bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biosustainable Hybrid Nanoplatforms as Photoacoustic Agents
Authors: Pota Giulio , Armanetti Paolo , Silvestri Brigida , de Gennaro Bruno , Zanfardino Anna , Napoli Michela Di , Varcamonti Mario , Landi Gianluca , Pezzella Alessandro , Costantini Aniello , Luciani Giuseppina , Menichetti Luca 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe development of biosafe theranostic nanoplatforms has attracted great attention due to their multifunctional behavior, reduced potential toxicity, and improved long‐term safety. When considering photoacoustic contrast agents and photothermal conversion tools, melanin and constructs like melanin are highly appealing due to their ability to absorb optical energy and convert it into heat. Following a sustainable approach, in this study, silver‐melanin like‐silica nanoplatforms are synthesized exploiting different bio‐available and inexpensive phenolic acids as potential melanogenic precursors and exploring their role in tuning the final systems architecture. The UV–Vis combined with X‐Ray Diffraction investigation proves metallic silver formation, while Transmission Electron Microscopy analysis reveals that different morphologies can be obtained by properly selecting the phenolic precursors. By looking at the characterization results, a tentative formation mechanism is proposed to explain how phenolic precursors' redox behavior may affect the nanoplatforms' structure. The antibacterial activity experiments showed that all synthesized systems have a strong inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli, even at low concentrations. Furthermore, very sensitive Photoacoustic Imaging capabilities and significant photothermal behavior under laser irradiation are exhibited. Finally, a marked influence of phenol nature on the final system architecture is revealed resulting in a significant effect on both biological and photoacoustic features of the obtained systems. These melanin‐based hybrid systems exhibit excellent potential as triggerable nanoplatforms for various biomedical applications.
Target‐site mutations Ile1781Leu and Ile2041Asn in the ACCase2 gene confer resistance to fluazifop‐p‐butyl and pinoxaden herbicides in a johnsongrass accession from Arkansas, USA
Authors: González‐Torralva Fidel , Norsworthy Jason K. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractJohnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.] is a troublesome weed species in different agricultural and non‐agricultural areas. Because of its biology, reproductive system, and seed production, effective management is challenging. An accession with low susceptibility to the acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACCase)‐inhibiting herbicides fluazifop‐p‐butyl (fluazifop) and pinoxaden was collected in eastern Arkansas. In this research, the molecular mechanisms responsible for ACCase resistance were investigated. Dose–response experiments showed a resistance factor of 181 and 133 for fluazifop and pinoxaden, respectively. Molecular analysis of both ACCase1 and ACCase2 genes was researched. Nucleotide comparison of ACCase1 between resistant and susceptible accessions showed no single nucleotide polymorphisms. Nonetheless, analysis of ACCase2 in fluazifop‐resistant johnsongrass plants revealed the Ile1781Leu target‐site mutation was dominant (nearly 75%), whereas the majority of pinoxaden‐resistant johnsongrass plants had the Ile2041Asn (60%). Not all sequenced johnsongrass plants displayed a target‐site mutation, suggesting the presence of additional resistance mechanisms. Amplification of ACCase1 and ACCase2 was not responsible for resistance because of the similar values obtained in both resistant and susceptible accessions. Experiments with malathion and NBD‐Cl suggest the presence of herbicide metabolism. Outcomes of this research demonstrated that fluazifop‐ and pinoxaden‐resistant johnsongrass plants displayed a target‐site mutation in ACCase2, but also that non‐target‐site resistance mechanisms would be involved and require a detailed study.
Copper ion incorporation in α‐synuclein amyloids
Authors: Walke Gulshan , Kumar Ranjeet , Wittung‐Stafshede Pernilla 
Published: March 2024

AbstractCopper ion dys‐homeostasis is linked to neurodegenerative diseases involving amyloid formation. Even if many amyloidogenic proteins can bind copper ions as monomers, little is known about copper interactions with the resulting amyloid fibers. Here, we investigate copper interactions with α‐synuclein, the amyloid‐forming protein in Parkinson's disease. Copper (Cu(II)) binds tightly to monomeric α‐synuclein in vitro involving the N‐terminal amine and the side chain of His50. Using purified protein and biophysical methods in vitro, we reveal that copper ions are readily incorporated into the formed amyloid fibers when present at the start of aggregation reactions, and the metal ions also bind if added to pre‐formed amyloids. Efficient incorporation is observed for α‐synuclein variants with perturbation of either one of the high‐affinity monomer copper‐binding residues (i.e., N‐terminus or His50) whereas a variant with both N‐terminal acetylation and His50 substituted with Ala does not incorporate any copper into the amyloids. Both the morphology of the resulting α‐synuclein amyloids (amyloid fiber pitch, secondary structure, proteinase sensitivity) and the copper chemical properties (redox activity, chemical potential) are altered when copper is incorporated into amyloids. We speculate that copper chelation by α‐synuclein amyloids contributes to the observed copper dys‐homeostasis (e.g., reduced bioavailable levels) in Parkinson's disease patients. At the same time, amyloid‐copper interactions may be protective to neuronal cells as they will shield aberrantly free copper ions from promotion of toxic reactive oxygen species.
Fixed‐time sliding mode consensus tracking for second‐order nonlinear multi‐agent system with persistent dwell‐time switching topologies
Authors: Wang Haitao , Liu Qingshan 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis article investigates the problem of fixed‐time sliding mode consensus tracking for nonlinear second‐order multi‐agent system, in the presence of disturbances and actuator attacks. The interaction topology graph of multi‐agent system is directed and switched, and the switching topologies satisfy a more general persistent dwell‐time switching mechanism. To account for the disturbances, actuator attack, and switching topologies, a nonsingular sliding mode control law with distributed switching scheme is constructed to guarantee the fixed‐time reachability to a sliding surface. By using multiple Lyapunov functions, some new sufficient criteria are derived for fixed‐time consensus tracking of the multi‐agent system with persistent dwell‐time switching topologies. To illustrate the proposed approach, we present a numerical example and a physical example of the single pendulum model.
Cardiotoxicity Assessment through a Polymer‐Based Cantilever Platform: An Integrated Electro‐Mechanical Screening Approach
Authors: Kanade Pooja P. , Oyunbaatar Nomin‐Erdene , Kim Jongyun , Lee Bong‐Kee , Kim Eung‐Sam , Lee Dong‐Weon 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPreclinical drug screening for cardiac toxicity has traditionally relied on observing changes in cardiomyocytes' electrical activity, primarily through invasive patch clamp techniques or non‐invasive microelectrode arrays (MEA). However, relying solely on field potential duration (FPD) measurements for electrophysiological assessment can miss the full spectrum of drug‐induced toxicity, as different drugs affect cardiomyocytes through various mechanisms. A more comprehensive approach, combining field potential and contractility measurements, is essential for accurate toxicity profiling, particularly for drugs targeting contractile proteins without affecting electrophysiology. However, previously proposed platform has significant limitations in terms of simultaneous measurement. The novel platform addresses these issues, offering enhanced, non‐invasive evaluation of drug‐induced cardiotoxicity. It features eight cantilevers with patterned strain sensors and MEA, enabling real‐time monitoring of both cardiomyocyte contraction force and field potential. This system can detect minimum cardiac contraction force of ≈2 µN and field potential signals with 50 µm MEA diameter, using the same cardiomyocytes in measurements of two parameters. Testing with six drugs of varied mechanisms of action, the platform successfully identifies these mechanisms and accurately assesses toxicity profiles, including drugs not inhibiting potassium channels. This innovative approach presents a comprehensive, non‐invasive method for cardiac function assessment, poised to revolutionize preclinical cardiotoxicity screening.
Elastic SiC Aerogel for Thermal Insulation: A Systematic Review
Authors: Zhang Xuan , Yu Jianyong , Zhao Cunyi , Si Yang 
Published: March 2024

AbstractSiC aerogels with their lightweight nature and exceptional thermal insulation properties have emerged as the most ideal materials for thermal protection in hypersonic vehicles; However, conventional SiC aerogels are prone to brittleness and mechanical degradation when exposed to complex loads such as shock and mechanical vibration. Hence, preserving the structural integrity of aerogels under the combined influence of thermal and mechanical external forces is crucial not only for stabling their thermal insulation performance but also for determining their practicality in harsh environments. This review focuses on the optimization of design based on the structure‐performance of SiC aerogels, providing a comprehensive review of the inherent correlations among structural stability, mechanical properties, and insulation performance. First, the thermal transfer mechanism of aerogels from a microstructural perspective is studied, followed by the relationship between the building blocks of SiC aerogels (0D particles, 1D nanowires/nanofibers) and their compression performance (including compressive resilience, compressive strength, and fatigue resistance). Moreover, the strategy to improve the high‐temperature oxidation resistance and insulation performance of SiC aerogels is explored. Lastly, the challenges and future breakthrough directions for SiC aerogels are presented.
Multi‐Scale Superhydrophobic Surface with Excellent Stability and Solar‐Thermal Performance for Highly Efficient Anti‐Icing and Deicing
Authors: Zhang Fei , Yan Hongjie , Chen Meijie 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIce accretion can significantly impact the efficiency and safety of outdoor equipment. Solar‐thermal superhydrophobic surface is an effective strategy for anti‐icing and deicing. However, droplets easily turn to the Wenzel state during the icing and melting cycle processes, significantly increasing the adhesion and making the droplets difficult to remove from the surface. In this work, a triple‐scale solar‐thermal superhydrophobic surface is prepared on stainless steel 304 by etching, in situ oxidation, and spin‐coating TiN nanoparticles for highly efficient deicing and anti‐icing. The multi‐scale structure enabled the droplets to recover the Cassie state completely after melting. The contact angle decreased from 162.5° to 136.7° during the icing process and gradually increased to 162.1° during the melting process. In addition, metal oxides and TiN nanoparticles enabled the superhydrophobic surface to exhibit a high solar absorptivity ( = 0.925). The synergistic effect of the superhydrophobicity and the solar‐thermal performance endowed the designed multi‐scale surface with excellent anti‐icing and deicing performance. This work contributed to the practical development of anti‐icing and deicing applications based on solar‐thermal superhydrophobic surfaces.
Limiting Interfacial Free Water and Proton Concentration by Hydrogel Electrolytes for Stable MoO3 Anode in a Proton Battery
Authors: Qin Zili , Li Xilong , Dong Qi , Qi Kaiwen , Chen Shiyuan , Zhu Yongchun 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAqueous rechargeable proton batteries are attractive due to the small ionic radius, light mass, and ultrafast diffusion kinetics of proton as charge carriers. However, the commonly used acidic electrolyte is usually very corrosive to the electrode material, which seriously affects the cycle life of the battery. Here, it is proposed that decreasing water activity and limiting proton concentration can effectively prevent side reactions of the MoO3 anode such as corrosion and hydrogen precipitation by using a lean‐water hydrogel electrolyte. The as‐prepared polyacrylamide (PAAM)‐poly2‐acrylamide‐2‐methylpropanesulfonic acid (PAMPS)/MnSO4 (PPM) hydrogel electrolyte not only has abundant hydrophilic groups that can form hydrogen bonds with free water and inhibit solvent‐electrode interaction, but also has fixed anions that can maintain a certain interaction with protons. The assembled MoO3||MnO2 full battery can stably cycle over 500 times for ≈350 h with an unprecedented capacity retention of 100% even at a low current density of 0.5 A g−1. This work gives a hint that limiting free water as well as proton concentration is important for the design of electrolytes or interfaces in aqueous proton batteries.
Hibifolin protected pro‐inflammatory response and oxidative stress in LPS‐induced acute lung injury through antioxidative enzymes and the AMPK2/Nrf‐2 pathway
Authors: Ni Yung‐Lun , Shen Huan‐Ting , Ng Yan‐Yan , Chen Shih‐Pin , Lee Shiuan‐Shinn , Tseng Ching‐Chi , Ho Yung‐Chuan , Kuan Yu‐Hsiang 
Published: March 2024

AbstractALI is a grave medical ailment that manifests as abrupt inflammation of the lungs and diminished oxygen levels. It poses a considerable challenge to the medical fraternity, with elevated rates of morbidity and mortality. Our research endeavors to investigate the potential of hibifolin, a flavonoid glucuronide, imbued with potent antioxidant properties, and its molecular mechanism to combat LPS‐induced ALI in mice. The study utilized ICR mice to create an ALI model induced by LPS. Prior to LPS administration, hibifolin was given at 10, 30, or 50 mg/kg, or dexamethasone was given at 1 mg/kg to assess its preventative impact. Changes in lung tissue, pulmonary edema, and lipid peroxidation were analyzed using H&E stain assay, lung wet/dry ratio assay, and MDA formation assay, respectively. Activity assay kits were used to measure MPO activity and antioxidative enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx) activity in the lungs. Western blot assay was used to determine the phosphorylation of Nrf‐2 and AMPK2 in the lungs. Hibifolin demonstrated a concentration‐dependent improvement in LPS‐induced histopathologic pulmonary changes. This treatment notably mitigated pulmonary edema, lipid peroxidation, and MPO activity in ALI mice. Additionally, hibifolin successfully restored antioxidative enzyme activity in the lungs of ALI mice. Moreover, hibifolin effectively promoted Nrf‐2 phosphorylation and reinstated AMPK2 phosphorylation in the lungs of ALI mice. The results indicate that hibifolin could effectively alleviate the pathophysiological impact of LPS‐induced ALI. This is likely due to its antioxidative properties, which help to restore antioxidative enzyme activity and activate the AMPK2/Nrf2 pathway. These findings are valuable in terms of enhancing our knowledge of ALI treatment and pave the way for further investigation into hibifolin as a potential therapeutic option for lung injuries.
Inguinal hernia containing pyometra, jejunum and ileum in a dog
Authors: Anatolitou Anthi , Markou Miltiadis 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAn 8‐year‐old, intact, female, mixed breed dog was presented due to vomiting, constipation and inguinal swelling. Haematology and biochemistry revealed leukocytosis. A lateral abdominal radiograph revealed a soft tissue opacity, round to ovoid mass, in the caudal inguinal region. Gas‐filled intestinal loops were present at the cranial aspect of the mass. Further imaging was declined. Thus, an exploratory laparotomy was performed. An inguinal hernial sac containing fluid, a closed pyometra and intestinal loops was revealed. The contents of the inguinal hernia were returned to the abdominal cavity, an ovariohysterectomy was performed via a median laparotomy and the inguinal ring was closed, leaving the caudal aspect open. The dog's recovery was uneventful. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first reported case of pyometra inguinal herniation in a dog with concurrent herniation of the jejunum and ileum.
A non-perturbative mixed anomaly and fractional hydrodynamic transport
Authors: Davighi Joe , Lohitsiri Nakarin , Poovuttikul Napat 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
We present a new non-perturbative ’t Hooft anomaly afflicting a quantum field theory with symmetry group G = U(1) × ℤ2 in four dimensions. We use the Adams spectral sequence to compute that the bordism group $${\Omega }_{5}^{{\text{Spin}}}$$(BG), which classifies anomalies that remain when perturbative anomalies cancel, is ℤ4. By constructing a mapping torus and evaluating the Atiyah-Patodi-Singer η-invariant, we show that the mod 4 anomaly is generated by a pair of Weyl fermions that are vector-like under U(1), but with only one component charged under ℤ2. We construct a simple microscopic field theory that realises the anomaly, before investigating its impact in the hydrodynamic limit. We find that the anomaly dictates transport phenomena in the U(1) current and energy-momentum tensor akin to the chiral vortical and magnetic effects (even though the perturbative anomalies here vanish), but with the conductivities being fractionally quantised in units of a quarter, reflecting the mod 4 nature of the bordism group. Along the way, we compute the (relevant) bordism groups $${\Omega }_{d}^{{\text{Spin}}}$$(Bℤ2 × BU(1)) and $${\Omega }_{d}^{{{\text{Pin}}}^{-}}$$ (BU(1)) in all degrees d = 0 through 5.
Determination of quality classes for material extrusion additive manufacturing using image processing
Authors: Oleff Alexander , Küster Benjamin , Overmeyer Ludger 
Published: March 2024

AbstractTools for implementing a systematic quality management are necessary for the use of material extrusion as an additive manufacturing process for products with high quality requirements. Well-defined quality classes are crucial for ensuring that the requirements for a product can be communicated transparently and that the existing properties can be evaluated. Furthermore, there is a lack of capable measurement equipment for the acquisition of process data during the production process. To address these challenges, the present paper introduces an image processing system that determines quality indicators for individual layers in terms of imperfect surface percentages and the number of imperfections. The central element of the hardware is an adaptive darkfield illumination, which leads to high-contrast images. In addition, five types of layer subareas are identified in a segmentation step. Unsupervised machine learning methods are then used to detect imperfections in each layer subarea. In the segmentation, the current layer can be distinguished from irrelevant image background regions with an F-measure of 0.981. For the layer-wise measurement of the quality indicators, relative measurement errors with standard deviations of 25 to 76.1% are found. After evaluating the capabilities of the image processing system, a proposal for limits of quality classes is derived by monitoring several material extrusion processes. For this purpose, three quality classes for each of the five layer subareas are deduced from the process scatter measured by the image processing system. The results are an important contribution to the industrialization of material extrusion in safety–critical areas such as medical technology or the aerospace industry.
A simple, efficient and versatile objective space algorithm for multiobjective integer programming
Authors: Dächert Kerstin , Fleuren Tino , Klamroth Kathrin 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn the last years a multitude of algorithms have been proposed to solve multiobjective integer programming problems. However, only few authors offer open-source implementations. On the other hand, new methods are typically compared to code that is publicly available, even if this code is known to be outperformed. In this paper, we aim to overcome this problem by proposing a new state-of-the-art algorithm with an open-source implementation in . The underlying method falls into the class of objective space methods, i.e., it decomposes the overall problem into a series of scalarized subproblems that can be solved with efficient single-objective IP-solvers. It keeps the number of required subproblems small by avoiding redundancies, and it can be combined with different scalarizations that all lead to comparably simple subproblems. Our algorithm bases on previous results but combines them in a new way. Numerical experiments with up to ten objectives validate that the method is efficient and that it scales well to higher dimensional problems.
Minimal graphs of arbitrary codimension in Euclidean space with bounded 2-dilation
Authors: Ding Qi , Jost J. , Xin Y. L. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractFor any $$\Lambda >0$$

Λ
>
0

, let $$\mathcal {M}_{n,\Lambda }$$

M

n
,
Λ

denote the space containing all locally Lipschitz minimal graphs of dimension n and of arbitrary codimension m in Euclidean space $$\mathbb {R}^{n+m}$$

R

n
+
m

with uniformly bounded 2-dilation $$\Lambda $$
Λ
of their graphic functions. In this paper, we show that this is a natural class to extend structural results known for codimension one. In particular, we prove that any tangent cone C of $$M\in \mathcal {M}_{n,\Lambda }$$

M
∈

M

n
,
Λ

at infinity has multiplicity one. This enables us to get a Neumann–Poincaré inequality on stationary indecomposable components of C. A corollary is a Liouville theorem for M. For small $$\Lambda >1$$

Λ
>
1

(we can take any $$\Lambda <\sqrt{2}$$

Λ
<

2

), we prove that (i) for $$n\le 7$$

n
≤
7

, M is flat; (ii) for $$n>8$$

n
>
8

and a non-flat M, any tangent cone of M at infinity is a multiplicity one quasi-cylindrical minimal cone in $$\mathbb {R}^{n+m}$$

R

n
+
m

whose singular set has dimension $$\le n-7$$

≤
n
-
7

.
Greater Risk Taking in Cosmetic Surgery Acceptance and History: An Experimental and Computational Study
Authors: Jenkinson Paul Mark , Panagiotopoulou Elena , Koukoutsakis Athanasios , Fotopoulou Aikaterini 
Published: March 2024

AbstractCosmetic surgery is ever more affordable and accessible, but carries physical and psychological risks. Yet, no study to date has directly examined risk-taking behaviour under controlled conditions, beyond self-report and in relation to cosmetic surgery attitudes. We used the Balloon Analogue Risk Task and advanced computational modelling to measure decision-making behaviour and identify the latent parameters driving behaviour associated with cosmetic surgery attitudes in women with no cosmetic surgery history (N = 265) and a subsample of women with a cosmetic surgery history (N = 24). Risk taking was higher in women with greater acceptance and history of cosmetic surgery. Computational modelling revealed increased risk taking in women with greater acceptance of cosmetic surgery when decisions were made with greater knowledge of loss (risk) and not when the likelihood of loss was unknown (uncertainty). When women with greater acceptance of cosmetic surgery made decisions, they also placed less emphasis on possible losses (reduced loss aversion). Our findings suggest that women seeking cosmetic procedures may be less sensitive to losses and thus make more risky decisions. Greater emphasis should be placed on communicating potential losses rather than just the associated risks to women considering cosmetic procedures.No Level Assigned This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.