bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Deuteration‐Induced Energy Level Structure Reconstruction of Carbon Dots for Enhancing Photoluminescence
Authors: Yao Zimin , Wen Xiaokun , Hong Xia , Tao Ran , Yin Feifei , Cao Shuo , Yan Jiayi , Wang Kexin , Wang Jiwei 
Published: May 2024

AbstractConstrained by a limited understanding of the structure and luminescence mechanisms of carbon dots (CDs), achieving precise enhancement of their photoluminescence (PL) performance without altering the emission wavelength and color remains a challenge. In this work, a deuterated CD is first achieved by simply replacing the reaction solvent from H2O to D2O. The substitution of D atoms for H atoms is not limited on the surface but also within the internal structure of CDs. Deuteration affects the formation of the π‐conjugated network structure by altering the content of sp2 carbon and sp3 carbon, ultimately inducing a reconstruction for energy level structure of CDs. Both the intrinsic state and surface state emission, including quantum yield, emission intensity and lifetime, are significantly enhanced after deuteration. It benefits from the reduction in non‐radiative transitions, since the lowered vibrational frequencies of D atoms and optimized local energy level distribution in CDs structure. The deuterated CDs are applied in the fabrication of white‐light‐emitting diodes to show their application potential. This work provides a highly versatile route for improving and controlling photoluminescence performance of CDs and has opportunities to guide the development of CDs for practical applications.
Polydopamine Nanoparticles as Mimicking RPE Melanin for the Protection of Retinal Cells Against Blue Light‐Induced Phototoxicity
Authors: Kwon Yong‐Su , Munsoor Julie , Kaufmann Mary , Zheng Min , Smirnov Alex I. , Han Zongchao 
Published: May 2024

AbstractExposure of the eyes to blue light can induce the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, potentially leading to pathological damage of age‐related macular degeneration (AMD). While the melanin in RPE cells absorbs blue light and prevents ROS accumulation, the loss and dysfunction of RPE melanin due to age‐related changes may contribute to photooxidation toxicity. Herein, a novel approach utilizing a polydopamine‐replenishing strategy via a single‐dose intravitreal (IVT) injection is presented to protect retinal cells against blue light‐induced phototoxicity. To investigate the effects of overexposure to blue light on retinal cells, a blue light exposure Nrf2‐deficient mouse model is created, which is susceptible to light‐induced retinal lesions. After blue light irradiation, retina degeneration and an overproduction of ROS are observed. The polydopamine‐replenishing strategy demonstrated effectiveness in maintaining retinal structural integrity and preventing retina degeneration by reducing ROS production in retinal cells and limiting the phototoxicity of blue light exposure. These findings highlight the potential of polydopamine as a simple and effective replenishment for providing photoprotection against high‐energy blue light exposure.
Solar‐Driven Biomass Reforming for Hydrogen Generation: Principles, Advances, and Challenges
Authors: Pan Hu , Li Jinglin , Wang Yangang , Xia Qineng , Qiu Liang , Zhou Baowen 
Published: May 2024

AbstractHydrogen (H2) has emerged as a clean and versatile energy carrier to power a carbon‐neutral economy for the post‐fossil era. Hydrogen generation from low‐cost and renewable biomass by virtually inexhaustible solar energy presents an innovative strategy to process organic solid waste, combat the energy crisis, and achieve carbon neutrality. Herein, the progress and breakthroughs in solar‐powered H2 production from biomass are reviewed. The basic principles of solar‐driven H2 generation from biomass are first introduced for a better understanding of the reaction mechanism. Next, the merits and shortcomings of various semiconductors and cocatalysts are summarized, and the strategies for addressing the related issues are also elaborated. Then, various bio‐based feedstocks for solar‐driven H2 production are reviewed with an emphasis on the effect of photocatalysts and catalytic systems on performance. Of note, the concurrent generation of value‐added chemicals from biomass reforming is emphasized as well. Meanwhile, the emerging photo‐thermal coupling strategy that shows a grand prospect for maximally utilizing the entire solar energy spectrum is also discussed. Further, the direct utilization of hydrogen from biomass as a green reductant for producing value‐added chemicals via organic reactions is also highlighted. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of photoreforming biomass toward hydrogen are envisioned.
Decoding the algorithmic operations of Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme
Authors: van Toorn Georgia , Carney Terry 
Published: May 2024

AbstractIn recent years, Australia has embarked on a digital transformation of its social services, with the primary goal of creating user‐centric services that are more attentive to the needs of citizens. This article examines operational and technological changes within Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) as a result of this comprehensive government digital transformation strategy. It discusses the effectiveness of these changes in enhancing outcomes for users of the scheme. Specifically, the focus is on the National Disability Insurance Agency's (NDIA) use of algorithmic decision support systems to aid in the development of personalised support plans. This administrative process, we show, incorporates several automated elements that raise concerns about substantive fairness, accountability, transparency and participation in decision making. The conclusion drawn is that algorithmic systems exercise various forms of state power, but in this case, their subterranean administrative character positions them as “algorithmic grey holes”—spaces effectively beyond recourse to legal remedies and more suited to redress by holistic and systemic accountability reforms advocated by algorithmic justice scholarship.
Transforming histology students from passive lecture listeners into active lecture learners
Authors: Hortsch Michael 
Published: May 2024

AbstractTraditional academic lectures have long been criticized as providing a passive learning environment to students. Often, they do not capture the audience's attention, resulting in learners being distracted or bored and thereby reducing their learning efficacy. Consequently, they are being abandoned by many schools and universities as an educational modus or modified into more learner‐centered experiences. This descriptive article outlines a strategy of inserting active learning PowerPoint slides into traditional histology lectures. Suggestions and advice for adding or improving existing active learning slides are being offered to readers, who are planning to modify their own lecture presentations. The author's experience of using this formative assessment strategy with different types of histology learners is also discussed.
Structural‐Change‐Induced Two‐Stage Redox Behavior of Pentacenebisquinodimethane with Tricolor Chromism
Authors: Ishigaki Yusuke , Mizuno Shin‐ichi , Harimoto Takashi , Shimajiri Takuya , Suzuki Takanori 
Published: May 2024

AbstractTricolor electrochromism was realized through the interconversion among the neutral (yellow), dicationic (green), and tetracationic (blue) states, even though only one kind of chromophore is generated upon oxidation. Both dicationic and tetracationic states were isolated as stable salts, and their different colors come from the effective inter‐chromophore interaction only in the tetracationic state but not in the dicationic state. Despite the negligible Coulombic repulsion in the tetracationic state with four cyanine‐type chromophores, pentacenebisquinodimethane undergoes stepwise two‐stage two‐electron oxidation when radical‐stabilizing 5‐(4‐octyloxyphenyl)‐2‐thienyl groups are attached on the exomethylene bonds. A contribution from the biradical form only in the neutral state but not in the dicationic state is the reason for the observed negative cooperativity during the electrochemical oxidation.
Safety of urethral preservation using urethral frozen section analysis in radical cystectomy
Authors: Hattori Yuto , Nagoshi Akihiko , Fujiwara Tasuku , Kambe Takanari , Mine Yuta , Hagimoto Hiroki , Abe Yohei , Yamashita Daisuke , Tsutsumi Naofumi , Shibasaki Noboru , Yamasaki Toshinari , Kawakita Mutsushi 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe objective of this study is to assess whether urethral preservation can be performed safely using frozen section analysis (FSA) of the urethral stump on urethral recurrence after radical cystectomy.MethodsBetween June 2012 and July 2022, we investigated consecutive male patients who underwent urethral FSA during radical cystectomy for urothelial carcinoma. For FSA‐abnormal cases, urethrectomy was performed, and for FSA‐normal cases, the urethra was preserved. The diagnostic accuracy of FSA was assessed in comparison with the pathological findings of the permanent sections of the same tissue. Postoperatively, computed tomography and urinary cytology were performed as routine surveillance of recurrence.ResultsOf the 77 patients included in this study, three patients with abnormal FSA underwent concurrent urethrectomy. The negative predictive value of urethral FSA was 100%. With a median postoperative follow‐up of 38 months (interquartile ranges 21–71), no urethral recurrence was observed.ConclusionsFSA may be useful in determining the indication for urethrectomy.
Listening to young children with disabilities: Experiences of quality in mainstream primary education
Authors: Gulliver Katherine 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAll children should have access to quality education through a child‐centred pedagogy. An inclusive, child‐centred pedagogy uses a strength‐based view of children that recognises each child as unique and competent, providing children with multiple opportunities to explore and learn at their own pace. However, competing tensions in mainstream primary education in England can impact this through a performative school culture that focusses on progress and attainment rather than the successful inclusion of all children including those with disabilities. This adult‐centric view of education quality does not consider children's experiences of what happens in mainstream primary education, through their perspectives. The research described here uses methodology that actively listens to young children with developmental disabilities themselves to understand what is important and valuable to them. Four case studies present children's experience of education in different English primary schools, using a range of photography activities, guided tours and interviews. Methods illicit rich detail and novel understandings of experiences from the views of young children with developmental disabilities, whose voices have tended to be excluded from research. The study demonstrates ways in which young children can develop self‐advocacy through opportunities to share their voice and understanding of education. Findings reveal the significance of children's involvement in the different spaces and objects associated with experiencing mainstream education, and the different types of pedagogy found in education that may or may not offer opportunities for self‐advocacy for children with developmental disabilities.
A Bayesian hierarchical hidden Markov model for clustering and gene selection: Application to kidney cancer gene expression data
Authors: Chekouo Thierry , Mukherjee Himadri 
Published: May 2024

AbstractWe introduce a Bayesian approach for biclustering that accounts for the prior functional dependence between genes using hidden Markov models (HMMs). We utilize biological knowledge gathered from gene ontologies and the hidden Markov structure to capture the potential coexpression of neighboring genes. Our interpretable model‐based clustering characterized each cluster of samples by three groups of features: overexpressed, underexpressed, and irrelevant features. The proposed methods have been implemented in an R package and are used to analyze both the simulated data and The Cancer Genome Atlas kidney cancer data.
Solvent stabilizing effects on the order–disorder transition of schizophyllan in aqueous mixtures of carboxylic acids
Authors: Yoshiba Kazuto , Yasuda Yota , Sato Mana , Matsuda Yasuhiro 
Published: May 2024

AbstractSchizophyllan is a triple helical β‐1,3‐D‐glucan, and shows the cooperative order–disorder transition in the aqueous solution at the triple helix state. In this paper, the solvent stabilizing effects of two carboxylic acids, acetic acid and citric acid, on the cooperative order–disorder transition of aqueous schizophyllan solution were investigated from DSC and SEC‐MALS measurements. The transition temperature (Tr) was shifted to higher temperature with increasing the molar fraction of carboxylic acid in the mixture (x). The transition enthalpy (ΔHr) was increased with increasing x. These solvent stabilizing effects indicate that these carboxylic acid molecules were selectively associated with the branched side chains of schizophyllan to stabilize the ordered state. The composition dependencies of Tr and ΔHr were analyzed by the linear cooperative transition theory to estimate the association parameters between the side chains and carboxylic acid. The theoretical parameters obtained were compared with those for the other active substances for the transition to discuss the molecular interactions between the triple helix and carboxylic acid.
Spectroscopic characterization and pharmacokinetic evaluation of amorphous solid dispersions of glibenclamide for bioavailability enhancement in Wistar rats
Authors: Mir Khalid Bashir , Abrol Vidushi , Singh Nasseb , Khan Nisar A. , Dar Alamgir A. , Alahmadi Tahani Awad , Ansari Mohammad Javed 
Published: May 2024

AbstractOral bioavailability of glibenclamide (Glb) was appreciably improved by the formation of an amorphous solid dispersion with Poloxamer‐188 (P‐188). Poloxamer‐188 substantially enhanced the solubility and thereby the dissolution rate of the biopharmaceutics classification system (BCS) class II drug Glb and simultaneously exhibited a better stabilizing effect of the amorphous solid dispersion prepared by the solvent evaporation method. The physical state of the dispersed Glb in the polymeric matrix was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and Fourier transform infrared studies. In vitro drug release in buffer (pH 7.2) revealed that the amorphous solid dispersion at a Glb–P‐188 ratio of 1:6 (SDE4) improved the dissolution of Glb by 90% within 3 h. A pharmacokinetic study of the solid dispersion formulation SDE4 in Wistar rats showed that the oral bioavailability of the drug was greatly increased as compared with the market tablet formulation, Daonil®. The formulation SDE4 resulted in an AUC0–24h ~2‐fold higher. The SDE4 formulation was found to be stable during the study period of 6 months.
De‐NeRF: Ultra‐high‐definition NeRF with deformable net alignment
Authors: Hou Jianing , Zhang Runjie , Wu Zhongqi , Meng Weiliang , Zhang Xiaopeng , Guo Jianwei 
Published: May 2024

AbstractNeural Radiance Field (NeRF) can render complex 3D scenes with viewpoint‐dependent effects. However, less work has been devoted to exploring its limitations in high‐resolution environments, especially when upscaled to ultra‐high resolution (e.g., 4k). Specifically, existing NeRF‐based methods face severe limitations in reconstructing high‐resolution real scenes, for example, a large number of parameters, misalignment of the input data, and over‐smoothing of details. In this paper, we present a novel and effective framework, called De‐NeRF, based on NeRF and deformable convolutional network, to achieve high‐fidelity view synthesis in ultra‐high resolution scenes: (1) marrying the deformable convolution unit which can solve the problem of misaligned input of the high‐resolution data. (2) Presenting a density sparse voxel‐based approach which can greatly reduce the training time while rendering results with higher accuracy. Compared to existing high‐resolution NeRF methods, our approach improves the rendering quality of high‐frequency details and achieves better visual effects in 4K high‐resolution scenes.
PR3D: Precise and realistic 3D face reconstruction from a single image
Authors: Huang Zhangjin , Wu Xing 
Published: May 2024

AbstractReconstructing the three‐dimensional (3D) shape and texture of the face from a single image is a significant and challenging task in computer vision and graphics. In recent years, learning‐based reconstruction methods have exhibited outstanding performance, but their effectiveness is severely constrained by the scarcity of available training data with 3D annotations. To address this issue, we present the PR3D (Precise and Realistic 3D face reconstruction) method, which consists of high‐precision shape reconstruction based on semi‐supervised learning and high‐fidelity texture reconstruction based on StyleGAN2. In shape reconstruction, we use in‐the‐wild face images and 3D annotated datasets to train the auxiliary encoder and the identity encoder, encoding the input image into parameters of FLAME (a parametric 3D face model). Simultaneously, a novel semi‐supervised hybrid landmark loss is designed to more effectively learn from in‐the‐wild face images and 3D annotated datasets. Furthermore, to meet the real‐time requirements in practical applications, a lightweight shape reconstruction model called fast‐PR3D is distilled through teacher–student learning. In texture reconstruction, we propose a texture extraction method based on face reenactment in StyleGAN2 style space, extracting texture from the source and reenacted face images to constitute a facial texture map. Extensive experiments have demonstrated the state‐of‐the‐art performance of our method.
A double‐layer crowd evacuation simulation method based on deep reinforcement learning
Authors: Zhang Yong , Yang Bo , Zhu Jianlin 
Published: May 2024

AbstractExisting crowd evacuation simulation methods commonly face challenges of low efficiency in path planning and insufficient realism in pedestrian movement during the evacuation process. In this study, we propose a novel crowd evacuation path planning approach based on the learning curve–deep deterministic policy gradient (LC‐DDPG) algorithm. The algorithm incorporates dynamic experience pool and a priority experience sampling strategy, enhancing convergence speed and achieving higher average rewards, thus efficiently enabling global path planning. Building upon this foundation, we introduce a double‐layer method for crowd evacuation using deep reinforcement learning. Specifically, within each group, individuals are categorized into leaders and followers. At the top layer, we employ the LC‐DDPG algorithm to perform global path planning for the leaders. Simultaneously, at the bottom layer, an enhanced social force model guides the followers to avoid obstacles and follow the leaders during evacuation. We implemented a crowd evacuation simulation platform. Experimental results show that our proposed method has high path planning efficiency and can generate more realistic pedestrian trajectories in different scenarios and crowd sizes.
The therapeutic potential of isosakuranetin against perfluorooctane sulfonate instigated cardiac toxicity via modulating Nrf‐2/Keap‐1 pathway, inflammatory, apoptotic, and histological profile
Authors: Ijaz Muhammad Umar , Shahid Humna , Hayat Muhammad Faisal , Khan Hammad Ahmad , Al‐Ghanim Khalid A. , Riaz Mian Nadeem 
Published: May 2024

AbstractPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a pervasive organic toxicant that damages body organs, including heart. Isosakuranetin (ISN) is a plant‐based flavonoid that exhibits a broad range of pharmacological potentials. The current investigation was conducted to evaluate the potential role of ISN to counteract PFOS‐induced cardiac damage in rats. Twenty‐four albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) were distributed into four groups, including control, PFOS (10 mg/kg) intoxicated, PFOS + ISN (10 mg/kg + 20 mg/kg) treated, and ISN (20 mg/kg) alone supplemented group. It was revealed that PFOS intoxication reduced the expressions of Nrf‐2 and its antioxidant genes while escalating the expression of Keap‐1. Furthermore, PFOS exposure reduced the activities of glutathione reductase (GSR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S‐transferase (GST), Heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) and glutathione (GSH) contents while upregulating the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Besides, PFOS administration upregulated the levels of creatine kinase‐MB (CK‐MB), troponin I, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Moreover, the levels of tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), nuclear factor kappa‐B (NF‐κB), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) were increased after PFOS intoxication. Additionally, PFOS exposure downregulated the expression of Bcl‐2 while upregulating the expressions of Bax and Caspase‐3. Furthermore, PFOS administration disrupted the normal architecture of cardiac tissues. Nonetheless, ISN treatment remarkably protected the cardiac tissues via regulating aforementioned dysregulations owing to its antioxidative, anti‐inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties.
Single‐cell and bulk RNA‐sequencing reveals mitosis‐involved gene HAUS1 is a promising indicator for predicting prognosis and immune responses in prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD)
Authors: Liu Shiwei , Yu Yang , Xu Jie , Wang Yi , Li Deng 
Published: May 2024

AbstractIt was imperative to identify latent biomarkers pertinent to malignancies, given the pivotal role targeted molecular therapies play in tumor treatment investigations. This study aimed to assess the validity of HAUS1 as an indicator for survival prognosis and immune responses in prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD) via single‐cell and bulk RNA‐sequencing. Related data on HAUS1 expression in PRAD were obtained from online databases, followed by comprehensive analyses to delineate its associations with survival prognosis, implicated pathways, and immune responses. Besides, the expression pattern of HAUS1 in PRAD was also verified in vitro, by using qRT‐PCR, Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry. We found HAUS1 was downregulated in PRAD compared with normal tissues, as verified in vitro by qRT‐PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry (p < 0.05). Single‐cell RNA‐sequencing analysis indicated that HAUS1 had relatively higher expressions in B cells, Mono/Macro cells, and Endothelial cells compared with other cell types. Cox regression analysis revealed HAUS1 could serve as an independent indicator for the overall survival prognosis of PRAD (p < 0.05). Spearman correlation analyses revealed HAUS1 was closely related to the tumor microenvironment, immune cell infiltration levels, immune checkpoints, and immune cell pathways (p < 0.05). Furthermore, HAUS1 expression was found to be closely related to the immunotherapeutic response of patients receiving clinical intervention (p < 0.05). Collectively, our findings underscored the significant role of HAUS1 in PRAD prognosis and immune response, thereby presenting a novel and promising avenue for investigating the clinical utility of immunotherapy in PRAD.