bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ionic liquids with reversible photo-induced conductivity regulation in aqueous solution
Authors: Zhang Yige , Xie Xiaowen , Liu Jianliang , Tang Boyuan , Fang Can , Liu Xiaoming , Dai Zhifeng , Xiong Yubing 
Published: August 2023

AbstractStimulus-responsive ionic liquids have gained significant attention for their applications in various areas. Herein, three kinds of azobenzimidazole ionic liquids with reversible photo-induced conductivity regulation were designed and synthesized. The change of electrical conductivity under UV/visible light irradiation in aqueous solution was studied, and the effect of chemical structure and concentration of ionic liquids containing azobenzene to the regulation of photoresponse conductivity were discussed. The results showed that exposing the ionic liquid aqueous solution to ultraviolet light significantly increased its conductivity. Ionic liquids with longer alkyl chains exhibited an even greater increase in conductivity, up to 75.5%. Then under the irradiation of visible light, the electrical conductivity of the solution returned to its initial value. Further exploration of the mechanism of the reversible photo-induced conductivity regulation of azobenzene ionic liquids aqueous solution indicated that this may attributed to the formation/dissociation of ionic liquids aggregates in aqueous solution induced by the isomerization of azobenzene under UV/visible light irradiation and resulted the reversible conductivity regulation. This work provides a way for the molecular designing and performance regulation of photo-responsive ionic liquid and were expected to be applied in devices with photoconductive switching and micro photocontrol properties.
Bivalent structure of a TNFR2-selective and agonistic TNF-α mutein Fc-fusion protein enhances the expansion activity of regulatory T cells
Authors: Inoue Masaki , Tsuji Yuta , Ueno Reira , Miyamoto Daisuke , Tanaka Keisuke , Moriyasu Yuka , Shibata Saya , Okuda Mei , Ando Daisuke , Abe Yasuhiro , Kamada Haruhiko , Tsunoda Shin-ichi 
Published: August 2023

AbstractRecently, TNF receptor type 2 (TNFR2) signaling was found to be involved in the proliferation and activation of regulatory T cells (Tregs), a subpopulation of lymphocytes that suppress immune responses. Tregs mediate peripheral immune tolerance, and the disruption of their functions causes autoimmune diseases or allergy. Therefore, cell expanders or regulators of Tregs that control immunosuppressive activity can be used to treat these diseases. We focused on TNFR2, which is preferentially expressed on Tregs, and created tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) muteins that selectively activate TNFR2 signaling in mice and humans, termed R2agoTNF and R2-7, respectively. In this study, we attempted to optimize the structure of muteins to enhance their TNFR2 agonistic activity and stability in vivo by IgG-Fc fusion following single-chain homo-trimerization. The fusion protein, scR2agoTNF-Fc, enhanced the expansion of CD4+CD25+ Tregs and CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs and contributed to their immunosuppressive activity ex vivo and in vivo in mice. The prophylactic administration of scR2agoTNF-Fc suppressed inflammation in contact hypersensitivity and arthritis mouse models. Furthermore, scR2-7-Fc preferentially expanded Tregs in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells via TNFR2. These TNFR2 agonist-Fc fusion proteins, which have bivalent structures, are novel Treg expanders.
Feasibility studies of multimodal nonlinear endoscopy using multicore fiber bundles for remote scanning from tissue sections to bulk organs
Authors: Bae Hyeonsoo , Rodewald Marko , Meyer-Zedler Tobias , Bocklitz Thomas W. , Matz Gregor , Messerschmidt Bernhard , Press Adrian T. , Bauer Michael , Guntinas-Lichius Orlando , Stallmach Andreas , Schmitt Michael , Popp Juergen 
Published: August 2023

AbstractHere, we report on the development and application of a compact multi-core fiber optical probe for multimodal non-linear imaging, combining the label-free modalities of Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering, Second Harmonic Generation, and Two-Photon Excited Fluorescence. Probes of this multi-core fiber design avoid moving and voltage-carrying parts at the distal end, thus providing promising improved compatibility with clinical requirements over competing implementations. The performance characteristics of the probe are established using thin cryo-sections and artificial targets before the applicability to clinically relevant samples is evaluated using ex vivo bulk human and porcine intestine tissues. After image reconstruction to counteract the data’s inherently pixelated nature, the recorded images show high image quality and morpho-chemical conformity on the tissue level compared to multimodal non-linear images obtained with a laser-scanning microscope using a standard microscope objective. Furthermore, a simple yet effective reconstruction procedure is presented and demonstrated to yield satisfactory results. Finally, a clear pathway for further developments to facilitate a translation of the multimodal fiber probe into real-world clinical evaluation and application is outlined.
Identification and subsequent validation of transcriptomic signature associated with metabolic status in endometrial cancer
Authors: Sidorkiewicz Iwona , Jóźwik Maciej , Buczyńska Angelika , Erol Anna , Jóźwik Marcin , Moniuszko Marcin , Jarząbek Katarzyna , Niemira Magdalena , Krętowski Adam 
Published: August 2023

AbstractAberrant metabolism has been identified as a main driver of cancer. Profiling of metabolism-related pathways in cancer furthers the understanding of tumor plasticity and identification of potential metabolic vulnerabilities. In this prospective controlled study, we established transcriptomic profiles of metabolism-related pathways in endometrial cancer (EC) using a novel method, NanoString nCounter Technology. Fifty-seven ECs and 30 normal endometrial specimens were studied using the NanoString Metabolic Panel, further validated by qRT-PCR with a very high similarity. Statistical analyses were by GraphPad PRISM and Weka software. The analysis identified 11 deregulated genes (FDR ≤ 0.05; |FC|≥ 1.5) in EC: SLC7A11; SLC7A5; RUNX1; LAMA4; COL6A3; PDK1; CCNA1; ENO1; PKM; NR2F1; and NAALAD2. Gene ontology showed direct association of these genes with ‘central carbon metabolism (CCM) in cancer’. Thus, ‘CCM in cancer’ appears to create one of the main metabolic axes in EC. Further, transcriptomic data were functionally validated with drug repurposing on three EC cell lines, with several drug candidates suggested. These results lay the foundation for personalized therapeutic strategies in this cancer. Metabolic plasticity represents a promising diagnostic and therapeutic option in EC.
Basidiomycota species in Drosophila gut are associated with host fat metabolism
Authors: Bozkurt Berkay , Terlemez Gamze , Sezgin Efe 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe importance of bacterial microbiota on host metabolism and obesity risk is well documented. However, the role of fungal microbiota on host storage metabolite pools is largely unexplored. We aimed to investigate the role of microbiota on D. melanogaster fat metabolism, and examine interrelatedness between fungal and bacterial microbiota, and major metabolic pools. Fungal and bacterial microbiota profiles, fat, glycogen, and trehalose metabolic pools are measured in a context of genetic variation represented by whole genome sequenced inbred Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP) samples. Increasing Basidiomycota, Acetobacter persici, Acetobacter pomorum, and Lactobacillus brevis levels correlated with decreasing triglyceride levels. Host genes and biological pathways, identified via genome-wide scans, associated with Basidiomycota and triglyceride levels were different suggesting the effect of Basidiomycota on fat metabolism is independent of host biological pathways that control fungal microbiota or host fat metabolism. Although triglyceride, glycogen and trehalose levels were highly correlated, microorganisms’ effect on triglyceride pool were independent of glycogen and trehalose levels. Multivariate analyses suggested positive interactions between Basidiomycota, A. persici, and L. brevis that collectively correlated negatively with fat and glycogen pools. In conclusion, fungal microbiota can be a major player in host fat metabolism. Interactions between fungal and bacterial microbiota may exert substantial control over host storage metabolite pools and influence obesity risk.
A study of the long term changes in the electromagnetic environment using data from continuous monitoring sensors in Greece
Authors: Manassas Athanasios , Apostolidis Christos , Iakovidis Serafeim , Babas Dimitrios , Samaras Theodoros 
Published: August 2023

AbstractOwing to the advancement of wireless technologies, there is a strong public perception of increasing exposure to Radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF). The aim of this study is to determine the evolution of EMF in the environment, and consequently, human exposure to them, over a period of about two decades, spanning from the end of 2003 until February 2022. The study is based on data collected by two non-ionizing radiation monitoring networks in Greece. The networks consist of fixed EMF sensors that register the RMS electric field value every 6 min, on a 24 h basis. We used the Seasonal–Trend decomposition method using (LOESS), known as the STL method to decompose the time series into trend, seasonal, and noise components. Additionally, since the sensors include frequency filters for separating the cellular frequencies, the recorded data were used to identify the exposure contribution by cellular networks in comparison to other EMF sources. The study indicates that RF-EMF do not explicitly decrease or increase but rather fluctuate over time. Similarly, the contribution of mobile cellular networks to the total field change over time.
Artificial dielectric beam-scanning prism for the terahertz region
Authors: Strecker Karl , Otto Matthew , Nagai Masaya , O’Hara John F. , Mendis Rajind 
Published: August 2023

AbstractWe design and fabricate an artificial dielectric prism that can steer a terahertz beam in space and experimentally investigate its behavior. The artificial dielectric medium consists of a uniformly spaced stack of metal plates, electromagnetically equivalent to an array of parallel-plate waveguides operating in tandem. At an operating frequency of 0.3 THz, we observe a maximum beam deflection of 29°, limited by the precision of the available spacers. Spring-loading the spacers between the plates allow us to scan the beam continuously and dynamically over a range of 5°. The measured beam intensity maps at the input and output of the device reveal very good Gaussian beam quality and an estimated power efficiency of 71%. As a possible real-world application, we integrate the prism into the path of a free-space terahertz communication link and demonstrate unimpaired performance.
A pan-cancer analysis of lipid metabolic alterations in primary and metastatic cancers
Authors: Liu Guoqing , Yang Yan , Kang Xuejia , Xu Hao , Ai Jing , Cao Min , Liu Guojun 
Published: August 2023

AbstractMetabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancers, but pan-cancer level roles of lipid metabolism in cancer development are remains poorly understood. We investigated the possible roles of lipid metabolic genes (LMGs) in 14 cancer types. The results indicate that: (1) there is strong evidence for increased lipid metabolism in THCA and KICH. (2) Although the overall levels of lipid metabolic processes are down-regulated in some cancer types, fatty acid synthase activity and fatty acid elongation are moderately up-regulated in more than half of the cancer types. Cholesterol synthesis is up-regulated in five cancers including KICH, BLCA, COAD, BRCA, UCEC, and THCA. (3) The catabolism of cholesterols, triglycerides and fatty acids is repressed in most cancers, but a specific form of lipid degradation, lipophagy, is activated in THCA and KICH. (4) Lipid storage is enhanced in in kidney cancers and thyroid cancer. (5) Similarly to primary tumors, metastatic tumors tend to up-regulate biosynthetic processes of diverse lipids, but down-regulate lipid catabolic processes, except lipophagy. (6) The frequently mutated lipid metabolic genes are not key LMGs. (7) We established a LMG-based model for predicting cancer prognosis. Our results are helpful in expanding our understanding of the role of lipid metabolism in cancer.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Treatment Distribution and Biofeedback Effects on Speech Production in School-Age Children With Apraxia of Speech
Authors: Preston Jonathan L. , Caballero Nicole F. , Leece Megan C. , Wang Dongliang , Herbst Benedette M. , Benway Nina R. 
Published: August 2023

Purpose:
This study examines how ultrasound biofeedback and intensive treatment distribution affect speech sound generalization during an evidence-based treatment, Speech Motor Chaining, for children with persisting speech errors associated with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS).

Method:
In a 2 × 2 factorial randomized controlled trial, children ages 9–17 years meeting CAS criteria were randomized to receive (a) a distributed treatment (20 sessions twice weekly over 10 weeks) or intensive treatment (20 hr in 5 weeks, with 10 hr in Week 1) and (b) treatment with or without biofeedback. Due to the COVID pandemic, some participants were randomized to distributed/intensive telepractice treatment only. The primary outcome was percent target sounds correct on untreated phrases (i.e., generalization) at the 10-week time point. More than 50,000 narrow phonetic transcriptions were analyzed.

Results:
Forty-eight participants completed treatment. Intensive treatment significantly increased generalization at all time points. The effect of biofeedback was significant at 5 weeks from the start of treatment but not significant at the primary 10-week time point. However, when comparing each group immediately after their 20 hr of treatment finished, generalization was significantly greater in intensive over distributed treatment and greater in ultrasound over no-ultrasound treatment (with a significant interaction favoring intensive treatment with ultrasound). Only the advantage of intensive treatment remained significant 5 weeks after groups finished treatment. There was no significant difference between face-to-face and telepractice modalities.

Conclusions:
When the number of treatment hours is fixed, an intensive schedule of Speech Motor Chaining facilitated greater improvement than a distributed schedule. Ultrasound biofeedback initially accelerated learning, but the benefits may dissipate as treatment continues or after it ends.
Multi‐agent reinforcement learning based transmission scheme for IRS‐assisted multi‐UAV systems
Authors: Mei Yumo , Liu Chen , Song Yunchao , Wang Ge , Liang Huibin 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIn this paper, a transmission scheme based on multi‐agent reinforcement learning for intelligent reflecting surface (IRS)‐assisted multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) systems is proposed. The proposed scheme is based on reinforcement learning and alternating optimization algorithm, which can effectively improve communication quality and ensure fairness. The scheme is divided into two parts. In the first part, the multi‐UAV cooperation problem is modeled as a markov decision process. The objective of each UAV is to maximize the minimum user channel gain. To achieve stable strategies for all agents, the Multi‐agent Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (MADDPG) algorithm is applied to train UAVs trajectories to reach the Nash equilibrium. The MADDPG algorithm is centralized trained at the base station and executed in a distributed manner by each UAV, ensuring efficient and effective coordination among agents. In the second part, an alternating optimization algorithm is formulated to optimize active and passive beamforming. Considering the non‐convexity of the fairness objective, by using auxiliary variables and semi‐definite relaxation method, the problem of maximizing the minimum user achievable rate is transformed into a feasibility problem. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme can effectively train UAVs trajectories and improve the communication performance of all users fairly.
Constrained distributed online convex optimization with bandit feedback for unbalanced digraphs
Authors: Tada Keishin , Hayashi Naoki , Takai Shigemasa 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIn this study, a distributed primal‐dual bandit feedback method for online convex optimization with time‐varying coupled inequality constraints on unbalanced directed graphs is proposed. A multiagent network is considered in which agents exchange the estimations of the dual optimizer and the scaling variable with their neighbors. The scaling variable is used to resolve the bias of the estimations caused by a directed communication network. Each agent does not have prior knowledge of the loss function, and its value at a queried point is sequentially disclosed to each agent. Each agent performs a projected subgradient‐based primal‐dual algorithm to estimate the optimal solution. It is confirmed that both the expected dynamic regret of the loss function and the cumulative error of the constraint violation achieve sublinearity using the proposed online algorithm with the two‐point bandit feedback.
A maximum efficiency point tracking control method for ultrasonic motors with temperature compensation
Authors: Zhao Lei , Cai Chunchen , Mao Xuefei , Wu Dengyun , Zhang Jiyang , Yu Zhuoming , Feng Ying 
Published: August 2023

AbstractTo compensate for the influence of temperature on the efficiency of an ultrasonic motor (USM), this paper proposed a maximum efficiency point tracking control method for temperature drift by analysing the relationships between the maximum efficiency point and the voltage and frequency of the driving circuit. The method first calculates the frequency update step of the driving circuit by the polynomial surface fitting method, considers the influence of temperature rise on the voltage‐efficiency‐frequency characteristics, and then adjusts the frequency in real time to compensate for temperature effects. Simulation and experimental results show that our method can improve the USM performance at the maximum efficiency point under changing temperature. Maximum efficiency point tracking algorithm with temperature compensation algorithm achieves maximum efficiency in experiment.
A broadband dual‐polarised antenna with L‐shaped strips for long‐term evolution/5G application
Authors: Wu Rui , Lin Jian‐Hong , Chen Fu‐Chang , Xue Quan 
Published: August 2023

AbstractA broadband dual‐polarised antenna with L‐shaped strips for long‐term evolution (LTE)/5th generation mobile networks (5G) is proposed in this article. Based on the principle of multi‐mode resonance, wide bandwidth is achieved with L‐shaped strips and H‐shaped strips. The metal strips and dipoles are printed on the same substrate, which also contributes to antenna miniaturisation. The short pins are designed for impedance matching and improving isolation. The metal reflector is designed to control beamwidth and increase gain. A prototype was fabricated using an easy Printed Circuit Board technique to verify the proposed design. Low‐profile of 0.2λ0 (λ0 is the free‐space wavelength at the centre frequency) is achieved. The measured results show that the relative bandwidth is 74% (2.3–5.0 GHz) at Voltage Standing Wave Ratio <1.8 while the isolation is more than 24 dB covering the LTE/5G modern band. In addition, the in‐band average gain is 9 dBi.
Virtual synchronous generator‐based control of modular multilevel converter for integration into weak grid
Authors: HosseinNataj Saeed , Gholamian Sayyed Asghar , Rezanejad Mohammad , Mehrasa Majid 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIntegrating Power Electronics Converters (PECs)‐based renewable energy sources can establish a weak grid due to the substantial inertia reduction leading to severe frequency fluctuations. In this paper, a control strategy based on the Virtual Synchronous Generator (VSG) concept is designed for a three‐phase Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) connected to a weak grid. The proposed VSG control approach improves the frequency response during transient mode, resulting in a 66.7% enhancement at the Point of Common Coupling (PCC). The proposed strategy is shaped within four control loops wherein the VSG‐dependent output current control possesses the duty of enriching the MMC output current tracking capability. Focusing on the MMC output current‐based transfer function, the effectiveness of this capability is guaranteed using the frequency domain analysis including the Nyquist and Bode diagrams. Moreover, a comprehensive discussion was carried out regarding the impact of VSG on the voltage of submodule capacitors and the circulating current. Simulation results in MATLAB/Simulink environment validate the accuracy and weak grid‐connected MMC performance under the proposed VSG‐based control technique. To further verify the superiority of the proposed strategy, two control techniques including Droop and SEBIR are compared with the VSG proposed controller.
Interpretable data‐driven contingency classification for real‐time corrective security‐constrained economic dispatch
Authors: Yu Yaowen , Gao Yijie , Li Yuanzheng , Yan Ying 
Published: August 2023

AbstractHigh penetrations of renewable energy are crucial for low‐carbon power systems. However, the higher volatility of renewable power generation pushes real‐time operations closer to equipment limits. It is thus important to utilize flexibilities in the system through corrective security‐constrained economic dispatch (SCED) that allows generators to take corrective adjustments after contingencies. The corrective SCED problem, containing a large number of contingencies, and corresponding post‐contingency decisions and constraints, is very large in scale and difficult to solve using purely model‐based methods within the strict time limits of real‐time markets. To accelerate the solution process, this paper develops a novel interpretable data‐driven contingency classification method. Historical data and their potentially useful patterns are utilized in interpretable data‐driven decision tree classifiers. To directly consider continuous features, such as net load values, and to consider imbalanced datasets without much additional complexity, Improved Strong Optimal Classification Trees (ISOCTs) are developed with new branching threshold constraints and category weights in the objective function. ISOCTs are then embedded into a hybrid model‐based and data‐driven framework to guarantee the accuracy of the real‐time active contingency set and the resulting security of dispatch decisions. Numerical testing results demonstrate the classification accuracy, computational efficiency, and interpretability of the proposed approach.
UltraDigit: An ultrasound signal‐based in‐air digit input system via transfer learning
Authors: Yang Mengxue , Zhang Junbao , Wang Xuebing 
Published: August 2023

AbstractWith the popularity of smart devices, people pay more attention to the experience of text input. The authors propose an in‐air digit input system, namely UltraDigit, which enables users to input digits in the air using acoustic signal via transfer learning. Different from other technologies, UltraDigit can obtain the finger movement through a speaker and a microphone built in the smartphone, which does not need the assistance of other hardware. In addition, the authors use the idea of transfer learning with a small amount of data to train classification model, which achieves good performance with low training cost (such as time cost and data cost). Experimental results show the average accuracy of digit recognition is 92.9%, which verifies the validity of the ultrasound signal‐based contactless digit input.