bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multi Slice Computed Tomography in Assessment of Posterior Mediastinal Lesions
Authors: Shalakany Nora Mostafa Mohamed El , Radwan Samah Ahmed , Taha Abdelhady Mohamed , Dawoud Mohemed Fathy 
Published: February 2021

Background: Posterior Mediastinal lesions are relatively common and represent 23-30% of all mediastinal lesions; 40% of these lesions are an incidental finding. Multidetector CT (MDCT) has shorter imaging time and better spatial resolution than MRI, especially in mediastinum; it is more widely available & less expensive. The additional role of CT is in performing CT guided biopsies if needed. This study aimed to evaluate the role of MSCT in the diagnosis of mediastinal lesions based on the characteristic imaging appearances, which can lead to a correct diagnosis and optimal management. The post-processing technique further improves the diagnosis and surgical planning.
Patients and Methods: This study included 30 patients with posterior mediastinal lesions evaluated according to clinical data, diagnostic imaging procedure (MSCT), and histopathological evaluation. Most of the cases in this study had a lesion raised from the LN and vessels by 23.3%.
Results: Metastatic lymphadenopathy was the commonest lesion in our study, 13.3%, followed by lymphoma 10.3% and neurogenic tumors 10%. Benign lesions were 60%, while the malignant lesion represents 40% of all cases. Multiple CT features of each posterior mediastinal lesion were used to predict the nearest histological diagnosis. The accuracy of MSCT in our study was 93.3%.
Conclusion: MSCT has a practical and significant role in the assessment & evaluation of the posterior mediastinal lesions according to the anatomical origin, the CT feature of the lesion (solid or cystic), density, the effect on the surroundings, the distribution pattern, and extent of the lesion.
In‐depth peripheral CD4+ T profile correlates with myasthenic crisis
Authors: Huan Xiao , Luo Sushan , Zhong Huahua , Zheng Xueying , Song Jie , Zhou Lei , Lu Jun , Wang Ying , Xu Yafang , Xi Jianying , Zou Zhangyu , Chen Sheng , Zhao Chongbo 
Published: February 2021

AbstractObjectiveMyasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease caused by autoantibodies against neuromuscular junctions. Myasthenic crisis (MC) represents the most severe state of MG with high in‐hospital mortality. We aimed to identify immune signatures using in‐depth profiling in MC, and to assess the correlations between immune biomarkers with clinical severity longitudinally.MethodsWe studied 181 participants including 57 healthy controls, 96 patients with MG who never experienced crisis and 28 MC patients from December 2018 through June 2020. Follow‐up visits occurred prospectively from crisis to 6 months off‐mechanical ventilation. The frequencies of 20 CD4+ T subpopulations and 18 serum cytokines were associated with clinical scores using correlations and principal component analysis.ResultsPatients in crisis exhibited a proinflammatory CD4+T response with elevated Th1 (P = 0.026), and Th17 cells (P = 0.032); decreased T follicular helper 2 (Tfh2) cells (P < 0.001), Tnaive in Tfh cells (P < 0.001), ICOS−Tfh cells (P = 0.017), and T central memory in Tfh (P = 0.022) compared with controls, and increased frequencies of Tregs (P = 0.026) and Tfh17 (P = 0.045) compared with non‐crisis MG. Cytokine cascade was identified in crisis including the ones associated with Th1 (IL‐1β/2/12p70/18/27/IFN‐γ/TNF‐α), Th2 (IL‐4/5/13), Th17 (IL‐6/17A/21/22/23/GM‐CSF), Th9 (IL‐9), and Treg (IL‐10). Longitudinally, seven immune biomarkers including Tregs, IL‐2/4/17A/IFN‐γ/TNF‐α/GM‐CSF had significant correlations with MG‐activities of daily living score.InterpretationVigorous inflammatory CD4+ T signatures were identified in MC and are associated with clinical severity. Future research is needed to explore its potential candidacy for therapeutic intervention and predicting impending crisis.
Critical Current Density in Solid‐State Lithium Metal Batteries: Mechanism, Influences, and Strategies
Authors: Lu Yang , Zhao Chen‐Zi , Yuan Hong , Cheng Xin‐Bing , Huang Jia‐Qi , Zhang Qiang 
Published: February 2021

AbstractSolid‐state lithium (Li) metal batteries (SSLMBs) have become a research hotspot in the energy storage field due to the much‐enhanced safety and high energy density. However, the SSLMBs suffer from failures including dendrite‐induced short circuits and contact‐loss‐induced high impedance, which are highly related to the Li plating/stripping kinetics and hinder the practical application of SSLMBs. The maximum endurable current density of lithium battery cycling without cell failure in SSLMB is generally defined as critical current density (CCD). Therefore, CCD is an important parameter for the application of SSLMBs, which can help to determine the rate‐determining steps of Li kinetics in solid‐state batteries. Herein, the theoretical and practical meanings for CCD from the fundamental thermodynamic and kinetic principles, failure mechanisms, CCD identifications, and influence factors for improving CCD performances are systematically reviewed. Based on these fundamental understandings, a series of strategies and outlooks for future researches on SSLMB are presented, endeavoring on increasing CCD for practical SSLMBs.
Ultrafast Photo‐Thermal Switching of Terahertz Spin Currents
Authors: Agarwal Piyush , Medwal Rohit , Kumar Abhishek , Asada Hironori , Fukuma Yasuhiro , Rawat Rajdeep Singh , Battiato Marco , Singh Ranjan 
Published: February 2021

AbstractDissipationless and scattering‐free spin‐based terahertz electronics is the futuristic technology for energy‐efficient information processing. Femtosecond light pulse provides an ideal pathway for exciting the ferromagnet (FM) out‐of‐equilibrium, causing ultrafast demagnetization and superdiffusive spin transport at sub‐picosecond timescale, giving rise to transient terahertz radiation. Concomitantly, light pulses also deposit thermal energy at short timescales, suggesting the possibility of abrupt change in magnetic anisotropy of the FM that could cause ultrafast photo‐thermal switching (PTS) of terahertz spin currents. Here, a single light pulse induced PTS of the terahertz spin current manifested through the phase reversal of the emitted terahertz photons is demonstrated. The switching of the transient spin current is due to the reversal of the magnetization state across the energy barrier of the FM layer. This demonstration opens a new paradigm for on‐chip spintronic devices enabling ultralow‐power hybrid electronics and photonics fueled by the interplay of charge, spin, thermal, and optical signals.
A Potentiometric Electronic Skin for Thermosensation and Mechanosensation
Authors: Wu Xiaodong , Zhu Juan , Evans James W. , Lu Canhui , Arias Ana C. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractElectronic skins (e‐skins) that mimic the thermosensation and mechanosensation functionalities of natural skin are highly desired for the emerging fields of prosthetics and robotics. Advances in the materials and architecture of e‐skins have been made; nevertheless, sensing mechanism innovations are rarely explored. Here, inspired by the skin sensory behaviors, a single potentiometric sensing scheme for both thermosensation and mechanosensation functionalities are presented. Through careful materials selection, component optimization, and structure configuration, the coupling effect between thermosensation and mechanosensation can be significantly minimized. Such a potentiometric sensing scheme enables one to create a new class of energy‐efficient e‐skin with distinctive characteristics that are highly analogous to those of natural human skin. The e‐skin reported here features ultralow power consumption (at nanowatt level), greatly simplified operation (only voltage output), ultrahigh sensitivity (non‐contact sensing capability), all‐solution‐processing fabrication, and, more importantly, good capability for simultaneous monitoring/mapping of both thermal and mechanical stimulations. In addition to proposing a new sensory mechanism, integration of the dual‐functional e‐skin with a soft robotic gripper for object manipulation is demonstrated. The presented concise yet efficient sensing scheme for both thermosensation and mechanosensation opens up previously unexplored avenues for the future design of skin prosthetics, humanoid robotics, and wearable electronics.
In Search of Excellence: Convex versus Concave Noble Metal Nanostructures for Electrocatalytic Applications
Authors: Iqbal Muhammad , Bando Yoshio , Sun Ziqi , Wu Kevin C.‐W. , Rowan Alan E. , Na Jongbeom , Guan Bu Yuan , Yamauchi Yusuke 
Published: February 2021

AbstractControlling the shape of noble metal nanoparticles is a challenging but important task in electrocatalysis. Apart from hollow and nanocage structures, concave noble metal nanoparticles are considered a new class of unconventional electrocatalysts that exhibit superior electrocatalytic properties as compared with those of conventional nanoparticles (including convex and flat ones). Herein, several facile and highly reproducible routes for synthesizing nanostructured concave noble metal materials reported in the literature are discussed, together with their advantages over noble metal nanoparticles with convex shapes. In addition, possible ways of optimizing the synthesis procedure and enhancing the electrocatalytic characteristics of concave metal nanoparticles are suggested. Nanostructured noble metals with concave features are found to show better catalytic activity and stability hence improve their practical applicability in electrocatalysis.
Fabrication Strategies of Twisted Bilayer Graphenes and Their Unique Properties
Authors: Cai Le , Yu Gui 
Published: February 2021

AbstractTwisted bilayer graphene (tBLG) exhibits a host of innovative physical phenomena owing to the formation of moiré superlattice. Especially, the discovery of superconducting behavior has generated new interest in graphene. The growing studies of tBLG mainly focus on its physical properties, while the fabrication of high‐quality tBLG is a prerequisite for achieving the desired properties due to the great dependence on the twist angle and the interfacial contact. Here, the cutting‐edge preparation strategies and challenges of tBLG fabrication are reviewed. The advantages and disadvantages of chemical vapor deposition, epitaxial growth on silicon carbide, stacking monolayer graphene, and folding monolayer graphene methods for the fabrication of tBLG are analyzed in detail, providing a reference for further development of preparation methods. Moreover, the characterization methods of twist angle for the tBLG are presented. Then, the unique physicochemical properties and corresponding applications of tBLG, containing correlated insulating and superconducting states, ferromagnetic state, soliton, enhanced optical absorption, tunable bandgap, and lithium intercalation and diffusion, are described. Finally, the opportunities and challenges for fabricating high‐quality and large‐area tBLG are discussed, unique physical properties are displayed, and new applications inferred from its angle‐dependent features are explored, thereby impelling the commercialization of tBLG from laboratory to market.
Infrared Metasurface Augmented by Deep Learning for Monitoring Dynamics between All Major Classes of Biomolecules
Authors: John‐Herpin Aurelian , Kavungal Deepthy , von Mücke Lea , Altug Hatice 
Published: February 2021

AbstractInsights into the fascinating molecular world of biological processes are crucial for understanding diseases, developing diagnostics, and effective therapeutics. These processes are complex as they involve interactions between four major classes of biomolecules, i.e., proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids, which makes it important to be able to discriminate between all these different biomolecular species. In this work, a deep learning‐augmented, chemically‐specific nanoplasmonic technique that enables such a feat in a label‐free manner to not disrupt native processes is presented. The method uses a highly sensitive multiresonant plasmonic metasurface in a microfluidic device, which enhances infrared absorption across a broadband mid‐IR spectrum and in water, despite its strongly overlapping absorption bands. The real‐time format of the optofluidic method enables the collection of a vast amount of spectrotemporal data, which allows the construction of a deep neural network to discriminate accurately between all major classes of biomolecules. The capabilities of the new method are demonstrated by monitoring of a multistep bioassay containing sucrose‐ and nucleotides‐loaded liposomes interacting with a small, lipid membrane‐perforating peptide. It is envisioned that the presented technology will impact the fields of biology, bioanalytics, and pharmacology from fundamental research and disease diagnostics to drug development.
Angle‐Independent Structurally Colored Materials with Superhydrophobicity and Self‐Healing Capability
Authors: Feng Yechang , Sun Jie , Xu Lirong , Hong Wei 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBioinspired structurally colored materials with superwettability have aroused considerable interest, but it is still a formidable challenge to produce large‐scale superhydrophobic photonic materials with high mechanical durability. Herein, a superhydrophobic photonic composite with angle‐independent structural colors and self‐healing capability is reported, by embedding photonic glass on a healable supramolecular polymer with hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane segments. Superhydrophobicity of the composite originates from the migration of the supramolecular polymer around the photonic glass pigments with micro–nano structure. This superhydrophobic characteristic has long‐term stability that can maintain for months. Based on the self‐cleaning property, nonwettability and vivid angle‐independent structural colors, the composite can be applied as large‐area antifouling and coloring coatings. Moreover, the reversible hydrogen bonds endow the composite with self‐healing ability and mechanical durability properties, which is crucial to practical applications as biomimetic decorative materials and wearable devices.
Enhanced Humoral Immune Response by High Density TLR Agonist Presentation on Hyperbranched Polymers
Authors: Liong Celine S. , Smith Anton A. A. , Mann Joseph L. , Roth Gillie A. , Gale Emily C. , Maikawa Caitlin L. , Ou Ben S. , Appel Eric. A. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractProphylactic vaccines often exploit adjuvants to drive potent and directed immune responses. Small‐molecule toll‐like receptor (TLR) agonists are promising adjuvant candidates; however, the poor pharmacokinetics and rapid distribution of these relatively hydrophilic small molecules results in systemic side effects that have limited their usage to topical application. In this study, TLR7/8 agonists are covalently attached to the highly dense end‐groups of hyperbranched polymers synthesized by controlled radical polymerization techniques. Subcutaneous administration of these adjuvants results in a potent and prolonged type I interferon response. When co‐administered in a model subunit vaccine, with ovalbumin or the HIV envelope glycoprotein gp120, these hyperbranched polymeric adjuvants potentiate an enhanced immunoglobulin response and near‐immediate type‐switching to IgG2c, suggesting they promote the type of strong T helper cell 1 immune response that is desirable for the treatment of intracellular pathogens such as mycobacterial and viral infections. Controlling the pharmacokinetics of potent TLR agonists through conjugation to hyperbranched polymers, therefore, enables the development of potent adjuvants in vaccines to drive durable and high‐quality humoral immunity.
Robust tracking control of column froth flotation process with an unknown disturbance
Authors: Xu Xiaodong , Dubljevic Stevan 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThis manuscript develops a robust output regulator for the column froth flotation process in the presence of unknown disturbance. In particular, motivated by relevant physical modeling setting, all information (including magnitude, phase, bias, and frequency) of the disturbance is unavailable. The system considered is consisting of froth and collection zones and is governed by a set of conservative heterodirectional transport hyperbolic partial differential equations (PDEs). Moreover, the transport related time delay between the froth and the collection region is considered, and is associated with the boundary conditions of the PDEs. The velocity of the feed is considered the input and the concentration of the solid particle with air phase at the top of froth region as the output. We propose a disturbance frequency identifier and formulate a robust controller according to the internal model principle such that the output tracks the desired concentration despite the model uncertainties and unknown disturbance.
A rare case of Holmes tremor in a worker with occupational carbon monoxide poisoning
Authors: Rutchik Jonathan , Bowler Rosemarie M. , Ratner Marcia H. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractParkinsonism and encephalopathy are frequently seen in patients who survive carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Neurological findings associated with CO poisoning can emerge immediately after cessation of exposure or following a brief period of pseudo‐recovery. When present, the tremor associated with CO poisoning is typical of the postural/intention type. Here, we report on a rare case of toxic encephalopathy with a dominant‐hand Holmes‐type tremor, characterized by resting, as well as postural and kinetic/intentional components, in a previously healthy 53‐year‐old man exposed to CO while actively engaged in the process of performing a physically demanding skilled labor task. The unique neuropathological and functional changes that give rise to Holmes‐type tremor and how this relates to the selective vulnerability of the inhibitory indirect pathway of the basal ganglia to glutamatergic excitotoxicity mediated by tissue hypoxia are discussed.
Self‐reported work activities, eye, nose, and throat symptoms, and respiratory health outcomes among an industrial hog operation worker cohort, North Carolina, USA
Authors: Coffman Vanessa R. , Hall Devon J. , Pisanic Nora , Love David C. , Nadimpalli Maya , McCormack Meredith , Diener‐West Marie , Davis Meghan F. , Heaney Christopher D. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIntroductionRespiratory disease among industrial hog operation (IHO) workers is well documented; however, it remains unclear whether specific work activities are more harmful and if personal protective equipment (PPE), as used by workers, can reduce adverse health outcomes.MethodsIHO workers (n = 103) completed baseline and up to eight bi‐weekly study visits. Workers reported typical (baseline) and transient (bi‐weekly) work activities, PPE use, and physical health symptoms. Baseline and longitudinal associations were assessed using generalized logistic and fixed‐effects logistic regression models, respectively.ResultsAt baseline, reports of ever versus never drawing pig blood, applying pesticides, and increasing years worked at any IHO were positively associated with reports of eye, nose, and/or throat irritation. Over time, transient exposures, associated with dustiness in barns, cleaning of barns, and pig contact were associated with increased odds of sneezing, headache, and eye or nose irritation, particularly in the highest categories of exposure. When PPE was used, workers had lower odds of symptoms interfering with sleep (odds ratio [OR]: 0.1; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.01–0.8), and eye or nose irritation (OR: 0.1; 95% CI: 0.02–0.9). Similarly, when they washed their hands eight times or more per shift (median frequency) versus less frequently, the odds of any respiratory symptom were reduced (OR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.1–0.8).ConclusionsIn this healthy volunteer worker population, increasingly unfavorable IHO activities were associated with self‐reported eye, nose, throat, and respiratory health symptoms. Strong protective associations were seen between PPE use and handwashing and the odds of symptoms, warranting further investigation.
Au‐Ag‐Bimetallkatalyse: 3‐Alkinylbenzofurane aus Phenolen durch Tandem‐C‐H‐Alkinylierung/Oxyalkinylierung
Authors: Hu Long , Dietl Martin C. , Han Chunyu , Rudolph Matthias , Rominger Frank , Hashmi A. Stephen K. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractDie Entwicklung neuer Methoden, die einen einfachen Zugang zu wertvollen heterozyklischen Gerüsten ermöglichen, ist ein wichtiger Forschungsgegenstand. In diesem Zusammenhang beschreiben wir einen dualen Katalysezyklus, bei dem die C‐H‐Alkinylierung von Phenolen und die Oxyalkinylierung der neu eingeführten Dreifachbindung unter Verwendung einer einzigartigen Redoxeigenschaft und der carbophilen π‐Acidität von Gold verschmelzen. Mechanistische Studien stützen die Beteiligung einer Bimetall‐Gold‐Silber‐Spezies. Das Eintopfverfahren bietet einen direkten, einfachen und regiospezifischen Ansatz zur Synthese von 3‐Alkinylbenzofuranen aus leicht verfügbaren Phenolen. Ein breites Spektrum von Substraten, einschließlich Heterozyklen, wird mit ausgezeichneter Toleranz gegenüber funktionellen Gruppen umgesetzt. Somit kann diese Methodik für den Einbau von Benzofuranen im späten Stadium von Synthesen verwendet werden.
Ligand Strain and Its Conformational Complexity Is a Major Factor in the Binding of Cyclic Dinucleotides to STING Protein
Authors: Smola Miroslav , Gutten Ondrej , Dejmek Milan , Kožíšek Milan , Evangelidis Thomas , Tehrani Zahra Aliakbar , Novotná Barbora , Nencka Radim , Birkuš Gabriel , Rulíšek Lubomír , Boura Evzen 
Published: February 2021

AbstractSTING (stimulator of interferon genes) is a key regulator of innate immunity that has recently been recognized as a promising drug target. STING is activated by cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) which eventually leads to expression of type I interferons and other cytokines. Factors underlying the affinity of various CDN analogues are poorly understood. Herein, we correlate structural biology, isothermal calorimetry (ITC) and computational modeling to elucidate factors contributing to binding of six CDNs—three pairs of natural (ribo) and fluorinated (2′‐fluororibo) 3′,3′‐CDNs. X‐ray structural analyses of six {STING:CDN} complexes did not offer any explanation for the different affinities of the studied ligands. ITC showed entropy/enthalpy compensation up to 25 kcal mol−1 for this set of similar ligands. The higher affinities of fluorinated analogues are explained with help of computational methods by smaller loss of entropy upon binding and by smaller strain (free) energy.
Fatty Acids and their Derivatives as Renewable Platform Molecules for the Chemical Industry
Authors: Biermann Ursula , Bornscheuer Uwe T. , Feussner Ivo , Meier Michael A. R. , Metzger Jürgen O. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractOils and fats of vegetable and animal origin remain an important renewable feedstock for the chemical industry. Their industrial use has increased during the last 10 years from 31 to 51 million tonnes annually. Remarkable achievements made in the field of oleochemistry in this timeframe are summarized herein, including the reduction of fatty esters to ethers, the selective oxidation and oxidative cleavage of C–C double bonds, the synthesis of alkyl‐branched fatty compounds, the isomerizing hydroformylation and alkoxycarbonylation, and olefin metathesis. The use of oleochemicals for the synthesis of a great variety of polymeric materials has increased tremendously, too. In addition to lipases and phospholipases, other enzymes have found their way into biocatalytic oleochemistry. Important achievements have also generated new oil qualities in existing crop plants or by using microorganisms optimized by metabolic engineering.