bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
One-step hydrothermal synthesis of Sn-doped α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of Congo red
Authors: Lam Van Nang , Vu Thi Bich , Do Quang Dat , Le Thi Thanh Xuan , Nguyen Tien Dai , Nguyen T.-Thanh-Bao , Do Hoang Tung , Nguyen Thi Tu Oanh 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
We report on the synthesis of Sn-doped hematite nanoparticles (Sn-α-Fe2O3 NPs) by the hydrothermal method. The prepared Sn-α-Fe2O3 NPs had a highly pure and well crystalline rhombohedral phase with an average particle size of 41.4 nm. The optical properties of as-synthesized α-Fe2O3 NPs show a higher bandgap energy (2.40–2.57 eV) than that of pure bulk α-Fe2O3 (2.1 eV). By doping Sn into α-Fe2O3 NPs, the Sn-doped hematite was observed a redshift toward a long wavelength with increasing Sn concentration from 0% to 4.0%. The photocatalytic activity of Sn-doped α-Fe2O3 NPs was evaluated by Congo red (CR) dye degradation. The degradation efficiency of CR dye using Sn-α-Fe2O3 NPs catalyst is higher than that of pure α-Fe2O3 NPs. The highest degradation efficiency of CR dye was 97.8% using 2.5% Sn-doped α-Fe2O3 NPs catalyst under visible-light irradiation. These results suggest that the synthesized Sn-doped α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles might be a suitable approach to develop a photocatalytic degradation of toxic inorganic dye in wastewater.
Emitter layer optimization in heterojunction bifacial silicon solar cells
Authors: Shariah Adnan , Mahasneh Feda 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Silicon solar cells continue to dominate the market, due to the abundance of silicon and their acceptable efficiency. The heterojunction with intrinsic thin layer (HIT) structure is now the dominant technology. Increasing the efficiency of these cells could expand the development choices for HIT solar cells. We presented a detailed investigation of the emitter a-Si:H(n) layer of a p-type bifacial HIT solar cell in terms of characteristic parameters which include layer doping concentration, thickness, band gap width, electron affinity, hole mobility, and so on. Solar cell composition: (ZnO/nc-Si:H(n)/a-Si:H(i)/c-Si(p)/a-Si:H(i)/nc-Si:H(p)/ZnO). The results reveal optimal values for the investigated parameters, for which the highest computed efficiency is 26.45% when lighted from the top only and 21.21% when illuminated from the back only.
Humidity sensor based on BiOBr synthesized under ambient condition
Authors: Cao Chaofan , Xiao Guixian , Lu Yao 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Flexible humidity sensors are effective portable devices for human respiratory monitoring. However, the current preparation of sensitive materials need harsh terms and the small production output limits their practicability. Here, we report a synthesis method of single-crystal BiOBr nanosheets under room temperature and atmospheric pressure based on a sonochemical strategy. A flexible humidity sensor enabled by BiOBr nanosheets deliver efficient sensing performance, a high humidity sensitivity (I
g/I
0 = 550%) with relative humidity from 40% to 100%, an excellent selectivity, and a detection response/recovery time of 11 and 6 s, respectively. The flexible humidity sensor shows a potential application value as a wearable monitoring device for respiratory disease prevention and health monitoring.
Towards 2D dosimetry using monolithic active pixel sensors and a copper grating
Authors: Beck L. , Velthuis J.J. , De Sio C. , Pritchard J.L. , Li Y. , Hugtenburg R.P. 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Higher energy and intensity X-ray radiotherapy treatments are coming into wider use, having the benefit of requiring fewer treatment fractions and fewer hospital visits per patient. However, small percentage errors in multileaf collimator positioning and dose become bigger problems with higher doses per fraction. Hence, real-time treatment verification becomes essential. Where devices downstream from the patient suffer from scattering in the patient, upstream devices can disturb the therapeutic beam. Here, a method is proposed for performing dosimetry upstream using monolithic active pixel sensors, which can be made thin enough to disturb the beam by <1%. In order to calculate the dose to the tumour, a verification device needs to make a measurement of the photon field. Some photons will Compton scatter an electron in the silicon and generate a signal. However, this signal is obscured by energy deposits from contamination electrons, originating from Compton scattering in the accelerator head and air. Often extensive build-up material is added to verification devices to reduce the electron contamination and enhance the photon signal. However, this leads to degradation of the beam intensity to the patient. Instead we propose using thin strips of 50 µm thick copper in a grating pattern and measuring the difference in the signal with and without it. The contamination electrons are relatively undisturbed by the presence of the thin copper strips and the photon signal generated via Compton scattering is enhanced under the strips. Hence the difference in the two signals mostly consists of energy deposits originating from the therapeutic photons. From this the dose to the patient can be derived. The 50 μm of copper is thin enough to keep the beam attenuation below 1%, but in itself would give a total signal response which consists of 38% contamination electrons. Using the grating technique, we show that the electron contamination can be reduced to 2.6% of the total signal. This allows the photon signal only to be extracted from the data and thus the dose to patient with a very thin upstream detector can be calculated using a Monte Carlo model to extrapolate the photon flux into the tumour.
Particle size amplification of black carbon by scattering measurement due to morphology diversity
Authors: Wu Yu , Cheng Tianhai , Zheng Lijuan , Zhang Yonggen , Zhang Lili 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Black carbon (BC) is an important aerosol species due to its strong heating of the atmosphere accompanied by cooling of the Earth’s surface, but its radiative forcing is poorly constrained by different regional size distributions due to uncertain reproductions of a morphologically simplified model. Here, we quantify the BC morphological effect on measuring the particle size using an aggregate model. We show that the size distributions of loose BC particles could account for up to 45% underestimation by morphological simplification, leading to up to 25% differences, by relying on a simplified model to estimate radiative forcing. We find that the BC particle size is remarkably amplified for looser and larger BC aggregates by angular scattering observations. We suggest that the BC morphological diversity can be neglected in forward scattering angles (<30°), which is a useful supplement to reduce the uncertainty of radiative forcing assessment.
Enhancement of Arctic surface ozone during the 2020–2021 winter associated with the sudden stratospheric warming
Authors: Xia Yan , Xie Fei , Lu Xiao 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Surface ozone is an important pollutant causing damage to human health and ecosystems. Here, we find that the Arctic surface ozone during the 2020–2021 winter was evidently enhanced after the sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) onset based on reanalysis data and simulations of a state-of-the-art chemistry-climate model. Further analysis suggests that this enhancement of Arctic surface ozone is primarily a result of the strengthening of the stratosphere-to-troposphere transport associated with the SSW. It is found that the SSW leads to more ozone in the Arctic stratosphere and enhanced downward transport with SSW-related downdraft. The 2021 SSW may also lead to positive anomalies in surface ozone in the northern midlatitudes, which are associated with cold air outbreaks. Our results indicate that the SSW not only affects the weather and climate in the troposphere but may also affect the surface air quality.
Surface analyses of corrosion products formed on API X-70 steel in sour brine after testing in a pipe loop
Authors: Cervantes-Tobón A , Díaz-Cruz M , Domínguez-Aguilar M A , Cabrera-Sierra R , García-Murillo A , de J Carrillo-Romo F , Ortega-Cárdenas J Angélica 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Flow assisted corrosion (FAC) is a problem of pipeline systems that handle high flow rates and strong direction changes. In the present investigation, FAC was tested on carbon steel exposed to the NACE 1D-196 environment by means an experimental pipe loop. As the exposure time increased, corrosion products formed a mixture of oxides, sulfides, and an apparent sulfate (rhombohedral mikasaite Fe2 (SO4)3), which was found in greater proportion and appeared to have a significant effect on decreasing corrosion rate. Transmission electron microscopy and x ray diffraction patterns seemed to confirm the presence of a sulfate and some oxides as the major chemical species contained in the corrosion products.
To assemble or not to assemble: metagenomic profiling of microbially mediated biogeochemical pathways in complex communities
Authors: Zhou Jiayin , Song Wen , Tu Qichao 
Published: December 2022

AbstractHigh-throughput profiling of microbial functional traits involved in various biogeochemical cycling pathways using shotgun metagenomic sequencing has been routinely applied in microbial ecology and environmental science. Multiple bioinformatics data processing approaches are available, including assembly-based (single-sample assembly and multi-sample assembly) and read-based (merged reads and raw data). However, it remains not clear how these different approaches may differ in data analyses and affect result interpretation. In this study, using two typical shotgun metagenome datasets recovered from geographically distant coastal sediments, the performance of different data processing approaches was comparatively investigated from both technical and biological/ecological perspectives. Microbially mediated biogeochemical cycling pathways, including nitrogen cycling, sulfur cycling and B12 biosynthesis, were analyzed. As a result, multi-sample assembly provided the most amount of usable information for targeted functional traits, at a high cost of computational resources and running time. Single-sample assembly and read-based analysis were comparable in obtaining usable information, but the former was much more time- and resource-consuming. Critically, different approaches introduced much stronger variations in microbial profiles than biological differences. However, community-level differences between the two sampling sites could be consistently observed despite the approaches being used. In choosing an appropriate approach, researchers shall balance the trade-offs between multiple factors, including the scientific question, the amount of usable information, computational resources and time cost. This study is expected to provide valuable technical insights and guidelines for the various approaches used for metagenomic data analysis.
Large-scale prediction of adverse drug reactions-related proteins with network embedding
Authors: Park Jaesub , Lee Sangyeon , Kim Kwansoo , Jung Jaegyun , Lee Doheon 
Published: December 2022

AbstractMotivationAdverse drug reactions (ADRs) are a major issue in drug development and clinical pharmacology. As most ADRs are caused by unintended activity at off-targets of drugs, the identification of drug targets responsible for ADRs becomes a key process for resolving ADRs. Recently, with the increase in the number of ADR-related data sources, several computational methodologies have been proposed to analyze ADR–protein relations. However, the identification of ADR-related proteins on a large scale with high reliability remains an important challenge.ResultsIn this article, we suggest a computational approach, Large-scale ADR-related Proteins Identification with Network Embedding (LAPINE). LAPINE combines a novel concept called single-target compound with a network embedding technique to enable large-scale prediction of ADR-related proteins for any proteins in the protein–protein interaction network. Analysis of benchmark datasets confirms the need to expand the scope of potential ADR-related proteins to be analyzed, as well as LAPINE’s capability for high recovery of known ADR-related proteins. Moreover, LAPINE provides more reliable predictions for ADR-related proteins (Value-added positive predictive value = 0.12), compared to a previously proposed method (P &lt; 0.001). Furthermore, two case studies show that most predictive proteins related to ADRs in LAPINE are supported by literature evidence. Overall, LAPINE can provide reliable insights into the relationship between ADRs and proteomes to understand the mechanism of ADRs leading to their prevention.Availability and implementationThe source code is available at GitHub (https://github.com/rupinas/LAPINE) and Figshare (https://figshare.com/articles/software/LAPINE/21750245) to facilitate its use.Supplementary informationSupplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Identification of a possible proteomic biomarker in Parkinson’s disease: discovery and replication in blood, brain and cerebrospinal fluid
Authors: Winchester Laura , Barber Imelda , Lawton Michael , Ash Jessica , Liu Benjamine , Evetts Samuel , Hopkins-Jones Lucinda , Lewis Suppalak , Bresner Catherine , Malpartida Ana Belen , Williams Nigel , Gentlemen Steve , Wade-Martins Richard , Ryan Brent , Holgado-Nevado Alejo , Hu Michele , Ben-Shlomo Yoav , Grosset Donald , Lovestone Simon 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Biomarkers to aid diagnosis and delineate the progression of Parkinson’s disease are vital for targeting treatment in the early phases of the disease. Here, we aim to discover a multi-protein panel representative of Parkinson’s and make mechanistic inferences from protein expression profiles within the broader objective of finding novel biomarkers. We used aptamer-based technology (SomaLogic®) to measure proteins in 1599 serum samples, 85 cerebrospinal fluid samples and 37 brain tissue samples collected from two observational longitudinal cohorts (the Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Centre and Tracking Parkinson’s) and the Parkinson’s Disease Brain Bank, respectively. Random forest machine learning was performed to discover new proteins related to disease status and generate multi-protein expression signatures with potential novel biomarkers. Differential regulation analysis and pathway analysis were performed to identify functional and mechanistic disease associations. The most consistent diagnostic classifier signature was tested across modalities [cerebrospinal fluid (area under curve) = 0.74, P = 0.0009; brain area under curve = 0.75, P = 0.006; serum area under curve = 0.66, P = 0.0002]. Focusing on serum samples and using only those with severe disease compared with controls increased the area under curve to 0.72 (P = 1.0 × 10−4). In the validation data set, we showed that the same classifiers were significantly related to disease status (P &lt; 0.001). Differential expression analysis and weighted gene correlation network analysis highlighted key proteins and pathways with known relationships to Parkinson’s. Proteins from the complement and coagulation cascades suggest a disease relationship to immune response. The combined analytical approaches in a relatively large number of samples, across tissue types, with replication and validation, provide mechanistic insights into the disease as well as nominate a protein signature classifier that deserves further biomarker evaluation.
The upper thermal limit of epaulette sharks (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) is conserved across three life history stages, sex and body size
Authors: Wheeler Carolyn R , Lang Bethan J , Mandelman John W , Rummer Jodie L 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Owing to climate change, most notably the increasing frequency of marine heatwaves and long-term ocean warming, better elucidating the upper thermal limits of marine fishes is important for predicting the future of species and populations. The critical thermal maximum (CTmax), or the highest temperature a species can tolerate, is a physiological metric that is used to establish upper thermal limits. Among marine organisms, this metric is commonly assessed in bony fishes but less so in other taxonomic groups, such as elasmobranchs (subclass of sharks, rays and skates), where only thermal acclimation effects on CTmax have been assessed. Herein, we tested whether three life history stages, sex and body size affected CTmax in a tropical elasmobranch, the epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum), collected from the reef flats surrounding Heron Island, Australia. Overall, we found no difference in CTmax between life history stages, sexes or across a range of body sizes. Findings from this research suggest that the energetically costly processes (i.e. growth, maturation and reproduction) associated with the life history stages occupying these tropical reef flats do not change overall acute thermal tolerance. However, it is important to note that neither embryos developing in ovo, neonates, nor females actively encapsulating egg cases were observed in or collected from the reef flats. Overall, our findings provide the first evidence in an elasmobranch that upper thermal tolerance is not impacted by life history stage or size. This information will help to improve our understanding of how anthropogenic climate change may (or may not) disproportionally affect particular life stages and, as such, where additional conservation and management actions may be required.
Hexavalent chromium–induced epigenetic instability and transposon activation lead to phenotypic variations and tumors in Drosophila
Authors: Parikh Rasesh Y , Gangaraju Vamsi K 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Developmental robustness represents the ability of an organism to resist phenotypic variations despite environmental insults and inherent genetic variations. Derailment of developmental robustness leads to phenotypic variations that can get fixed in a population for many generations. Environmental pollution is a significant worldwide problem with detrimental consequences of human development. Understanding the genetic basis for how pollutants affect human development is critical for developing interventional therapies. Here, we report that environmental stress induced by hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), a potent industrial pollutant, compromises developmental robustness, leading to phenotypic variations in the progeny. These phenotypic variations arise due to epigenetic instability and transposon activation in the somatic tissues of the progeny rather than novel genetic mutations and can be reduced by increasing the dosage of Piwi - a Piwi-interacting RNA–binding protein, in the ovary of the exposed mother. Significantly, the derailment of developmental robustness by Cr(VI) exposure leads to tumors in the progeny, and the predisposition to develop tumors is fixed in the population for at least three generations. Thus, we show for the first time that environmental pollution can derail developmental robustness and predispose the progeny of the exposed population to develop phenotypic variations and tumors.
Processed food exports from developing countries: the effect of food safety compliance
Authors: Suanin Wanissa 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThe study investigates the impact of developing countries’ ability to comply with international food safety standards on processed food exports, based on the structural gravity modelling framework and a novel dataset from 2002 to 2018. The constructed variable on international food safety compliance is derived from import refusal records from the US Food and Drug Administration. The findings indicate that international food safety compliance is a significant factor in explaining inter-country differences in processed food export performance. The ability to meet international food safety standards matters for processed food exports from developing Asia to developing country markets and the USA, but it has a limited influence on Asian processed food exports to the European Union.
The Portuguese budgetary costs with First World War: a comparative perspective
Authors: Ferraz Ricardo 
Published: December 2022

AbstractIn this paper, I show that the Portuguese budgetary costs with the First World War represented, on average, practically 50% of state expenditure and 7% of GDP during 1914–1918. These costs caused different negative effects on public finances and were also negatively correlated with economic growth according to the estimated results of two dynamic models. Nevertheless, Portugal’s costs with this war appear to have been lower than those of the other belligerents for which data are available, as Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Great Britain, Italy, and the United States.
Ablation versus anti-arrhythmic therapy for reducing all hospital episodes from recurrent atrial fibrillation: a prospective, randomized, multi-centre, open label trial
Authors: Kanagaratnam Prapa , McCready James , Tayebjee Muzahir , Shepherd Ewen , Sasikaran Thiagarajah , Todd Derick , Johnson Nicholas , Kyriacou Andreas , Hayat Sajad , Hobson Neil A , Mann Ian , Balasubramaniam Richard , Whinnett Zachary , Earley Mark , Petkar Sanjiv , Veasey Rick , Kirubakaran Senthil , Coyle Clare , Kim Min-Young , Lim Phang Boon , O’Neill James , Davies D Wyn , Peters Nicholas S , Babalis Daphne , Linton Nicholas , Falaschetti Emanuela , Tanner Mark , Shah Jaymin , Poulter Neil 
Published: December 2022

AbstractAimsThere is rising healthcare utilization related to the increasing incidence and prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) worldwide. Simplifying therapy and reducing hospital episodes would be a valuable development. The efficacy of a streamlined AF ablation approach was compared to drug therapy and a conventional catheter ablation technique for symptom control in paroxysmal AF.Methods and resultsWe recruited 321 patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF to a prospective randomized, multi-centre, open label trial at 13 UK hospitals. Patients were randomized 1:1:1 to cryo-balloon ablation without electrical mapping with patients discharged same day [Ablation Versus Anti-arrhythmic Therapy for Reducing All Hospital Episodes from Recurrent (AVATAR) protocol]; optimization of drug therapy; or cryo-balloon ablation with confirmation of pulmonary vein isolation and overnight hospitalization. The primary endpoint was time to any hospital episode related to treatment for atrial arrhythmia. Secondary endpoints included complications of treatment and quality-of-life measures. The hazard ratio (HR) for a primary endpoint event occurring when comparing AVATAR protocol arm to drug therapy was 0.156 (95% CI, 0.097–0.250; P &lt; 0.0001 by Cox regression). Twenty-three patients (21%) recorded an endpoint event in the AVATAR arm compared to 76 patients (74%) within the drug therapy arm. Comparing AVATAR and conventional ablation arms resulted in a non-significant HR of 1.173 (95% CI, 0.639–2.154; P = 0.61 by Cox regression) with 23 patients (21%) and 19 patients (18%), respectively, recording primary endpoint events (P = 0.61 by log-rank test).ConclusionThe AVATAR protocol was superior to drug therapy for avoiding hospital episodes related to AF treatment, but conventional cryoablation was not superior to the AVATAR protocol. This could have wide-ranging implications on how demand for AF symptom control is met.Trial registrationClinical Trials Registration: NCT02459574.