bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of polygenic risk scores and hair cortisol with mental health trajectories during COVID lockdown
Authors: Ahrens Kira F. , Neumann Rebecca J. , von Werthern Nina M. , Kranz Thorsten M. , Kollmann Bianca , Mattes Björn , Puhlmann Lara M. C. , Weichert Danuta , Lutz Beat , Basten Ulrike , Fiebach Christian J. , Wessa Michèle , Kalisch Raffael , Lieb Klaus , Chiocchetti Andreas G. , Tüscher Oliver , Reif Andreas , Plichta Michael M.
Published: September 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global stressor with inter-individually differing influences on mental health trajectories. Polygenic Risk Scores (PRSs) for psychiatric phenotypes are associated with individual mental health predispositions. Elevated hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) and high PRSs are related to negative mental health outcomes. We analyzed whether PRSs and HCC are related to different mental health trajectories during the first COVID lockdown in Germany. Among 523 participants selected from the longitudinal resilience assessment study (LORA), we previously reported three subgroups (acute dysfunction, delayed dysfunction, resilient) based on weekly mental health (GHQ-28) assessment during COVID lockdown. DNA from blood was collected at the baseline of the original LORA study (n = 364) and used to calculate the PRSs of 12 different psychopathological phenotypes. An explorative bifactor model with Schmid-Leiman transformation was calculated to extract a general genetic factor for psychiatric disorders. Hair samples were collected quarterly prior to the pandemic for determining HCC (n = 192). Bivariate logistic regressions were performed to test the associations of HCC and the PRS factors with the reported trajectories. The bifactor model revealed 1 general factor and 4 sub-factors. Results indicate a significant association between increased values on the general risk factor and the allocation to the acute dysfunction class. The same was found for elevated HCC and the exploratorily tested sub-factor “childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorders”. Genetic risk and long-term cortisol secretion as a potential indicator of stress, indicated by PRSs and HCC, respectively, predicted different mental health trajectories. Results indicate a potential for future studies on risk prediction.
The effects of social isolation stress and discrimination on mental health
Authors: Brandt Lasse , Liu Shuyan , Heim Christine , Heinz Andreas
Published: September 2022

Social isolation and discrimination are growing public health concerns associated with poor physical and mental health. They are risk factors for increased morbidity and mortality and reduced quality of life. Despite their detrimental effects on health, there is a lack of knowledge regarding translation across the domains of experimental research, clinical studies, and real-life applications. Here, we review and synthesize evidence from basic research in animals and humans to clinical translation and interventions. Animal models indicate that social separation stress, particularly in early life, activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and interacts with monoaminergic, glutamatergic, and GABAergic neurotransmitter systems, inducing long-lasting reductions in serotonin turnover and alterations in dopamine receptor sensitivity. These findings are of particular importance for human social isolation stress, as effects of social isolation stress on the same neurotransmitter systems have been implicated in addictive, psychotic, and affective disorders. Children may be particularly vulnerable due to lasting effects of social isolation and discrimination stress on the developing brain. The effects of social isolation and loneliness are pronounced in the context of social exclusion due to discrimination and racism, during widespread infectious disease related containment strategies such as quarantine, and in older persons due to sociodemographic changes. This highlights the importance of new strategies for social inclusion and outreach, including gender, culture, and socially sensitive telemedicine and digital interventions for mental health care.
Sub-lethal signals in the mitochondrial apoptosis apparatus: pernicious by-product or physiological event?
Authors: Häcker Georg , Haimovici Aladin
Published: September 2022

One of the tasks of mitochondria is the rule over life and death: when the outer membrane is permeabilized, the release of intermembrane space proteins causes cell death by apoptosis. For a long time, this mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) has been accepted as the famous step from which no cell returns. Recent results have however shown that this quite plainly does not have to be the case. A cell can also undergo only a little MOMP, and it can efficiently repair damage it has incurred in the process. There is no doubt now that such low-scale permeabilization occurs. A major unclarified issue is the biological relevance. Is small-scale mitochondrial permeabilization an accident, a leakiness of the apoptosis apparatus, perhaps during restructuring of the mitochondrial network? Is it attempted suicide, where cell death by apoptosis is the real goal but the stimulus failed to reach the threshold? Or, more boldly, is there a true biological meaning behind the event of the release of low amounts of mitochondrial components? We will here explore this last possibility, which we believe is on one hand appealing, on the other hand plausible and supported by some evidence. Recent data are consistent with the view that sub-lethal signals in the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway can drive inflammation, the first step of an immune reaction. The apoptosis apparatus is almost notoriously easy to trigger. Sub-lethal signals may be even easier to set off. We suggest that the apoptosis apparatus is used in this way to sound the call when the first human cell is infected by a pathogen.
Quantifying hierarchy and dynamics in US faculty hiring and retention
Authors: Wapman K. Hunter , Zhang Sam , Clauset Aaron , Larremore Daniel B.
Published: September 2022

Faculty hiring and retention determine the composition of the US academic workforce and directly shape educational outcomes1, careers2, the development and spread of ideas3 and research priorities4,5. However, hiring and retention are dynamic, reflecting societal and academic priorities, generational turnover and efforts to diversify the professoriate along gender6–8, racial9 and socioeconomic10 lines. A comprehensive study of the structure and dynamics of the US professoriate would elucidate the effects of these efforts and the processes that shape scholarship more broadly. Here we analyse the academic employment and doctoral education of tenure-track faculty at all PhD-granting US universities over the decade 2011–2020, quantifying stark inequalities in faculty production, prestige, retention and gender. Our analyses show universal inequalities in which a small minority of universities supply a large majority of faculty across fields, exacerbated by patterns of attrition and reflecting steep hierarchies of prestige. We identify markedly higher attrition rates among faculty trained outside the United States or employed by their doctoral university. Our results indicate that gains in women’s representation over this decade result from demographic turnover and earlier changes made to hiring, and are unlikely to lead to long-term gender parity in most fields. These analyses quantify the dynamics of US faculty hiring and retention, and will support efforts to improve the organization, composition and scholarship of the US academic workforce.
Graph-based representation for identifying individual travel activities with spatiotemporal trajectories and POI data
Authors: Liu Xinyi , Wu Meiliu , Peng Bo , Huang Qunying
Published: September 2022

Individual daily travel activities (e.g., work, eating) are identified with various machine learning models (e.g., Bayesian Network, Random Forest) for understanding people’s frequent travel purposes. However, labor-intensive engineering work is often required to extract effective features. Additionally, features and models are mostly calibrated for individual trajectories with regular daily travel routines and patterns, and therefore suffer from poor generalizability when applied to new trajectories with more irregular patterns. Meanwhile, most existing models cannot extract features to explicitly represent regular travel activity sequences. Therefore, this paper proposes a graph-based representation of spatiotemporal trajectories and point-of-interest (POI) data for travel activity type identification, defined as Gstp2Vec. Specifically, a weighted directed graph is constructed by connecting regular activity areas (i.e., zones) detected via clustering individual daily travel trajectories as graph nodes, with edges denoting trips between pairs of zones. Statistics of trajectories (e.g., visit frequency, activity duration) and POI distributions (e.g., percentage of restaurants) at each activity zone are encoded as node features. Next, trip frequency, average trip duration, and average trip distance are encoded as edge weights. Then a series of feedforward neural networks are trained to generate low-dimensional embeddings for activity nodes through sampling and aggregating spatiotemporal and POI features from their multihop neighborhoods. Activity type labels collected via travel surveys are used as ground truth for backpropagation. The experiment results with real-world GPS trajectories show that Gstp2Vec significantly reduces feature engineering efforts by automatically learning feature embeddings from raw trajectories with minimal prepossessing efforts. It not only enhances model generalizability to receive higher identification accuracy on test individual trajectories with diverse travel patterns, but also obtains better efficiency and robustness. In particular, our identification of the most common daily travel activities (e.g., Dwelling and Work) for people with diverse travel patterns outperforms state-of-the-art classification models.
Tubulin expression and modification in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)
Authors: Schulz Lisa , Werner Sarah , Böttner Julia , Adams Volker , Lurz Philipp , Besler Christian , Thiele Holger , Büttner Petra
Published: September 2022

Diastolic dysfunction in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is characterised by increased left ventricular stiffness and impaired active relaxation. Underpinning pathomechanisms are incompletely understood. Cardiac hypertrophy and end stage heart disease are associated with alterations in the cardiac microtubule (MT) network. Increased amounts and modifications of α-tubulin associate with myocardial stiffness. MT alterations in HFpEF have not been analysed yet. Using ZSF1 obese rats (O-ZSF1), a validated HFpEF model, we characterised MT-modifying enzymes, quantity and tyrosination/detyrosination pattern of α-tubulin at 20 and 32 weeks of age. In the left ventricle of O-ZSF1, α-tubulin concentration (20 weeks: 1.5-fold, p = 0.019; 32 weeks: 1.7-fold, p = 0.042) and detyrosination levels (20 weeks: 1.4-fold, p = 0.013; 32 weeks: 1.3-fold, p = 0.074) were increased compared to lean ZSF1 rats. Tyrosination/α-tubulin ratio was lower in O-ZSF1 (20 weeks: 0.8-fold, p = 0.020; 32 weeks: 0.7-fold, p = 0.052). Expression of α-tubulin modifying enzymes was comparable. These results reveal new alterations in the left ventricle in HFpEF that are detectable during early (20 weeks) and late (32 weeks) progression. We suppose that these alterations contribute to diastolic dysfunction in HFpEF and that reestablishment of MT homeostasis might represent a new target for pharmacological interventions.
Reactive laser interference patterning on titanium and zinc in high pressure CO2
Authors: Singh Amandeep , Kumpulainen Tero , Lahtonen Kimmo , Söyrinki Saara , Vihinen Jorma , Levänen Erkki
Published: September 2022

Direct laser interference patterning (DLIP) is a versatile technique for surface patterning that enables formation of micro-nano sized periodic structures on top of the target material. In this study, DLIP in high pressure, supercritical and liquid CO2 by 4-beam DLIP was used to pattern titanium and zinc targets. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to characterize the patterned surfaces. Field emission SEM analysis showed presence of ordered uniform donut ring pattern with hollow centers for both titanium and zinc with a period slightly under 3 µm while topographical images from atomic force microscopy revealed donut rings protruding outwards typically around 200 nm from target surface and consisted of a crevice at the center with a depth typically around 300 nm and 250 nm for titanium and zinc target, respectively. Based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis, this is the first study to report formation of TiO2, TiC, ZnCO3, and zinc hydroxy carbonate on the pattern by DLIP in supercritical and liquid CO2 for titanium and zinc targets. Pressurized CO2 is demonstrated as a promising environment with mirror-based DLIP system for reactive patterning. Due to the superior transport properties and solvent power of supercritical CO2, the current study opens possibilities for reactive patterning in environments that may not have been previously possible.
Mapping county-level vulnerability to the energy transition in US fossil fuel communities
Authors: Raimi Daniel , Carley Sanya , Konisky David
Published: September 2022

The energy transition toward lower-carbon energy sources will inevitably result in socioeconomic impacts on certain communities, particularly those that have historically produced fossil fuel resources and electricity generation using fossil fuels. Such communities stand to lose jobs, tax revenues, and support for public services. Which communities are most likely to be affected, which are more susceptible to being harmed, and how to target adaptive capacity programs—such as economic development and workforce training—accordingly are pressing scholarly and policy questions. In this study, we apply a vulnerability framework to calculate, rank, and map exposure and sensitivity scores for fossil fuel producing regions in the US. We find that, while counties in most regions of the United States will be affected by the transition away from fossil fuels, counties in Appalachia, Texas and the Gulf Coast region, and the Intermountain West are likely to experience the most significant impacts, and some regions experience overlapping and significant incidence of vulnerability. These results can be used to target future adaptive capacity programs.
Alteration of rhesus macaque serum N-glycome during infection with the human parasitic filarial nematode Brugia malayi
Authors: Petralia Laudine M. C. , Santha Esrath , Behrens Anna-Janina , Nguyen D. Linh , Ganatra Mehul B. , Taron Christopher H. , Khatri Vishal , Kalyanasundaram Ramaswamy , van Diepen Angela , Hokke Cornelis H. , Foster Jeremy M.
Published: September 2022

Serum N-glycan profiling studies during the past decades have shown robust associations between N-glycan changes and various biological conditions, including infections, in humans. Similar studies are scarcer for other mammals, despite the tremendous potential of serum N-glycans as biomarkers for infectious diseases in animal models of human disease and in the veterinary context. To expand the knowledge of serum N-glycan profiles in important mammalian model systems, in this study, we combined MALDI-TOF-MS analysis and HILIC-UPLC profiling of released N-glycans together with glycosidase treatments to characterize the glycan structures present in rhesus macaque serum. We used this baseline to monitor changes in serum N-glycans during infection with Brugia malayi, a parasitic nematode of humans responsible for lymphatic filariasis, in a longitudinal cohort of infected rhesus macaques. Alterations of the HILIC-UPLC profile, notably of abundant structures, became evident as early as 5 weeks post-infection. Given its prominent role in the immune response, contribution of immunoglobulin G to serum N-glycans was investigated. Finally, comparison with similar N-glycan profiling performed during infection with the dog heartworm Dirofilaria immitis suggests that many changes observed in rhesus macaque serum N-glycans are specific for lymphatic filariasis.
Realization of optical logic gates using on-chip diffractive optical neural networks
Authors: Zarei Sanaz , Khavasi Amin
Published: September 2022

Optical computing is highly desired as a potential strategy for circumventing the performance limitations of semiconductor-based electronic devices and circuits. Optical logic gates are considered as fundamental building blocks for optical computation and they enable logic functions to be performed extremely quickly without the generation of heat and crosstalk. Here, we discuss the design of a multi-functional optical logic gate based on an on-chip diffractive optical neural network that can perform AND, NOT and OR logic operations at the wavelength of 1.55 µm. The wavelength-independent operation of the multi-functional logic gate at seven wavelengths (over a bandwidth of 60 nm) is also studied which paves the way for wavelength division multiplexed parallel computation. This simple, highly-integrable, low-loss, energy-efficient and broadband optical logic gate provides a path for the development of high-speed on-chip nanophotonic processors for future optical computing applications.
Controlling bubble generation by femtosecond laser-induced filamentation
Authors: Rao D. Chaitanya Kumar , Mooss Veena S. , Mishra Yogeshwar Nath , Hanstorp Dag
Published: September 2022

Femtosecond laser-induced optical breakdown in liquids results in filamentation, which involves the formation and collapse of bubbles. In the present work, we elucidate spatio-temporal evolution, interaction, and dynamics of the filamentation-induced bubbles in a liquid pool as a function of a broad spectrum of laser pulse energies (∼1 to 800 µJ), liquid media (water, ethanol, and glycerol), and the number of laser pulses. Filament attributes such as length and diameter have been demarcated and accurately measured by employing multiple laser pulses and were observed to have a logarithmic dependence on laser energy, irrespective of the medium. The size distribution of persisting microbubbles is controlled by varying the pulse energy and the number of pulses. Our experimental results reveal that introducing consecutive pulses leads to strong interaction and coalescence of the pulsating bubbles via Bjerknes force due to laser-induced acoustic field generation. The successive pulses also influence the population density and size distribution of the micro-bubbles. We also explore the size, shape, and agglomeration of bubbles near the focal region by controlling the laser energy for different liquids. The insights from this work on filamentation-induced bubble dynamics can be of importance in diverse applications such as surface cleaning, fluid mixing and emulsification, and biomedical engineering.
1-Octanol emitted by Oecophylla smaragdina weaver ants repels and deters oviposition in Queensland fruit fly
Authors: Kempraj Vivek , Park Soo Jean , Cameron Donald N. S. , Taylor Phillip W.
Published: September 2022

Humans have used weaver ants, Oecophylla smaragdina, as biological control agents to control insect pests in orchards for many centuries. Over recent decades, the effectiveness of weaver ants as biological control agents has been attributed in part to deterrent and oviposition inhibiting effects of kairomones produced by the ants, but the chemical identity of these kairomones has remained unknown. We have identified the kairomone responsible for deterrence and oviposition inhibition by O. smaragdina, providing a significant advance in understanding the chemical basis of their predator/prey interactions. Olfactometer assays with extracts from weaver ants demonstrated headspace volatiles to be highly repellent to Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni. Using electrophysiology and bioassays, we demonstrate that this repellence is induced by a single compound, 1-octanol. Of 16 compounds identified in O. smaragdina headspace, only 1-octanol evoked an electrophysiological response from B. tryoni antennae. Flies had greatly reduced oviposition and spent significantly less time in an olfactometer arm in the presence of 1-octanol or a synthetic blend of headspace volatiles containing 1-octanol than in the presence of a synthetic blend of headspace volatiles without 1-octanol, or clean air. Taken together, our results demonstrate that 1-octanol is the functional kairomone component of O. smaragdina headspace that explains repellence and oviposition deterrence, and is hence an important contributor to the effectiveness of these ants as biological control agents.
Plasmon resonance of gold and silver nanoparticle arrays in the Kretschmann (attenuated total reflectance) vs. direct incidence configuration
Authors: Borah Rituraj , Ninakanti Rajeshreddy , Bals Sara , Verbruggen Sammy W.
Published: September 2022

While the behaviour of plasmonic solid thin films in the Kretschmann (also known as Attenuated Total Reflection, ATR) configuration is well-understood, the use of discrete nanoparticle arrays in this optical configuration is not thoroughly explored. It is important to do so, since close packed plasmonic nanoparticle arrays exhibit exceptionally strong light-matter interactions by plasmonic coupling. The present work elucidates the optical properties of plasmonic Au and Ag nanoparticle arrays in both the direct normal incidence and Kretschmann configuration by numerical models, that are validated experimentally. First, hexagonal close packed Au and Ag nanoparticle films/arrays are obtained by air–liquid interfacial assembly. The numerical models for the rigorous solution of the Maxwell’s equations are validated using experimental optical spectra of these films before systematically investigating various parameters. The individual far-field/near-field optical properties, as well as the plasmon relaxation mechanism of the nanoparticles, vary strongly as the packing density of the array increases. In the Kretschmann configuration, the evanescent fields arising from p- and s-polarized (or TM and TE polarized) incidence have different directional components. The local evanescent field intensity and direction depends on the polarization, angle of incidence and the wavelength of incidence. These factors in the Kretschmann configuration give rise to interesting far-field as well as near-field optical properties. Overall, it is shown that plasmonic nanoparticle arrays in the Kretschmann configuration facilitate strong broadband absorptance without transmission losses, and strong near-field enhancement. The results reported herein elucidate the optical properties of self-assembled nanoparticle films, pinpointing the ideal conditions under which the normal and the Kretschmann configuration can be exploited in multiple light-driven applications.
A dynamic fluorescence probed glycolysis suppression process in HeLa cells treated with trichostatin A
Authors: Zhang Fengqiu , Shao Changsheng , Wu Yahui , Zhao Wei , Jing Xumiao , Fang Cao , Huang Qing
Published: September 2022

The glycolysis suppression process due to treatment by trichostatin A (TSA), a typical histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, could be observed in situ using the GFP fluorescent probe in the cell which is sensitive to intracellular pH (pHi) change.
Influence of Na+, Ca2+ and R3+ (R = Y, Lu, Gd) co-doping on the spectroscopic properties of Pr3+:BaF2 single crystal
Authors: Wang Wudi , Dong Jianshu , Xue Yanyan , Zhang Chenbo , Li Na , Song Qingsong , Cao Xiao , Wang Qingguo , Xu Xiaodong , Tang Huili , Lin Hui , Li Dongzhen , Wang Zhanshan , Xu Jun
Published: September 2022

A series of high quality x%Pr3+:BaF2 (x = 0.6, 1, 2); (1%Pr3+, 2%Na+):BaF2; (1%Pr3+, y%Ca2+):BaF2 (y = 3, 5) and (0.6%Pr3+, 10%R3+):BaF2 (R = Y, Lu, Gd) crystals were grown via a temperature gradient technique (TGT).
The (2–0) R(0) and R(1) transition frequencies of HD determined to a 10−10 relative accuracy by Doppler spectroscopy at 80 K
Authors: Kassi Samir , Lauzin Clément , Chaillot Justin , Campargue Alain
Published: September 2022

The Doppler broadened R(0) and R(1) lines of the (2–0) vibrational band of HD have been measured at liquid nitrogen temperature. The corresponding transitions frequencies are determined with an accuracy of a few tens of kHz.
[2+2] Photocycloaddition in a bichromophoric dyad: photochemical concerted forward reaction following Woodward–Hoffmann rules and photoinduced stepwise reverse reaction of the ring openingviapredissociation
Authors: Budyka Mikhail F. , Fedulova Julia A. , Gavrishova Tatiana N. , Li Vitalii M. , Potashova Natalia I. , Tovstun Sergey A.
Published: September 2022

In the styrylbenzoquinoline dyad, the [2+2] photocycloaddition reaction proceeds in concert according to the Woodward–Hoffman rules, while the reverse reaction of photoinduced cyclobutane opening proceeds stepwise by the predissociation mechanism.
A volumetric and intra-diffusion study of solutions of AlCl3 in two ionic liquids – [C2TMEDA][Tf2N] and [C4mpyr][Tf2N]
Authors: Harris Kenneth R. , Kanai Noriko , Price William S. , Torres Allan M. , Willis Scott A. , Rodopoulos Theo , Veder Jean-Pierre , Rüther Thomas
Published: September 2022

Ion self-diffusion coefficients in ionic liquid solutions follow the Ertl–Dullien free volume power law with concentration dependent offsets.
Full-dimensional potential energy surface development and dynamics for the HBr + C2H5 → Br(2P3/2) + C2H6 reaction
Authors: Yin Cangtao , Tajti Viktor , Czakó Gábor
Published: September 2022

A full-dimensional spin–orbit-corrected analytical ab initio potential energy surface is developed and quasi-classical trajectory simulations are performed for the HBr + C2H5 reaction.
Electron-induced effect and coordinated pi-delocalization synergistically promote charge transfer in benzenesulfonic acid modified g-C3N4 with efficient photocatalytic performance
Authors: Xia Zhiling , Li Yunfeng , Yang Qing , Zhu Wei , Jin Renxi , Zhang Luohong , Xing Yan
Published: September 2022

The synergistic effect of the sulfonic acid group and aromatic ring in benzenesulfonic acid modified g-C3N4 induces charge redistribution for melon units, leading to efficient photocatalytic performance.
Influences of climate change on long-term time series of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Arctic and Antarctic biota
Authors: Vorkamp Katrin , Carlsson Pernilla , Corsolini Simonetta , de Wit Cynthia A. , Dietz Rune , Gribble Matthew O. , Houde Magali , Kalia Vrinda , Letcher Robert J. , Morris Adam , Rigét Frank F. , Routti Heli , Muir Derek C. G.
Published: September 2022

Time series of contaminants in the Arctic are an important instrument to detect emerging issues and to monitor the effectiveness of chemicals regulation. Climate change can affect the link between primary emissions and concentrations in Arctic wildlife.
Construction of microalgae polyculture based on key population analysis to improve biomass production in municipal wastewater
Authors: Liu Weixing , Shang Qingyu , Pan Ting , Yan Yixin , Singh Rajendra Prasad , Fu Dafang
Published: September 2022

Paraburkholderia was identified as a key population, and a positive correlation was found between Nannochloropsis oceanica and Paraburkholderia. The microalgae culture experiments constructed based on them realized the improvement of productivity.
Effects of particle size reduction combined with β-cyclodextrin on the in vitro dissolution and in vivo relative bioavailability of ginsenosides in Panax ginseng
Authors: Liu Chang , Yang Tao , Zhao Zikuan , Liu Tristan C. , Li Kexin , Liu Jianguo , Zhou Peng
Published: September 2022

The biological effects of ginsenosides are limited by their low oral bioavailability.
Intake of an enological oak tannin powder alters hepatic gene express patterns indicative of a reduction of inflammation in male mice fed an obesogenic diet
Authors: Egea Mariana Buranelo , Pierce Gavin , Luo Ting , Becraft Alexandra , Shay Neil
Published: September 2022

Mice fed a high-fat diet were provided a diet containing an enological oak powder. Consumption of the powder in the high-fat diet produced changes in gene expression consistent with alterations in xenobiotic metabolism and reduced inflammation.
Microfluidics for multiscale studies of biomolecular condensates
Authors: Erkamp Nadia A. , Qi Runzhang , Welsh Timothy J. , Knowles Tuomas P. J.
Published: September 2022

Combining microfluidics with existing techniques allows for novel and more high-throughput measurements of the thermodynamics, kinetics and characteristics of biomolecular condensates.
The rapid synthesis of intrinsic green-fluorescent poly(pyrogallol)-derived carbon dots for amoxicillin drug sensing in clinical samples
Authors: Ashkar M. A. , Chandhru M. , Sundar M. , Kutti Rani S. , Vasimalai N.
Published: September 2022

Detection of the amoxicillin drug using pyrogallol-derived carbon dots.
Maleidride biosynthesis – construction of dimeric anhydrides – more than just heads or tails
Authors: Williams Katherine , Szwalbe Agnieszka J. , de Mattos-Shipley Kate M. J. , Bailey Andy M. , Cox Russell J. , Willis Christine L.
Published: September 2022

We review studies from early isolation and elucidation to recent bioinformatics andin vitrowork regarding the biosynthesis of maleidrides. These are dimeric anhydrides, made from monomers coupled in various modes leading to structural diversity.
Palladium-catalyzed stereoselective decarboxylative allylation of azlactones: access to (Z)-trisubstituted allylic amino acid derivatives
Authors: Zhao Jian-Qiang , Rao Han-Wen , Qian Hui-Ling , Zhang Xue-Man , Zhou Shun , Zhang Yan-Ping , You Yong , Wang Zhen-Hua , Yuan Wei-Cheng
Published: September 2022

A palladium-catalyzed stereoselective decarboxylative allylation of azlactones with vinyl methylene cyclic carbonates affords a series of trisubstituted allylic amino acid derivatives in good yields with an exclusive (Z)-configuration.
Nonlinear imaging and vibrational spectroscopic analysis of cellulosic fibres treated with COEX® flame-retardant for tapestry preservation
Authors: Dal Fovo Alice , Striova Jana , Quintero Balbas Diego , Mattana Sara , Tacconi Niccolò , Cicchi Riccardo , Fontana Raffaella
Published: September 2022

This innovative approach, based on SHG/TPEF imaging and vibrational spectroscopic techniques, investigates the effect of flame-retardant COEX® treatment on flax and cotton fibres by relating micrometric structural properties to the chemical changes.
Hydroxyapatite coating on an aluminum/bioplastic scaffold for bone tissue engineering
Authors: Jongprateep Oratai , Jitanukul Nonthaporn , Saphongxay Khotamy , Petchareanmongkol Benjamon , Bansiddhi Ampika , Laobuthee Apirat , Lertworasirikul Amornrat , Techapiesancharoenkij Ratchatee
Published: September 2022

Schematic representation of hydroxyapatite synthesis, 3D printing of Al/PLA scaffolds, and hydrothermal coating of the scaffolds. The best uniformity of coating and the greatest compressive strength were observed in samples coated with 10 vol% slurry.
Cysteine-based protein folding modulators for trapping intermediates and misfolded forms
Authors: Nishino Hayato , Kitamura Mai , Okada Shunsuke , Miyake Ryosuke , Okumura Masaki , Muraoka Takahiro
Published: September 2022

In this study, cysteine-containing dipeptides conjugated with amino acids possessing mono- and diamino-groups were developed as protein-folding modulators affording non-native forms through intermolecular disulfide-bond formation.
The effect of Bacillus cereus LV-1 on the crystallization and polymorphs of calcium carbonate
Authors: Yang Guoguo , Li Fuchun , Wang Yazhi , Ji Chen , Huang Lingjie , Su Zhimeng , Li Xuelin , Zhang Chonghong
Published: September 2022

The study of CaCO3 polymorphism is of great significance for understanding the mechanism of bacterial carbonate mineralization and the genesis of carbonate rock formation throughout geological history.
High performance ozone decomposition over MnAl-based mixed oxide catalysts derived from layered double hydroxides
Authors: Shao Mingpan , Hong Wei , Zhu Tianle , Jiang Xinxin , Sun Ye , Hou Shiyu
Published: September 2022

Mesoporous and highly dispersed MnAl-based mixed metal oxide catalysts (MnxAlO) were fabricated via the calcination of layered double hydroxides (LDHs), which presented excellent catalytic activity for ozone decomposition.
Magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles modified by phosphonate functionalized ionic liquid for selective enrichment of phosphopeptides
Authors: Jiang Yufei , Liang Weida , Wang Binbin , Feng Quanshou , Xia Chenglong , Wang Qiyao , Yan Yinghua , Zhao Lingling , Cui Wei , Liang Hongze
Published: September 2022

A new magnetic IMAC core–shell nanomaterial (Fe3O4@mSiO2-PFIL-Ti4+) modified with phosphonate functionalized ionic liquid (PFIL) has been prepared and exhibits excellent specific enrichment of phosphopeptides.
Titanate nanoribbon-based nanobiohybrid for potential applications in regenerative medicine
Authors: Maurizi Lionel , Bellat Vanessa , Moreau Mathieu , De Maistre Emmanuel , Boudon Julien , Dumont Laure , Denat Franck , Vandroux David , Millot Nadine
Published: September 2022

Titanate nanoribbons functionalized by heterobifunctional polymer and type I collagen for cellular adhesion and proliferation. This new nanobiohybrid affected neither cytotoxicity nor platelet aggregation ability.
Divergent copper-catalyzed syntheses of 3-carboxylpyrroles and 3-cyanofurans from O-acetyl oximes and β-ketoesters/nitriles
Authors: Almaraz-Ortiz Wilfrido E. , Ramos Orea Aldahir , Casadiego-Díaz Oscar , Reyes-Salgado Agustín , Mejía-Galindo Arturo , Torres-Ochoa Rubén O.
Published: September 2022

A copper-catalyzed heteroannulation of O-acetyl oximes and β-ketoesters/nitriles to afford polysubstituted pyrroles and furans was successfully achieved.
Synergistic effect of graphene oxide and hydroxylated graphene on the enhanced properties of cement composites
Authors: Pu Yundong , Yang Sen , Qi Meng , Sheng Kuang , Bi Junfeng , Fan Fukun , Yuan Xiaoya
Published: September 2022

Graphene oxide (GO) shows a remarkable reinforcing effect in the application of cement composite engineering while it also harms the workability of fresh cement slurry.
Pd/Cu-catalyzed access to novel 3-(benzofuran-2-ylmethyl) substituted (pyrazolo/benzo)triazinone derivatives: theirin silico/in vitroevaluation as inhibitors of chorismate mutase (CM)
Authors: Reddy Gangireddy Sujeevan , Shukla Sharda , Bhuktar Harshavardhan , Hossain Kazi Amirul , Edwin Rebecca Kristina , Giliyaru Varadaraj Bhat , Misra Parimal , Pal Manojit
Published: September 2022

We report the Pd/Cu-catalyzed synthesis,in silicomolecular docking,in vitroCM inhibition and computational ADME prediction of novel 3-(benzofuran-2-ylmethyl) substituted (pyrazolo/benzo)triazinone derivatives.
Revisiting secondary students’ ideas about air pollution. The challenge of particulate matter
Authors: Solé Caterina , Couso Digna , Hernández María Isabel
Published: September 2022

Many studies have researched students’ ideas about air pollution, basically focusing on nature and impact of gaseous pollutants on human health. However, recent research has highlighted the importance of the role of particulate matter air pollution for a good air quality in cities. This phenomenon is especially interesting for exploring the limits of the particulate model of matter at the mesoscale with secondary students. The purpose of this research is to investigate the ideas of 14–15 year-old students about polluted air in terms of its structure and its nature and how these ideas change after the implementation of a model-based teaching and learning Sequence. An interpretative qualitative approach is used to explore students’ ideas and how they change. Pre- and post-multimodal representations of 205 secondary students were analysed. Results showed that a sophistication of students’ ideas about the nature of polluted air after the teaching and learning sequence is not necessarily related to the sophistication of its structure. Also, students’ ideas at the mesoscale are varied and include a range of different semicontinuous or discontinuous conceptions.
A wide temperature solid-state Li–S battery enabled by a plasmon-enhanced copper–silicon nanowire photothermal current collector
Authors: Song Xiaoying , Wang Min , Wang Sheng , Cheng Zhu , Zhang Ting , Zhu Ting , Song Hucheng , Yu Linwei , Xu Jun , Chen Kunji
Published: September 2022

A wide temperature solid-state Li–S battery that can efficiently harvest omnidirectional solar energy and convert it into heat via a hierarchical copper–silicon nanowire photothermal current collector.
Anti-perovskite carbides Ca6CSe4and Sr6CSe4for photovoltaics with similar optoelectronic properties to MAPbI3
Authors: Guo Wen-hui , Zhong Hong-xia , Du Juan , Zhu Yao-hui , Liu Shi-ming , He Yong , Tian Chong , Zhang Min , Wang Xinqiang , Shi Jun-jie
Published: September 2022

Anti-perovskite carbides Ca6CSe4 and Sr6CSe4 with PCE of 31% comparable with MAPbI3.
Optimizing ionic strength of interfacial electric double layer for ultrahigh external quantum efficiency of photomultiplication-type organic photodetectors
Authors: Kang Mingyun , Harit Amit Kumar , Woo Han Young , Chung Dae Sung
Published: September 2022

A comprehensive study on the effects of the interfacial electric double layers on the performances of photomultiplication-type organic photodetectors is proposed by employing π-conjugated polyelectrolytes with various ionic densities.
Evaluating large delay estimation techniques for assisted living environments
Authors: Bagchi Swarnadeep , de Fréin Ruairí
Published: September 2022

Phase wraparound due to large inter‐sensor spacings in multi‐channel demixing limits the range of relative delays that many time–frequency relative delay estimators can estimate. The performance of a large relative delay estimation method, called the elevatogram, is evaluated in the presence of significant phase wraparound. This paper compares the elevatogram with the popular relative delay estimator used in DUET and the brute‐force approach in D‐AdRess and analyses its computational efficiency. The elevatogram can accurately estimate relative delays of speech signals of up to 800 samples, whereas DUET and D‐AdRess were limited to delays of 7 and 35 samples, given a sampling rate of 16 kHz. Monte Carlo trials on 1000 real speech utterances show that the Matlab execution time of the elevatogram is slower than DUET, however it can accurately estimate delays that are 100‐times greater than DUET. Source separation algorithms that use time–frequency relative delay estimators may be extended to function with maximum inter‐sensor spacings of greater than 2.5 cm.
Design and characterisation of a dual probe with double‐loop structure for simultaneous near‐field measurement
Authors: Yi Zhiqiang , Chen Zejian , Tian Xinxin , Hou Bo , Ding Yi , Gao Yang , Wu Duolong , Shao Weiheng
Published: September 2022

In this study, a near‐field dual probe with a double‐loop structure is designed and characterised. The high‐performance, low‐loss Rogers material and four‐layer printed circuit board are applied to design the double detection loop structure, which increases the detection area and effectively improves the frequency response of the probe. The key parameters of the probe, including the frequency response, calibration factor, sensitivity, spatial resolution, isolation and differential electric field suppression are characterised by a microstrip line. Compared with other dual probes, the proposed probe has better frequency response and higher sensitivity. The magnetic field sensitivity is −90.88 dB A/m/ and the electric field sensitivity is −46.89 dB A/m/ at 1 GHz.
The intermediate neutron capture process
Authors: Choplin A. , Siess L. , Goriely S.
Published: September 2022

Context.Alongside the slow (s) and rapid (r) neutron capture processes, an intermediate neutron capture process (i-process) is thought to exist. It happens when protons are mixed in a convective helium-burning zone, and is referred to as proton ingestion event (PIE); however, the astrophysical site of thei-process is still a matter of debate. The asymptotic giant branch (AGB) phase of low-mass low-metallicity stars is among the promising sites in this regard.

Aims.For the first time, we providei-process yields of a grid of AGB stars experiencing PIEs.

Methods.We computed 12 models with initial masses of 1, 2, and 3M⊙and metallicities of [Fe/H] = −3.0, −2.5 −2.3, and −2.0, with the stellar evolution code STAREVOL. We used a nuclear network of 1160 species at maximum, coupled to the chemical transport equations. These simulations do not include any extra mixing process.

Results.Proton ingestion takes place preferentially in low-mass and low-metallicity models, arising in six out of our 12 AGB models: the 1 M⊙models with [Fe/H] = −3, −3 andα-enhancement, −2.5, −2.3, and the 2 M⊙models with [Fe/H] = −3 and −2.5. These models experiencei-process nucleosynthesis characterized by neutron densities of ≃1014 − 1015cm−3. Depending on the PIE properties two different evolution paths follow: either the stellar envelope is quickly lost and no more thermal pulses develop or the AGB phase resumes with additional thermal pulses. This behaviour critically depends on the pulse number when the PIE occurs, the mass of the ingested protons, and the extent to which the pulse material is diluted in the convective envelope. We show that the surface enrichment after a PIE is a robust feature of our models and it persists under various convective assumptions. In ouri-process models, elements above iodine (Z = 53) are the most overproduced, particularly Xe, Yb, Ta, Pb, and Bi. Our 3M⊙models do not experience anyi-process, but instead go through a convectives-process in the thermal pulse with a clear signature on their yields.

Conclusions.Thus, AGB stars at low-mass and low-metallicity are expected to contribute to the chemical evolution of heavy elements through thes- andi-processes. Our models can synthesise heavy elements up to Pb without any parametrized extra mixing process such as overshoot or inclusion of a13C-pocket. Nevertheless, it remains to be explored how thei-process depends on mixing processes, such as overshoot, thermohaline, or rotation.
Development and research of an information-measuring system for quality control of agricultural products
Authors: Mishukov Stanislav , Vorotnikov Igor , Mastepanenko Maxim , Gabrielyan Shaliko
Published: September 2022

The article presents the result of an information-measuring system development for quality control of agricultural products based on the assessment of their moisture content, chemical composition, presence of organic and mineral impurities. It also substantiates the relevance of the use of such systems by the agro-industrial complex enterprises. The proposed information-measuring system is based on the author's dielcometric method for determining the electrophysical parameters of capacitive sensors, the principle of which is to decompose the measuring process into two stages. The study of this method was carried out using simulation modeling in the SimInTech environment, while custom operational amplifier blocks and sample-and-hold circuit were built. As a result of the operational amplifier model research, graphs of the dependency of the output voltage on the change in the integration time constant and amplification gain were plotted, on the basis of which the optimal values of these quantities were selected. Studies of the constructed models of the first and second measurement stages using the proposed method showed a high accuracy in determining the electrophysical parameters of capacitive sensors filled with agricultural products, with a relative error not exceeding ±0.2%.
Role and value of small forms of farming in the agricultural production of the Republic of Tatarstan
Authors: Gainutdinov Ilgizar , Mukhametgaliev Farit , Khismatullin Marsel , Avkhadiev Fayaz , Subaeva Asia
Published: September 2022

Providing the country’s population with high-quality food while ensuring effective agricultural production in rural areas should become one of the priority tasks of the state. Besides, creating conditions for the development of small forms of economic activity in cooperation with large commodity producers, thereby achieving the development sustainability of rural areas, providing additional jobs, through stimulating the development of small agricultural businesses, is an urgent task of modern times. The paper is devoted to the study of the role and value of small farming in rural areas on the example of the Republic of Tatarstan. The results of the impact of state support programs on their number and further development are shown. The emphasis is put on the need to expand this assistance in other areas. The volumes of agricultural production in peasant farms are shown. Priority areas to increase crop production were identified, and recommendations to ensure sustainable income growth of small farms were given. The practical relevance of research results includes the possibility of their use to design programs for the development of regional food markets thus achieving high targets.
Efficiency of Giberelonand Cytodef-100 phytohormones in the crop structure and productivity of sunflower in edaphoclimatic conditions of the Republic of Tatarstan
Authors: Suleymanov Salavat , Safiollin Faik , Egorov Leonid , Sochneva Svetlana , Loginov Nikolai
Published: September 2022

The studies were carried out to assess the effect of foliar dressing with Cytodef-100 and Giberelonphytohormones on fruit elements and gross yield of sunflower oil in edaphoclimatic conditions of the Republic of Tatarstan. The study was conducted in the sunflower crops of the Avenger hybrid in the Republic of Tatarstan in 2019–2021. The agrochemical indicators of typical gray-forest soil were as follows: humus content according to Tyurin – 3.0%, mobile phosphorus – 160 and exchange potassium – 145 mg/kg of soil according to Kirsanov. The soil medium response was close to neutral (pH 6.6). The results of the studies show that the total diameter of sunflower heads increases from 10.9 cm in the control sample to 13.3 cm in the joint use of 3 agrochemicals in the phase 4-8 of sunflower leaves: Euro-Lightningherbicide (1.2 kg/ha) + Cytodef-100 (150 g/ha) + Giberelon (50 g/ha). At the same time, the diameter of the empty part of the heads has a clear downward trend: from 2.2 cm to 1.7 cm in the latter version. The increase in marketable products due to the combined use of Cytodef-100 antistress drug and Giberelonphytohormone solution in combination with chemical weeding was 15.2% compared to the control sample (spraying of sunflower crops with Euro-Lightning (1.2 kg/ha) without Agrosintez LLC products.