bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Construction of Generalized Neighbor Designs in Circular Blocks of Two Different Sizes
Authors: Mehmood Q. , Nadeem M. , Noreen K. , Ahmad R.
Published: January 2025

Neighbor balanced designs are used in experiments where neighbor effects may arise. These designs ensure that treatment comparisons will be less affected by the neighbor effects. Experimenters always prefer minimal designs but minimal circular neighbor designs cannot be constructed for even v, where v is number of treatments to be compared. Therefore, for v even, minimal circular generalized neighbor designs (MGNDs) should be used which are considered to be the good alternate to the minimal neighbor designs. In this article, some generators are developed to obtain MCGNDs in which 3v/2 unordered pairs of distinct treatments appear twice as neighbors while others appear once. Catalogues of the designs provide readymade solutions to the experimenters and researchers. The proposed designs catalogues are also compiled from the generators developed in this study for v (even) ≤ 100.
Transformation of UML Diagrams based on their Overlapping: An Algorithmic Approach
Authors: Rehman M. , Ullah S. , Siddique A.
Published: January 2025

Modeling methods in general and Unified Modeling Language (UML) in particular, have gained trust in software developer communities. UML diagrams are profoundly utilized by software developers to build, model and visualize the working of the software. While the comprehension of the UML models can introduce ambiguities in the software. As there is no specification on how these models should be analyzed. Therefore, these models sometimes convey inconsistent semantics in the software systems. So, there must be some automated procedure in which these models be transformed into one another, to remove analyst-introduced ambiguities. For this purpose, the conversion between UML diagrams is a necessity. This paper aims at solving this inconsistency gap between UML diagrams by providing a novel approach to conversion between UML models.  In this paper, we have proposed novel techniques to convert 1) UML Use-Case diagram into UML Communication diagram. 2) UML Communication diagram into UML Component diagram. The said approach is validated using two case studies.
miRNA and its Dysregulation in Cancer Progression
Authors: Kaur R. , Masih R.L. , Kaur J.
Published: January 2025

MicroRNAs [miRNAs] are conserved group of small, non-coding RNA involved in post-transcriptional gene regulation. Several studies have found that downregulation of miRNA after post transcriptional changes and negative effects on miRNAs acting as the activators of gene expression. Aberrant expression in body fluids of miRNA is a helpful diagnostic approach to early detection of cancer. Various mechanisms by which miRNA gets dysregulated include: dysregulation in miRNA biogenesis, abnormal transcription of miRNA, dysregulated epigenetic modification and genomic aberrations. Aberrantly expressed miRNA has been studied to affect the hallmarks of cancer. Modified miRNA causes some diseases which could be avoided or overcome by controlling miRNA gene expression. A novel biomarker by miRNA could be utilized for therapy purposes because miRNA controls certain gene expression in cases of cancer as well as some other ailments. In this review, we focused on the biogenesis and regulation of miRNA along with the dysregulation of it in human cancer and other diseases, along with highlighting some of the role of miRNA in therapy. By comparing previously studies, it is anticipated that miRNA based treatment would be one of the reliable and highly recommended to diagnosis or suppress cancer cells.
Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Land Use Change and Its Driving Factors in Layyah, Punjab, Pakistan
Authors: Sajid M. , Mohsin M. , Mobeen M. , Rehman A. , Rafique A. , Rauf M. , Ali G.
Published: January 2025

Specific objective of this study was to find out the distribution of various land use changes in District Layyah from 2000 to 2020 using geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) techniques, and the forces or factors that lead to land use change. District Layyah has experienced remarkable land use and land cover (LULC) changes for the past three decades. Three Landsat satellite images i.e. thematic mapper (TM), Landsat enhanced thematic mapper plus (ETM+) and operational land imager (OLI)/ TIRS for the years 2000, 2010 and 2020 were acquired from USGS website in order to detect the land use changes. By using ERDAS Imagine software, the maximum likelihood classification was employed in order to classify the images. The spatial and spectral distribution of five land use types was made including i.e. Water, Built-up, Vegetation, Desert, Bare and Sparse land. Ground Truth points were noted and these points were used for the validation and classification of the images. This accuracy showed an overall accuracy rate of 85% with a Kappa coefficient of 0.9 which demonstrated the basic classification method because the images used in the research were highly good. Results showed that the rise was revealed in Vegetation, Built-up and Water land uses from the year 2000 to 2020. On the other side, the decrease in Bare and Sparse land and Desert land use was calculated. The main driving factors behind these LULC changes were found the growth in population, agro-technological advancement and various physical factors (e.g. availability of water and so on), resulting an increase in built-up area. Present research will be beneficial in understanding the most important land use changes to estimate the future change trends in various land use classes for policy making and land use management.
Review of Different Models of Coastdown Transient in Pressurized Water
Authors: Ahmad Shakeel , Ahmad Idrees
Published: January 2025

Problems related to the loss of coolant flow in nuclear reactor may initiate fuel meltdown and fuel-cladding interaction (FCI) due to the overheating of fuel and are therefore of great concern in power reactor safety. Therefore, licensee must provide evidence through rigorous analyses of all conceivable flow problems that plant’s engineered safety systems (EES) have the capability to maintain fuel and cladding temperatures well below the melting point. Among the loss of flow events the flow coastdown transient is also a critical issue considered for the safety analysis of Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR), which is characterized by a sudden loss of power to the main reactor coolant pump (RCP). There has been a provision in RCP to maintain flow through reactor core for some time, immediately after the loss of power to pump, like in case of Station Blackout (SBO) due to the flywheel mechanism of RCP. However, that is inadequate for the extended times following the SBO and RCP must be powered by emergency diesel generators (EDGs) to maintain flow through the reactor core to remove heat from the fuel without any break. After the event of Fukushima, a lot of progress has been made to analyze situations, where the EDGs become inundated or unavailable. Analytical and empirical models have continuously been evolved to simulate the characteristics of pumps in such a crucial event to guide accident prevention and mitigation strategies. These models are divided into two broad categories like the short models and detailed models. The short models take into account the inertia of the flywheel, pump speed and the flow rate in core. The detail models also consider the pump characteristic curve on which homologous curves are derived and help to establish head and flow rate third degree polynomial. It has been observed that the detail models predict more accurate results in comparison with the experimental data. It has also been observed that the accuracy of the simulated results also relies on the inclusion of the pump mechanical friction losses in the model. Moreover, an attempt has been made to extend the coastdown transient analysis to predict the core outlet temperature during the course of the accident which requires an efficient solution strategy for solving models for the pump, coolant half time and the core time constant. In this article, evolution of different models has been discussed in detail.
Amkhoi Geopark: Geotourism and Socio-economic Development of the Rural Areas of Chaupahari Forest and Adjoining Area, Birbhum, West Bengal, India
Authors: Saha Bikas
Published: January 2025

Tourism that encourages or intensify the distinctive geological character of a place is called as geotourism. Interpretation, promotion and preservation of geological characters are the main focuses of the geotourism. Different abiotic ingredients, biotic components and cultures are involved in geotourism and as a result, this tourism redecorates its busyness. Geotourism represents the upgradation and shielding of the geoheritage sites by education and interpretation. This new form of tourism is environmentally futuristic. By popularizing tourist places into geosites, geotourism protects the geopark with the understanding of geologists. India is rich in georesources and geosites. It shows variety and uniqueness in terms of geological characteristics, types of rocks, fossils and landscapes but little attention has been given while acknowledging the geoparks and geoheritage sites. Geological sites with tourism potential and recreational potential will play important roles in socio-economic development. Angiosperm wood fossils have been discovered in the year 2006 from a tribal village, named Amkhoi, near Chaupahari forest, Illambazar of Birbhum district. After the inauguration of a fossil park here in Amkhoi in the year 2018, its success encourages its extension and further planning for geotourism. The Wood Fossil Park at Amkhoi attempts to integrate economic benefits for the local community by imparting education and awareness on the geo-site and hence is a good stride for attaining sustainability perspectives.
Continuous Heating and Cyclic Heating for Composite Materials Containing PA2200 and Ceramic Additives (Al2O3, MgO and Nanoclay) Monitoring System
Authors: MD MERAJ DANISH
Published: January 2025

In this harsh competition, additive manufacturing (AM) is an incredible breakthrough for aerospace, automobile and tooling industries. It can transform a computer-aided-design (CAD) into 3D component without tools or human intervention. Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is an AM technique that utilizes high power laser to sinter tiny particles of a polymer powder into a solid object based on 3D model data.  This work focuses on improving material optimization for the SLS process and establishing the best fabrication settings for developing products with superior attributes. By combining a commercially-available SLS materials like: PA2200 (polyamide) with ceramic additives (e.g., Al2O3, MgO and Nanoclay), new composite materials have been produced.  It is shown that these composite materials are capable to produce sintered specimens that have superior mechanical and flammability properties than that of pure PA2200.
A Comparison of Address Matching Techniques to Improve Geocoding: A Case Study of Islamabad, Pakistan
Authors: Bashir Abdul Basit , Iqbal Muhammad Farooq
Published: January 2025

Geocoding is the process of converting addresses into spatial coordinates. It has become a need for the modern world in many fields such as strategy making, disaster management, location-based analysis, and planning of infrastructure, etc. Address matching is of critical importance in geocoding and is dependent on the language, address format, and components of the addresses. Different algorithms, tools, and applications have been designed for improving address matching. The goal of the research was to standardize geocode addresses using different Natural Language Processing (NPL) models. To standardize and geocode distinct types of addresses, Islamabad was chosen as the study area because it incorporates standard and unusual addresses. Address datasets were obtained from telecommunication industries operating in the study area. In this research, two NLP models including DeepParse (DP) and SpaCy’s Named Entity Recognition (NER) were utilized and trained for address standardization. Each of the models operates using different techniques for parsing the addresses. The SpaCy model performed well with an accuracy of over 80% in all types of addresses. The DP model only outperformed the SpaCy model in urban areas with an accuracy of 95%, the others were less than 80%. This study focused on what types of addresses must be used to improve geocoding. Methods discussed in this study would be helpful in achieving a higher success rate for improving address matching percentage in the geocoding process. This research will help in choosing the best technique to improve address matching of addresses in Pakistan.
Environmental Footprints and Occupational Hazards of Clay Mining – A Case Study from Patel Nagar, Birbhum, West Bengal, India
Authors: Saha Bikas
Published: January 2025

Mining is one of the main economic activities of any developing country. Pressure among mining and conservation is anticipated to escalate with the growing human population and technological advancement. However, mining has both negative and positive impacts on the environment as well as on society. During mine establishment and exploitation, habitat destruction is a part of all mining activities. Clay mining has major effects on the health of local people and causes the environment to break down. Both economically and ecologically, the china clay mines of Patel Nagar in Birbhum district hold a governing position. Both geomorphological processes and environments are affected due to china clay mining. Patel Nagar and the places around have a lot of good farmlands, which suffer the adverse effects of clay mining. Hydrological cycles are getting polluted along with the degradation of landforms, soot in the air, water and noise contamination, soil corrosion, and effects on natural drainage systems in the studied area. The majority of the local poor tribal people who work in mines also have certain health-related issues as an integral part of their occupational hazards.
NUMERICAL SOLUTION FOR HYDROMAGNATIC FLUID FLOW BETWEEN TWO HORIZONTAL PLATES, BOTH THE PLATES BEING STRETCHING SHEETS
Authors: Hussain S. , Kamal M. A.
Published: January 2025

Numerical solution for the flow of an incompressible, steady and viscous electrically conducting fluid between two horizontal parallel non-conducting plates, the lower one is a stretching sheet and the upper one is a porous stretching sheet is found. The effects of flow parameters namely M the magnetic parameter, ï¬ the suction parameter and R the Reynolds number have been observed on velocity profiles. Similarity transformations have been used. The resulting ordinary differential equations are solved by using SOR method and Simpsonâ€™s (1/3) rule. The results have been improved by Richardson extrapolation. The numerical scheme is straightforward, easy to program and very efficient.
Plurilingüisme i tractament integrat de llengües: les polítiques lingüístiques sobre ensenyament gramatical a Andorra
Authors: Jiménez-Salcedo Juan
Published: January 2025

A partir de la constatació del multilingüisme del sistema educatiu del Principat d’Andorra, la pregunta de recerca que es planteja és de quina manera s’introdueix la perspectiva interlingüística en l’ensenyament gramatical de les tres llengües vehiculars (català, francès i castellà). Larecerca té com a marc teòric el concepte de plurilingüisme, el tractament integrat de llengües i l’estat actual de la literatura sobre aprenentatge gramatical. L’estudi empíric, de tall qualitatiu, s’ha efectuat mitjançant l’anàlisi documental d’un corpus de documentació pública constituït pels principals textos normatius en l’àmbit educatiu andorrà, així com els programes de llengües curriculars de l’ensenyament obligatori (entre 6 i 16 anys). Entre els resultats més importants destaca l’aplicaciódel concepte de plurilingüisme, tal com l’entenen la literatura i els instruments del Consell d’Europa, a un sistema educatiu que assumeix el seu multilingüisme sense deixar de jerarquitzar les llengües d’acord amb la seva rellevància institucional o segons un objectiu de compensació sociolingüística. Es confirma igualment la voluntat del legislador andorrà de desenvolupar el tractament integrat de les llengües i d’afavorir l’aprenentatge comunicatiu basat en mètodes inductius. Aquest aprenentatge pot presentar, però, certes mancances, principalment pel que fa a la reflexió metalingüística en l’àmbit de l’ensenyament gramatical.
Navigating Excellence in Philippine Tertiary Physical Education: Insights and Suggestions of Grassroots Teachers Towards an Improved PATH-Fit Implementation
Authors: Tagare Ruben Jr Lagunero
Published: January 2025

This research investigates the insights and suggestions of teachers in implementing the reformed Physical Education (PE) program in the Philippine Higher Education Institutions (HEI) called "Physical Activity Towards Health and Fitness" (PATH-Fit). Employing a qualitative descriptiveapproach, 14 participants were purposefully selected as the primary source of data. The main data-gathering tool was a series of in-depth interviews complemented by expert-validated guide questions. The study revealed six essential themes: the demand for continuous retooling activities, the prioritization of facilities and equipment, the amplification of PE’s significance, the call to reduce paper and pen activities, the importance of seniors’ support and guidance, and the need for clear learning references. These themes underscore the complex opportunities in implementing PATH-Fit, and it suggest that investing in continuous professional development, optimizing learningenvironments, and refining teaching approaches are crucial for the success of PE in higher education. The findings of this study contribute to an understanding of PATH-Fit implementation, which has implications for educators, administrators, and policymakers seeking to enhance the quality and effectiveness of PE in higher education programs in the country.
The Hamas movement: origins, activities and development in 1990-2010.
Authors: Fetisov Andrei Vladimirovich
Published: January 2025

The article is devoted to the analysis of the fundamental principles and ideological foundations of Hamas, a radical Islamist and Sunni Palestinian movement. The key feature of the organization is the rejection of the existence of Israel as a State and the desire for total control over the Palestinian territories through jihad. These attitudes are deeply rooted in the Islamic doctrine of the movement. The work explores the origins of the organization's formation, basic documents and principles of functioning. Special attention is paid to the study of the decision-making mechanisms of the Hamas leadership and the motivating factors of their actions. The article also provides an overview of various points of view on the ideology and activities of Hamas. At the same time, it is noted that, despite the ambiguous assessments of the organization's methods, the international community as a whole recognizes the legitimacy of the Palestinian demands. To achieve the purpose of the study, the following methods were used: empirical – analysis of documents (to analyze the Hamas Charter), general scientific – comparative analysis (to establish the differences between the Islamic Resistance Movement and the Palestine Liberation Organization, and, especially, differences in the attitude of these organizations to reconciliation with Israel), logical methods – to formulate the conclusions of the study. The article provides an overview of various points of view on the ideology and activities of Hamas. At the same time, it is noted that, despite the ambiguous assessments of the organization's methods, the international community as a whole recognizes the legitimacy of the Palestinian demands. The radicalization of the Palestinian Hamas movement, which initially emerged as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, led to the transformation of the organization from a peaceful religious structure with a social orientation into a militant quasi-state. It is noteworthy that, despite its Sunni roots, Hamas receives funding from Shiite Iran. Current trends towards normalization of relations between Israel and the Sunni Arab States have become a catalyst for Hamas to unleash a full-scale conflict. The organization, which has consistently thwarted all attempts at peaceful dialogue between the Palestinians and Israelis, has moved to an active phase of the struggle for the liberation of Palestine, using the current geopolitical window of opportunity. The dominant processes for Hamas in the Arab Sunni environment (the prospects for Arab-Israeli and Sunni-Israeli mutual understanding in the modern historical window of opportunity) pushed the organization to a full-scale war with Israel for the liberation of Palestine.
A VgrG2b fragment cleaved by caspase-11/4 promotes Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection through suppressing the NLRP3 inflammasome
Authors: Qian Yan , Liu Qiannv , Cheng Xiangyun , Wang Chunlei , Kong Chun , Li Mengqian , Ren Chao , Jiang Dong , Wang Shuo , Xia Pengyan
Published: January 2025

The T6SS of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
plays an essential role in the establishment of chronic infections. Inflammatory cytokines mediated by inflammasomes are crucial for the body to resist bacterial infections. Here we found that during the infection of
P. aeruginosa
, non-canonical inflammasome was activated in macrophages, but the activation of downstream NLRP3 inflammasome was inhibited. The VgrG2b of
P. aeruginosa
is recognized and cleaved by caspase-11, generating a free C-terminal fragment. The VgrG2b C-terminus can bind to NLRP3, inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by rejecting NEK7 binding to NLRP3. Administrating a specific peptide that inhibits the cleavage of VgrG2b by caspase-11 to mice can significantly improve their survival rate during infection. Our discovery elucidates a mechanism by which
P. aeruginosa
inhibits host immune response, providing a new approach for the future clinical treatment of
P. aeruginosa
infections.
A inovação no Poder Judiciário: o caso do Tribunal de Justiça do Estado do Maranhão no contexto da Amazônia Legal
Authors: Silva Aline Mendonça da , Vasconcellos Sobrinho Mário , Bastos Andrea Mendonça da Silva
Published: January 2025

O estudo discute a inovação e a nova governança pública no Sistema de Justiça da Amazônia, com foco nas práticas apresentadas pelo Tribunal de Justiça do Estado do Maranhão (TJMA) nas últimas cinco edições do Prêmio Innovare. O objetivo é analisar as características da inovação no TJMA a partir da nova governança pública e das práticas no Prêmio Innovare. Adotou-se uma abordagem qualitativa e utilizou-se a pesquisa documental para identificar características, tipos e impactos das inovações promovidas pelo TJMA, alinhando-as aos princípios da nova governança pública. Foram identificadas 37 práticas inovadoras, com destaque a ações voltadas ao acesso à justiça (32%), garantia de direitos (22%), gestão processual (22%), gestão administrativa (14%) e sustentabilidade (11%). A pesquisa revelou que a maioria das práticas analisadas eram inéditas no contexto do prêmio e que os tipos predominantes foram inovação conceitual, com foco em mudanças de pensamento organizacional, e inovação em governança, evidenciando parcerias e redes colaborativas. Além disso, práticas de inovação em produtos ou serviços e inovação de processos também foram identificadas, contribuindo para maior eficiência e eficácia da prestação jurisdicional. A análise demonstrou o alinhamento do TJMA às diretrizes da nova governança pública, caracterizada pela participação social e interinstitucional, e pela busca de valor público. No contexto da Amazônia, práticas inovadoras responderam a desafios como desigualdades territoriais e sociais e direitos indígenas. O estudo concluiu que as práticas inovadoras do TJMA refletem a relevância da inovação no setor público como estratégia para solucionar problemas institucionais e sociais.
Extraction and Characterization of Pectin from Ripe Mango (Mangifera indica) Peel
Authors: Nyabuti Ian M.
Published: January 2025

Pectin is a multifunctional constituent of cell wall of different plants at different concentration with a widespread application. Mangifera indica peel is excessively produced as a by-product of local food processing plants in Cebu. The objective of the study is to characterize pectin based on its presence of amide, ash content, moisture content, equivalent weight, methoxyl content, total anhydrouronic acid content, degree of esterification, organoleptic evaluation, and solubility.
Objective: Established the characteristics of pectin from mango peel based on its presence of amide, ash content, moisture content, equivalent weight, methoxyl content, total anhydrouronic acid content, degree of esterification, organoleptic evaluation, solubility using cold and hot water using pectin standards.
Results: The isolated mango pectin had lower equivalent weight, lower methoxyl content, and lower total anhydrouuronic acid content compared with apple pectin.
Conclusions: Chemical characterization confirmed the presence of carbohydrates and methoxyl content in pectin. Physical tests for mango pectin yielded an equivalent weight of 568.2, low AUA content (63.4 %), high degree of esterification (51.1), slightly higher ash content (5.53%), and an acidic pH (4.38).
Circular Economy towards Sustainable Development: A Review of U.S., E.U., and China’s Polices
Authors: Sesay Fatmata , Sesay Mohamed , Azizi Mohammad Imran , Kanneh Sheku Momoh , Mwale Memory , Rahmani Bahirullah
Published: January 2025

The “circular economy” is a concept embraced by policymakers in the European Union and China. It represents a recognition of growing global environmental challenges, including climate change, and the externalities costs of waste. In this review paper, the authors compare the nascent policy efforts to define and operationalize the circular economy in the EU, China, and the United States (US), the major global economies. We begin by comparing how each entity defines circular economy, finding widely varying and ambiguous concepts, then turn to macro-level or economy-wide policies. Here we find notable efforts to spread principles. In the EU, such efforts are taking the form of new global standards and regulations, while in China they are in the form of goals for industrial waste reduction at the provincial level. The US is notable for its lack of action at the national level. The real activity in the US around circular economy transformation appears to be happening at the meso - or industry-level. The authors compared policies and strategies of circular economy and challenges, we find out that the E.U. has adopted the circular economy since 1950 and are way ahead the U.S. and China. I therefore, suggest recommendations for international cooperation among U.S, E.U. and China to promote circular economy in these regions and; spreading circular concepts to ensure adequate societal support to accept the consumption changes required.
Uptake of FANC Services among Women of Reproductive Age in Sirisia Sub-county, Bungoma County, Kenya
Authors: Makunja Tobias , Kariuki John , Ndwiga Taratisio
Published: January 2025

Focused Antenatal Care (FANC) adoption is significantly influenced by women's perceptions of pregnancy, labour, and post-partum difficulties. This study aimed to investigate the factors of uptake of specialized prenatal care services among pregnant women in Sirisia Sub- County, Bungoma County, Kenya. The target population included women who had given birth in the last two years and healthcare workers. Data collection involved a questionnaire, FGDs and Key Informant Interviews. The majority (31.9%) were aged 21-30 years, 57.3% were married, and 57.3% had secondary education. Only 4.3% had no formal education, while 23.8% had tertiary education. Regarding employment, 34.7% were self-employed, 20.7% were formally employed, and 24.8% were unemployed. More than half of the respondents (56.7%) initiated prenatal care between 4-6 months, and 68.7% had ANC visits between 0-16 gestation weeks. The uptake of Focused Antenatal Care (FANC) services was higher among married women (67.6%), those with tertiary education (74.0%), and formally employed women (63.8%). Factors like marital status (p=0.031) and education (p=0.0001) were significantly associated with FANC service uptake, underscoring the importance of these factors in improving antenatal care utilization, especially among younger, unmarried, and less-educated women.
Efficacy of Standardized Rhodiola rosea Dry Extract in Managing Stress Levels among Healthcare Professionals
Authors: Fonseca Jeane Castro , Pessoa Ellen Lima , Castro Tayslane Dias , Santos Samila Matias , Santos Fernanda Pereira dos , Marinho Larissa Caroline da Silva , Nascimento Guilherme Nobre Lima do
Published: January 2025

Aims: The objective was to evaluate the effect of using a standardized dry extract of Rhodiola rosea in stress management.
Methodology: The study was a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. It was conducted at a hospital in Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil. It was conducted with 25 healthcare professionals, divided into control and placebo groups, where a dose of 210mg of Rhodiola rosea was used for 15 days in the control group. A perceived stress scale was applied, anthropometric measurements were taken, and laboratory samples were collected.
Results: The sample, predominantly female (88%), was composed of professionals in various healthcare roles, most working in a 12-hour shift system. The findings indicated that a significant portion of participants (52%) felt dissatisfied with their body weight, with 36% categorized as overweight or obese based on BMI. Additionally, 48% had waist circumference values indicating an increased risk for chronic diseases. The stress level assessment using the Perceived Stress Scale showed no statistical difference between those using Rhodiola rosea extract and the placebo, despite previous studies suggesting Rhodiola's efficacy in stress reduction. The lack of significant results in this study contrasts with other research that demonstrated the effectiveness of Rhodiola rosea in improving stress-related symptoms.
Conclusion: The results showed no significant difference between the use of the herbal medicine and the placebo in improving stress.
Short‐chain fatty acid producers in the gut are associated with pediatric multiple sclerosis onset
Authors: Schoeps Vinicius A. , Zhou Xiaoyuan , Horton Mary K. , Zhu Feng , McCauley Kathryn E. , Nasr Zahra , Virupakshaiah Akash , Gorman Mark P. , Benson Leslie A. , Weinstock‐Guttman Bianca , Waldman Amy , Banwell Brenda L. , Bar‐Or Amit , Marrie Ruth Ann , van Domselaar Gary , O'Mahony Julia , Mirza Ali I. , Bernstein Charles N. , Yeh E. Ann , Casper T. Charles , Lynch Susan V. , Tremlett Helen , Baranzini Sergio , Waubant Emmanuelle ,   the US Network of Pediatric MS Centers
Published: November 2023

Objective

The relationship between multiple sclerosis and the gut microbiome has been supported by animal models in which commensal microbes are required for the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. However, observational study findings in humans have only occasionally converged when comparing multiple sclerosis cases and controls which may in part reflect confounding by comorbidities and disease duration. The study of microbiome in pediatric‐onset multiple sclerosis offers unique opportunities as it is closer to biological disease onset and minimizes confounding by comorbidities and environmental exposures.

Methods

A multicenter case–control study in which 35 pediatric‐onset multiple sclerosis cases were 1:1 matched to healthy controls on age, sex, self‐reported race, ethnicity, and recruiting site. Linear mixed effects models, weighted correlation network analyses, and PICRUSt2 were used to identify microbial co‐occurrence networks and for predicting functional abundances based on marker gene sequences.

Results

Two microbial co‐occurrence networks (one reaching significance after adjustment for multiple comparisons;q < 0.2) were identified, suggesting interdependent bacterial taxa that exhibited association with disease status. Both networks indicated a potentially protective effect of higher relative abundance of bacteria observed in these clusters. Functional predictions from the significant network suggested a contribution of short‐chain fatty acid producers through anaerobic fermentation pathways in healthy controls. Consistent family‐level findings from an independent Canadian‐US study (19 case/control pairs) includedRuminococaccaeaeandLachnospiraceae(p < 0.05). Macronutrient intake was not significantly different between cases and controls, minimizing the potential for dietary confounding.

Interpretation

Our results suggest that short‐chain fatty acid producers may be important contributors to multiple sclerosis onset.
Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles Inhibit Osteoclastogenesis by Suppressing NF‐κB Signaling Pathways
Authors: Wu Yu , Cheng Zhong , Hu Wenhui , Tang Shanwen , Zhou Xue , Dong Shiwu
Published: November 2023

Osteoclasts overactivity plays a critical role in the progress of inflammatory bone loss. In addition, ROS can facilitate the formation and function of osteoclasts. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) with ROS scavenging activity are potential candidates for inflammatory bone loss. In this regard, the biosynthetic Ag NPs with low toxicity and high stability by using Flos Sophorae Immaturus extract as the reducing and capping agents are reported. The inflammatory bone loss model is established by injecting LPS. Quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction and Western Blot are utilized to determine the expression level of target biomarkers related to osteoclast formation. Ag NPs can significantly reduce the number of TRAP‐positive (TRAP+) cells. In addition, Ag NPs down‐regulate the expression of biomarkers relevant to osteoclast formation. Interestingly, Ag NPs can effectively suppress osteoclast formation via down‐regulating ROS‐mediated phosphorylation of NF‐κB pathways. The in vivo study shows that Ag NPs can ameliorate bone density and decrease osteoclast number. Due to these benefits, the constructed Ag NPs can delay the progression of inflammatory bone loss. These findings suggest that Ag NPs are a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of inflammatory bone loss.
Liquid Metal Microdroplet‐Initiated Ultra‐Fast Polymerization of a Stimuli‐Responsive Hydrogel Composite
Authors: Zhang Jianhua , Liao Jiahe , Liu Zemin , Zhang Rongjing , Sitti Metin
Published: November 2023

Recent advances in composite hydrogels achieve material enhancement or specialized stimuli‐responsive functionalities by pairing with a functional filler. Liquid metals (LM) offer a unique combination of chemical, electrical, and mechanical properties that show great potential in hydrogel composites. Polymerization of hydrogels with LM microdroplets as initiators is a particularly interesting phenomenon that remains in its early stage of development. In this work, an LM‐hydrogel composite is introduced, in which LM microdroplets dispersed inside the hydrogel matrix have dual functions as a polymerization initiator for a polyacrylic acid‐poly vinyl alcohol (PAA/PVA) network and, once polymerized, as passive inclusion to influence its material and stimuli‐responsive characteristics. It is demonstrated that LM microdroplets enable ultra‐fast polymerization in ≈1 min, compared to several hours by conventional polymerization techniques. The results show several mechanical enhancements to the PAA/PVA hydrogels with LM‐initiated polymerization. It is found that LM ratios strongly influence stimuli‐responsive behaviors in the hydrogels, including swelling and ionic bending, where higher LM ratios are found to enhance ionic actuation performance. The dual roles of LM in this composite are analyzed using the experimental characterization results. These LM‐hydrogel composites, which are biocompatible, open up new opportunities in future soft robotics and biomedical applications.
Large‐Scale Production of Metal–Organic Frameworks
Authors: Chakraborty Debanjan , Yurdusen Aysu , Mouchaham Georges , Nouar Farid , Serre Christian
Published: November 2023

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) show captivating performances in many large‐scale applications including gas adsorption and separation, heat reallocation, water production, or remediation which can overcome important drawbacks of the conventionally used porous materials in the industry. This raises, therefore, the commercial interest in MOFs which brings the necessity to decrease the cost of their production, calling for the synthesis optimization from small‐scale to large‐scale. However, the commercial availability, yet very limited, is highly dependent on their production cost. Thus, to promote the commercial development and availability of MOFs, many steps can be taken. In this work, the state‐of‐art of the large‐scale production of MOFs can be first outlined, before discussing the criteria of greener MOF synthesis processes. Besides, a critical evaluation of the available synthesis routes for large‐scale production can be given, taking into consideration their cost, environmental impact, safety, and feasibility. Moreover, since there are strong limitations to the use in the powder form, the shaping procedures can thus be discussed briefly to outline the prospects of MOFs for different industrial applications. Finally, yet importantly, the perspective for MOFs commercialization can be highlighted with an emphasis on the necessity of techno‐economic analyses and life‐cycle assessments.
Parallel Density‐Based Spatial Clustering with Dual‐Functional Memristive Crossbar Array
Authors: Cheong Sunwoo , Shin Dong Hoon , Lee Soo Hyung , Jang Yoon Ho , Park Taegyun , Han Janguk , Shim Sung Keun , Kim Yeong Rok , Han Joon‐Kyu , Ghenzi Néstor , Hwang Cheol Seong
Published: November 2023

Analog and digital switching performances in a Ta/HfO2/RuO2(THR) memristor are studied to implement a density‐based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) algorithm in a low‐power, parallel‐computing memristor crossbar structure. In the analog mode THR memristor, more than 256 states can be stored through a fine‐tuning process with a denoising scheme. The analog mode crossbar array facilitates Euclidean distance calculation between any points in the given graphic dataset. In the digital mode, the on/off ratio of more than three orders of magnitude between the binary states is achieved, providing functionality to cluster the data points with a reduced number of operations. The parallel computing capacity of the adopted crossbar decreases the time complexity of the original DBSCAN from O(n2) to O(n). Through array‐level simulations, the effectiveness of hardware functionality is validated using representative synthetic datasets and single‐cell RNA sequences datasets.
A Double‐Charged Organic Molecule Additive to Customize Electric Double Layer for Super‐Stable and Deep‐Rechargeable Zn Metal Pouch Batteries
Authors: Hu Nan , Lv Wensong , Chen Wenjian , Tang Huan , Zhang Xiaoyan , Qin Hongyu , Huang Dan , Zhu Jinliang , Chen Zhengjun , Xu Jing , He Huibing
Published: November 2023

The electrochemical performance of aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs) is highly dependent on the electric double layer (EDL) properties at Zn electrode/electrolyte interface. Herein, a novel reconfigured EDL is constructed via a double‐charged theanine (TN) additive for super‐stable and deep‐rechargeable AZMBs. Experiments and theoretical computations unravel that the positively charged TN not only serves as preferential anchor to form a water‐poor Helmholtz plane onto the Zn anode, but also its anionic end could coordinate with Zn2+ to tailor the solvation structure in the diffusion layer and further reconstruct the inner H‐bonds networks, thus effectively guiding uniform Zn deposition and suppressing the water‐induced side reactions. Consequently, the Zn//Zn cells acquire outstanding cycling stabilities of nearly 800 h at a high depth of discharge of 80%. Moreover, the Zn//VOX full cells deliver substantial capacity retention (94.12% after 1400 cycles at 2 A g−1) under practical conditions. Importantly, the designed 2.7 Ah Zn//VOX pouch cell harvests a recorded energy density of 42.3 Wh Kgcell−1 and 79.5 Wh Lcell–1, with a remarkable capacity retention of 85.93% after 220 cycles at 50 mA g−1. This innovative design concept to reshape the EDL chemistry would inject fresh vitality into developing advanced AZMBs and beyond.
Biosyncretic Robots Actuated by Living Materials
Authors: Yang Lianchao , Zhang Chuang , Wang Ruiqian , Qin Hengshen , Zhang Yiwei , Tan Wenjun , Yang Jia , Wang Feifei , Liu Lianqing
Published: November 2023

In recent years, biosyncretic robots, a novel type of robot that integrates living and artificial materials, have gained significant attention. Biosyncretic robots are expected to leverage the advantages provided by living materials and offer a new approach to address the challenges faced by traditional robots, such as biocompatibility, intrinsic safety, and miniaturization. Therefore, this review aims to provide an overview of the current state of development of biosyncretic robots. First, the existing research on biosyncretic robots based on commonly used living materials is systematically categorized and introduced, including cardiomyocytes, skeletal muscle cells, insect dorsal vascular tissue, and microorganisms. Subsequently, their potential in the fields of in vivo medical diagnosis and treatment, organ‐on‐a‐chip, tissue engineering, environmental monitoring, and postdisaster rescue in detail is also discussed. Finally, the current challenges faced by biosyncretic robotic research, including establishing theoretical models, fabrication, cultivation, and maintenance of living materials, controllability, versatility, artificial material, and entering the human body or leaving the laboratory, are examined. This review summarizes the cutting‐edge progress of biosyncretic robots and provides insights into their future development.
Domino Reactions with Dicyanoalkenes and Fluorinated Conjugated Sulfinyl Imines. A Convenient Strategy for the Generation of Structural Diversity
Authors: Gaviña Daniel , Escolano Marcos , Sotorríos Lía , Gómez‐Bengoa Enrique , López‐Ortiz Fernando , Sánchez‐Roselló María , del Pozo Carlos
Published: November 2023

Dicyanoalkenes are versatile reagents in organic synthesis and they have been extensively used in a wide variety of organic transformations. However, their reactivity towards fluorinated imines remained almost unnoticed. The divergent reactivity of fluorinated conjugated sulfinyl imines with dicyanoalkenes is described herein. On the one hand, when tert‐butyl sulfinyl imines were employed, a cycloaromatization cascade process took place preferentially, rendering valuable trifluoromethyl arenes. On the other hand, the reaction with p‐tolyl sulfinyl imines mainly led to a complex tetracyclic skeleton, involving an azetidinimine rearrangement of a reaction intermediate. Finally, when 1‐indanone‐derived dicyanoalkenes were employed, the aromatization process was interrupted, rendering a new family of diene derivatives. Theoretical calculations were performed in order to shed light on the mechanistic outcome of this transformation.
Discovery of a Robust P‐Type Ultrawide Bandgap Oxide Semiconductor: LiGa5O8
Authors: Zhang Kaitian , Vangipuram Vijay Gopal Thirupakuzi , Huang Hsien‐Lien , Hwang Jinwoo , Zhao Hongping
Published: November 2023

LiGa5O8, an ultrawide bandgap semiconductor, is discovered to exhibit p‐type conductivity at room temperature, making it the widest bandgap p‐type oxide semiconductor known to date. Utilizing a mist–chemical vapor deposition (M–CVD) technique, successful growth of p‐type LiGa5O8 thin films on c‐plane sapphire and GaN‐on‐sapphire substrates is achieved. Characterization through X‐ray diffraction and cross‐sectional scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) confirms the spinel cubic crystal structure of LiGa5O8. Comprehensive investigations into the effects of growth conditions on surface morphology, material composition, and p‐type charge carrier transport are conducted. As‐grown LiGa5O8 thin films exhibit a broad range of hole concentrations, ranging from 1015 cm−3 to 1018 cm−3, depending on growth conditions. Elemental compositions of Li, Ga, and O are extracted using X‐ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS). Both Li‐poor and Li‐rich LiGa5O8 films demonstrate p‐type conductivity. Optical absorption measurements reveal the bandgap of LiGa5O8 films to be ≈5.36 eV. Additionally, temperature‐dependent Hall measurements of the p‐type LiGa5O8 thin films show robust p‐conductivity down to 150 K. Results from this study promise the advancement of future power electronics based on ultrawide bandgap Ga2O3 and related semiconductor material systems.
Graphene‐Based Sulfur Cathodes and Dual Salt‐Based Sparingly Solvating Electrolytes: A Perfect Marriage for High Performing, Safe, and Long Cycle Life Lithium‐Sulfur Prototype Batteries
Authors: Castillo Julen , Soria‐Fernández Asier , Rodriguez‐Peña Sergio , Rikarte Jokin , Robles‐Fernández Adrián , Aldalur Itziar , Cid Rosalía , González‐Marcos Jose Antonio , Carrasco Javier , Armand Michel , Santiago Alexander , Carriazo Daniel
Published: November 2023

The growing requirements for electrified  applications entail exploring alternative battery systems. Lithium‐sulfur batteries (LSBs) have emerged as a promising, cost‐effective, and sustainable solution; however, their practical commercialization is impeded by several intrinsic challenges. With the aim of surpassing these challenges, the implementation of a holistic LSB concept is proposed. To this end, the effectiveness of coupling a high‐performing 2D graphene‐based sulfur cathode with a well‐suited sparingly solvating electrolyte (SSE) is reported. The incorporation of bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI) salt to tune sulfolane and 1,1,2,2‐tetrafluoroethyl‐2,2,3,3‐tetrafluoropropylether based SSE enables the formation of a robust and compact lithium fluoride‐rich solid electrolyte interphase. Consequently, the lithium compatibility is improved, achieving a high Coulombic efficiency (CE) of 98.8% in the Li||Cu cells and enabling thin and dense lithium depositions. When combined with a high‐performing 2D graphene‐based sulfur cathode, a symbiotic effect is shown, leading to high discharge capacities, remarkable rate capability (2.5 mAh cm−2 at C/2), enhanced cell stability, and wide temperature applicability. Furthermore, the scalability of this strategy is successfully demonstrated by assembling high‐performing monolayer prototype cells with a total capacity of 93 mAh, notable capacity retention of 70% after 100 cycles, and a high average CE of 99%.