bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on Frequency of Placenta Previa and Morbidly Adherent Placenta in Patients with Previous Cesarean Sections
Authors: Amanullah Hina , Zaki Nida , Aslam Amna , Shams Nahil
Published: April 2022

Objective: To determine the frequency of different positions of placenta previa and morbidly adherent placenta in women who had previous multiple cesarean section reporting at Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Isra University Hospital.

Patients and Method: This cross sectional was done at department of Gyne/Obs and department of Radiology ISRA University Hospital Hyderabad during one year. An informed consent was taken from pregnant women during antenatal diagnosed to have placenta previa or morbidly adherent placenta on ultrasound with history of previous C-section. The clinical / abdominal examination was done and proformas were filled, the location of placenta previa and morbid adherence was confirmed during C-section and observations were recorded for results. Data was collected via study proforma and analysis of data was done by using SPSS version 26.

Results: The mean of the patients was 29.31+5.17years. Most of the study participating women 87(87%) gave the history of Cesarean sections during previous deliveries, while only 13(13%) women had history of NVDs (normal vaginal deliveries) and Cesarean sections both. Out of all 33% patients observed with placenta previa and morbidly adherent placenta in women who had previous multiple cesarean section, particularly the previa I to IV 22.0%, placenta accreta 4%, placenta percreta 4% and least common type was placenta increta 3%. Incidence of the placenta previa and morbidly adherent placenta in women who had previous multiple cesarean section was statistically insignificant according number of c-sections (p-0.39).

Conclusion: As per study conclusion the placenta previa and morbidly adherent placenta was observed to be the highly frequent among women who had previous multiple cesarean section. There was no effect observed of the number of caesarean sections performed, implying that one previous caesarean may have caused placenta previa and morbidly adherent placenta.
Scalable Lithiophilic/Sodiophilic Porous Buffer Layer Fabrication Enables Uniform Nucleation and Growth for Lithium/Sodium Metal Batteries
Authors: Zhang Shao‐Jian , You Jin‐Hai , He Zhiwei , Zhong Jiajie , Zhang Peng‐Fang , Yin Zu‐Wei , Pan Feng , Ling Min , Zhang Bingkai , Lin Zhan
Published: April 2022

Metallic lithium/sodium (Li/Na) is considered an attractive anode for future high‐energy‐density batteries. The root causes of preventing their applications come from uneven Li/Na nucleation and subsequent dendrite formation. Here, a cost‐efficient and scalable solid‐to‐solid transfer method for dense buffer layer construction on Li/Na anodes is proposed, and thin lithiophilic/sodiophilic buffer layers based on natural silk fibers derived carbon (SFC) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composites (denoted as SFC/CNTs) are adopted, which facilitate uniform Li/Na nucleation and dendrite‐free, lateral growth behavior upon recurring Li/Na plating/stripping processes. Lithiopilic/sodiophilic buffer layers enable long‐term cycling stability (>250 cycles) with high Coulombic efficiency (99.2% for Li and 98.8% for Na), low polarization, and flat voltage profiles. More importantly, the cycling performance of LiFePO4|Li pouch cells is largely enhanced with a lifespan of 390 cycles. Further, using ultra‐thin Li anodes (25 μm) also achieves stable LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2|Li cells with 200 cycles under a low negative/positive ratio (1.67). Similar achievement is also realized in Na‐metal batteries with negligible capacity fading for over 600 cycles in Na3V2(PO4)3|Na cells, further demonstrating that SFC/CNT buffer layer is technically viable in practical batteries. This study provides a facile strategy for fabricating dense and uniform lithiophilic/sodiophilic buffer layers for low‐cost and scale‐up energy storage devices.
Balancing the Photo‐Induced Carrier Transport Behavior at Two Semiconductor Interfaces for Dual‐Polarity Photodetection
Authors: Fang Shi , Wang Danhao , Kang Yang , Liu Xin , Luo Yuanmin , Liang Kun , Li Liuan , Yu Huabin , Zhang Haochen , Memon Muhammad Hunain , Liu Boyang , Liu Zhenghui , Sun Haiding
Published: April 2022

The carrier transport dynamics at the surface/interface of semiconductors determine the electronic and optical properties of devices. Thus, precise control of their dynamic processes while understanding the nature of these characteristics is crucial for modulating device functionalities. Here, a photoelectrochemical‐type photosensor is built using monocrystalline p‐GaN nanowires on the Si platform, which unambiguously exhibits either positive or negative photocurrent upon different light illumination. Such dual‐polarity photocurrents are attributed to photogenerated‐carrier‐transport competition at two interfaces: the GaN/electrolyte and GaN/Si interface. Particularly, a rational Pt decoration successfully accelerates the carrier migration at the GaN/electrolyte interface that breaks the original balance of carrier transport. This mechanism is further elaborated by Kelvin‐probe‐force‐microscopy characterization, which intuitively reveals the impact of Pt decoration on modulating nanowires’ surface band bending and the consequent carrier dynamics at the interfaces. These insights into the control of carrier dynamics shed light on achieving multi‐functional PEC devices built upon simple semiconductor architectures.
Transition Metal Carbo‐Chalcogenide “TMCC:” A New Family of 2D Materials
Authors: Majed Ahmad , Kothakonda Manish , Wang Fei , Tseng Eric N. , Prenger Kaitlyn , Zhang Xiaodong , Persson Per O. Å. , Wei Jiang , Sun Jianwei , Naguib Michael
Published: April 2022

Here, a new family of 2D transition metal carbo‐chalcogenides (TMCCs) is reported, which can be considered a combination of two well‐known families, TM carbides (MXenes) and TM dichalcogenides (TMDCs), at the atomic level. Single sheets are successfully obtained from multilayered Nb2S2C and Ta2S2C using electrochemical lithiation followed by sonication in water. The parent multilayered TMCCs are synthesized using a simple, scalable solid‐state synthesis followed by a topochemical reaction. Superconductivity transition is observed at 7.55 K for Nb2S2C. The delaminated Nb2S2C outperforms both multilayered Nb2S2C and delaminated NbS2 as an electrode material for Li‐ion batteries. Ab initio calculations predict the elastic constant of TMCC to be over 50% higher than that of TMDC.
Tailoring the Nature of Interface States in Efficient and Stable Bilayer Organic Solar Cells by a Transfer‐Printing Technique
Authors: Wang Rong , Jiang Youyu , Gruber Wolfgang , He Yakun , Wu Mingjian , Weitz Paul , Zhang Kaicheng , Lüer Larry , Forberich Karen , Unruh Tobias , Spiecker Erdmann , Deibel Carsten , Li Ning , Brabec Christoph J.
Published: April 2022

Bulk heterojunction organic solar cells (BHJ‐OSCs) are designed to overcome inefficient charge generation and limited exciton diffusion of organic semiconductors. However, there are some disadvantages involving inherent voltage losses, microstructure control, and operational instability. Bilayer solar cells (BL‐OSCs) without mixed regions are free from these problems and offer a platform to explore the photophysical processes at the donor–acceptor interface. Here, a breakthrough for n‐i‐p BL‐OSCs in charge generation efficiency is reported. A gradual adjustment of the molecular interface orientation of the polymer donor (PM6) is accompanied by the evolution of charge‐transfer states and Forster energy transfer. Besides, less recombination losses and superior morphological stability of BL‐OSCs are achieved at a PCE comparable to that of BHJ‐OSCs with similar layer thickness. This investigation confirms the feasibility of manufacturing BL‐OSCs by a transfer printing method and provides a versatile architecture to study fundamental interface phenomena in OSCs independent from microstructure disorder.
Inverse Design of Unidirectional Transmission Nanostructures Based on Unsupervised Machine Learning
Authors: Li Yu , Deng Miaoyi , Liu Zhengchang , Peng Pu , Chen Yuxiang , Fang Zheyu
Published: April 2022

Structural design is an important driving force for technological development in nanophotonics. To achieve better performance of nanophotonic devices, the freedom of structural design space needs to be expanded. Unsupervised learning algorithm in deep learning provides a great platform to expand design freedom of structures and avoid the “curse of dimensionality” effectively. It performs well on extracting important features from high‐dimensional data and excavating potential rules. In this work, an unsupervised convolutional neural network is built to inversely design nanostructures with unidirectional transmission. Near‐field information with high dimensions is recognized and extracted into a 2D feature space which maintains high physical continuity and maps to far‐field transmittance effectively. The feature space is further expanded to the whole space by optimistic Bayesian multisampling, from which nanostructures with transmittance over 95% forward while less than 40% backward are inversely designed. Moreover, the relation between near‐field information and far‐field transmittance is explored. A feasible design method of nanostructures is proposed based on unsupervised learning with design space expanded. This design mentality exhibits a way of extracting near‐field features to analyze far‐field spectra with deep learning algorithms, which is suitable for more abundant physical design and can be extended to other similar systems.
Designer Metasurfaces for Antireflective Applications Enabled by Advanced Nanoparticle Technology
Authors: Ray Nathan J. , Yoo Jae‐Hyuck , Nguyen Hoang T. , Feigenbaum Eyal
Published: April 2022

Optic processing advances have shifted system limitations, with current constraints consisting of antireflective (AR) coatings applied to optics and the inability to reduce size, weight, and price. Metasurfaces, and more broadly metaoptics, provide an avenue to overcome these limitations. The ability to generate substrate‐engraved metasurfaces that can be tailored is demonstrated within a broad design space to satisfy large‐area AR applications for bandpass or broadband needs, demonstrating an optically equivalent surface roughness standard deviation of only 5 Å. Using an advanced nanoparticle masking approach, two metasurfaces are fabricated: 1) vertical sidewall nanofeature metasurface (MS) for AR applications at 351 nm, and 2) sloped sidewall MS designed for broadband AR applications. For the 351 nm MS, the reflectance is measured to be 0.127%. In the case of the sloped sidewall MS, the reflectance is measured to be <0.25% over 400–700 nm and <1% over 400–1100 nm. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a broadband AR capable of this performance. The tunability of these structures, with a parameter space spanning even more remarkable designs such as broader bands and acceptance angles, coupled with high laser‐induced damage durability and mechanical robustness, displays the strength of metasurfaces for AR applications.
The Rise of 1,4‐BN‐Heteroarenes: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications
Authors: Chen Cheng , Du Cheng‐Zhuo , Wang Xiao‐Ye
Published: April 2022

BN‐heteroarenes, which employ both boron and nitrogen in aromatic hydrocarbons, have gained great attention in the fields of organic chemistry and materials science. Nevertheless, the extensive studies on BN‐heteroarenes are largely limited to 1,2‐azaborine‐based compounds with B–N covalent bonds, whereas 1,3‐ and 1,4‐BN‐heteroarenes are relatively rare due to their greater challenge in the synthesis. Recently, significant progresses have been achieved in the synthesis and applications of BN‐heteroarenes featuring 1,4‐azaborines, especially driven by their significant potential as multiresonant thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MR‐TADF) materials. Therefore, it is timely to review these advances from the chemistry perspective. This review summarizes the synthetic methods and recent achievements of 1,4‐azaborine‐based BN‐heteroarenes and discusses their unique properties and potential applications of this emerging class of materials, highlighting the value of 1,4‐BN‐heteroarenes beyond MR‐TADF materials. It is hoped that this review would stimulate the conversation and cooperation between chemists who are interested in azaborine chemistry and materials scientists working in the fields of organic optoelectronics, metal catalysis, and carbon‐based nanoscience etc.
Genomic analysis reveals geography rather than culture as the predominant factor shaping genetic variation in northern Kenyan human populations
Authors: Taravella Oill Angela M. , Handley Carla , Howell Emma K. , Stone Anne C. , Mathew Sarah , Wilson Melissa A.
Published: April 2022

Objectives

The aim of this study was to characterize the genetic relationships within and among four neighboring ethnolinguistic groups in northern Kenya in light of cultural relationships to understand the extent to which geography and culture shape patterns of genetic variation.

Materials and methods

We collected DNA and demographic information pertaining to aspects of social identity and heritage from 572 individuals across the Turkana, Samburu, Waso Borana, and Rendille of northern Kenya. We sampled individuals across a total of nine clans from these four groups and, additionally, three territorial sections within the Turkana and successfully genotyped 376 individuals.

Results

Here we report that geography predominately shapes genetic variation within and among human groups in northern Kenya. We observed a clinal pattern of genetic variation that mirrors the overall geographic distribution of the individuals we sampled. We also found relatively higher rates of intermarriage between the Rendille and Samburu and evidence of gene flow between them that reflect these higher rates of intermarriage. Among the Turkana, we observed strong recent genetic substructuring based on territorial section affiliation. Within ethnolinguistic groups, we found that Y chromosome haplotypes do not consistently cluster by natal clan affiliation. Finally, we found that sampled populations that are geographically closer have lower genetic differentiation, and that cultural similarity does not predict genetic similarity as a whole across these northern Kenyan populations.

Discussion

Overall, the results from this study highlight the importance of geography, even on a local geographic scale, in shaping observed patterns of genetic variation in human populations.
Effect of thermal damage on pore development and oxidation reaction of coal
Authors: Shao Huadi , Yang Shengqiang , Yang Kai
Published: April 2022

With the coal entering deep mining, the thermal damage to the destruction of the coal body structure, causing the phenomenon of coal spontaneous combustion is more and more common. To better understand the effect of thermal damage on coal spontaneous combustion, the law of thermal damage on pore structure and free radical of coal was studied by automatic specific surface area analyzer and electron spin resonance spectrometer. It was concluded that 225°C was a key point of thermal damage on coal spontaneous combustion. The pore structure analysis indicates that the specific surface area and pore volume of coal decrease with the increase of thermal damage temperature, while the average pore diameter increases gradually. While the specific surface area of Qianyingzi coal is the lowest at 225°C, which is 67.5% of that of raw coal. The average pore size of Zhaotong coal continues to increase by 18.9%. In addition, the pore structure of coal changes greatly in the thermal damage temperature range of 150–225°C, and the connectivity of coal pore is greatly strengthened at this range. The free radical results show that the free radical concentration in thermally damaged coal soars, compared with that in raw coal, and reaches the maximum value at 225°C, indicating that the active groups in coal are greatly active at this temperature. The g factor value declines firstly, then increases, and finally falls. These investigations may serve to reveal the internal mechanism of thermal damage on coal structure and natural oxidation characteristics and provide experimental basis for the prevention and control of coal spontaneous combustion affected by thermal damage.
Measuring volatile emissions from moss gametophytes: A review of methodologies and new applications
Authors: Brennan Danlyn L. , Kollar Leslie M. , Kiel Scott , Deakova Timea , Laguerre Aurélie , McDaniel Stuart F. , Eppley Sarah M. , Gall Elliott T. , Rosenstiel Todd N.
Published: April 2022

Mosses inhabit nearly all terrestrial ecosystems and engage in important interactions with nitrogen‐fixing microbes, sperm‐dispersing arthropods, and other plants. It is hypothesized that these interactions could be mediated by biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs). Moss BVOCs may play fundamental roles in influencing local ecologies, such as biosphere–atmosphere–hydrosphere communications, physiological and evolutionary dynamics, plant–microbe interactions, and gametophyte stress physiology. Further progress in quantifying the composition, magnitude, and variability of moss BVOC emissions, and their response to environmental drivers and metabolic requirements, is limited by methodological and analytical challenges. We review several sampling techniques with various analytical approaches and describe best practices in generating moss gametophyte BVOC measures. We emphasize the importance of characterizing the composition and magnitude of moss BVOC emissions across a variety of species to better inform and stimulate important cross‐disciplinary studies. We conclude by highlighting how current methods could be employed, as well as best practices for choosing methodologies.
Cinnamic acid hybrids as anticancer agents: A mini‐review
Authors: Feng Lian‐Shun , Cheng Jin‐Bo , Su Wen‐Qi , Li Hong‐Ze , Xiao Tao , Chen De‐An , Zhang Zhi‐Liu
Published: April 2022

Cancer, as a long‐lasting and dramatic disease, affects almost one‐third of human beings globally. Chemotherapeutics play an important role in cancer treatment, but multidrug resistance and severe adverse effects have already become the main causes of failure in tumor chemotherapy. Therefore, it is an urgent need to develop novel chemotherapeutics. Cinnamic acid contains a ubiquitous α,β‐unsaturated acid moiety presenting potential therapeutic effects in the treatment of cancer as these derivatives could act on cancer cells by diverse mechanisms of action. Accordingly, cinnamic acid derivatives are critical scaffolds in discovering novel anticancer agents. This review provides a comprehensive overview of cinnamic acid hybrids as anticancer agents. The structure–activity relationship, as well as the mechanisms of action, are also discussed, covering articles published from 2012 to 2021.
Lipid Clustering in Mycobacterial Cell Envelope Layers Governs Spatially Resolved Solvation Dynamics
Authors: Adhyapak Pranav , Dong Wanqian , Dasgupta Souradip , Dutta Anindya , Duan Mojie , Kapoor Shobhna
Published: April 2022

The mycobacterial cell envelope acts as a multilayered barrier to drugs. However, the role of lipid composition in the properties of different mycobacterial membranes, otherwise dictating their interactions with drugs, is poorly understood. In this study, we found that hydration states, solvation relaxation kinetics, rotational lipid mobility, and lateral lipid diffusion differed between inner and outer mycobacterial membranes. Molecular modeling showed that lipid clustering patterns governed membrane dynamics in the different layers of the cell envelope. By regulating membrane properties, lipid composition and structure modulated water abundance and interactions with lipid head groups. These findings can help deepen our understanding of the physical chemistry underlying membrane structure and function, as well as the interaction of mycobacterial membranes with drugs and host membranes.
Protective effect of cistanoside A on dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease via mitophagy
Authors: Xu Chengcheng , Wu Yao , Tang Lili , Liang Yan , Zhao Yang
Published: April 2022

One of the main pathological features of Parkinson's disease (PD) is the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra compacta (SNc). Cistanoside A (CA) has a strong neuroprotective effect in PD, but the exact mechanism is unclear. In the present study, the MPTP‐stimulated mouse model of PD and MPP+‐treated PD model in the MES23.5 neuronal cell model of PD were used to investigate the neuroprotective effects of CA on PD and its potential mechanism. The in vivo experiment results indicated that CA improved the motor function in mice and increased the number of tyrosine hydroxylase positive cells in SNc. In vitro experiments showed that CA reduced the MPP+‐induced decrease in neurons and mitochondrial membrane potential and promoted the activation of autophagosomes. Furthermore, we found that CA promoted the recruitment of PINK1 and Parkin aggregation to impair mitochondrial membranes and inhibited mitochondrial damage via LC3‐ and p62‐mediated autophagy. In conclusion, CA protects against MPTP‐induced neurotoxicity in vivo and MPP+‐induced neurotoxicity in vitro, possibly by promoting the PINK1/Parkin/p62 pathway to accelerate the degradation of damaged mitochondria thereby reducing oxidative stress.
The curious case of TMEM120A: Mechanosensor, fat regulator, or antiviral defender?
Authors: Qian Nianchao , Li Shuo , Tan Xu
Published: April 2022

Mechanical pain sensing, adipogenesis, and STING‐dependent innate immunity seem three distinct biological processes without substantial relationships. Intriguingly, TMEM120A, a transmembrane protein, has been shown to detect mechanical pain stimuli as a mechanosensitive channel, contribute to adipocyte differentiation/function by regulating genome organization and promote STING trafficking to active cellular innate immune response. However, the role of TMEM120A as a mechanosensitive channel was challenged by recent studies which cannot reproduce data supporting its role in mechanosensing. Furthermore, the molecular mechanism by which TMEM120A contributes to adipocyte differentiation/function and promotes STING trafficking remains elusive. In this review, we discuss these multiple proposed functions of TMEM120A and hypothesize the molecular mechanism underlying TMEM120A's role in fatty acid metabolism and STING signaling.
Efficient route to 1‐aryl‐2,2‐difluoroethenyl(t‐butyldimethyl)silanes via cross‐coupling reaction of 2,2‐difluoro‐1‐(t‐butyldimethyl)silylethenyl tosylate with arylboronic acids
Authors: Lee Seo Hee , Ryu Hyun Gyu , Jeon Sung Lan , Jeong In Howa
Published: April 2022

Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reactions of 2,2‐difluoro‐1‐(t‐butyldimethyl)silylethenyl tosylate with arylboronic acids in the presence of Pd2(dba)3 (10 mol%), SPhos (20 mol%), and Cs2CO3 (1.7 equiv) in Dioxane/H2O (10/1) at 100 °C for 6–9 h afforded the corresponding 1‐aryl‐2,2‐difluoroethenyl(t‐butyldimethyl)silanes in 61%–84% yields. This method is a nice tool for the direct introduction of 2,2‐difluoro‐1‐(t‐butyldimethyl)silylethenyl substituent onto an aromatic ring system from the easily accessible 2,2‐difluoro‐1‐(t‐butyldimethyl)silylethenyl tosylate. Addition‐elimination reactions of 1‐phenyl‐2,2‐difluoro‐ ethenyl(t‐butyldimethyl)silane with alkyllithium reagents such as n‐butyllithium and i‐propyllithuim provided highly (Z)‐stereoselective 1‐(t‐butyldimethyl)silyl‐2‐fluoro‐1‐phenyl‐1‐alkenes in good yields.
A new approach to evaluate environmental strategy: Empirical evidence from international petroleum companies using the balanced scorecard model
Authors: Rahuma Abdulhamid , Fethi Sami
Published: April 2022

The core of this study is to empirically evaluate the environmental strategy in terms of carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) from the perspectives of both managers and investors. The study incorporates the Porter hypothesis and the balanced scorecard (BSC) assumptions to analyze data from 17 international petroleum companies for the period 2005q1–2016q4 by linking the strategy map and BSC to the actual key performance indicators (KPIs). Panel dynamic regression analysis is employed to evaluate the said strategy for both the short and the long terms. The results clearly indicate that the environmental strategy has a significant and positive impact on the environmental performance not only in the short term but also in the long term. This study contributes to the BSC studies on this topic by presenting a perspective of the strategy in the form of a mathematical model that can be statistically testable for both the short and the long terms, thereby providing a guideline to managers for strategy evaluation purposes, optimization of resource allocation, and improvements in both the environmental and financial performances in the long term.
Sex offending among adolescents and young men with history of psychiatric inpatient care in adolescence
Authors: Kaltiala Riittakerttu , Holttinen Timo , Ellonen Noora
Published: April 2022

Background

Some mental disorders have been associated with increased likelihood of sexual offending in adolescents (and adults), but relevant studies tend to be of established sex offenders.

Aims

To examine relationships between adolescent mental disorders and subsequent involvement in sex offending and to explore any predictive value of primary diagnoses for subsequent interpersonal offending, whether sexual or violent.

Methods

We analyse national register‐based longitudinal data on males in Finland admitted for their first psychiatric inpatient treatment between the ages of 13–17 in the period 1980–2010 (N = 6749). Cox regression was used for the analysis of multivariate associations.

Results

A subsequent criminal record for sex crime in the 10‐year follow up was rare among former child and adolescent psychiatric (CAP) inpatient males (1.5%). Having a subsequent criminal record for non‐sex‐related violent crime was more common (25%). Time to either sex crimes or non‐sex‐related violent crimes after a first CAP inpatient treatment was 3–4 years. Whilst the risk of committing non‐sex‐related violent crimes was elevated in all diagnostic groups compared to those with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, the risk of committing subsequent sex crimes was elevated only in the group with substance use, conduct or personality disorders. Among those with pre‐existing criminal history of sex crime, the risk of a subsequent criminal record for sex crime after CAP treatment was increased 11‐fold, but the risk for later non‐sex‐related violent crimes was not increased compared to the rest of the male adolescent CAP population.

Conclusions and implications for practice

In this first longitudinal study of criminal convictions for sex offending after a period of inpatient psychiatric treatment as an adolescent such convictions were rare, but the difference in post discharge risk of further convictions for sexual offending and non‐sexual violent offending raises questions about whether more attention and specific treatment for aberrant sexual behaviours is needed for male adolescents with severe mental disorders.
Aerosol‐Based Synthesis of Multi‐metal Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution and Glycerol Oxidation
Authors: Cechanaviciute Ieva A. , Bobrowski Tim , Jambrec Daliborka , Krysiak Olga A. , Brix Ann Cathrin , Braun Michael , Quast Thomas , Wilde Patrick , Morales Dulce M. , Andronescu Corina , Schuhmann Wolfgang
Published: April 2022

Discovery of new catalysts is crucial for future growth and development of environmentally friendly energy conversion processes e. g. the production of hydrogen by water electrolysis. We developed an aerosol‐based synthesis technique as a comparatively fast and facile method to prepare multi‐metal catalysts. 22 different quinary metal compositions were synthesized and investigated with respect to their activity for the oxygen evolution (OER) and the glycerol oxidation (GOR) reactions. The impact of the element composition and the homogeneous distribution of the elements in the particles on catalytic performance were evaluated. The highest activity for OER was found for Co20Cu20Ni20Fe20Zn20. For GOR, Ag‐containing catalysts were the most active, however, in most cases Ag was locally enriched and not homogeneously mixed with the other metals in the particles. Ag‐based catalysts outperformed similar compositions containing one or more noble metals. The GOR selectivity of selected catalysts during long‐term electrolysis was also investigated and it was shown that varying the catalyst composition via aerosol‐based synthesis is a potential way to modulate the GOR selectivity.
Anticancer Aminoferrocene Derivatives Inducing Production of Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species
Authors: Gizem Özkan Hülya , Thakor Vanrajsinh , Xu Hong‐Gui , Bila Galyna , Bilyy Rostyslav , Bida Daria , Böttcher Martin , Mougiakakos Dimitrios , Tietze Rainer , Mokhir Andriy
Published: April 2022

Elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and deficient mitochondria are two weak points of cancer cells. Their simultaneous targeting is a valid therapeutic strategy to design highly potent anticancer drugs. The remaining challenge is to limit the drug effects to cancer cells without affecting normal ones. We have previously developed three aminoferrocene (AF)‐based derivatives, which are activated in the presence of elevated levels of ROS present in cancer cells with formation of electron‐rich compounds able to generate ROS and reduce mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). All of them exhibit important drawbacks including either low efficacy or high unspecific toxicity that prevents their application in vivo up to date. Herein we describe unusual AF‐derivatives lacking these drawbacks. These compounds act via an alternative mechanism: they are chemically stable in the presence of ROS, generate mitochondrial ROS in cancer cells, but not normal cells and exhibit anticancer effect in vivo.
The Unexpected Helical Supramolecular Assembly of a Simple Achiral Acetamide Tecton Generates Selective Water Channels
Authors: Dumitrescu Dan G. , Rull‐Barull Jordi , Martin Anthony R. , Masquelez Nathalie , Polentarutti Maurizio , Heroux Annie , Demitri Nicola , Bais Giorgio , Moraru Ionut‐Tudor , Poteau Romuald , Amblard Muriel , Krajnc Andraž , Mali Gregor , Legrand Yves‐Marie , van der Lee Arie , Legrand Baptiste
Published: April 2022

Achiral 2‐hydroxy‐N‐(diphenylmethyl)acetamide (HNDPA) crystallizes in the P61 chiral space group as a hydrate, building up permeable chiral crystalline helical water channels. The crystallization‐driven chiral self‐resolution process is highly robust, with the same air‐stable crystalline form readily obtained under a variety of conditions. Interestingly, the HNDPA supramolecular helix inner pore is filled by a helical water wire. The whole edifice is mainly stabilized by robust hydrogen bonds involving the HNDPA amide bonds and CH…π interactions between the HNDPA phenyl groups. The crystalline structure shows breathing behavior, with completely reversible release and re‐uptake of water inside the chiral channel under ambient conditions. Importantly, the HNDPA channel is able to transport water very efficiently and selectively under biomimetic conditions. With a permeability per channel of 3.3 million water molecules per second in large unilamellar vesicles (LUV) and total selectivity against NaCl, the HNDPA channel is a very promising functional nanomaterial for future applications.
Hofmeister Effects of Group II Cations as Seen in the Unfolding of Ribonuclease A
Authors: Asakereh Iman , Lee Katherine , Francisco Olga A. , Khajehpour Mazdak
Published: April 2022

This work studies the effects of alkaline‐earth cation addition on the unfolding free energy of a model protein, pancreatic Ribonuclease A (RNase A) by differential scanning calorimetry analysis. RNase A was chosen because: a) it does not specifically bind Mg2+, Ca2+ and Sr2+ cations and b) maintains its structural integrity throughout a large pH range. We have measured and compared the effects of NaCl, MgCl2, CaCl2 and SrCl2 addition on the melting point of RNase A. Our results show that even though the addition of group II cations to aqueous solvent reduces the solubility of nonpolar residues (and enhances the hydrophobic effect), their interactions with the amide moieties are strong enough to “salt‐them‐in” the solvent, thereby causing an overall protein stability reduction. We demonstrate that the amide‐cation interactions are a major contributor to the observed “Hofmeister Effects” of group II cations in protein folding. Our analysis suggests that protein folding “Hofmeister Effects” of group II cations, are mostly the aggregate sum of how cation addition simultaneously salts‐out hydrophobic moieties by increasing the cavitation free energy, while promoting the salting‐in of amide moieties through contact pair formation.
Excited‐State Proton Transfer Dynamics of a Super‐Photoacid in Acetone‐Water Mixtures
Authors: Sülzner Niklas , Geissler Bastian , Grandjean Alexander , Jung Gregor , Nuernberger Patrick
Published: April 2022

Super‐photoacids, that is, photoacids with a negative
value in the electronically excited state, can trigger an excited‐state proton transfer (ESPT) to the solvent. For the neutral pyranine‐derived super‐photoacid studied here, even indications for ESPT in acetoneous solution are reported. The characteristics of ESPT in this environment, that is, which intermediates exist and what the impact of cosolvents is, remain unsettled though. In this work, we study ESPT in acetone‐water mixtures by steady‐state and time‐resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. Various effects are observed: First, the addition of water supports the formation of a hydrogen‐bonded ground‐state complex comprising one water molecule and the photoacid, whose excitation triggers the formation of a hydrogen‐bonded ion pair on a sub‐ns time scale. Second, water has an overall accelerating effect on the fluorescence dynamics of the involved emitting species, whose contributions are disentangled in a global analysis scheme, enabling the identification of emission from the free photoacid, a photoacid‐water complex, a hydrogen‐bonded ion pair, and the deprotonated photoacid. At least two water molecules are necessary for ESPT in the environment. Third, additional acidification thwarts an efficient ground‐state complex formation of the photoacid and water. However, upon excitation, complexation may occur on a timescale faster than the photoacid's excited‐state lifetime, so that emission from a nascent complex emerges.
Inherent single‐cell bioelectrical parameters of thousands of neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils derived from impedance flow cytometry
Authors: Wang Minruihong , Zhang Jie , Tan Huiwen , Chen Deyong , Lei Ying , Li Yueying , Wang Junbo , Chen Jian
Published: April 2022

Single‐cell bioelectrical properties are commonly used for blood cell phenotyping in a label‐free manner. However, previously reported inherent single‐cell bioelectrical parameters (e.g., diameter Dc, specific membrane capacitance Csm and cytoplasmic conductivity σcy) of neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils were obtained from only tens of individual cells with limited statistical significance. In this study, granulocytes were separated into neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils based on fluorescent flow cytometry, which were further aspirated through a constriction‐microchannel impedance flow cytometry for electrical property characterization. Based on this microfluidic impedance flow cytometry, single‐cell values of Dc, Csm and σcy were measured as 10.25 ± 0.66 μm, 2.17 ± 0.30 μF/cm2, and 0.37 ± 0.05 S/m for neutrophils (ncell = 9442); 9.73 ± 0.51 μm, 2.07 ± 0.19 μF/cm2, and 0.30 ± 0.04 S/m for eosinophils (ncell = 2982); 9.75 ± 0.49 μm, 2.06 ± 0.17 μF/cm2, and 0.31 ± 0.04 S/m for basophils (ncell = 5377). Based on these inherent single‐cell bioelectrical parameters, neural pattern recognition was conducted, producing classification rates of 80.8% (neutrophil vs. eosinophil), 77.7% (neutrophil vs. basophil) and 59.3% (neutrophil vs. basophil). These results indicate that as inherent single‐cell bioelectrical parameters, Dc, Csm and σcy can be used to classify neutrophils from eosinophils or basophils to some extent while they cannot be used to effectively distinguish eosinophils from basophils.
Human cDC1s display constitutive activation of the UPR sensor IRE1
Authors: García‐González Paulina , Fernández Dominique , Gutiérrez Diane , Parra‐Cordero Mauro , Osorio Fabiola
Published: April 2022

The intracellular mechanisms safeguarding DC function are of biomedical interest in several immune‐related diseases. Type 1 conventional DCs (cDC1s) are prominent targets of immunotherapy typified by constitutive activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) sensor IRE1. Through its RNase domain, IRE1 regulates key processes in cDC1s including survival, ER architecture and function. However, most evidence linking IRE1 RNase with cDC1 biology emerges from mouse studies and it is currently unknown whether human cDC1s also activate the enzyme to preserve cellular homeostasis.

In this work, we report that human cDC1s constitutively activate IRE1 RNase in steady state, which is evidenced by marked expression of IRE1, XBP1s, and target genes, and low levels of mRNA substrates of the IRE1 RNase domain. On a functional level, pharmacological inhibition of the IRE1 RNase domain curtailed IL‐12 and TNF production by cDC1s upon stimulation with TLR agonists. Altogether, this work demonstrates that activation of the IRE1/XBP1s axis is a conserved feature of cDC1s across species and suggests that the UPR sensor may also play a relevant role in the biology of the human lineage.
Synthesis of Diazoquinones and Azidophenols via Diazo‐Transfer Reaction of Phenols
Authors: Kitamura Mitsuru , Eto Takashi , Konai Kazushige , Takahashi Shuhei , Shimooka Hirokazu , Okauchi Tatsuo
Published: April 2022

The first efficient diazo‐transfer reaction of phenols is described. o‐Quinone diazides (diazoquinones) were prepared from phenols in high yields by the diazo‐transfer reaction using 2‐azido‐1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazolium hexafluorophosphate (IPrAP, 2‐PF6), which is a safe and stable crystalline. The reaction efficiently proceeded in methanol in the presence of a base. Phenols substituted with electron‐donating groups reacted more smoothly than those having electron withdrawing groups. Reactive phenols were diazotized by IPrAP with iPr2NH as a base, and low reactive phenols were diazotized with N,N‐dimethyl‐4‐aminopyridine (DMAP). Furthermore, the formed diazoquinones reacted with sodium azide in 2‐methoxyethanol and afforded the corresponding azidophenol in high yields.
RAVAQ: An integrative pipeline from quality control to region‐based rare variant association analysis
Authors: Marenne Gaëlle , Ludwig Thomas E. , Bocher Ozvan , Herzig Anthony F. , Aloui Chaker , Tournier‐Lasserve Elisabeth , Génin Emmanuelle
Published: April 2022

Next‐generation sequencing technologies have opened up the possibility to sequence large samples of cases and controls to test for association with rare variants. To limit cost and increase sample sizes, data from controls could be used in multiple studies and might thus be generated on different sequencing platforms. This could pose some problems of comparability between cases and controls due to batch effects that could be confounding factors, leading to false‐positive association signals. To limit batch effects and ensure comparability of datasets, stringent quality controls are required. We propose an integrative five‐steps pipeline, RAVAQ, that (a) performs a specific three‐step quality control taking into account the case–control status to ensure data comparability, (b) selects qualifying variants as defined by the user, and (c) performs rare variant association tests per genomic region. The RAVAQ pipeline is wrapped in an R package. It is user‐friendly and flexible in its arguments to adapt to the specificity of each research project. We provide examples showing how RAVAQ improves rare variant association tests. The default RAVAQ quality control outperformed the widely used Variant Quality Score Recalibration method, removing inflation due to spurious signals. RAVAQ is open source and freely available at https://gitlab.com/gmarenne/ravaq.
Thermal magneto‐convection of GO‐MoS2 ${\text{MoS}}_{2}$/WEG within a heated channel retaining an aura of inclined magnetic force along with Hall currents
Authors: Das Sanatan , Mahato Naspa , Ali Asgar , Jana Rabindra Nath
Published: April 2022

Thermal and rheological characteristics of nanomaterials under electromagnetic force are of considerable interest in engineering, mining, biomechanics, and so on. Inspired by the worldwide applications of novel functional nanomaterials, this communication aims to shed light on the thermal gravitational magneto‐convection of a non‐Newtonian hybrid nanoliquid (Graphene oxide [GO]–molybdenum disulfide []/water–ethylene glycol [WEG]) inside a confined channel. GO and are dispersed into a WEG mixture (50%–50%). The physical effects of Hall currents, porous resistance, and thermal radiation are included in the flow system. An analytical approach is chosen to resolve the nondimensional momentum and energy with associated wall conditions. The stipulated graphs and tables are designed to extract and illustrate the effects of critical physical parameters on several dynamical functions or variables. The results obtained reveal that durable acceleration is induced in the fluid motion along the vertical direction with an increase in the Hall parameter, whereas it dampens the magnitude of the fluid velocity in the cross‐flow direction. An increase in frequency leads to an attenuation in the temperature profile and the amplitude of the heat transfer rate at the right wall. Streamlines and heatlines are plotted to envision the flow pattern inside the channel. The current study generalizes previous investigations with a non‐Newtonian hybrid nanoliquid and introduces the novel parameter of an inclined magnetic field. This study may be valuable in chemical engineering, mineral and cleaning oils manufacturing, and so on.
The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on cancer diagnosis based on pathology notifications: A comparison across the Nordic countries during 2020
Authors: Johansson Anna L. V. , Larønningen Siri , Skovlund Charlotte Wessel , Kristiansen Marnar Fríðheim , Mørch Lina Steinrud , Friis Søren , Johannesen Tom Børge , Myklebust Tor Åge , Skog Anna , Pettersson David , Birgisson Helgi , Virtanen Anni , Malila Nea , Pitkäniemi Janne , Tanskanen Tomas , Tryggvadóttir Laufey , Ursin Giske , Lambe Mats
Published: April 2022

The severity of the COVID‐19 pandemic and subsequent mitigation strategies have varied across the Nordic countries. In a joint Nordic population‐based effort, we compared patterns of new cancer cases and notifications between the Nordic countries during 2020. We used pathology notifications to cancer registries in Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden to determine monthly numbers of pathology notifications of malignant and in situ tumours from January to December 2020 compared to 2019 (2017‐2019 for Iceland and the Faroe Islands). We compared new cancer cases per month based on unique individuals with pathology notifications. In April and May 2020, the numbers of new malignant cases declined in all Nordic countries, except the Faroe Islands, compared to previous year(s). The largest reduction was observed in Sweden (May: −31.2%, 95% CI −33.9, −28.3), followed by significant declines in Finland, Denmark and Norway, and a nonsignificant decline in Iceland. In Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland the reporting rates during the second half of 2020 rose to almost the same level as in 2019. However, in Sweden and Finland, the increase did not compensate for the spring decline (annual reduction −6.2% and −3.6%, respectively). Overall, similar patterns were observed for in situ tumours. The COVID‐19 pandemic led to a decline in rates of new cancer cases in Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway, with the most pronounced reduction in Sweden. Possible explanations include the severity of the pandemic, temporary halting of screening activities and changes in healthcare seeking behaviour.
A computer‐aided melanoma detection using deep learning and an improved African vulture optimization algorithm
Authors: Hu Libing , Zhang Yongchun , Chen Kaidi , Mobayen Saleh
Published: April 2022

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that is caused by the uncontrolled growth of melanocytes. Cancer begins when cells in the body begin to grow out of control. Cells in almost every part of the body can become cancerous and then spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma is much less common than other types of skin cancer, such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, but melanoma is more dangerous because it can spread to other parts of the body if left undiagnosed and untreated. Melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer and yearly causes 60 000 people deaths. However, if it is diagnosed at an early stage, the cure rate can increase by up to 95%. The present study proposes a new procedure for the optimal diagnosis of malignant melanoma based on a new combined convolutional neural network and a newly improved metaheuristic algorithm. In this study, after applying the preprocessing technique, which contains Kapur segmentation and mathematical morphology, the key features of the target region are extracted from the image to make simpler data for processing. Afterward, a convolutional neural network (CNN) has been employed for providing the diagnosis system. To design the optimal diagnosis, we propose a newly developed design of an African Vulture Optimizer for the optimal configuration of the CNN. We also verify the effectiveness of the suggested approach based on a popular dataset, called the SIIM‐ISIC Melanoma dataset, and a comparison of its achievements with several other approaches from the literature is carried out to indicate its effectiveness.