bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The branch‐cut quantum gravity with a self‐coupling inflation scalar field: The wave function of the Universe
Authors: Weber Fridolin , Hess Peter O. , Bodmann Benno , de Freitas Pacheco José , Hadjimichef Dimiter , Netz‐Marzola Marcelo , Naysinger Geovane , Razeira Moisés , Zen Vasconcellos César A. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis paper focuses on the implications of a commutative formulation that integrates branch‐cutting cosmology, the Wheeler–DeWitt equation, and Hořava–Lifshitz quantum gravity. Building on a mini‐superspace structure, we explore the impact of an inflaton‐type scalar field on the wave function of the Universe. Specifically analyzing the dynamical solutions of branch‐cut gravity within a mini‐superspace framework, we emphasize the scalar field's influence on the evolution of the evolution of the wave function of the Universe. Our research unveils a helix‐like function that characterizes a topologically foliated spacetime structure. The starting point is the Hořava–Lifshitz action, which depends on the scalar curvature of the branched Universe and its derivatives, with running coupling constants denoted as . The corresponding wave equations are derived and are resolved. The commutative quantum gravity approach preserves the diffeomorphism property of General Relativity, maintaining compatibility with the Arnowitt–Deser–Misner formalism. Additionally, we delve into a mini‐superspace of variables, incorporating scalar‐inflaton fields and exploring inflationary models, particularly chaotic and nonchaotic scenarios. We obtained solutions for the wave equations without recurring to numerical approximations.
Tin Modified Carbon Nanofibers as an Effective Catalytic Electrode for Bromine Redox Reactions in Static Zinc‐bromine Batteries
Authors: Rana Masud , Stoppiello Craig T. , He Qiu , Peng Xiyue , Alghamdi Norah , Huang Yongxin , Gentle Ian R. , Luo Bin 
Published: December 2023

AbstractZinc‐bromine batteries (ZBBs) have emerged as a compelling solution for large‐scale energy storage, yet they confront significant technical challenges impeding widespread commercialization. The electrochemical processes within ZBBs rely on a stoichiometric mechanism, where the bromine reaction at the cathode drives the zinc plating reaction on the anode. However, the sluggish electrochemical kinetics of Br2/Br− redox reactions lead to substantial electrochemical polarization, resulting in interruptions in zinc plating and significant voltage losses in ZBBs. This study introduces a new solution to address these challenges by leveraging carbon nanofiber decorated with tin nanoparticles as an efficient catalyst. The catalyst serves to enhance the Br2/Br– redox reaction, effectively reducing voltage losses in ZBBs. When implemented in static ZBB configurations, the Sn/CNF catalysts demonstrate exceptional long‐term stability, achieving an impressive 3000 cycles with minimal voltage loss. In contrast, ZBBs utilizing SnO2 based catalysts experience a substantially higher voltage loss of 736 mV, along with limited and unstable cycling performance. These findings signify a promising approach for the development of catalytic electrodes, paving the way for high‐performance ZBBs with improved efficiency and cycling durability.
Path‐Dependent Ageing of Lithium‐ion Batteries and Implications on the Ageing Assessment of Accelerated Ageing Tests
Authors: Rogge Marcel , Jossen Andreas 
Published: December 2023

AbstractInvited for this month's cover is the group of Andreas Jossen from the Technical University of Munich. The cover picture shows an illustration of the path‐dependent ageing of lithium‐ion batteries. Read the full text of the Research Article at 10.1002/batt.202300313.
Glycerol and glucose co‐fermentation by 1,3‐propanediol producer Limosilactobacillus reuteri: A kinetic study of batch and continuous cultivations
Authors: Avilez Leonardo A. C. , Vieira Paula B. , Bresciani Antonio E. , Perpetuo Elen A. , Nascimento Claudio A. O. , Alves Rita M. B. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe conversion of glycerol into 1,3‐propanediol (1,3‐PDO) has gained significant attention as a sustainable pathway within the biodiesel production chain. Limosilactobacillus reuteri, a bacterium capable of efficiently converting glycerol to 1,3‐PDO, holds promise for this application. In industrial biotechnology, the development of kinetic models is important for bioreactor design, process analysis and scalability, supporting the advancement of biorefineries and the bioeconomy. This study focuses on investigating the kinetics of co‐fermentation of glucose and glycerol by L. reuteri, utilizing data from previous batch culture experiments. Three different models were evaluated for these batch runs, and the parameters were adjusted using the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm in conjunction with an integration method. The results from these previous batch experiments indicate that pH did not significantly influence the specific growth rate of the bacterium. However, as expected, reducing the temperature from 37 to 30°C resulted in a 60% reduction in the growth rate. Moreover, continuous co‐fermentation experiments were conducted, and a simple kinetic model was proposed. The advantage of the continuous process is that the productivity of 1,3‐PDO is 3.5 times higher compared with co‐fermentation in batch mode. Notably, this study represents the first attempt to model continuous co‐fermentation under a range of dilution rates (0.25–0.9 h−1), identifying a dilution rate of 0.5 h−1 as the optimal condition to produce 1,3‐PDO, considering productivity and substrate conversion. The findings of this research contribute valuable insights for future investigations on the viability of 1,3‐PDO production from glycerol, particularly within the context of waste valorization.
Comprehensive analysis of clinical prognosis and biological significance of CNIH4 in cervical cancer
Authors: Wang Jiajia , Wang Shudan , Wang Junli , Huang Jingjing , Lu Haishan , Pan Bin , Pan Hanyi , Song Yanlun , Deng Qianqian , Jin Xiaojun , Shi Guiling 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundCornichon homolog 4 (CNIH4) belongs to the CNIH family. It functions as an oncogene in many tumors. However, CNIH4's significance in the immune landscape and its predictive potential in cervical cancer (CESC) is unexplored.MethodsCNIH4 levels and its effect on the survival of patients with CESC were evaluated using data retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The oncogenic effect of CNIH4 in CESC was determined using small interfering RNA‐mediated transfected cell lines and tumorigenesis experiments in animal models.ResultsHigher expression of CNIH4 was found in advanced tumor and pathological stages, as well as lymph node metastasis. CNIH4 expression correlated positively with the infiltration of macrophages M2 and resting dendritic cells into the affected tissue. Additionally, functional enrichment of RNA‐sequencing of CNIH4‐knocked down CESC cell lines showed the association of CNIH4 to the PI3K‐Akt signaling pathway. Single‐sample gene set enrichment analysis highlighted several immune pathways that were elevated in the CESC samples with enhanced levels of CNIH4, including Type‐I and Type‐II IFN‐response pathways. The impact of CNIH4 on drug sensitivity was further assessed using the GDSC database. As CNIH4 is linked to the immune landscape in CESC, this study determined a four‐gene risk prediction signature utilizing CNIH4‐related immunomodulators. The risk score quantified from the prediction signature was an independent predictive indicator in CESC. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis verified the good predictive ability of the four‐gene signature in TCGA‐CESC cohort. Thus, the CNIH4‐related model showed potential as an auxiliary TNM staging system tool.ConclusionCNIH4 may be an effective predictive biomarker for patients with cervical cancer, thus providing new ideas and research directions for CESC.
Broadening Applicability of the Poor Academic's Method for Reversing Polarity in Redox Flow Cell Cycling
Authors: Marin‐Tajadura Gimena , Sánchez‐Díez Eduardo , Ruiz Virginia , Ventosa Edgar 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe use of symmetrical cells is becoming popular for the search of new electroactive materials in redox flow batteries. Unfortunately, low‐cost battery cyclers, commonly used for electrochemical battery testing, are not compatible with symmetrical cells since they usually cannot apply negative bias voltages needed for symmetrical cells. The insertion of a Ni−Cd battery in the voltage sensing path is a simple and effective methodology to overcome this limitation for certain battery cyclers. Herein, the validity of this useful method is evaluated for other battery cyclers, realizing that the strategy is not universal. A modified methodology is developed for a battery cycler in which the previous method is not valid. The new strategy is based on inserting a Ni‐MH battery in the current path, and enables using a low‐cost Neware CT‐4008T‐5V6A‐S1 cycler for ferro‐ /ferricyanide symmetrical cells demonstrating proper operation for >19 days. This new method possesses advantages, e. g. direct reading of the cell voltage, and disadvantages, e. g. the Ni‐MH battery is charged/discharged during operation, which are discussed. The four battery cyclers evaluated show that, despite neither method is universal, both methods are complementary to each other. Thus, the decision of using either one method or the other must be reached on a case‐by‐case basis.
Autocatalysis in Eschenmoser Coupling Reactions
Authors: Duez Quentin , Marek Lukáš , Váňa Jiří , Hanusek Jiří , Roithová Jana 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe Eschenmoser coupling reaction (ECR) of thioamides with electrophiles is believed to proceed via thiirane intermediates. However, little is known about converting the intermediates into ECR products. Previous mechanistic studies involved external thiophiles to remove the sulfur atom from the intermediates. In this work, an ECR proceeding without any thiophilic agent or base is studied by electrospray ionization‐mass spectrometry. ESI‐MS enables the detection of the so‐far elusive polysulfide species Sn, with n ranging from 2 to 16 sulfur atoms, proposed to be the key species leading to product formation. Integrating observations from ion mobility spectrometry, ion spectroscopy, and reaction monitoring via flow chemistry coupled with mass spectrometry provides a comprehensive understanding of the reaction mechanism and uncovers the autocatalytic nature of the ECR reaction.
Revisiting Peri‐Aryloxyquinones: From a Forgotten Photochromic System to a Promising Tool for Emerging Applications
Authors: Lvov Andrey G. , Klimenko Lyubov S. , Bykov Vasily N. , Hecht Stefan 
Published: December 2023

AbstractEmerging applications of photochromic compounds demand new molecular designs that can be inspired by some long‐known yet currently forgotten classes of photoswitches. In the present review, we remind the community aboutPeri‐AryloxyQuinones (PAQs) and their unique photoswitching behavior originally discovered more than 50 years ago. At the heart of this phenomenon is the light‐induced migration of an aromatic moiety (arylotropy) inperi‐aryloxy‐substituted quinones resulting inana‐quinones. PAQs feature absorbance of both isomers in the visible spectral region, photochromism in the amorphous and crystalline state, and thermal stability of the photogeneratedana‐isomer. Particularly noticeable is the high sensitivity of theana‐isomer towards nucleophiles in solution. In addition to the mechanism of molecular photochromism and the underlaying structure‐switch relationships, we analyze potential applications and prospects of aryloxyquinones in optically switchable materials and devices. Due to their ability to efficiently photoswitch in the solid state, PAQs are indeed attractive candidates for such materials and devices, including electronics (optically controllable circuits, switches, transistors, memories, and displays), porous crystalline materials, crystalline actuators, photoactivated sensors, and many more. This review is intended to serve as a guide for researchers who wish to use photoswitchable PAQs in the development of new photocontrollable materials, devices, and processes.
Contemporary Applications of Thioamides and Methods for Their Synthesis
Authors: Hansen Tobias N. , Olsen Christian A. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThioamides are naturally occurring isosteres of amide bonds in which the chalcogen atom of the carbonyl is changed from oxygen to sulfur. This substitution gives rise to altered nucleophilicity and hydrogen bonding properties with importance for both chemical reactivity and non‐covalent interactions. As such, thioamides have been introduced into biologically active compounds to achieve improved target affinity and/or stability towards hydrolytic enzymes but have also been applied as probes of protein and peptide folding and dynamics. Recently, a series of new methods have been developed for the synthesis of thioamides as well as their utilization in peptide chemistry. Further, novel strategies for the incorporation of thioamides into proteins have been developed, enabling both structural and functional studies to be performed. In this Review, we highlight the recent developments in the preparation of thioamides and their applications for peptide modification and study of protein function.
An autonomic parallel strategy for exhaustive search tree algorithms on shared or heterogeneous systems
Authors: Passos Fernanda G. O. , Rebello Vinod E. F. 
Published: December 2023

SummaryBacktracking branch‐and‐prune (BP) algorithms and their variants are exhaustive search tree techniques widely employed to solve optimization problems in many scientific areas. However, they characteristically often demand significant amounts of computing power for problem sizes representative of real‐world scenarios. Given that their search domains can often be partitioned, these algorithms are frequently designed to execute in parallel by harnessing distributed computing systems. However, to achieve efficient parallel execution times, an effective strategy is required to balance the nonuniform partition workloads across the available resources. Furthermore, with the increasing integration of servers with heterogeneous resources and the adoption of resource sharing, balancing workloads is becoming complex. This paper proposes a strategy to execute parallel BP algorithms more efficiently on even shared or heterogeneous distributed systems. The approach integrates a self‐adjusting dynamic partitioning method in the BP algorithm with a dynamic scheduler, provided by an application middleware, which manages the parallel execution while addressing any issues of imbalance. Empirical results indicate better scalability with efficiencies above 90% for instances of an application case study for the discretizable molecular distance geometry problem (DMDGP). Improvements of up to 38% were obtained in execution speed‐ups compared to a more traditional parallel BP implementation for DMDGP.
Neurofilament light chain levels in serum among a large mixed memory clinic cohort: Confounders and diagnostic usefulness
Authors: Simonsen Anja Hviid , Gleerup Helena Sophia , Musaeus Christian Sandøe , Sellebjerg Finn , Hansen Malene Bredahl , Søndergaard Helle Bach , Waldemar Gunhild , Hasselbalch Steen Gregers 
Published: December 2023

AbstractINTRODUCTIONEarly and accurate diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders including neurodegenerative dementia remains challenging. This study explores the impact of biological factors on serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels and clinical usefulness for the detection of neurocognitive disorders in a mixed memory clinic.METHODSSerum samples and clinical data were obtained from 1188 patients who underwent diagnostic investigations for memory complaints between January 2018 and September 2019. Serum NfL was measured using single molecule array technology.RESULTSNfL exhibited a moderate association with age, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and Fazekas score. NfL was able to differentiate between patients with neurocognitive disorders and those without with a sensitivity and specificity of 80%. NfL could, however, not distinguish between different dementia etiologies.DISCUSSIONSerum NfL could aid early diagnostic triage by identifying patients requiring further diagnostic procedures and therefore aid in a more focused use of health‐care resources.
PGE2‐EP4 signaling steers cDC2 maturation toward the induction of suppressive T‐cell responses
Authors: Cuenca‐Escalona Jorge , Flórez‐Grau Georgina , van den Dries Koen , Cambi Alessandra , de Vries I. Jolanda M. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractDendritic cells (DCs) shape adaptive immunity in response to environmental cues such as cytokines or lipid mediators, including prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). In cancer, tumors are known to establish an enriched PGE2 microenvironment. Tumor‐derived PGE2 primes regulatory features across immune cells, including DCs, facilitating tumor progression. PGE2 shapes DC function by providing signaling via its two so‐called E‐prostanoid receptors (EPs) EP2 and EP4. Although studies with monocyte‐derived DCs have shown the importance of PGE2 signaling, the role of PGE2‐EP2/EP4 on conventional DCs type 2 (cDC2s), is still poorly defined. In this study, we investigated the function of EP2 and EP4 using specific EP antagonists on human cDC2s. Our results show that EP2 and EP4 exhibit different functions in cDC2s, with EP4 modulating the upregulation of activation markers (CD80, CD86, CD83, MHC class II) and the production of IL‐10 and IL‐23. Furthermore, PGE2‐EP4 boosts CCR type 7‐based migration as well as a higher T‐cell expansion capacity, characterized by the enrichment of suppressive rather than pro‐inflammatory T‐cell populations. Our findings are relevant to further understanding the role of EP receptors in cDC2s, underscoring the benefit of targeting the PGE2‐EP2/4 axis for therapeutic purposes in diseases such as cancer.
Flanking AT base pairs affect the localization of monovalent cations in DNA A‐tracts
Authors: Stellwagen Earle , Stellwagen Nancy C. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractCapillary electrophoresis has been used to measure the free solution mobilities of a series of 26‐base pair (bp) DNA oligomers containing two phased A4T1in‐tracts embedded in flanking sequences containing 0 to 11 additional AT bps. A random‐sequence 26‐bp oligomer with 12 isolated AT bps was used as the reference. Mobility ratios (A‐tract/reference) were measured in background electrolytes (BGEs) containing mixtures of small monovalent cations and tetrabutylammonium (TBA+) or tetrapropylammonium (TPA+) ions. The mobility ratios observed in 0.3 M TBA+ were >1.00, suggesting that the TBA+ ions had formed electrostatic contact pairs with the AT bp in the reference and in the A‐tract flanking sequences, decreasing the mobilities of both oligomers. The TBA–AT pairing interactions could be eliminated by increasing the concentration of small monovalent cations in the BGE. In 0.3 M TPA+, electrostatic contact pairs were formed with the AT bps in the flanking sequences and in the A‐tracts. Interestingly, the shapes of the mobility ratio profiles observed for the A4T1in‐tract oligomers depended on the total number of A + T residues in the oligomer.
Twofold Alkenylation of Thiophenes with N‐Vinylcarbazole via Iron‐Catalyzed Regioselective C−H/C−H Coupling
Authors: Doba Takahiro , Shang Rui , Nakamura Eiichi 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe incorporation of the vinylene motif into conjugated molecules notably elevates the HOMO level, augmenting both emissive and conductive properties while enhancing responsiveness to external stimuli. This study focuses on the regioselective C−H/C−H coupling of N‐vinylcarbazole with thiophenes, offering an efficient route to N‐vinylene‐incorporated conjugated molecules for the development of organic electronic materials. Traditional palladium‐catalyzed Fujiwara‐Moritani (FM) reactions proved ineffective for C−H alkenylation with N‐vinylcarbazole. In response, we have developed an iron‐catalyzed twofold alkenylation method for conjugated thiophenes with N‐vinylcarbazole, utilizing trimethylaluminum as the base and diethyl oxalate as the oxidant. This reaction occurs regioselectively at the C2−H (or C5−H) bond of the thiophenes and the terminal position of N‐vinylcarbazole. It also successfully produces short thiophene polymers end‐capped with N‐vinylcarbazole, demonstrating the potential for synthesizing polymeric donor materials. The enamine products exhibit blue‐to‐green emission, high fluorescence quantum yield, and visible light responsivity for stereo‐isomerization, indicating promising applications in organic electronics.
Patient‐reported cognitive impairments and objective neuropsychological deficits in young sarcoma patients undergoing chemotherapy and its comparison to healthy controls: A tertiary health care study from India
Authors: Vayyat Shyam , Revand Ravindran , Rastogi Sameer , Sharma Ratna , Kaur Simran 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe study aims to investigate the patient‐reported cognitive deficits and objective neuropsychological functions in younger adult (YA) sarcoma patients (16–40 years of age). Ninety patients and 30 age‐matched healthy controls from a single tertiary healthcare hospital, were recruited into four groups: Pre‐chemotherapy (Pre Cx), During chemotherapy (During Cx), Post‐chemotherapy (Post Cx) and Controls. Neurocognitive functions were assessed subjectively using FACT‐Cog v3 questionnaire; objectively using ACE‐III and neuropsychological tests (NPT). FACT‐Cog scores of During Cx (P = .041) and Post Cx (P = .008) groups were significantly lower than Pre Cx group. ACE‐III scores of During Cx (P = .048) and Post Cx (P = .043) groups were lower as compared to Pre Cx group. In addition, reaction times and accuracies of the NPT (Flanker's, Sternberg's and Emotional Stroop tests) were worse (P < .05) in During Cx and Post Cx groups as compared to either Pre Cx or control groups. In the Post Cx group, the dose of chemotherapy showed significant negative correlation with the Sternberg reaction time (P = .040) as well as the scores of language (P = .047), and attention (P = .044) domains of ACE‐III. Observations demonstrate that cancer/chemotherapy‐related neurocognitive deficits fail to improve even after cessation of treatment, and high dosage of chemotherapy used, could be an underlying factor. This emphasizes the need for developing ‘model of care’ in these patients for monitoring the side effects, and possible titration in the therapeutic regimen for sarcoma in YA.