bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of human leukocyte antigen-based neoantigen presentation to determine pan-cancer response to immunotherapy
Authors: Han Jiefei , Dong Yiting , Zhu Xiuli , Reuben Alexandre , Zhang Jianjun , Xu Jiachen , Bai Hua , Duan Jianchun , Wan Rui , Zhao Jie , Bai Jing , Xia Xuefeng , Yi Xin , Cheng Chao , Wang Jie , Wang Zhijie
Published: February 2024

Despite the central role of human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I) in tumor neoantigen presentation, quantitative determination of presentation capacity remains elusive. Based on a pooled pan-cancer genomic dataset of 885 patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), we developed a score integrating the binding affinity of neoantigens to HLA-I, as well as HLA-I allele divergence, termed the HLA tumor-Antigen Presentation Score (HAPS). Patients with a high HAPS were more likely to experience survival benefit following ICI treatment. Analysis of the tumor microenvironment indicated that the antigen presentation pathway was enriched in patients with a high HAPS. Finally, we built a neural network incorporating factors associated with neoantigen production, presentation, and recognition, which exhibited potential for differentiating cancer patients likely to benefit from ICIs. Our findings highlight the clinical utility of evaluating HLA-I tumor antigen presentation capacity and describe how ICI response may depend on HLA-mediated immunity.
High voltage electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries with micro-sized silicon anodes
Authors: Li Ai-Min , Wang Zeyi , Pollard Travis P. , Zhang Weiran , Tan Sha , Li Tianyu , Jayawardana Chamithri , Liou Sz-Chian , Rao Jiancun , Lucht Brett L. , Hu Enyuan , Yang Xiao-Qing , Borodin Oleg , Wang Chunsheng
Published: February 2024

Micro-sized silicon anodes can significantly increase the energy density of lithium-ion batteries with low cost. However, the large silicon volume changes during cycling cause cracks for both organic-inorganic interphases and silicon particles. The liquid electrolytes further penetrate the cracked silicon particles and reform the interphases, resulting in huge electrode swelling and quick capacity decay. Here we resolve these challenges by designing a high-voltage electrolyte that forms silicon-phobic interphases with weak bonding to lithium-silicon alloys. The designed electrolyte enables micro-sized silicon anodes (5 µm, 4.1 mAh cm−2) to achieve a Coulombic efficiency of 99.8% and capacity of 2175 mAh g−1 for >250 cycles and enable 100 mAh LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 pouch full cells to deliver a high capacity of 172 mAh g−1 for 120 cycles with Coulombic efficiency of >99.9%. The high-voltage electrolytes that are capable of forming silicon-phobic interphases pave new ways for the commercialization of lithium-ion batteries using micro-sized silicon anodes.
High-performance cryo-temperature ionic thermoelectric liquid cell developed through a eutectic solvent strategy
Authors: Wang Shuaihua , Li Yuchen , Yu Mao , Li Qikai , Li Huan , Wang Yupeng , Zhang Jiajia , Zhu Kang , Liu Weishu
Published: February 2024

Ionic thermoelectric (i-TE) liquid cells offer an environmentally friendly, cost effective, and easy-operation route to low-grade heat recovery. However, the lowest temperature is limited by the freezing temperature of the aqueous electrolyte. Applying a eutectic solvent strategy, we fabricate a high-performance cryo-temperature i-TE liquid cell. Formamide is used as a chaotic organic solvent that destroys the hydrogen bond network between water molecules, forming a deep eutectic solvent that enables the cell to operate near cryo temperatures (down to –35 °C). After synergistic optimization of the electrode and cell structure, the as-fabricated liquid i-TE cell with cold (–35 °C) and hot (70 °C) ends achieve a high power density (17.5 W m−2) and a large two-hour energy density (27 kJ m−2). In a prototype 25-cell module, the open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current are 6.9 V and 68 mA, respectively, and the maximum power is 131 mW. The anti-freezing ability and high output performance of the as-fabricated i-TE liquid cell system are requisites for applications in frigid regions.
Neural network enabled nanoplasmonic hydrogen sensors with 100 ppm limit of detection in humid air
Authors: Tomeček David , Moberg Henrik Klein , Nilsson Sara , Theodoridis Athanasios , Darmadi Iwan , Midtvedt Daniel , Volpe Giovanni , Andersson Olof , Langhammer Christoph
Published: February 2024

Environmental humidity variations are ubiquitous and high humidity characterizes fuel cell and electrolyzer operation conditions. Since hydrogen-air mixtures are highly flammable, humidity tolerant H2 sensors are important from safety and process monitoring perspectives. Here, we report an optical nanoplasmonic hydrogen sensor operated at elevated temperature that combined with Deep Dense Neural Network or Transformer data treatment involving the entire spectral response of the sensor enables a 100 ppm H2 limit of detection in synthetic air at 80% relative humidity. This significantly exceeds the <1000 ppm US Department of Energy performance target. Furthermore, the sensors pass the ISO 26142:2010 stability requirement in 80% relative humidity in air down to 0.06% H2 and show no signs of performance loss after 140 h continuous operation. Our results thus demonstrate the potential of plasmonic hydrogen sensors for use in high humidity and how neural-network-based data treatment can significantly boost their performance.
Large-scale proteomics analysis of five brain regions from Parkinson’s disease patients with a GBA1 mutation
Authors: Blumenreich Shani , Nehushtan Tamar , Kupervaser Meital , Shalit Tali , Gabashvili Alexandra , Joseph Tammar , Milenkovic Ivan , Hardy John , Futerman Anthony H.
Published: February 2024

Despite being the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, little is known about Parkinson’s disease (PD) pathogenesis. A number of genetic factors predispose towards PD, among them mutations inGBA1, which encodes the lysosomal enzyme acid-β-glucosidase. We now perform non-targeted, mass spectrometry based quantitative proteomics on five brain regions from PD patients with aGBA1mutation (PD-GBA) and compare to age- and sex-matched idiopathic PD patients (IPD) and controls. Two proteins were differentially-expressed in all five brain regions whereas significant differences were detected between the brain regions, with changes consistent with loss of dopaminergic signaling in the substantia nigra, and activation of a number of pathways in the cingulate gyrus, including ceramide synthesis. Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation was inactivated in PD samples in most brain regions and to a larger extent in PD-GBA. This study provides a comprehensive large-scale proteomics dataset for the study of PD-GBA.
Dynamic computational phenotyping of human cognition
Authors: Schurr Roey , Reznik Daniel , Hillman Hanna , Bhui Rahul , Gershman Samuel J.
Published: February 2024

Computational phenotyping has emerged as a powerful tool for characterizing individual variability across a variety of cognitive domains. An individual’s computational phenotype is defined as a set of mechanistically interpretable parameters obtained from fitting computational models to behavioural data. However, the interpretation of these parameters hinges critically on their psychometric properties, which are rarely studied. To identify the sources governing the temporal variability of the computational phenotype, we carried out a 12-week longitudinal study using a battery of seven tasks that measure aspects of human learning, memory, perception and decision making. To examine the influence of state effects, each week, participants provided reports tracking their mood, habits and daily activities. We developed a dynamic computational phenotyping framework, which allowed us to tease apart the time-varying effects of practice and internal states such as affective valence and arousal. Our results show that many phenotype dimensions covary with practice and affective factors, indicating that what appears to be unreliability may reflect previously unmeasured structure. These results support a fundamentally dynamic understanding of cognitive variability within an individual.
Structural mechanisms of autoinhibition and substrate recognition by the ubiquitin ligase HACE1
Authors: Düring Jonas , Wolter Madita , Toplak Julia J. , Torres Camilo , Dybkov Olexandr , Fokkens Thornton J. , Bohnsack Katherine E. , Urlaub Henning , Steinchen Wieland , Dienemann Christian , Lorenz Sonja
Published: February 2024

Ubiquitin ligases (E3s) are pivotal specificity determinants in the ubiquitin system by selecting substrates and decorating them with distinct ubiquitin signals. However, structure determination of the underlying, specific E3-substrate complexes has proven challenging owing to their transient nature. In particular, it is incompletely understood how members of the catalytic cysteine-driven class of HECT-type ligases (HECTs) position substrate proteins for modification. Here, we report a cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the full-length human HECT HACE1, along with solution-based conformational analyses by small-angle X-ray scattering and hydrogen–deuterium exchange mass spectrometry. Structure-based functional analyses in vitro and in cells reveal that the activity of HACE1 is stringently regulated by dimerization-induced autoinhibition. The inhibition occurs at the first step of the catalytic cycle and is thus substrate-independent. We use mechanism-based chemical crosslinking to reconstitute a complex of activated, monomeric HACE1 with its major substrate, RAC1, determine its structure by cryo-EM and validate the binding mode by solution-based analyses. Our findings explain how HACE1 achieves selectivity in ubiquitinating the active, GTP-loaded state of RAC1 and establish a framework for interpreting mutational alterations of the HACE1–RAC1 interplay in disease. More broadly, this work illuminates central unexplored aspects in the architecture, conformational dynamics, regulation and specificity of full-length HECTs.
Functional connectivity interacts with visual perceptual learning for visual field recovery in chronic stroke
Authors: Namgung Eun , Kim Yong-Hwan , Lee Eun-Jae , Sasaki Yuka , Watanabe Takeo , Kang Dong-Wha
Published: February 2024

A reciprocal relationship between perceptual learning and functional brain changes towards perceptual learning effectiveness has been demonstrated previously; however, the underlying neural correlates remain unclear. Further, visual perceptual learning (VPL) is implicated in visual field defect (VFD) recovery following chronic stroke. We investigated resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) in the visual cortices associated with mean total deviation (MTD) scores for VPL-induced VFD recovery in chronic stroke. Patients with VFD due to chronic ischemic stroke in the visual cortex received 24 VPL training sessions over 2 months, which is a dual discrimination task of orientation and letters. At baseline and two months later, the RSFC in the ipsilesional, interhemispheric, and contralesional visual cortices and MTD scores in the affected hemi-field were assessed. Interhemispheric visual RSFC at baseline showed the strongest correlation with MTD scores post-2-month VPL training. Notably, only the subgroup with high baseline interhemispheric visual RSFC showed significant VFD improvement following the VPL training. The interactions between the interhemispheric visual RSFC at baseline and VPL led to improvement in MTD scores and largely influenced the degree of VFD recovery. The interhemispheric visual RSFC at baseline could be a promising brain biomarker for the effectiveness of VPL-induced VFD recovery.
A deep learning framework for non-functional requirement classification
Authors: Rahman Kiramat , Ghani Anwar , Misra Sanjay , Rahman Arif Ur
Published: February 2024

Analyzing, identifying, and classifying nonfunctional requirements from requirement documents is time-consuming and challenging. Machine learning-based approaches have been proposed to minimize analysts’ efforts, labor, and stress. However, the traditional approach of supervised machine learning necessitates manual feature extraction, which is time-consuming. This study presents a novel deep-learning framework for NFR classification to overcome these limitations. The framework leverages a more profound architecture that naturally captures feature structures, possesses enhanced representational power, and efficiently captures a broader context than shallower structures. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method, an experiment was conducted on two widely-used datasets, encompassing 914 NFR instances. Performance analysis was performed on the applied models, and the results were evaluated using various metrics. Notably, the DReqANN model outperforms the other models in classifying NFR, achieving precision between 81 and 99.8%, recall between 74 and 89%, and F1-score between 83 and 89%. These significant results highlight the exceptional efficacy of the proposed deep learning framework in addressing NFR classification tasks, showcasing its potential for advancing the field of NFR analysis and classification.
The germination response of Zea mays L. to osmotic potentials across optimal temperatures via halo-thermal time model
Authors: Amin Fazal , Shah Fakhra , Ullah Sami , Shah Wadood , Ahmed Iftikhar , Ali Baber , Khan Amir Abdullah , Malik Tabarak , Mustafa Abd El-Zaher M. A.
Published: February 2024

The maize (Zea mays L.) is a monocot that is a member of the Poaceae family and a valuable feed for livestock, human food, and raw material for various industries. The halothermal time model determines how plants respond to salt (NaCl) stress under sub-optimal conditions. This model examines the relation between NaClb (g), GR, GP, salinity and temperature stress on germination of seeds dynamics in various crops. Five constant temperatures i.e. 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 °C and five ψ levels (NaCl concentrations converted to ψ − 0, − 0.2, − 0.4, − 0.6, and − 0.8 MPa) were used in this experiment. In light of the results, the maximum halo-thermal time constant value was recorded at 35 °C temperature, while maximum germination percentage was detected at 30 °C in the controlled condition. Moreover, the lowermost value was recorded at 20 °C at − 0.8 MPa osmotic potential. The highest CAT, APX, and GPX activities were recorded at 15 °C at − 0.8 MPa, while the lowest values were observed for 0 MPa at 30 °C temperature. In conclusion, by employing the halo thermal time model, the germination of maize variety (var.30W52) was accurately predicted for the first time under varying levels of temperature and osmotic potentials.
A novel strategy towards efficient and reliable electric vehicle charging for the realisation of a true sustainable transportation landscape
Authors: Kumar B. Anil , Jyothi B. , Singh Arvind R. , Bajaj Mohit , Rathore Rajkumar Singh , Berhanu Milkias
Published: February 2024

This paper proposes an innovative approach for improving the charging efficiency of electric vehicles (EVs) by combining photovoltaic (PV) systems with AC–DC Power Factor Correction (PFC). The proposed approach employs bi-directional power flow management within the PFC system, allowing for enhanced resource utilization and EV battery capacity under a variety of environmental circumstances. A modified Lyapunov-based robust model reference adaptive controller (M-LRMRAC) is developed to provide real-time Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) for the PV array. By quickly recording the MPP, this controller skilfully adjusts to shifting radiation and temperature dynamics. A noteworthy accomplishment is that the M-LRMRAC outperforms traditional Perturb and Observe (P&O) techniques by achieving quick MPP convergence (0.54 s). Additionally, the benefits of this integrated system go beyond effective MPPT. The method achieves operating at unity power factor and reduces total harmonic distortion, which results in improved power quality when charging EV Batteries (EVB). The entire solution provided by this multifaceted architecture improves the quality of electricity delivered to EV batteries while also increasing energy efficiency. This research helps to the evolution of sustainable and dependable EV charging infrastructure by solving difficulties and optimising performance. The combination of PV systems with AC–DC PFC, aided by the M-LRMRAC technology, presents a viable route for attaining efficient, clean, and high-quality EV charging, hence supporting the shift to a greener and more sustainable transportation landscape.
Correlation between skeletal muscle acetylcarnitine and phosphocreatine metabolism during submaximal exercise and recovery: interleaved 1H/31P MRS 7 T study
Authors: Klepochová Radka , Niess Fabian , Meyerspeer Martin , Slukova Dorota , Just Ivica , Trattnig Siegfried , Ukropec Jozef , Ukropcová Barbara , Kautzky-Willer Alexandra , Leutner Michael , Krššák Martin
Published: February 2024

Acetylcarnitine is an essential metabolite for maintaining metabolic flexibility and glucose homeostasis. The in vivo behavior of muscle acetylcarnitine content during exercise has not been shown with magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the behavior of skeletal muscle acetylcarnitine during rest, plantar flexion exercise, and recovery in the human gastrocnemius muscle under aerobic conditions. Ten lean volunteers and nine overweight volunteers participated in the study. A 7 T whole-body MR system with a double-tuned surface coil was used to acquire spectra from the gastrocnemius medialis. An MR-compatible ergometer was used for the plantar flexion exercise. Semi-LASER-localized 1H MR spectra and slab-localized 31P MR spectra were acquired simultaneously in one interleaved exercise/recovery session. The time-resolved interleaved 1H/31P MRS acquisition yielded excellent data quality. A between-group difference in acetylcarnitine metabolism over time was detected. Significantly slower τPCr recovery, τPCr on-kinetics, and lower Qmax in the overweight group, compared to the lean group was found. Linear relations between τPCr on-kinetics, τPCr recovery, VO2max and acetylcarnitine content were identified. In conclusion, we are the first to show in vivo changes of skeletal muscle acetylcarnitine during acute exercise and immediate exercise recovery with a submaximal aerobic workload using interleaved 1H/31P MRS at 7 T.
Identification of potential inhibitor against Leishmania donovani mitochondrial DNA primase through in-silico and in vitro drug repurposing approaches
Authors: Nath Mitul , Bhowmik Deep , Saha Satabdi , Nandi Rajat , Kumar Diwakar
Published: February 2024

Leishmania donovaniis the causal organism of leishmaniasis with critical health implications affecting about 12 million people around the globe. Due to less efficacy, adverse side effects, and resistance, the available therapeutic molecules fail to control leishmaniasis. The mitochondrial primase ofLeishmania donovani(LdmtPRI1) is a vital cog in the DNA replication mechanism, as the enzyme initiates the replication of the mitochondrial genome ofLeishmania donovani. Hence, we target this protein as a probable drug target against leishmaniasis. The de-novo approach enabled computational prediction of the three-dimensional structure ofLdmtPRI1, and its active sites were identified. Ligands from commercially available drug compounds were selected and docked againstLdmtPRI1. The compounds were chosen for pharmacokinetic study and molecular dynamics simulation based on their binding energies and protein interactions. TheLdmtPRI1gene was cloned, overexpressed, and purified, and a primase activity assay was performed. The selected compounds were verified experimentally by the parasite and primase inhibition assay. Capecitabine was observed to be effective against the promastigote form ofLeishmania donovani, as well as inhibiting primase activity. This study's findings suggest capecitabine might be a potential anti-leishmanial drug candidate after adequate further studies.
Pre-electoral coalition agreement from the Black–Scholes point of view
Authors: Mitrović D.
Published: February 2024

A political party can be considered as a company whose value depends on the voters support i.e. on the percentage of population supporting the party. Dynamics of the support is thus as a stochastic process with a deterministic growth rate perturbed by a white noise modeled through the Wiener process. This is in an analogy with the option modeling where the stock price behaves similarly as the voters’ support. While in the option theory we have the question of fair price of an option, the question that we ask here is what is a reasonable level of support that the coalition of a “major” party (safely above the election threshold) and a “minor” party (under or around the election threshold) should achieve in order for the “minor” party to get one more representative. We shall elaborate some of the conclusions in the case of recent elections in Montenegro (June, 2023) which are particularly interesting due to lots of political subjects entering the race.
Identification of self- and pathogen-targeted miRNAs from resistant and susceptible Theobroma cacao variety to black pod disease
Authors: Septiani Popi , Pramesti Yonadita , Ningsih Devi Ulfa , Pancaningtyas Sulistyani , Meitha Karlia
Published: February 2024

Cacao (Theobroma cacao) is a highly valuable crop with growing demand in the global market. However, cacao farmers often face challenges posed by black pod disease caused byPhytophthoraspp., withP. palmivorabeing the most dominant.Regulations of various gene expressions influence plant resistance to pathogens. One mechanism involves targeting the mRNA of virulence genes in the invading pathogens, suppressing their infection. However, resistance also could be suppressed by plant-derived miRNAs that target their own defence genes. The objective of this study is to identify differentially expressed miRNAs in black pod-resistant and susceptible cacao varieties and to predict their targets inT. cacaoandP. palmivoratranscripts. Extracted miRNA from resistant and susceptible varieties ofT. Cacaowas sequenced, identified, and matched to host and pathogen mRNA. In total, 54 known miRNAs from 40 miRNA families and 67 novel miRNAs were identified. Seventeen miRNAs were differentially expressed in susceptible variety compared to resistant one, with 9 miRNAs upregulated and 8 miRNAs downregulated. InT. cacaotranscripts, the upregulated miRNAs were predicted to target several genes, including defence genes. The suppression of these defense genes can lead to a reduction in plant resistance against pathogen infection. InP. palmivoratranscripts, the upregulated miRNAs were predicted to target several genes, includingP. palmivoraeffector genes. In the future, limiting expression of miRNAs that targetT. cacao’s defence genes and applying miRNAs that targetP. palmivoraeffector genes hold promise for enhancing cacao plant resistance againstP. palmivorainfection.
Effects of low temperatures on quiescence in Trichogramma evanescens Westwood and T. chilonis Ishii reared on Plodia interpunctella (Hübner): implications for mass rearing
Authors: Hasan Md. Mahbub , Parvin M. Nishat , Athanassiou Christos G.
Published: February 2024

The egg parasitoids of the genus Trichogramma are important potential biological control agents for a wide range of lepidopteran pests. Cold storage of host eggs has been proposed as a valuable technique for ensuring the release of sufficient parasitoid numbers whenever it is needed. In this context, the impact of low temperatures to induce quiescence in T. evanescens Westwood and T. chilonis Ishii was studied using eggs of Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella (Hübner). Prepupae of the parasitoids were stored for 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 d at 4 °C, following a 7 d period of acclimation at 10 °C. Both parasitoid species seem to survive unfavorable temperature conditions by entering a state of quiescence. Parasitism, adult emergence, sex ratio and progeny quality were not affected by cold storage in either parasitoid species for up to 30 d of storage. Parasitized host eggs of P. interpunctella can be stored for up to 60 d at 4 °C for both parasitoids, but there was no emergence at 75 d. General productivity values gradually decreased as the duration of storage lengthened for both species. Our results clearly reveal that the eggs parasitized by these species can be stored for up to 30 d at 4 °C in a state of quiescence without much loss of their performance compared to the control eggs.
Precise individual muscle segmentation in whole thigh CT scans for sarcopenia assessment using U-net transformer
Authors: Kim Hyeon Su , Kim Hyunbin , Kim Shinjune , Cha Yonghan , Kim Jung-Taek , Kim Jin-Woo , Ha Yong-Chan , Yoo Jun-Il
Published: February 2024

The study aims to develop a deep learning based automatic segmentation approach using the UNETR(U-net Transformer) architecture to quantify the volume of individual thigh muscles(27 muscles in 5 groups) for Sarcopenia assessment. By automating the segmentation process, this approach improves the efficiency and accuracy of muscle volume calculation, facilitating a comprehensive understanding of muscle composition and its relationship to Sarcopenia. The study utilized a dataset of 72 whole thigh CT scans from hip fracture patients, annotated by two radiologists. The UNETR model was trained to perform precise voxel-level segmentation and various metrics such as dice score, average symmetric surface distance, volume correlation, relative absolute volume difference and Hausdorff distance were employed to evaluate the model’s performance. Additionally, the correlation between Sarcopenia and individual thigh muscle volumes was examined. The proposed model demonstrated superior segmentation performance compared to the baseline model, achieving higher dice scores (DC = 0.84) and lower average symmetric surface distances (ASSD = 1.4191 ± 0.91). The volume correlation between Sarcopenia and individual thigh muscles in the male group. Furthermore, the correlation analysis of grouped thigh muscles also showed negative associations with Sarcopenia in the male participants. This thesis presents a deep learning based automatic segmentation approach for quantifying individual thigh muscle volume in sarcopenia assessment. The results highlights the associations between Sarcopenia and specific individual muscles as well as grouped thigh muscle regions, particularly in males. The proposed method improves the efficiency and accuracy of muscle volume calculation, contributing to a comprehensive evaluation of Sarcopenia. This research enhances our understanding of muscle composition and performance, providing valuable insights for effective interventions in Sarcopenia management.
Changes in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal cohort study using smart-breathalyzer data
Authors: Houston Parker D. , Vittinghoff Eric , Marcus Gregory M.
Published: February 2024

Previous studies relying on alcohol sales, alcohol-related injuries, and surveys have suggested that alcohol consumption increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. We sought to leverage over 1 million Breath Alcohol Concentration (BrAC) measurements from Bluetooth-enabled breathalyzers to conduct an objective and longitudinal assessment of alcohol use during the pandemic. Serial BrAC measurements revealed a decrease in drinking between January 1, 2020 and March 30, 2020, an increase between March 30, 2020 and May 25, 2020, a statistically insignificant decrease between May 25, 2020 and January 1, 2021, and an increase again between January 1, 2021 and June 4, 2021. No statistically significant relationships between shelter-in-place orders and alcohol consumption were detected. These findings demonstrate the complex relationship between the pandemic and alcohol consumption patterns, providing insights that may be relevant to the use of this commonly consumed substance with implications relevant to long-term effects from the patterns observed.
The visual perception of long outdoor distances
Authors: Norman J. Farley , Lewis Jessica L. , Ramirez Alejandro B. , Bryant Emily N. , Adcock Payton , Peterson Roseanna D.
Published: February 2024

Many previous studies have investigated visual distance perception, especially for small to moderate distances. Few experiments, however, have evaluated the perception of large distances (e.g., 100 m or more). The studies that have been conducted have found conflicting results (diametrically opposite conclusions). In the current experiment, the functions relating actual and perceived distance were obtained for sixteen adult observers using the method of equal appearing intervals. These functions relating perceived and actual distance were obtained for outdoor viewing in a typical University environment—the experiment was conducted along a sidewalk adjacent to a typical street where campus buildings, trees, street signs, etc., were visible. The overall results indicated perceptual compression of distances in depth so that the stimulus distance intervals appeared significantly shorter than the actual (physical) distance intervals. It is important to note, however, that there were sizeable individual differences—the judgments of half of the observers were relatively accurate, whereas the judgments of the remaining half were inaccurate to varying degrees. The results of the experiment demonstrate that there is no single function that describes how human observers visually perceive large distance intervals in outdoor environments.
Formation of various structures caused by particle size difference in colloidal heteroepitaxy
Authors: Sato Masahide
Published: February 2024

By performing isothermal–isochoric Monte Carlo simulations with depletion force, the author investigated the dependence of the epitxial layer structure on the differences in the particle size between the substrate in colloidal heteroepitaxy. By changing the size of epitaxial particles and performing simulations comprehensively, various structures including the structures observed in a experiment, such as a honeycomb, one created by hexagonal heptamers, and one consisting of both pentagonal tiles and triangular tiles, were created. When the ratio of particle sizes between the epitxial layer and substrate takes a specific value, two types of hexagonal structures were created. One is the hexagonal layer parallel to the substrate layer and the other layer is rotated by 60$$^\circ $$

∘

from the substrate layer. The former structure was created over a wide range of particle-size ratios, whereas the latter structure was created when the particle-size ratio was only around the specific ratio, and it seemed a metastable structure.
Functional characterisation of a new halotolerant seawater active glycoside hydrolase family 6 cellobiohydrolase from a salt marsh
Authors: Leadbeater Daniel R. , Bruce Neil C.
Published: February 2024

Realising a fully circular bioeconomy requires the valorisation of lignocellulosic biomass. Cellulose is the most attractive component of lignocellulose but depolymerisation is inefficient, expensive and resource intensive requiring substantial volumes of potable water. Seawater is an attractive prospective replacement, however seawater tolerant enzymes are required for the development of seawater-based biorefineries. Here, we report a halophilic cellobiohydrolase SMECel6A, identified and isolated from a salt marsh meta-exo-proteome dataset with high sequence divergence to previously characterised cellobiohydrolases. SMECel6A contains a glycoside hydrolase family 6 (GH6) domain and a carbohydrate binding module family 2 (CBM2) domain. Characterisation of recombinant SMECel6A revealed SMECel6A to be active upon crystalline and amorphous cellulose. Mono- and oligosaccharide product profiles revealed cellobiose as the major hydrolysis product confirming SMECel6A as a cellobiohydrolase. We show SMECel6A to be halophilic with optimal activity achieved in 0.5X seawater displaying 80.6 ± 6.93% activity in 1 × seawater. Structural predictions revealed similarity to a characterised halophilic cellobiohydrolase despite sharing only 57% sequence identity. Sequential thermocycling revealed SMECel6A had the ability to partially reversibly denature exclusively in seawater retaining significant activity. Our study confirms that salt marsh ecosystems harbour enzymes with attractive traits with biotechnological potential for implementation in ionic solution based bioprocessing systems.
Climate change linked to drought in Southern Madagascar
Authors: Rigden Angela , Golden Christopher , Chan Duo , Huybers Peter
Published: February 2024

Southern Madagascar experienced a prolonged drought over the last five years, but whether these conditions are a manifestation of global climate change has been unclear. Here, we document trends beginning as early as 1980 towards a later rainy-season onset across three distinct remotely sensed indicators: precipitation, soil moisture, and vegetation greenness. All three indicators closely covary, particularly over the last decade when satellite observational resolution and accuracy is greatest. Furthermore, observed soil moisture trends early in the rainy season agree with the mean from CMIP6 historical and SSP5-8.5 simulations, but are distinct from pre-industrial control simulations, implicating anthropogenic changes in radiative forcing as the source of the trends. Physically, these models simulate a poleward migration of the mid-latitude jet that leads to a delay in the seasonal steering of storm tracks over Southern Madagascar. Soil moisture trends driven by anthropogenic forcing made the recent drought significantly more likely over 2017–2022 (p < 0.01), and such droughts are expected to become increasingly likely over this century. These results indicate that, although Madagascar has not substantially contributed to global greenhouse gas emissions, farmers in Southern Madagascar will need to adapt to drier conditions early in the rainy season as a consequence of global climate change.
Optimizing skin disease diagnosis: harnessing online community data with contrastive learning and clustering techniques
Authors: Shen Yue , Li Huanyu , Sun Can , Ji Hongtao , Zhang Daojun , Hu Kun , Tang Yiqi , Chen Yu , Wei Zikun , Lv Junwei
Published: February 2024

Skin diseases pose significant challenges in China. Internet health forums offer a platform for millions of users to discuss skin diseases and share images for early intervention, leaving large amount of valuable dermatology images. However, data quality and annotation challenges limit the potential of these resources for developing diagnostic models. In this study, we proposed a deep-learning model that utilized unannotated dermatology images from diverse online sources. We adopted a contrastive learning approach to learn general representations from unlabeled images and fine-tuned the model on coarsely annotated images from Internet forums. Our model classified 22 common skin diseases. To improve annotation quality, we used a clustering method with a small set of standardized validation images. We tested the model on images collected by 33 experienced dermatologists from 15 tertiary hospitals and achieved a 45.05% top-1 accuracy, outperforming the published baseline model by 3%. Accuracy increased with additional validation images, reaching 49.64% with 50 images per category. Our model also demonstrated transferability to new tasks, such as detecting monkeypox, with a 61.76% top-1 accuracy using only 50 additional images in the training process. We also tested our model on benchmark datasets to show the generalization ability. Our findings highlight the potential of unannotated images from online forums for future dermatology applications and demonstrate the effectiveness of our model for early diagnosis and potential outbreak mitigation.
Beyond the 510(k): The regulation of novel moderate-risk medical devices, intellectual property considerations, and innovation incentives in the FDA’s De Novo pathway
Authors: Aboy Mateo , Crespo Cristina , Stern Ariel
Published: February 2024

Moderate-risk medical devices constitute 99% of those that have been regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since it gained authority to regulate medical technology nearly five decades ago. This article presents an analysis of the interaction between the 510(k) process —the historically dominant path to market for most medical devices— and the De Novo pathway, a more recent alternative that targets more novel devices, including those involving new technologies, diagnostics, hardware, and software. The De Novo pathway holds significant potential for innovators seeking to define new categories of medical devices, as it represents a less burdensome approach than would have otherwise been needed historically. Moreover, it supports the FDA in its effort to modernize the long-established 510(k) pathway by promoting the availability of up-to-date device “predicates” upon which subsequent device applications can be based, reflecting positive spillovers that are likely to encourage manufacturers to adopt current state-of-the-art technologies and modern standards of safety and effectiveness. We analyze the of characteristics all the De Novo classification requests to date, including the submission type, trends, FDA review times, and device types. After characterizing how the De Novo process has been used over time, we discuss its unique challenges and opportunities with respect to medical device software and AI-enabled devices, including considerations for intellectual property, innovation, and competition economics.
A bispecific antibody approach for the potential prophylactic treatment of inherited bleeding disorders
Authors: Gandhi Prafull S. , Zivkovic Minka , Østergaard Henrik , Bonde Amalie C. , Elm Torben , Løvgreen Monika N. , Schluckebier Gerd , Johansson Eva , Olsen Ole H. , Olsen Eva H. N. , de Bus Ian-Arris , Bloem Karien , Alskär Oskar , Rea Catherine J. , Bjørn Søren E. , Schutgens Roger E. , Sørensen Benny , Urbanus Rolf T. , Faber Johan H.
Published: February 2024

Inherited bleeding disorders such as Glanzmann thrombasthenia (GT) lack prophylactic treatment options. As a result, serious bleeding episodes are treated acutely with blood product transfusions or frequent, repeated intravenous administration of recombinant activated coagulation factor VII (rFVIIa). Here we describe HMB-001, a bispecific antibody designed to bind and accumulate endogenous FVIIa and deliver it to sites of vascular injury by targeting it to the TREM (triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells)-like transcript-1 (TLT-1) receptor that is selectively expressed on activated platelets. In healthy nonhuman primates, HMB-001 prolonged the half-life of endogenous FVIIa, resulting in its accumulation. Mouse bleeding studies confirmed antibody-mediated potentiation of FVIIa hemostatic activity by TLT-1 targeting. In ex vivo models of GT, HMB-001 localized FVIIa on activated platelets and potentiated fibrin-dependent platelet aggregation. Taken together, these results indicate that HMB-001 has the potential to offer subcutaneous prophylactic treatment to prevent bleeds in people with GT and other inherited bleeding disorders, with a low-frequency dosing regimen.
Oligomers are a major fraction of the submicrometre particles released during washing of polyester textiles
Authors: Yang Tong , Xu Yanghui , Liu Gang , Nowack Bernd
Published: February 2024

Synthetic textiles are a significant source of microplastic fibre pollution. While the microplastic fibre release mechanism during the washing of textiles is well studied, little is known about the release of nanoplastics. The first investigations on the nanoplastic fraction released during the washing and abrasion of polyester textiles have been published; however, questions were raised regarding the chemical composition of the observed submicrometre particles. Using a combination of analytical methods, we show here that 12 different polyester textiles released 4.6 × 1010 to 8.9 × 1011 particles per gram of textile during washing, with a mean size of 122–191 nm. The number of released submicrometre particles was not significantly influenced by the cutting method nor by the textile structure, but positively correlated (P < 0.01) with the number of submicrometre particles present on the fibre surface before washing. We found that 34–89% of the extracted submicrometre particles were soluble in ethanol. These particles are most likely water-insoluble poly(ethylene terephthalate) oligomers. Our results clearly show the urgent need to better understand the contribution of water-insoluble oligomer particles to the pollution of the environment by anthropogenic nanoplastics.
Autonomous execution of highly reactive chemical transformations in the Schlenkputer
Authors: Bell Nicola L. , Boser Florian , Bubliauskas Andrius , Willcox Dominic R. , Luna Victor Sandoval , Cronin Leroy
Published: February 2024

We design a modular programmable inert-atmosphere Schlenkputer (Schlenk-line computer) for the synthesis and manipulation of highly reactive compounds, including those that are air and moisture sensitive or pyrophoric. Here, to do this, we constructed a programmable Schlenk line using the Chemputer architecture for the inertization of glassware that can achieve a vacuum line pressure of 1.5 × 10−3 mbar, and integrated a range of automated Schlenk glassware for the handling, storage and isolation of reactive compounds at sub-ppm levels of O2 and H2O. This has enabled automation of a range of common organometallic reaction types for the synthesis of four highly reactive compounds: [Cp2TiIII(MeCN)2]+, CeIII{N(SiMe3)2}3, B(C6F5)3 and {DippNacNacMgI}2, which are variously sensitive to temperature, pressure, water and oxygen. Automated crystallization, filtration and sublimation are demonstrated, along with analysis using inline nuclear magnetic resonance or reaction sampling for ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. Finally, we demonstrate low-temperature reactivity down to −90 °C as well as safe handling and quenching of alkali metal reagents using dynamic feedback from an in situ temperature probe.
Renal-clearable nanoprobes for optical imaging and early diagnosis of diseases
Authors: An Wei , Xu Weiping , Zhou Ya , Huang Changwen , Huang Weiguo , Huang Jiaguo
Published: February 2024

We summarize the advancements of renal-clearable organic nanoprobes for optical imaging and remote urinalysis. The versatile design strategies are discussed along with their challenges and perspectives for the development of next-generation renal-clearable nanoprobes.
One-pot reaction for the preparation of diatom hemostatic particles with effective hemostasis and economic benefits
Authors: Sun Yunji , Su Chang , Liu Jinfeng , He Zheng , Che Shengting , Wan Qinglan , Cai Jingyu , Zhan Hao , Feng Chao , Cheng Xiaojie , Lin Feng , Wei Junqiang , Chen Xiguang
Published: February 2024

Diatom hemostatic particles prepared by one-pot reaction have streamlined process and mass production potential, can significantly stop bleeding and reduce accidental deaths.
Decarboxylative halogenation of aliphatic carboxylic acids catalyzed by iron salts under visible light
Authors: Qian Jiahui , Zhang Yu , Zhao Weining , Hu Peng
Published: February 2024

A general method of visible light-induced decarboxylative halogenation of aliphatic carboxylic acids catalyzed by iron is developed.
Diels–Alder cycloaddition polymerization for porous poly-phenylenes with exceptional gas uptake properties
Authors: Ashirov Timur , Fritz Patrick W. , Yildirim Taner , Coskun Ali
Published: February 2024

We report the synthesis of two-dimensional and three-dimensional porous polyphenylenes (2D/3D-pPPs) via the Diels–Alder cycloaddition polymerization reaction.
Synthesis and investigation of a meta[6]cycloparaphenylene gold(i) N-heterocyclic carbene complex
Authors: Bernt Felix , Leonhardt Christopher M. , Schatz Dominic , Wegner Hermann A.
Published: February 2024

A meta[6]cycloparaphenylene was attached to an asymmetric substituted imidazolium-based N-heterocyclic carbene gold(i)-complex opening the door towards novel luminescent hybrid materials.
Spectroscopic techniques to probe magnetic anisotropy and spin–phonon coupling in metal complexes
Authors: Hand Adam T. , Watson-Sanders Brandon D. , Xue Zi-Ling
Published: February 2024

Magnetic anisotropy and spin–phonon coupling are key properties of single-molecule magnets. The use of far-IR and Raman magneto-spectroscopies (FIRMS and RaMS), and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) to determine the magnetic properties is highlighted.
Switching of magnetic properties by topotactic reaction in a 1D CN-bridged Ni(ii)–Nb(iv) system
Authors: Heczko Michał , Nowicka Beata
Published: February 2024

Dehydration-induced solid-state structure transformation from straight to zigzag-shaped chains changes magnetic interactions between NiII and NbIV centres.
Studies on the chemical reduction of polynuclear titanium(iv) nitrido complexes
Authors: Caballo Jorge , Calvo-Molina Adrián , Claramonte Sergio , Greño Maider , Pérez-Redondo Adrián , Yélamos Carlos
Published: February 2024

One-electron reduced species were prepared by the reaction of cube-type titanium(iv) nitrido complexes [{Ti4(η5-C5Me5)3(R)}(μ3-N)4] with [K(C5Me5)] in the presence of macrocyclic ligands (L).
E-Dakin reaction: oxidation of hydroxybenzaldehydes to phenols with electrochemically generated peroxodicarbonate as sustainable ex-cell oxidizer
Authors: Sprang Fiona , Schupp Niclas , Kohlpaintner Philipp J. , Gooßen Lukas J. , Waldvogel Siegfried R.
Published: February 2024

Peroxodicarbonate, a sustainable electrochemically generated oxidizer, provides the means to transform abundant hydroxybenzaldehydes into valuable phenols in a safe and effective manner.
Gravity-perfused airway-on-a-chip optimized for quantitative BSL-3 studies of SARS-CoV-2 infection: barrier permeability, cytokine production, immunohistochemistry, and viral load assays
Authors: Faley Shannon L. , Boghdeh Niloufar A. , Schaffer David K. , Spivey Eric C. , Alem Farhang , Narayanan Aarthi , Wikswo John P. , Brown Jacquelyn A.
Published: February 2024

Gravity-perfused, air–liquid interface airway chip optimized for BSL-3 infectious disease studies with rapid physiological function testing and high throughput.
Exploring the electrocatalytic prowess of a synergistic 1T-MoS2-metallic Ni composite towards alkaline hydrogen evolution
Authors: Roy Avishek , Mondal Ayan , Inta Harish Reddy , Ghosh Sourav , Paliwal Khushboo S , Debnath Soumalya , Valsan Ajith Ambattuparambil , Mahalingam Venkataramanan
Published: February 2024

1T-MoS2-metallic Ni composite as cathode and NiS as anode material showed efficient electrocatalytic performance towards total water splitting under alkaline conditions.
A porous micro/nano-structured polyethylene film prepared using a picosecond laser for agricultural passive cooling
Authors: Wang Qingwei , Chu Dongkai , Wang Qilin , Xu Xiangyue , Yin Kai , Qu Shuoshuo , Yao Peng , Huang Chuanzhen
Published: February 2024

Porous micro/nanostructured polyethylene films with excellent passive cooling and self-cleaning characteristics is processed by picosecond lasers.
Tandem solar cells based on quantum dots
Authors: Zhu Juncheng , Lu Kunyuan , Li Jing , Liu Zeke , Ma Wanli
Published: February 2024

We provide a comprehensive review of the latest research progress and challenges associated with various tandem solar cells based on lead chalcogenide (PbX, X = S, Se) quantum dot (QD) materials (including QD/QD, organic/QD, and perovskite/QD).
Toward mechanically robust self-healing polyurethanes using dynamics chemistry
Authors: Luo Yan-Long , Gao Wen-Tong , Luo Zhen-Yang , Li Cheng-Hui
Published: February 2024

Recent advances in the design strategy, healing mechanism, and potential applications of mechanically robust self-healing PU elastomers.
Continuous synthesis of homoallylic ketones via ketal-Claisen rearrangement using solid-acid catalysts
Authors: Kobayashi Kwihwan , Negoro Chie , Takaishi Junko , Masuda Koichiro , Kobayashi Shū
Published: February 2024

We developed the continuous-flow synthesis of homoallylic ketones from allylic alcohols and dimethyl ketals via ketal-Claisen rearrangement using heterogeneous solid-acid catalysts.