bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A hydro-environmental optimization for assessing sustainable carrying capacity
Authors: Sedighkia Mahdi , Abdoli Asghar
Published: January 2023

The present study proposes an applicable method to determine the population carrying capacity of urban areas in which ecological impacts of river ecosystem as the source of water supply and sustainable population growth are linked. A multiobejctive optimization method was developed in which two objectives were considered: 1) minimizing the fish population loss as the environmental index of the river ecosystem and 2) minimizing the difference between initial population carrying capacity and the sustainable population carrying capacity. The ecological impacts of the river ecosystem were assessed through the potential fish population as an environmental index using several artificial intelligence and regression models. Based on case study results, the initial plan of development is not reliable because ecological impacts on the river ecosystem are remarkable. The proposed method is able to reduce the ecological impacts. However, the sustainable population carrying capacity is considerably lower than the initial planned population. It is needed to reduce the planned population more than 45% in the case study. Habitat loss is less than 35% which means the optimization model is able to find an optimal solution for balancing environmental requirements and humans’ needs. In other words, the optimization model balances the needs of environment and water supply by reducing 45% of population and decreasing habitat loss to 35%.
Investigating CO2 storage properties of Pd(II) and Co(II) chelates of a Schiff's base ligand
Authors: Ahmed Alya’a J. , Alias Mahasin , Ahmed Dina S. , Abdallh Mustafa , Bufaroosha Muna , Jawad Ali H. , Yousif Emad
Published: January 2023

A new metal complexes are made from the ligands derived from amoxicillin based Schiff's base coordinated with Pd(II) and Co(II) have been synthesized and characterized via different spectroscopic methods. FT-IR spectroscopy have shown a formation of tetrahedral and square planar geometry for Co(II) and Pd(II) complexes, respectively. Surface morphology was inspected via field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area of the metal complexes samples is about 6.63 to 8.71 m2/g, with pore diameters and volume of 0.030–0.0501 cm3/g and 18.39–22.98 nm, respectively. The quadrupole moment of CO2has a great effect on the adsorption capacity as it is highly diffusible of 21.38, 26.16 cm3.g−1for Co(II) and Pd(II) complex.
Are pediatric surgery fellowship websites ready for the changing paradigms in the virtual interview era?
Authors: Sacks Marla A. , Do Jeong Young , Mendez Yomara S. , Hashmi Asra , Radulescu Andrei , Tagge Edward P. , Robertson Jason O. , Khan Faraz A.
Published: January 2023

Purpose

With the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person fellowship interviews were curtailed, leading candidates to seek information from other resources. Our main purposes were (1) to determine what information recent participants in the match needed to evaluate programs and (2) to assess which of these were available online.

Methods

A focus group of ten recent graduates/applicants identified information that was important in choosing a fellowship program. In August 2020 and December 2021, websites belonging to the American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) and individual programs were assessed.

Results

Recent applicants identified 55 pieces of information considered important to their decision making. Of 57 pediatric surgery fellowships, 98% were listed on APSA’s website. Program descriptions on APSA’s website listed on average 60% of program information desired by applicants. All listed fellowship director, accreditation status, faculty list, and current fellow(s). Other descriptors frequently noted were alumni (95%), graduate’s board performance (83%), ECMO exposure (77%), and curriculum (70%). Information desired but less frequently available were fellow case logs (63%), trauma center designation (53%), burn center designation (40%), research opportunities (30%), candidate interview assistance (25%), and supplemental fellowships (12%). There were 7% of program descriptions that were not updated for at least a year.

Conclusions

APSA and individual program websites were complimentary. Websites often lacked data that applicants sought to inform their rank list. To best adapt to the evolving virtual interview paradigm, we suggest reporting key information on a central APSA website with more nuanced information available via links to program specific websites.
Effectiveness of interactive technology-assisted interventions on promoting healthy food choices: a scoping review and meta-analysis
Authors: Chew Han Shi Jocelyn , Rajasegaran Nagadarshini Nicole , Chng Samuel
Published: January 2023

Making healthy food choices is crucial for health promotion and disease prevention. While there are an increasing number of technology-assisted interventions to promote healthy food choices, the underlying mechanism by which consumption behaviours and weight status change remains unclear. Our scoping review and meta-analysis of seventeen studies represents 3988 individuals with mean ages ranging from 19·2 to 54·2 years and mean BMI ranging from 24·5 kg/m2 to 35·6 kg/m2. Six main outcomes were identified namely weight, total calories, vegetables, fruits, healthy food, and fats and other food groups including sugar-sweetened beverages, saturated fats, snacks, wholegrains, Na, proteins, fibre, cholesterol, dairy products, carbohydrates, and takeout meals. Technology-assisted interventions were effective for weight loss (g = –0·29; 95 % CI –0·54, −0·04; I2 = 65·7 %, t = –2·83, P = 0·03) but not for promoting healthy food choices. This highlights the complexity in creating effective interactive technology-assisted interventions and understanding its mechanisms of influence and change. We also identified that there needs to be greater application of theory to inform the development of technology-assisted interventions in this area as new and improved interventions are being developed.
A FRET-based respirasome assembly screen identifies spleen tyrosine kinase as a target to improve muscle mitochondrial respiration and exercise performance in mice
Authors: Kobayashi Ami , Azuma Kotaro , Takeiwa Toshihiko , Kitami Toshimori , Horie Kuniko , Ikeda Kazuhiro , Inoue Satoshi
Published: January 2023

Aerobic muscle activities predominantly depend on fuel energy supply by mitochondrial respiration, thus, mitochondrial activity enhancement may become a therapeutic intervention for muscle disturbances. The assembly of mitochondrial respiratory complexes into higher-order “supercomplex” structures has been proposed to be an efficient biological process for energy synthesis, although there is controversy in its physiological relevance. We here established Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) phenomenon-based live imaging of mitochondrial respiratory complexes I and IV interactions using murine myoblastic cells, whose signals represent in vivo supercomplex assembly of complexes I, III, and IV, or respirasomes. The live FRET signals were well correlated with supercomplex assembly observed by blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE) and oxygen consumption rates. FRET-based live cell screen defined that the inhibition of spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK), a non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase that belongs to the SYK/ zeta-chain-associated protein kinase 70 (ZAP-70) family, leads to an increase in supercomplex assembly in murine myoblastic cells. In parallel, SYK inhibition enhanced mitochondrial respiration in the cells. Notably, SYK inhibitor administration enhances exercise performance in mice. Overall, this study proves the feasibility of FRET-based respirasome assembly assay, which recapitulates in vivo mitochondrial respiration activities.
Decision level integration of unimodal and multimodal single cell data with scTriangulate
Authors: Li Guangyuan , Song Baobao , Singh Harinder , Surya Prasath V. B. , Leighton Grimes H. , Salomonis Nathan
Published: January 2023

Decisively delineating cell identities from uni- and multimodal single-cell datasets is complicated by diverse modalities, clustering methods, and reference atlases. We describe scTriangulate, a computational framework to mix-and-match multiple clustering results, modalities, associated algorithms, and resolutions to achieve an optimal solution. Rather than ensemble approaches which select the “consensus”, scTriangulate picks the most stable solution through coalitional iteration. When evaluated on diverse multimodal technologies, scTriangulate outperforms alternative approaches to identify high-confidence cell-populations and modality-specific subtypes. Unlike existing integration strategies that rely on modality-specific joint embedding or geometric graphs, scTriangulate makes no assumption about the distributions of raw underlying values. As a result, this approach can solve unprecedented integration challenges, including the ability to automate reference cell-atlas construction, resolve clonal architecture within molecularly defined cell-populations and subdivide clusters to discover splicing-defined disease subtypes. scTriangulate is a flexible strategy for unified integration of single-cell or multimodal clustering solutions, from nearly unlimited sources.
Pressure driven rotational isomerism in 2D hybrid perovskites
Authors: Yin Tingting , Yan Hejin , Abdelwahab Ibrahim , Lekina Yulia , Lü Xujie , Yang Wenge , Sun Handong , Leng Kai , Cai Yongqing , Shen Ze Xiang , Loh Kian Ping
Published: January 2023

Multilayers consisting of alternating soft and hard layers offer enhanced toughness compared to all-hard structures. However, shear instability usually exists in physically sputtered multilayers because of deformation incompatibility among hard and soft layers. Here, we demonstrate that 2D hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites (HOIP) provide an interesting platform to study the stress–strain behavior of hard and soft layers undulating with molecular scale periodicity. We investigate the phonon vibrations and photoluminescence properties of Ruddlesden–Popper perovskites (RPPs) under compression using a diamond anvil cell. The organic spacer due to C4 alkyl chain in RPP buffers compressive stress by tilting (n = 1 RPP) or step-wise rotational isomerism (n = 2 RPP) during compression, where n is the number of inorganic layers. By examining the pressure threshold of the elastic recovery regime across n = 1–4 RPPs, we obtained molecular insights into the relationship between structure and deformation resistance in hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites.
Bimodality and alternative equilibria do not help explain long-term patterns in shallow lake chlorophyll-a
Authors: Davidson Thomas A. , Sayer Carl D. , Jeppesen Erik , Søndergaard Martin , Lauridsen Torben L. , Johansson Liselotte S. , Baker Ambroise , Graeber Daniel
Published: January 2023

Since its inception, the theory of alternative equilibria in shallow lakes has evolved and been applied to an ever wider range of ecological and socioecological systems. The theory posits the existence of two alternative stable states or equilibria, which in shallow lakes are characterised by either clear water with abundant plants or turbid water where phytoplankton dominate. Here, we used data simulations and real-world data sets from Denmark and north-eastern USA (902 lakes in total) to examine the relationship between shallow lake phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll-a) and nutrient concentrations across a range of timescales. The data simulations demonstrated that three diagnostic tests could reliably identify the presence or absence of alternative equilibria. The real-world data accorded with data simulations where alternative equilibria were absent. Crucially, it was only as the temporal scale of observation increased (>3 years) that a predictable linear relationship between nutrient concentration and chlorophyll-a was evident. Thus, when a longer term perspective is taken, the notion of alternative equilibria is not required to explain the response of chlorophyll-a to nutrient enrichment which questions the utility of the theory for explaining shallow lake response to, and recovery from, eutrophication.
Suppressing phase disproportionation in quasi-2D perovskite light-emitting diodes
Authors: Wang Kang , Lin Zih-Yu , Zhang Zihan , Jin Linrui , Ma Ke , Coffey Aidan H. , Atapattu Harindi R. , Gao Yao , Park Jee Yung , Wei Zitang , Finkenauer Blake P. , Zhu Chenhui , Meng Xiangeng , Chowdhury Sarah N. , Chen Zhaoyang , Terlier Tanguy , Do Thi-Hoai , Yao Yan , Graham Kenneth R. , Boltasseva Alexandra , Guo Tzung-Fang , Huang Libai , Gao Hanwei , Savoie Brett M. , Dou Letian
Published: January 2023

Electroluminescence efficiencies and stabilities of quasi-two-dimensional halide perovskites are restricted by the formation of multiple-quantum-well structures with broad and uncontrollable phase distributions. Here, we report a ligand design strategy to substantially suppress diffusion-limited phase disproportionation, thereby enabling better phase control. We demonstrate that extending the π-conjugation length and increasing the cross-sectional area of the ligand enables perovskite thin films with dramatically suppressed ion transport, narrowed phase distributions, reduced defect densities, and enhanced radiative recombination efficiencies. Consequently, we achieved efficient and stable deep-red light-emitting diodes with a peak external quantum efficiency of 26.3% (average 22.9% among 70 devices and cross-checked) and a half-life of ~220 and 2.8 h under a constant current density of 0.1 and 12 mA/cm2, respectively. Our devices also exhibit wide wavelength tunability and improved spectral and phase stability compared with existing perovskite light-emitting diodes. These discoveries provide critical insights into the molecular design and crystallization kinetics of low-dimensional perovskite semiconductors for light-emitting devices.
Quantification of localized NAD+ changes reveals unique specificity of NAD+ regulation in the hypothalamus
Authors: Johnson Sean , Yoshioka Kiyoshi , Brace Cynthia S. , Imai Shin-ichiro
Published: January 2023

Recently, it has become a consensus that systemic decreases in NAD+ are a critical trigger for age-associated functional decline in multiple tissues and organs. The hypothalamus, which contains several functionally distinct subregions called nuclei, functions as a high-order control center of aging in mammals. However, due to a technical difficulty, how NAD+ levels change locally in each hypothalamic nucleus during aging remains uninvestigated. We were able to establish a new combinatorial methodology, using laser-captured microdissection (LCM) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), to accurately measure NAD+ levels in small tissue samples. We applied this methodology to examine local NAD+ changes in hypothalamic nuclei and found that NAD+ levels were decreased significantly in the arcuate nucleus (ARC), ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), and lateral hypothalamus (LH), but not in the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) of 22-month-old mice, compared to those of 3-month-old mice. The administration of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) significantly increased NAD+ levels in all these hypothalamic nuclei. Interestingly, the administration of extracellular nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase-containing extracellular vesicles (eNampt-EVs) purified from young mice increased NAD+ levels in the ARC and DMH. These results reveal the unique specificity of NAD+ regulation in the hypothalamus during aging.
A new entropic quantum correlation measure for adversarial systems
Authors: Shajilal Biveen , Huntington Elanor , Lam Ping Koy , Assad Syed
Published: January 2023

Quantum correlation often refers to correlations exhibited by two or more local subsystems under a suitable measurement. These correlations are beyond the framework of classical statistics and the associated classical probability distribution. Quantum entanglement is the most well-known of such correlations and plays an important role in quantum information theory. However, there exist non-entangled states that still possess quantum correlations which cannot be described by classical statistics. One such measure that captures these non-classical correlations is discord. Here we introduce a new measure of quantum correlations which we call entropic accord that fits between entanglement and discord. It is defined as the optimised minimax mutual information of the outcome of the projective measurements between two parties. We show a strict hierarchy exists between entanglement, entropic accord and discord for two-qubit states. We study two-qubit states which shows the relationship between the three entropic quantities. In addition to revealing a class of correlations that are distinct from discord and entanglement, the entropic accord measure can be inherently more intuitive in certain contexts.
Using deep learning to detect diabetic retinopathy on handheld non-mydriatic retinal images acquired by field workers in community settings
Authors: Nunez do Rio Joan M. , Nderitu Paul , Raman Rajiv , Rajalakshmi Ramachandran , Kim Ramasamy , Rani Padmaja K. , Sivaprasad Sobha , Bergeles Christos ,   for the SMART India Study Group, Raman Rajiv , Bhende Pramod , Surya Janani , Gopal Lingam , Ramakrishnan Radha , Roy Rupak , Das Supita , Manayath George , Vignesh T. P. , Anantharaman Giridhar , Gopalakrishnan Mahesh , Natarajan Sundaram , Krishnan Radhika , Mani Sheena Liz , Agarwal Manisha , Behera Umesh , Bhattacharjee Harsha , Barman Manabjyoti , Sen Alok , Saxena Moneesh , Sil Asim K. , Chakabarty Subhratanu , Cherian Thomas , Jitesh Reesha , Naigaonkar Rushikesh , Desai Abishek , Kulkarni Sucheta
Published: January 2023

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) at risk of vision loss (referable DR) needs to be identified by retinal screening and referred to an ophthalmologist. Existing automated algorithms have mostly been developed from images acquired with high cost mydriatic retinal cameras and cannot be applied in the settings used in most low- and middle-income countries. In this prospective multicentre study, we developed a deep learning system (DLS) that detects referable DR from retinal images acquired using handheld non-mydriatic fundus camera by non-technical field workers in 20 sites across India. Macula-centred and optic-disc-centred images from 16,247 eyes (9778 participants) were used to train and cross-validate the DLS and risk factor based logistic regression models. The DLS achieved an AUROC of 0.99 (1000 times bootstrapped 95% CI 0.98–0.99) using two-field retinal images, with 93.86 (91.34–96.08) sensitivity and 96.00 (94.68–98.09) specificity at the Youden’s index operational point. With single field inputs, the DLS reached AUROC of 0.98 (0.98–0.98) for the macula field and 0.96 (0.95–0.98) for the optic-disc field. Intergrader performance was 90.01 (88.95–91.01) sensitivity and 96.09 (95.72–96.42) specificity. The image based DLS outperformed all risk factor-based models. This DLS demonstrated a clinically acceptable performance for the identification of referable DR despite challenging image capture conditions.
Comparing machine learning approaches to incorporate time-varying covariates in predicting cancer survival time
Authors: Cygu Steve , Seow Hsien , Dushoff Jonathan , Bolker Benjamin M.
Published: January 2023

The Cox proportional hazards model is commonly used in evaluating risk factors in cancer survival data. The model assumes an additive, linear relationship between the risk factors and the log hazard. However, this assumption may be too simplistic. Further, failure to take time-varying covariates into account, if present, may lower prediction accuracy. In this retrospective, population-based, prognostic study of data from patients diagnosed with cancer from 2008 to 2015 in Ontario, Canada, we applied machine learning-based time-to-event prediction methods and compared their predictive performance in two sets of analyses: (1) yearly-cohort-based time-invariant and (2) fully time-varying covariates analysis. Machine learning-based methods—gradient boosting model (gbm), random survival forest (rsf), elastic net (enet), lasso and ridge—were compared to the traditional Cox proportional hazards (coxph) model and the prior study which used the yearly-cohort-based time-invariant analysis. Using Harrell’s C index as our primary measure, we found that using both machine learning techniques and incorporating time-dependent covariates can improve predictive performance. Gradient boosting machine showed the best performance on test data in both time-invariant and time-varying covariates analysis.
Characterization of a novel dual murine model of chemotherapy-induced oral and intestinal mucositis
Authors: Mohammed Ali I. , Celentano Antonio , Paolini Rita , Low Jun T. , McCullough Michael J. , O’ Reilly Lorraine A. , Cirillo Nicola
Published: January 2023

Oral and intestinal mucositis are debilitating inflammatory diseases observed in cancer patients undergoing chemo-radiotherapy. These are devastating clinical conditions which often lead to treatment disruption affecting underlying malignancy management. Although alimentary tract mucositis involves the entire gastrointestinal tract, oral and intestinal mucositis are often studied independently utilizing distinct organ-specific pre-clinical models. This approach has however hindered the development of potentially effective whole-patient treatment strategies. We now characterize a murine model of alimentary tract mucositis using 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU). Mice were given 5-FU intravenously (50 mg/kg) or saline every 48 h for 2 weeks. Post initial injection, mice were monitored clinically for weight loss and diarrhea. The incidence and extent of oral mucositis was assessed macroscopically. Microscopical and histomorphometric analyses of the tongue and intestinal tissues were conducted at 3 interim time points during the experimental period. Repeated 5-FU treatment caused severe oral and intestinal atrophy, including morphological damage, accompanied by body weight loss and mild to moderate diarrhea in up to 77.8% of mice. Oral mucositis was clinically evident throughout the observation period in 88.98% of mice. Toluidine blue staining of the tongue revealed that the ulcer size peaked at day-14. In summary, we have developed a model reproducing the clinical and histologic features of both oral and intestinal mucositis, which may represent a useful in vivo pre-clinical model for the study of chemotherapy-induced alimentary tract mucositis and the development of preventative therapies.
Marine protected areas, marine heatwaves, and the resilience of nearshore fish communities
Authors: Ziegler Shelby L. , Johnson Jasmin M. , Brooks Rachel O. , Johnston Erin M. , Mohay Jacklyn L. , Ruttenberg Benjamin I. , Starr Richard M. , Waltz Grant T. , Wendt Dean E. , Hamilton Scott L.
Published: January 2023

Anthropogenic stressors from climate change can affect individual species, community structure, and ecosystem function. Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are intense thermal anomalies where water temperature is significantly elevated for five or more days. Climate projections suggest an increase in the frequency and severity of MHWs in the coming decades. While there is evidence that marine protected areas (MPAs) may be able to buffer individual species from climate impacts, there is not sufficient evidence to support the idea that MPAs can mitigate large-scale changes in marine communities in response to MHWs. California experienced an intense MHW and subsequent El Niño Southern Oscillation event from 2014 to 2016. We sought to examine changes in rocky reef fish communities at four MPAs and associated reference sites in relation to the MHW. We observed a decline in taxonomic diversity and a profound shift in trophic diversity inside and outside MPAs following the MHW. However, MPAs seemed to dampen the loss of trophic diversity and in the four years following the MHW, taxonomic diversity recovered 75% faster in the MPAs compared to reference sites. Our results suggest that MPAs may contribute to long-term resilience of nearshore fish communities through both resistance to change and recovery from warming events.
Pacritinib inhibits glucose consumption in squamous cell lung cancer cells by targeting FLT3
Authors: Ghezzi Chiara , Chen Bao Ying , Damoiseaux Robert , Clark Peter M.
Published: January 2023

Squamous cell lung cancer maintains its growth through elevated glucose consumption, but selective glucose consumption inhibitors are lacking. Here, we discovered using a high-throughput screen new compounds that block glucose consumption in three squamous cell lung cancer cell lines and identified 79 compounds that block glucose consumption in one or more of these cell lines. Based on its ability to block glucose consumption in all three cell lines, pacritinib, an inhibitor of FMS Related Receptor Tyrosine Kinase 3 (FLT3) and Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2), was further studied. Pacritinib decreased glucose consumption in squamous cell lung cancer cells in cell culture and in vivo without affecting glucose consumption in healthy tissues. Pacritinib blocked hexokinase activity, and Hexokinase 1 and 2 mRNA and protein expression. Overexpression of Hexokinase 1 blocked the ability of pacritinib to inhibit glucose consumption in squamous cell lung cancer cells. Overexpression of FLT3 but not JAK2 significantly increased glucose consumption and blocked the ability of pacritinib to inhibit glucose consumption in squamous cell lung cancer cells. Additional FLT3 inhibitors blocked glucose consumption in squamous cell lung cancer cells. Our study identifies FLT3 inhibitors as a new class of inhibitors that can block glucose consumption in squamous cell lung cancer.
City comfort: weaker metabolic response to changes in ambient temperature in urban red squirrels
Authors: Wist Bianca , Montero B. Karina , Dausmann Kathrin H.
Published: January 2023

The ecophysiological responses of species to urbanisation reveal important information regarding the processes of successful urban colonization and biodiversity patterns in urban landscapes. Investigating these responses will also help uncover whether synurban species are indeed urban ‘winners’. Yet we still lack basic knowledge about the physiological costs and overall energy budgets of most species living in urban habitats, especially for mammals. Within this context, we compared the energetic demands of Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurusvulgaris) from the core of an urban environment with those from a nearby forest. We measured oxygen consumption as a proxy for resting metabolic rate (RMR) of 20 wild individuals (13 urban, 7 forest), at naturally varying ambient temperature (Ta) in an outdoor-enclosure experiment. We found that the variation in RMR was best explained by the interaction between Ta and habitat, with a significant difference between populations. Urban squirrels showed a shallower response of metabolic rate to decreasing Ta than woodland squirrels. We suggest that this is likely a consequence of urban heat island effects, as well as widespread supplemental food abundance. Our results indicate energy savings for urban squirrels at cooler temperatures, yet with possible increased costs at higher temperatures compared to their woodland conspecifics. Thus, the changed patterns of metabolic regulation in urban individuals might not necessarily represent an overall advantage for urban squirrels, especially in view of increasing temperatures globally.
Evaluation of the potential of miR-21 as a diagnostic marker for oocyte maturity and embryo quality in women undergoing ICSI
Authors: Jenabi Maryam , Khodarahmi Parvin , Tafvizi Farzaneh , Bostanabad Saeed Zaker
Published: January 2023

MicroRNAs are small molecules that play a crucial role in regulating a woman's reproductive system. The present study evaluates the expression of miR-21 in the serum, follicular fluid (FF), and cumulus cells (CCs) and their association with oocyte maturity and embryo quality in women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Women subjects were divided into the case (54 Patients with female factor infertility) and control groups (33 patients with male factor infertility). The level of miR-21 was measured using Real-Time PCR. The level of miR-21 was significantly lower in the CCs, FF, and serum in the case compared to the control group (p < 0.05). MiR-21 abundance was higher in FF and CCs samples than in serum. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in CCs to FF in the case group (p < 0.05). A significant decrease in oocyte count, MII oocytes, and percentage of mature oocytes were observed in the case group (p < 0.05). The expression of miR-21 in FF and CCs was positively related to oocyte maturation, but no correlation with embryo development was observed. This study found that miR-21 is expressed less in women with female factor infertility, and human oocytes' development is crucially affected by the expression of miR-21. Therefore, miR-21 could provide new helpful biomarkers of oocyte maturity.
Phy-Q as a measure for physical reasoning intelligence
Authors: Xue Cheng , Pinto Vimukthini , Gamage Chathura , Nikonova Ekaterina , Zhang Peng , Renz Jochen
Published: January 2023

Humans are well versed in reasoning about the behaviours of physical objects and choosing actions accordingly to accomplish tasks, while this remains a major challenge for artificial intelligence. To facilitate research addressing this problem, we propose a new testbed that requires an agent to reason about physical scenarios and take an action appropriately. Inspired by the physical knowledge acquired in infancy and the capabilities required for robots to operate in real-world environments, we identify 15 essential physical scenarios. We create a wide variety of distinct task templates, and we ensure that all the task templates within the same scenario can be solved by using one specific strategic physical rule. By having such a design, we evaluate two distinct levels of generalization, namely local generalization and broad generalization. We conduct an extensive evaluation with human players, learning agents with various input types and architectures, and heuristic agents with different strategies. Inspired by how the human intelligence quotient is calculated, we define the physical reasoning quotient (Phy-Q score) that reflects the physical reasoning intelligence of an agent using the physical scenarios we considered. Our evaluation shows that (1) all the agents are far below human performance, and (2) learning agents, even with good local generalization ability, struggle to learn the underlying physical reasoning rules and fail to generalize broadly. We encourage the development of intelligent agents that can reach the human-level Phy-Q score.
Development and evaluation of a novel fluorescent chiral derivatization reagent DBD-S-M-Pro: first observation of four chiral amino acids in human hair
Authors: Wang Xin , Sun Xiaoqi , Jin Yueying , Cheng Shengyu , Han Yu , Zhang Minghui , Zhang Lingli , Li Xi-Ling , Xu Chun-Yan , Min Jun Zhe
Published: January 2023

A new fluorescent chiral probe namely DBD-S-M-Pro was developed to sensitively and selectively determine free chiral amino acids in human hair by C18 column on UPLC-FL.
From the bottle: simple iron salts for the efficient synthesis of pyrrolidines via catalytic C–H bond amination
Authors: Stroek Wowa , Hoareau Lilian , Albrecht Martin
Published: January 2023

FeI2 is a simple and easily accessible yet highly efficient catalyst for C–H bond amination using organic azides, thus making this reaction accessible also without the use of catalysts with sophisticated ligands.
Synthesis of Z-schemes 0D–3D heterojunction bi-functional photocatalyst with ZnInCuS alloyed QDs supported BiOI MF for H2O2 production and N2 fixation
Authors: Prusty Deeptimayee , Mansingh Sriram , Parida K. M.
Published: January 2023

Photocatalytic H2O2 and NH3 production on Zn–Cu–In–S QDs coupled with BiOI MFs via a Z-scheme charge transfer dynamic.
Elucidating the chirality transfer mechanisms during enantioselective synthesis for the spin-controlled oxygen evolution reaction
Authors: Im Hayoung , Ma Sunihl , Lee Hyungsoo , Park Jaemin , Park Young Sun , Yun Juwon , Lee Jeongyoub , Moon Subin , Moon Jooho
Published: January 2023

The chirality transfer phenomenon during enantioselective synthesis in a liquid state has been clarified, enabling spin-dependent OER devices based on chiral inorganic catalysts with a high spin-filtering capability.
Mixing ligands to enhance gas uptake in polyMOFs
Authors: Pearson Matthew A. , Bhagchandani Sachin , Dincă Mircea , Johnson Jeremiah A.
Published: January 2023

PolyMOFs prepared from mixtures of multivalent polymer linkers and free linkers display tunable surface areas and improved CO2uptake compared to native MOF-5 and polyMOF-5.
Enhancement of spontaneous emission from CdSe/ZnS quantum dots through silicon nitride photonic crystal cavity based on miniaturized bound states in the continuum
Authors: Qiu Guixin , Wei Dunzhao , Liu Zhuojun , Liu Jin
Published: January 2023

A practical construction method for on-chip surface-emitting light sources on silicon-based integrated photonic devices, demonstrated with a SiN photonic crystal cavity on CdSe/ZnS quantum dots.
Formation of inorganic liquid gallium particle–manganese oxide composites
Authors: Cai Shengxiang , Ghasemian Mohammad B. , Rahim Md. Arifur , Baharfar Mahroo , Yang Jiong , Tang Jianbo , Kalantar-Zadeh Kourosh , Allioux Francois-Marie
Published: January 2023

Liquid gallium particles and manganese oxide inorganic composites were synthesised with the spontaneous formation of manganese oxide networks on the liquid surface of gallium. The composites exhibited tunable optical and photoelectric properties.
Spontaneous and scanning-assisted desorption–adsorption dynamics in porous supramolecular networks at the solution–solid interface
Authors: Fang Yuan , Ivasenko Oleksandr , Sanz-Matias Ana , Mali Kunal S. , Tahara Kazukuni , Tobe Yoshito , De Feyter Steven
Published: January 2023

Adsorption–desorption dynamics and local chemical composition of a physisorbed co-assembly can be characterized and controlled by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM).
In situ self-exsolved ultrasmall Fe2P quantum dots from attapulgite nanofibers as superior cocatalysts for solar hydrogen evolution
Authors: Wang Fang , Ma Haihong , Ren Fengmei , Zhou Zhengfa , Zhang Zhengguo , Xu Weibing , Min Shixiong
Published: January 2023

Ultrasmall Fe2P quantum dots (Fe2P QDs) are in situ self-exsolved from attapulgite (ATP) nanofibers by a low-temperature phosphidation method and the resulting Fe2P QDs/ATP has been shown to be an active, durable, and versatile H2 evolution cocatalyst.
Bimetallic Ni–Co selenide heterostructure aerogel for highly efficient overall water splitting
Authors: Liu Hongchen , Yang Fan , Chen Fengjiang , Che Sai , Chen Neng , Xu Chong , Wu Ni , Wei Wenkai , Li Yongfeng
Published: January 2023

A high-performance NiSe2–CoSe2 aerogel was prepared via facile gelation and selenium vapor deposition for efficient water splitting. Its heterostructure and aerogel morphology provided high intrinsic activity and abundant active sites, respectively.
Efficient surface polishing using burst and biburst mode ultrafast laser irradiation
Authors: Gaidys Mantas , Žemaitis Andrius , Gečys Paulius , Gedvilas Mindaugas
Published: January 2023

The use of laser irradiation for micromachining is widely applicable and has many benefits. Using correct parameters in burst and biburst modes 0.1 μm surface roughness is achievable with laser polishing.
Photoresponse of CVD grown crystalline quantum dot-embedded covalent organic framework thin film
Authors: Chaki Roy Neha , Kundu Tapanendu
Published: January 2023

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a new family of novel 2D materials which are highly sought after for integration into future sensors and other devices for their highly porous structures and large surface areas.
Preparation and characterization of doped hollow carbon spherical nanostructures with nickel and cobalt metals and their catalysis for the green synthesis of pyridopyrimidines
Authors: Taheri Maryam , Naeimi Hossein , Ghasemi Amir Hossein
Published: January 2023

In this study, for the synthesis of pyridopyrimidines, the catalytic reaction conditions were optimized by applying the Box–Behnken experimental design method to gain an excellent yield of the product.
Structure-based approach: molecular insight of pyranocumarins against α-glucosidase through computational studies
Authors: Abdjan Muhammad Ikhlas , Aminah Nanik Siti , Kristanti Alfinda Novi , Siswanto Imam , Ilham Baso , Wardana Andika Pramudya , Takaya Yoshiaki
Published: January 2023

We presented the structure-based approach (molecular docking and MD simulation) to understand the dynamics behavior and inhibitory efficiency of pyranocoumarin derivatives against α-glucosidase at the molecular level.
Dramatic improvement in the mechanical properties of polydopamine/polyacrylamide hydrogel mediated human amniotic membrane
Authors: Peng Lin , Liang Yufei , Yue Jianling , Li Hanmei , Deng Aimin , Xie Shun , Tang Xiu-Zhi , Wang Jing , Mao Zenghui
Published: January 2023

Dramatically improved mechanical properties of human amniotic membrane modified by PDA/PAM hydrogel due to the strong interface bonding.
Bio-inspired nacre-like composites with excellent mechanical properties, gas-barrier function and fire-retardant performances based on self-assembly between hyperbranched poly(amido amine)s and montmorillonite
Authors: Jin Biqiang , Wang Hao , Xu Hu , Wu Haitao , Wu Wenqiang , Yuan Zhaoyang , Huang Zhendong , Wang Yinghan , Wu Jinrong
Published: January 2023

Nacre-like composites with excellent mechanical properties, gas-barrier function and fire-retardant performances are prepared by hyperbranched poly(amido amine)s and montmorillonite.
Smartphone-assisted microfluidic and spectrophotometric recognition of hydrazine: a new platform towards rapid analysis of carcinogenic agents and environmental technology
Authors: Ghaseminasab Kambiz , Aletaha Nastaran , Hasanzadeh Mohammad
Published: January 2023

Hydrazine (Hyd), a poisonous substance, is frequently employed in agriculture and industry as a scavenger to remove residues of oxygen from boiler feed water, electrical power plants,etc.
Chitosan-vancomycin hydrogel incorporated bone repair scaffold based on staggered orthogonal structure: a viable dually controlled drug delivery system
Authors: Gao Xiaohan , Xu Zexian , Li Shangbo , Cheng Lidi , Xu Dian , Li Li , Chen Liqiang , Xu Yaoxiang , Liu Zijian , Liu Yanshan , Sun Jian
Published: January 2023

The schematic diagram of preparing the composite scaffolds.
Self-lubrication and tribological properties of polymer composites containing lubricant
Authors: Lee Sung-Jun , Kim Gang-Min , Kim Chang-Lae
Published: January 2023

The purpose of this study was to improve the tribological properties of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) by mixing lubricants into it.
A biocompatible and fully erodible conducting polymer enables implanted rechargeable Zn batteries
Authors: Jia Xiaoteng , Ma Xuenan , Zhao Li , Xin Meiying , Hao Yulei , Sun Peng , Wang Chenguang , Chao Danming , Liu Fangmeng , Wang Caiyun , Lu Geyu , Wallace Gordon
Published: January 2023

A biocompatible and fully erodible PEDOT derivative is reported. An implanted rechargeable Zn–polymer battery demonstrates high rate capacity and full biodegradation in vivo.
Microfluidic synthesis of multilayered lipid–polymer hybrid nanoparticles for the formulation of low solubility drugs
Authors: Kambar Nurila , Leal Cecília
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we describe a microfluidics route to develop new structures of hybrid polymer and lipid nanoparticles (HNPs) which are beneficial in the formulation of poorly soluble drugs.
The unexpected photoelectrochemical activity of MAX phases: the role of oxide impurities
Authors: Sanna Michela , Novčić Katarina A. , Ng Siowwoon , Černý Miroslav , Pumera Martin
Published: January 2023

Despite the absence of band gap calculated for MAX phases, the experimental analysis showed the crucial role that impurities play in the photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation, leading to better performances thanks to their intrinsic photoactivity.
Estimation of thermophysic properties of a bimaterial by temperature field measurement and finite element model updating
Authors: Koumekpo Yao , Atchonouglo Kossi , Ayeleh Edo-Owodou , Germaneau Arnaud , Caillé Laettia , Dupré Jean-Christophe
Published: January 2023

The aim of this study is to identify simultaneously the thermal conductivity tensor and the heat capacity per unit volume of a bimaterial, whose heat conduction obeys Fourier’s law. This approach is validated by numerical simulation. The simulated temperature fields are obtained by the direct resolution of the heat conduction equation solved numerically with the help of finite element method formulation. To identify the parameters, an inverse method is developed by using the finite element model updating (FEMU) based on the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. This inverse finite element method approach allowed us to estimate the thermophysical parameters sought. We validated the numerical procedure by using noiseless temperature fields at different time and space steps and two types of material: an homogeneous and a bimaterial one. To be close to real conditions, the influence of the noise on the temperature fields is also studied and shows the efficiency of the inverse method. The results of this procedure show that the identified parameters are very less sensitive to the number of infra-red images varying from 40 to 80 and the number of elements ranging from 20 to 50 for a specimen size equals to 36.6 × 36.6 mm2.
A Review on the Milestones of Blue Light-Emitting Materials in India
Authors: Odedara Nisha , Borane Niteen , Patel Rahul , Boddula Rajamouli
Published: January 2023

Since 1987 in the field of optoelectronics, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have secured their position because of their extreme use in panels of lighting applications such as TV and smartphone displays. At present, OLEDs are at top-notch position in the lighting market for their promising features. The field of OLEDs is rapidly growing day by day in academia and industry due to the success of OLEDs in the form of excellent efficiency, feasible methods, excellent lifetime, color purity, and superb device architecture. As a result, OLEDs are new profitable leading devices of the 21st century. However, the OLED industry has evolved in optoelectronics in the last 30 years and is advancing rapidly just because of the development in OLED materials (fluorescent, phosphorescent, thermally activated delayed fluorescent, and blue light-emitting materials). Blue light-emitting materials have achieved incredible popularity nationally and internationally. At the international level, USA, Japan, Korea, and Germany are at the top of the list in the production of OLEDs. India has also seen rapid progress in OLED development in the last 12 years and details of research in blue OLEDs by key players of India are involved in this report.

1 Introduction

1.1 OLED Construction

1.2 Working of OLED

2 OLED Development

2.1 Historical Background of OLED

2.1.1 International Status

2.1.2 National Status

3 Progress of Blue Emitters in India

4 Present Scenario of Blue OLEDs

5 Conclusions and Outlook
A Novel Treatment of Pediatric Atlanto-Occipital Dislocation with Nonfusion Using Muscle-Preserving Temporary Internal Fixation of C0-C2: Case Series and Technical Note
Authors: Holy Marek , Szigethy Lilla , Joelson Anders , Olerud Claes
Published: January 2023

Study Design Case series with surgical technical note.

Objectives This article reports experiences and results of muscle-preserving temporary C0-C2 fixation for the treatment of atlanto-occipital dislocation (AOD).

Methods AOD is a rare injury caused by high-energy trauma, occurring in less than 1% of pediatric trauma patients. Recommended treatment is C0-C2 fusion which, however, will result in significant loss of mobility in the craniocervical junction (CCJ), especially C1-C2 rotation. An alternative approach, with the ability of preserving mobility in the C1-C2 segment, is a temporary fixation that allows the ligaments to heal, after which the implants can be removed to regain function in the CCJ joints. By using a muscle-preserving approach and navigation for the C2 screws, a relatively atraumatic fixation of the CCJ can be achieved with motion recovery after implant removal.

Results We present two cases of AOD treated with temporary fixation. A 12-year-old boy involved in a frontal car collision, as a strapped back seat passenger, was treated with temporary C0-C2 fixation for 10 months. Follow-up at 11 months after implant removal included clinical evaluation, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and flexion-extension X-rays. He was free of symptoms at follow-up. The CCJ was radiographically stable and he had 45 degrees of C1-C2 rotation.

A 7-year-old girl was hit by a car as she got off a bus. She was treated with temporary fixation for 4 months after which the implant was removed. Follow-up at 8 years included clinical evaluation and MRI in rotation. She was free of symptoms. The ligaments of the CCJ appeared normal and her C1-C2 rotation was 30 degrees.

Conclusion C0-C2 fixation without fusion allows the CCJ ligaments to heal in pediatric AOD. By removing the implants after ligament healing, rotation in the C1-C2 segment can be regained without subsequent instability. Both our patients tolerated the treatment well and were free of symptoms at follow-up.

By using minimally invasive muscle-preserving technique and navigation, temporary fixation of the CCJ can be achieved with minimal damage to the soft tissues allowing recovery of almost normal function after implant removal.
Migrant associations, other social networks of Portuguese Diaspora, and the modern political engagement of non-resident citizens
Authors: Góis Pedro , Marques José
Published: January 2023

Portuguese emigration has a long global history and, in recent decades, has increased substantially and diversified its range of destinations. Recent emigration, predominantly to the European Union and Lusophone countries in Africa, complemented the traditional 19th to twentieth centuries’ waves of emigration to the Americas. The Portuguese Diaspora is multigenerational and globally distributed, although diverse. How are those generations of migrants organized within the local spaces of the Diaspora? Based on an innovative survey of more than 500 Portuguese Diaspora organisations, this paper shows how migrant engagement policies and practices are evolving and dealing with the new types of Diaspora relations, organisations and institutions. The main output of this research is an exploratory typology of the contemporary apparatuses of these Portuguese Diaspora systems and their nodes. This typology characterises the modern political engagement of non-resident citizens through their participation in associations and other social networks. With this pioneering paper, we intend to open a discussion regarding the means and forms available to mobilise current and past emigrant groups within a meaningful Diaspora policy.