bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Proximate Composition and Sensory Properties of Dakere (A Nigerian Steamed Agglomerated Dumpling) as Affected by Differential Sieving and Fortiftcation with Legume Flour
Authors: Gadzama Umar Sabo , Agbara Gervase Ikechukwu , Igwegbe Odera Amin 
Published: August 2021

Dakere is a traditional steamed agglomerated dumpling produced from either millet (M) or sorghum (S) flour or both (MS). In the current study, millet and sorghum flours were separately fractionated into fine (f) (<250um), medium (m) (250-350um) and coarse (350-500um) fractions. Similar fractions from millet and sorghum were blended to obtain MfSf,MmSm and McSc. Each fraction was fortified separately with 30% toasted bambara groundnut or sesame seed flour or both (20% bambara groundnut and 10% sesame seed flour), blends were coded: MfSf, MmSm, McSc, MfSfB, MmSmB, McScB, MfSfSe, MmSmSe, McScSe, MfSfBSe, MmSmBSe and McScBSe. Experimental design corresponding to a 3x2x2 factorial design was used to generate runs and dakere were produced applying the traditional method of agglomeration of stiff dough followed by steaming, and thereafter dried. Traditional dakere was the experimental control. The blends and the dried modified dakere were evaluated for proximate composition and sensory properties. The moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, total ash and carbohydrate contents of the blended fractions and the fortified blended fractions varied significantly (p<0-05): 9.40-10.55%,11.42-15.80%,1.20-2.22%, 0.62-0.96%, 3.62-7.38% and 63.56-72.30% respectively and for the various modified dakere: 9.20-10.255, 11.70-16.82%, 1.23-2.77%, 0.55-0.88%, 4.64-8.30% and 60.22-70.86% respectively. Blended fractions and fortified blended fractions had greater nutrient density than the control, however more in the blends containing both bambara groundnut and sesame seed flours. As for sensory attributes of the modified dakere, the blended fractions especially MfSf had the best appearance, fortified dakere the best aroma and taste scores especially dakere with sesame seed meal despite the dull appearance. Dakere produced with blended coarse fractions or fortified coarse fractions were crispier and were desired more than others. The overall acceptability scores were generally high, the highest score observed in the sesame seed meal treated dakere. The study had succeeded in enhancing the nutrient density and sensory properties of dakere, an agglomerated stiff dough through the blending of similar flour fractions from millet and sorghum and fortification of the same with grain legume flours.
Assessment of Sexual Functions among Male with Substance Use Disorders
Authors: Tolba Ahmed Osama , Selem Mohammad Abd El Hakim , Ragab Maged Mostafa , Mubarak Ahmed Abd El Rahman , Badawy Adel Abd El Kerem 
Published: August 2021

Background: Recent epidemiological and clinical studies confirmed the presence of a strong association between substance use disorders and sexual dysfunctions. Studies have demonstrated that prevalence of sexual dysfunctions among addict was about 30 %the most common problem among male substance abuse patients were Erectile Dysfunction (ED) and delayed ejaculation
Methods: This cohort comparative study was conducted on of 376 males aged between 18 – 50 years who were substance abusers including tramadol, cannabis and poly substance related and addictive disorders. All participants were subjected to psychiatric interview which was done using SCID-5-CV structured clinical interview for DSM-5 disorders. Psychometric, biochemical, medical and drug history evaluations were also performed.
Results: Our results show comparison between four groups (opiates-cannabis-poly substance abuse and control group according to severity of drug abuse, psychiatric evaluation and according to sexual functions. There were statistically significant differences between groups in sociodemographic data mainly in occupational and educational history. There also were statistically significant differences between groups in terms of drug use, psychiatric assessment, assessment of sexual activity, hormonal assessment of the studied population and quality of life assessment.
Conclusions: Long term drug use has a statistically significant negative effect on all domains of male sexual functions. Also average daily dose and severity of addiction are significantly correlated to sexual dysfunctions in patients with tramadol abuse. This is done through an alteration in sex hormone and alters feedback regulations of the pituitary on the hypothalamus.
Development and Validation of a Daily Monitoring Stroke Scale: A Three-Month Follow up Study
Authors: Aradhey Parag , Kumar Sunil , Acharya Sourya 
Published: August 2021

Introduction: Stroke is the one of the common health problems world-wide causing significant morbidity and mortality. Various scales are framed and validated for use in stroke trials and clinical use. Most widely used scale for stroke assessment is NIHSS scale but this scale is infrequently used in routine clinical practice. This is because of various limitations like poor representation of posterior circulation deficit and predominant motor and language representation and poor representation of fine motor & cognition deficits in this scale.
Objective: Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to formulate a daily monitoring scale which can objectively assess and prognosticate stroke patients. Present study aims to incorporate daily examined parameters in one instrument to develop a routinely useful tool for neurologist and physician which can be simple, fast, reliable, and reproducible.
Method: We will include GCS score, brainstem reflexes, gaze, speech, distal and proximal motor power, inattention, ataxia, sensory deficits and gait examination parameters in proposed scale. After initial pilot study (15 patients), we will include developmental cohort (400 patients) and validation cohort (60 patients) to formulate and validate this study. Outcome measures will be 30 -day mortality and morbidity assessed at day 30 and 90 with modified Rankin score and Barthel index. Total patients included will be 460 patients with follow up for 3 months
Results: It is expected to develop simple, reliable, and reproducible scale for monitoring of acute stroke patients.
Single‐dose immunisation with a multimerised SARS‐CoV‐2 receptor binding domain (RBD) induces an enhanced and protective response in mice
Authors: Salzer Ralf , Clark Jordan J. , Vaysburd Marina , Chang Veronica T. , Albecka Anna , Kiss Leo , Sharma Parul , Gonzalez Llamazares Andres , Kipar Anja , Hiscox Julian A. , Owen Andrew , Aricescu A. Radu , Stewart James P. , James Leo C. , Löwe Jan 
Published: July 2021

The COVID‐19 pandemic, caused by the SARS‐CoV‐2 coronavirus, has triggered a worldwide health emergency. Here, we show that ferritin‐like Dps from hyperthermophilic Sulfolobus islandicus, covalently coupled with SARS‐CoV‐2 antigens via the SpyCatcher system, forms stable multivalent dodecameric vaccine nanoparticles that remain intact even after lyophilisation. Immunisation experiments in mice demonstrated that the SARS‐CoV‐2 receptor binding domain (RBD) coupled to Dps (RBD‐S‐Dps) elicited a higher antibody titre and an enhanced neutralising antibody response compared to monomeric RBD. A single immunisation with RBD‐S‐Dps completely protected hACE2‐expressing mice from serious illness and led to viral clearance from the lungs upon SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Our data highlight that multimerised SARS‐CoV‐2 subunit vaccines are a highly efficacious modality, particularly when combined with an ultra‐stable scaffold.
Photosystem II
Authors: Shevela Dmitry , Kern Jan F , Govindjee Govindjee , Whitmarsh John , Messinger Johannes 
Published: July 2021

Abstract

Photosystem II (PSII) of plants, algae and cyanobacteria is a specialised protein complex that uses light energy to transfer electrons from water to plastoquinone, producing molecular oxygen and reduced plastoquinone. The PSII complex includes a peripheral antenna containing chlorophyll and other pigments to absorb light, a reaction centre that utilises the excitation energy transferred to it for charge separation, cofactors that stabilise the charge pair via electron transfer reactions, a Mn
4
CaO
5
cluster that oxidises water, and a binding pocket where plastoquinone is reduced. The electrons and protons that PSII extracts from water are employed in the overall photosynthetic process for the reduction of CO
2
, which provides the chemical energy for most life on Earth. PSII is the only known biological source of O
2
produced from water and is responsible for the molecular oxygen in the atmosphere.

Key Concepts

Photosystem II (PSII) is a membrane‐embedded pigment–protein complex, containing more than 20 subunits and approximately 100 cofactors.

The PSII antenna and the PSII reaction centre are distinct protein complexes.

Light is absorbed by chlorophyll, carotenoid and phycobilin pigments in the antenna and the excitation energy is rapidly transferred to the reaction centre.

At the reaction centre, light‐induced charge separation takes place resulting in the formation of a chlorophyll cation and a pheophytin anion that are approximately 10 Å apart; this charge separation is rapidly stabilised by the transfer of the charges to more distant cofactors with smaller differences in redox potentials.

The oxidation of water occurs at the Mn
4
CaO
5
cluster, which is embedded in the two protein subunits D1 and CP43 on the luminal side of PSII.

To oxidise two molecules of water, four oxidising equivalents must be accumulated in the Mn
4
CaO
5
cluster by four consecutive light‐induced charge separations.

Water oxidation by PSII occurs at the Mn
4
CaO
5
cluster, likely via oxo‐oxyl radical coupling in the so‐called S
4
state.

Hydrogen‐bonding networks surrounding the Mn
4
CaO
5
cluster are crucial for its catalytic activity, as well as its structural flexibility.

Bicarbonate ions play regulatory roles for electron transfer through PSII.

The electrons and protons extracted from water by PSII drive the reduction of NADP
+
via Photosystem I, and the production of ATP, respectively.
A Compartmental Silica Nanoreactor for Multienzyme‐Regulated Superactive Catalytic Therapy
Authors: Wu Chu , Qin Limei , Niu Dechao , Wang Xia , Zhang Qi , Shang Yinghui , Hu Min , Han Xiaoke , Shen Saiji , Qin Xing , Xi Songyan , Li Yongsheng , Wang Qigang 
Published: July 2021

AbstractMany tumor therapies take advantage of upsetting the redox balance in tumor cells, but to do so requires excessive biochemical or physical attacks. The high‐throughput simulation using multi‐pathway techniques described herein can yield an increased efficacy in bio‐oxidation. In this study, compartmental hierarchical nanoreactors are developed as an efficient multi‐pathway singlet oxygen (1O2) generation system for superactive biocatalytic tumor therapy. The penetrated super cavity and connected dual‐mesopore channels of the compartmental multienzyme nanoreactors are designed using the proposed heterogeneous template assembly for multi‐enzyme complex (superoxide dismutase (SOD)‐lactoperoxidase (LPO)) and photosensitizer molecule (indocyanine green (ICG)) encapsulation. Benefiting by the enhanced direct substrate diffusion between the interacting SOD–LPO complex and decrease in external diffusion, the parallel catalysis combined by the superactive cascade biocatalysis and enzyme‐promoted photosensitization effect is verified by this compartmental silica nanoreactor system. The parallel pathways not only make full use of the products of SOD (H2O2 and O2), but also exhibit outstanding capability for 1O2 production, at ≈2.15 and 1.70 times augmented 1O2, respectively. Both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate the synergetic 1O2‐mediated inhibition of tumor proliferation, lending this strategy great potential for the treatment of hypoxic tumors.
Understanding Thermal and A‐Thermal Trapping Processes in Lead Halide Perovskites Towards Effective Radiation Detection Schemes
Authors: Rodà Carmelita , Fasoli Mauro , Zaffalon Matteo L. , Cova Francesca , Pinchetti Valerio , Shamsi Javad , Abdelhady Ahmed L. , Imran Muhammad , Meinardi Francesco , Manna Liberato , Vedda Anna , Brovelli Sergio 
Published: July 2021

AbstractLead halide perovskites (LHP) are rapidly emerging as efficient, low‐cost, solution‐processable scintillators for radiation detection. Carrier trapping is arguably the most critical limitation to the scintillation performance. Nonetheless, no clear picture of the trapping and detrapping mechanisms to/from shallow and deep trap states involved in the scintillation process has been reported to date, as well as on the role of the material dimensionality. Here, this issue is addressed by performing, for the first time, a comprehensive study using radioluminescence and photoluminescence measurements side‐by‐side to thermally‐stimulated luminescence (TSL) and afterglow experiments on CsPbBr3 with increasing dimensionality, namely nanocubes, nanowires, nanosheets, and bulk crystals. All systems are found to be affected by shallow defects resulting in delayed intragap emission following detrapping via a‐thermal tunneling. TSL further reveals the existence of additional temperature‐activated detrapping pathways from deeper trap states, whose effect grows with the material dimensionality, becoming the dominant process in bulk crystals. These results highlight that, compared to massive solids where the suppression of both deep and shallow defects is critical, low dimensional nanostructures are more promising active materials for LHP scintillators, provided that their integration in functional devices meets efficient surface engineering.
Tissue Programmed Hydrogels Functionalized with GDNF Improve Human Neural Grafts in Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Hunt Cameron P. J. , Penna Vanessa , Gantner Carlos W. , Moriarty Niamh , Wang Yi , Franks Stephanie , Ermine Charlotte M. , de Luzy Isabelle R. , Pavan Chiara , Long Benjamin M. , Williams Richard J. , Thompson Lachlan H. , Nisbet David R. , Parish Clare L. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe survival and synaptic integration of transplanted dopaminergic (DA) progenitors are essential for ameliorating motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD). Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)‐derived DA progenitors are, however, exposed to numerous stressors prior to, and during, implantation that result in poor survival. Additionally, hPSC‐derived grafts show inferior plasticity compared to fetal tissue grafts. These observations suggest that a more conducive host environment may improve graft outcomes. Here, tissue‐specific support to DA progenitor grafts is provided with a fully characterized self‐assembling peptide hydrogel. This biomimetic hydrogel matrix is programmed to support DA progenitors by i) including a laminin epitope within the matrix; and ii) shear encapsulating glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) to ensure its sustained delivery. The biocompatible hydrogel biased a 51% increase in A9 neuron specification—a subpopulation of DA neurons critical for motor function. The sustained delivery of GDNF induced a 2.7‐fold increase in DA neurons and enhanced graft plasticity, resulting in significant improvements in motor deficits at 6 months. These findings highlight the therapeutic benefit of stepwise customization of tissue‐specific hydrogels to improve the physical and trophic support of human PSC‐derived neural transplants, resulting in improved standardization, predictability and functional efficacy of grafts for PD.
Biocompatible Micron‐Scale Silk Fibers Fabricated by Microfluidic Wet Spinning
Authors: Lüken Arne , Geiger Matthias , Steinbeck Lea , Joel Anna‐Christin , Lampert Angelika , Linkhorst John , Wessling Matthias 
Published: July 2021

AbstractFor successful material deployment in tissue engineering, the material itself, its mechanical properties, and the microscopic geometry of the product are of particular interest. While silk is a widely applied protein‐based tissue engineering material with strong mechanical properties, the size and shape of artificially spun silk fibers are limited by existing processes. This study adjusts a microfluidic spinneret to manufacture micron‐sized wet‐spun fibers with three different materials enabling diverse geometries for tissue engineering applications. The spinneret is direct laser written (DLW) inside a microfluidic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chip using two‐photon lithography, applying a novel surface treatment that enables a tight print‐channel sealing. Alginate, polyacrylonitrile, and silk fibers with diameters down to 1 µm are spun, while the spinneret geometry controls the shape of the silk fiber, and the spinning process tailors the mechanical property. Cell‐cultivation experiments affirm bio‐compatibility and showcase an interplay between the cell‐sized fibers and cells. The presented spinning process pushes the boundaries of fiber fabrication toward smaller diameters and more complex shapes with increased surface‐to‐volume ratio and will substantially contribute to future tailored tissue engineering materials for healthcare applications.
Simultaneous Manipulation of Bulk Excitons and Surface Defects for Ultrastable and Highly Selective CO2 Photoreduction
Authors: Shi Yanbiao , Zhan Guangming , Li Hao , Wang Xiaobing , Liu Xiufan , Shi Lujia , Wei Kai , Ling Cancan , Li Zhilin , Wang Hao , Mao Chengliang , Liu Xiao , Zhang Lizhi 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe objective of photocatalytic CO2 reduction (PCR) is to achieve high selectivity for a single energy‐bearing product with high efficiency and stability. The bulk configuration usually determines charge carrier kinetics, whereas surface atomic arrangement defines the PCR thermodynamic pathway. Concurrent engineering of bulk and surface structures is therefore crucial for achieving the goal of PCR. Herein, an ultrastable and highly selective PCR using homogeneously doped BiOCl nanosheets synthesized via an inventive molten strategy is presented. With B2O3 as both the molten salt and doping precursor, this new doping approach ensures boron (B) doping from the surface into the bulk with dual functionalities. Bulk B doping mitigates strong excitonic effects confined in 2D BiOCl by significantly reducing exciton binding energies, whereas surface‐doped B atoms reconstruct the BiOCl surface by extracting lattice hydroxyl groups, resulting in intimate B‐oxygen vacancy (B‐OV) associates. These exclusive B‐OV associates enable spontaneous CO2 activation, suppress competitive hydrogen evolution and promote the proton‐coupled electron transfer step by stabilizing *COOH for selective CO generation. As a result, the homogeneous B‐doped BiOCl nanosheets exhibit 98% selectivity for CO2‐to‐CO reduction under visible light, with an impressive rate of 83.64 µmol g−1 h−1 and ultrastability for long‐term testing of 120 h.
In Situ Chemical Lithiation Transforms Diamond‐Like Carbon into an Ultrastrong Ion Conductor for Dendrite‐Free Lithium‐Metal Anodes
Authors: Li Zhongzhong , Peng Manqi , Zhou Xiaolong , Shin Kyungsoo , Tunmee Sarayut , Zhang Xiaoming , Xie Chengde , Saitoh Hidetoshi , Zheng Yongping , Zhou Zhiming , Tang Yongbing 
Published: July 2021

AbstractLithium (Li)‐metal anodes are of great promise for next‐generation batteries due to their high theoretical capacity and low redox potential. However, Li‐dendrite growth during cycling imposes a tremendous safety concern on the practical application of Li‐metal anodes. Herein, an effective approach to suppress Li‐dendrite growth by coating a polypropylene (PP) separator with a thin layer of ultrastrong diamond‐like carbon (DLC) is reported. Theoretical calculations indicate that the DLC coating layer undergoes in situ chemical lithiation once assembled with the lithium‐metal anode, transforming the DLC/PP separator into an excellent 3D Li‐ion conductor. This in situ lithiated DLC/PP separator can not only mechanically suppress Li‐dendrite growth by its intrinsically high modulus (≈100 GPa), but also uniformly redistributes Li ions to render dendrite‐free lithium deposition. The twofold effects of the DLC/PP separator result in stable cycling of lithium plating/stripping (over 4500 h) at a high current density of 3 mA cm−2. Remarkably, this approach enables more than 1000 stable cycles at 5 C with a capacity retention of ≈71% in a Li || LiFePO4 coin cell and more than 200 stable cycles at 0.2 C in a Li || LiNi0.5Co0.3Mn0.2O2 pouch cell with cathode mass loading of ≈9 mg cm−2.
Highly Efficient Uniaxial In‐Plane Stretching of a 2D Material via Ion Insertion
Authors: Muscher Philipp K. , Rehn Daniel A. , Sood Aditya , Lim Kipil , Luo Duan , Shen Xiaozhe , Zajac Marc , Lu Feiyu , Mehta Apurva , Li Yiyang , Wang Xijie , Reed Evan J. , Chueh William C. , Lindenberg Aaron M. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractOn‐chip dynamic strain engineering requires efficient micro‐actuators that can generate large in‐plane strains. Inorganic electrochemical actuators are unique in that they are driven by low voltages (≈1 V) and produce considerable strains (≈1%). However, actuation speed and efficiency are limited by mass transport of ions. Minimizing the number of ions required to actuate is thus key to enabling useful “straintronic” devices. Here, it is shown that the electrochemical intercalation of exceptionally few lithium ions into WTe2 causes large anisotropic in‐plane strain: 5% in one in‐plane direction and 0.1% in the other. This efficient stretching of the 2D WTe2 layers contrasts to intercalation‐induced strains in related materials which are predominantly in the out‐of‐plane direction. The unusual actuation of LixWTe2 is linked to the formation of a newly discovered crystallographic phase, referred to as Td', with an exotic atomic arrangement. On‐chip low‐voltage (<0.2 V) control is demonstrated over the transition to the novel phase and its composition. Within the Td'‐Li0.5−δWTe2 phase, a uniaxial in‐plane strain of 1.4% is achieved with a change of δ of only 0.075. This makes the in‐plane chemical expansion coefficient of Td'‐Li0.5−δWTe2 far greater than of any other single‐phase material, enabling fast and efficient planar electrochemical actuation.
Bio‐Organic Chiral Nematic Materials with Adaptive Light Emission and On‐Demand Handedness
Authors: Kang Saewon , Li Yingying , Bukharina Daria , Kim Minkyu , Lee Hansol , Buxton Madeline L. , Han Moon Jong , Nepal Dhriti , Bunning Timothy J. , Tsukruk Vladimir V. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractReal‐time active control of the handedness of circularly polarized light emission requires sophisticated manufacturing and structural reconfigurations of inorganic optical components that can rarely be achieved in traditional passive optical structures. Here, robust and flexible emissive optically‐doped biophotonic materials that facilitate the dynamic optical activity are reported. These optically active bio‐enabled materials with a chiral nematic‐like organization of cellulose nanocrystals with intercalated organic dye generated strong circularly polarized photoluminescence with a high asymmetric factor. Reversible phase‐shifting of the photochromic molecules intercalated into chiral nematic organization enables alternating circularly polarized light emission with on‐demand handedness. Real‐time alternating handedness can be triggered by either remote light illumination or changes in the acidic environment. This unique dynamic chiro‐optical behavior presents an efficient way to design emissive bio‐derived materials for dynamic programmable active photonic materials for optical communication, optical coding, visual protection, and visual adaptation.