bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fire suppression makes wildfires more severe and accentuates impacts of climate change and fuel accumulation
Authors: Kreider Mark R. , Higuera Philip E. , Parks Sean A. , Rice William L. , White Nadia , Larson Andrew J.
Published: March 2024

Fire suppression is the primary management response to wildfires in many areas globally. By removing less-extreme wildfires, this approach ensures that remaining wildfires burn under more extreme conditions. Here, we term this the “suppression bias” and use a simulation model to highlight how this bias fundamentally impacts wildfire activity, independent of fuel accumulation and climate change. We illustrate how attempting to suppress all wildfires necessarily means that fires will burn with more severe and less diverse ecological impacts, with burned area increasing at faster rates than expected from fuel accumulation or climate change. Over a human lifespan, the modeled impacts of the suppression bias exceed those from fuel accumulation or climate change alone, suggesting that suppression may exert a significant and underappreciated influence on patterns of fire globally. Managing wildfires to safely burn under low and moderate conditions is thus a critical tool to address the growing wildfire crisis.
Landslide topology uncovers failure movements
Authors: Bhuyan Kushanav , Rana Kamal , Ferrer Joaquin V. , Cotton Fabrice , Ozturk Ugur , Catani Filippo , Malik Nishant
Published: March 2024

The death toll and monetary damages from landslides continue to rise despite advancements in predictive modeling. These models’ performances are limited as landslide databases used in developing them often miss crucial information, e.g., underlying movement types. This study introduces a method of discerning landslide movements, such as slides, flows, and falls, by analyzing landslides’ 3D shapes. By examining landslide topological properties, we discover distinct patterns in their morphology, indicating different movements including complex ones with multiple coupled movements. We achieve 80-94% accuracy by applying topological properties in identifying landslide movements across diverse geographical and climatic regions, including Italy, the US Pacific Northwest, Denmark, Turkey, and Wenchuan in China. Furthermore, we demonstrate a real-world application on undocumented datasets from Wenchuan. Our work introduces a paradigm for studying landslide shapes to understand their underlying movements through the lens of landslide topology, which could aid landslide predictive models and risk evaluations.
Diverging co-translational protein complex assembly pathways are governed by interface energy distribution
Authors: Venezian Johannes , Bar-Yosef Hagit , Ben-Arie Zilberman Hila , Cohen Noam , Kleifeld Oded , Fernandez-Recio Juan , Glaser Fabian , Shiber Ayala
Published: March 2024

Protein-protein interactions are at the heart of all cellular processes, with the ribosome emerging as a platform, orchestrating the nascent-chain interplay dynamics. Here, to study the characteristics governing co-translational protein folding and complex assembly, we combine selective ribosome profiling, imaging, and N-terminomics with all-atoms molecular dynamics. Focusing on conserved N-terminal acetyltransferases (NATs), we uncover diverging co-translational assembly pathways, where highly homologous subunits serve opposite functions. We find that only a few residues serve as “hotspots,” initiating co-translational assembly interactions upon exposure at the ribosome exit tunnel. These hotspots are characterized by high binding energy, anchoring the entire interface assembly. Alpha-helices harboring hotspots are highly thermolabile, folding and unfolding during simulations, depending on their partner subunit to avoid misfolding. In vivo hotspot mutations disrupted co-translational complexation, leading to aggregation. Accordingly, conservation analysis reveals that missense NATs variants, causing neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases, disrupt putative hotspot clusters. Expanding our study to include phosphofructokinase, anthranilate synthase, and nucleoporin subcomplex, we employ AlphaFold-Multimer to model the complexes’ complete structures. Computing MD-derived interface energy profiles, we find similar trends. Here, we propose a model based on the distribution of interface energy as a strong predictor of co-translational assembly.
Phenome-wide Mendelian randomisation analysis of 378,142 cases reveals risk factors for eight common cancers
Authors: Went Molly , Sud Amit , Mills Charlie , Hyde Abi , Culliford Richard , Law Philip , Vijayakrishnan Jayaram , Gockel Ines , Maj Carlo , Schumacher Johannes , Palles Claire , Kaiser Martin , Houlston Richard
Published: March 2024

For many cancers there are only a few well-established risk factors. Here, we use summary data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in a Mendelian randomisation (MR) phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) to identify potentially causal relationships for over 3,000 traits. Our outcome datasets comprise 378,142 cases across breast, prostate, colorectal, lung, endometrial, oesophageal, renal, and ovarian cancers, as well as 485,715 controls. We complement this analysis by systematically mining the literature space for supporting evidence. In addition to providing supporting evidence for well-established risk factors (smoking, alcohol, obesity, lack of physical activity), we also find sex steroid hormones, plasma lipids, and telomere length as determinants of cancer risk. A number of the molecular factors we identify may prove to be potential biomarkers. Our analysis, which highlights aetiological similarities and differences in common cancers, should aid public health prevention strategies to reduce cancer burden. We provide a R/Shiny app to visualise findings.
SKA2 regulated hyperactive secretory autophagy drives neuroinflammation-induced neurodegeneration
Authors: Hartmann Jakob , Bajaj Thomas , Otten Joy , Klengel Claudia , Ebert Tim , Gellner Anne-Kathrin , Junglas Ellen , Hafner Kathrin , Anderzhanova Elmira A. , Tang Fiona , Missig Galen , Rexrode Lindsay , Trussell Daniel T. , Li Katelyn X. , Pöhlmann Max L. , Mackert Sarah , Geiger Thomas M. , Heinz Daniel E. , Lardenoije Roy , Dedic Nina , McCullough Kenneth M. , Próchnicki Tomasz , Rhomberg Thomas , Martinelli Silvia , Payton Antony , Robinson Andrew C. , Stein Valentin , Latz Eicke , Carlezon William A. , Hausch Felix , Schmidt Mathias V. , Murgatroyd Chris , Berretta Sabina , Klengel Torsten , Pantazopoulos Harry , Ressler Kerry J. , Gassen Nils C.
Published: March 2024

High levels of proinflammatory cytokines induce neurotoxicity and catalyze inflammation-driven neurodegeneration, but the specific release mechanisms from microglia remain elusive. Here we show that secretory autophagy (SA), a non-lytic modality of autophagy for secretion of vesicular cargo, regulates neuroinflammation-mediated neurodegeneration via SKA2 and FKBP5 signaling. SKA2 inhibits SA-dependent IL-1β release by counteracting FKBP5 function. Hippocampal Ska2 knockdown in male mice hyperactivates SA resulting in neuroinflammation, subsequent neurodegeneration and complete hippocampal atrophy within six weeks. The hyperactivation of SA increases IL-1β release, contributing to an inflammatory feed-forward vicious cycle including NLRP3-inflammasome activation and Gasdermin D-mediated neurotoxicity, which ultimately drives neurodegeneration. Results from protein expression and co-immunoprecipitation analyses of male and female postmortem human brains demonstrate that SA is hyperactivated in Alzheimer’s disease. Overall, our findings suggest that SKA2-regulated, hyperactive SA facilitates neuroinflammation and is linked to Alzheimer’s disease, providing mechanistic insight into the biology of neuroinflammation.
Solar-driven sugar production directly from CO2 via a customizable electrocatalytic–biocatalytic flow system
Authors: Liu Guangyu , Zhong Yuan , Liu Zehua , Wang Gang , Gao Feng , Zhang Chao , Wang Yujie , Zhang Hongwei , Ma Jun , Hu Yangguang , Chen Aobo , Pan Jiangyuan , Min Yuanzeng , Tang Zhiyong , Gao Chao , Xiong Yujie
Published: March 2024

Conventional food production is restricted by energy conversion efficiency of natural photosynthesis and demand for natural resources. Solar-driven artificial food synthesis from CO2 provides an intriguing approach to overcome the limitations of natural photosynthesis while promoting carbon-neutral economy, however, it remains very challenging. Here, we report the design of a hybrid electrocatalytic−biocatalytic flow system, coupling photovoltaics-powered electrocatalysis (CO2 to formate) with five-enzyme cascade platform (formate to sugar) engineered via genetic mutation and bioinformatics, which achieves conversion of CO2 to C6 sugar (L-sorbose) with a solar-to-food energy conversion efficiency of 3.5%, outperforming natural photosynthesis by over three-fold. This flow system can in principle be programmed by coupling with diverse enzymes toward production of multifarious food from CO2. This work opens a promising avenue for artificial food synthesis from CO2 under confined environments.
Phosphatidylserine-exposing extracellular vesicles in body fluids are an innate defence against apoptotic mimicry viral pathogens
Authors: Groß Rüdiger , Reßin Hanna , von Maltitz Pascal , Albers Dan , Schneider Laura , Bley Hanna , Hoffmann Markus , Cortese Mirko , Gupta Dhanu , Deniz Miriam , Choi Jae-Yeon , Jansen Jenny , Preußer Christian , Seehafer Kai , Pöhlmann Stefan , Voelker Dennis R. , Goffinet Christine , Pogge-von Strandmann Elke , Bunz Uwe , Bartenschlager Ralf , El Andaloussi Samir , Sparrer Konstantin M. J. , Herker Eva , Becker Stephan , Kirchhoff Frank , Münch Jan , Müller Janis A.
Published: March 2024

Some viruses are rarely transmitted orally or sexually despite their presence in saliva, breast milk, or semen. We previously identified that extracellular vesicles (EVs) in semen and saliva inhibit Zika virus infection. However, the antiviral spectrum and underlying mechanism remained unclear. Here we applied lipidomics and flow cytometry to show that these EVs expose phosphatidylserine (PS). By blocking PS receptors, targeted by Zika virus in the process of apoptotic mimicry, they interfere with viral attachment and entry. Consequently, physiological concentrations of EVs applied in vitro efficiently inhibited infection by apoptotic mimicry dengue, West Nile, Chikungunya, Ebola and vesicular stomatitis viruses, but not severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, human immunodeficiency virus 1, hepatitis C virus and herpesviruses that use other entry receptors. Our results identify the role of PS-rich EVs in body fluids in innate defence against infection via viral apoptotic mimicries, explaining why these viruses are primarily transmitted via PS-EV-deficient blood or blood-ingesting arthropods rather than direct human-to-human contact.
Valency based novel quantitative structure property relationship (QSPR) approach for predicting physical properties of polycyclic chemical compounds
Authors: Raza Ali , Ismaeel Mishal , Tolasa Fikadu Tesgera
Published: March 2024

In this study, we introduce a novel valency-based index, the neighborhood face index (NFI), designed to characterize the structural attributes of benzenoid hydrocarbons. To assess the practical applicability of NFI, we conducted a linear regression analysis utilizing numerous physiochemical properties associated with benzenoid hydrocarbons. Remarkably, the results revealed an extraordinary correlation exceeding 0.9991 between NFI and these properties, underscoring the robust predictive capability of the index. The NFI, identified as the best-performing descriptor, is subsequently investigated within certain infinite families of carbon nanotubes. This analysis demonstrates the index’s exceptional predictive accuracy, suggesting its potential as a versatile tool for characterizing and predicting properties across diverse molecular structures, particularly in the context of carbon nanotubes.
Synthesis, characterization of poly l(+) lactic acid and its application in sustained release of isosorbide dinitrate
Authors: Kenawy El-Refaie , Abd El.Hay A. M. , Saad Nermeen , Azaam Mohamed M. , Shoueir Kamel R.
Published: March 2024

Poly l(+) lactic acid (PLLA) has become crucial in the biomedical industry for various uses. The direct polycondensation method was used to prepare Poly l(+) Lactic Acid (PLLA). Different catalysts, including metal oxides and metal halides, were used to test the polymerization technique. The effect of the amount of catalysts and the type of coupling agent were investigated. The effect of reaction time and polymerization solvents was also studied. PLLA was loaded with isosorbide dinitrate utilizing the solvent evaporation process. The synthesized polymer-drug system was evaluated by different means such as FT-IR, TGA, DSC, XRD, entrapment efficiency (E.E), drug loading (D.L), particle size analysis, and zeta potential determination. Studies on in-vitro release using UV light at 227 nm at various pH levels were conducted, and the kinetics of release and cytotoxicity using the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay on human skin fibroblast cells were examined.
Influence of coal cowl parameters on the coal loading process of thin coal seam shearer drum
Authors: Xu Weipeng , Zhang Xiaodi , Gao Kuidong , Ma Shenghao
Published: March 2024

The low loading rate of the thin coal seam shearer drum is a severe obstacle to the efficient mining of thin seam resources, and the auxiliary drum loading through the cowl is an effective measure to alleviate this situation. However, the working mechanism of the coal cowl still remains unclear. In this paper, with the help of the discrete element method and the modeling experiment method, the effects of coal cowl’s offset distance, tilt angle and wrap angle on the coal loading rate under different loading modes of the drum are investigated; and the significance of various factors and their interactions to the drum coal loading rate is explored by designing response surface experiments. The findings show that a monotonous negative correlation between the offset distance of the coal cowl and the coal loading rate is identified, and that a smaller offset distance can effectively improve the coal loading rate of the drum. The conveying torque is significantly increased, easily inducing the drum choking, coal recycling coal over-crushing. Along with the increasing tilt angle, the rate of ejection loading decreases monotonically, and the rate of pushing loading increases first and then decreases. Coal loading rate is weakly affected by changes in coal cowl’s wrap angle. The results of response surface analysis reveal that the most significant factors affecting the drum’s coal loading rate are tilt angle and offset distance in ejection and pushing loading modes, respectively. The conclusions drawn here offer implications for improving the coal loading performance of the thin coal seam shearer drum, as well as certain guidance on the optimal design of coal cowl parameters.
Dynamic stability analysis method of anchored rocky slope considering seismic deterioration effect
Authors: Jia Jinqing , Gao Xing , Bao Xiaohua , Xiang Xin , Zhang Lihua , Tu Bingxiong
Published: March 2024

The seismic deterioration effects of anchor cables and slope structural planes are often neglected in the dynamic stability analysis of anchored rocky slopes to the extent that the stability of slopes is overestimated. In this paper, a dynamic calculation method for anchored rocky slopes considering the seismic deterioration effect is established, and a stability evaluation method for anchored rocky slopes based on the Gaussian mixture model is proposed. The seismic deterioration effect on the stability of anchored rocky slopes is quantitatively analyzed with an engineering example, and the relationship between seismic intensity and the failure probability of slopes is clarified. The results show that compared with the calculation method without considering the seismic deterioration effect, the minimum safety factor and post-earthquake safety factor obtained by the proposed method in this paper are smaller. The number of seismic deteriorations of the slope is used as the number of components of the Gaussian mixture model to construct the failure probability model of the slope, which can accurately predict the failure probability of anchored rocky slopes. The research results significantly improve the accuracy of the stability calculation of anchored rocky slopes, which can be used to guide the seismic design and safety assessment of anchored rocky slopes.
Feasibility of a low-cost magnet tracking device in confirming nasogastric tube placement at point of care, a clinical trial
Authors: Li Hao , Tay Kon Voi , Liu Jiajun , Ong Chern Yue Glen , Khoo Hau Wei , Zhou Aijin , Miyasaka Muneaki , Phee Soo Jay
Published: March 2024

An affordable and reliable way of confirming the placement of nasogastric tube (NGT) at point-of-care is an unmet need. Using a novel algorithm and few sensors, we developed a low-cost magnet tracking device and showed its potential to localize the NGT preclinically. Here, we embark on a first-in-human trial. Six male and 4 female patients with NGT from the general ward of an urban hospital were recruited. We used the device to localize the NGT and compared that against chest X-ray (CXR). In 5 patients, with the sensors placed on the sternal angle, the trajectory of the NGT was reproduced by the tracking device. The tracked location of the NGT deviated from CXR by 0.55 to 1.63 cm, and a downward tracking range of 17 to 22 cm from the sternal angle was achieved. Placing the sensors on the xiphisternum, however, resulted in overt discordance between the device’s localization and that on CXR. Short distance between the sternal angle and the xiphisternum, and lower body weight were observed in patients in whom tracking was feasible. Tracking was quick and well tolerated. No adverse event occurred. This device feasibly localized the NGT in 50% of patients when appropriately placed. Further refinement is anticipated.

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05204901.
Progressive increase of brain gray matter volume in individuals with regular soccer training
Authors: Li Ju , Cao Yaping , Huang Minghao , Qin Zhe , Lang Jian
Published: March 2024

The study aimed to investigate alterations in gray matter volume in individuals undergoing regular soccer training, using high-resolution structural data, while also examining the temporal precedence of such structural alterations. Both voxel-based morphometry and source-based morphometry (SBM) methods were employed to analyze volumetric changes in gray matter between the soccer and control groups. Additionally, a causal network of structural covariance (CaSCN) was built using granger causality analysis on brain structural data ordering by training duration. Significant increases in gray matter volume were observed in the cerebellum in the soccer group. Additionally, the results of the SBM analysis revealed significant increases in gray matter volume in the calcarine and thalamus of the soccer group. The analysis of CaSCN demonstrated that the thalamus had a prominent influence on other brain regions in the soccer group, while the calcarine served as a transitional node, and the cerebellum acted as a prominent node that could be easily influenced by other brain regions. In conclusion, our study identified widely affected regions with increased gray matter volume in individuals with regular soccer training. Furthermore, a temporal precedence relationship among these regions was observed.
Validation of the recycled backfill material for the landslide stabilization at a railway line
Authors: Fifer Bizjak Karmen , Likar Barbara
Published: March 2024

In mountain areas landslides many times endanger safety of transport infrastructures, and these must be stabilized with retaining wall structures. In this paper the validation of a new composite as a backfill material for landslide stabilization with a large scale demo retaining wall is presented. The new composite was made from residues of paper industry, which uses for its production deinking process. New composite was validated with the laboratory tests, construction of small demo sites and at the end with a large demo retaining wall structure with a length of 50 m. It was concluded that the paper sludge ash and the paper sludge are in proportion 70:30, compacted on the optimal water content and maximum dry density, reached sufficient uniaxial compressive and shear strength. However, the composite's hydration processes required the definition of an optimal time between the composite mixing and installation. In 2019, the retaining wall structure from the new composite was successfully built. The large demo structure is an example of the knowledge transfer from the laboratory to the construction site, in which composite and installing technology could be verified.
Differential prognostic values of the three AKT isoforms in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Corre Eulalie , Soum Cécile , Pfeifer Romain , Bessière Chloé , Dailhau Sandra , Marbœuf Catherine , Meggetto Fabienne , Touriol Christian , Récher Christian , Bousquet Marina , Pyronnet Stéphane
Published: March 2024

The PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway lies at the confluence of signaling pathways in which various components are subjected to activating genetic alterations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), thus contributing to oncogenesis. Three AKT isoforms exist in humans. However, whether one isoform predominates in AML remains unknown. This study reveals that AKT3 behaves very distinctly than AKT1 or AKT2 in both normal myeloid differentiation and AML. During normal differentiation, AKT3 is preferentially expressed in hematopoietic stem cells whilst AKT1 becomes preferentially expressed as cells differentiate into granulocytes or monocytes. AKT2 expression remains unchanged. In AML, AKT3 expression varies widely among patient samples and is counterintuitively high in mature/monocytic leukemia. Furthermore, a low level of AKT3 expression is strongly correlated to genetic alterations associated with a better outcome (NPM1 mutations and RUNX1-RUNX1T1 translocation), while a high level is correlated to alterations associated to a bad outcome (RUNX1 mutations; and SRSF2, U2AF1, SF3B1, ASXL1 and BCOR mutations occurring frequently in MDS and MPN). Consistently, a high AKT3 expression level appears as a very strong predictor of poor survival. Curiously, although modestly varying among AML samples, a high AKT1 expression shows in contrast as a strong predictor of a better patient outcome. These data suggest that AKT3 and AKT1 expressions have strong, yet opposite, prognostic values.
COVID-19 information sources, knowledge, attitude, control practices and the predictors among health workers during the pandemic in Ebonyi state, Nigeria
Authors: Omale Ugwu I. , Okeke Ifeyinwa M. , Ukpabi Okechukwu O. , Ewah Richard L. , Iyare Osarhiemen , Amuzie Chidinma I. , Oka Onyinyechukwu U. , Adeke Azuka S. , Uduma Victor U. , Nkwo Glory E. , Ikegwuonu Cordis O. , Nwali Ugochi I. A. , Nnachi Olaedo O.
Published: March 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed into an endemic COVID-19 disease and health workers continue to be at high risk. The situation requires continued use of COVID-19 control measures by health workers and this will likely depend on their sources of information/knowledge/attitude about COVID-19 and previous use of COVID-19 control measures. We explored the COVID-19 information sources, knowledge, attitude, control practices, and the predictors, among health workers in Ebonyi state, Nigeria. We implemented an online-offline analytical cross-sectional survey from March 12 to May 9, 2022 among all categories of health workers (clinical/non-clinical, public/private) working/living in Ebonyi state who gave consent and were selected via convenience/snowballing sampling. Data was collected with a structured self-administered/interviewer-administered questionnaire via WhatsApp/KoBoCollect. Descriptive/inferential analyses were done including multivariate generalized linear models. 1276 health workers were surveyed. The commonest individual source of information about COVID-19 was health workers (used by 83.8%), followed by radio (67.9%), television (59.6%), family members/relatives/friends (57.9%) etc. The main individual source of information for majority of the participants was health workers (for 35.0%) followed by radio (24.5%), television (14.4%) etc. The most trusted individual source of information for majority of the participants was health workers (for 39.4%) followed by radio (26.0%), television (14.3%) etc. Interpersonal sources were the main/most trusted source of information for the majority (48.0%/49.8%) followed by traditional media (39.4%/40.6%) and internet/social media/SMS (12.6%/9.6%). 42.3%, 81.3%, and 43.0% respectively had good knowledge, good attitude, and good control practice about COVID-19. The most important predictors of the main/most trusted sources of information about COVID-19 were place of work (public/private), level of place of work (primary-secondary/tertiary), age, and years of working experience. Good knowledge about COVID-19, good attitude towards COVID-19, strong COVID-19 experience/perception, working at a tertiary facility, tertiary education, and decrease in years of working experience were strong predictors of good control practice about COVID-19. This study’s evidence regarding the commonest/main/most trusted information sources and control practice about COVID-19 should be considered by later COVID-19/similar health emergencies’ policy actions to optimise emergency health information dissemination and use of control measures by health workers in Ebonyi state/Nigeria/other similar settings.
Microstructural characterization and inductively coupled plasma-reactive ion etching resistance of Y2O3–Y4Al2O9 composite under CF4/Ar/O2 mixed gas conditions
Authors: Ma Ho Jin , Kim Seonghyeon , Kim Ha-Neul , Kim Mi-Ju , Ko Jae-Woong , Lee Jae-Wook , Kim Jung-Hyung , Lee Hyo-Chang , Park Young-Jo
Published: March 2024

In the semiconductor manufacturing process, when conducting inductively coupled plasma-reactive ion etching in challenging environments, both wafers and the ceramic components comprising the chamber’s interior can be influenced by plasma attack. When ceramic components are exposed to long-term plasma environments, the eroded components must be replaced. Furthermore, non-volatile reactants can form and settle on semiconductor chips, acting as contaminants and reducing semiconductor production yield. Therefore, for semiconductor processing equipment parts to be utilized, it is necessary that they exhibit minimized generation of contaminant particles and not deviate significantly from the composition of conventionally used Al2O3 and Y2O3; part must also last long in various physicochemical etching environment. Herein, we investigate the plasma etching behavior of Y2O3–Y4Al2O9 (YAM) composites with a variety of mixing ratios under different gas fraction conditions. The investigation revealed that the etching rates and changes in surface roughness for these materials were significantly less than those of Y2O3 materials subjected to both chemical and physical etching. Microstructure analysis was conducted to demonstrate the minimization of crater formation. Mechanical properties of the composite were also analyzed. The results show that the composite can be commercialized as next-generation ceramic component in semiconductor processing equipment applications.
Multidrivers of energy-related carbon emissions and its decoupling with economic growth in Northwest China
Authors: Shen Fang , Abulizi Abudukeyimu
Published: March 2024

Northwest China has great natural resource endowment to develop its economy, but factors such as geographic remoteness and technological backwardness result in lower economic levels and higher carbon emissions. This study calculated the energy-related carbon emissions of five provinces in this region, and the evolutionary characteristics of energy-related carbon emissions were analysed from the spatiotemporal perspective. The Kaya identity was applied to decompose the factors influencing energy-related carbon emissions, and the logarithmic mean divisia index (LMDI) and refined Laspeyres index were combined to calculate the role of each influencing factor on energy-related carbon emissions. Finally, the Tapio and LMDI models were used to analyse the evolution of the decoupling relationship between energy-related carbon emissions and economic growth and the role of various influencing factors. The energy-related carbon emissions in Northwest China showed an increasing trend. In terms of influencing factors, economic growth and urban expansion had the highest contributions to carbon emissions and decoupling inhibition, whereas population agglomeration had the opposite effect. Northwest China showed great decoupling trends between energy-related carbon emissions and economic growth.
Predicting the thermal distribution in a convective wavy fin using a novel training physics-informed neural network method
Authors: Chandan K. , Saadeh Rania , Qazza Ahmad , Karthik K. , Varun Kumar R. S. , Kumar R. Naveen , Khan Umair , Masmoudi Atef , Abdou M. Modather M. , Ojok Walter , Kumar Raman
Published: March 2024

Fins are widely used in many industrial applications, including heat exchangers. They benefit from a relatively economical design cost, are lightweight, and are quite miniature. Thus, this study investigates the influence of a wavy fin structure subjected to convective effects with internal heat generation. The thermal distribution, considered a steady condition in one dimension, is described by a unique implementation of a physics-informed neural network (PINN) as part of machine-learning intelligent strategies for analyzing heat transfer in a convective wavy fin. This novel research explores the use of PINNs to examine the effect of the nonlinearity of temperature equation and boundary conditions by altering the hyperparameters of the architecture. The non-linear ordinary differential equation (ODE) involved with heat transfer is reduced into a dimensionless form utilizing the non-dimensional variables to simplify the problem. Furthermore, Runge–Kutta Fehlberg’s fourth–fifth order (RKF-45) approach is implemented to evaluate the simplified equations numerically. To predict the wavy fin's heat transfer properties, an advanced neural network model is created without using a traditional data-driven approach, the ability to solve ODEs explicitly by incorporating a mean squared error-based loss function. The obtained results divulge that an increase in the thermal conductivity variable upsurges the thermal distribution. In contrast, a decrease in temperature profile is caused due to the augmentation in the convective-conductive variable values.
Management and research efforts are failing dolphins, porpoises, and other toothed whales
Authors: Temple Andrew J. , Langner Ute , Berumen Michael L.
Published: March 2024

Despite being subject to intensive research and public interest many populations of dolphins, porpoises, and other toothed whales (small cetaceans) continue to decline, and several species are on the verge of extinction. We examine small cetacean status, human activities driving extinction risk, and whether research efforts are addressing priority threats. We estimate that 22% of small cetaceans are threatened with extinction, with little signs of improvement in nearly thirty years. Fisheries and coastal habitat degradation are the main predictors of extinction risk. Contrary to popular belief, we show that the causal impact of small-scale fisheries on extinction risk is greater than from large-scale fisheries. Fisheries management strength had little influence on extinction risk, suggesting that the implementation of existing measures have been largely ineffective. Alarmingly, we find research efforts for priority threats to be vastly underrepresented and so a major shift in research focus is required. Small cetaceans are among the lower hanging fruits of marine conservation; continued failure to halt their decline bodes poorly for tackling marine biodiversity loss and avoiding an Anthropocene mass extinction.
Supercontinuum generation in bulk solid-state material with bursts of femtosecond laser pulses
Authors: Momgaudis B. , Marčiulionytė V. , Jukna V. , Tamošauskas G. , Barkauskas M. , Dubietis A.
Published: March 2024

We report on experimental and numerical investigation of burst-mode supercontinuum generation in sapphire crystal. The experiments were performed using bursts consisting of two 190 fs, 1030 nm pulses with intra-burst repetition rates of 62.5 MHz and 2.5 GHz from an amplified 1 MHz Yb:KGW laser and revealed higher filamentation and supercontinuum generation threshold for the second pulse in the burst, which increases with the increase of intra-burst repetition rate. The experimental results were quantitatively reproduced numerically, using a developed model, which accounted for altered material response due to residual excitations remaining after propagation of the first pulse. The simulation results unveiled that residual free electron plasma and self-trapped excitons contribute to elevated densities of free electron plasma generated by the second pulse in the burst and so stronger plasma defocusing, significantly affecting its nonlinear propagation dynamics. The presented results identify the fundamental and practical issues for supercontinuum generation in solid-state materials using femtosecond pulse bursts with very high intra-burst repetition rates, which may also apply to the case of single pulses at very high repetition rate, where residual material excitations become relevant and should be accounted for.
Phosphorus applications adjusted to optimal crop yields can help sustain global phosphorus reserves
Authors: McDowell R. W. , Pletnyakov P. , Haygarth P. M.
Published: March 2024

With the longevity of phosphorus reserves uncertain, distributing phosphorus to meet food production needs is a global challenge. Here we match plant-available soil Olsen phosphorus concentrations to thresholds for optimal productivity of improved grassland and 28 of the world’s most widely grown and valuable crops. We find more land (73%) below optimal production thresholds than above. We calculate that an initial capital application of 56,954 kt could boost soil Olsen phosphorus to their threshold concentrations and that 28,067 kt yr−1 (17,500 kt yr−1 to cropland) could maintain these thresholds. Without additional reserves becoming available, it would take 454 years at the current rate of application (20,500 kt yr−1) to exhaust estimated reserves (2020 value), compared with 531 years at our estimated maintenance rate and 469 years if phosphorus deficits were alleviated. More judicious use of phosphorus fertilizers to account for soil Olsen phosphorus can help achieve optimal production without accelerating the depletion of phosphorus reserves.
A Brief Appraisal of Nanomaterials for COVID-19
Authors: Chakraborty Ishita , Govindaraju Indira , Pooja N. , Biswas Rajib , Mazumder Nirmal
Published: March 2024

Novel technology was needed to develop preventive and therapeutic methods against the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-caused coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), and the recent pandemic accelerated the development of nanotechnology for SARS-CoV-2 virus detection, treatment, and prevention. Safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines that elicit long-lasting immunity in the human system were required, and also the development of effective detection tools, medications, treatments, and preventive measures. The effectiveness of nanoparticles in battling COVID-19 is highlighted in this chapter.
Ab initio calculations of the spectra and lifetimes of the lead dimer
Authors: Xiao Lidan , Minaev Boris F. , Ågren Hans , Yan Bing
Published: March 2024

The oscillator strength of the X → F0+u(II), F3Σ−u1 transitions under the adiabatic are calculated. The main feature of the observed spectra in the 22 000–24 000 cm−1 region is attributed to the X → F0+u(II) transition.
Synergistic effect and coordination environment tuned water-gas shift reaction on MoS2 catalyst
Authors: Su Hai-Yan , Liao Wenbo , Sun Keju
Published: March 2024

CO conversion rate follows the order S edge > Mo edge > Cu/MoS2(001). Redox and associative routes are dominant on Cu/MoS2(001) and S edge, respectively, while both routes contribute to water-gas shift on Mo edge.
Joint association of serum urate and healthy diet with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease incidence: results from the UK Biobank study
Authors: Zhang Tingjing , Ye Rui , Shen Zhenfei , Chang Qing , Zhao Yuhong , Chen Liangkai , Zhao Li , Xia Yang
Published: March 2024

The role of serum urate (SU) levels in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains a topic of debate, and it is unclear whether a healthy diet can mitigate the impact of SU on COPD risk.
Encapsulation of short-chain bioactive peptides (BAPs) for gastrointestinal delivery: a review
Authors: Atma Yoni , Murray Brent S. , Sadeghpour Amin , Goycoolea Francisco M.
Published: March 2024

Majority of known bioactive peptides (BAPs) with antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antioxidant, among other activities, are short-chain aminoacid sequences (<10). To enhance their gastrointestinal bioavailability, BAPs are encapsulated, subject of our review.
Investigating the association between inflammation mediated by mushroom consumption and mild cognitive impairment in Chinese older adults
Authors: Chen Lili , Qiu Rongyan , Wang Bixia , Liu Jinxiu , Li Xiuli , Hou Zhaoyi , Wu Tingting , Cao Huizhen , Ji Xinli , Zhang Ping , Zhang Yuping , Xue Mianxiang , Qiu Linlin , Wang Linlin , Wei Yongbao , Chen Mingfeng
Published: March 2024

Chronic inflammatory stimulation is a major risk factor for mild cognitive impairment.
Dual intervention on the gut and skin microbiota attenuates facial cutaneous aging
Authors: Zhang Liujing , Yu Shun , Guan Yin , Wang Dan , Yang Ju , Li Jingling , Zhao Wei , Zhang Feng
Published: March 2024

Dual intervention could decrease cutaneous Cutibacterium abundance and enrich the intestinal Bifidobacterium. The inhibition of lipophilic Cutibacterium may contribute to the reduction of facial pores associated with aging.
Oxygen grain-boundary diffusion in (La,Sr)FeO3−δ perovskite-oxides probed by molecular-dynamics simulations
Authors: Bonkowski Alexander , Kilner John A. , De Souza Roger A.
Published: March 2024

Faster grain-boundary diffusion of oxygen has been observed experimentally in polycrystalline samples of Fe-based perovskite oxides at low temperatures, but this behaviour is at present not well understood.
Magnetic anisotropy engineering in onion-structured metal oxide nanoparticles combining dual exchange coupling and proximity effects
Authors: Sartori Kevin , Lopez-Martin Raul , Choueikani Fadi , Gloter Alexandre , Grenèche Jean-Marc , Begin-Colin Sylvie , Taverna Dario , De Toro Jose A. , Pichon Benoit P.
Published: March 2024

A series of exchange-coupled magnetic nanoparticles combining several magnetic phases in an onion-type structure were synthesized by performing a three-step seed-mediated growth process.
Antioxidant, hemostatic, and injectable hydrogels with photothermal antibacterial activity to accelerate full-thickness wound regeneration
Authors: Alinezhad Vajihe , Ghodsi Reza , Bagheri Hadi , Beram Farzaneh Mahmoudi , Zeighami Habib , Kalantari-Hesari Ali , Salarilak Laleh , Mostafavi Ebrahim , Ahmadian Zainab , Shahbazi Mohammad-Ali , Maleki Aziz
Published: March 2024

Developing injectable hydrogel dressings with multifunctional properties, including antibacterial and antioxidant ability, and good mechanical properties to treat infected full-thickness skin wounds is of particular importance in clinical applications.
A sub-4 nm PtCu3 intermetallic catalyst with an L12-ordered structure toward efficient activity and durability for oxygen reduction
Authors: Jiang Haibo , Xie Xiang , Bi Liyuan , Yu Shengwei , Zeng Jiaxi , Zhang Lili , Shen Jianhua , Li Chunzhong
Published: March 2024

Pt-based intermetallic alloys have shown bright prospects for promoting the activity and durability of fuel cell cathode oxygen reduction.
Enhancing gold nanoparticle immobilization on thiolated silica: utilizing neutral ligands to achieve maximum surface coverage for improved SERS substrates
Authors: Gomes Orisson P. , Kim Sanggon , Lisboa-Filho Paulo N. , Batagin-Neto Augusto , De Koninck Yves , Messaddeq Younes
Published: March 2024

This study achieved maximum surface coverage and high chemical stability of SERS substrates by replacing citrate with a neutral ligand and controlling the ligand thickness, addressing poor immobilization of citrate-AuNP on thiolated silica.
Towards voltammetric point of care detection of leucovorin
Authors: Shum Pui Hang , Dennany Lynn
Published: March 2024

Current healthcare trends have moved towards personalised precision medicine to tailor treatments to the individual in response to diseases and disease therapies. This reflects our electrochemical approach to monitoring leucovorin.
Radical cascade silylation/cyclization of 1,7-dienes to access silyl-substituted benzo[b]azepin-2-ones
Authors: Zhang Zhen , Lu Lichao , Li Guiling , Sheng Xiaoyu , Zhang Yijia , Yang Lin , Zhao Jiaqi , Xie Lei , Li Jiazhu , Sun Kai
Published: March 2024

A silyl radical-induced cascade silylation/cyclization of 1,7-dienes to construct valuable Si-containing benzo[b]azepin-2-ones is presented.
Crystalline hydrogen-bonded organic framework for air-tolerant triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion
Authors: Zhang Qiaoyu , Luo Guiwen , Hu Rui , Yang Guoqiang , Chen Jinping , Yu Tianjun , Zeng Yi , Li Yi
Published: March 2024

A hydrogen-bonded organic framework has been developed for triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion, which facilitates triplet diffusion and protects triplet excitons from oxygen quenching.
Association of dietary overall antioxidant intake with all-cause and cause-specific mortality among adults with depression: evidence from NHANES 2005–2018
Authors: Wang Wenjie , Shi Yuwei , Zhang Jiakai , Wang Yifeng , Cheteu Wabo Therese Martin , Yang Yang , He Wei , Zhu Shankuan
Published: March 2024

Dietary overall antioxidant intake was linked to a lower risk of all-cause and cancer mortality among adults with depression.
Mechanochemical and aging-based reductive amination with chitosan and aldehydes affords high degree of substitution functional biopolymers
Authors: Yang Galen , Régnier Sophie , Huin Noah , Liu Tracy , Lam Edmond , Moores Audrey
Published: March 2024

A solid-phase method favors the formation of Shiff-bases from chitosan and aldehydes and subsequent reduction. This provides access to alkylated chitosans with high degrees of functionalization with low process mass intensity.
Correction: Universal control of proton concentration using an electrochemically generated acid compatible with miniaturization
Authors: El-Maiss Janwa , Balakrishnan Divya , Pascual García César
Published: March 2024

Correction for ‘Universal control of proton concentration using an electrochemically generated acid compatible with miniaturization’ by Janwa El-Maiss et al., Nanoscale Adv., 2022, 4, 3233–3242, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2NA00275B.
Fe–CuP nanocubes for nitrate-to-ammonia conversion
Authors: Khan Shahid , Mahmood Sajid , ul Haq Mahmood , Ali Amjad , Shah Sufaid , Ashraf Ghulam Abbas , Liu Qinqin
Published: March 2024

Fe-CuP prepared through phosphorization, possesses distinct surface morphology, fast electron transfer, and an increase in active sites, which is detrimental to the reduction reaction.
Bamboo-like nitrogen-doped carbon supported chlorine-doped Fe2P as an antibacterial oxygen reduction catalyst
Authors: Cheng Kai , Jiang Demin , Cai Sainan , Li Shikuo , Wang Yuqiao
Published: March 2024

Bio-inspiration and biomimetics offer guidance for designing and synthesizing advanced catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in microbial fuel cells (MFCs).
Correction: Carbon dots on LAPONITE® hybrid nanocomposites: solid-state emission and inter-aggregate energy transfer
Authors: Onishi Bruno S. D. , Carneiro Neto Albano N. , Bortoletto-Santos Ricardo , Mastelaro Valmor. R. , Carlos Luís D. , Ferreira Rute A. S. , Ribeiro Sidney J. L.
Published: March 2024

Correction for ‘Carbon dots on LAPONITE® hybrid nanocomposites: solid-state emission and inter-aggregate energy transfer’ by Bruno S. D. Onishi et al., Nanoscale, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1039/d3nr06336d.
Competition mechanism of self-trapped excitons and Te4+ ions emission in the Te4+ doped vacancy-ordered double perovskite Rb2HfCl6 and its excellent properties
Authors: Liu Ruxin , Zou Kaishun , Zhang Guanglu , Feng Min , Li Mingxuan , Liu Juncheng
Published: March 2024

The luminescence mechanism of Te4+-doped VODPs is reported. Te4+-doped Hf-based VODPs exhibit luminescence characteristics that are more in line with those of Te4+ ions, while Te4+-doped Sn- and Zr-based VODPs have STEs emission characteristics.
Synergistic role of hydrogen bonding and band degeneracy leads to enhanced X-ray detection in HPIP-(NH4)0.7Cs0.3Br3·H2O perovskites
Authors: Dong Pengxiang , Lin Chensheng , Zhao Xin , Lv Yicong , Ye Ning , Luo Min
Published: March 2024

This work shows the innovative introduction of Cs+ into molecular perovskites to co-occupy with NH4+, synthesis of the HPIP-(NH4)0.7Cs0.3Br3·H2O perovskite, and fabrication of an X-ray detector with excellent overall performance and superior environmental stability.
The synthesis of isoxazolines and dihydrooxazines by Pd-catalyzed oxyalkynylation alkenyl oximes with alkynyl bromides
Authors: Hu Cangzhu , Xu Shiji , Wang Qiang , Sun Jing , Han Ying , Yan Chao-Guo , Wang Lei
Published: March 2024

Synthesis of isoxazolines and dihydrooxazines bearing an alkyne group by Pd-catalyzed oxyalkynylation of alkenyl oximes with alkynyl bromides. This new approach has a broad substrate scope and good functional tolerance.
Band gap engineering in lead free halide cubic perovskites GaGeX3 (X = Cl, Br, and I) based on first-principles calculations
Authors: Sarker Md. Amran , Hasan Md Mehedi , Momin Md. Al , Irfan Ahmad , Islam Md. Rasidul , Sharif Ahmed
Published: March 2024

Lead-free inorganic Ge-based perovskites GaGeX3 (X = Cl, Br, and I) are promising candidates for solar cell applications due to their structural, mechanical, electrical, and optical properties.
Expression of concern: Experimental and surface morphological studies of corrosion inhibition on carbon steel in HCl solution using some new hydrazide derivatives
Authors: Fouda Abd El-Aziz S. , Abd El-Maksoud Samir A. , El-Sayed Elsherbiny H. , Elbaz Hazem A. , Abousalem Ashraf S.
Published: March 2024

Expression of concern for ‘Experimental and surface morphological studies of corrosion inhibition on carbon steel in HCl solution using some new hydrazide derivatives’ by Abd El-Aziz S. Fouda et al., RSC Adv., 2021, 11, 13497–13512, https://doi.org/10.1039/d1ra01405f.
Manipulating the functionality and structures of π-conjugated polymers utilizing intramolecular noncovalent interactions towards efficient organic photovoltaics
Authors: Kamimura Satoshi , Saito Masahiko , Teshima Yoshikazu , Yamanaka Kodai , Ichikawa Hiroyuki , Sugie Ai , Yoshida Hiroyuki , Jeon Jihun , Kim Hyung Do , Ohkita Hideo , Mikie Tsubasa , Osaka Itaru
Published: March 2024

We synthesized a series of naphthobisthiadiazole-polymers by systematically introducing the alkyl, ester, and fluorine groups in the quaterthiophene co-unit and studied the effect of noncovalent interactions on physical and photovoltaic properties.
Enantioselective organocatalytic strategies to access noncanonical α-amino acids
Authors: Pecchini Pietro , Fochi Mariafrancesca , Bartoccini Francesca , Piersanti Giovanni , Bernardi Luca
Published: March 2024

Asymmetric organocatalysis has acquired a prominent place in modern synthesis of noncanonical α-amino acids (ncAAs), valuable structural elements in organic synthesis, chemical biology, and medicine.