bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the unique oral microbiome of children with Down syndrome
Authors: Mitsuhata Chieko , Kado Nao , Hamada Masakazu , Nomura Ryota , Kozai Katsuyuki
Published: August 2022

Down syndrome creates an abnormal oral environment, including susceptibility to periodontal disease at a young age, but there are no detailed studies of the oral microbiome in children with Down syndrome. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the oral bacteria of 40 children with Down syndrome and 40 non-Down syndrome children. Microbial DNA was extracted from dental plaque specimens and the V4 hypervariable region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was analyzed using the MiSeq platform. There were significant differences between the Down syndrome and non-Down syndrome groups in mean numbers of operational taxonomic units, and α- and β-diversity (P < 0.05). Interestingly, significant differences in α- and β-diversity between the two groups were only observed in subjects with gingival inflammation, but not in those without gingival inflammation (P < 0.05). Taxonomic analysis at the genus or species levels showed significant differences in relative abundance levels of certain bacteria between the Down syndrome and non-Down syndrome groups, including Corynebacterium, Abiotrophia and Lautropia (P < 0.05). These results suggest that children with Down syndrome may have a unique oral microbiome that could impact the development of dental diseases common in people with the syndrome.
Inter-annual variation patterns in the carbon footprint of farmland ecosystems in Guangdong Province, China
Authors: Guotong Qiao , Fei Chen , Na Wang , Dandan Zhang
Published: August 2022

Carbon sequestration in farmland ecosystems is an important link in the world carbon cycle and plays an important role in regional carbon reduction. Guangdong, a major industrial and economic province in China, was used as the study area, and the period 2001–2020 was taken as the study period. The carbon emissions, sequestration, and footprint of farmland ecosystems in Guangdong were estimated using carbon emission factors for agricultural inputs that are closer to the actual situation in China. The study showed that: (1) Carbon average emissions from farmland in Guangdong during the study period was 3.7624 million t a−1, with a balanced overall trend of change, and that nitrogen fertilize applications was the main factor contributing to carbon emissions. (2) The carbon sink capacity of Guangdong farmland ecosystems showed an overall decreasing trend of 10.32%, with an average annual carbon sink of 19.0363 million t a−1. Paddy and sugar cane cultivations were the main factor of carbon sink in farmland. (3) The average annual carbon footprint of Guangdong's farmland ecosystems was 531,100 ha a−1, which was in a carbon surplus. Carbon surplus and footprint showed a decreasing trend year by year. The paper results provide a theoretical basis for the formulation of carbon emission reduction policies and industrial restructuring in Guangdong and provinces with the same industrial structure.
Long-term microglial phase-specific dynamics during single vessel occlusion and recanalization
Authors: Xie Xiaoke , Liu Xuanting , Zhu Jiazhu , Xu Yongxian , Li Xiaojing , Zheng Yameng , Gong Shangyue , Xiao Xiao , Chen Yiwen , Zhang Jianmin , Gong Wei , Si Ke
Published: August 2022

Vascular occlusion leading to brain dysfunctions is usually considered evoking microglia-induced inflammation response. However, it remains unclear how microglia interact with blood vessels in the development of vascular occlusion-related brain disorders. Here, we illuminate long-term spatiotemporal dynamics of microglia during single vessel occlusion and recanalization. Microglia display remarkable response characteristics in different phases, including acute reaction, rapid diffusion, transition and chronic effect. Fibrinogen-induced microglial cluster promotes major histocompatibility complex II (MHCII) expression. Microglial soma represents a unique filament-shape migration and has slower motility compared to the immediate reaction of processes to occlusion. We capture proliferative microglia redistribute territory. Microglial cluster resolves gradually and microglia recover to resting state both in the morphology and function in the chronic effect phase. Therefore, our study offers a comprehensive analysis of spatiotemporal dynamics of microglia and potential mechanisms to both vessel occlusion and recanalization. Microglial phase-specific response suggests the morphological feature-oriented phased intervention would be an attractive option for vascular occlusion-related diseases treatments.
Epithelial cells sacrifice excess area to preserve fluidity in response to external mechanical stress
Authors: Bodenschatz Jonathan F. E. , Ajmail Karim , Skamrahl Mark , Vache Marian , Gottwald Jannis , Nehls Stefan , Janshoff Andreas
Published: August 2022

Viscoelastic properties of epithelial cells subject to shape changes were monitored by indentation-retraction/relaxation experiments. MDCK II cells cultured on extensible polydimethylsiloxane substrates were laterally stretched and, in response, displayed increased cortex contractility and loss of excess surface area. Thereby, the cells preserve their fluidity but inevitably become stiffer. We found similar behavior in demixed cell monolayers of ZO-1/2 double knock down (dKD) cells, cells exposed to different temperatures and after removal of cholesterol from the plasma membrane. Conversely, the mechanical response of single cells adhered onto differently sized patches displays no visible rheological change. Sacrificing excess surface area allows the cells to respond to mechanical challenges without losing their ability to flow. They gain a new degree of freedom that permits resolving the interdependence of fluidity β on stiffness $${K}_{{{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}}}}^{0}$$

K

A

0

. We also propose a model that permits to tell apart contributions from excess membrane area and excess cell surface area.
Non-linear machine learning models incorporating SNPs and PRS improve polygenic prediction in diverse human populations
Authors: Elgart Michael , Lyons Genevieve , Romero-Brufau Santiago , Kurniansyah Nuzulul , Brody Jennifer A. , Guo Xiuqing , Lin Henry J. , Raffield Laura , Gao Yan , Chen Han , de Vries Paul , Lloyd-Jones Donald M. , Lange Leslie A. , Peloso Gina M. , Fornage Myriam , Rotter Jerome I. , Rich Stephen S. , Morrison Alanna C. , Psaty Bruce M. , Levy Daniel , Redline Susan ,   the NHLBI’s Trans-Omics in Precision Medicine (TOPMed) Consortium, de Vries Paul , Sofer Tamar
Published: August 2022

Polygenic risk scores (PRS) are commonly used to quantify the inherited susceptibility for a trait, yet they fail to account for non-linear and interaction effects between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We address this via a machine learning approach, validated in nine complex phenotypes in a multi-ancestry population. We use an ensemble method of SNP selection followed by gradient boosted trees (XGBoost) to allow for non-linearities and interaction effects. We compare our results to the standard, linear PRS model developed using PRSice, LDpred2, and lassosum2. Combining a PRS as a feature in an XGBoost model results in a relative increase in the percentage variance explained compared to the standard linear PRS model by 22% for height, 27% for HDL cholesterol, 43% for body mass index, 50% for sleep duration, 58% for systolic blood pressure, 64% for total cholesterol, 66% for triglycerides, 77% for LDL cholesterol, and 100% for diastolic blood pressure. Multi-ancestry trained models perform similarly to specific racial/ethnic group trained models and are consistently superior to the standard linear PRS models. This work demonstrates an effective method to account for non-linearities and interaction effects in genetics-based prediction models.
Targeted artificial ocean cooling to weaken tropical cyclones would be futile
Authors: Hlywiak James , Nolan David S.
Published: August 2022

Proposals to use technology to cool sea surface temperatures have received attention for the potential application of weakening a tropical cyclone ahead of landfall. Here, application of an ocean-mixing aware maximum potential intensity theory finds that artificial ocean cooling could drastically weaken tropical cyclones over high sea surface temperature and deep ocean mixed layer environments, especially for fast storm motion speeds. In contrast, realistic mesoscale numerical simulations reveal that massive regions - the largest evaluated here contains a volume of 2.1 × 104 km3 and a surface area of 2.6 × 105 km2 - of artificially cooled ocean waters could weaken a tropical cyclone two days before landfall by 15% but only under the most ideal atmospheric and oceanic conditions. Thus, the fundamental theory provides an unreachable upper-bound that cannot be attained even by expending vast resources.
The presence of plasmids in bacterial hosts alters phage isolation and infectivity
Authors: Ngiam Lyman , Weynberg Karen D , Guo Jianhua
Published: August 2022

Antibiotic resistance genes are often carried by plasmids, which spread intra- and inter genera bacterial populations, and also play a critical role in bacteria conferring phage resistance. However, it remains unknown about the influence of plasmids present in bacterial hosts on phage isolation and subsequent infectivity. In this study, using both Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas putida bacteria containing different plasmids, eight phages were isolated and characterized in terms of phage morphology and host range analysis, in conjunction with DNA and protein sequencing. We found that plasmids can influence both the phage isolation process and phage infectivity. In particular, the isolated phages exhibited different phage plaquing infectivity towards the same bacterial species containing different plasmids. Furthermore, the presence of plasmids was found to alter the expression of bacteria membrane protein, which correlates with bacterial cell surface receptors recognized by phages, thus affecting phage isolation and infectivity. Given the diverse and ubiquitous nature of plasmids, our findings highlight the need to consider plasmids as factors that can influence both phage isolation and infectivity.
Socially Equitable Energy Transitions: Analytical Challenges and Policy Implications
Authors: Patrizio Piera , Mac Dowell Niall
Published: August 2022

Driven by the urgency of mitigating climate change and on the global efforts to reach net-zero emissions, the transition to low-carbon energy systems will require unprecedent rates of decarbonisation, whilst being socially equitable and technically feasible. Quantitative modelling and analysis techniques are critical components of political and industrial decision making for the energy transition at the global, national, and sub-national levels. However, being near-exclusively cost oriented, current approaches do not adequately reflect the socio-economic impacts of decarbonisation strategies. This tendency has resulted in one size fits all emission mitigation pathways and in copycat policy strategies that may well exacerbate existing regional imbalances. Here, we present three key societal challenges associated with transitioning to low-carbon energy systems and we discuss current approaches in both energy modelling and policy making. We then suggest potential actions that can contribute to tackling these challenges and, in so doing, identify viable pathways for socially equitable energy systems transitions.
A self-powered and reagent-less electrochemical aptasensor based on a DNA walker and tetraferrocene for the detection of aflatoxin B1
Authors: Fan Hao , Cheng Mengqing , Zhang Wenxing , Hong Nian , Wei Guobing , Huang Ting , Cui Hanfeng , Zhang Jing
Published: August 2022

The constructed DNA walker is highly integrated in the form of Mn2+@UIO-66(Zr)–(COOH)2 without additional metal ions. Tetraferrocene was synthesized to enhance the sensitivity of E-AB sensors. We developed a sensor that is sensitive, with a detection limit of 4.8 fg mL−1.
Targeted delivery of liver X receptor agonist to inhibit neointimal hyperplasia by differentially regulating cell behaviors
Authors: Li Jian , Jia Fan , Chen Zhebin , Lin Jun , Lv Qingbo , Huang Yue , Jin Qiao , Wang Youxiang , Fu Guosheng , Ji Jian
Published: August 2022

We developed a targeted nanomedicine encapsulating the liver X receptor agonist T0901317 for differentially regulating the behaviors of HUVECs and HASMCs.
Synergism between iron porphyrin and dicationic ionic liquids: tandem CO2 electroreduction–carbonylation reactions
Authors: Miró Roger , Fernández-Llamazares Emma , Godard Cyril , Díaz de los Bernardos Miriam , Gual Aitor
Published: August 2022

We report a simple procedure that drastically reduces the E(Fei/Fe0) and E0cat of the FeIIITPP·Cl catalyst via a synergetic effect with the imidazolium dications of the IL electrolyte, and its application in tandem carbonylations.
Linear conjugated polymer photocatalysts with various linker units for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from water
Authors: Liu Lunjie , Kochman Michał A. , Zhao Wei , Zwijnenburg Martijn A. , Sprick Reiner Sebastian
Published: August 2022

Polymer photocatalysts have shown potential for light-driven hydrogen evolution from water. The variation of the linker unit effects the performance and needs to be considered in materials design.
A pH-activated fluorescent probe via transformation of azo and hydrazone forms for lysosomal pH imaging
Authors: Zhao Xiao-Lei , Yan Chenxu , Qiu Wan-Shan , Yu Tao , Wang Wu-Jin , Zhu Wei-Hong
Published: August 2022

A pyridone-based hydrazone probe Sth-NH is established for monitoring the lower lysosomal pH of cancer cells via a turn-on fluorescence mode.
Tunable magnetocrystalline anisotropy of two-dimensional Fe3GeTe2 with adsorbed 5d-transition metal
Authors: Yuan Miaojia , Tan Ruishan , Li Mengmeng , Jin Cui , Jing Tao , Sun Qilong
Published: August 2022

We demonstrate the manipulation of magnetic property and magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy in layered Fe3GeTe2 via the surface adsorption of W atom and applied biaxial strain.
Magnetic exchange and valence delocalization in a mixed valence [Fe2+Fe3+Te2]+ complex: insights from theory and interpretations of magnetic and spectroscopic data
Authors: Atanasov M. , Spiller N. , Neese F.
Published: August 2022

A mixed valence tellurium bridged Fe(ii)–Fe(iii) complex was studied using correlated ab initio methods. Spectroscopic and magnetic properties have been rationalized considering coupling between spins and vibrations.
Preparation of vibrational quasi-bound states of the transition state complex BrHBr from the bihalide ion BrHBr−
Authors: Delgado-Granados Luis H. , Arango Carlos A. , López José G.
Published: August 2022

A control scheme to prepare quasi-bound vibrational states of the unstable complex BrHBr is proposed using sequences of IR linear chirped laser pulses to achieve specific vibrational states of the bihalide ion BrHBr−.
Lattice dynamics across the ferroelastic phase transition in Ba2ZnTeO6: a Raman and first-principles study
Authors: Badola Shalini , Mukherjee Supratik , Ghosh B. , Sunil Greeshma , Vaitheeswaran G. , Garcia-Castro A. C. , Saha Surajit
Published: August 2022

We examine various aspects and the origin of ferroelastic structural transition in Ba2ZnTeO6 using Raman spectroscopy and first-principles calculations investigating the phonon behavior.
Insights into the directions to increase turnover frequency and turnover number during photochemical water oxidation with molecular Ru catalysts
Authors: Pokhrel Indira , Reddy Guda Dinneswara , Kwon Taejin , Choi Eungyeong , Chun Yu Sung , Lee Sang Tak , Sung Bong June , Lee Duck Hyung , Bin Oh Han , Yoon Kyung Byung
Published: August 2022

Four novel and three known mono Ru water oxidation catalysts were prepared and their photocatalytic performances in terms of turnover frequency (TOF) and turnover number (TON) were analyzed, and new directions to increase TOF and TON were presented.
Tracing the degradation pathway of temephos pesticide achieved with photocatalytic ZnO nanostructured films
Authors: Serrano-Lázaro Amauri , Verdín-Betancourt Francisco Alberto , Jayaraman Vinoth Kumar , Hernández-Gordillo Agileo , López-González Ma. de Lourdes , Sierra-Santoyo Adolfo , Santana Guillermo , Bizarro Monserrat
Published: August 2022

The degradation pathway of temephos pesticide was elucidated using efficient photocatalytic ZnO nanowire and flower-like films. The monitoring of the subproducts is crucial as they are even more toxic than the original pesticide.
Plasmon-driven methanol oxidation on PtAg nanoalloys prepared by improved pulsed laser deposition
Authors: Wang Junpeng , Guo Longfei , Pan Bowei , Jin Tao , Li Zhen , Tang Quan , Andreazza Pascal , Chen Yu , An Liang , Chen Fuyi
Published: August 2022

We proposed a general strategy for alloying silver and platinum elements into single-phase solid-solution nanoparticles with arbitrarily desired composition by bonding pure Pt targets with pure Ag strips in an improved pulsed laser deposition.
Concluding remarks: Faraday Discussion on unimolecular reactions
Authors: Green William H.
Published: August 2022

100 years after Lindemann, advances in prediction and measurement of reactions are summarized. Needed next steps, including extensions to liquid phase, are highlighted.
Investigation on brewer's spent yeast as a bio-vehicle for encapsulation of natural colorants from pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) peels
Authors: Rubio Fernanda Thaís Vieira , Haminiuk Charles Windson Isidoro , Santos Priscila Dayane de Freitas , Martelli-Tosi Milena , Thomazini Marcelo , Balieiro Júlio César de Carvalho , Makimori Gustavo Yasuo Figueiredo , Fávaro-Trindade Carmen Sílvia
Published: August 2022

Brewer's spent yeast (BSY) Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been explored as a bio-vehicle for the encapsulation of bioactive compounds and as a delivery system.
An agar–polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel loaded with tannic acid with efficient hemostatic and antibacterial capacity for wound dressing
Authors: Cheng Can , Peng Xu , Xi Linjie , Wan Chang , Shi Shubin , Wang Yuhang , Yu Xixun
Published: August 2022

Rapid hemostasis, antibacterial effect and promotion of wound healing are the most important functions that wound dressings need to have.
On-substrate fabrication of a self-activated nanostructured ZnO gas sensor
Authors: Alenezi Mohammad R. , Almeshal Abdullah M. , Alkhaledi Abdullah N. F. N. R.
Published: August 2022

A rationally controlled, seedless, and position-selective hydrothermal method is applied to fabricate high-performance self-activated (ZnO) nano-needle (ZNN) GSs directly on a substrate.
Synthesis and properties of multi-functionalized graphene quantum dots with tunable photoluminescence and hydrophobicity from asphaltene and its oxidized and reduced derivatives
Authors: Aghajamali Maryam , Vieira Mariana Arpini , Firouzi-Haji Razieh , Cui Kai , Cho Jae-Young , Bergren Adam Johan , Hassanzadeh Hassan , Meldrum Alkiviathes
Published: August 2022

Graphene quantum dots with tunable photoluminescence and hydrophobicity were synthesized from an abundant natural carbon source containing nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen heteroatoms.
Influence of Cu–Zn co-doping on the degradation performance of a Ti/SnO2–Sb anode
Authors: Jia Ji-Ping , Zhang Yu-Lu , Gou Jin-Yu , Zhang Yi-Xuan , Dai Yu-Ke , Ge Hong-Hua , Zhao Yu-Zeng , Meng Xin-Jing
Published: August 2022

A Ti/SnO2–Sb–Cu–Zn electrode was prepared for the electrocatalytic oxidation of Acid Red 18 (AR18).
Combined spin filtering actions in hybrid magnetic junctions based on organic chains covalently attached to graphene
Authors: Martin Pascal , Dlubak Bruno , Mattana Richard , Seneor Pierre , Martin Marie-Blandine , Henner Théo , Godel Florian , Sander Anke , Collin Sophie , Chen Linsai , Suffit Stéphan , Mallet François , Lafarge Philippe , Della Rocca Maria Luisa , Droghetti Andrea , Barraud Clément
Published: August 2022

Spin filtering effect across hybrid graphene/molecule heterostructures connected by ferromagnetic electrodes.
A nanoarchitecture of a gold cluster conjugated gold nanorod hybrid system and its application in fluorescence imaging and plasmonic photothermal therapy
Authors: Nair Resmi V. , Puthiyaparambath Muhammed Fasil , Chatanathodi Raghu , Nair Lakshmi V. , Jayasree Ramapurath S.
Published: August 2022

Engineering different nanomaterials into a single functional material can impart unique properties of the parental nanoparticles, especially in the field of bio imaging and therapy.
Functionalization of antimonene and bismuthene with Lewis acids
Authors: Barua Manaswee , Ayyub Mohd Monis , Acharya Shashidhara , Rao C. N. R.
Published: August 2022

Lewis acid–base adduct formation in antimonene and bismuthene with group 12 and 13 Lewis acids leads to the tuning of the band structure along with surface passivation.
Synthetic carbon nanomaterials for electrochemical energy conversion
Authors: Wang Lanlan , Liu Zhenpeng , Zhang Jian
Published: August 2022

We summarize the key progress in the synthesis strategies of carbon nanomaterials and the underlying relationship between their atomic/molecular structure and electrocatalytic performance.
Expression of concern: Surface-dependent band structure variations and bond-level deviations in Cu2O
Authors: Liu Wenjun
Published: August 2022

Expression of concern for ‘Surface-dependent band structure variations and bond-level deviations in Cu2O’ by Chih-Shan Tan and Michael H. Huang, Inorg. Chem. Front., 2021, 8, 4200–4208, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1QI00733E.
Towards better syntheses of partially methylated carbohydrates?
Authors: Petitpoisson Lucas , Pichette André , Alsarraf Jérôme
Published: August 2022

We give an overview of the reported synthetic strategies towards partially methylated glycosides and discuss how better protocols could stem from catalytic site-selective transformations of carbohydrates and cleaner methylation reagents.
Acetoxymethyl-BODIPY dyes: a universal platform for the fluorescent labeling of nucleophiles
Authors: Blázquez-Moraleja Alberto , Maierhofer Larissa , Mann Enrique , Prieto-Montero Ruth , Oliden-Sánchez Ainhoa , Celada Lucía , Martínez-Martínez Virginia , Chiara María-Dolores , Chiara Jose Luis
Published: August 2022

A general and robust methodology has been developed for the direct incorporation of a wide variety of C-, N-, P-, O-, S-, and halo-nucleophiles into functional BODIPY conjugates in a single reaction step.
Theoretical study of induced selective N2 binding under an electric field in MOF-74: application for N2/CH4 separations
Authors: Kim Honghui , Kim Jihan
Published: August 2022

External electric field increases the π* back-bonding (metal–N2) while weakening the σ bond (metal–CH4). This asymmetric effect enhances N2/CH4 separation performance in MOF-74.
Investigations into mechanism and origin of regioselectivity in the metallaphotoredox-catalyzed α-arylation of N-alkylbenzamides
Authors: Rand Alexander W. , Chen Mo , Montgomery John
Published: August 2022

A mechanistic study of the α-arylation of N-alkylbenzamides catalyzed by a dual nickel/photoredox system using aryl bromides elucidates the origins of site-selectivity of the transformation and identifies the hydrogen atom transfer agent.
Acid-base-induced fac → mer isomerization of luminescent iridium(iii) complexes
Authors: Yu. Gitlina Anastasia , Fadaei-Tirani Farzaneh , Ruggi Albert , Plaice Carolina , Severin Kay
Published: August 2022

From fac to mer and back: a clean, fast and simple procedure for the transformation of fac-Ir(C^N)3 complexes into the thermodynamically less stable mer isomers is described. The process enables the interconversion of luminophores with distinct photophysical properties.
Annealing and melting of active two-dimensional soliton lattices in chiral nematic films
Authors: Shen Yuan , Dierking Ingo
Published: August 2022

Electrically driven solitons called directrons are used to investigate the out-of-equilibrium two-dimensional melting transition of hexatic phases. For increasing voltage the lattice exhibits a first order hexatic to liquid phase transition.
Determination of specific and non-specific protein–protein interactions for beta-lactoglobulin by analytical ultracentrifugation and membrane osmometry experiments
Authors: Uttinger M. J. , Hundschell C. S. , Lautenbach V. , Pusara S. , Bäther S. , Heyn T. R. , Keppler J. K. , Wenzel W. , Walter J. , Kozlowska M. , Wagemans A. M. , Peukert W.
Published: August 2022

Protein–protein interactions are essential for the understanding of biological processes.
Insights on the work function of the current collector surface in anode-free lithium metal batteries
Authors: Jung Jinkwan , Kim Ju Ye , Kim Il Ju , Kwon Hyeokjin , Kim Gukbo , Doo Gisu , Jo Wonhee , Jung Hee-Tae , Kim Hee-Tak
Published: August 2022

We demonstrate the relationship between the work function of current collector and electrolyte decomposition. This work can give an insight into how to design the electronic structure of current collector for advanced anode-free LMBs.
Li trapping in nanolayers of cation ‘disordered’ rock salt cathodes
Authors: Diaz-Lopez Maria , Chater Philip A. , Proux Olivier , Joly Yves , Hazemann Jean-Louis , Bordet Pierre , Pralong Valerie
Published: August 2022

Cation rearrangement during cycling of a Li1.1Mn0.7Ti0.2O2 cathode with a disordered rock-salt structure forms in situ a short-range ordered superstructure changing the connectivity of Li-migration channels and the electrochemical performance.
Local structure and ion storage properties of vanadate cathode materials regulated by the pre-alkalization
Authors: Shan Xiaoqiang , Kim SaeWon , Abeykoon Milinda , Kwon Gihan , Olds Daniel , Teng Xiaowei
Published: August 2022

Alkali metal-ions (A: Li, Na, K) regulate the local structure and long-range order of nanostructured vanadate materials for improved electrochemical performance in zinc-ion batteries.
Hollow Mo-doped NiSx nanoarrays decorated with NiFe layered double-hydroxides for efficient and stable overall water splitting
Authors: Li Yanyan , Guo Haoran , Zhang Yao , Zhang Haotian , Zhao Jiayang , Song Rui
Published: August 2022

The hollow core–shell Mo-NiSx@NiFe LDH/NF catalyst combining the intrinsic merits of sulfides and LDH exhibits fast reaction kinetics and electrochemical activity, leading to enhanced activity for the OER and HER and superior stability.
Laminated ferroelectric polymer composites exhibit synchronous ultrahigh discharge efficiency and energy density via utilizing multiple-interface barriers
Authors: Chen Jie , Zhang Xiaoyong , Wang Zhen , Chen Weixing , Yuan Qibin , Wang Yifei
Published: August 2022

A laminated ferroelectric polymer composite displays an enormous approximately 800% enhancement of the maximum energy storage with greater than 90% efficiency over the top-ranking dielectrics.
Heparin-coated iron oxide nanoparticles: application as a liver contrast agent, toxicity and pharmacokinetics
Authors: Fakhardo Anna , Anastasova Elizaveta , Makarov Victor , Ikonnikova Evgeniia , Kulko Ekaterina , Agadzhanian Nikol , Yakunina Marina , Shkodenko Liubov , Tsvetikova Sofia , Toropko Maria , Koshel Elena , Zakharov Mikhail , Alexandrov Georgii , Khuttunen Olga , Kulikov Pavel , Burmistrov Oleg , Vinogradov Vladimir , Prilepskii Artur
Published: August 2022

We have shown the application heparin-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (Hep-IONPs) as the MRI contrast agent, investigated its in vivo toxicity and pharmacokinetics.
Timing performance of lead halide perovskite nanoscintillators embedded in a polystyrene matrix
Authors: Děcká Kateřina , Pagano Fiammetta , Frank Isabel , Kratochwil Nicolaus , Mihóková Eva , Auffray Etiennette , Čuba Václav
Published: August 2022

Nanocrystals of CsPbBr3 have been incorporated in a polystyrene matrix with 1–10% weight filling factors. Samples were characterized with the main focus on their timing capability under soft X-ray irradiation for application as ultrafast scintillation detectors.
Modulating the charge trapping characteristics of PEI/BNNPs dilute nanocomposite for improved high-temperature energy storage performance
Authors: Yan Jingjing , Wang Jian , Zeng Junyang , Shen Zhonghui , Li Baowen , Zhang Xin , Zhang Shujun
Published: August 2022

The incorporation of an ultralow volume fraction of boron nitride nanoparticles can modulate the charge trapping characteristics of polyetherimide nanocomposites, leading to improved high-temperature energy storage performances.
Machine learning for screening active metabolites with metabolomics in environmental science
Authors: Luan Hemi
Published: August 2022

The current challenges and opportunities for machine learning in the interdisciplinary fields of metabolomics and environmental science.
Developmental Changes in Coarticulation Degree Relate to Differences in Articulatory Patterns: An Empirically Grounded Modeling Approach
Authors: Abakarova Dzhuma , Fuchs Susanne , Noiray Aude
Published: August 2022

Purpose:

Coarticulatory effects in speech vary across development, but the sources of this variation remain unclear. This study investigated whether developmental differences in intrasyllabic coarticulation degree could be explained by differences in children's articulatory patterns compared to adults.

Method:

To address this question, we first compared the tongue configurations of 3- to 7-year-old German children to those of adults. The observed developmental differences were then examined through simulations with Task Dynamics Application, a Task Dynamics simulation system, to establish which articulatory modifications could best reproduce the empirical results. To generate syllables simulating the lack of tongue gesture differentiation, we tested three simulation scenarios.

Results:

We found that younger speakers use less differentiated articulatory patterns to achieve alveolar constrictions than adults. The simulations corresponding to undifferentiated control of tongue tip and tongue body resulted in (a) tongue shapes similar to those observed in natural speech and (b) higher degrees of intrasyllabic coarticulation in children when compared to adults.

Conclusions:

Results provide evidence that differences in articulatory patterns contribute to developmental differences in coarticulation degree. This study further shows that empirically informed modeling can advance our understanding of changes in coarticulatory patterns across age.
Interactive Effects of Temperament and Family-Related Environmental Confusion on Spoken Language in Children Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Authors: Bowdrie Kristina , Holt Rachael Frush , Houston Derek M.
Published: August 2022

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of caregivers' reports of family-related environmental confusion—which refers to the level of overstimulation in the family home environment due to auditory and nonauditory (i.e., visual and cognitive) noise—on the relation between child temperament and spoken language outcomes in children who are deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) in comparison to age-matched children with typical hearing (TH).

Method:

Two groups of families with children between 3 and 7 years of age (TH = 59, DHH = 58) were sequentially recruited from a larger longitudinal study on developmental outcomes in children who are DHH. Caregivers (all TH) completed questionnaires measuring three dimensions of child temperament (i.e., effortful control, negative affectivity, and surgency–extraversion) and family-related environmental confusion. A norm-referenced language measure was administered to children. Testing took place within the families' homes.

Results:

For children who are DHH, effortful control was positively related to spoken language outcomes, but only when levels of family-related environmental confusion were low to moderate. Family-related environmental confusion did not interact with temperament to influence spoken language in children with TH.

Conclusions:

Homes with low-to-moderate levels of environmental confusion provide an environment that supports DHH children with better effortful control to harness their self-regulatory skills to achieve better spoken language comprehension than those with lower levels of effortful control. These findings suggest that efforts to minimize chaos and auditory noise in the home create an environment in which DHH children can utilize their self-regulatory skills to achieve optimal spoken language outcomes.
Fast reconstruction of feedback polynomials for synchronous scramblers in a noisy environment
Authors: Ding Yong , Huang Zhiping , Zhou Jing
Published: August 2022

As one of the key technologies of modern communication, a linear scrambler is a technique to randomize the data to be transmitted at the bit layer to improve the timing recovery and confidentiality of the transmitted data. Therefore, the reconstruction of scramblers under non‐cooperative communication conditions has attracted extensive research interest. Existing efficient reconstruction methods are implemented by traversing the primitive polynomial of all orders, leading to extremely high computational complexity. Here, a fast reconstruction method for feedback polynomials of synchronous scramblers is proposed. The order of the feedback polynomial is first estimated by a hypothesis testing method, and then the primitive polynomial of the corresponding order is traversed to reduce the traversal range of the primitive polynomial, which greatly reduces the computational complexity of the reconstruction method. The simulation results verify the performance of the scheme.
Outage analysis for multi‐BD symbiotic radio system
Authors: Zhang Dan , Zhu Qi
Published: August 2022

Symbiotic radio (SR) is a new spectrum sharing paradigm that allows backscatter device (BD) to transmit information over the ambient radio frequency signal, where the BD is parasitic in the primary transmission, and the secondary system (i.e. backscatter system) shares not only the same spectrum but also the same receiver with the primary system. Here, a multi‐BD SR system with a primary transmitter (PT), a cooperative receiver (CR) and two backscatter devices (BDs), that is, BD1 and BD2 is studied. The accurate expressions for the outage probability of both primary system and secondary system are derived. Simulation results verify the correctness of this theoretical analysis. Additionally, the effect of the distance parameters (i.e. the distance of the backscatter links) on the outage probability of BD1 and BD2 when the backscatter coefficients are fixed is investigated. Simulation results indicate that the desired outage performance can be obtained by adjusting the distance parameters. Finally, the performance of the multi‐BD SR system is compared with the SR system containing only one BD, and the results show that the multi‐BD SR system can enable the backscatter system to achieve better rate performance, which highlights the importance of applying multi‐BD to the SR system.
Few‐shot classification using Gaussianisation prototypical classifier
Authors: Liu Fan , Li Feifan , Yang Sai
Published: August 2022

Few‐shot classification (FSC) aims at classifying query samples into correct classes given only a few labelled samples. Prototypical Classifier (PC) can be chosen to be an ideal classifier for settling this problem, as it has good properties of low‐capacity and parameter‐free. However, the mean‐based prototypes suffer from the issue of deviating from its ground‐truth centre. In order to solve such problem of prototype bias, Gaussianisation Prototypical Classifier (GPC) is proposed, which is a kind of one‐step prototype rectification method. Specifically, the authors first perform Gaussianisation operation over the feature extracted from the backbone network so that the features fit the particular Gaussian distribution. Second, the authors use prototype feature of the base class as prior information and employs Maximum a Posteriori estimation method to obtain the reliable prototype for each novel class. Finally, the query sample of novel class is classified to be its nearest prototype with non‐parametric classifiers. Extensive experiments have been conducted on multiple FSC benchmarks. Comparative results also demonstrate that the authors’ method is superior to existing state‐of‐the‐art FSC methods.
End‐to‐end power equipment detection and localization with RM transformer
Authors: Fang Jian , Wang Youyuan , Chen Weigen
Published: August 2022

Power equipment detection and localization is the key component of automatic inspection tasks in substations. To solve the challenges such as complex environment and lack of training data, utilization of context information is considered here. For substation scenes, object relation modelling (RM) is proven to be useful, but an end‐to‐end efficient framework which is suitable for non‐Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) is still missing. Therefore, an extended Transformer network with an elaborately designed RM module is proposed. As the foundation, transformer network is better than CNN in terms of context dependency construction. On top of that, an RM module is plugged to adjust the decoded feature embeddings based on their appearance, position and class information. The module is based on a graph attention neural network which uses similarity as weights of nodes. The experiments show that the proposed method has a 16.2% improvement in accuracy compared to pipeline, and even 6.4% higher than the most recent models, largely promoting the construction of intelligent substations.
Feature difference for single‐shot object detection
Authors: Zeng Tao , Xu Feng , Lyu Xin , Li Xin , Wang Xinyuan , Chen Jiale , Wu Caifeng
Published: August 2022

The one‐stage detectors achieve a good trade‐off between performance and latency, owing to the plain architecture and divergent learning mechanism for classification and localization. However, the two sub‐tasks require features with various inherency with which to generate inconsistent detections, fettering detectors. In this study, the misalignment is deeply analyzed via kernel density estimation (KDE) for the first time. Moreover, to address the misalignment, a plug‐and‐play detection head, named Diff‐Head, is devised and embedded in one‐stage detectors. Concretely, the authors merge parallel branches into a semi‐parallel structure, establishing the correlation between classification and regression. In the regression branch, a feature difference module (FDM) gets rid of the features that favour classification by subtracting salient object features from the original feature map, and position encoding (PE) modules enhance the absolute position information. The flexibility and efficiency of the detection head are retained. Experiments on Pascal visual object classes (VOC) and MS COCO demonstrate that Diff‐Head is effective and achieves competitive performance with state‐of‐the‐art detectors. Meanwhile, the amount of parameters is reduced at least 30% and 83.0% average precision (AP) is achieved on Pascal VOC. The analyses of consistency and error show that Diff‐Head has better localization and the capability of mitigating the misalignment.
Combine unlabeled with labeled MR images to measure acute ischemic stroke lesion by stepwise learning
Authors: Zhao Bin , Liu Zhiyang , Liu Guohua , Wu Mengran , Cao Chen , Jin Song , Wu Hong , Ding Shuxue
Published: August 2022

Acute ischemic stroke is a common threat to human health and may obtain timely treatment by fast localizing and quantitatively evaluating the lesions. Most CNN‐based methods try to segment and measure the lesions, however, they require a training on a large number of labeled subjects that are labor‐intensive and time‐consuming to obtain. In this paper, a method is proposed that can combine limited labeled subjects with abundant unlabeled subjects to alleviate the problem. The proposed method consists of two stages: stepwise learning process and segmentation process. Stepwise learning is used to obtain the pretrained encoder. The pretrained encoder and the proposed decoder are connected into a new end‐to‐end segmentation network, which is retrained on the labeled subjects in the segmentation process. By using 5 labeled subjects and 79 unlabeled subjects, the proposed method achieves a mean dice coefficient of 0.6630.205, a mean average symmetric surface distance (ASSD) of 2.17 mm and a mean 95 percentile Hausdorff distance (HD) of 18.38 mm on a clinical MR dataset with 179 subjects. More importantly, it achieves lesion‐wise F1 score of 0.857 and a subject‐wise detection rate of 0.966.
Infrared and visible image fusion for ship targets based on scale‐aware feature decomposition
Authors: Zheng Xin , Kang Di , Si Pengbo , Wu Qiang
Published: August 2022

Infrared (IR) and visible (VI) image fusion play an important role in improving the sea scene perception and ship target detection. Although there have been many studies on image fusion considering the sea scene characteristics, there has still been no adequate extraction method for detailed information of a ship target in a sea scene. To overcome this shortcoming, this paper proposes a fusion method based on a scale‐aware feature decomposition, which can accurately extract features of a ship target at different scales. First, a hybrid feature decomposition method based on the scale‐aware structure‐preserving filter and Gaussian filter is designed. The proposed method separated source images into region, structure, and texture layers, and thus achieved a finer‐scale division than traditional multiscale decomposition methods in the sea‐clutter background. Then, further decomposition of the texture layer was performed by the shearlet transform to obtain the directional texture feature. According to the characteristics of each layer, different strategies were adopted for the fusion, and the weighting factor was used to obtain the final fusion result. Experimental results indicated that the proposed method could achieve better subjective and objective results than current state‐of‐the‐art methods. This method introduces a scale‐aware edge preserving filter to improve the ability of detail extraction and is suitable for image fusion of ship targets.
A novel switching method in PV‐fed quasi‐ZSI‐DVR for voltage quality enhancement of photovoltaic integrated networks
Authors: Moghassemi Ali , Vanaja Dishore Shunmugham , Olamaei Javad , Ozkan Gokhan , Edrington Christopher S.
Published: August 2022

In this work, a novel switching method for the photovoltaic‐fed (PV‐fed) dynamic voltage restorer (DVR) system based on a quasi‐Z‐source inverter (quasi‐ZSI) is proposed. This proposed switching control strategy is implemented in such a way that a wider voltage boost gain and lower voltage stress across the switches and capacitors are achieved. The major drawback with the traditional switching method is that always three switches will be in conduction. However, in the proposed switching method, only two switches are triggered simultaneously to achieve the required output. It also obviates the need for zero states. The proposed switching method for the PV‐fed quasi‐ZSI‐DVR provides an accurate compensation for various voltage disturbances, such as sags, swells, and interruptions, thereby eliminating the voltage harmonics at the point of common coupling. The integration of PV and battery is suggested for the quasi‐ZSI‐DVR to tackle the pertinent issue regarding sporadically transferring energy in the PV arrays and also recharging of batteries. Simulation and experimental results validate the suitability of the proposed PV‐fed quasi‐ZSI‐DVR configuration with the proposed switching control method. It is inferred that the proposed system provides the lowest voltage harmonics and additional benefits like smaller capacitors, higher voltage gain, and lower voltage stress rates.
Wavelength-resolved reverberation mapping of quasar CTS C30.10: Dissecting Mg II and Fe II emission regions
Authors: Prince Raj , Zajaček Michal , Czerny Bożena , Trzcionkowski Piotr , Bronikowski Mateusz , Sobrino Figaredo Catalina , Panda Swayamtrupta , Martinez-Aldama Mary Loli , Hryniewicz Krzysztof , Kumar Jaiswal Vikram , Śniegowska Marzena , Naddaf Mohammad-Hassan , Bilicki Maciej , Haas Martin , Jacek Sarna Marek , Karas Vladimir , Olejak Aleksandra , Przyłuski Robert , Rałowski Mateusz , Udalski Andrzej , Sefako Ramotholo R. , Genade Anja , Worters Hannah L.
Published: August 2022

Context. We present the results of the reverberation monitoring of the Mg II broad line and Fe II pseudocontinuum for the luminous quasar CTS C30.10 (z = 0.90052) with the Southern African Large Telescope in 2012–2021.

Aims. We aimed at disentangling the Mg II and UV Fe II variability and the first measurement of UV Fe II time delay for a distant quasar.

Methods. We used several methods for the time-delay measurements and determined the Fe II and Mg II time delays. We also performed a wavelength-resolved time delay study for a combination of Mg II and Fe II in the 2700–2900 Å rest-frame wavelength range.

Results. We obtain a time delay for Mg II of 275.5−19.5+12.4 days in the rest frame, and we have two possible solutions of 270.0−25.3+13.8 days and 180.3−30.0+26.6 in the rest frame for Fe II. Combining this result with the old measurement of Fe II UV time delay for NGC 5548, we discuss for first time the radius-luminosity relation for UV Fe II with the slope consistent with 0.5 within the uncertainties.

Conclusions. Because the Fe II time delay has a shorter time-delay component but the lines are narrower than Mg II, we propose that the line-delay measurement is biased toward the part of the broad line region (BLR) facing the observer. The bulk of the Fe II emission may arise from the more distant BLR region, however, the region that is shielded from the observer.
Stereoselective Synthesis of Acyclic Skeleton of Boscartin A
Authors: Goswami Rajib Kumar , Saha Dhiman , Sahana Moinul Haque , Mandal Gour Hari
Published: August 2022

Stereoselective synthesis of key acyclic skeleton of structurally challenging and biologically active boscartin A possessing six stereogenic centers, among which three are tertiary, has been achieved for the first time. The synthetic study comprises the Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation (SAE) followed by stereoselective epoxide opening for installation of C-11 and C-12 centers, Meyer–Schuster rearrangement followed by intramolecular oxa-Michael addition for construction of C-1 center, SAE followed by CBS reduction and subsequent cycloetherification for stereoselective generation of C-3, C-4, and C-7 centers, Gilman reaction for introduction of C-9 olefin and Grignard reaction for installation of C-8 olefin.