mlsa-iai-msu-lab/ru_sci_bench_zho_cite_reranking huggingface dataset:
Sheathless inertial cell focusing and sorting with serial reverse wavy channel structures

Inertial microfluidics utilizing passive hydrodynamic forces has been attracting significant attention in the field of precise microscale manipulation owing to its low cost, simplicity and high throughput. In this paper, we present a novel channel design with a series of reverse wavy channel structures for sheathless inertial particle focusing and cell sorting. A single wavy channel unit consists of four semicircular segments, which produce periodically reversed Dean secondary flow along the cross-section of the channel. The balance between the inertial lift force and the Dean drag force results in deterministic equilibrium focusing positions, which also depends on the size of the flow-through particles and cells. Six sizes of fluorescent microspheres (15, 10, 7, 5, 3 and 1 µm) were used to study the size-dependent inertial focusing behavior. Our novel design with sharp-turning subunits could effectively focus particles as small as 3 µm, the average size of platelets, enabling the sorting of cancer cells from whole blood without the use of sheath flows. Utilizing an optimized channel design, we demonstrated the size-based sorting of MCF-7 breast cancer cells spiked in diluted whole blood samples without using sheath flows. A single sorting process was able to recover 89.72% of MCF-7 cells from the original mixture and enrich MCF-7 cells from an original purity of 5.3% to 68.9% with excellent cell viability.
Assessment of trace metals contamination in stream sediments and soils in Abuja leather mining, southwestern Nigeria

This study is aimed at determining the level of environmental degradation as well as the concentration of trace elements in soil and stream sediments in order to evaluate the environmental impact of the mining operation. Twenty-five (25) soils and ten (10) stream sediment samples were collected from the study area. The physicochemical parameters were determined using appropriate instrumentation with the aid of a digital pH meter (Milwaukee meter) to measure the pH and electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, moisture content and loss on ignition of the soil and stream sediment samples. The pH of the soil sample ranged from (6.10 to 7.19); Electrical conductivity ranged from (21.3 to 279.4 μS/cm), moisture content varied from (0.60% to 7.20%), and the LOI ranged from (2.03% to 18.62%). The results of the analysis showed that the concentrations of the trace elements in the soils and stream sediment samples were slightly higher than the background values. Plots of the trace elements in stream sediment samples show moderate, consistent decrease downstream except at points where there was mine water discharge into the main river. The pollution levels of heavy metals were examined in stream sediment and soil samples using different assessable indices, such as the enrichment factor, which showed significant-moderate enrichment for Cr, Th, Nb, Zn, Pb, Y and Zr and the geoaccumulation index, which showed practically moderate contamination with Cr, Ni and Sr based on regional background reference values. Geo-accumulation index and contamination index for soils and stream sediment revealed uncontaminated to moderate contamination. Likewise, elements with moderate contamination were Cr, Ni and Sr. The Pearson correlation showed that there were significant positive associations among selected metals in soil and stream sediment samples.
Genesis of the Nanyangtian scheelite deposit in southeastern Yunnan Province, China: evidence from mineral chemistry, fluid inclusions, and C–O isotopes

The Nanyangtian skarn-type scheelite deposit is an important part of the Laojunshan W–Sn polymetallic metallogenic region in southeastern Yunnan Province, China. The deposit comprises multiple scheelite ore bodies; multilayer skarn-type scheelite ore bodies are dominant, with a small amount of quartz vein-type ore bodies. Skarn minerals include diopside, hedenbergite, grossular, and epidote. Three mineralization stages exist: skarn, quartz– scheelite, and calcite. The homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions in hydrothermal minerals that formed in different paragenetic phases were measured as follows: 221–423 ℃ (early skarn stage), 177–260 ℃ (quartz– scheelite stage), and 173–227 ℃ (late calcite stage). The measured salinity of fluid inclusions ranged from 0.18% to 16.34% NaCleqv (skarn stage), 0.35%–7.17% NaCleqv (quartz–scheelite stage), and 0.35%–2.24% NaCleqv (late calcite vein stage). Laser Raman spectroscopic studies on fluid inclusions in the three stages showed H_2O as the main component, with N_2 present in minor amounts. Minor amounts of CH_4 were found in the quartz–scheelite stage. It was observed that the homogenization temperature gradually reduced from the early to the late mineralization stages; moreover, δ~(13)CPDB values for ore-bearing skarn in the mineralization period ranged from - 5.7% to - 6.9% and the corresponding δ~(18)OSMOW values ranged from 5.8% to 9.1%, implying that the ore-forming fluid was mainly sourced from magmatic water with a minor amount of meteoric water. Collectively, the evidence indicates that the formation of the Nanyangtian deposit is related to Laojunshan granitic magmatism.
Species delimitation based on diagnosis and monophyly,and its importance for advancing mammalian taxonomy

A recently proposed taxonomic classification of extant ungulates sparked a series of publications that criticize the Phylogenetic Species Concept (PSC) claiming it to be a particularly poor species concept.These opinions reiteratively stated that (1) the two fundamental elements of the "PSC",i.e.,monophyly and diagnosability,do not offer objective criteria as to where the line between species should be drawn;and (2) that extirpation of populations can lead to artificial diagnosability and spurious recognitions of species.This sudden eruption of criticism against the PSC is misleading.Problems attributed to the PSC are common to most approaches and concepts that modern systematists employ to establish species boundaries.The controversial taxonomic propositions that sparked criticism against the PSC are indeed highly problematic,not because of the species concept upon which they are based,but because no evidence (whatsoever) has become public to support a substantial portion of the proposed classification.We herein discuss these topics using examples from mammals.Numerous areas of biological research rest upon taxonomic accuracy (including conservation biology and biomedical research);hence,it is necessary to clarify what are (and what are not) the real sources of taxonomic inaccuracy.
Study of a Horizontal Shear Line over the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau and the Impact of Diabatic Heating on Its Evolution

Based on the 4 times daily 0.75° × 0.75° ERA-Interim data, the structural evolution of a Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau horizontal (east–west-oriented) shear line (TSL) during 15–19 August 2015 and the effect of diabatic heating on its evolution were analyzed. The results show that the TSL possessed a vertical thickness of up to 1.5 km (approximately 600–450 hPa), and was baroclinic in nature. Weak ascending motions occurred near the TSL, accompanied with more significant gradients in dew point temperature than in temperature. The TSL was characterized by diurnal variations in its appearance and structure. It was relatively full in shape (broken) and was the lowest (highest) in vertical extent at 0000 (1800) UTC, and veered clockwise (anticlockwise) during 0000–0600 (1200–1800) UTC. When the north–south span of the TSL increased, it was prone to fracturing; and it disappeared when the dew point temperature gradients to its either side decreased. When the TSL moved northward (southward), its western (eastern) section broke up, while the eastern (western) section inclined to regenerate or merge. The TSL tended to move towards the positive vorticity areas with significant increases in vorticity. When the positive vorticity center moved down, the height of TSL decreased. Further analysis shows that the plateau surface heating dominated the vorticity attribute of the TSL and its movement, with different contributions from local variation, horizontal advection, and vertical advection of the diabatic heating to the TSL at different heights.
Analytical methods for investigating in vivo fate of nanoliposomes: A review

Nanoliposomes are considered to be the most successful nanoparticle drug delivery system, but their fate in vivo has not been fully understood due to lack of reliable bioanalytical methods, which seriously limits the development of liposomal drugs. Hence, an overview of currently used bioanalytical methods is imperative to lay the groundwork for the need of developing a bioanalytical method for liposome measurements in vivo. Currently, major analytical methods for nanoliposomes measurement in vivo include fluorescence labeling, radiolabeling, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), mass spectrometry and computed tomography. In this review, these bioanalytical methods are summarized, and the advantages and disadvantages of each are discussed. We provide insights into the applicability and limitations of these analytical methods in the application of nanoliposomes measurement in vivo, and highlight the recent development of instrumental analysis techniques. The review is devoted to providing a comprehensive overview of the investigation of nanoliposomes design and associated fate in vivo, promoting the development of bioanalytical techniques for nanoliposomes measurement, and understanding the pharmacokinetic behavior, effectiveness and potential toxicity of nanoliposomes in vivo.
Synthesis, characterization, theoretical investigation, and properties of monoclinic-phase InWO_4 hollow nanospheres

As a newly discovered member of the tungstate family, InWO_4 hollow nanospheres with a monoclinic wolframite structure were synthesized successfully. The crystal phase of InWO_4 was investigated via a combination of CASTEP geometric optimization and experimental simulation. InWO_4 has a space group of P2/c with two InWO_4 formula units per unit cell. The optimized cell dimensions are a = 5.16 A,b = 5.97 A, and c = 5.23 A, with a = 90°, β = 92.11°, γ= 90°, giving a unit cell volume of 161.10 A~3, which is consistent with the experimental measurements. More importantly, InWO_4 was a promising host material for different Ln~(3+) (Ln = Eu and Yb/Er) ions. For InWO_4:Yb~(3+)/Er~(3+) excited at 980 nm, transitions from the ~4G_(11/2) (384 nm),~2H_(9/2) (411 nm), and ~4F_(7/2)(487 nm) levels to the ground state (~4I_(15/2)) of Er~(3+) were observed. In addition to the aforementioned properties, the InWO_4 hollow nanospheres can be used to improve the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells, which is chiefly attributed to their light scattering.
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering nanosensors for in vivo detection of nucleic acid targets in a large animal model

Although nanotechnology has led to important advances in in vitro diagnostics, the development of nanosensors for in vivo detection remains very challenging. Here, we demonstrated the proof-of-principle of in vivo detection of nucleic acid targets using a promising type of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanosensor implanted in the skin of a large animal model (pig). The in vivo nanosensor used in this study involves the "inverse molecular sentinel" detection scheme using plasmonics-active nanostars, which have tunable absorption bands in the near infrared region of the "tissue optical window", rendering them efficient as an optical sensing platform for in vivo optical detection. Ex vivo measurements were also performed using human skin grafts to demonstrate the detection of SERS nanosensors through tissue. In this study, a new core-shell nanorattle probe with Raman reporters trapped between the core and shell was utilized as an internal standard system for self-calibration. These results illustrate the usefulness and translational potential of the SERS nanosensor for in vivo biosensing.
Plasmon-enhanced ZnO whispering-gallery mode lasing

Collaborative enhancements from surface plasmons (SPs) and whispering-gallery modes (WGMs) can induce intense near-field effects with high spatial localization around the surface of a semiconducting material. One can construct a highly efficient hybrid microcavity using semiconducting materials through resonant coupling between SPs and WGMs. Hexagonal ZnO micro-/nanostructures, which have been employed as natural WGM microcavities for ultraviolet (UV) lasing, can be used as ideal platforms to construct such hybrid microcavities. Here, we comprehensively review the recent efforts for improving lasing performance by resonant coupling between SPs and WGMs. Traditional SPs originating from various metals as well as novel SPs originating from atomic layers such as graphene are considered. Moreover, we discuss the mechanism of light-matter interactions beyond the improvements in lasing performance.
Antarctic thermolabile uracil-DNA-glycosylase-supplemented multiple cross displacement amplification using a label-based nanoparticle lateral flow biosensor for the simultaneous detection of nucleic acid sequences and elimination of carryover contaminatio

Here, we report a novel and universal methodology, termed "Antarctic thermolabile uracil-DNA-glycosylase (AUDG)-supplemented nucleic acid amplification techniques (NAAs) using a labeled-based nanoparticle lateral flow biosensor (LFB)" (AUDG-NAAs-LFB), which merges enzymatic (AUDG) digestion of contaminant amplicons with different nucleic acid amplification techniques (NAAs), and uses a lateral flow biosensor (LFB) for the rapid and visual confirmation of the presence of a target nucleic acid sequence. AUDG-NNAs-LFB is a one-pot, closed-vessel assay, that can effectively eliminate false-positive signals arising from either carryover contaminants or the interaction between labeled primers. A new LFB was devised for detecting three targets (two amplicons generated from amplification of target sequences, and a chromatography control), without the need for probe-hybridization or additional incubation steps. As a proof of concept, multiple cross displacement amplification (MCDA), which is a specific, sensitive, and rapid isothermal amplification method, was selected as the model amplification technique to demonstrate the feasibility of AUDG-NAAs-LFB. As a result, we demonstrate the applicability of the AUDG-MCDA-LFB method for simultaneously detecting high-risk human papillomaviruses genotypes 16 and 18, which are the most and second-most prevalent strains of the virus reported in women worldwide. We also confirm the principle behind the AUDG-MCDA-LFB assay and validate its sensitivity, reproducibility, and specificity using serial dilutions of the type-specific plasmids, as well as clinical samples. This proof-of-concept method (AUDG-MCDA-LFB) can be easily reconfigured to detect various nucleic acid sequences by redesigning the specific MCDA primers.
Dip-coating processed sponge-based electrodes for stretchable Zn-MnO_2 batteries

Stretchable electronics are in high demand for next-generation wearable devices, but their fabrication is still challenging. Stretchable conductors, flexible pressure sensors, and foldable light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have been reported; however, the fabrication of stable stretchable batteries, as power suppliers for wearable devices, is significantly behind the development of other stretchable electronics. Several stretchable lithium-ion batteries and primary batteries have been fabricated, but their low capacities and complicated manufacturing processes are obstacles for practical applications. Herein, we report a stretchable zinc/manganese-oxide (Zn-MnO_2) full battery based on a silver-nanowire-coated sponge prepared via a facile dip-coating process. The spongy electrode, with a three-dimensional (3D) binary network structure, provided not only high conductivity and stretchability, but also enabled a high mass loading of electrochemically active materials (Zn and MnO_2 particles). The fabricated Zn-MnO_2 battery exhibited an areal capacity as high as 3.6 mAh·cm~(-2) and could accommodate tensile strains of up to 100% while retaining 89% of its original capacity. The facile solution-based strategy of dip-coating active materials onto a cheap sponge-based stretchable current collector opens up a new avenue for fabricating stretchable batteries.
Hierarchical coral-like NiMoS nanohybrids as highly efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall urea electrolysis

Novel hierarchical coral-like Ni-Mo sulfides on Ti mesh (denoted as HC-NiMoS/Ti) were synthesized through facile hydrothermal and subsequent sulfuration processes without any template. These non-precious HC-NiMoS/Ti hybrids were explored as bifunctional catalysts for urea-based overall water splitting, including the anodic urea oxygen evolution reaction (UOR) and cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Due to the highly exposed active sites, excellent charge transfer ability, and good synergistic effects from multi-component reactions, the HC-NiMoS/Ti hybrid exhibited superior activity and high stability, and only a cell voltage of 1.59 V was required to deliver 10 mA·cm~(-2) current density in an electrolyte of 1.0 M KOH with 0.5 M urea.
Theoretical investigations of transport properties of organic solvents in cation-functionalized graphene oxide membranes: Implications for drug delivery

We perform detailed quantum chemical calculations to elucidate the origin and mechanism of the selective permeability of alkali and alkaline earth cation-decorated graphene oxide (M-GO) membranes to organic solvents. The results show that the selectivity is associated mainly with the transport properties of solvents in the membranes, which depends on two regions of the flow path: the sp~3 C-O matrix of the GO sheets and the cation at the center of the hexagon rather than the sp~2 region. According to the delocalization of n states in sp~2 regions, we propose a design guide for high-quality M-GO membranes. The solvent-cation interaction essentially causes directional transport of molecules in the M-GO membranes under the transmembrane pressure, indicating a site-to-site mechanism. The solvent-sp~3 C-O matrix interaction may inhibit molecular transport between two fixed cations by consuming energy. The competition between energy consumption by the solvent-cation interaction and energy expenditure by the solvent-sp~3 C-O matrix interaction leads to various transport properties of solvents and thus allows for the selective permeability of the M-GO membranes. Findings from the study are helpful for the future design of multifunctional M-GO macro-membranes as cost-effective solution nanofilters in chemical, biological, and medical applications.
The impact of hourly solar radiation model on building energy analysis in different climatic regions of Turkey

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of solar radiation models on the determination of energy performance of a single-family house assisted with renewable energy system including photovoltaic panels and solar water heater. An Angstrom-Prescott type solar radiation model was compared with Zhang and Huang model derived based on hourly meteorological data of 12 locations in Turkey. Since regression coefficients of the Zhang and Huang model are valid for China, new regression coefficients were derived by using local meteorological data. A clear distinction could not be observed in simulated annual heating load intensity for each model since the average relative deviation of the models' results was 2.5%. However, the average deviation was 12.5% for space cooling load intensity. Primary energy ratings (PER) and the renewable energy ratio (RER) were determined for each location. For total PER, the highest deviation was 4.6% and 33% for Mersin and Mugla, respectively. For the other locations, this parameter deviates between 0.02%-2.11%. The highest RER was 18.6% for Mersin.
Predicting integrated thermal and acoustic performance in naturally ventilated high-rise buildings using CFD and FEM simulation

The study of ventilation windows for both natural ventilation and noise mitigation has drawn significant attention recently. This paper presents the numerical approaches to analyse the integrated thermal and acoustical performance of ventilation windows, for a residential building in tropical climate which employs double-layer noise mitigation window for natural ventilation. Given a set of outdoor wind conditions, the distributions of indoor flow and temperature fields are simulated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model. The thermal comfort is evaluated using statistical Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) method. For the acoustic performance, noise radiation from road traffic is assumed as the noise source, and the sound insulation of building facade is simulated using Finite Element Method (FEM). From the simulation results, it is found that the thermal satisfaction response is closely related to the inlet wind temperature and speed, and the window opening size greatly affects the ventilation performance. From the case study in Singapore, during certain season, day/night time and with sufficient wind flow, the ventilation window can provide enough fresh air, maintain adequate thermal comfort and quiet acoustic environment for the occupants. The numerical approaches presented in this paper are applicable to general window design studies, and the simulation findings can be incorporated into green building planning. The advantages of using simulation approaches are highlighted and their limitations are discussed.
Are therapeutic diets an emerging additional choice in autism spectrum disorder management?

Background A nutritional background has been recognized in the pathophysiology of autism and a series of nutritional interventions have been considered as complementary therapeutic options. As available treatments and interventions are not effective in all individuals, new therapies could broaden management options for these patients. Our aim is to provide current literature data about the effect of therapeutic diets on autism spectrum disorder. Data sources A systematic review was conducted by two reviewers independently. Prospective clinical and preclinical studies were considered. Results Therapeutic diets that have been used in children with autism include ketogenic and gluten/casein-free diet. We were able to identify 8 studies conducted in animal models of autism demonstrating a beneficial effect on neurophysiological and clinical parameters. Only 1 clinical study was found showing improvement in childhood autism rating scale after implementation of ketogenic diet. With regard to gluten/casein-free diet, 4 clinical studies were totally found with 2 of them showing a favorable outcome in children with autism. Furthermore, a combination of gluten-free and modified ketogenic diet in a study had a positive effect on social affect scores. No serious adverse events have been reported. Conclusions Despite encouraging laboratory data, there is controversy about the real clinical effect of therapeutic diets in patients with autism. More research is needed to provide sounder scientific evidence.