bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bacteriophage‐Loaded Poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) Microparticles Mitigate Staphylococcus aureus Infection and Cocultures of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Kalelkar Pranav P. , Moustafa Dina A. , Riddick Milan , Goldberg Joanna B. , McCarty Nael A. , García Andrés J. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractLung infections caused by Gram‐positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and coinfections caused by S. aureus and Gram‐negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) are challenging to treat, especially with the rise in the number of antibiotic‐resistant strains of these pathogens. Bacteriophage (phage) are bacteria‐specific viruses that can infect and lyse bacteria, providing a potentially effective therapy for bacterial infections. However, the development of bacteriophage therapy is impeded by limited suitable biomaterials that can facilitate effective delivery of phage to the lung. Here, the ability of porous microparticles engineered from poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA), a biodegradable polyester, to effectively deliver phage to the lung, is demonstrated. The phage‐loaded microparticles (phage‐MPs) display potent antimicrobial efficacy against various strains of S. aureus in vitro and in vivo, and arrest the growth of a clinical isolate of S. aureus in the presence of sputum supernatant obtained from cystic fibrosis patients. Moreover, phage‐MPs efficiently mitigate in vitro cocultures of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa and display excellent cytocompatibility with human lung epithelial cells. Therefore, phage‐MPs represents a promising therapy to treat bacterial lung infection.
KTaO3—The New Kid on the Spintronics Block
Authors: Gupta Anshu , Silotia Harsha , Kumari Anamika , Dumen Manish , Goyal Saveena , Tomar Ruchi , Wadehra Neha , Ayyub Pushan , Chakraverty Suvankar 
Published: December 2021

AbstractLong after the heady days of high‐temperature superconductivity, the oxides came back into the limelight in 2004 with the discovery of the 2D electron gas (2DEG) in SrTiO3 (STO) and several heterostructures based on it. Not only do these materials exhibit interesting physics, but they have also opened up new vistas in oxide electronics and spintronics. However, much of the attention has recently shifted to KTaO3 (KTO), a material with all the “good” properties of STO (simple cubic structure, high mobility, etc.) but with the additional advantage of a much larger spin‐orbit coupling. In this state‐of‐the‐art review of the fascinating world of KTO, it is attempted to cover the remarkable progress made, particularly in the last five years. Certain unsolved issues are also indicated, while suggesting future research directions as well as potential applications. The range of physical phenomena associated with the 2DEG trapped at the interfaces of KTO‐based heterostructures include spin polarization, superconductivity, quantum oscillations in the magnetoresistance, spin‐polarized electron transport, persistent photocurrent, Rashba effect, topological Hall effect, and inverse Edelstein Effect. It is aimed to discuss, on a single platform, the various fabrication techniques, the exciting physical properties and future application possibilities of this family of materials.
DNA Supramolecular Hydrogel as a Biocompatible Artificial Vitreous Substitute
Authors: Jin Yu , Li Yujie , Song Sijia , Ding Yuqiao , Dong Yuanchen , Lu Yao , Liu Dongsheng , Zhang Chun 
Published: December 2021

AbstractPars plana vitrectomy plays an important role in treating serious ophthalmic diseases, which requires subsequent substitution of the natural vitreous. However, the current substitutes are known for the drawbacks in instability, toxicity, and injection‐induced fragmentation, so there is a very urgent need in novel artificial vitreous substitute for clinical practice. In this study, DNA supramolecular hydrogel is evaluated as a potential artificial vitreous substitute. It is observed that DNA supramolecular hydrogel exhibits relatively strong mechanical strength, shear‐thinning behavior, rapid recoverability, and other physical properties similar to the human vitreous body. The in vivo experiments further prove the injectability, excellent biocompatibility, and in vivo stability. With the support of the DNA supramolecular hydrogel, the morphology and basic functions of the operated eyes are well recovered without obvious inflammation, which demonstrate the DNA supramolecular hydrogel shows enormous potential as vitreous substitute.
Non‐Swelling and Anti‐Fouling MXene Nanocomposite Hydrogels for Underwater Strain Sensing
Authors: He Shaoshuai , Sun Xia , Qin Zhihui , Dong Xiaoru , Zhang Haitao , Shi Mingyue , Yao Fanglian , Zhang Hong , Li Junjie 
Published: December 2021

AbstractFlexible wearable sensors are of interest for underwater applications such as aquatic robots and marine exploration. Non‐swelling hydrogels would be a preferable candidate for underwater sensing with stable sensing performance. Herein, hydrogels comprised of MXene and polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate (PHEMA) are designed and manufactured. Owing to the synergistic effect of phase separation zones and hydrophilic/hydrophobic interaction, MXene/PHEMA hydrogels exhibit non‐swelling performance in various liquid media (e.g., water, seawater) and effectively avoid the adhesion of proteins and bacteria. In addition, MXene/PHEMA hydrogels exhibit a large sensing range (more than 400%), high tensile strength (0.54 MPa), and skin‐compliance modulus (120 kPa). Furthermore, the resulted hydrogel‐based sensors possess superior sensibility (4.42 at 150–450% strain), fast responsiveness (200 ms), and durable sensing ability (over 1000 cycles). The hydrogel‐based sensors can accurately monitor human motions (both large and subtle motions) in air and in various liquid media. Benefiting from the non‐swelling and anti‐fouling ability, the hydrogels could maintain high mechanical strength and cyclic stability after being immersed in water for 30 days, and precisely detect the movement of human and shark models underwater. It is conceivable that non‐swelling and anti‐fouling MXene/PHEMA hydrogels provide a feasible material to construct electronic skins for various harsh liquid environments.
Tunable Anti‐Stokes‐Shift Behaviors Based on Intramolecular Charge Transfer Characteristics of Diarylethene Derivatives
Authors: Shi Yonghong , Han Jianlei , Jin Xue , Duan Pengfei 
Published: December 2021

AbstractUnderstanding the rules for designing anti‐Stokes emission induced by hot‐band absorption is crucial for developing novel materials for optical devices and biology. However, there are very few published reports on hot‐band‐absorption‐based single‐photon upconversion (HBA‐UC) materials, mainly because the rules for designing these molecules are poorly understood. Herein, HBA‐UC is investigated in a series of diarylethene derivatives (DAEs), namely benzothiophene S, S‐dioxide derivatives, which possess photochromic and photofluorochromic properties. All these DAEs show photoswitchable Stokes emission and HBA‐UC emission. Regulating the substituent groups enables flexibly adjustment of the HBA‐UC properties. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) between benzothiophene 1,1‐dioxide core and substituent groups is responsible for the emission properties of HBA‐UC. Furthermore, it is confirmed that the strong intensity of the ICT in DAEs can improve the scale of the anti‐Stokes shift. These findings provide a new direction for exploiting ICT feature in the design of HBA‐UC materials.
Simple Strategy for Scalable Preparation Carbon Dots: RTP, Time‐Dependent Fluorescence, and NIR Behaviors
Authors: Bai Jianliang , Yuan Guojun , Chen Xu , Zhang Lu , Zhu Yaqing , Wang Xinyu , Ren Lili 
Published: December 2021

AbstractTransforming carbon dots (CDs) fluorescent materials into smart materials with complex functions is a topic of great interest to nanoscience. However, designing CDs with regulating fluorescence/phosphorescence that can be visually monitored with the environment changes in real‐time remains a challenge. Here, a very simple strategy, one‐step solvent‐free catalytic assistant strategy, which is low cost, facile, environment‐friendly, and high throughput, is put forward. Hydrogen bond is used to manipulate nanostructure of CDs, and the obtained carbon dots (M‐CDs) show a series of attractive properties including matrix‐free room‐temperature phosphorescence, time‐dependent fluorescence, and near‐infrared emissive characteristics. Different from the traditional aggregation caused quenching or aggregation‐induced emission fluorescent materials, M‐CDs exhibit unprecedented and unique dispersion induced redshift fluorescence phenomenon, promoting the studies of fluorescence from static to dynamic. The causes of this phenomenon are further analyzed in detail. As a kind of intelligent fluorescent materials, this new designed CDs greatly enrich the basic recognition of CDs by illustrating the relationship between redshift fluorescence behaviors and the dispersion states, and may provide with an opportunity for solid‐state fluorescent materials, anti‐counterfeiting, cellular imaging, and hopefully many others.
Community‐engaged asset mapping with Latinx immigrant families of youth with disabilities
Authors: Suarez‐Balcazar Yolanda , Early Amy , Miranda Daniela E. , Marquez Hannah , Maldonado Ashley , Garcia‐Ramirez Manuel 
Published: December 2021

AbstractAsset mapping is a participatory methodology that engages community members in identifying services and settings that promote health and well‐being. This study aimed to identify community assets from the perspective of Latinx immigrant families with youth with disabilities. Latinx immigrant families (n = 21) participated in the mapping, followed by a reflection session and an open forum (n = 30). The findings revealed that families identified faith‐based organizations and social service agencies as some of the main assets in their communities, while they identified mental health services as the most needed. The results also showed that participants preferred to utilize services and resources that are within walking distance of their homes, provide safe spaces, treat them well, offer bilingual services, do not require documentation, and are affordable. This study has important implications for community scholars and practitioners interested in implementing asset‐based methodologies that focus on participants as experts of their own realities and agents of change and that promote advocacy and empowerment actions.
Health‐care utilization for sinusitis after pneumococcal vaccination in patients with low antibody titers
Authors: Bareiss Anna K. , Kattar Nrusheel , Tivis Rick , Unis Graham , Do Triet , Montelibano Lawrence , Price‐Haywood Eboni G. , McCoul Edward 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundPneumococcal antibody deficiency has been the subject of limited study in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and has not been studied in recurrent acute rhinosinusitis (RARS). The 23‐valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) is considered for patients with nonprotective Streptococcus pneumoniae titers. We hypothesized that both RARS and CRS patients with deficient S pneumoniae titers and subsequent PPSV23 vaccination would have reduced health‐care encounters for sinusitis and fewer prescriptions for antibiotics or steroids.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was performed of patient encounters between January 2011 and December 2019. All patients included were ≥18 and ≤65 years old with a diagnosis of CRS or RARS and pneumococcal titer data. Patients with immunodeficiency and comorbid conditions requiring PPSV23 vaccination before 65 years of age were excluded.ResultsA total of 938 patients were included in the study. Nonprotective antibody titers were present in 75.8% of CRS and 74.8% of RARS patients. A total of 306 patients with deficient antibody titers received the PPSV23 vaccine. Eighty‐nine percent of CRS and 90.1% of RARS patients had protective responses. Among the 217 patients with continuous data from 2 years before through 2 years after PPSV23 vaccination, a decrease in the number of encounter diagnoses of CRS (p < 0.0001) and RARS (p = 0.0006) was observed. Decreases in the frequency of antibiotic (p = 0.002) and corticosteroid (p = 0.04) prescriptions were also appreciated.ConclusionMost patients with CRS and RARS have nonprotective antibody titers. PPSV23 administration significantly decreases health‐care utilization.
Experimental study on flow properties of coal ash slag based on the image measurement method
Authors: Luo Jiawei , Zhou Hao , Wang Zhaowen , Ji Mengting , Meng Hanxiao , Fang Hao 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThis paper aims to reveal the effect of adding biomass ash on the flow characteristics of Zhundong (ZD) coal ash. A new visual image measurement method for the flowability of coal ash was established. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x‐ray diffraction (XRD) were applied to analyze the influence of surface morphology and mineral component on the fusion fluidity of the samples. The results show that the flow properties of ZD ash are improved to varying degrees after adding maize straw (MS) ash. As the blending ratio increases, the improvement of flow velocity is higher. The critical flow temperature (TC) of the samples was calculated. The TC of ZD ash was 1249°C, which decreased with the addition of MS ash. The characterization results showed that adding MS ash increased the melting phase, while the surface of the samples tended to be dense and smooth. Meanwhile, the massive formation of hauyne with a low melting point and the high proportion of SiO2/Al2O3 in the ash promotes the melting behavior of the ash slag. The flow velocity of the samples is improved under the combined action of the increase of the melting phase and the smooth surface.
Effect of amino acid‐triazine copolymer on intumescent flame retardant ethylene‐vinyl acetate
Authors: Wang Xinjun , Qian Lijun , Li Juan 
Published: December 2021

AbstractAmino acid‐triazine copolymer (CC‐Lys) was prepared by using lysine (Lys) and cyanuric chloride (CC). The structure and performance of CC‐Lys were tested by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The CC‐Lys, ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and organic montmorillonite (OMMT), were applied in ethylene‐vinyl acetate (EVA) to improve its flame retardancy. The results showed that 20 wt% APP/CC‐Lys/OMMT makes EVA achieve the UL‐94 V0 rating. The reactions among APP/CC‐Lys/OMMT release some incombustible gases and promote the formation of a porous char layer with good barrier performance during combustion. Moreover, the quality of the char layer is improved. In addition, the peak of heat release rate of EVA composite is reduced by 87% and time to ignition is delayed. This work provides a good flame retardant system for EVA.
Interfacial engineering of polydimethylsiloxane based dielectric elastomers with excellent electromechanical properties via incorporating polyphenol encapsulated multiwalled carbon nanotube
Authors: Chen Tao , Cai Cheng , Zhang Yan‐ting , Zhao Zeng , Zhang Shu‐yan , Wu Chong‐gang , Gong Xing‐hou , Hong Jiang , Hu Tao 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe paradox of obtaining dielectric elastomers (DEs) with both low modulus and high‐dielectric properties has long been puzzling researchers in this field. To solve this problem, a preliminary attempt is made here by solution compounding polyphenol nanoparticles modified multiwalled carbon nanotube (PNs@MWCNT) with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to obtain PDMS based DEs with excellent electromechanical properties. The PNs layer can improve the interfacial interaction between MWCNT and PDMS probably through interfacial hydrogen bonding, thus improving the dispersion of PNs@MWCNT in PDMS. Compared with pure MWCNT filled PDMS nanocomposites, despite the hardening effect brought by the filler network, a softening effect (i.e., decreased cross‐linking) by the finer filler‐dispersion enhances in PNs@MWCNT/PDMS, resulting in lower moduli. Meanwhile, the as‐prepared PNs@MWCNT/PDMS composites exhibit high permittivity, low‐dielectric loss and high‐breakdown strength. Finally, the PNs@MWCNT/PDMS nanocomposites show excellent electromechanical properties with a largest actuated strain of 7.4% at a breakdown strength of 13.1 kV/mm, which is 2.2 times that (3.3%@13.3 kV/mm) of MWCNT/PDMS and 3.9 times that (1.9%@18.8 kV/mm) of neat PDMS.
Life at the borderline: Responses of Ganges river dolphins to dry‐season flow regulation of river and canal habitats by the Farakka barrage
Authors: Samad Imran , Kelkar Nachiket , Krishnaswamy Jagdish 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

Modification of river flows by dams and barrages has fragmented riverine habitats and threatened the survival of Indian subcontinental river dolphins.
In this study, habitat use by endangered Ganges river dolphins in response to dry‐season operations (December‐March) of the Farakka barrage on the Ganga River, located about 20 km upstream of the India–Bangladesh border, was assessed.
Ten surveys were conducted in: (i) the Ganga River below the barrage, where rapid changes in water levels were expected owing to barrage operations; (ii) the Farakka feeder canal with stable water levels; and (iii) the Hooghly River downstream of the canal. Dolphin distribution, water depth, fishing boat count and temperature were recorded in all surveys and the data were analysed in a dynamic occupancy modelling framework. Temporal trends in river discharge, primary productivity and fish availability were also estimated to explain river dolphin responses.
Occupancy and colonization by dolphins increased in all stretches by spring/March, correlated with rising water temperature and increased fishing intensity, which was related to upstream migration of hilsa fish. In the Ganga River, dolphin occupancy in deep river pools remained stable, but resulted in increased overlap with fisheries as river flow declined. The feeder canal, with stable flows, witnessed increased colonization by dolphins, but also greater risk of bycatch in fishing nets. The canal that appeared as a hydrological refuge thus became an ‘ecological trap’.
The findings highlight the need for integration of flow maintenance and fishery regulations in the monitoring and management of canals as effective refuges for riverine species. We advocate the inclusion of ecological flow criteria and fishery regulations to reduce dolphin bycatch mortality, in the context of establishing river dolphin conservation plans and transboundary water‐sharing guidelines. The revision of the India–Bangladesh water‐sharing treaty in 2026 could incorporate the above considerations.
Dust storm simulation over the Sahara Desert (Moroccan and Mauritanian regions) using HYSPLIT
Authors: Qor‐el‐aine Achraf , Béres András , Géczi Gábor 
Published: December 2021

AbstractSaharan dust storms are major events that occur normally in the summer and affect the air quality in various regions of the world. In particular, Saharan regions in Morocco and Mauritania actively contribute to dust storms. The Saharan outbreak that took place between 14 and 19 of June 2020 was one of the most severe Saharan dust storms in recent years. This paper investigates the PM10 emissions and concentrations during the 4 days of the dust storm in the region of Western Sahara of Morocco and Mauritania and the transport of the PM10 from the area of study to the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico using Hybrid Single‐Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory Model (HYSPLIT) software with PM10 emission model and cluster analysis. We also analyse the effect of the transported PM10 particles on the concentration level in the Southern parts of the United States and the Martinique islands. The results showed that the average PM10 concentration below the altitude of 100 m during the dust storm was higher than 100 μg/m3 in most of the regions such as Dakhla in Morocco, Nouakchott, Adrar and Tiris Zemmour in Mauritania. This is confirmed by Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) values between 0.7 and 1 retrieved by MODIS‐Aqua for those areas. Furthermore, PM10 particles transported across the Atlantic Ocean affected the concentrations observed in the Caribbean Basin, where hourly PM10 reached 372 μg/m3 and the dust top layer was found between 4 and 4.5 km above ground level. In addition, HYSPLIT cluster analysis results revealed several PM10 particle source areas in Western Sahara such as Bir Anzerane in Morocco, Nouakchott and Tichit in Mauritania that contributed to the increase of PM10 concentrations to an Unhealthy level in the Texas and Florida States in the United States.
Quasars' physical properties study based on the medium‐band photometric survey
Authors: Kotov Sergey , Dodonov Sergey , Grokhovskaya Aleksandra 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe study is about the quasars' cosmological evolution. We used the medium‐band photometric survey at the 1‐m Schmidt telescope of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory. The HS47‐22 field with an area of 2.38 square degrees has been selected. We have classified objects and composed a sample of quasars using broadband photometric data and morphological classification from the DECaLS survey (Dey et al. 2019), infrared photometry from the WISE survey (Meisner et al. 2018), spectroscopy from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (Pâris et al. 2018), ROSAT X‐ray data (Molthagen et al. 1997), FIRST radio data (Becker et al. 1995), and stellar parallax data from the GAIA survey (Gaia Collaboration et al. 2018). We have compiled a sample of 682 quasars, determined their photometric redshifts from the medium‐band photometric data, and calculated the absolute stellar magnitudes. The space density of quasars was calculated for different luminosity ranges at different redshifts using the λ‐CDM model with and (Hogg 1999). In this paper, we present the comparison of our results with other works.