOB or rather its non-conservative version, self-organized collective oscillations (SOCO). We show that by slightly modifying the firing function, a stochastic excitatory/inhibitory network model can display SOCO behaviors, thus providing some insights into how SOCO behaviors can be generated in neural network models.
Research on the dynamic response of pressurized cylindrical shell structures subjected to a near-field underwater explosion
Authors: Mao Wen-sheng , Zhong Ming-shou , Xie Xing-bo , Ma Hua-yuan , Yang Gui-li , Fan Lei
Published: February 2023

To study the dynamic response of a pressurized thin-walled circular tube structure subjected to a near-field underwater explosion, deformation and damage tests of a pressurized cylindrical tube shell with different internal pressures and wall thicknesses with the effects of an underwater explosion from 2 g of explosives at different stand-off distances were carried out in a water tank. LS-DYNA finite element software was used to carry out relevant numerical simulations to explore the anti-explosion mechanism of a pressurized cylindrical shell structure affected by factors including the initial internal pressure, the thickness of the cylindrical shell, and the stand-off distance. The simulation inputs are high-speed photography images and the damage results of the cylindrical shell. The simulation results highlight the bubble pulsation, action process deformation, and energy change of the cylindrical shell. The results indicate that an increase in the initial pressure of the cylindrical shell can effectively improve its anti-explosion ability, while the different stand-off distances of r = 12 cm and r = 9 cm correspond to the same initial internal pressure. Increasing the initial internal pressure also causes the deflection difference of the cylindrical shell to decrease. The modeling results also indicate that an increase in the wall thickness may weaken the anti-explosion ability of the cylindrical shell, which has an initial internal pressure of Pr = 0.7 MPa. After an underwater explosion, the maximum displacement difference of a cylindrical shell with thicknesses of h = 1 mm and h = 1.5 mm is less than the maximum rebound distance difference. With this decrease in the distance, the proportion of the high-pressure cylindrical shell subjected to a shock wave increases while the proportion of bubble pulsation decreases. Specifically, the maximum proportions of bubble pulsation are 30% and 92% at the stand-off distances of 3 and 12 cm, respectively.
Port reconfigurable phase-change resonator
Authors: Meng Haiyu , Lim Jeremy , Wang Lingling , Lee Ching Hua , Ang Yee Sin
Published: February 2023

Active control and manipulation of electromagnetic waves are highly desirable for advanced photonic device technology such as optical cloaking, active camouflage, and information processing. Designing a resonator with high ease-of-control and reconfigurability remains an open challenge thus far. Here, we propose a mechanism to continuously reconfigure a resonator between one-port and two-port configurations via a phase-change material for efficient spectra modulation. By incorporating a phase-change material VO2 substrate into a photonic crystal, we computationally show that the system behaves as a one-port device with near-perfect absorption and two-port device with high transmission up to 92% when VO2 is in the metallic rutile phase and insulating monoclinic phase, respectively. The optical response can be continuously and reversibly modulated between various intermediate states. More importantly, the proposed device is compatible with wide-angle operation and is robust against structural distortion. The switching operation of the proposed device can be further expanded into the mid-infrared regime. These findings reveal a device architecture of a port reconfigurable resonator uniquely enabled by the switchable optical properties of phase change materials.
Nanoscale ordering ferroelastic twins in ferromagnetic La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 heterostructures
Authors: Ji Yaoyao , Chen Pan , Zhu Mo , Liu Junhua , Gao Xiaofei , Li Lin , Wang Lifen , Bai Xuedong , Chen Kai , Liao Zhaoliang
Published: February 2023

To introduce coexistence of several ordering parameters in a material is a key but a very challenging goal in correlated materials, which can bring many novel phenomena and offer unprecedented opportunities for new device functions. Here, we demonstrate a general route to induce nanoscale periodic ferroelastic twins in otherwise weak- or non-ferroelastic perovskite oxides by coherently propagating ferroelastic twins in template materials into atop other films through unique structure coupling at perovskite oxide interfaces. Using the LaCoO3 thin film as a template and deliberately growing La2/3Sr1/3MnO3/LaCoO3 on the NdGaO3 (110) substrate, we were able to realize uniaxially and periodically ordering nanoscale ferroelastic twins in LaCoO3, and more importantly, such ferroelastic domain structure can be coherently transferred into La2/3Sr1/3MnO3. The uniaxial periodic ferroelastic twins in La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 can induce strong magnetic anisotropy which can compete with magneto-crystalline anisotropy, illustrating strong coupling between the ferromagnetism and ferroelasticity in La2/3Sr1/3MnO3. Our results provide a meaningful reference toward desired ferrelasticity for generating multiferrocity and developing novel oxide electronics.
Turbulent flow on a rotating disk
Authors: Newman John
Published: February 2023

The dissipation theorem is applied to describe fully developed turbulent flow on a rotating disk. A complicated coordinate transformation is proposed to solve the problem. The similarity exponent m becomes a parameter of the problem and can vary gradually with the Reynolds number. This solution may span the entire range from laminar to fully developed turbulent flow, although not accounting for all features observed in the transition region. The profiles of the various quantities are required to be well behaved, and this requirement is used to determine m at different Reynolds numbers. The results are in harmony with the literature and show how different geometries can be treated in a unified manner, with differences arising naturally from those geometric differences but with utilization of similar forms for the decay of the dissipation.
A 24 nW 10-bit 10 kS/s ultra-low-power SAR ADC for biomedical devices
Authors: Chen Yanbo , Nie Qiong , Zhong Chaowei , Song Jiayi , Huang Yinfeng , Lin Chengkai , Zeng Qiming , Cao Jie , Xue Yan
Published: February 2023

This paper proposed an ultra-low-power successive approximation register analog to digital converter (ADC) for medical implant devices. To reduce power consumption, the novel techniques presented in this paper are a tri-state capacitor unit, a novel switch scheme, and a new low static power comparator. Tri-state capacitor unit reduces down power without the use of middle voltage reference. The proposed switch scheme can complete the most-significant bit 3-bit conversion without any power consumption. The offset of the low static power comparator is only optimized by physical design. This ADC is fabricated in a 110 nm 1P5M CMOS process. The reference voltage of DAC is 1 V, and the supply voltage of comparator and digital logic is 1.5 V. At 10 kS/s sampling rate, the signal to noise and distortion ratio (SNDR) is 57.57 dB and power consumption is 24 nW.
Confined ionic liquids films under shear: The importance of the chemical nature of the solid surface
Authors: Bernardino Kalil , Ribeiro Mauro C. C.
Published: February 2023

Ionic liquids have generated interest in applications as lubricants and as additives to conventional lubricants due to their unique physical properties. In these applications, the liquid thin film can be subjected simultaneously to extremely high shear and loads in addition to nanoconfinement effects. Here, we use molecular dynamics simulations with a coarse-grained model to study a nanometric film of an ionic liquid confined between two planar solid surfaces both at equilibrium and at several shear rates. The strength of the interaction between the solid surface and the ions was changed by simulating three different surfaces with enhanced interactions with different ions. The increase in the interaction with either the cation or the anion leads to the formation of a solid-like layer that moves alongside the substrates; however, this layer can exhibit different structures and stability. An increase in the interaction with the high symmetry anion produces a more regular structure that is more resistant to the effects of shear and viscous heating. Two definitions were proposed and used for the calculation of the viscosity: a local definition based on the microscopic characteristics of the liquid and an engineering definition based on the forces measured at the solid surfaces, with the former displaying a correlation with the layered structure induced by the surfaces. Because of the shear thinning behavior of the ionic liquids as well as the temperature rise brought on by viscous heating, both the engineering and the local viscosities decrease as the shear rate increases.
Magnetic MOF composite material for decontamination of direct red 81 from polluted water
Authors: Salama Eslam , Ossman Mona , Hamdy Ali , Shokry Hassan , Elkady Marwa F.
Published: February 2023

Herewith, magnetic Zn MOF composite material was utilized as an efficient adsorbent for direct red 81 “DR81” dye from wastewater. The synthesized magnetic MOF was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission transmission electron microscopy (FETEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), thermal gravimetrical analysis (TGA), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis. The adsorption profile of DR81 anionic dye onto the prepared magnetic MOF was investigated with various processing parameters such as contact time, dosage, and initial dye concentrations. The optimum dosage from the fabricated magnetic Zn MOF for decontamination of DR81 was 1.0 g l−1 at pH = 7 after 30 min. The maximum Langmuir monolayer adsorption capacity of the DR81 decontamination via the synthesized magnetic MOF was recorded 67.35 mg g−1. These promising data confirmed the availability of the synthesized magnetic MOF composite as an excellent adsorbent material for the adsorption of DR81 from aqueous media.
A conserved zinc-binding site in
Acinetobacter baumannii
PBP2 required for elongasome-directed bacterial cell shape
Authors: Micelli Carmina , Dai Yunfei , Raustad Nicole , Isberg Ralph R. , Dowson Christopher G. , Lloyd Adrian J. , Geisinger Edward , Crow Allister , Roper David I.
Published: February 2023

Acinetobacter
baumannii
is a gram-negative bacterial pathogen that causes challenging nosocomial infections. β-lactam targeting of penicillin-binding protein (PBP)–mediated cell wall peptidoglycan (PG) formation is a well-established antimicrobial strategy. Exposure to carbapenems or zinc (Zn)-deprived growth conditions leads to a rod-to-sphere morphological transition in
A. baumannii
, an effect resembling that caused by deficiency in the RodA–PBP2 PG synthesis complex required for cell wall elongation. While it is recognized that carbapenems preferentially acylate PBP2 in
A. baumannii
and therefore block the transpeptidase function of the RodA–PBP2 system, the molecular details underpinning cell wall elongation inhibition upon Zn starvation remain undefined. Here, we report the X-ray crystal structure of
A. baumannii
PBP2, revealing an unexpected Zn coordination site in the transpeptidase domain required for protein stability. Mutations in the Zn-binding site of PBP2 cause a loss of bacterial rod shape and increase susceptibility to β-lactams, therefore providing a direct rationale for cell wall shape maintenance and Zn homeostasis in
A. baumannii
. Furthermore, the Zn-coordinating residues are conserved in various β- and γ-proteobacterial PBP2 orthologs, consistent with a widespread Zn-binding requirement for function that has been previously unknown. Due to the emergence of resistance to virtually all marketed antibiotic classes, alternative or complementary antimicrobial strategies need to be explored. These findings offer a perspective for dual inhibition of Zn-dependent PG synthases and metallo-β-lactamases by metal chelating agents, considered the most sought-after adjuvants to restore β-lactam potency against gram-negative bacteria.