bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Non-encapsulated, encapsulated, and lyophilized probiotic Limosilactobacillus reuteri SW23 influenced the growth and gut health in calves
Authors: Yadav Manish , Kumar Sachin , Parsana Yash , Chauhan Nutan , Tyagi Nitin , Mondal Goutam , Samanta Ashis Kumar
Published: April 2024

The present study was conducted to assess the impact of non-encapsulated, air-dried microencapsulated, and lyophilized microencapsulated probiotics in indigenous cattle calves (Bos indicus). Twenty-four (5–7 days old) indigenous cattle calves were selected and assigned into four groups, with six calves in each as follows: control (CON), fed milk and basal diet alone, and treatment groups supplemented with non-encapsulated (NEC), air-dried microencapsulated (AEC) and lyophilized microencapsulated (LEC) probiotic L. reuteri SW23 at 108 CFU/head/day in skim milk as a carrier provided for 60 days. The animals were divided into four groups, adopting a complete randomized design, and the effects were considered significant at p ≤ 0.05. Probiotics supplementation increased (p < 0.05) body weight gain (kg), average daily gain, and structural growth measurements in calves of all treatment groups. Dry matter intake (g/d), feed conversion efficiency, and fecal counts of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria were also increased in the treatment groups compared to CON. The fecal consistency index was highest in CON (0.70 ± 0.03), followed by NEC (0.68 ± 0.01), AEC (0.66 ± 0.02), and LEC (0.65 ± 0.02). Fecal pH and ammonia levels were reduced (p < 0.05) in the probiotic-fed groups compared to CON, with a concomitant increase in fecal lactate, acetate, and propionate levels. In addition, cell-mediated and humoral immunity were significantly increased in supplemented groups as compared to CON. Thus, it can be concluded that supplementation of the probiotics in microencapsulated/non-encapsulated forms to neonatal calves had a variety of positive effects on their health, including better performance, improved gut health, and a lower fecal consistency index. Moreover, among all supplemented groups, the lyophilized microencapsulated group outperformed air-dried microencapsulated and non-microencapsulated groups in terms of ADG, DMI, and gut health.
Effect of super absorbent hydrogel on hydro-physical properties of soil under deficit irrigation
Authors: Abdelghafar Rasha , Abdelfattah Ahmed , Mostafa Harby
Published: April 2024

Due to water scarcity challenges, efficient management of irrigation water is becoming crucial. Water use efficiency (WUE) involves increasing crop productivity without increasing water consumption. This study was carried out to study the effect of hydrogel, deficit irrigation and soil type on WUE, soil hydro-physical properties and lettuce productivity. For this purpose, four irrigation treatments (100%, 85%, 70% and 60% of full irrigation requirements), four hydrogel concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% w/w) and three soil textural classes (clay, loamy sand, and sandy-clay soil) were conducted in pot experiment at open field during two consecutive seasons. The results revealed that crop growth parameters and soil hydro-physical properties were significantly affected by hydrogel application rates. Hydrogel addition significantly enhanced head fresh and dry weights, chlorophyll content, number of leaves and WUE. Application of hydrogel at 0.3% and 85% of irrigation requirements achieved the highest WUE without significant yield reductions. Changes in the studied hydro-physical properties of soil were more dependent on soil texture and hydrogel application rate than on the amount of irrigation water. The significant decrease in soil saturated hydraulic conductivity and bulk density confirms that super absorbent hydrogels could be recommended to improve soil water retention and enhance water use efficiency under deficit irrigation conditions.
Proteomic analysis of fipronil-induced molecular defects in spermatozoa
Authors: Bae Jeong-Won , Kwon Woo-Sung
Published: April 2024

The phenylpyrazole insecticide fipronil has wide-ranging applications from agriculture to public health to control undesirable organisms. However, several studies have reported the residual environmental hazards of fipronil and demonstrated its harmful effects even in mammalian reproduction. Therefore, this study was conducted to demonstrate the mode of action of fipronil on mouse spermatozoa. We treated fipronil to spermatozoa and performed comprehensive function evaluations. Moreover, proteomic analyses were conducted to identify the alteration of protein expression levels in spermatozoa. Most of sperm motility and kinematic parameters and intracellular ATP levels were diminished, and the spontaneous acrosome reaction was promoted after treatment with fipronil. Proteomic analyses revealed altered expression levels of 14 proteins after treatment. These proteins have been reported to be associated with sperm-specific pathways, prominently the cytoskeleton of the sperm, “9 + 2” axoneme composition, metabolism, and fertility. Collectively, our results showed that fipronil alters sperm functional-related proteins and therefore influences male fertility. This study elucidates the possible reproductive toxic hazards associated with male infertility through aberrant suppression of sperm proteins.
Synthesis and biological evaluation of echinomycin analogues as potential colon cancer agent
Authors: Kojima Keita , Konishi Hiroaki , Momosaki Kyoka , Komatani Yuya , Katsuyama Akira , Nakagawa Koji , Kanamitsu Kayoko , Yakushiji Fumika , Fujiya Mikihiro , Ichikawa Satoshi
Published: April 2024

Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death, thus a novel chemotherapeutic agent for colon cancer therapy is needed. In this study, analogues of echinomycin, a cyclic peptide natural product with potent toxicity to several human cancer cell lines, were synthesized, and their biological activities against human colon cancer cells were investigated. Analogue 3 as well as 1 inhibit HIF-1α-mediated transcription. Notably, transcriptome analysis indicated that the cell cycle and its regulation were involved in the effects on cells treated with 3. Analogue 3 exhibited superior in vivo efficacy to echinomycin without significant toxicity in mouse xenograft model. The low dose of 3 needed to be efficacious in vivo is also noteworthy and our data suggest that 3 is an attractive and potentially novel agent for the treatment of colon cancer.
Amyloid-β prediction machine learning model using source-based morphometry across neurocognitive disorders
Authors: Momota Yuki , Bun Shogyoku , Hirano Jinichi , Kamiya Kei , Ueda Ryo , Iwabuchi Yu , Takahata Keisuke , Yamamoto Yasuharu , Tezuka Toshiki , Kubota Masahito , Seki Morinobu , Shikimoto Ryo , Mimura Yu , Kishimoto Taishiro , Tabuchi Hajime , Jinzaki Masahiro , Ito Daisuke , Mimura Masaru
Published: April 2024

Previous studies have developed and explored magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based machine learning models for predicting Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, limited research has focused on models incorporating diverse patient populations. This study aimed to build a clinically useful prediction model for amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposition using source-based morphometry, using a data-driven algorithm based on independent component analyses. Additionally, we assessed how the predictive accuracies varied with the feature combinations. Data from 118 participants clinically diagnosed with various conditions such as AD, mild cognitive impairment, frontotemporal lobar degeneration, corticobasal syndrome, progressive supranuclear palsy, and psychiatric disorders, as well as healthy controls were used for the development of the model. We used structural MR images, cognitive test results, and apolipoprotein E status for feature selection. Three-dimensional T1-weighted images were preprocessed into voxel-based gray matter images and then subjected to source-based morphometry. We used a support vector machine as a classifier. We applied SHapley Additive exPlanations, a game-theoretical approach, to ensure model accountability. The final model that was based on MR-images, cognitive test results, and apolipoprotein E status yielded 89.8% accuracy and a receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.888. The model based on MR-images alone showed 84.7% accuracy. Aβ-positivity was correctly detected in non-AD patients. One of the seven independent components derived from source-based morphometry was considered to represent an AD-related gray matter volume pattern and showed the strongest impact on the model output. Aβ-positivity across neurological and psychiatric disorders was predicted with moderate-to-high accuracy and was associated with a probable AD-related gray matter volume pattern. An MRI-based data-driven machine learning approach can be beneficial as a diagnostic aid.
A nomogram for predicting the risk of treatment failure of roxadustat in peritoneal dialysis with renal anemia
Authors: Fan Jiangqing , Lei Wenpu , Wang Lulu , Ge Weihong
Published: April 2024

The determinants of roxadustat treatment failure in renal anemia remain elusive. This study sought to develop a nomogram for predicting the risk of treatment failure of roxadustat in peritoneal dialysis (PD) with renal anemia. A retrospective cohort analysis from January 1, 2019, to January 31, 2023, included 204 PD patients with renal anemia, stratified by attainment group (Hb ≥ 110 g/L, n = 103) or non-attainment (Hb < 110 g/L, n = 101) within 1 year treatment. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regressions were employed to ascertain predictive factors and construct the nomogram. Nomogram efficacy was evaluated via C-index, time-dependent ROC, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis, with internal validation via tenfold cross-validation and 1000 bootstrap resampling iterations. The study identified PD duration, serum transferrin, cardiovascular comorbidities, and stains as significant predictors. The nomogram demonstrated moderate discrimination at 6 months (AUC: 0.717) and enhanced predictive accuracy at 12 months (AUC: 0.741). The predicted and actual risk probabilities were concordant, with clinical net benefits observed at six-month (8 to 53%) and twelve-month (27 to 84%) risk thresholds. This nomogram is a valuable tool for effectively predicting non-attainment risk and facilitating personalized management of renal anemia in PD patients treated with roxadustat.
Optical property dataset of inorganic phosphor
Authors: Jang Seunghun , Na Gyoung S. , Choi Yunhee , Chang Hyunju
Published: April 2024

Developing inorganic phosphor with desired properties for light-emitting diode application has traditionally relied on time-consuming and labor-intensive material development processes. Moreover, the results of material development research depend significantly on individual researchers’ intuition and experience. Thus, to improve the efficiency and reliability of materials discovery, machine learning has been widely applied to various materials science applications in recent years. However, the prediction capabilities of machine learning methods fundamentally depend on the quality of the training datasets. In this work, we constructed a high-quality and reliable dataset that contains experimentally validated inorganic phosphors and their optical properties, sourced from the literature on inorganic phosphors. Our dataset includes 3952 combinations of 21 dopant elements in 2238 host materials from 553 articles. The dataset provides material information, optical properties, measurement conditions for inorganic phosphors, and meta-information. Among the preliminary machine learning results, the essential properties of inorganic phosphors, such as maximum Photoluminescence (PL) emission wavelength and PL decay time, show overall satisfactory prediction performance with coefficient of determination ($$R^2$$

R
2

) scores of 0.7 or more. We also confirmed that the measurement conditions significantly improved prediction performance.
Educational simulator for mastoidectomy considering mechanical properties using 3D printing and its usability evaluation
Authors: Ock Junhyeok , Choi Yeonjoo , Lee Dong-Gyu , Chung Jong Woo , Kim Namkug
Published: April 2024

Complex temporal bone anatomy complicates operations; thus, surgeons must engage in practice to mitigate risks, improving patient safety and outcomes. However, existing training methods often involve prohibitive costs and ethical problems. Therefore, we developed an educational mastoidectomy simulator, considering mechanical properties using 3D printing. The mastoidectomy simulator was modeled on computed tomography images of a patient undergoing a mastoidectomy. Infill was modeled for each anatomical part to provide a realistic drilling sensation. Bone and other anatomies appear in assorted colors to enhance the simulator’s educational utility. The mechanical properties of the simulator were evaluated by measuring the screw insertion torque for infill specimens and cadaveric temporal bones and investigating its usability with a five-point Likert-scale questionnaire completed by five otolaryngologists. The maximum insertion torque values of the sigmoid sinus, tegmen, and semicircular canal were 1.08 ± 0.62, 0.44 ± 0.42, and 1.54 ± 0.43 N mm, displaying similar-strength infill specimens of 40%, 30%, and 50%. Otolaryngologists evaluated the quality and usability at 4.25 ± 0.81 and 4.53 ± 0.62. The mastoidectomy simulator could provide realistic bone drilling feedback for educational mastoidectomy training while reinforcing skills and comprehension of anatomical structures.
Identification of ASF1A and HJURP by global H3–H4 histone chaperone analysis as a prognostic two-gene model in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Liu Yongkang , Liu Shihui , Jing Rui , Li Congcong , Guo Yongqi , Cai Zhiye , Xi Pei , Dai Penggao , Jia Lintao , Zhu Hongli , Zhang Xiang
Published: April 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignancy with poor prognosis. Abnormal expression of H3–H4 histone chaperones has been identified in many cancers and holds promise as a biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis. However, systemic analysis of H3–H4 histone chaperones in HCC is still lacking. Here, we investigated the expression of 19 known H3–H4 histone chaperones in HCC. Integrated analysis of multiple public databases indicated that these chaperones are highly expressed in HCC tumor tissues, which was further verified by immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining in offline samples. Additionally, survival analysis suggested that HCC patients with upregulated H3–H4 histone chaperones have poor prognosis. Using LASSO and Cox regression, we constructed a two-gene model (ASF1A, HJURP) that accurately predicts prognosis in ICGC-LIRI and GEO HCC data, which was further validated in HCC tissue microarrays with follow-up information. GSEA revealed that HCCs in the high-risk group were associated with enhanced cell cycle progression and DNA replication. Intriguingly, HCCs in the high-risk group exhibited increased immune infiltration and sensitivity to immune checkpoint therapy (ICT). In summary, H3–H4 histone chaperones play a critical role in HCC progression, and the two-gene (ASF1A, HJURP) risk model is effective for predicting survival outcomes and sensitivity to immunotherapy for HCC patients.
Comparison of nine trauma scoring systems in prediction of inhospital outcomes of pediatric trauma patients: a multicenter study
Authors: Khavandegar Armin , Salamati Payman , Zafarghandi Mohammadreza , Rahimi-Movaghar Vafa , Sharif-Alhoseini Mahdi , Fakharian Esmaeil , Saeed-Banadaky Seyed Houssein , Hoseinpour Vahid , Sadeghian Farideh , Nasr Isfahani Mehdi , Rahmanian Vahid , Ghadiphasha Amir , Pourmasjedi Sobhan , Piri Seyed Mohammad , Mirzamohamadi Sara , Hassan Zadeh Tabatabaei Mahgol Sadat , Naghdi Khatereh , Baigi Vali
Published: April 2024

Hereby, we aimed to comprehensively compare different scoring systems for pediatric trauma and their ability to predict in-hospital mortality and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The current registry-based multicenter study encompassed a comprehensive dataset of 6709 pediatric trauma patients aged ≤ 18 years from July 2016 to September 2023. To ascertain the predictive efficacy of the scoring systems, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was calculated. A total of 720 individuals (10.7%) required admission to the ICU. The mortality rate was 1.1% (n = 72). The most predictive scoring system for in-hospital mortality was the adjusted trauma and injury severity score (aTRISS) (AUC = 0.982), followed by trauma and injury severity score (TRISS) (AUC = 0.980), new trauma and injury severity score (NTRISS) (AUC = 0.972), Glasgow coma scale (GCS) (AUC = 0.9546), revised trauma score (RTS) (AUC = 0.944), pre-hospital index (PHI) (AUC = 0.936), injury severity score (ISS) (AUC = 0.901), new injury severity score (NISS) (AUC = 0.900), and abbreviated injury scale (AIS) (AUC = 0.734). Given the predictive performance of the scoring systems for ICU admission, NTRISS had the highest predictive performance (AUC = 0.837), followed by aTRISS (AUC = 0.836), TRISS (AUC = 0.823), ISS (AUC = 0.807), NISS (AUC = 0.805), GCS (AUC = 0.735), RTS (AUC = 0.698), PHI (AUC = 0.662), and AIS (AUC = 0.651). In the present study, we concluded the superiority of the TRISS and its two derived counterparts, aTRISS and NTRISS, compared to other scoring systems, to efficiently discerning individuals who possess a heightened susceptibility to unfavorable consequences. The significance of these findings underscores the necessity of incorporating these metrics into the realm of clinical practice.
Differential cytokine expression in gastric tissues highlights helicobacter pylori’s role in gastritis
Authors: Yang Xing-Tang , Niu Pei-Qin , Li Xiao-Feng , Sun Ming-Ming , Wei Wei , Chen Yan-Qing , Zheng Jia-Yi
Published: April 2024

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), known for causing gastric inflammation, gastritis and gastric cancer, prompted our study to investigate the differential expression of cytokines in gastric tissues, which is crucial for understanding H. pylori infection and its potential progression to gastric cancer. Focusing on Il-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IL-18, and TNF-α, we analysed gene and protein levels to differentiate between H. pylori-infected and non-infected gastritis. We utilised real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) for gene quantification, immunohistochemical staining, and ELISA for protein measurement. Gastric samples from patients with gastritis were divided into three groups: (1) non-gastritis (N-group) group, (2) gastritis without H. pylori infection (G-group), and (3) gastritis with H. pylori infection (GH-group), each consisting of 8 samples. Our findings revealed a statistically significant variation in cytokine expression. Generally, cytokine levels were higher in gastritis, but in H. pylori-infected gastritis, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 levels were lower compared to H. pylori-independent gastritis, while IL-12, IL-18, and TNF-α levels were higher. This distinct cytokine expression pattern in H. pylori-infected gastritis underscores a unique inflammatory response, providing deeper insights into its pathogenesis.
Clinical phenotype and genetic function analysis of a family with hypomyelinating leukodystrophy-7 caused by POLR3A mutation
Authors: Ruan Dan-dan , Ruan Xing-lin , Wang Ruo‑li , Lin Xin-fu , Zhang Yan-ping , Lin Bin , Li Shi-jie , Wu Min , Chen Qian , Zhang Jian-hui , Cheng Qiong , Zhang Yi-wu , Lin Fan , Luo Jie-wei , Zheng Zheng , Li Yun-fei
Published: April 2024

Hypomyelinating leukodystrophy (HLD) is a rare genetic heterogeneous disease that can affect myelin development in the central nervous system. This study aims to analyze the clinical phenotype and genetic function of a family with HLD-7 caused by POLR3A mutation. The proband (IV6) in this family mainly showed progressive cognitive decline, dentin dysplasia, and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Her three old brothers (IV1, IV2, and IV4) also had different degrees of ataxia, dystonia, or dysarthria besides the aforementioned manifestations. Their brain magnetic resonance imaging showed bilateral periventricular white matter atrophy, brain atrophy, and corpus callosum atrophy and thinning. The proband and her two living brothers (IV2 and IV4) were detected to carry a homozygous mutation of the POLR3A (NM_007055.4) gene c. 2300G > T (p.Cys767Phe), and her consanguineous married parents (III1 and III2) were p.Cys767Phe heterozygous carriers. In the constructed POLR3A wild-type and p.Cys767Phe mutant cells, it was seen that overexpression of wild-type POLR3A protein significantly enhanced Pol III transcription of 5S rRNA and tRNA Leu-CAA. However, although the mutant POLR3A protein overexpression was increased compared to the wild-type protein overexpression, it did not show the expected further enhancement of Pol III function. On the contrary, Pol III transcription function was frustrated (POLR3A, BC200, and tRNA Leu-CAA expression decreased), and MBP and 18S rRNA expressions were decreased. This study indicates that the POLR3A p.Cys767Phe variant caused increased expression of mutated POLR3A protein and abnormal expression of Pol III transcripts, and the mutant POLR3A protein function was abnormal.
Boxing behavior recognition based on artificial intelligence convolutional neural network with sports psychology assistant
Authors: Kong Yuanhui , Duan Zhiyuan
Published: April 2024

The purpose of this study is to deeply understand the psychological state of boxers before the competition, and explore an efficient boxing action classification and recognition model supported by artificial intelligence (AI) technology through these psychological characteristics. Firstly, this study systematically measures the key psychological dimensions of boxers, such as anxiety level, self-confidence, team identity, and opponent attitude, through psychological scale survey to obtain detailed psychological data. Then, based on these data, this study innovatively constructs a boxing action classification and recognition model based on BERT fusion 3D-ResNet, which not only comprehensively considers psychological information, but also carefully considers action characteristics to improve the classification accuracy of boxing actions. The performance evaluation shows that the model proposed in this study is significantly superior to the traditional model in terms of loss value, accuracy and F1 value, and the accuracy reaches 96.86%. Therefore, through the comprehensive application of psychology and deep learning, this study successfully constructs a boxing action classification and recognition model that can fully understand the psychological state of boxers, which provides strong support for the psychological training and action classification of boxers.
Hemispheric asymmetric response of tropical cyclones to CO2 emission reduction
Authors: Liu Chao , An Soon-Il , Zhao Jiuwei , Son Seok-Woo , Jin Fei-Fei , Zhan Ruifen
Published: April 2024

Tropical cyclones (TCs) are among the most devastating natural hazards for coastal regions, and their response to human activities has broad socio-economic relevance. So far, how TC responds to climate change mitigation remains unknown, complicating the design of adaptation policies. Using net-zero and negative carbon emission experiments, we reveal a robust hemisphere-asymmetric hysteretic TC response to CO2 reduction. During the decarbonization phase, the Northern Hemisphere TC frequency continues to decrease for several more decades, while the Southern Hemisphere oceans abruptly shifts to a stormier state, with the timescales depending on mitigation details. Such systematic changes are largely attributed to the planetary-scale reorganization of vertical wind shear and midlevel upward motion associated with the hysteretic southward migration of the Intertropical Convergence Zone, underpinned by the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation and El Niño-like mean state changes. The hemispheric contrast in TC response suggests promising benefits for most of the world’s population from human action to mitigate greenhouse gas warming, but it may also exacerbate regional socioeconomic disparities, for example by putting more pressure on small open-ocean island states in the Southern Hemisphere to adapt to TC risks.
Post-therapy emergence of an NBN reversion mutation in a patient with pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma
Authors: Pelster Meredith S. , Silverman Ian M. , Schonhoft Joseph D. , Johnson Adrienne , Selenica Pier , Ulanet Danielle , Rimkunas Victoria , Reis-Filho Jorge S.
Published: April 2024

Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (PACC) is a rare form of pancreatic cancer that commonly harbors targetable alterations, including activating fusions in the MAPK pathway and loss-of-function (LOF) alterations in DNA damage response/homologous recombination DNA repair-related genes. Here, we describe a patient with PACC harboring both somatic biallelic LOF of NBN and an activating NTRK1 fusion. Upon disease progression following 13 months of treatment with folinic acid, fluorouracil, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX), genomic analysis of a metastatic liver biopsy revealed the emergence of a novel reversion mutation restoring the reading frame of NBN. To our knowledge, genomic reversion of NBN has not been previously reported as a resistance mechanism in any tumor type. The patient was treated with, but did not respond to, targeted treatment with a selective NTRK inhibitor. This case highlights the complex but highly actionable genomic landscape of PACC and underlines the value of genomic profiling of rare tumor types such as PACC.
Hybridized quantum dot, silica, and gold nanoparticles for targeted chemo-radiotherapy in colorectal cancer theranostics
Authors: Abrishami Amir , Bahrami Ahmad Reza , Nekooei Sirous , Sh. Saljooghi Amir , Matin Maryam M.
Published: April 2024

Multimodal nanoparticles, utilizing quantum dots (QDs), mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), and gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), offer substantial potential as a smart and targeted drug delivery system for simultaneous cancer therapy and imaging. This method entails coating magnetic GZCIS/ZnS QDs with mesoporous silica, loading epirubicin into the pores, capping with Au NPs, PEGylation, and conjugating with epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) aptamers to actively target colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. This study showcases the hybrid QD@MSN-EPI-Au-PEG-Apt nanocarriers (size ~65 nm) with comprehensive characterizations post-synthesis. In vitro studies demonstrate the selective cytotoxicity of these targeted nanocarriers towards HT-29 cells compared to CHO cells, leading to a significant reduction in HT-29 cell survival when combined with irradiation. Targeted delivery of nanocarriers in vivo is validated by enhanced anti-tumor effects with reduced side effects following chemo-radiotherapy, along with imaging in a CRC mouse model. This approach holds promise for improved CRC theranostics.
UFObow: A single-wavelength excitable Brainbow for simultaneous multicolor ex-vivo and in-vivo imaging of mammalian cells
Authors: Hu Jiahong , Yang Fangfang , Liu Chong , Wang Nengzhi , Xiao Yinghan , Zhai Yujie , Wang Xinru , Zhang Ren , Gao Lulu , Xu Mengli , Wang Jialu , Liu Zheng , Huang Songlin , Liu Wenfeng , Hu Yajing , Liu Feng , Guo Yuqi , Wang Liang , Yuan Jing , Zhang Zhihong , Chu Jun
Published: April 2024

Brainbow is a genetic cell-labeling technique that allows random colorization of multiple cells and real-time visualization of cell fate within a tissue, providing valuable insights into understanding complex biological processes. However, fluorescent proteins (FPs) in Brainbow have distinct excitation spectra with peak difference greater than 35 nm, which requires sequential imaging under multiple excitations and thus leads to long acquisition times. In addition, they are not easily used together with other fluorophores due to severe spectral bleed-through. Here, we report the development of a single-wavelength excitable Brainbow, UFObow, incorporating three newly developed blue-excitable FPs. We have demonstrated that UFObow enables not only tracking the growth dynamics of tumor cells in vivo but also mapping spatial distribution of immune cells within a sub-cubic centimeter tissue, revealing cell heterogeneity. This provides a powerful means to explore complex biology in a simultaneous imaging manner at a single-cell resolution in organs or in vivo.
Vertical structural complexity of plant communities represents the combined effects of resource acquisition and environmental stress on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Cheng Changjin , Zhang Jiahui , Li Mingxu , Liu Congcong , Xu Li , He Nianpeng
Published: April 2024

The vertical structural complexity (VSC) of plant communities reflects the occupancy of spatial niches and is closely related to resource utilization and environmental adaptation. However, understanding the large-scale spatial pattern of VSC and its underlying mechanisms remains limited. Here, we systematically investigate 2013 plant communities through grid sampling on the Tibetan Plateau. VSC is quantified as the maximum plant height within a plot (Height-max), coefficient of variation of plant height (Height-var), and Shannon evenness of plant height (Height-even). Precipitation dominates the spatial variation in VSC in forests and shrublands, supporting the classic physiological tolerance hypothesis. In contrast, for alpine meadows, steppes, and desert grasslands in extreme environments, non-resource limiting factors (e.g., wide diurnal temperature ranges and strong winds) dominate VSC variation. Generally, with the shifting of climate from favorable to extreme, the effect of resource availability gradually decreases, but the effect of non-resource limiting factors gradually increases, and that the physiological tolerance hypothesis only applicable in favorable conditions. With the help of machine learning models, maps of VSC at 1-km resolution are produced for the Tibetan Plateau. Our findings and maps of VSC provide insights into macroecological studies, especially for adaptation mechanisms and model optimization.
Theoretical framework for mixed-potential-driven catalysis
Authors: Yan Mo , Namari Nuning Anugrah Putri , Nakamura Junji , Takeyasu Kotaro
Published: April 2024

Mixed-potential-driven catalysis is expected to be a distinctive heterogeneous catalytic reaction that produces products different from those produced by thermal catalytic reactions without the application of external energy. Electrochemically, the mechanism is similar to that of corrosion. However, a theory that incorporates catalytic activity as a parameter has not been established. Herein, we report the theoretical framework of mixed-potential-driven catalysis, including exchange currents, as a parameter of catalytic activity. The mixed potential and partitioning of the overpotential were determined from the exchange current by applying the Butler–Volmer equation at a steady state far from equilibrium. Mixed-potential-driven catalysis is expected to open new areas not only in the concept of catalyst development but also in the field of energetics of biological enzymatic reactions.
Careful selection of forest types in afforestation can increase carbon sequestration by 25% without compromising sustainability
Authors: Hasegawa Tomoko , Fujimori Shinichiro , Ito Akihiko , Takahashi Kiyoshi
Published: April 2024

Afforestation is a major carbon dioxide removal technology but can negatively affect food and land systems. Here, we used an integrated assessment model to quantitatively demonstrate how the selection of forest type to use in afforestation could increase global carbon sequestration without compromising global food and land sustainability. Our findings indicate that if a carbon-intensive forest type is selected, afforestation would increase carbon sequestration by 25% compared to the level assuming the native forest type. At the same time, if implemented inappropriately at a large scale, afforestation would worsen the economy, food, and land systems due to decreased land efficiency in carbon removal compared to bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, leading to increased land expansion for carbon removal, higher food prices, and increased risk of hunger. These results suggest the need to implement carbon-intensive forest types with complementary measures to reduce the adverse impacts on food and land sustainability.
Acceleration of hydrolytic ring opening of N7-alkylguanine by the terminal carbamoyl group of glycidamide
Authors: Iwai Shigenori , Hayashi Yuta , Baba Tomohiro , Kitagawa Yasutaka
Published: April 2024

The hydrolytic ring opening of the N7 adduct of guanine in DNA was found to be affected by the terminal functional group. The reaction was analyzed by theoretical calculations.
Field induced slow magnetic relaxation in a linear homotrinuclear manganese heterospin coordination compound with S = 7/2 ground state and intriguing spin density distribution
Authors: Shcherbakov Igor N. , Krotkii Ilya I. , Kazachkova Victoria I. , Lyubchenko Sergey N. , Efimov Nikolay N. , Tsaturyan Arshak A. , Lazarenko Vladimir A.
Published: April 2024

First example of field-induced slow magnetization relaxation in the homotrinuclear linear heterospin manganese coordination compound with S = 7/2 ground state, based on the bidentate 3,5-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone-1-monooxime ligand is reported.
High on/off ratio SiO2-based memristors for neuromorphic computing: understanding the switching mechanisms through theoretical and electrochemical aspects
Authors: Qin Fei , Zhang Yuxuan , Guo Ziqi , Park Tae Joon , Park Hongsik , Kim Chung Soo , Park Jeongmin , Fu Xingyu , No Kwangsoo , Song Han Wook , Ruan Xiulin , Lee Sunghwan
Published: April 2024

Finite element analysis provides visual insights into conductive path evolution in a SiO2-based memristor. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy experimentally validated the theoretical findings by interpreting with an equivalent circuit.
Potassium hydroxide treatment of layered WSe2 with enhanced electronic performances
Authors: Yue Dewu , Tang Cheng , Wu Jiajing , Luo Xiaohui , Chen Hongyu , Qian Yongteng
Published: April 2024

In this report, WSe2-based field effect transistors with enhanced electron and hole mobilities of 40 and 85 cm2 V−1 s−1 were prepared by the layer-by-layer etching technique.
Membrane fluidity properties of lipid-coated polylactic acid nanoparticles
Authors: Gu Yuanqing , Reinhard Björn M.
Published: April 2024

C-Laurdan generalized polarization (GP) measurements were applied to probe the temperature-dependent polarity of hybrid membranes consisting of a lipid monolayer adsorbed onto a polylactic acid (PLA) polymer core as function of lipid composition.
Controllable synthesis of barium carbonate nano- and microparticles for SPECT and CT imaging
Authors: Karpov Timofey E. , Darwish Aya , Mitusova Ksenia , Postovalova Alisa S. , Akhmetova Darya R. , Vlasova Olga L. , Shipilovskikh Sergei A. , Timin Alexander S.
Published: April 2024

The design and synthesis of micro- and nanocarriers for preclinical and clinical imaging are highly attractive due to their unique features, for example, multimodal properties.
C8H6IN3O4: a birefringent crystal induced by uniformly aligned hybrid groups
Authors: Chen Zixiang , Wu Qiong , Hong Jinquan , Dong Guofa , Ma Liang
Published: April 2024

C8H6IN3O4 exhibits a substantial birefringence of 0.55 at 550 nm, surpassing commercially available birefringent materials, and this phenomenon is attributed to the uniform alignment of π-conjugated [NO3]− and [C8H6IN2O]+ groups.
Integrated microfluidic platforms for heavy metal sensing: a comprehensive review
Authors: Nadumane Sharmila Sajankila , Biswas Rajib , Mazumder Nirmal
Published: April 2024

Heavy metals are found naturally; however, anthropogenic activities such as mining, inappropriate disposal of industrial waste, and the use of pesticides and fertilizers containing heavy metals can cause their unwanted release into the environment.
Enhancing APE1 detection through apurinic/apyrimidinic site inhibition of DNA polymerase: an innovative, highly sensitive approach
Authors: Liu Zhijun , Yan Bei , Liu Huan , Liu Xiao , Xiao Xianjin , Ming Zhihao
Published: April 2024

The inhibitory effect of apurinic or apyrimidinic sites on the polymerase provides a novel principle for APE1 detection with high sensitivity.
The Chan–Lam-type synthesis of thioimidazolium salts for thiol–(hetero)arene conjugation
Authors: Li Yue , Han Dongchang , Luo Zhibin , Lv Xiaomeng , Liu Bin
Published: April 2024

A Chan–Lam-type process has been developed to synthesize a series of thioimidazolium salts as novel linkers for the thiol-involving conjugations, facilitating the assembly of a diverse array of drug-like molecules.
Shortening CN⋯Br–Csp3 halogen bonds via π-stacking
Authors: Kupietz Kamil , Gomila Rosa M. , Roisnel Thierry , Frontera Antonio , Gramage-Doria Rafael
Published: April 2024

An extremely short N⋯Br distance between a nitrile group and a Csp3-linked bromine atom was encountered in the solid-state and rationalized by DFT calculations, which emphasized the role of π-stacking for bringing both partners at close proximity.
Tunneling splittings in the vibrationally excited states of water trimer
Authors: Eraković Mihael , Cvitaš Marko T.
Published: April 2024

Tunneling splittings in vibrationally excited states of the water trimer are calculated considering the flips of free OH bonds and five bifurcation mechanisms that break and reform hydrogen bonds in the trimer ring.
Gamma-ray dose threshold for MAPbI3 solar cells
Authors: Boldyreva A. G. , Novikov A. V. , Petrov V. G. , Zhivchikova A. N. , Tepliakova M. M. , Stevenson K. J.
Published: April 2024

In this work, we report on the effects observed in MAPbI3 polycrystalline films and solar cells under moderate gamma-ray doses of 3–21 kGy.
Preparation of monodisperse cerium oxide particle suspensions from a tetravalent precursor
Authors: Hastings Ashley M. , Herrera Susana , Harris Sharee , Parsons-Davis Tashi , Pascall Andrew J. , Shusterman Jennifer A.
Published: April 2024

Stable, monodisperse sub-micron cerium particle suspensions were synthesized from a CeIV precursor by homogeneous precipitation with hexamethylenetetramine and ammonium hydroxide.
Aqueous emissive cyclometalated iridium photoreductants: synthesis, computational analysis and the photocatalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol
Authors: Mishra Saumyaranjan , Patra Srikanta
Published: April 2024

Herein, we present luminescent mononuclear iridium complexes [1]3+–[4]3+ using NEt3-appended C^N chelating benzimidazole (L1–L4) and semi-flexible phenanthroline-pyrazine-based (phpy) ligands exhibiting photocatalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in the presence of NEt3 in an aqueous medium.
Frustrated Lewis pair adducts of alkynyl-capped tetrelenes
Authors: Muralidharan Abhishek V. , Frenette Brandon L. , Wicke Julius , Omaña Alvaro A. , Ferguson Michael J. , Rivard Eric
Published: April 2024

Bis(alkynyl)-functionalized tetrelene (Si or Ge) adducts were accessed via frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) chelation. The lower stability and unusual rearrangement of the Ge analogue was studied by DFT computations.
New insights into the iodination mechanism of tyrosine and its dipeptides and comparison with chlorination and bromination reactions
Authors: Qiu Yue , Liu Yong Dong , Zhong Rugang
Published: April 2024

The iodination mechanism of Tyr compounds by HOI and other iodinating agents was studied using the DFT method, and the halogenation of Tyr by HOX (X = Cl, Br, and I) was compared.
Investigation of air bubble behaviour after gas embolism events induced in a microfluidic network mimicking microvasculature
Authors: Mardanpour Mohammad Mahdi , Sudalaiyadum Perumal Ayyappasamy , Mahmoodi Zahra , Baassiri Karine , Montiel-Rubies Gala , LeDez Kenneth M. , Nicolau Dan V.
Published: April 2024

This study conductedin vitroexperimentation using microvascular tissue-like structures to examine the dynamics of interfacial forces leading to gas bubble cessation, with the objective of providing a medical guideline for preventing gas embolism.
Synthesis, biological activity, and binding modes of novel guanidino-containing neonicotinoid derivatives
Authors: Li Jianyang , Miao Jing , Liang Peibo , Wang Yiyang , Zhou Xingyue , Lu Huizhe , Dong Yanhong , Zhang Jianjun
Published: April 2024

In the present study, the guanidine moiety from natural products was introduced into neonicotinoid insecticides, and a series of nicotine derivatives with guanidine functional groups were synthesized.
Persulfate promoted regioselective C-1 thiocyanation of imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines under visible light irradiation in water
Authors: Saha Pallavi , Das Samarpita , Indurthi Harish K. , Kumar Rohit , Sharma Deepak K
Published: April 2024

A visible light-mediated, photocatalyst-free, persulfate-promoted approach has been explored for regioselective C-1 thiocyanation of imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines.
Facile preparation of Co/C catalysts encapsulated in carbon and selective hydrogenation in nitroaromatic hydrocarbons
Authors: Wang Qianxi , Dai Yuyu , Hong Xueli , Hong Yunyang , Zhang Rui , Yan Xinhuan
Published: April 2024

A series of Co/C-n catalysts with abundant metal active sites were obtained through simple pyrolysis of Co-BTC MOF. Co/C-500 exhibits excellent conversion rate and selectivity for the hydrogenation of o-chloronitrobenzene.
A Zn regulated Bi nanosheet catalyst for improving electrochemical CO2 reduction to formate over a wide potential window
Authors: Gao Pin , Kang Lan , Wen Chao , Kong Fanjiao , Tao Lin , Dong Lihui , Fan Minguang , He Huibing , Li Bin , Chen Zhengjun
Published: April 2024

The incorporation of the Zn element into Bi would optimize the adsorption of intermediates, facilitating the CO2RR to formate.
Structural alignment of ZnO columns across multiple monolayer MoS2 layers as compliant substrates
Authors: Wang Xuejing , Kim Kyungtae , Derby Benjamin K. , McGuckin Terrence , Calderón Gabriel A. , Pettes Michael T. , Hwang Jinwoo , Kim Yeonhoo , Park Jeongwon , Chen Aiping , Kang Kibum , Yoo Jinkyoung
Published: April 2024

The study reveals that a two-dimensional (2D) material as substrate for heterogeneous integration acts as a compliant substrate.
Palladium-catalyzed C–C bond cleavage of N-cyclopropyl acylhydrazones
Authors: Fujioka Hiroki , Yasui Motohiro , Hamada Shohei , Fukumi Kohei , Takeda Norihiko , Kobayashi Yusuke , Furuta Takumi , Ueda Masafumi
Published: April 2024

Pd-catalyzed C–C bond cleavage reaction of N-cyclopropyl acylhydrazones, followed by cycloisomerization to yield α-pyrazole carbonyl compounds, has been developed.
Electrochemical selective divergent C–H chalcogenocyanation of N-heterocyclic scaffolds
Authors: Ucheniya Kusum , Jat Pooja Kumari , Chouhan Amreen , Yadav Lalit , Badsara Satpal Singh
Published: April 2024

An electrochemical direct selective C–H chalcogenocyanation approach for indolizine derivatives under mild conditions has been described.
Hydrogen bonding bolstered head-to-tail ligation of functional chromophores in a 0D SbF3·glycine adduct for a short-wave ultraviolet nonlinear optical material
Authors: Bai Zhiyong , Lee Jihyun , Hu Chun-Li , Zou Guohong , Ok Kang Min
Published: April 2024

The interaction between SbF3 and glycine in a new UV NLO material, SbF3·glycine, reinforced by hydrogen bonding, results in a unique ‘head-to-tail’ ligation of functional chromophores in SbF3·glycine, stimulating excellent UV NLO properties.
Enhancing biofouling resistance in microfiltration membranes through capsaicin-derivative functionalization
Authors: Yan Saitao , Ye Qisheng , Wu Jiayi , Yao Wangli , Chen Baoliang , Zhu Xiaoying
Published: April 2024

A novel antibacterial polymer (PD) derived from capsaicin was grafted onto a polymer matrix to create an effective microfiltration membrane (MA), demonstrating high water flux and bacterial removal and promising for stable anti-biofouling filtration.
A self‐learning human‐machine cooperative control method based on driver intention recognition
Authors: Jiang Yan , Ding Yuyan , Zhang Xinglong , Xu Xin , Huang Junwen
Published: April 2024

Human‐machine cooperative control has become an important area of intelligent driving, where driver intention recognition and dynamic control authority allocation are key factors for improving the performance of cooperative decision‐making and control. In this paper, an online learning method is proposed for human‐machine cooperative control, which introduces a priority control parameter in the reward function to achieve optimal allocation of control authority under different driver intentions and driving safety conditions. Firstly, a two‐layer LSTM‐based sequence prediction algorithm is proposed to recognise the driver's lane change (LC) intention for human‐machine cooperative steering control. Secondly, an online reinforcement learning method is developed for optimising the steering authority to reduce driver workload and improve driving safety. The driver‐in‐the‐loop simulation results show that our method can accurately predict the driver's LC intention in cooperative driving and effectively compensate for the driver's non‐optimal driving actions. The experimental results on a real intelligent vehicle further demonstrate the online optimisation capability of the proposed RL‐based control authority allocation algorithm and its effectiveness in improving driving safety.
BTSC: Binary tree structure convolution layers for building interpretable decision‐making deep CNN
Authors: Wang Yuqi , Dai Dawei , Liu Da , Xia Shuyin , Wang Guoyin
Published: April 2024

Although deep convolution neural network (DCNN) has achieved great success in computer vision field, such models are considered to lack interpretability in decision‐making. One of fundamental issues is that its decision mechanism is considered to be a “black‐box” operation. The authors design the binary tree structure convolution (BTSC) module and control the activation level of particular neurons to build the interpretable DCNN model. First, the authors design a BTSC module, in which each parent node generates two independent child layers, and then integrate them into a normal DCNN model. The main advantages of the BTSC are as follows: 1) child nodes of the different parent nodes do not interfere with each other; 2) parent and child nodes can inherit knowledge. Second, considering the activation level of neurons, the authors design an information coding objective to guide neural nodes to learn the particular information coding that is expected. Through the experiments, the authors can verify that: 1) the decision‐making made by both the ResNet and DenseNet models can be explained well based on the "decision information flow path" (known as the decision‐path) formed in the BTSC module; 2) the decision‐path can reasonably interpret the decision reversal mechanism (Robustness mechanism) of the DCNN model; 3) the credibility of decision‐making can be measured by the matching degree between the actual and expected decision‐path.
Distributed field mapping for mobile sensor teams using a derivative‐free optimisation algorithm
Authors: Lin Tony X. , Guo Jia , Al‐Abri Said , Zhang Fumin
Published: April 2024

The authors propose a distributed field mapping algorithm that drives a team of robots to explore and learn an unknown scalar field using a Gaussian Process (GP). The authors’ strategy arises by balancing exploration objectives between areas of high error and high variance. As computing high error regions is impossible since the scalar field is unknown, a bio‐inspired approach known as Speeding‐Up and Slowing‐Down is leveraged to track the gradient of the GP error. This approach achieves global field‐learning convergence and is shown to be resistant to poor hyperparameter tuning of the GP. This approach is validated in simulations and experiments using 2D wheeled robots and 2D flying miniature autonomous blimps.