bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
NLRP6 is required for cancer-derived exosome-modified macrophage M2 polarization and promotes metastasis in small cell lung cancer
Authors: Rao Xinrui , Zhou Xiaoshu , Wang Geng , Jie Xiaohua , Xing Biyuan , Xu Yingzhuo , Chen Yunshang , Li Jun , Zhu Kuikui , Wu Zilong , Wu Gang , Wu Chuangyan , Zhou Rui
Published: October 2022

Metastasis remains the primary cause of small cell lung cancer (SCLC)-related deaths. Growing evidence links tumor metastasis with a pre-metastatic microenvironment characterized by an anti-inflammatory response, immunosuppression, and the presence of tumor-derived exosomes. To clarify the relationships among these factors in SCLC, we analyzed SCLC patient samples as well as a mouse model. Among the infiltrating immune cells, our study focused on the tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), that are well-known to promote tumor progression and metastasis. We found that high expression of the alternatively activated (M2) TAM marker, CD206+ was associated clinically with a poorer prognosis and metastasis state in patients with SCLC. Moreover, infiltrating macrophages (MØ) were found in the metastatic foci of an SCLC mouse model. Additionally, we observed dominant switching to M2 phenotype, accompanied by increased NLRP6 expression. Since tumor-derived exosomes are the key links between the tumor and its immune microenvironment, we further investigated whether SCLC-derived exosomes contributed to the MØ phenotype switch. Our findings showed for the first time that SCLC-derived exosomes induce the M2 switch via the NLRP6/NF-κB pathway, and thus, promote SCLC metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, these results indicate a novel mechanism by which SCLC-derived exosomes induce immunosuppression of distant MØ to promote systemic metastasis by activating NLRP6. Here, we highlight the close relationship between the tumor-derived exosomes, inflammasomes and immune microenvironment in SCLC metastasis.
Oculomotor deficits in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Sherigar Sharath S. , Gamsa Ashwitha H. , Srinivasan Krithica
Published: October 2022

There is equivocal evidence on the presence of oculomotor deficits among children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which can be an additional challenge in this population, especially with reading-related tasks. This study aimed to review the deficits in the oculomotor parameters among children with ADHD compared with age-matched controls. The review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A search of original research articles on various databases was done using key terms, such as “oculomotor deficit,” “attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,” or related terms. We included case-control studies and excluded studies in which children received medications during the test. Twelve original research studies were considered for this review. Ten studies reported data on various types of saccades, two studies reported data on fixation, and one study reported data on pursuit. Among various oculomotor deficits, the forest-plot analysis of an antisaccade task showed that children with ADHD made more direction errors compared to controls. Although independent studies report that ADHD children have poorer performance compared to control populations during oculomotor tasks, there is a lack of evidence to draw a strong conclusion. Children with ADHD are less precise in performing eye movements and need more time to complete the oculomotor tasks than those without ADHD. The overall results provide minimal evidence regarding the presence of various oculomotor deficits in ADHD.
Tunable metasurfaces via the humidity responsive swelling of single-step imprinted polyvinyl alcohol nanostructures
Authors: Ko Byoungsu , Badloe Trevon , Yang Younghwan , Park Jeonghoon , Kim Jaekyung , Jeong Heonyeong , Jung Chunghwan , Rho Junsuk
Published: October 2022

The application of hydrogels in nanophotonics has been restricted due to their low fabrication feasibility and refractive index. Nevertheless, their elasticity and strength are attractive properties for use in flexible, wearable-devices, and their swelling characteristics in response to the relative humidity highlight their potential for use in tunable nanophotonics. We investigate the use of nanostructured polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) using a one-step nanoimprinting technique for tunable and erasable optical security metasurfaces with multiplexed structural coloration and metaholography. The resolution of the PVA nanoimprinting reaches sub-100 nm, with aspect ratios approaching 10. In response to changes in the relative humidity, the PVA nanostructures swell by up to ~35.5%, providing precise wavefront manipulation of visible light. Here, we demonstrate various highly-secure multiplexed optical encryption metasurfaces to display, hide, or destroy encrypted information based on the relative humidity both irreversibly and reversibly.
Transcriptome-wide and stratified genomic structural equation modeling identify neurobiological pathways shared across diverse cognitive traits
Authors: Grotzinger Andrew D. , de la Fuente Javier , Davies Gail , Nivard Michel G. , Tucker-Drob Elliot M.
Published: October 2022

Functional genomic methods are needed that consider multiple genetically correlated traits. Here we develop and validate Transcriptome-wide Structural Equation Modeling (T-SEM), a multivariate method for studying the effects of tissue-specific gene expression across genetically overlapping traits. T-SEM allows for modeling effects on broad dimensions spanning constellations of traits, while safeguarding against false positives that can arise when effects of gene expression are specific to a subset of traits. We apply T-SEM to investigate the biological mechanisms shared across seven distinct cognitive traits (N = 11,263–331,679), as indexed by a general dimension of genetic sharing (g). We identify 184 genes whose tissue-specific expression is associated with g, including 10 genes not identified in univariate analysis for the individual cognitive traits for any tissue type, and three genes whose expression explained a significant portion of the genetic sharing across g and different subclusters of psychiatric disorders. We go on to apply Stratified Genomic SEM to identify enrichment for g within 28 functional categories. This includes categories indexing the intersection of protein-truncating variant intolerant (PI) genes and specific neuronal cell types, which we also find to be enriched for the genetic covariance between g and a psychotic disorders factor.
Reward and aversion processing by input-defined parallel nucleus accumbens circuits in mice
Authors: Zhou Kuikui , Xu Hua , Lu Shanshan , Jiang Shaolei , Hou Guoqiang , Deng Xiaofei , He Miao , Zhu Yingjie
Published: October 2022

The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is critical in mediating reward seeking and is also involved in negative emotion processing, but the cellular and circuitry mechanisms underlying such opposing behaviors remain elusive. Here, using the recently developed AAV1-mediated anterograde transsynaptic tagging technique in mice, we show that NAc neurons receiving basolateral amygdala inputs (NAcBLA) promote positive reinforcement via disinhibiting dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). In contrast, NAc neurons receiving paraventricular thalamic inputs (NAcPVT) innervate GABAergic neurons in the lateral hypothalamus (LH) and mediate aversion. Silencing the synaptic output of NAcBLA neurons impairs reward seeking behavior, while silencing of NAcPVT or NAcPVT→LH pathway abolishes aversive symptoms of opiate withdrawal. Our results elucidate the afferent-specific circuit architecture of the NAc in controlling reward and aversion.
Nanometer-scale photon confinement in topology-optimized dielectric cavities
Authors: Albrechtsen Marcus , Vosoughi Lahijani Babak , Christiansen Rasmus Ellebæk , Nguyen Vy Thi Hoang , Casses Laura Nevenka , Hansen Søren Engelberth , Stenger Nicolas , Sigmund Ole , Jansen Henri , Mørk Jesper , Stobbe Søren
Published: October 2022

Nanotechnology enables in principle a precise mapping from design to device but relied so far on human intuition and simple optimizations. In nanophotonics, a central question is how to make devices in which the light-matter interaction strength is limited only by materials and nanofabrication. Here, we integrate measured fabrication constraints into topology optimization, aiming for the strongest possible light-matter interaction in a compact silicon membrane, demonstrating an unprecedented photonic nanocavity with a mode volume of V ~ 3 × 10−4 λ3, quality factor Q ~ 1100, and footprint 4 λ2 for telecom photons with a λ ~ 1550 nm wavelength. We fabricate the cavity, which confines photons inside 8 nm silicon bridges with ultra-high aspect ratios of 30 and use near-field optical measurements to perform the first experimental demonstration of photon confinement to a single hotspot well below the diffraction limit in dielectrics. Our framework intertwines topology optimization with fabrication and thereby initiates a new paradigm of high-performance additive and subtractive manufacturing.
Lactose azocalixarene drug delivery system for the treatment of multidrug-resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa infected diabetic ulcer
Authors: Li Juan-Juan , Hu Yuqing , Hu Bing , Wang Wenbo , Xu Haiqi , Hu Xin-Yue , Ding Fei , Li Hua-Bin , Wang Ke-Rang , Zhang Xinge , Guo Dong-Sheng
Published: October 2022

Diabetic wound is one of the most intractable chronic wounds that is prone to bacterial infection. Hypoxia is an important feature in its microenvironment. However, it is challenging for antimicrobial therapy to directly apply the existing hypoxia-responsive drug delivery systems due to the active targeting deficiency and the biofilm obstacle. Herein, we customizes a hypoxia-responsive carrier, lactose-modified azocalix[4]arene (LacAC4A) with the ability to actively target and inhibit biofilm. By loading ciprofloxacin (Cip), the resultant supramolecular nanoformulation Cip@LacAC4A demonstrates enhanced antibacterial efficacy resulting from both the increased drug accumulation and the controlled release at the site of infection. When applied on diabetic wounds together with multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in vivo, Cip@LacAC4A induces definitely less inflammatory infiltration than free Cip, which translates into high wound healing performance. Importantly, such design principle provides a direction for developing antimicrobial drug delivery systems.
Probing the ultrafast dynamics of excitons in single semiconducting carbon nanotubes
Authors: Birkmeier Konrad , Hertel Tobias , Hartschuh Achim
Published: October 2022

Excitonic states govern the optical spectra of low-dimensional semiconductor nanomaterials and their dynamics are key for a wide range of applications, such as in solar energy harvesting and lighting. Semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes emerged as particularly rich model systems for one-dimensional nanomaterials and as such have been investigated intensively in the past. The exciton decay dynamics in nanotubes has been studied mainly by transient absorption and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy. Since different transitions are monitored with these two techniques, developing a comprehensive model to reconcile different data sets, however, turned out to be a challenge and remarkably, a uniform description seems to remain elusive. In this work, we investigate the exciton decay dynamics in single carbon nanotubes using transient interferometric scattering and time-resolved photoluminescence microscopy with few-exciton detection sensitivity and formulate a unified microscopic model by combining unimolecular exciton decay and ultrafast exciton-exciton annihilation on a time-scale down to 200 fs.
A phase II trial of weekly nab-paclitaxel for progressive and symptomatic desmoid tumors
Authors: Martin-Broto Javier , Redondo Andres , Moura David S. , Valverde Claudia , Morales Jose Manuel , Lopez-Pousa Antonio , Martinez-Trufero Javier , Gutierrez Antonio , Díaz-Beveridge Roberto , Luna Pablo , Martinez-Marin Virginia , Marcilla David , Arribas Ivan , Ledesma Patricio , Lopez-Martin Jose Antonio , Di Lernia Davide , Zamora Jorge , Hindi Nadia
Published: October 2022

Desmoid fibromatosis (DF) are mesenchymal neoplasms, with potential aggressive course and relevant clinical impact. New systemic therapy modalities are needed in this symptomatic/progressive population. In this multicenter, phase II trial (NCT03275818), patients with symptomatic/progressing DF received three cycles of weekly nab-paclitaxel. Brief pain inventory short form (BPI-SF) was collected at baseline and in every visit. MRI was performed every 3 months. Primary composite endpoint was RECIST 1.1 overall response rate (ORR) and/or clinical response (improvement ≥ 2 points in BPI-SF). If 40% of patients achieved clinical/radiological response, further investigation would be warranted. Toxicity, progression-free survival (PFS), pattern of response and its correlation with clinical best response and BPI, variation of physical function, and analgesic consumption were secondary endpoints. The translational research reported was not a pre-specified secondary outcome. Forty eligible patients started therapy, being 35 radiologically and clinically evaluable. The study achieved its primary endpoint, as 7(20%) patients obtained RECIST partial response, whereas 31(89%) experienced pain reduction of ≥2 points in BPI-SF worst pain. Therapy was well tolerated. With a median follow-up of 30(14–44) months, median 12 and 24-months PFS rates were 91%(CI 95%, 82–100) and 84%(CI 95%, 71–97). For clinical progression, 12 and 24-months PFS rates were 85% (CI 95%, 73–97) and 74% (CI 95%, 58–90) respectively. Short course of nab-paclitaxel is active, safe and achieves quick and durable responses in progressing/symptomatic DF patients.
Interfacial water engineering boosts neutral water reduction
Authors: Sun Kaian , Wu Xueyan , Zhuang Zewen , Liu Leyu , Fang Jinjie , Zeng Lingyou , Ma Junguo , Liu Shoujie , Li Jiazhan , Dai Ruoyun , Tan Xin , Yu Ke , Liu Di , Cheong Weng-Chon , Huang Aijian , Liu Yunqi , Pan Yuan , Xiao Hai , Chen Chen
Published: October 2022

Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in neutral media is of great practical importance for sustainable hydrogen production, but generally suffers from low activities, the cause of which has been a puzzle yet to be solved. Herein, by investigating the synergy between Ru single atoms (RuNC) and RuSex cluster compounds (RuSex) for HER using ab initio molecular dynamics, operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and operando surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy, we establish that the interfacial water governs neutral HER. The rigid interfacial water layer in neutral media would inhibit the transport of H2O*/OH* at the electrode/electrolyte interface of RuNC, but the RuSex can promote H2O*/OH* transport to increase the number of available H2O* on RuNC by disordering the interfacial water network. With the synergy of RuSex and RuNC, the resulting neutral HER performance in terms of mass-specific activity is 6.7 times higher than that of 20 wt.% Pt/C at overpotential of 100 mV.
A universal glycoenzyme biosynthesis pipeline that enables efficient cell-free remodeling of glycans
Authors: Jaroentomeechai Thapakorn , Kwon Yong Hyun , Liu Yiwen , Young Olivia , Bhawal Ruchika , Wilson Joshua D. , Li Mingji , Chapla Digantkumar G. , Moremen Kelley W. , Jewett Michael C. , Mizrachi Dario , DeLisa Matthew P.
Published: October 2022

The ability to reconstitute natural glycosylation pathways or prototype entirely new ones from scratch is hampered by the limited availability of functional glycoenzymes, many of which are membrane proteins that fail to express in heterologous hosts. Here, we describe a strategy for topologically converting membrane-bound glycosyltransferases (GTs) into water soluble biocatalysts, which are expressed at high levels in the cytoplasm of living cells with retention of biological activity. We demonstrate the universality of the approach through facile production of 98 difficult-to-express GTs, predominantly of human origin, across several commonly used expression platforms. Using a subset of these water-soluble enzymes, we perform structural remodeling of both free and protein-linked glycans including those found on the monoclonal antibody therapeutic trastuzumab. Overall, our strategy for rationally redesigning GTs provides an effective and versatile biosynthetic route to large quantities of diverse, enzymatically active GTs, which should find use in structure-function studies as well as in biochemical and biomedical applications involving complex glycomolecules.
Spheroplasts preparation boosts the catalytic potential of a squalene-hopene cyclase
Authors: Benítez-Mateos Ana I. , Schneider Andreas , Hegarty Eimear , Hauer Bernhard , Paradisi Francesca
Published: October 2022

Squalene-hopene cyclases are a highly valuable and attractive class of membrane-bound enzymes as sustainable biotechnological tools to produce aromas and bioactive compounds at industrial scale. However, their application as whole-cell biocatalysts suffer from the outer cell membrane acting as a diffusion barrier for the highly hydrophobic substrate/product, while the use of purified enzymes leads to dramatic loss of stability. Here we present an unexplored strategy for biocatalysis: the application of squalene-hopene-cyclase spheroplasts. By removing the outer cell membrane, we produce stable and substrate-accessible biocatalysts. These spheroplasts exhibit up to 100-fold higher activity than their whole-cell counterparts for the biotransformations of squalene, geranyl acetone, farnesol, and farnesyl acetone. Their catalytic ability is also higher than the purified enzyme for all high molecular weight terpenes. In addition, we introduce a concept for the carrier-free immobilization of spheroplasts via crosslinking, crosslinked spheroplasts. The crosslinked spheroplasts maintain the same catalytic activity of the spheroplasts, offering additional advantages such as recycling and reuse. These timely solutions contribute not only to harness the catalytic potential of the squalene-hopene cyclases, but also to make biocatalytic processes even greener and more cost-efficient.
Enhancing Gasdermin-induced tumor pyroptosis through preventing ESCRT-dependent cell membrane repair augments antitumor immune response
Authors: Li Zhaoting , Mo Fanyi , Wang Yixin , Li Wen , Chen Yu , Liu Jun , Chen-Mayfield Ting-Jing , Hu Quanyin
Published: October 2022

Pore-forming Gasdermin protein-induced pyroptosis in tumor cells promotes anti-tumor immune response through the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and immunogenic substances after cell rupture. However, endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) III-mediated cell membrane repair significantly diminishes the tumor cell pyroptosis by repairing and subsequently removing gasdermin pores. Here, we show that blocking calcium influx-triggered ESCRT III-dependent membrane repair through a biodegradable nanoparticle-mediated sustained release of calcium chelator (EI-NP) strongly enhances the intracellularly delivered GSDMD-induced tumor pyroptosis via a bacteria-based delivery system (VNP-GD). An injectable hydrogel and a lyophilized hydrogel-based cell patch are developed for peritumoral administration for treating primary and metastatic tumors, and implantation for treating inoperable tumors respectively. The hydrogels, functioning as the local therapeutic reservoirs, can sustainedly release VNP-GD to effectively trigger tumor pyroptosis and EI-NP to prevent the ESCRT III-induced plasma membrane repair to boost the pyroptosis effects, working synergistically to augment the anti-tumor immune response.
CD8+ T cells induce interferon-responsive oligodendrocytes and microglia in white matter aging
Authors: Kaya Tuğberk , Mattugini Nicola , Liu Lu , Ji Hao , Cantuti-Castelvetri Ludovico , Wu Jianping , Schifferer Martina , Groh Janos , Martini Rudolf , Besson-Girard Simon , Kaji Seiji , Liesz Arthur , Gokce Ozgun , Simons Mikael
Published: October 2022

A hallmark of nervous system aging is a decline of white matter volume and function, but the underlying mechanisms leading to white matter pathology are unknown. In the present study, we found age-related alterations of oligodendrocyte cell state with a reduction in total oligodendrocyte density in aging murine white matter. Using single-cell RNA-sequencing, we identified interferon (IFN)-responsive oligodendrocytes, which localize in proximity to CD8+ T cells in aging white matter. Absence of functional lymphocytes decreased the number of IFN-responsive oligodendrocytes and rescued oligodendrocyte loss, whereas T-cell checkpoint inhibition worsened the aging response. In addition, we identified a subpopulation of lymphocyte-dependent, IFN-responsive microglia in the vicinity of the CD8+ T cells in aging white matter. In summary, we provide evidence that CD8+ T-cell-induced, IFN-responsive oligodendrocytes and microglia are important modifiers of white matter aging.
De Novo transcriptome assembly and differential expression analysis of catharanthus roseus in response to salicylic acid
Authors: Soltani Narges , Firouzabadi Farhad Nazarian , Shafeinia Alireza , Shirali Masoud , Sadr Ayeh Sadat
Published: October 2022

The anti-cancer vinblastine and vincristine alkaloids can only be naturally found in periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus). Both of these alkaloids' accumulations are known to be influenced by salicylic acid (SA). The transcriptome data to reveal the induction effect (s) of SA, however, seem restricted at this time. In this study, the de novo approach of transcriptome assembly was performed on the RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) data inC. roseus. The outcome demonstrated that SA treatment boosted the expression of all the genes in the Terpenoid Indole Alkaloids (TIAs) pathway that produces the vinblastine and vincristine alkaloids. These outcomes supported the time-course measurements of vincristine alkaloid, the end product of the TIAs pathway, and demonstrated that SA spray had a positive impact on transcription and alkaloid synthesis. Additionally, the abundance of transcription factor families including bHLH, C3H, C2H2, MYB, MYB-related, AP2/ ERF, NAC, bZIP, and WRKY suggests a role for a variety of transcription families in response to the SA stimuli. Di-nucleotide and tri-nucleotide SSRs were the most prevalent SSR markers in microsatellite analyses, making up 39% and 34% of all SSR markers, respectively, out of the 77,192 total SSRs discovered.
Mapping periplasmic binding protein oligosaccharide recognition with neutron crystallography
Authors: Shukla Shantanu , Myles Dean A. , Cuneo Matthew J.
Published: October 2022

Numerous studies have shown how periplasmic binding proteins (PBPs) bind substrates with exquisite specificity, even distinguishing between sugar epimers and anomers, or structurally similar ions. Yet, marked substrate promiscuity is also a feature encoded in some PBPs. Except for three sub-Ångström crystal structures, there are no reports of hydrogen atom positions in the remaining (> 1000) PBP structures. The previous X-ray crystal structure of the maltodextrin periplasmic-binding protein from Thermotoga maritima (tmMBP) complexed with oligosaccharide showed a large network of interconnected water molecules stretching from one end of the substrate binding pocket to the other. These water molecules are positioned to form multiple hydrogen bonds, as well as forming interactions between the protein and substrate. Here we present the neutron crystal structure of tmMBP to a resolution of 2.1 Å. This is the first neutron crystal structure from the PBP superfamily and here we unambiguously identify the nature and orientation of the hydrogen bonding and water-mediated interactions involved in stabilizing a tetrasaccharide in the binding site. More broadly, these results demonstrate the conserved intricate mechanisms that underlie substrate-specificity and affinity in PBPs.
Bioremediation of copper in sediments from a constructed wetland ex situ with the novel bacterium Cupriavidus basilensis SRS
Authors: Kugler Alex , Brigmon Robin L. , Friedman Abby , Coutelot Fanny M. , Polson Shawn W. , Seaman John C. , Simpson Waltena
Published: October 2022

The H-02 constructed wetland was designed to remove metals (primarily copper and zinc) to treat building process water and storm water runoff from multiple sources associated with the Tritium Facility at the DOE-Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC. The concentration of Cu and Zn in the sediments has increased over the lifetime of the wetland and is a concern. A bioremediation option was investigated at the laboratory scale utilizing a newly isolated bacterium of the copper metabolizing genus Cupriavidus isolated from Tim’s Branch Creek, a second-order stream that eventually serves as a tributary to the Savannah River, contaminated with uranium and other metals including copper, nickel, and mercury. Cupriavidus basilensis SRS is a rod-shaped, gram-negative bacterium which has been shown to have predatory tendencies. The isolate displayed resistance to the antibiotics ofloxacin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, select fungi, as well as Cu2+ and Zn2+. Subsequent ribosomal sequencing demonstrated a 100% confidence for placement in the genus Cupriavidus and a 99.014% match to the C. basilensis type strain. When H-02 wetland samples were inoculated with Cupriavidus basilensis SRS samples showed significant (p < 0.05) decrease in Cu2+ concentrations and variability in Zn2+ concentrations. Over the 72-h incubation there were no significant changes in the inoculate densities (106–108 cells/ML) indicating Cupriavidus basilensis SRS resiliency in this environment. This research expands our understanding of the Cupriavidus genus and demonstrates the potential for Cupriavidus basilensis SRS to bioremediate sites impacted with heavy metals, most notably copper.
Optical trapping and fluorescence control with vectorial structured light
Authors: Kritzinger Ané , Forbes Andrew , Forbes Patricia B. C.
Published: October 2022

Here we functionalized micro-scaled polymer beads with nano-scaled quantum dots and demonstrate optical trapping and tweezing, with in-situ fluorescence measurement, in an all-digital all-optical configuration. We outline the chemistry required to facilitate this, from deactivating the optical trapping environment to size, adhesion and agglomeration control. We introduce a novel holographic optical trapping set-up that leverages on vectorially structured light, allowing for the delivery of tuneable forms of light from purely scalar to purely vector, including propagation invariant flat-top beams for uniform illumination and tailored intensity gradient landscapes. Finally, we show how this has the potential to quench bleaching in a single wavelength trap by linear (spatial mode) rather than non-linear effects, advancing the nascent field of optics for chemistry.
Modeling the spatio‑temporal spread of COVID‑19 cases, recoveries and deaths and effects of partial and full vaccination coverage in Canada
Authors: Momenyan Somayeh , Torabi Mahmoud
Published: October 2022

The purposes of our study are to map high-risk areas in Canada as well as quantifying the effects of vaccination intervention and socio-demographic factors on the transmission rates of infection, recovery, and death related to COVID-19. The data of this research included weekly number of COVID‑19 ﻿cases, recovered, and dead individuals from 2020 through 2021 in Canada at health region and provincial levels. These data were associated with cumulative rates of partial and full vaccination and socio-demographic factors. We applied the spatio-temporal Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Removed (SEIR), and Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Removed-Vaccinated (SEIRV) models. The results indicated the partial vaccination rate has a greater effect compared with full vaccination rate on decreasing the rate of infectious cases (risk ratio (RR) = 0.18; 95%CrI: 0.16–0.2; RR = 0.60; 95%CrI: 0.55–0.65, respectively) and increasing the rate of recovered cases (RR = 1.39; 95%CrI: 1.28–1.51; RR = 1.21; 95%CrI: 1.23–1.29, respectively). However, for mortality risk reduction, only increasing full vaccination rate was significantly associated (RR = 0.09; 95%CrI: 0.05–0.14). In addition, our results showed that regions with higher rates of elderly and aboriginal individuals, higher population density, and lower socioeconomic status (SES) contribute more to the risk of infection transmission. Rates of elderly and aboriginal individuals and SES of regions were significantly associated with recovery rate. However, elderly individuals rate of regions was only a significant predictor of mortality risk. Based on the results, protection against mild and severe COVID-19 infection after the primary vaccination series decreased.
Changes in expression of nuclear factor kappa B subunits in the ovine thymus during early pregnancy
Authors: Yang Ling , Cai Chunjiang , Fang Shengya , Hao Shaopeng , Zhang Taipeng , Zhang Leying
Published: October 2022

There is a pregnant maternal immunological tolerance that protects the fetus and promotes its growth, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) family participates in the regulation of innate immune and adaptive immune responses. The thymus is related to establishing central tolerance, and early pregnancy has effects on expression of a good number of genes and proteins in the maternal thymus in sheep. However, it is unclear whether early pregnancy changes expression of NF-κB subunits in the ovine thymus. In this study, the thymic samples were collected from day 16 of non-pregnant ewes, and days 13, 16 and 25 of pregnant ewes, and the expression of NF-κB members (NF-κB1, NF-κB2, RelA, RelB and c-Rel) was analyzed through real-time quantitative PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis. The results showed that c-Rel mRNA and protein upregulated at day 25 of pregnancy, and NF-κB1 mRNA and proteins increased at days 16 and 25 of pregnancy, and RelB mRNA and proteins enhanced during early pregnancy. However, expression levels of NF-κB2 and RelA were decreased during early pregnancy, but upregulated from day 13 to 25 of pregnancy. In addition, the RelA protein was located in the epithelial reticular cells, capillaries and thymic corpuscles. This paper reported for the first time that early pregnancy induced expression of NF-κB1, RelB and c-Rel, but inhibited expression of NF-κB2 and RelA in the maternal thymus during early pregnancy, which is involved in the central immune tolerance, and helpful for successful pregnancy in sheep.
Thermohydraulic analysis of covalent and noncovalent functionalized graphene nanoplatelets in circular tube fitted with turbulators
Authors: Tao Hai , Alawi Omer A. , Hussein Omar A. , Ahmed Waqar , Abdelrazek Ali H. , Homod Raad Z. , Eltaweel Mahmoud , Falah Mayadah W. , Al-Ansari Nadhir , Yaseen Zaher Mundher
Published: October 2022

Covalent and non-covalent nanofluids were tested inside a circular tube fitted with twisted tape inserts with 45° and 90° helix angles. Reynolds number was 7000 ≤ Re ≤ 17,000, and thermophysical properties were assessed at 308 K. The physical model was solved numerically via a two-equation eddy-viscosity model (SST k-omega turbulence). GNPs-SDBS@DW and GNPs-COOH@DW nanofluids with concentrations (0.025 wt.%, 0.05 wt.% and 0.1 wt.%) were considered in this study. The twisted pipes' walls were heated under a constant temperature of 330 K. The current study considered six parameters: outlet temperature, heat transfer coefficient, average Nusselt number, friction factor, pressure loss, and performance evaluation criterion. In both cases (45° and 90° helix angles), GNPs-SDBS@DW nanofluids presented higher thermohydraulic performance than GNPs-COOH@DW and increased by increasing the mass fractions such as 1.17 for 0.025 wt.%, 1.19 for 0.05 wt.% and 1.26 for 0.1 wt.%. Meanwhile, in both cases (45° and 90° helix angles), the value of thermohydraulic performance using GNPs-COOH@DW was 1.02 for 0.025 wt.%, 1.05 for 0.05 wt.% and 1.02 for 0.1 wt.%.
Cu(ii)-assisted self-assembly of dicyandiamide-derived carbon dots: construction inspired from chemical evolution and its H2O2 sensing application
Authors: Zhang Jie , Zhang Xue-Ji , Cosnier Serge , Shan Dan
Published: October 2022

In the rapid development of artificial nanomaterials comparable to biological enzymes, we propose herein a novel concept for the construction of functional materials inspired from chemical evolution.
A simple and practical solvent system selection strategy for high-speed countercurrent chromatography based on the HPLC polarity parameter model
Authors: Zhu Xiaohan , Li Pengcheng , Tang Jintian , Su Yanqi , Xiao Mi , Xue Hongkun , Cai Xu
Published: October 2022

The partition coefficient (K value) range of the calculated polarity value of compounds.
Selective and ultrasensitive citric acid assay in urine samples using a MWCNT/Fe3O4 nanoparticle-modified carbon paste electrode
Authors: Nayeri Sahar , Akhoundian Maedeh , Alizadeh Taher
Published: October 2022

A simple method for selective and ultrasensitive determination of citric acid using a CNT/Fe3O4-CPE and differential pulse voltammetry was introduced.
Trade-off between carbohydrates and metal ions regulates the chemotactic directionality of alkaline phosphatase
Authors: Deshwal Akshi , Shikha  , Maiti Subhabrata
Published: October 2022

The role of the Hofmeister interaction in governing the chemotactic behavior of alkaline phosphatase in the presence of carbohydrate and metal ion gradients has been established.
A low-cost commercial Cu(ii)–EDTA complex for electrocatalytic water oxidation in neutral aqueous solution
Authors: Yu Kaishan , Sun Yue , Zhu Dingwei , Xu Ziyi , Wang Jiayi , Shen Junyu , Zhang Qijian , Zhao Wei
Published: October 2022

A low-cost commercial Cu complex [Cu(EDTA)(H2O)] is developed as a molecular catalyst for OER with high efficiency and durable stability.
Concise enantioselective synthesis of non-proteinogenic α-aminoacids via an organocatalytic Mannich-type reaction
Authors: Kovalevsky Ruslan A. , Kucherenko Alexander S. , Zlotin Sergei G.
Published: October 2022

Scalable asymmetric synthesis of non-proteinogenic (S)-aminoacids and their derivatives based on an organocatalyzed Mannich-type reaction involving allomaltol applicable to subsequent RuIII-catalyzed oxidative cleavage has been developed.
Luminescence properties of Eu2O3-doped ZrO2–Y2O3 single crystals
Authors: Ta Shengdi , Zhang Huiting , Wu Wenxia , Wang Yazhao , Zhang Peng , Cheng Zeyu , Xu Shoulei , Goodman Bernard Albert , Deng Wen
Published: October 2022

The optical properties of the Eu3+-doped Y2O3-stabilized ZrO2 crystals demonstrate potential for various applications based on their intense emission of orange light.
From spent alkaline batteries to active Zn||ZnxMn2O4aqueous batteries: a mild process of cathode recycling and crystal engineering
Authors: Zhou Junjian , Wang Shen , Wang Xinyu , Zhang Chengyu , Gu Zhengguo , Zhou Tong , Yuan Zhiye , Long Ting , Yin Jiang , Yang Yahui , Yang Lishan
Published: October 2022

A mild, efficient, and low-cost method was designed for recycling cathode materials from spent alkaline batteries into advanced aqueous zinc batteries.
A new multifunctional anionic 3D Zn(ii)-MOF based on heptanuclear clusters: selective adsorption of organic dyes and a dual-emitting sensor for nitroantibiotics
Authors: Du Yan-Fang , Wang Xi-Xi , Cheng Ai-Ling , Wang Yuan-Yuan , Gao En-Qing
Published: October 2022

A new multifunctional Zn-MOF (1) based on heptanuclear clusters was synthesized, which can adsorb cationic dyes selectively and serve as a dual-emission sensor for sensitive detection of nitrofuran antibioticsvialuminescence quenching process.
A theoretical investigation of uranyl covalencyviasymmetry-preserving excited state structures
Authors: Armstrong Sapphire , Malcomson Thomas , Kerridge Andy
Published: October 2022

The structures of electronically excited states of uranyl are probedviadensity-based analysis to deepen understanding of uranium bonding.
A first-principles study of the ultra-high spin rectification effect based on nitride MXenes (Sc2NO2, Ti2NO2)
Authors: Gong Pengwei , Zhang Xiaolin , Liu Fangqi , Zhu Sicong
Published: October 2022

Nitride MXenes exhibit inherent strong chemical stability and ferromagnetic properties, which are significant for their application in nanoscale spintronic devices.
Role of phosphatidylserine in amyloid-beta oligomerization at asymmetric phospholipid bilayers
Authors: Robinson Jack , Sarangi Nirod Kumar , Keyes Tia E.
Published: October 2022

Damage to a lipid bilayer induced by laser photons induces DOPS to translocate from the inner leaflet to the outside leaflet, so setting off amyloid-beta binding and oligomer formation.
Thermodynamics of self-assembled molecular layers of trimesic acid from fields-supported kinetic Monte Carlo simulation
Authors: Ustinov Eugene A. , Gorbunov Vitaly A. , Akimenko Sergey S.
Published: October 2022

A technique has been developed for calculating the thermodynamic characteristics of rigid self-assembled organic adsorption layers and the parameters of polymorphic transitions using two types of external fields and the kinetic Monte Carlo method.
High excellent hydrogen evolution characteristics and novel mechanism of two-dimensional tetra-phase OsN2 and ReN2
Authors: Xie Rong-Rong , Liu Yu-Tong , Ding Meng , Ji Wei-Xiao , Wang Pei-Ji , Li Feng , Li Sheng-Shi
Published: October 2022

Based on first-principles calculations, we study the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) on novel 2D monolayers namely OsN2 and ReN2, and indicate their excellent catalytic performance.
Assembly of pinwheel/twist-shaped chiral lanthanide clusters with rotor structures by an annular/linear growth mechanism and their magnetic properties
Authors: Long Bing-Fan , Li Yun-Lan , Zhu Zhong-Hong , Wang Hai-Ling , Liang Fu-Pei , Zou Hua-Hong
Published: October 2022

This is the first time that an annular/linear growth mechanism has been proposed for the directional construction of lanthanide clusters with specific shapes.
A hybrid GaN/Ga2O3 structure anchored on carbon cloth as a high-performance electrode of supercapacitors
Authors: Hu Yan-Ling , Wang Zihan , Yuan Ronghuo , Xu Zhihan , Dai Yan , Wang Bing , Fu Yao , Ye Meidan , Yang Yun , Zou Zhimin , Jiang Chunhai
Published: October 2022

GaN/Ga2O3/carbon cloth exhibited high performance as a supercapacitor electrode, with α-Ga2O3 as an absorption/reaction site for H+ and GaN as an electron channel.
Cement clinker precursor production in an electrolyser
Authors: Zhang Zishuai , Mowbray Benjamin A. W. , Parkyn Colin T. E. , Waizenegger Chris , Williams Aubry S. R. , Lees Eric W. , Ren Shaoxuan , Kim Yongwook , Jansonius Ryan P. , Berlinguette Curtis P.
Published: October 2022

We report here an electrochemical flow reactor that converts limestone (CaCO3(s)) into Ca(OH)2(s) at a high production rate and co-produces pure CO2(g).
A new calibrated strategy for the in situ U–Th–Pb dating of bastnasite by xenotime
Authors: Tang Yanwen , Liu Na , Yang Jiehua , Gonçalves Guilherme O. , Liu Liang , Lan Tingguang , Gao Jianfeng , Han Junjie
Published: October 2022

Xenotime XN01 can serve as the primary standard for the accurate in situ U–Th–Pb dating of bastnasite in normal ablation settings.
Effect of quantum confinement on polarization anisotropy emission in Sn-doped CdS microcones
Authors: Tian Ye , Yao Shangfei , Lin Wenchao , Peng Hui , Zhang Yongyou , Zou Bingsuo
Published: October 2022

We prove the relationship between the cross-section radius and polarization ratio, and demonstrate the maximum polarization ratio is about 60% when the cross-section radius is 1.15 μm in a Sn-doped CdS microcone.
Aqueous-phase synthesized CdTe quantum dots: an insight into nanoparticle architecture-quantum yield relationship, characterization, and computational study of small clusters
Authors: Peña González Paula T. , Rozo Correa Ciro E. , Martínez Bonilla Carlos A.
Published: October 2022

Aqueous-phase synthesis of highly luminescent CdTe QDs, insight on the influence of core composition, ligand type, molar ratio, reaction time, and shell type over QY, and computational study of small non-stoichiometric clusters.
In situ interfacial passivation with an arylphosphine oxide and phosphonate electron transporting layer for efficient all-solution-processed PeQLEDs
Authors: Li Xuefei , Tian Yiting , Yang Liuqing , Wang Shumeng , Zhao Lei , Ding Junqiao
Published: October 2022

All-solution-processed PeQLEDs are developed by interfacial passivation with an electron transporting material containing a PO group, revealing bright green emission with a promising external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 6.47%.
Synthesis of stable γ-phase MnS1−xSex nanoflakes with inversion symmetry breaking
Authors: Zheng Bo , Fu Jun , Zhu Yuanmin , Liang Jing , She Yongzhi , Xiang Junxiang , Ma Xiang , Zhang Ying , Wang Shasha , Hu Guojing , Zhou Yuehui , Feng Yan , Fu Zhengping , Pan Nan , Lu Yalin , Zeng Hualing , Gu Meng , Liu Kaihui , Xiang Bin
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we report the rational synthesis of stable γ-phase MnS1−xSex (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.45) nanoflakes. By tuning the parameters of synthesis duration and temperature, we produced a detailed growth phase diagram.
Copper catalysed protoboration of allenyl-Bdans: efficient synthesis of β-boryl allyl-Bdans
Authors: Li Shi-Sen , Zhong Qin , Zhao Jian
Published: October 2022

A novel strategy for the selective synthesis of β-boryl allyl-Bdan derivatives by employing Cu-catalyzed protoboration of allenyl-Bdan derivatives was developed.
Fluorine on fluorenes
Authors: Dickinson Cody F. , Yang Justin K. , Tius Marcus A.
Published: October 2022

Fluorinated fluorenones can be elaborated to polyhalogenated dibenzochrysenes in 4 steps.
Development of spirocyclic phosphoramidite-based hybrid diphosphorus ligands for enantioselective iridium-catalyzed hydrogenation of imines
Authors: Nan Long-Fei , Chen Xiu-Shuai , Chen Hao , Hu Xin-Hu , Wang Xin-Hong , Hu Xiang-Ping
Published: October 2022

Novel spirocyclic phosphine–phosphoramidite ligands for highly efficient and enantioselective Ir-catalyzed hydrogenation of various imines.
Looking for solutions: students’ use of infrared cameras in calorimetry labs
Authors: Samuelsson Christopher Robin , Ho Felix M. , Elmgren Maja , Haglund Jesper
Published: October 2022

This study adds to the growing body of research on laboratory work. The study involves four pairs of students in a university introductory calorimetry lab of which two pairs, the IR-pairs (infrared camera-pairs), were given access to infrared cameras to use however they liked during their course lab work. Two other pairs, the T-pairs (thermometer-pairs), were not given access to infrared cameras during their course lab work. The IR-pairs were video recorded when they chose to use the IR cameras and the T-pairs were video-recorded during the corresponding sequences. Additionally, all pairs participated in a modified lab after their course lab, in which the pairs had access to IR cameras and were presented with the same phenomena although with equipment modified to better accommodate for the use of IR cameras (thin plastic cups were used instead of calorimeters). Students’ practice, communication and reasoning was studied to explore how the IR cameras affect students’ activity. The results show that the access to IR cameras led to a reasoning focused on a macroscopic level of chemistry knowledge, involving heat transfer to the surrounding and measurement errors, and that the lab practice of most of the students was continuous (rather than intermittent) when they had access to IR cameras. We conclude by arguing that the access to IR cameras affects students’ conceptual and epistemological framing of the lab, i.e. that the students perceive the lab activity differently when they get access to IR cameras (both in a conceptual and epistemological sense). As an implication for teaching, we suggest that giving students access to IR cameras in a chemistry lab may be a way to introduce flexibility in the degree of openness of the lab.
Symmetry-breaking synthesis of Janus Au/CeO2 nanostructures for visible-light nitrogen photofixation
Authors: Jia Henglei , Zhao Mengxuan , Du Aoxuan , Dou Yanrong , Zhang Chun-yang
Published: October 2022

We demonstrate a synthetic strategy to selectively grow a CeO2 semi-shell on Au nanospheres through the symmetry-breaking synthesis. The asymmetric nanostructures facilitate the charge carrier separation during the visible-light N2 photofixation.
Controlling the fluorescence quantum yields of benzothiazole-difluoroborates by optimal substitution
Authors: Rybczyński Patryk , Bousquet Manon H. E. , Kaczmarek-Kędziera Anna , Jędrzejewska Beata , Jacquemin Denis , Ośmiałowski Borys
Published: October 2022

A full palette of FQY (form ca. 0 to 98%) was covered by exchanging two groups in a series of nine compounds. The darkest (OMe/CF3) and brightest (CF3/OMe) are isomers. All experimental data are supported by TD-DFT calculations.
Additive-free red phosphorus/Ti3C2Tx MXene nanocomposite anodes for metal–ion batteries
Authors: Subramaniyam Chandrasekar M , Kang Min-A , Li Jian , VahidMohammadi Armin , Hamedi Mahiar Max
Published: October 2022

We report an environmentally benign, and additive-free red P/Ti3C2Tx MXene nanocomposites as high-performance anodes for alkali-metal–ion batteries (MIBs where M = Li+, Na+, K+).
Disfluency-Affirming Therapy for Young People Who Stutter: Unpacking Ableism in the Therapy Room
Authors: Sisskin Vivian
Published: October 2022

Purpose:

Ableist messages are conveyed early in the life of a stutterer and are amplified throughout the school-age years. Increased recognition of the benefits of acceptance-based therapies for positive long-term outcomes has changed the narrative about stuttering and stutterers. Speech-language therapists are resonating with the ideas that “it is okay to stutter,” socioemotional aspects of stuttering must be considered, and support and community are valuable. Despite the shift in understanding, messages conveyed to students and parents commonly encourage suppression of stuttering and masking of one's stuttering identity. The purpose of this article was to (a) expose unintentional ableist messages that perpetuate stigma and feeling “othered” in the therapy relationship and (b) offer suggestions for congruent messaging in stuttering therapy.

Conclusions:

Ableism in stuttering therapy contributes to the physical struggle and socioemotional challenges experienced by stutterers. The author offers ideas for revisioning therapy outcomes, language, and messaging to students to encourage a congruent, disfluency-affirming culture in schools and community. Introspection and advocacy by both therapists and the broader professional community, in collaboration with young people who stutter, will serve to reduce the stigma that fuels many of the daily challenges faced by school-age children who stutter.
Adaptive neural network control of a non‐linear two‐degree‐of‐freedom helicopter system with prescribed performance
Authors: Ma Ge , Wu Huiyuan , Zhao Zhijia , Zou Tao , Hong Keum‐Shik
Published: October 2022

This study develops a neural network control for a non‐linear two‐degree‐of‐freedom unmanned helicopter system satisfying prescribed performance constraints is developed. By introducing a prescribed performance function to express the system constraints, a constrained tracking control problem is transformed into an equivalent unconstrained stability problem through error transformations. The neural network controller is designed to ensure that the tracking error converges to a small neighborhood of zero and that the prescribed performance constraints are satisfied. Furthermore, the stability and error convergence of the system are analysed through the Lyapunov direct approach. The effectiveness of the proposed control scheme is verified by simulation and experimental results.