bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High purity (E)‐1,1,4,4‐tetramethyl‐2‐tetrazene synthesis, characterization, and properties: A hypergolic nontoxic prospective alternative to hydrazines
Authors: Huang Dan , Wang Huanchun , Wang Xuanjun , Sun Yubin , Du Yao , Gao Xin , Liu Xiang Xuan , Zuo Chunshan
Published: April 2022

1,1,4,4‐Tetramethyl‐2‐tetrazene (TMTZ) as a hypergolic nontoxic prospective alternative was prepared and characterized by elemental analysis. The highest yield and purity can be obtained at the experimental parameters (UDMH/NH2Cl ratio 3:1; reaction time 20 min; extraction 15 min by ether, room temperature), in which the overall molar yield of TMTz is over 90%, with a purity up to 98.8%. The detailed synthesis mechanism was revealed by density functional theory methods (DFT). The high purity of TMTz can be explained by the intermediate diazene self react formed TMTz without energy barriers. The boiling point of TMTz is 135°C, which is higher than that of the MMH. It is hypergolic with green nitrous oxide. This study provides a feasible synthesis approach of high purity TMTz conducted at room temperature.
Linoleic‐acid‐substituted polyethylenimine to silence heat shock protein 90B1 (HSP90B1) to inhibit migration of breast cancer cells
Authors: Meenakshi Sundaram Daniel Nisakar , KC Remant Bahadur , Uludağ Hasan
Published: April 2022

Introduction

Breast cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of death in women, and the lack of treatment options for distant metastasis warrants the need to identify and develop more effective approaches. The aim of this study was to identify and validate targets that are associated with the survival and migration of the breast cancer cells in vitro through RNA interference (RNAi) approach.

Methods

Linoleic‐acid‐modified polyethylenimine (PEI) polymer was used to screen a short interfering RNA (siRNA) library against numerous cell adhesion and cytoskeleton genes in MDA‐MB‐231 triple‐negative breast cell line, and the functional outcome of silencing was determined by growth and migration inhibition with further target validation studies.

Results

Heat shock protein 90B1 (HSP90B1) was identified as a crucial gene that is known to be involved in various breast cancer machineries, including uncontrolled proliferation and brain metastasis. The success of this approach was also due to the use of hyaluronic acid (HA) additive in lipopolymer complexes that showed a profound impact in reducing the cell viability (~50%), migration (~40%), and mRNA transcript levels (~80%) with a physiologically relevant siRNA concentration of 60 nM. The use of Dicer‐substrate siRNA proved to be beneficial in target silencing, and a combinational treatment of integrin‐β1 (ITGB1) and HSP90B1 was effective in reducing the migration of the MDA‐MB‐231 and MDA‐MB‐436 breast cancer cells.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the potential to identify and silence targets using a lipid‐modified PEI/siRNA system and highlights the importance of HSP90B1 in the growth and migration of breast cancer cells.
Evaluation of water‐assisted UV‐C light and its additive effect with peracetic acid for the inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica and murine norovirus on whole and fresh‐cut strawberries during shelf‐life
Authors: Ortiz‐Solà Jordi , Valero Antonio , Abadias Maribel , Nicolau‐Lapeña Iolanda , Viñas Inmaculada
Published: April 2022

BACKGROUND

The purpose of the present study was to examine the inactivation of Salmonella enterica (50 μL; 109 CFU g−1), Listeria monocytogenes (50 μL; 109 CFU g−1), and murine norovirus (MNV‐1; 50 μL; 107 50% tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50) mL−1) on whole and fresh‐cut strawberries after 2 min disinfection treatments (water (H2O), chlorine 200 mg L−1 (NaClO), water‐assisted ultraviolet‐C (UV‐C) (WUV), and the combination WUV and 40 mg L−1 of PA (WUV + PA)) in a water tank (15 L) equipped with 4 UV‐C lamps (17.2 W each), and after 7 days of cold storage (4 and 10 °C). For MNV‐1, dry UV‐C treatment (DUV) was also tested. For all UV‐C treatments, an irradiation dose of 1.3 kJ m−2 was used.

RESULTS

When strawberries were washed with WUV, L. monocytogenes and S. enterica were reduced by 2.8 and 2.2 log CFU g−1, respectively. The addition of 40 mg L−1 of PA to WUV (WUV + PA) increased the reduction range of L. monocytogenes and S. enterica by 1.9 and 0.8 log, respectively. Regarding the wash water, no pathogens were recovered after the WUV + PA treatment (detection limit 50 CFU mL−1). Depending on storage conditions (7 days at 4 or 10 °C), reductions observed were 0.5 to 2.0 log for S. enterica and 0.5 to 3.0 log for L. monocytogenes. The reductions in MNV‐1 titer after disinfection treatments ranged from 1.3 to 1.7 log. No significant differences between storage conditions were observed for MNV‐1: titers did not decline or were reduced up to 0.3 log after 7 days of cold storage.

CONCLUSION

The three‐way action for disinfecting strawberries by UV‐C irradiation and PA, plus the physical removal of the microorganisms by agitated water, are effective against foodborne pathogens on strawberries and water wash. During storage, WUV had a larger impact on the inactivation kinetics of S. enterica. Storage had little impact on MNV‐1 inactivation. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
On‐Chip Metamaterial Enabled Wavelength (De)Multiplexer
Authors: Zhao Yaotian , Xiang Jinlong , He Yu , Yin Yuchen , He An , Zhang Yong , Yang Zongyin , Guo Xuhan , Su Yikai
Published: April 2022

Wavelength‐division multiplexing (WDM) technology can offer considerable parallelism for large‐capacity data communications. While several configurations have been demonstrated to realize on‐chip WDM systems, their practical applications might be hindered by large footprints or compromised performances. Recently, metamaterial‐assisted silicon photonics is emerging for on‐chip light manipulation by subwavelength‐scale control of optical wavefronts. They can reach more compact footprints and broadband functionalities beyond the classical waveguide‐based architectures. Herein, wavelength (de)multiplexers are experimentally demonstrated in the subwavelength‐structured metamaterials regime with highly compact footprints. Two‐dimensional metamaterials composed of quasi‐periodic dielectric perturbation arrays patterned on a multimode waveguide are proposed to stimulate multiple high‐order waveguide modes at different wavelengths, which are then coupled to different WDM channels by cascading mode (de)multiplexers. The four‐channel wavelength (de)multiplexer is demonstrated in a box‐like spectrum with a compact footprint of 2.5 × 250 µm2, with the measured losses less than 2 dB and channel crosstalk less than –14.3 dB. By varying the patterned metamaterial structures, the proposed devices also have the merits of flexible operating wavelengths and bandwidths. The concept features large scalability, compactness, and competitive performance, which can offer versatile on‐chip light manipulation and significantly improve the integration density for various on‐chip WDM optical systems.
Trans‑10‑Hydroxy‑2‐Decenoic Acid Alleviates Dextran Sulfate Sodium‐Induced Colitis in Mice via Regulating the Inflammasome‐Mediated Pyroptotic Pathway and Enhancing Colonic Barrier Function
Authors: Huang Shanshan , Tao Ranran , Zhou Jiefei , Qian Linxi , Wu Jiang
Published: April 2022

Scope

The objective of this study is to explore the effects of 10‐hydroxy‐2‐decenoic acid (10‐HDA), the major fatty acid in royal jelly, on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)‐induced mice ulcerative colitis (UC) and its potential mechanism of action.

Methods and results

Forty male C57BL/6 mice are randomly divided into five experimental groups: control, DSS, DSS + 25 (or 100)mg kg−1 d−1 10‐HDA, and DSS + 200 mg kg−1 d−1 mesalazine (ME). UC is induced in mice using 2.5% DSS in drinking water for 7 days. During the induction, these UC mice are orally administrated 10‐HDA or ME per day. Meanwhile, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/adenosine‐triphosphate (ATP)‐stimulated THP1 cells are used as a model to test the effects of 10‐HDA. 10‐HDA reduces DSS‐induced pathological damage, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, neutrophil infiltration, and cytokine production in colonic tissue. Compared with the DSS group, the expressions of thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP), NOD‐like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis‐associated speck‐like protein containing a caspase‐recruitment domain (ASC), cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase‐1 (Caspase‐1), gasdermin‐D (GSDMD), N‐terminal domain of gasdermin‐D (N‐GSDMD), interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), and interleukin‐18 (IL‐18) in the colon are decreased after administration of 10‐HDA. 10‐HDA also elevates the barrier integrity and the expressions of zonula occludens‐1 (ZO‐1) and Occludin in colonic epithelium exposed to DSS. In THP1 cells, the inflammasome‐mediated pyroptosis induced by LPS/ATP is inhibited by 10‐HDA pretreatment.

Conclusion

10‐HDA alleviates DSS‐induced colitis by regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome‐mediated pyroptotic pathway and enhancing colonic barrier function.
Fluphenazine decanoate‐induced bradycardia: A case report
Authors: Kamali Mahsa , Zarghami Mehran , Azizi Marzieh , Elyasi Forouzan
Published: April 2022

Sinus tachycardia and orthostatic hypotension have been so far reported among the negative cardiovascular complications of antipsychotic agents. This study aimed to report a case with bradycardia induced by fluphenazine decanoate administration. The patient was a 29‐year‐old man, admitted to the general teaching hospital in Sari, Iran, with a complaint of abdominal and gastric pain as well as weight loss following 7 months of fasting based on religious delusions. The patient developed bradycardia, 36 hours after fluphenazine decanoate administration. His pulse rate was also 46 beats per min (bpm). The antipsychotic medication was thus held and the patient did not take any drugs. On the 21st day after discontinuing this agent, the pulse rate reached 70 bpm. This case report notifies that much more attention should be paid to all patients before starting fluphenazine decanoate administration, and close cardiac monitoring must be done.
Impact of hydroxyurea dose and adherence on hematologic outcomes for children with sickle cell anemia
Authors: Creary Susan E. , Beeman Chase , Stanek Joseph , King Kathryn , McGann Patrick T. , O'Brien Sarah H. , Liem Robert I. , Holl Jane , Badawy Sherif M.
Published: April 2022

Background

Hydroxyurea is the primary treatment for sickle cell anemia (SCA), yet real‐world implementation in high‐income settings is suboptimal. Variation in prescribed hydroxyurea dose and patient adherence in these settings can both affect actual exposure to hydroxyurea. Quantifying the contributions of hydroxyurea dose and medication adherence to the relationship between hydroxyurea exposure and hematologic parameters could inform strategies to optimize exposure and improve outcomes.

Procedure

We evaluated the relationship between hydroxyurea exposure, defined by average prescribed dose and adherence, and hematologic parameters using data from children with SCA who were enrolled in two prospective hydroxyurea adherence studies. Hydroxyurea adherence was assessed by video directly observed therapy or electronic pill bottle and medication administration record. Average prescribed dose was abstracted from prescriptions in patients’ electronic medical record. Participants with a hydroxyurea exposure >20 mg/kg/day and ≤20 mg/kg/day were included in the higher and lower exposure groups, respectively.

Results

Forty‐five participants were included in the analysis (56% male; median age 12 years [range 2–19]; 98% Black). Higher exposed participants (n = 23) were prescribed a higher dose (27.2 vs. 24.4 mg/kg/day, p = .002) and had better adherence (0.92 vs. 0.71, p ≤ .001) compared to lower exposed participants (n = 22). Higher exposure was associated with higher fetal hemoglobin (p = .04) and mean corpuscular volume (p = .02).

Conclusions

Higher hydroxyurea exposure is associated with improved hematologic parameters in the high‐income setting and is affected by both prescribed dose and adherence. Future studies are needed to optimize both adherence and hydroxyurea prescribing and confirm that increasing exposure improves clinical outcomes in this setting.
Study on the Flame Acceleration and Transition from Deflagration to Detonation of N2O/C2H4/CO2
Authors: Li Yuyan , Xu Sen , Jiang Rongpei
Published: April 2022

The application of nitrous oxide (N2O) as a candidate oxidant provides new opportunities for green propellants and propulsion systems. In this study, flame propagation, acceleration, and transition to detonation characteristics of stoichiometric N2O/C2H4 diluted with CO2 were investigated in 2 m cylindrical channels at 1 atm and 293 K. The flame propagation and acceleration were monitored by a high‐speed video. Pressure transducers were located at different positions along the channel to collect data concerning DDT and detonation development. The influence rules of various mass fractions of CO2 on the above performance were evaluated. The results indicated that the process of flame propagation for N2O/C2H4 was divided into three stages, ignition stage, DDT and detonation stage. Both the process of flame acceleration (FA) and peak overpressure for all the test mixtures decreased with an increase of CO2 concentration in the initial stage, and detonation wave propagation was stabilized with the increase of CO2, then the corresponding propagation velocity was close to the C−J velocity.
Predicting Melt Curves of Energetic Materials Using Molecular Models
Authors: Tow Garrett M. , Larentzos James P. , Sellers Michael S. , Lísal Martin , Brennan John K.
Published: April 2022

In this work, the solid–liquid coexistence curves of classical fully flexible atomistic models of α‐RDX and β‐HMX were calculated using thermodynamically rigorous methodologies that identify where the free energy difference between the phases is zero. The free energy difference between each phase at a given state point was computed using the pseudosupercritical path (PSCP) method, and Gibbs–Helmholtz integration was used to evaluate the solid–liquid free energy difference as a function of temperature. This procedure was repeated for several pressures to determine points along the coexistence curve, which were then fit to the Simon–Glatzel functional form. While effective, this method is computationally expensive. An alternative approach is to compute the melting point at a single pressure via the PSCP method, and then use the Gibbs–Duhem integration technique to trace out the coexistence curve in a more computationally economical manner. Both approaches were used to determine the coexistence curve of α‐RDX. The Gibbs–Duhem integration method was shown to generate a melt curve that is in good agreement with the PSCP‐derived melt curve, while only costing ∼10 % of the computational resources used for the PSCP method. For α‐RDX, the predicted melting temperature increases significantly more for a given increase in pressure when compared to available experimental data.
Effect of straw incorporation and nitrification inhibitor on nitrous oxide emission in three cropland soils
Authors: Zhang Ya‐Bo , Liu Feng , Wang Jun‐Tao , Hu Hang‐Wei , He Ji‐Zheng , Zhang Li‐Mei
Published: April 2022

Introduction

Nitrification inhibitors and straw incorporation are used to reduce microbial mediated nitrogen (N) losses, thereby increasing N use efficiency (NUE) in cropland soil, but their effects on nitrous oxide (N2O) emission across different soil types and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain less understood.

Materials and Methods

In this study, we investigated how nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin and straw incorporation affected soil N balance, N2O emission, nitrifiers and denitrifiers in three cropland soils (black, fluvo‐aquic and red soils).

Results

Compared with fertilization‐only treatment (N), nitrapyrin addition increased ammonium, while it decreased nitrate concentration in all soils; however, the performance of straw incorporation was less significant. Nitrapyrin decreased N2O emission only in the fluvo‐aquic soil, while straw incorporation strongly increased N2O emission in the red soil. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis revealed that the denitrifier community was distinct across the three soils, but not strongly structured by nitrapyrin or straw incorporation. Compared with the N treatment, straw incorporation and nitrapyrin increased nosZ gene abundance only in the black soil. Structural equational modelling further confirmed that, after accounting for different soil properties, straw incorporation significantly increased N2O emission from black and red soils, and a decrease in nosZ gene abundance was the main biological factor for increased N2O emission in red soil.

Conclusion

Taken together, our work provides new knowledge that the performance of nitrification inhibitor and straw incorporation on N2O emission is soil type‐dependent, and management practices should be used as per soil type to balance NUE and N2O emission.
Recent Advances in Transition Metal Catalyzed Synthesis of β‐Enaminones and β‐Enaminoesters
Authors: Wang Yeming , Zhang Chaoqun , Li Shizhe , Liu Lihui , Feng Xiaodong
Published: April 2022

β‐Enaminones and β‐enaminoesters are reactive and versatile building blocks in organic synthesis. The favorable structure of electron‐withdrawing carbonyl group or ester group and electron‐donating amino groups are respectively linked at both termini of a C=C double bond. In recent years, transition metal catalyzed synthesis of β‐enaminones and β‐enaminoesters have been widely explored and continuously reported. Thus, herein we intended to review the progress in transition metal catalytic routes to these useful synthetic intermediates, with a sequence of condensation of amines with β‐dicarbonyl compounds, aldol‐type addition of ketones to nitriles, N−H olefination of amines and sulfonamides, amination of propargyl alcohols and ynones, multi‐component reactions, and other reactions.
Role of the Bromide on the Hydrodebenzylation of 2,4,6,8,10,12‐Hexabenzyl‐2,4,6,8,10,12‐hexaazaisowurtzitane (HBIW)
Authors: Liu Wei , She Chong Chong , Chao Hui , Wang Na , Chen Shu Sen , Jin Shao Hua , Wang Jun Feng , Chen Kun
Published: April 2022

The catalytic hydrogenolysis of 2,4,6,8,10,12‐hexabenzyl‐2,4,6,8,10,12‐hexaazaisowurtzitane (HBIW) over Pd‐based catalysts in the ternary solvents of acetic anhydride, bromobenzene (PhBr) and N, N’‐dimethylformamide (DMF) was the key step for producing 2,4,6,8,10,12‐hexanitro‐2,4,6,8,10,12‐hexaazaisowurtzitane (HNIW or CL‐20). However, the role of the bromobenzene is still allusive. Herein, Pd/graphite carbon nitride nanosheets (g‐C3N4 NS) was used in the hydrogenolysis of HBIW under the atmospheric pressure, and exhibited a yield of 80 % as well as a faster debenzylation rate than Pd/C. By the virtue of the kinetic study, the effect of the bromide, solvent and proton on the debenzylation rate was investigated and discussed. The bromide worked as a co‐catalyst to promote the desorption of the product of the hydrogenolysis from the surface of the palladium nanoparticle. The observation benefits for elucidating the reaction mechanism and may inspire the design of the novel catalysts for the hydrogenolysis of HBIW.
Impregnation Synthesized Cu@MIL‐101(Cr) Catalyzes the Oxidation of Styrene to Benzaldehyde with TBHP**
Authors: Cao Xinjie , Yu Sibing , He Zhipeng , Cai Zhenyu , Huang Kai , Zhang Lei
Published: April 2022

A series of M@MIL‐101(Cr) (M=Cu, Co, Ni and Mn) adopting impregnation method were fabricated as heterogeneous catalysts to oxidize styrene to benzaldehyde with tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP). The morphology of the MIL‐101(Cr) was nicely retained after the uniform dispersion of metals. In order to obtain the optimized reaction conditions, various in‐depth investigations were carried out to evaluate the effects of reaction time and reaction temperature on catalytic efficiency. Importantly, the Cu@MIL‐101(Cr) performed best in this study, the highest styrene conversion and the benzaldehyde selectivity can reach 97.45 % and 84.39 %, respectively, which revealed the synergetic effects of Cu2+and Cr3+in Cu@MIL‐101(Cr) on the styrene oxidation. Furthermore, the result of a three‐cycle experiment demonstrated the good recyclability of Cu@MIL‐101(Cr) without considerable structural deterioration and loss in activation. A possible mechanism of oxidation of styrene by using Cu@MIL‐101(Cr) and TBHP was also proposed.
Synthesis, Characterization and Thermal Controlled Release Of 2‐Isopropyl‐N,2,3‐Trimethylbutyramide with Acyclic Cucurbit[n]urils Inclusion Complexes
Authors: Du Gang , Yang Waixiang , Liao Xiali , Gao Chuanzhu , Yang Jing , Yang Bo
Published: April 2022

WS‐23 (2 ‐Isopropyl‐ N,2,3 ‐Trimethylbutyramide) is a novel flavor cooling agent, which has been widely used as additive nowadays in food, medicine, cosmetics, daily necessities products, etc. However, its inherent poor solubility and thermal instability seriously limits its further application. Herein, new inclusion systems of WS‐23 with two acyclic cucurbit[n]urils (ACBs) were prepared for the first time, and their binding behaviors in solution and solid states were investigated by means of 1H NMR, 2D ROESY, XRD, FT‐IR SEM, and Fluorescence Spectroscopy. The data reveal that the stoichiometric ratio of the inclusion complex is 1 : 1, the solubility of WS‐23 can be enhanced by ca. 19.39 ‐ 31.72 folds. Besides, the heat‐controlled release properties of WS‐23 from the solid inclusion complexes were also investigated by TGA and 1H‐NMR, and its thermal stability in two inclusion complexes are both greatly improved. WS‐23 /M1(M2) exhibited a longer retention time in tobacco products and effectively improve the sensory quality. In brief, our work provides theoretical data and technical guidance for the development and application of water soluble WS‐23 with controlled heat release, which might further application of WS‐23 in the field of commercial industry.
Nanoceria‐Supported Ru‐Based Nanoparticles as Highly Efficient Catalysts for Hydrolysis of Ethane 1,2‐Diamine Borane
Authors: Tunç Nihat , Rakap Murat
Published: April 2022

Here, the first ever preparation of some series of nanoceria‐supported Ru‐based nanoparticles with different compositions (RuxM100‐x@NC, M: Co, Ni, Pd) and their use as highly active catalysts to liberate hydrogen gas from hydrolysis of ethane 1,2‐diamine borane (EDAB) is reported. For the preparation of totally fifteen RuxM100‐x@NC nanoparticles with different compositions, the related metal cations are first supported on nanoceria surfaces by wet impregnation method in aqueous solution. Then, Ru3+‐M2+‐exchanged nanoceria samples are synchronously reduced during hydrolysis reaction of EDAB to form corresponding RuxM100x@NC nanoparticles meanwhile the formed nanoparticles catalyze the same reaction. RuxM100x@NC nanoparticles are identified by inductively coupled plasma‐optical emission spectroscopy (ICP‐OES), powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and BET surface area techniques. They provide quiet high catalytic activities in the hydrolysis reaction of EDAB. Among them, Ru20Pd80@NC nanoparticles are by far the best one up to date with a TOF value of 608.49 min−1 at 25 °C.
Reciprocally Photovoltaic Light‐Emitting Diode Based on Dispersive Perovskite Nanocrystal
Authors: Li Jiong , Duan Chenghao , Wen Qiaoyun , Yuan Ligang , Zou Shibing , Chen Chang , Xie Weiguang , Lin Dongxu , Chan Christopher C. S. , Wong Kam Sing , Yan Keyou
Published: April 2022

Integrating highly efficient photovoltaic (PV) function into light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) for multifunctional display is of great significance for compact low‐power electronics, but it remains challenging. Herein, it is demonstrated that solution engineered perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs, ≈100 nm) enable efficient electroluminescence (EL) and PV performance within a single device through tailoring the dispersity and interface. It delivers the maximum brightness of 490 W sr−1 m−2 at 2.7 V and 23.2% EL external quantum efficiency, a record value for near‐infrared perovskite LED, as well as 15.23% PV efficiency, among the highest value for nanocrystal perovskite solar cells. The PV–EL performance is well in line with the reciprocity relation. These all‐solution‐processed PV‐LED devices open up viable routes to a variety of advanced applications, from touchless interactive screens to energy harvesting displays and data communication.
Injectable Hydrogel Based on Defect‐Rich Multi‐Nanozymes for Diabetic Wound Healing via an Oxygen Self‐Supplying Cascade Reaction
Authors: Li Yang , Fu Rongzhan , Duan Zhiguang , Zhu Chenhui , Fan Daidi
Published: April 2022

Diabetic wound healing remains challenging owing to the risk for bacterial infection, hypoxia, excessive glucose levels, and oxidative stress. Glucose‐activated cascade reactions can consume glucose and eradicate bacteria, avoiding the direct use of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and wound pH restriction on peroxidase‐like activity. However, the anoxic microenvironment in diabetic wounds impedes the cascade reaction due to the oxygen (O2) dependence of glucose oxidation. Herein, defect‐rich molybdenum disulfide nanosheets loaded with bovine serum albumin‐modified gold nanoparticle (MoS2@Au@BSA NSs) heterostructures are designed and anchored onto injectable hydrogels to promote diabetic wound healing through an O2 self‐supplying cascade reaction. BSA decoration decreases the particle size of Au, increasing the activity of multiple enzymes. Glucose oxidase‐like Au catalyzes the oxidation of glucose into gluconic acid and H2O2, which is transformed into a hydroxyl radical (•OH) catalyzed by peroxidase‐like MoS2@Au@BSA to eradicate bacteria. When the wound pH reaches an alkalescent condition, MoS2@Au@BSA mimicks superoxide dismutase to transform superoxide anions into O2 and H2O2, and decomposes endogenous and exogenous H2O2 into O2 via catalase‐like mechanisms, reducing oxidative stress, alleviating hypoxia, and facilitating glucose oxidation. The MoS2@Au@BSA nanozyme‐anchored injectable hydrogel, composed of oxidized dextran and glycol chitosan crosslinked through a Schiff base, significantly accelerates diabetic wound healing.
The Code of Silence and the Theory of Police Integrity
Authors: Kutnjak Ivković Sanja , Maskály Jon , Kule Ahmet , Haberfeld Maria Maki
Published: April 2022

This chapter nests the code of silence within the discussion of police integrity. It starts by presenting an overview of the tenets of police integrity theory and the methodology developed by Klockars CB, Kutnjak Ivković S, Haberfeld MR (2004a) The contours of police integrity. In Klockars CB, Kutnjak Ivković S, Haberfeld M R (eds). The contours of police integrity. Sage, Thousand Oaks, p 1–18.; Klockars CB, Kutnjak Ivković S, Haberfeld MR (2004b) Police integrity in the United States of America. In Klockars CB, Kutnjak Ivković S, Haberfeld M R (eds). The contours of police integrity. Sage, Thousand Oaks, p 265–282. Based on the data from one mid-sized police department in the United States, the chapter examines the extent of the code of silence across 12 different scenarios depicting lapses in police integrity, including police corruption, use of excessive force, organizational deviance, and interpersonal deviance. Our findings show that the strength of the code of silence varies across scenarios and that it is negatively related to how serious misconduct is evaluated to be. The multivariate models indicate that the perceptions of organizational peer culture are the strongest factor affecting the respondents’ own willingness to report. In addition, other factors based on the police integrity theory—seriousness of police misconduct, assessment that the behavior violates official rules, and severity of expected discipline—are all related to the respondents’ expressed unwillingness to adhere to the code of silence.
The Code of Silence and Organizational Justice
Authors: Kutnjak Ivković Sanja , Maskály Jon , Kule Ahmet , Haberfeld Maria Maki
Published: April 2022

This chapter focuses on how the police officers’ willingness to report is shaped by their perceptions of organizational justice. With a few exceptions, bivariate analyses revealed a negative relationship between the adherence to the code of silence and the perceptions of organizational justice. Multivariate analyses indicated that the effect of perceived organizational justice varies across the types of scenarios. While the effect of organizational justice on the adherence to the code of silence is negative for the corruption scenarios, organizational justice exerts an inconsistent relationship on the adherence to the code of silence for organizational deviance scenarios and interpersonal deviance scenarios. Yet, the perceptions of organizational justice seem to have no effect on the use of excessive force scenarios. Additionally, the estimated other police officers’ adherence to the code of silence is the strongest predictor of an officer’s own adherence to the code of silence.
Krankenhauspolitische Chronik
Authors: Bürger Dirk , Purwins Martina
Published: April 2022

Der Bundestag, dessen Abgeordnete im Ausschuss für Gesundheit, das Bundesgesundheitsministerium, die Landesgesundheitsminister und der Bundesrat setzen jährlich neben den gesundheits- auch die krankenhauspolitischen Rahmenbedingungen. Benannte Expertenbeiräte der Bundesregierung, die Gesundheitsexperten der Parteien, diverse Verbände, die (Sozial-)Gerichtsbarkeit und Bundesbehörden sowie politiknahe und wissenschaftliche Institute prägen dabei die öffentliche Diskussion um diese Regelungen. Die Selbstverwaltungspartner auf Bundesebene nutzen die ihnen übertragenen Aufgaben zur vertraglichen Gestaltung, um die medizinische und pflegerische Versorgung in den Krankenhäusern anhand der aktuellen Anforderungen weiterzuentwickeln. Die „Krankenhauspolitische Chronik“ liefert eine Übersicht über alle wesentlichen Entscheidungen der Akteure der deutschen Gesundheits- und Krankenhauspolitik und informiert über die Aktivitäten in den vergangenen zwölf Monaten.
Statistical supervised learning with engineering data: a case study of low frequency noise measured on semiconductor devices
Authors: Gámiz María Luz , Kalén Anton , Nozal-Cañadas Rafael , Raya-Miranda Rocío
Published: April 2022

Our practical motivation is the analysis of potential correlations between spectral noise current and threshold voltage from common on-wafer MOSFETs. The usual strategy leads to the use of standard techniques based on Normal linear regression easily accessible in all statistical software (both free or commercial). However, these statistical methods are not appropriate because the assumptions they lie on are not met. More sophisticated methods are required. A new strategy based on the most novel nonparametric techniques which are data-driven and thus free from questionable parametric assumptions is proposed. A backfitting algorithm accounting for random effects and nonparametric regression is designed and implemented. The nature of the correlation between threshold voltage and noise is examined by conducting a statistical test, which is based on a novel technique that summarizes in a color map all the relevant information of the data. The way the results are presented in the plot makes it easy for a non-expert in data analysis to understand what is underlying. The good performance of the method is proven through simulations and it is applied to a data case in a field where these modern statistical techniques are novel and result very efficient.
Smallest covering regions and highest density regions for discrete distributions
Authors: O’Neill Ben
Published: April 2022

This paper examines the problem of computing a canonical smallest covering region for an arbitrary discrete probability distribution. This optimisation problem is similar to the classical 0–1 knapsack problem, but it involves optimisation over a set that may be countably infinite, raising a computational challenge that makes the problem non-trivial. To solve the problem we present theorems giving useful conditions for an optimising region and we develop an iterative one-at-a-time computational method to compute a canonical smallest covering region. We show how this can be programmed in pseudo-code and we examine the performance of our method. We compare this algorithm with other algorithms available in statistical computation packages to compute HDRs. We find that our method is the only one that accurately computes HDRs for arbitrary discrete distributions.
Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of TAS0313 in adults with recurrent glioblastoma
Authors: Narita Yoshitaka , Okita Yoshiko , Arakawa Yoshiki
Published: April 2022

Background

TAS0313 is a multi-epitope long peptide vaccine targeting several cancer-associated antigens highly expressed in multiple cancer types, including glioblastoma (GBM). This cohort of a Phase 2 part evaluated the efficacy and safety of TAS0313 in patients with GBM.

Methods

TAS0313 (27 mg) was administered subcutaneously on Days 1, 8 and 15 of Cycles 1 and 2, and Day 1 of subsequent cycles in 21-day cycles. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR). The secondary endpoints were the disease control rate, progression-free survival (PFS) and 6- and 12-month progression-free survival rates (PFR) and safety. Immunological response was assessed as an exploratory endpoint.

Results

The best overall response was partial response in 1 patient, and the ORR (95% CI) was 11.1% (0.3–48.2%) in the per-protocol set (n = 9). A further 3 patients achieved stable disease, for a disease control rate (95% CI) of 44.4% (13.7–78.8%). Median (95% CI) PFS was 1.7 (1.3–NE) months and 6- and 12-month PFRs (95% CI) were 22.2% (3.4–51.3%) each. Common (≥ 20% incidence) treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were injection site reactions (n = 8, 80.0%), followed by pyrexia (n = 7, 70.0%), and malaise, injection site erythema and injection site pruritus (n = 2, 20.0% each). There were no grade 4 or 5 treatment-related AEs. No deaths occurred during the study. In some patients, TAS0313 treatment was confirmed to increase cytotoxic T lymphocyte and immunoglobulin G levels compared with baseline.

Conclusion

TAS0313, a multi-epitope long peptide vaccine, demonstrated promising efficacy and acceptable safety in patients with recurrent GBM.

Clinical trial registration

JapicCTI-183824 (Date of registration: Jan 11, 2018)
Expression Pattern of RNA Interference Genes During Drought Stress and MDMV Infection in Maize
Authors: Balassa György , Balassa Kinga , Janda Tibor , Rudnóy Szabolcs
Published: April 2022

When stress factors trigger transcriptional and metabolic changes, RNA interference (RNAi) is associated with gene expression regulation at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. RDR, DCL and AGO proteins contribute to these gene silencing processes during stress reactions and plant development. An entire revision of the maize RDR, DCL and AGO genes was carried out prior to the experiments. In this study, the transcript changes of a total of 4 ZmRDR, 5 ZmDCL and 17 ZmAGO genes were analysed in maize during either drought stress or MDMV infection, with or without salicylic acid pre-treatment or siRNA pre-treatment, respectively. The gene expression profiles showed the early, middle and late activity of these genes. Drought stress caused major changes in the expression profiles, indicating that there were various steps in stress response regulation. Moreover, insights were gained into the fine-tuning mechanisms of SA regulation. In the case of MDMV infection less diverse trends were observed, which were mainly focused on antiviral defence. However, treatment with exogenous siRNA seems to be an appropriate tool for the targeted influencing of RNAi, especially of AGO genes. These results represent the first contribution to the relationship between RNAi and salicylate signalling and between viral infection and siRNA-triggered defence in maize.
Epidemic changepoint detection in the presence of nuisance changes
Authors: Juodakis Julius , Marsland Stephen
Published: April 2022

Many time series problems feature epidemic changes—segments where a parameter deviates from a background baseline. Detection of such changepoints can be improved by accounting for the epidemic structure, but this is currently difficult if the background level is unknown. Furthermore, in practical data the background often undergoes nuisance changes, which interfere with standard estimation techniques and appear as false alarms. To solve these issues, we develop a new, efficient approach to simultaneously detect epidemic changes and estimate unknown, but fixed, background level, based on a penalised cost. Using it, we build a two-level detector that models and separates nuisance and signal changes. The analytic and computational properties of the proposed methods are established, including consistency and convergence. We demonstrate via simulations that our two-level detector provides accurate estimation of changepoints under a nuisance process, while other state-of-the-art detectors fail. In real-world genomic and demographic datasets, the proposed method identified and localised target events while separating out seasonal variations and experimental artefacts.
Surface ocean current variations in the North Pacific related to Arctic stratospheric ozone
Authors: Wang Tao , Tian Wenshou , Zhang Jiankai , Xu Mian , Lian Tao , Hu Dingzhu , Qie Kai
Published: April 2022

Using reanalysis datasets and a coupled general circulation model, the relationship between springtime Arctic total column ozone (TCO) and surface (5 m) ocean currents in the North Pacific is investigated. We found that as March Arctic TCO decreases, a statistically significant northwestward ocean current anomaly occurs in the northern North Pacific in surface layer, but an anomalous southward ocean current appears in the central North Pacific in April, and vice versa. The decreased Arctic TCO favors an enhanced Arctic stratospheric circulation, which tends to induce the tropospheric positive Arctic Oscillation anomaly with easterly anomalies over the midlatitude eastern Asia in late March through stratosphere-troposphere dynamical coupling. The easterly anomaly over eastern Asia in late March further extends eastward and induces an easterly anomaly over the midlatitude North Pacific, which favors negative North Pacific Oscillation (–NPO)-like circulation anomaly via anomalous zonal wind shear and the interactions between synoptic scale eddies and the mean flow in early-middle April. The –NPO anomaly forces anomalous northwestward/southward surface ocean currents in the northern/central North Pacific through direct friction of wind and the Coriolis force. Our coupled numerical simulations with high- and low-ozone scenarios also support that the Arctic stratospheric ozone affects the North Pacific surface ocean currents by NPO anomalies. Moreover, the ozone-related ocean current anomalies contribute to Victoria mode-like sea surface temperature anomalies in the North Pacific by horizontal heat advection. These results imply that Arctic ozone signal could be a predictor for variations of the North Pacific surface ocean currents.
Blitzschutz von Hochspannungs-Freiluftschaltanlagen – praktische Auslegung
Authors: Schober Bernhard , Schwalt Lukas , Pack Stephan
Published: April 2022

Der Blitzschutz von Hochspannungs-Schaltanlagen liefert einen wesentlichen Beitrag für den zuverlässigen Betrieb unserer Hochspannungssysteme. Da Schaltanlagen die Knotenpunkte der elektrischen Verteil- und Übertragungsnetze darstellen, können direkte Blitzeinschläge zu Beeinträchtigungen der Versorgungssicherheit und des zuverlässigen Betriebs dieser Anlagen führen. In diesem Zusammenhang sind besonders Hochspannungs-Freiluftschaltanlagen den direkten Einwirkungen von Blitzentladungen ausgesetzt, da sich deren spannungsführende Anlagenteile im Freien und in exponierter Lage befinden. Der Blitzschutz von baulichen Anlagen und Personen ist in der Norm ÖVE/ÖNORM EN 62305‑3 definiert. Die Norm bietet unter anderem verschiedene Methoden für die Auslegung des Blitzschutzes und kann auch auf Freiluftschaltanlagen umgelegt werden. Andererseits werden in der Norm ÖVE/ÖNORM EN 61936‑1 die Anforderungen an Hochspannungsanlagen behandelt, wie beispielsweise Mindestabstände und Mindesthöhen von aktiven Teilen sowie die Definition einer Gefahrenzone. Am Beispiel der praktischen Auslegung des äußeren Blitzschutzes einer 380-kV-Hochspannungs-Freiluftschaltanlage werden beide Normen miteinander kombiniert.
Triggered Seismicity in a Flooded Former Coal Mining Basin (Gardanne Area, France)
Authors: Dominique Pascal , Aochi Hideo , Morel Jacques
Published: April 2022

We studied the correlation between seismicity and the water table level in an abandoned coal mine (Bouches-du-Rhône, France), closed in 2003, where groundwater has been pumped out since 2010 to prevent underground flooding. Microseismicity was first felt by the population in 2010 and a strongly felt seismic swarm occurred in November 2012. The origin of the seismicity was therefore questioned, in relation to both the potential instability of old, shallow galleries that might generate damage at the surface and a local seismic hazard assessment. A temporary dense seismic network in the area allowed us to analyse the spatial distribution of the seismicity in detail. Most of the seismicity was clearly located under the mine workings, highlighting that an existing fault system crossing the mining operation was being hydraulically activated, in accordance with the known tectonic extension regime. Our analysis clearly shows a spatiotemporal relationship between seismic migration and the level of the mine aquifer between 2013 and 2017. Thus, seismicity will persist with oscillations of the mining aquifer, depending on the pumping capacities and effective rainfall. Continuous hydraulic and seismic monitoring is necessary to better understand these phenomena and assess the associated risks.
Linear/Ridge expansions: enhancing linear approximations by ridge functions
Authors: Greif Constantin , Junk Philipp , Urban Karsten
Published: April 2022

We consider approximations formed by the sum of a linear combination of given functions enhanced by ridge functions—a Linear/Ridge expansion. For an explicitly or implicitly given objective function, we reformulate finding a best Linear/Ridge expansion in terms of an optimization problem. We introduce a particle grid algorithm for its solution. Several numerical results underline the flexibility, robustness and efficiency of the algorithm. One particular source of motivation is model reduction of parameterized transport or wave equations. We show that the particle grid algorithm is able to find a Linear/Ridge expansion as an efficient nonlinear model reduction.
Exploring the influence of a user-specific explainable virtual advisor on health behaviour change intentions
Authors: Abdulrahman Amal , Richards Deborah , Bilgin Ayse Aysin
Published: April 2022

Virtual advisors (VAs) are being utilised almost in every service nowadays from entertainment to healthcare. To increase the user’s trust in these VAs and encourage the users to follow their advice, they should have the capability of explaining their decisions, particularly, when the decision is vital such as health advice. However, the role of an explainable VA in health behaviour change is understudied. There is evidence that people tend to change their intentions towards health behaviour when the persuasion message is linked to their mental state. Thus, this study explores this link by introducing an explainable VA that provides explanation according to the user’s mental state (beliefs and goals) rather than the agent’s mental state as commonly utilised in explainable agents. It further explores the influence of different explanation patterns that refer to beliefs, goals, or beliefs&goals on the user’s behaviour change. An explainable VA was designed to advise undergraduate students how to manage their study-related stress by motivating them to change certain behaviours. With 91 participants, the VA was evaluated and the results revealed that user-specific explanation could significantly encourage behaviour change intentions and build good user-agent relationship. Small differences were found between the three types of explanation patterns.
Self-organizing migrating algorithm: review, improvements and comparison
Authors: Skanderova Lenka
Published: April 2022

The self-organizing migrating algorithm (SOMA) is a population-based meta-heuristic that belongs to swarm intelligence. In the last 20 years, we can observe two main streams in the publications. First, novel approaches contributing to the improvement of its performance. Second, solving the various optimization problems. Despite the different approaches and applications, there exists no work summarizing them. Therefore, this work reviews the research papers dealing with the principles and application of the SOMA. The second goal of this work is to provide additional information about the performance of the SOMA. This work presents the comparison of the selected algorithms. The experimental results indicate that the best-performing SOMAs provide competitive results comparing the recently published algorithms.
Different perspectives on the b-plane: perturbation effects and use for resonant flyby design
Authors: Masat Alessandro , Romano Matteo , Colombo Camilla
Published: April 2022

Orbital resonances can be leveraged in the mission design phase to target planets at different energy levels. On the other side, precise models are needed to predict possible threatening returns of natural and artificial objects closely approaching a target planet. To this aim, we propose a semi-analytic extension of the b-plane resonance model to account for perturbing effects inside the planet’s sphere of influence. We compute the actual values of the perturbing coefficients by means of precise numerical simulations, whereas their expression stems from the properties of hyperbolic trajectories and asymptotic planetocentric velocity vectors. We apply the proposed b-plane model to design ballistic resonant flybys by solving a multilevel mixed-integer nonlinear optimization problem.
Associations between steady-state pattern electroretinography and estimated retinal ganglion cell count in glaucoma suspects
Authors: Tirsi Andrew , Orshan Derek , Wong Benny , Gliagias Vasiliki , Tsai Joby , Obstbaum Stephen A. , Tello Celso
Published: April 2022

Purpose

To estimate retinal ganglion cell (RGC) count in glaucoma suspects (GS) and ascertain its relationships with steady-state pattern electroretinography (ssPERG) parameters.

Methods

In this prospective cross-sectional study, 22 subjects (44 eyes) were recruited at the Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital. Subjects underwent complete eye examinations, optical coherence tomography, standard automated perimetry, and ssPERG testing. Eyes were divided into two groups based upon clinical data: healthy subjects and GS. RGC count was estimated using the combined structure–function index.

Results

Estimated RGC count, average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (ARNFLT), and average ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer thickness (GCIPLT) were reduced in GS eyes (p ≤ 0.001for all parameters). Pearson correlations revealed that ssPERG magnitude and magnitudeD correlated with ARNFLT(r ≥ 0.53, p < 0.001), GCIPLT(r > 0.38, p < 0.011), and estimated RGC count(r > 0.46, p < 0.002).Six mediation analyses revealed that estimated RGC count mediated the relationships among ssPERG parameters, ARNFLT, and GCIPLT.

Conclusion

Steady-state PERG parameters demonstrated linear correlations with estimated RGC count. The associations among ssPERG parameters and structural measures were mediated by estimated RGC count.