bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dendrite‐Free Dual‐Phase Li‐Ba Alloy Anode Enabled by Ordered Array of Built‐in Mixed Conducting Microchannels
Authors: Jia Weishang , Chen Junxian , Wang Zihao , Zhou Aijun , Hu Yong‐Sheng , Li Jingze
Published: November 2023

The development and application of lithium (Li) anode is hindered by volumetric variation, dendritic Li growth, and parasitic reactions. Herein, a dual‐phase Li‐barium (Ba) alloy with self‐assembled microchannels array is synthesized through a one‐step thermal fusion method to investigate the inhibition effect of lithiophilic composite porous array on Li dendrites. The Li‐rich Li‐Ba alloy (BaLi24) as composite Li electrode exhibits an ordered porous structure of BaLi4 intermetallic compound after delithiation, which acts as a built‐in 3D current collector during Li plating/striping process. Furthermore, the lithiophilic BaLi4 alloy scaffold is a mixed conductor, featuring with Li+ ions diffusion capability, which can efficiently transport the reduced Li to the interior of the electrode structure. This unique top‐down growth mode can effectively prohibit Li dendrites growth and improve the space utilization of 3D electrode structure. The spin‐polarized density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest that the absorption capability of BaLi4 benefits the deposition of Li metal. As a result, the cell performance with the dual‐phase Li‐Ba alloy anode is significantly improved.
Breaking the Solubility Limit of LiNO3 in Carbonate Electrolyte Assisted by BF3 to Construct a Stable SEI Film for Dendrite‐Free Lithium Metal Batteries
Authors: Zhong Jing , Wang Zhixing , Yi Xiaoli , Li Xinhai , Guo Huajun , Peng Wenjie , Wang Jiexi , Yan Guochun
Published: November 2023

Lithium (Li) metal is regarded as a potential candidate for the next generation of lithium secondary batteries, but it has poor cycling stability with the broadly used carbonate‐based electrolytes due to the uncontrollable dendritic growth and low Coulombic efficiency (CE). LiNO3 is an effective additive and its limited solubility (<800 ppm) in carbonate‐based electrolytes is still a challenge, as reported. Herein, using BF3 (Lewis acid) is proposed to enhance the solubility of LiNO3 in carbonate‐based electrolytes. The dissolved NO3− can be involved in the first solvation shell of Li+, reducing the coordination number of PF6− and EC (ethylene carbonate). In addition, the NO3− is proved to be preferentially reduced on Li metal by differential electrochemical mass spectrometry so that the decomposition of PF6− and EC is suppressed. Therefore, a SEI layer containing Li3N can be obtained, which exhibits high lithium‐ion conductivity, achieving even and dense Li deposits. Consequently, the CE of Li||Cu cell with BF3/LiNO3 can be increased to 98.07%. Moreover, the capacity retention of Li||LiFePO4 with a low N/P ratio (3:1) is as high as 90% after 300 cycles (≈1500 h). This work paved a new way for incorporating LiNO3 into carbonate‐based electrolytes and high‐performance lithium metal batteries.
A High‐Performance N2‐Selective MXene Membrane with Double Selectivity Mechanism for N2/CH4 Separation
Authors: Xing Guangyu , Cong Shenzhen , Wang Bo , Qiao Zhihua , Li Qinghua , Cong Chang , Yuan Ye , Sheng Menglong , Zhou Yunqi , Shi Fei , Ma Jun , Pan Yurui , Liu Xinlei , Zhao Song , Wang Jixiao , Wang Zhi
Published: November 2023

Membrane‐based separation process for unconventional natural gas purification (mainly N2/CH4 separation) has attracted more attention due to its considerable economic benefits. However, the majority of separation membranes at this stage, particularly N2‐selective membranes, achieve the desired separation target by mainly relying on the diffusivity‐selectivity mechanism. To overcome the limitation of a single mechanism, 2D lamellar MXene membranes with a double selectivity mechanism are prepared to enhance N2 permeance and N2/CH4 selectivity via introducing unsaturated metal sites into MXene, which can form specific interactions with N2 molecules and enhance N2 permeation. The resulting membranes exhibit an inspiring N2/CH4 separation performance with an N2 permeance of 344 GPU and N2/CH4 selectivity of 13.76. The collaboration of the double selectivity mechanism provides a new idea for the development of a novel N2‐selective membrane for N2 removal and CH4 purification, which further broadens the application prospects of membrane separation technology in the field of unconventional natural gas purification.
A study of behavioral decay in design patterns
Authors: Reimanis Derek , Izurieta Clemente
Published: November 2023

Design patterns represent a means of communicating reusable solutions to common problems, provided they are implemented and maintained correctly. However, many design pattern instances erode as they age, sacrificing qualities they once provided. Identifying such instances of pattern decay is valuable because it allows for proactive attempts to extend the longevity and quality attributes of pattern components. Apart from structural decay, design patterns can exhibit symptoms of behavioral decay. We utilized a taxonomy that characterizes these negative behaviors and designed a case study wherein we measured structural and behavioral decay, hereafter referred to as pattern grime, as well as pattern quality and size, across pattern evolutions. We evaluated the relationships between structural and behavioral grime and found statistically significant cases of strong correlations between specific types of structural and behavioral grime. Furthermore, we extended the QATCH operational software quality model to incorporate design pattern evolution metrics and measured and correlated software quality to the presence of behavioral grime in software systems. Our results suggest a strong inverse relationship between software quality and behavioral grime.
A Highly Sensitive and Specific Non‐Invasive Test through Genome‐Wide 5‐Hydroxymethylation Mapping for Early Detection of Lung Cancer
Authors: Ren Yijiu , Zhang Zhou , She Yunlang , He Yayi , Li Dongdong , Shi Yixiang , He Chuan , Yang Yang , Zhang Wei , Chen Chang
Published: November 2023

Low‐dose computed tomography screening can increase the detection for non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To improve the diagnostic accuracy of early‐stage NSCLC detection, ultrasensitive methods are used to detect cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) 5‐hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) in plasma. Genome‐wide 5hmC is profiled in 1990 cfDNA samples collected from patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC, n = 727), healthy controls (HEA, n = 1,092), as well as patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC, n = 41), followed by sample randomization, differential analysis, feature selection, and modeling using a machine learning approach. Differentially modified features reflecting tissue origin. A weighted diagnostic model comprised of 105 features is developed to compute a detection score for each individual, which showed an area under the curve (AUC) range of 86.4%–93.1% in the internal and external validation sets for distinguishing lung cancer from HEA controls, significantly outperforming serum biomarkers (p < 0.001). The 5hmC‐based model detected high‐risk pulmonary nodules (AUC: 82%)and lung cancer of different subtypes with high accuracy as well. A highly sensitive and specific blood‐based test is developed for detecting lung cancer. The 5hmC biomarkers in cfDNA offer a promising blood‐based test for lung cancer.
Intravascular lobular capillary haemangioma of the external jugular vein
Authors: Derboghossian Teal , Hill Samantha , Peden Samantha , Lightfoot Tony
Published: November 2023

A case of non‐thrombotic intravascular pathology of the external jugular vein. The patient presented with a 5‐week history of a pain‐less lump on the right side of the neck. There was no history of trauma or associated signs or symptoms. Ultrasound imaging showed an intravenous mass that was excised and histopathologically diagnosed as an intravascular lobular capillary haemangioma (IVLCH). The rare tumour most commonly effects the neck, face, and upper extremities. Ultrasound is often the first‐line imaging in such cases, and IVLCH should be considered in the differential under specific circumstances.
Reading Engagement Matters! A New Scale to Measure and Support Children's Engagement with Books
Authors: McGeown Sarah , Smith Kristin Conradi
Published: November 2023

While there is a considerable body of research demonstrating benefits of book reading, the quality and depth of engagement children experience while reading is essential to ensure positive reading experiences and outcomes. In this article we describe four dimensions of reading engagement: behavioral, cognitive, affective, and social, illustrating how each dimension is essential to ensure children benefit from the rich and diverse experiences that books have to offer. We next share a new scale, developed with input from researchers, teachers, and children, for teachers to use to measure children's reading engagement and support their students to get the most out of their reading experiences. We end with practical ideas for teachers to use the scale to inform instructional practices.
CCICED’s Work in Detail
Authors: Zhao Yingmin , Hanson Arthur
Published: November 2023

Substantive policy recommendations emerge at the CCICED AGM after considerable dialogue about themes and priorities within each main theme, as well as mutual probing of issues by Chinese and international members. In these discussions, there is an attempt to understand the most significant factors, what might be visionary in scope, and time frames for change.
Terms of recurrence sequences in the solution sets of norm form equations
Authors: Hajdu Lajos , Sebestyén Péter
Published: November 2023

The structure as well as several arithmetic properties of the solution sets of norm form equations are of classical and recent interest. In this paper, we give a finiteness result for terms of linear recurrence sequences appearing in the coordinates of solutions of norm form equations. Our main theorem yields a common generalization of certain recent results from the literature.
Single-firm inference in event studies via the permutation test
Authors: Nguyen Phuong Anh , Wolf Michael
Published: November 2023

Return event studies generally involve several firms but there are also cases when only one firm is involved. This makes the relevant testing problems, abnormal return and cumulative abnormal return, more difficult since one cannot exploit the multitude of firms (by using a relevant central limit theorem, say) to design hypothesis tests. We propose a permutation test which is of nonparametric nature and more generally valid than the tests that have previously been proposed in the literature in this context. We address the question of the power of the test via a brief simulation study and also illustrate the method with two applications to real data.
Wood-water interactions of primers to enhance wood-polyurethane bonding performance
Authors: Böger Thomas , Engelhardt Max , Suh Francis Tangwa , Richter Klaus , Sanchez-Ferrer Antoni
Published: November 2023

Today, using one-component polyurethane (1c-PUR) adhesives in the manufacturing of engineered wood products from spruce is common practice. However, the use of other wood species can require the application of a primer to fulfill normative requirements. Previous research shows the primers’ effectiveness, especially in moist environments. However, the primers’ exact mode of action remains not yet fully understood. We hypothesize a reduction in the hygroscopic behavior of the primer-treated wood—intensity and kinetics—that could reduce the formation of stresses in the bond line region. To test this hypothesis, two commercially available primers, based on Polysorbate 20 and poly(ethylene glycol), and the hydroxymethylated resorcinol (HMR) primer are examined with wood from beech, birch, larch, and Douglas fir. Swelling experiments show that of each primer a portion infiltrates and swells the wood cell walls, affecting the wood’s hygroscopic and mechanical properties. In stepwise sorption experiments, it is seen that the primers influence differently the amount of moisture uptaken by the wood (adsorption). The rate at which the moisture spreads within the wood (diffusivity) also changed differently for the primers, while the rate at which the moisture moves through the wood (permeability) remains unchanged. The application of all primers improves the bulk flow behavior and thus the void penetration of the adhesive into the lumina in the interphase region, which in turn leads to a reduced bond line thickness. All three primers improve the tensile shear strength. The hygroscopic changes caused by the primers appear too small to be claimed as the sole and primary cause of their functionality, whereas more relevance is seen in the primers’ cell wall infiltration and the increased adhesive’s void penetration.
IS-SAR: an irrigation scheduling web application for Hass avocado orchards based on Sentinel-1 images
Authors: Erazo-Mesa Edwin , Murillo-Sandoval Paulo J. , Ramírez-Gil Joaquín Guillermo , Benavides Kevin Quiroga , Sánchez Andrés Echeverri
Published: November 2023

As the Hass avocado crop expands exponentially in Colombia, concern about its increasing water use is on the rise. This research aimed to develop IS-SAR, a free-access web application to schedule irrigation for Valle del Cauca’s Hass growers. We calibrated the water cloud (WCM) and artificial neural network (ANN) models using field data measurements from Hass avocado orchard plots in Valle del Cauca (Colombia) and Sentinel 1 (S1) satellite imagery measurements and evaluated their performance computing the root-mean-square error (RMSE) and Pearson correlation coefficient ($$r$$
r
). IS-SAR estimates the surface soil water content from the most recent S1 image, becomes it in water depth, and recommends to users apply irrigation according to allowable depletion limits, computed from a spatially distributed $$\theta$$
θ
at field capacity and permanent wilting point obtained from a soil database of the study area. Our results indicate that the surface soil water content was retrieved with a better performance by the ANN (RMSE = 0.05 m3 m−3, $$r=0.74$$

r
=
0.74

), compared with the WCM (RMSE = 0.06 m3 m−3, $$r=0.47$$

r
=
0.47

). IS-SAR simulations in validation orchard plots result in irrigation events of up to 107 L tree−1 for 3.4 h. The IS-SAR web application provides near-real-time irrigation information to assist Hass avocado growers in designing better irrigation routines and improving the regional understanding of water crop consumption.
Brain metastases of sarcoma: a rare phenomenon in rare tumours
Authors: Jędrys Wiktoria , Leśniak Aleksandra , Borkowska Aneta , Rutkowski Piotr , Sobczuk Paweł
Published: November 2023

The usual site for distant metastases of sarcoma is lungs, while brain metastasis (BM) occurs much less frequently and usually late in the disease progression. Despite the advancement in cancer treatment, the outcome for patients with brain metastasis is poor, and their lifespan is short. The frequency of BM in sarcoma seems to be affected by the location and histology of the primary tumour. Sarcoma subtypes with a high propensity for brain metastasis are ASPS, leiomyosarcoma and osteosarcoma. There are no clear guidelines for the treatment of sarcoma brain metastasis. However, therapeutic options include surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and are often combined. Targeted therapies are a promising treatment option for sarcoma but require investigation in patients with BM. The following review presents the data on sarcoma brain metastasis incidence, treatment and prognosis.
How we do it: the Zurich Microsurgery Lab technique for placenta preparation
Authors: Höbner Lara Maria , Staartjes Victor E. , Colombo Elisa , Sebök Martina , Regli Luca , Esposito Giuseppe
Published: November 2023

Background

Perfused placentas provide an excellent and accessible model for microvascular dissection, microsuturing and microanastomosis training — particularly in the early microsurgical learning curve. This way, a significant amount of live animals can be spared.

Method

We present the Zurich Microsurgery Lab protocol, detailing steps for obtaining, selecting, cleaning, flushing, cannulating, and preserving human placentas — as well as microsurgical training examples — in a tried-and-true, safe, cost-effective, and high-yield fashion.

Conclusion

Our technique enables highly realistic microsurgical training (microdissection, microvascular repair, microanastomosis) based on readily available materials. Proper handling, preparation, and preservation of the perfused placenta models is key.
Givens rotations for QR decomposition, SVD and PCA over database joins
Authors: Olteanu Dan , Vortmeier Nils , Živanović Ɖorđe
Published: November 2023

This article introducesFiGaRo, an algorithm for computing the upper-triangular matrix in the QR decomposition of the matrix defined by the natural join over relational data.FiGaRo’s main novelty is that it pushes the QR decomposition past the join. This leads to several desirable properties. For acyclic joins, it takes time linear in the database size and independent of the join size. Its execution is equivalent to the application of a sequence of Givens rotations proportional to the join size. Its number of rounding errors relative to the classical QR decomposition algorithms is on par with the database size relative to the join output size. The QR decomposition lies at the core of many linear algebra computations including the singular value decomposition (SVD) and the principal component analysis (PCA). We show howFiGaRocan be used to compute the orthogonal matrix in the QR decomposition, the SVD and the PCA of the join output without the need to materialize the join output. A suite of experiments validate thatFiGaRocan outperform both in runtime performance and numerical accuracy the LAPACK library Intel MKL by a factor proportional to the gap between the sizes of the join output and input.
Particulate emissions from biomass power plants: a practical review and measurement uncertainty issues
Authors: Steiner Dominik , Lanzerstorfer Christof
Published: November 2023

This paper follows a practical approach to evaluate particulate matter emissions from biomass-fuelled power plants and analysis measurement uncertainties. Sixty-seven measurement reports from 11 biomass power plants, all equipped with fabric filters as dust control device, were analysed. Particulate matter emission measurements by gravimetrical standard reference method were chosen to provide the most reliable values to investigate the influence of bag filter parameters, such as media age or bag filter length. 92.1% of total dust emission measurements were below lower BAT-associated emission levels (BAT-AELs) for waste incineration. Data also showed that bag filter media older than 6 years can still secure very low dust emission levels. This work also gives a summary of findings and problems with uncertainty of automated measuring systems for dust emissions in biomass combustion applications in practice and quality assurance level one (QAL1) process related to very low emission levels such as lower best available techniques reference document (BREF) values. Practical examples on issues of continuous dust emission monitoring devices are also given.
Comparing artificial intelligence strategies for early sepsis detection in the ICU: an experimental study
Authors: Solís-García Javier , Vega-Márquez Belén , Nepomuceno Juan A. , Riquelme-Santos José C. , Nepomuceno-Chamorro Isabel A.
Published: November 2023

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition whose early recognition is key to improving outcomes for patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Artificial intelligence can play a crucial role in mining and exploiting health data for sepsis prediction. However, progress in this field has been impeded by a lack of comparability across studies. Some studies do not provide code, and each study independently processes a dataset with large numbers of missing values. Here, we present a comparative analysis of early sepsis prediction in the ICU by using machine learning (ML) algorithms and provide open-source code to the community to support future work. We reviewed the literature and conducted two phases of experiments. In the first phase, we analyzed five imputation strategies for handling missing data in a clinical dataset (which is often sampled irregularly and requires hand-crafted preprocessing steps). We used the MIMIC-III dataset, which includes more than 5,800 ICU hospital admissions from 2001 to 2012. In the second phase, we conducted an extensive experimental study using five ML methods and five popular deep learning models. We evaluated the performance of the methods by using the area under the precision-recall curve, a standard metric for clinical contexts. The deep learning methods (TCN and LSTM) outperformed the other methods, particularly in early detection tasks more than 4 hours before sepsis onset. The motivation for this work was to provide a benchmark framework for future research, thus enabling advancements in this field.

Graphical Abstract
Effect of stocking density on growth, survival and cannibalism of juvenile pikeperch, Sander lucioperca (L.), in a recirculating aquaculture system
Authors: Kozłowski Michał , Piotrowska Iwona
Published: November 2023

The effect of stocking density on the rearing performance of pikeperch juveniles was studied. Three separate experiments (I, II and III) were conducted with fish of an initial average body weight of 1.3, 6.7 and 19.2 g, respectively. Each experimental design consisted of three treatments (three replicates) with different initial stocking densities (low, medium and high). Experiments lasted 28 days in a recirculating aquaculture system (21°C, 24L:0D) with an initial stocking density of 0.78, 1.04 and 1.30 kg m−3 in experiment I, 2.68, 4.02 and 5.36 kg m−3 in experiment II, and 3.84, 7.68 and 11.52 kg m−3 in experiment III. The results of our study showed that in experiment I, the use of a stocking density of 1.04 kg m−3 resulted in the highest body weight and survival, as well as the lowest feed conversion ratio and cannibalism. In experiments II and III, the pikeperch growth rate decreased, and their feed conversion ratio increased gradually with increasing stocking density. Our study demonstrated that based on growth parameters, densities of 1.04, 2.68 and 3.84 kg m−3 can be used for pikeperch with an initial body weight of 1.3, 6.7 and 19.2 g, respectively.
A parsimonious approach to predict regions affected by sewer-borne contaminants in urban aquifers
Authors: Rojas-Gómez Karen L. , Binder Martin , Walther Marc , Engelmann Christian
Published: November 2023

Leaky urban drainage networks (UDNs) exfiltrating wastewater can contaminate aquifers. Detailed knowledge on spatiotemporal distributions of water-dissolved, sewer-borne contaminants in groundwater is essential to protect urban aquifers and to optimize monitoring systems. We evaluated the effect of UDN layouts on the spreading of sewer-borne contaminants in groundwater using a parsimonious approach. Due to the UDN’s long-term leakage behavior and the existence of non-degradable sewer-borne contaminants (equivalent to a conservative and constant contaminant source), we employed a concept of horizontal line sources to mimic the UDN layout. This does not require the consideration of bio-degradation processes or temporal delay and effectively bypasses the vadose zone, thus reducing computational requirements associated with a full simulation of leakages. We used a set of synthetic leakage scenarios which were generated using fractals and are based on a real-world UDN layout. We investigated the effects of typical leakage rates, varying groundwater flow directions, and UDN’s layouts on the shape of the contaminant plume, disregarding the resulted concentration. Leakage rates showed minimal effects on the total covered plume area, whereas 89% of the variance of the plume’s geometry is explained by both the UDN’s layout (e.g., length and level of complexity) and groundwater flow direction. We demonstrated the potential of applying this approach to identify possible locations of groundwater observation wells using a real UDN layout. This straightforward and parsimonious method can serve as an initial step to strategically identify optimal monitoring systems locations within urban aquifers, and to improve sewer asset management at city scale.
Synthesis of prussian blue analog (Co/TCNi/HCCr) nanoparticles using a facile co-precipitation approach and evaluation of their dielectric characteristics for electronic applications
Authors: Mosaad S. , Ibrahim Ahmed H. , Elesh E. , El-Damhogi D. G. , Elgazzar Elsayed
Published: November 2023

The Prussian blue analog Co0.4/(TCNi)0.2/(HCCr)0.6 (PBA) nanoparticles were synthesized via a chemical co-precipitation approach. The structural characteristics of the nanocomposite (NCp) were investigated using the XRD technique, which revealed that the synthetic PBA has a tiny crystallite size and poor crystallinity. The XRD analysis suggests that the fabricated NCp has a face-centered cubic structure with space group Fm-3 m. For deep microstructure analysis, SEM, EDX, and AFM were employed to describe the topological nature and surface architecture. It is observed that the PBA nanocomposite has a small crystallite size of ~13.66 ± 0.32 nm. The particles’ surface displays a high degree of homogeneity, while the grain boundaries are clearly discernible, presenting a spherical morphology with an average diameter of 22 ± 2.1 nm. The porosity was ascertained from an AFM image of approximately 140. Furthermore, the value of the average roughness (Rs) is 6.86 nm. The AC conductivity of PBA in disc form was calculated at various temperatures and frequencies. The results indicate that the dielectric constant (ɛ′) of PBA nanoparticles exhibits a rise from 163 to 3464 throughout the frequency range of 10–100 kHz at ambient temperature and from 27 to 6000 at 293 K. This finding provides confirmation that the dielectric characteristics of PBA nanoparticles are enhanced during the process of annealing. The values of the exponent factor (s) range from 0 to 1; this behavior is connected to the correlated barrier hopping model (CBHM) for AC conductivity. The value of WM was ascertained to be 1.69 eV. Furthermore, the values of activation energy were calculated, and these values decreased from 0.20 to 0.17 eV with annealing. The change in loss tangent (tanδ) as a function of angular frequency at various temperatures is also shown. The investigation of the dielectric characteristics was measured over a wide range of frequencies and temperatures to get valuable data about the dissipation properties of the prospective electronic applications.
Mixed integer programming with kriging surrogate model technique for dispersion control of photonic crystal fibers
Authors: Hammad Ahmed E. , Hameed Mohamed Farhat O. , Obayya S. S. A. , Etman Ahmed S.
Published: November 2023

In this paper, mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) optimization algorithm integrated with kriging surrogate-model is newly formulated to optimize the dispersion characteristics of photonic crystal fibers (PCFs). The MINLP is linked with full vectorial finite difference method (FVFDM) to optimize the modal properties of the PCFs. Through the optimization process, the design parameters can take real and/or integer values. The integer values can be used to selectively fill the PCF air holes to control its dispersion characteristics. However, the other optimization techniques deal with real design parameters where the PCF can be optimized using none or predefined infiltrated air holes. The MINLP algorithm is used to obtain an ultra-flat zero dispersion over a broadband of wavelength range from 1.25 to 1.6 μm using silica PCF selectively infiltrated with Ethanol material. To show the superiority of the proposed algorithm, nematic liquid crystal selectively infiltrated PCFs are also designed with high negative flat dispersion over wide range of wavelengths from 1.25 to 1.6 μm for the quasi transverse magnetic (TM) and the quasi transverse electric (TE) modes. Such designs have negative flat dispersions of − 163 ± 0.9 and − 170 ± 1.2 ps/Km nm, respectively over the studied wavelength range. Therefore, the MINLP algorithms could be used efficiently for the design and optimization of selectively filled photonic devices.
The Capsicum terpenoid biosynthetic module is affected by spider-mite herbivory
Authors: Zhang Yuanyuan , Kashkooli Arman B. , Blom Suze , Zhao Tao , Bouwmeester Harro J. , Kappers Iris F.
Published: November 2023

In response to herbivory, Capsicum annuum leaves adapt their specialized metabolome that may protect the plant against herbivore feeding either directly or indirectly through volatile metabolites acting as cues for natural enemies of the herbivore. The volatile blend of spider-mite infested leaves differs from non-challenged leaves predominantly by a higher contribution of mono- and sesquiterpenes. In addition to these terpenoids released into the headspace, the terpenoid composition of the leaves alters upon herbivory. All this suggests an important role for terpenoids and their biosynthetic machinery in the defence against herbivory. Here, we show that the C. annuum genome contains a terpene synthase (TPS) gene family of 103 putative members of which structural analysis revealed that 27 encode functional enzymes. Transcriptome analysis showed that several TPS loci were differentially expressed upon herbivory in leaves of two C. annuum genotypes, that differ in susceptibility towards spider mites. The relative expression of upstream biosynthetic genes from the mevalonate and the methylerythritol phosphate pathway also altered upon herbivory, revealing a shift in the metabolic flux through the terpene biosynthetic module. The expression of multiple genes potentially acting downstream of the TPSs, including cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, UDP-glucosyl transferases, and transcription factors strongly correlated with the herbivory-induced TPS genes. A selection of herbivory-induced TPS genes was functionally characterized through heterologous expression and the products that these enzymes catalysed matched with the volatile and non-volatile terpenoids induced in response to herbivory.
Tracking the first electron transfer step at the donor side of oxygen-evolving photosystem II by time-resolved infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Dekmak Mohamad Yahia , Mäusle Sarah M. , Brandhorst Janosch , Simon Philipp S. , Dau Holger
Published: November 2023

In oxygen-evolving photosystem II (PSII), the multi-phasic electron transfer from a redox-active tyrosine residue (TyrZ) to a chlorophyll cation radical (P680+) precedes the water-oxidation chemistry of the S-state cycle of the Mn4Ca cluster. Here we investigate these early events, observable within about 10 ns to 10 ms after laser-flash excitation, by time-resolved single-frequency infrared (IR) spectroscopy in the spectral range of 1310–1890 cm−1 for oxygen-evolving PSII membrane particles from spinach. Comparing the IR difference spectra at 80 ns, 500 ns, and 10 µs allowed for the identification of quinone, P680 and TyrZ contributions. A broad electronic absorption band assignable P680+ was used to trace largely specifically the P680+ reduction kinetics. The experimental time resolution was taken into account in least-square fits of P680+ transients with a sum of four exponentials, revealing two nanosecond phases (30–46 ns and 690–1110 ns) and two microsecond phases (4.5–8.3 µs and 42 µs), which mostly exhibit a clear S-state dependence, in agreement with results obtained by other methods. Our investigation paves the road for further insight in the early events associated with TyrZ oxidation and their role in the preparing the PSII donor side for the subsequent water oxidation chemistry.
Insights into the immunological description of cryoglobulins with regard to detection and characterization in Slovenian rheumatological patients
Authors: Ogrič Manca , Švec Tinka , Poljšak Katjuša Mrak , Lakota Katja , Podovšovnik Eva , Kolopp-Sarda Marie Nathalie , Hočevar Alojzija , Čučnik Saša
Published: November 2023

The detection of cryoglobulins (CG) used to diagnose cryoglobulinemic vasculitis requires strict adherence to protocol, with emphasis on the preanalytical part. Our main objectives were to introduce a more sensitive and specific protocol for the detection of CG and to characterize CG in Slovenian patients diagnosed with cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, other vasculitides, connective tissue diseases or non-rheumatic diseases examined at the Department of Rheumatology (University Medical Centre Ljubljana). Samples were routinely analyzed for the presence of CG with the protocol using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. In the newly introduced protocol, the type of CG was determined by immunofixation on visually observed positive samples and the concentration of CG in the cryoprecipitate and rheumatoid factor (RF) activity were measured by nephelometry. RF, C3c and C4 were measured in patients` serum and a decision tree analysis was performed using all results. The agreement between negative and positive results between the two protocols was 86%. Of the 258 patient samples tested, we found 56 patients (21.7%) with positive CG (37.5% - type II, 62.5% - type III). The RF activity was observed in 21.4% of CG positive subjects. The median concentration of type II CG was significantly higher than that of type III CG (67.4 mg/L vs. 45.0 mg/L, p = 0.037). Patients with type II had lower C4 concentrations and higher RF compared to patients with type III CG. In the decision tree, C4 was the strongest predictor of cryoglobulinemia in patients. With the newly implemented protocol, we were able to improve the detection and quantification of CG in the samples of our rheumatology patients and report the results to adequately support clinicians.
Low friction under ultrahigh contact pressure enabled by self-assembled fluorinated azobenzene layers
Authors: Xue Dandan , Xu Zhi , Guo Linyuan , Luo Wendi , Ma Liran , Tian Yu , Ma Ming , Zeng Qingdao , Deng Ke , Zhang Wenjing , Xia Yichun , Wen Shizhu , Luo Jianbin
Published: November 2023

Extensive efforts have been made to pursue a low-friction state with promising applications in many fields, such as mechanical and biomedical engineering. Among which, the load capacity of the low-friction state has been considered to be crucial for industrial applications. Here, we report a low friction under ultrahigh contact pressure by building a novel self-assembled fluorinated azobenzene layer on an atomically smooth highly-oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface. Sliding friction coefficients could be as low as 0.0005 or even lower under a contact pressure of up to 4 GPa. It demonstrates that the low friction under ultrahigh contact pressure is attributed to molecular fluorination. The fluorination leads to effective and robust lubrication between the tip and the self-assembled layer and enhances tighter rigidity which can reduce the stress concentration in the substrate, which was verified by density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. This work provides a new approach to avoid the failure of ultralow friction coefficient under relatively high contact pressure, which has promising potential application value in the future.
Step-by-Step Modulation of Crystalline Features and Exciton Kinetics for 19.2% Efficiency Ortho-Xylene Processed Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Zou Bosen , Wu Weiwei , Dela Peña Top Archie , Ma Ruijie , Luo Yongmin , Hai Yulong , Xie Xiyun , Li Mingjie , Luo Zhenghui , Wu Jiaying , Yang Chuluo , Li Gang , Yan He
Published: November 2023

With plenty of popular and effective ternary organic solar cells (OSCs) construction strategies proposed and applied, its power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) have come to a new level of over 19% in single-junction devices. However, previous studies are heavily based in chloroform (CF) leaving behind substantial knowledge deficiencies in understanding the influence of solvent choice when introducing a third component. Herein, we present a case where a newly designed asymmetric small molecular acceptor using fluoro-methoxylated end-group modification strategy, named BTP-BO-3FO with enlarged bandgap, brings different morphological evolution and performance improvement effect on host system PM6:BTP-eC9, processed by CF and ortho-xylene (o-XY). With detailed analyses supported by a series of experiments, the best PCE of 19.24% for green solvent-processed OSCs is found to be a fruit of finely tuned crystalline ordering and general aggregation motif, which furthermore nourishes a favorable charge generation and recombination behavior. Likewise, over 19% PCE can be achieved by replacing spin-coating with blade coating for active layer deposition. This work focuses on understanding the commonly met yet frequently ignored issues when building ternary blends to demonstrate cutting-edge device performance, hence, will be instructive to other ternary OSC works in the future.
From VIB- to VB-Group Transition Metal Disulfides: Structure Engineering Modulation for Superior Electromagnetic Wave Absorption
Authors: Cheng Junye , Jin Yongheng , Zhao Jinghan , Jing Qi , Gu Bailong , Wei Jialiang , Yi Shenghui , Li Mingming , Nie Wanli , Qin Qinghua , Zhang Deqing , Zheng Guangping , Che Renchao
Published: November 2023

The laminated transition metal disulfides (TMDs), which are well known as typical two-dimensional (2D) semiconductive materials, possess a unique layered structure, leading to their wide-spread applications in various fields, such as catalysis, energy storage, sensing, etc. In recent years, a lot of research work on TMDs based functional materials in the fields of electromagnetic wave absorption (EMA) has been carried out. Therefore, it is of great significance to elaborate the influence of TMDs on EMA in time to speed up the application. In this review, recent advances in the development of electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorbers based on TMDs, ranging from the VIB group to the VB group are summarized. Their compositions, microstructures, electronic properties, and synthesis methods are presented in detail. Particularly, the modulation of structure engineering from the aspects of heterostructures, defects, morphologies and phases are systematically summarized, focusing on optimizing impedance matching and increasing dielectric and magnetic losses in the EMA materials with tunable EMW absorption performance. Milestones as well as the challenges are also identified to guide the design of new TMDs based dielectric EMA materials with high performance.
Caste and schooling in professional cricket in India and England
Authors: Borooah Vani Kant
Published: November 2023

This paper’s theme is about opportunities in cricket—offered and denied. It discusses opportunities offered systemically to members of certain groups and denied to those who belong to other groups. In India, this takes the form of a person’s caste to which a person is born; in England, the type of school that one attended is relevant; and in South Africa, skin colour plays an important role in determining one’s chances of playing representative cricket. It is very easy to underestimate the importance of opportunities in sculpting sporting success by, instead, ascribing success to a sportsperson’s talent and natural gifts.
Epidemiology and management of neuroendocrine neoplasms of unknown origin: an overview
Authors: Rhonheimer Lena , Refardt Julie , Christ Emanuel
Published: November 2023

Background

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) are rare tumors, mainly located in the lungs, pancreas or gastrointestinal tract. In some NENs the origin remains unidentified. They are referred to as cancer of unknown primary (CUP). Since only 9–14% of NENs are CUP, data about prognosis and therapy is scarce. Therefore, this paper aims to summarize the current knowledge on patients with CUP-NENs.

Methods

This analysis is a literature review, including the following databases, PubMed and Google Scholar, using the keywords neuroendocrine tumor, cancer of unknown origin, unknown primary, CUP, epidemiology, definition, therapy guidelines, survival. In all, 47 articles were selected and included.

Results

The available literature indicated that the median age of onset was higher in CUP compared to NENs of known origin. CUP had a comparatively higher rate of poorly differentiated neoplasia. The recommended imaging modality was computed tomography (CT), complemented by positron emission tomography (PET)/CT, using 68Gallium-labeled somatostatin analogues (68Ga DOTATOC, DOTANOC or DOTATATE PET/CT). Surgical resection was suggested as first-line therapy. Other treatment options included chemotherapy, somatostatin analogues, molecular therapy and radiotherapy. Compared to NENs of known origin, CUP were associated with a worse prognosis.

Conclusion

The current data suggest that CUP-NEN are frequently associated with older age and higher grade compared to patients with known-origin NENs. This reflected a worse prognosis for CUP-NENs.
Understanding the beliefs and attitudes towards mental health problems held by Muslim communities and acceptability of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as a treatment: systematic review and thematic synthesis
Authors: alHarbi Hind , Farrand Paul , Laidlaw Ken
Published: November 2023

Background

Muslims experience the lowest recovery rate from mental health difficulties across all religious groups. The aim of this research is to understand the barriers that prevent Muslims from accessing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and the extent to which these may vary across country of residence.

Methods

Systematic review and thematic synthesis for quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods studies published in English and Arabic informed by the SPIDER search tool. Methodological quality and risk of bias of included papers were critically appraised independently according to the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.

Results

A search of seven databases in the Arabic and English language yielded 3836 studies with 210 studies assessed for eligibility. Employing the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool resulted in 14 studies included in the thematic synthesis. Seven studies adopted a qualitative methodology employing semi-structured interviews and seven were quantitative descriptive studies.

Conclusions

Muslim communities experience barriers accessing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at the level of the individual, culture, provider and management. The main barriers were experienced at the individual level which was dominated by the influence of Islam regarding the cause of mental health difficulties, which also influenced the way in which difficulties were managed.

Systematic review registration: PROSPERO and registration number: CRD42020192854.
Barriers and facilitators to publicly-funded gender-affirming surgery: the perspectives amongst a cohort of Australian clinicians
Authors: Piñón-O’Connor Katie E. , Mullens Amy B. , Debattista Joseph , Sanders Tait , Brömdal Annette
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Barriers to publicly-funded gender-affirming surgery (GAS) in Australia have been identified as costly with limited availability of qualified providers and lack of public hospital systems performing/offering these services. Our study explores barriers, facilitators, and potential implications for expanding, and improving publicly-funded GAS in Australia from the perspectives of an Australian cohort of gender-affirming clinicians.

Methods

We conducted semi-structured interviews with eight clinicians in 2021 who currently work within gender-affirming health services in Australia. Through ecological systems theory, gender minority stress framework, and reflexive thematic analysis, themes and subthemes were developed.

Results

Our study identified three themes and five sub-themes exploring the barriers and facilitators to publicly-funded GAS in Australia. Gender-affirming clinicians indicated establishing a surgical center for excellence in trans and non-binary healthcare is an essential facilitator needed to implement publicly-funded GAS. This would allow for a best-practice decentralized model of gender-affirming care to be realized in future to optimize health and wellbeing among trans and non-binary persons.

Conclusions

There remain substantial barriers, specifically at exosystem and macrosystem levels, within the public health service needing urgent attention. Implications of findings are relevant to funding, clinical practice, research, and policy within and beyond Australia.

Policy Implications

The substantial barriers within the public health service sector could be improved through a growing support, and a changing socio-political-cultural milieu; ultimately informing publicly-funded GAS as the most sustainable course of action and policy reform.
High Crimes and Misdemeanors
Authors: Bowman III Frank O.
Published: November 2023

This indispensable work traces impeachment from its bloody origins in medieval England, to its adoption in the Constitution, and through 250 years of American experience culminating in the two impeachments of Donald Trump. Frank O. Bowman III tells the stories, human and political, of nobles, commoners, colonists, judges, legislators, cabinet officers, and Presidents who have faced impeachment. He demonstrates that the practice was designed to be a flexible tool, informed by history, and adaptable to the needs of any age. The first edition was read by Democrats and Republicans and cited extensively by the advocates in both Trump impeachments. In this second edition, Bowman expands the first edition's deep historical and constitutional analysis. He also draws on his involvement in both Trump impeachments as a congressional consultant and frequent commentator, to assess Trump's aberrant presidency, his impeachments, and whether impeachment remains a useful tool against an overreaching president.