bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of core–shell copper–graphite submicronic particles and carbon nano-onions by spark discharges in liquid hydrocarbons
Authors: Glad X. , Gorry J. , Cha M. S. , Hamdan A. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractSpark discharge in hydrocarbon liquids is considered a promising method for the synthesis of various nanomaterials, including nanocomposites. In this study, copper–carbon particles were synthesized by generating spark discharges between two Cu electrodes immersed in heptane, cyclohexane, or toluene. The synthesized particles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and selected area electron diffraction. Overall, two families of particles were observed: Cu particles (diameter < 10 nm) embedded in a carbon matrix and submicrometric Cu particles encapsulated in a carbon shell. The obtained results indicate that the size distribution of the Cu nanoparticles and the degree of graphitization of the carbon matrix depend on the liquid. Indeed, discharges in heptane lead to Cu particles with diameters of 2–6 nm embedded in a carbon matrix of low graphitization degree, while discharges in toluene result in particles with diameters of 2–14 nm embedded in carbon matrix of high graphitization degree. Based on the obtained experimental results, it is proposed that the Cu nanoparticles are produced in the plasma core where Cu (evaporated from the electrode surface) and carbonaceous species (decomposition of the liquid) are present. When the plasma hits the electrode surface, hot (thousands of Kelvin) Cu particles are ejected from the electrode, and they propagate in the liquid. The propagation of the hot particles in the liquid results in the local evaporation of this liquid, which leads to the formation of a C-shell around each Cu particle. In few cases where the shape of the Cu particle is not spherical, carbon nanoonions are detected between the C-shell and the Cu core. These nanoonions are supposedly formed under the effect of the fluid vortices generated close to the particle surfaces when these latter are ejected into the liquid.
Epidemiologic trends of infants with orofacial clefts in a multiethnic country: a retrospective population-based study
Authors: Yow Mimi , Jin Aizhen , Yeo George Seow Heong 
Published: April 2021

AbstractCleft births surveillance is essential in healthcare and prevention planning. Data are needed in precision medicine to target upstream management for at-risk individuals. This study characterizes Singapore’s population-based orofacial cleft topography by ethnicity and gender, and establishes the cleft cohort’s infant mortality rate. Data, in the decade 2003 to 2012, were extracted by the National Birth Defects Registry. Trend testing by linear regression was at p < 0.05 significance level. Prevalence per 10,000 for population-based cleft live births was 16.72 with no significant upward trend (p = 0.317). Prevalence rates were 8.77 in the isolated cleft group, 7.04 in the non-isolated cleft group, and 0.91 in the syndromic cleft group. There was significant upward trend in infants with non-isolated clefts (p = 0.0287). There were no significant upward trends in infants with isolated clefts and syndromic clefts. Prevalence rates were sexually dimorphic and ethnic-specific: male 17.72; female 15.78; Chinese group 17.17; Malay group 16.92; Indian group 10.74; and mixed ethnic origins group 21.73. The overall infant mortality rate (IMR) was 4.8% in the cohort of 608 cleft births, which was more than double the population-based IMR of 2.1% in the same period. Infants with non-isolated and syndromic clefts accounted for 96.6% of the deaths.
Post-synthesis nanostructuration of BSA-Capsaicin nanoparticles generated by sucrose excipient
Authors: Carriles Ramón , Zavala-García Laura E. , Nava-Coronel Sofía , Sánchez-Arreguín Alejandro , López Mercedes G. , Sánchez-Segura Lino 
Published: April 2021

AbstractIn the pharmaceutical industry nano-hydrocolloid systems frequently coalesce or present nanoparticle aggregation after a long storage periods. Besides, the lyophilization process used to dry nanoparticles (NPs) produces loss of their original properties after dispersion. In this work we evaluated the effect on morphology and physicochemical properties of different protective excipients during drying of bovine serum albumin (BSA) NPs loaded with different concentrations of capsaicin. Capsaicin concentrations of 0, 812, 1625, 2437, and 3250 µg mL−1 were used; subsequently, NPs were dried with deionized water (DW), NaCl (DN), sucrose (DS), and not dried (ND). We found that ND, DW, and DN treatments showed a negative effect on the NPs properties; while, DS reduced the aggregation and produced the formation of isolated nanoparticles at higher concentrations of capsaicin (3250 µg mL−1), improving their circular shape, morphometrical parameters, and ζ-potential. The stability of the BSA-capsaicin NPs was associated to complex capsaicin/amino acid/water, in which GLY/GLN, ALA/HIS, ARG, THR, TYR, and Iso/CYS amino acids are involved in the restructuration of capsaicin molecules into the surface of nanoparticles during the drying process. The secondary nanostructuration in the post-synthesis stage can improve the molecular stability of the particles and the capacity of entrapping hydrophobic drugs, like capsaicin.
Mechanical strength and flexibility in $$\alpha '$$-4H borophene
Authors: Mozvashi Shobair Mohammadi , Mohebpour Mohammad Ali , Vishkayi Sahar Izadi , Tagani Meysam Bagheri 
Published: April 2021

AbstractVery recently, a novel phase of hydrogenated borophene, namely $$\alpha '$$

α
′

-4H, has been synthesized in a free-standing form. Unlike pure borophenes, this phase shows very good stability in the air environment and possesses semiconducting characteristics. Because of the interesting stiffness and flexibility of borophenes, herein, we systematically studied the mechanical properties of this novel hydrogenated phase. Our results show that the monolayer is stiffer (Y$$_\text {xy}$$

xy

= $$\sim $$
∼
195 N/m) than group IV and V 2D materials and even than MoS$$_2$$

2

, while it is softer than graphene. Moreover, similar to other phases of borophene, the inherent anisotropy of the pure monolayer increases with hydrogenation. The monolayer can bear biaxial, armchair, and zigzag strains up to 16, 10, and 14% with ideal strengths of approximately 14, 9, and 12 N/m, respectively. More interestingly, it can remain semiconductor under this range of tension. These outstanding results suggest that the $$\alpha '$$

α
′

-4H is a promising candidate for flexible nanoelectronics.
Quantifying surface morphology of manufactured activated carbon and the waste coffee grounds using the Getis-Ord-Gi* statistic and Ripley’s K function
Authors: Lee Sanghoon , Na Sukjoon , Rogers Olivia G. , Youn Sungmin 
Published: April 2021

AbstractActivated carbon can be manufactured from waste coffee grounds via physical and/or chemical activation processes. However, challenges remain to quantify the differences in surface morphology between manufactured activated carbon granules and the waste coffee grounds. This paper presents a novel quantitative method to determine the quality of the physical and chemical activation processes performed in the presence of intensity inhomogeneity and identify surface characteristics of manufactured activated carbon granules and the waste coffee grounds. The spatial density was calculated by the Getis-Ord-Gi* statistic in scanning electron microscopy images. The spatial characteristics were determined by analyzing Ripley’s K function and complete spatial randomness. Results show that the method introduced in this paper is capable of distinguishing between manufactured activated carbon granules and the waste coffee grounds, in terms of surface morphology.
Enhanced anti-cancer activity of andrographis with oligomeric proanthocyanidins through activation of metabolic and ferroptosis pathways in colorectal cancer
Authors: Shimura Tadanobu , Sharma Priyanka , Sharma Geeta G. , Banwait Jasjit K. , Goel Ajay 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe high degree of morbidity and mortality in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients is largely due to the development of chemoresistance against conventional chemotherapeutic drugs. In view of the accumulating evidence that various dietary botanicals offer a safe, inexpensive and multi-targeted treatment option, herein, we hypothesized that a combination of Andrographis paniculata and Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins (OPCs) might interact together with regard to anti-tumorigenic activity in CRC. As a result, we demonstrated the enhanced anti-cancer activity between these two botanical extracts in terms of their ability to inhibit cancer cell growth, suppress colony formation and induce apoptosis. Furthermore, we validated these findings in subcutaneous xenograft model and in patient derived primary epithelial 3D organoids. Transcriptomic profiling identified involvement of metabolic pathways and ferroptosis-associated genes, including HMOX1, GCLC and GCLM, that may be responsible for the increased anti-tumorigenic activity by the two compounds. Collectively, our study provides novel evidence in support of the combinatorial use of andrographis and OPCs as a potential therapeutic option, perhaps as an adjunctive treatment to classical drugs, in patients with colorectal cancer.
The fast response of Sahel precipitation to climate change allows effective mitigation action
Authors: Monerie Paul-Arthur , Pohl Benjamin , Gaetani Marco 
Published: April 2021

AbstractClimate change will drive major perturbations of the West African summer monsoon. A zonal contrast in precipitation will develop at the end of the century, with an increase in precipitation over the central Sahel and a decrease in precipitation over the western Sahel. Such a zonal contrast results from the antagonist effects of the fast (due to enhanced radiative warming over land, and over the North Hemisphere, relative to the South Hemisphere) and slow (associated with long-term changes in oceanic circulation) responses of precipitation to increasing greenhouse gases. While such changes have already been assessed, less attention has been given to their temporality, an issue of major importance to promote efficient mitigation and adaptation measures. Here, we analyse the future evolution of precipitation changes decomposed into a fast and a slow response, showing that the fast response dominates the slow one. From this evidence, we highlight that mitigation strategies may be successful at reducing the effect of climate change on Sahel precipitation within a few decades, by muting the fast response. This decomposition also allows for a better understanding of the uncertainty of climate model predictions in Africa.
Chlorosulfuric acid-assisted production of functional 2D materials
Authors: Moazzami Gudarzi Mohsen , Asaad Maryana , Mao Boyang , Pinter Gergo , Guo Jianqiang , Smith Matthew , Zhong Xiangli , Georgiou Thanasis , Gorbachev Roman , Haigh Sarah J. , Novoselov Kostya S. , Kretinin Andrey V. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe use of two-dimensional materials in bulk functional applications requires the ability to fabricate defect-free 2D sheets with large aspect ratios. Despite huge research efforts, current bulk exfoliation methods require a compromise between the quality of the final flakes and their lateral size, restricting the effectiveness of the product. In this work, we describe an intercalation-assisted exfoliation route, which allows the production of high-quality graphene, hexagonal boron nitride, and molybdenum disulfide 2D sheets with average aspect ratios 30 times larger than that obtained via conventional liquid-phase exfoliation. The combination of chlorosulfuric acid intercalation with in situ pyrene sulfonate functionalisation produces a suspension of thin large-area flakes, which are stable in various polar solvents. The described method is simple and requires no special laboratory conditions. We demonstrate that these suspensions can be used for fabrication of laminates and coatings with electrical properties suitable for a number of real-life applications.
Digital health interventions in palliative care: a systematic meta-review
Authors: Finucane Anne M. , O’Donnell Hannah , Lugton Jean , Gibson-Watt Tilly , Swenson Connie , Pagliari Claudia 
Published: April 2021

AbstractDigital health interventions (DHIs) have the potential to improve the accessibility and effectiveness of palliative care but heterogeneity amongst existing systematic reviews presents a challenge for evidence synthesis. This meta-review applied a structured search of ten databases from 2006 to 2020, revealing 21 relevant systematic reviews, encompassing 332 publications. Interventions delivered via videoconferencing (17%), electronic healthcare records (16%) and phone (13%) were most frequently described in studies within reviews. DHIs were typically used in palliative care for education (20%), symptom management (15%), decision-making (13%), information provision or management (13%) and communication (9%). Across all reviews, mostly positive impacts were reported on education, information sharing, decision-making, communication and costs. Impacts on quality of life and physical and psychological symptoms were inconclusive. Applying AMSTAR 2 criteria, most reviews were judged as low quality as they lacked a protocol or did not consider risk of bias, so findings need to be interpreted with caution.
RNAi efficacy is enhanced by chronic dsRNA feeding in pollen beetle
Authors: Willow Jonathan , Soonvald Liina , Sulg Silva , Kaasik Riina , Silva Ana Isabel , Taning Clauvis Nji Tizi , Christiaens Olivier , Smagghe Guy , Veromann Eve 
Published: April 2021

AbstractDouble-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) represent a promising class of biosafe insecticidal compounds. We examined the ability to induce RNA interference (RNAi) in the pollen beetle Brassicogethes aeneus via anther feeding, and compared short-term (3 d) to chronic (17 d) feeding of various concentrations of dsRNA targeting αCOP (dsαCOP). In short-term dsαCOP feeding, only the highest concentration resulted in significant reductions in B. aeneus survival; whereas in chronic dsαCOP feeding, all three concentrations resulted in significant mortality. Chronic dsαCOP feeding also resulted in significantly greater mortality compared to short-term feeding of equivalent dsαCOP concentrations. Our results have implications for the economics and development of dsRNA spray approaches for managing crop pests, in that multiple lower-concentration dsRNA spray treatments across crop growth stages may result in greater pest management efficacy, compared to single treatments using higher dsRNA concentrations. Furthermore, our results highlight the need for research into the development of RNAi cultivars for oilseed rape protection, given the enhanced RNAi efficacy resulting from chronic, compared to short-term, dsRNA feeding in B. aeneus.
Angiotensin II up-regulates sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 expression and SGLT2 inhibitor attenuates Ang II-induced hypertensive renal injury in mice
Authors: Miyata Kana N. , Lo Chao-Sheng , Zhao Shuiling , Liao Min-Chun , Pang Yuchao , Chang Shiao-Ying , Peng Junzheng , Kretzler Matthias , Filep Janos G. , Ingelfinger Julie R. , Zhang Shao-Ling , Chan John S.D. 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Clinical trials indicate that sodium/glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors (SGLT2i) improve kidney function, yet, the molecular regulation of SGLT2 expression is incompletely understood. Here, we investigated the role of the intrarenal renin–angiotensin system (RAS) on SGLT2 expression. In adult non-diabetic participants in the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network (NEPTUNE, n=163), multivariable linear regression analysis showed SGLT2 mRNA was significantly associated with angiotensinogen (AGT), renin, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) mRNA levels (P&lt;0.001). In vitro, angiotensin II (Ang II) dose-dependently stimulated SGLT2 expression in HK-2, human immortalized renal proximal tubular cells (RPTCs); losartan and antioxidants inhibited it. Sglt2 expression was increased in transgenic (Tg) mice specifically overexpressing Agt in their RPTCs, as well as in WT mice with a single subcutaneous injection of Ang II (1.44 mg/kg). Moreover, Ang II (1000 ng/kg/min) infusion via osmotic mini-pump in WT mice for 4 weeks increased systolic blood pressure (SBP), glomerulosclerosis, tubulointerstitial fibrosis, and albuminuria; canaglifozin (Cana, 15 mg/kg/day) reversed these changes, with the exception of SBP. Fractional glucose excretion (FeGlu) was higher in Ang II+Cana than WT+Cana, whereas Sglt2 expression was similar. Our data demonstrate a link between intrarenal RAS and SGLT2 expression and that SGLT2i ameliorates Ang II-induced renal injury independent of SBP.
The Relationship Between Voice Onset Time and Increase in Vocal Effort and Fundamental Frequency
Authors: Groll Matti D. , Hablani Surbhi , Stepp Cara E. 
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Prior work suggests that voice onset time (VOT) may be impacted by laryngeal tension: VOT means decrease when individuals with typical voices increase their fundamental frequency (
f
o
) and VOT variability is increased in individuals with vocal hyperfunction, a voice disorder characterized by increased laryngeal tension. This study further explored the relationship between VOT and laryngeal tension during increased
f
o
, vocal effort, and vocal strain.

Method

Sixteen typical speakers of American English were instructed to produce VOT utterances under four conditions: baseline, high pitch, effort, and strain. Repeated-measures analysis of variance models were used to analyze the effects of condition on VOT means and standard deviations (
SD
s); pairwise comparisons were used to determine significant differences between conditions.

Results

Voicing, condition, and their interaction significantly affected VOT means. Voiceless VOT means significantly decreased for high pitch (
p
< .001) relative to baseline; however, no changes in voiceless VOT means were found for effort or strain relative to baseline. Although condition had a significant effect on VOT
SD
s, there were no significant differences between effort, strain, and high pitch conditions relative to baseline.

Conclusions
Speakers with typical voices likely engage different musculature to increase pitch than to increase vocal effort and strain. The increased VOT variability present with vocal hyperfunction is not seen in individuals with typical voices using increased effort and strain, supporting the assertion that this feature of vocal hyperfunction may be related to disordered vocal motor control rather than resulting from effortful voice production.
Alzheimer's disease diagnosis based on the visual attention model and equal‐distance ring shape context features
Authors: Lao Huan , Zhang Xuejun , Tang Yanyan , Liang Chan 
Published: April 2021

AbstractAlzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible neurodegenerative disease caused by rapid degeneration of brain cells. More and more researchers focus on effective and accurate methods for the diagnosis of AD. In this paper, a method to identify AD by extracting equal‐distant ring shape context features from saliency map of structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) is proposed. The experimental results on the thin‐layer MR images of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset showed that our method helped improve the performance of identifying brain diseases. Specifically, the classification accuracy of 94.83% for AD versus CN, 98.31% for AD versus MCI and 85.77% for MCI versus CN, respectively. At the same time, experiments on Open Access Series of Imaging Studies dataset and clinically collected thick‐layer MR images verify the classification performance of the method. The results show that this method may have higher application value in clinical application, with classification accuracies of 96.56% and 98.18% for AD versus CN, respectively. Compared with the methods based on gray matter (GM) density, cortical thickness and hippocampal volume, our method achieved higher accuracy of AD (or MCI) and CN classification.
Simple and Fast Dynamic Photovoltaic Emulator based on a Physical Equivalent PV‐cell Model
Authors: Khawaldeh Habes A. , Al‐soeidat Mohammad , Lu Dylan Dah‐Chuan , Li Li 
Published: April 2021

AbstractPhotovoltaic emulators are a specific type of power electronics system to mimic the behaviour of a photovoltaic (PV) panel or array and facilitate the testing of energy systems. Existing solutions usually require sophisticated hardware design and fast computing. This paper presents a simple, reliable, and effective circuit‐based photovoltaic (PV) emulator based on the equivalent PV stacked cells. The PV emulator can be used for solar system testing and analysis, such as maximum power point tracking (MPPT) and partial shading effect. The – and – characteristic curves of the emulator have been generated by using an LTspice simulator. It is experimentally investigated and compared with a real PV panel and existing emulator products. The experiment results show good agreement with the mimicked actual PV panel. The proposed PV emulator shows a better dynamic response and shorter settling time than several benchmarked commercial products. The enhancement in the time response is due to the simplicity of the emulator, where a few power diodes and some resisters are used. In addition to simplicity, the PV emulator is very cost‐effective.
Constraining stellar evolution theory with asteroseismology of γ Doradus stars using deep learning
Authors: Mombarg J. S. G. , Van Reeth T. , Aerts C. 
Published: April 2021

Context. The efficiency of the transport of angular momentum and chemical elements inside intermediate-mass stars lacks proper calibration, thereby introducing uncertainties on a star’s evolutionary pathway. Improvements require better estimation of stellar masses, evolutionary stages, and internal mixing properties.
Aims. Our aim was to develop a neural network approach for asteroseismic modelling, and test its capacity to provide stellar masses, ages, and overshooting parameter for a sample of 37 γ Doradus stars; these parameters were previously determined from their effective temperature, surface gravity, near-core rotation frequency, and buoyancy travel time Π0. Here our goal is to perform the parameter estimation from modelling of individual periods measured for dipole modes with consecutive radial order rather than from Π0. We assess whether fitting these individual mode periods increases the capacity of the parameter estimation.
Methods. We trained neural networks to predict theoretical pulsation periods of high-order gravity modes (n ∈ [15, 91]), and to predict the luminosity, effective temperature, and surface gravity for a given mass, age, overshooting parameter, diffusive envelope mixing, metallicity, and near-core rotation frequency. We applied our neural networks for Computing Pulsation Periods and Photospheric Observables (C-3PO) to our sample and compute grids of stellar pulsation models for the estimated parameters.
Results. We present the near-core rotation rates (from the literature) as a function of the inferred stellar age and critical rotation rate. We assessed the rotation rates of the sample near the start of the main sequence assuming rigid rotation. Furthermore, we measured the extent of the core overshoot region and find no correlation with mass, age, or rotation. Finally, for one star in our sample, KIC 12066947, we find indications of mode coupling in the period spacing pattern which we cannot reproduce with mode trapping.
Conclusions. The neural network approach developed in this study allows the derivation of stellar properties dominant for stellar evolution, such as mass, age, and extent of core-boundary mixing. It also opens a path for future estimation of mixing profiles throughout the radiative envelope, with the aim of inferring these profiles for large samples of γ Doradus stars.