Naphthalimide-Based, Single-Chromophore, Emission Ratiometric Fluorescent Sensor for Tracking Intracellular pH

We report a novel, reversible, cell-permeable, pH-sensor, TRapH. TRapH afforded a pH-sensitive ratiometric emission response in the pH range ~3-6, enabling imaging and quantification of pH in living cells. The biological-applicability of TRapH was illustrated via live-tracking of intracellular pH dynamics in living mammalian cells induced by a synthetic H+-transporter.

An all phosphorene lattice nanometric spin valve

Phosphorene is a unique semiconducting two-dimensional platform for enabling spintronic devices integrated with phosphorene nanoelectronics. Here, we have designed an all phosphorene lattice lateral spin valve device, conceived via patterned magnetic substituted atoms of 3d-block elements at both ends of a phosphorene nanoribbon acting as ferromagnetic electrodes in the spin valve. Through First-principles based calculations, we have extensively studied the spin-dependent transport characteristics of the new spin valve structures. Systematic exploration of the magnetoresistance (MR) of the spin valve for various substitutional atoms and bias voltage resulted in a phase diagram offering a colossal MR for V and Cr-substitutional atoms. Such MR can be directly attributed to their specific electronic structure, which can be further tuned by a gate voltage, for electric field controlled spin valves. The spin-dependent transport characteristics here reveal new features such as negative conductance oscillation and switching of the sign of MR due to change in the majority spin carrier type. Our study creates possibilities for the design of nanometric spin valves, which could enable integration of memory and logic elements for all phosphorene 2D processors.

Remarkable enhancement of the adsorption and diffusion performance of alkali ions in two-dimensional (2D) transition metal oxide monolayers via Ru-doping

Transition metal oxides (TMO) are the preferred materials for metal ion battery cathodes because of their high redox potentials and good metal-ion intercalation capacity, which serve as an outstanding replacement for layered sulphide. In this work, using first-principles calculations based on Density functional theory approach, we explored the structural and electronic properties which comprise of adsorption and diffusion behaviour along with the analysis of voltage profile and storage capacity of Ru doped two-dimensional transition metal oxide [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] monolayers. The adsorption of alkali ions (Li, Na) to the surface of TMOs is strengthened by Ru-atom doping. Ru doping enhanced the adsorption energy of Li/Na-ion by 25%/11% for [Formula: see text], 8%/13% for [Formula: see text], and 10%/11% [Formula: see text] respectively. The open circuit voltage (OCV) also increases due to the high adsorption capacity of doped Monolayers. Ru doping makes the semiconducting TMOs conduct, which is suitable for battery application. As alkali ion moves closer to the dopant site, the adsorption energy increases. When alkali ions are close to the vicinity of doping site, their diffusion barrier decrease and rises as they go further away. Our current findings will be useful in finding ways to improve the storage performance of 2D oxide materials for application in energy harvesting and green energy architecture.

Strain-controlled spin transport in a two-dimensional (2D) nanomagnet

Semiconductors with controllable electronic transport coupled with magnetic behaviour, offering programmable spin arrangements present enticing potential for next generation intelligent technologies. Integrating and linking these two properties has been a long standing challenge for material researchers. Recent discoveries in two-dimensional (2D) magnet shows an ability to tune and control the electronic and magnetic phases at ambient temperature. Here, we illustrate controlled spin transport within the magnetic phase of the 2D semiconductor CrOBr and reveal a substantial connection between its magnetic order and charge carriers. First, we systematically analyse the strain-induced electronic behaviour of 2D CrOBr using density functional theory calculations. Our study demonstrates the phase transition from a magnetic semiconductor → half metal → magnetic metal in the material under strain application, creating intriguing spin-resolved conductance with 100% spin polarisation and spin-injection efficiency. Additionally, the spin-polarised current-voltage (I-V) trend displayed conductance variations with high strain-assisted tunability and a peak-to-valley ratio as well as switching efficiency. Our study reveals that CrOBr can exhibit highly anisotropic behaviour with perfect spin filtering, offering new implications for strain engineered magneto-electronic devices.

Measurement of CP Violation in B^{0}→K_{S}^{0}π^{0} Decays at Belle II

We report a measurement of the CP-violating parameters C and S in B^{0}→K_{S}^{0}π^{0} decays at Belle II using a sample of 387×10^{6}  BB[over ¯] events recorded in e^{+}e^{-} collisions at a center-of-mass energy corresponding to the ϒ(4S) resonance. These parameters are determined by fitting the proper decay-time distribution of a sample of 415 signal events. We obtain C=-0.04_{-0.15}^{+0.14}±0.05 and S=0.75_{-0.23}^{+0.20}±0.04, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic.

Twist-assisted optoelectronic phase control in two-dimensional (2D) Janus heterostructures

Atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) Janus materials and their Van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs) have emerged as a new class of intriguing semiconductor materials due to their versatile application in electronic and optoelectronic devices. Herein, We have invstigated most probable arrangements of different inhomogeneous heterostructures employing one layer of transition metal dichalcogenide, TMD (MoS2, WS2, MoSe2, and WSe2) piled on the top of Janus TMD (MoSeTe or WSeTe) and investigated their structural, electronic as well as optical properties through first-principles based calculations. After that, we applied twist engineering between the monolayers from 0[Formula: see text] 60[Formula: see text] twist angle, which delivers lattice reconstruction and improves the performance of the vdWHs due to interlayer coupling. The result reveals that all the proposed vdWHs are dynamically and thermodynamically stable. Some vdWHs such as MoS2/MoSeTe, WS2/WSeTe, MoS2/WSeTe, MoSe2/MoSeTe, and WS2/MoSeTe exhibit direct bandgap with type-II band alignment at some specific twist angle, which shows potential for future photovoltaic devices. Moreover, the electronic property and carrier mobility can be effectively tuned in the vdWHs compared to the respective monolayers. Furthermore, the visible optical absorption of all the Janus vdWHs at [Formula: see text] = 0[Formula: see text] can be significantly enhanced due to the weak inter-layer coupling and redistribution of the charges. Therefore, the interlayer twisting not only provides an opportunity to observe new exciting properties but also gives a novel route to modulate the electronic and optoelectronic properties of the heterostructure for practical applications.

An Amphiphilic Peptide Carrier for HCl Transport

Single molecules that co-transport cations as well as anions across lipid membranes are few despite their high biological utility. The elegant yet simple lipidomimetic peptide design herein enables efficient HCl transport without the use of any external additives for proton transport. The carboxylic acids in the dipeptide scaffold provide a handle to append two long hydrophobic tails and also provides a polar hydrophilic carboxylate group. The peptide central unit also provides NH sites for anion-binding. Protonation of the carboxylate group coupled with the weak halide binding of the terminal NH group results in HCl transport with transport rates of H+ > Cl‾. The lipid-like structure also facilitates seamless membrane integration and flipping of the molecule. The biocompatibility, design simplicity and potential pH regulation of these molecules open up several avenues for their therapeutic use.

Stabilized Radiation Pressure Acceleration and Neutron Generation in Ultrathin Deuterated Foils

Premature relativistic transparency of ultrathin, laser-irradiated targets is recognized as an obstacle to achieving a stable radiation pressure acceleration in the "light sail" (LS) mode. Experimental data, corroborated by 2D PIC simulations, show that a few-nm thick overcoat surface layer of high Z material significantly improves ion bunching at high energies during the acceleration. This is diagnosed by simultaneous ion and neutron spectroscopy following irradiation of deuterated plastic targets. In particular, copious and directional neutron production (significantly larger than for other in-target schemes) arises, under optimal parameters, as a signature of plasma layer integrity during the acceleration.

Hypertriton Production in p-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV

The study of nuclei and antinuclei production has proven to be a powerful tool to investigate the formation mechanism of loosely bound states in high-energy hadronic collisions. The first measurement of the production of _{Λ}^{3}H in p-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV is presented in this Letter. Its production yield measured in the rapidity interval -1<y<0 for the 40% highest-multiplicity p-Pb collisions is dN/dy=[6.3±1.8(stat)±1.2(syst)]×10^{-7}. The measurement is compared with the expectations of statistical hadronization and coalescence models, which describe the nucleosynthesis in hadronic collisions. These two models predict very different yields of the hypertriton in charged particle multiplicity environments relevant to small collision systems such as p-Pb, and therefore the measurement of dN/dy is crucial to distinguish between them. The precision of this measurement leads to the exclusion with a significance larger than 6.9σ of some configurations of the statistical hadronization model, thus constraining the theory behind the production of loosely bound states at hadron colliders.

Absolute calibration of Fujifilm BAS-TR image plate response to laser driven protons up to 40 MeV

Image plates (IPs) are a popular detector in the field of laser driven ion acceleration, owing to their high dynamic range and reusability. An absolute calibration of these detectors to laser-driven protons in the routinely produced tens of MeV energy range is, therefore, essential. In this paper, the response of Fujifilm BAS-TR IPs to 1-40 MeV protons is calibrated by employing the detectors in high resolution Thomson parabola spectrometers in conjunction with a CR-39 nuclear track detector to determine absolute proton numbers. While CR-39 was placed in front of the image plate for lower energy protons, it was placed behind the image plate for energies above 10 MeV using suitable metal filters sandwiched between the image plate and CR-39 to select specific energies. The measured response agrees well with previously reported calibrations as well as standard models of IP response, providing, for the first time, an absolute calibration over a large range of proton energies of relevance to current experiments.

Identification of potential antivirals against 3CLpro enzyme for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2: A multi-step virtual screening study

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak is posing a serious public health threat worldwide in the form of COVD-19. Herein, we have performed two-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (2D-QSAR) and three-dimensional pharmacophore modelling analysis employing inhibitors of 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), the leading protease that is crucial for the replication of SARS-CoV-2. The investigation aims to identify the important structural features responsible for the enzyme inhibition and the search for novel 3CLpro enzyme inhibitors as effective therapeutics for treating SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, we carried out molecular docking studies using the most and least active compounds in the dataset, aiming to validate the contributions of various features as appeared in the QSAR models. Later, the stringently validated 2D-QSAR model was used to estimate the 3CLpro inhibitory activity of compounds from five chemical databases. Compounds with the significant predicted activity were then subjected to pharmacophore-based virtual screening to screen the top-rated compounds, which were then further subjected to molecular docking analysis, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion - toxicity (ADMET) profiling, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The multi-step virtual screening analyses suggested that compounds CASAntiV-865453-58-3, CASAntiV-865453-40-3, and CASAntiV-2043031-84-9 could be used as effective therapeutic agents for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2.

Polarization of Λ and Λ[over ¯] Hyperons along the Beam Direction in Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s]_{NN}=5.02 TeV

The polarization of the Λ and Λ[over ¯] hyperons along the beam (z) direction, P_{z}, has been measured in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV recorded with ALICE at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The main contribution to P_{z} comes from elliptic flow-induced vorticity and can be characterized by the second Fourier sine coefficient P_{z,s2}=⟨P_{z}sin(2φ-2Ψ_{2})⟩, where φ is the hyperon azimuthal emission angle and Ψ_{2} is the elliptic flow plane angle. We report the measurement of P_{z,s2} for different collision centralities and in the 30%-50% centrality interval as a function of the hyperon transverse momentum and rapidity. The P_{z,s2} is positive similarly as measured by the STAR Collaboration in Au-Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV, with somewhat smaller amplitude in the semicentral collisions. This is the first experimental evidence of a nonzero hyperon P_{z} in Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC. The comparison of the measured P_{z,s2} with the hydrodynamic model calculations shows sensitivity to the competing contributions from thermal and the recently found shear-induced vorticity, as well as to whether the polarization is acquired at the quark-gluon plasma or the hadronic phase.

Measurement of the Groomed Jet Radius and Momentum Splitting Fraction in pp and Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV

This article presents groomed jet substructure measurements in pp and Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV with the ALICE detector. The soft drop grooming algorithm provides access to the hard parton splittings inside a jet by removing soft wide-angle radiation. We report the groomed jet momentum splitting fraction, z_{g}, and the (scaled) groomed jet radius, θ_{g}. Charged-particle jets are reconstructed at midrapidity using the anti-k_{T} algorithm with resolution parameters R=0.2 and R=0.4. In heavy-ion collisions, the large underlying event poses a challenge for the reconstruction of groomed jet observables, since fluctuations in the background can cause groomed parton splittings to be misidentified. By using strong grooming conditions to reduce this background, we report these observables fully corrected for detector effects and background fluctuations for the first time. A narrowing of the θ_{g} distribution in Pb-Pb collisions compared to pp collisions is seen, which provides direct evidence of the modification of the angular structure of jets in the quark-gluon plasma. No significant modification of the z_{g} distribution in Pb-Pb collisions compared to pp collisions is observed. These results are compared with a variety of theoretical models of jet quenching, and provide constraints on jet energy-loss mechanisms and coherence effects in the quark-gluon plasma.

Calibration of BAS-TR image plate response to GeV gold ions

The response of the BAS-TR image plate (IP) was absolutely calibrated using a CR-39 track detector for high linear energy transfer Au ions up to ∼1.6 GeV (8.2 MeV/nucleon), accelerated by high-power lasers. The calibration was carried out by employing a high-resolution Thomson parabola spectrometer, which allowed resolving Au ions with closely spaced ionization states up to 58⁺. A response function was obtained by fitting the photo-stimulated luminescence per Au ion for different ion energies, which is broadly in agreement with that expected from ion stopping in the active layer of the IP. This calibration would allow quantifying the ion energy spectra for high energy Au ions, which is important for further investigation of the laser-based acceleration of heavy ion beams.

Impact of changes in tricuspid regurgitation on clinical outcomes following mitral valve teer compared to guideline-directed medical therapy: a sub-analysis of the COAPT trial

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

OnBehalf

Cardiovascular Outcomes Assessment of the MitraClip Percutaneous Therapy for Heart Failure Patients with Functional Mitral Regurgitation (COAPT)

Background

Prior studies suggest tricuspid regurgitation (TR) diminishes/resolves following mitral valve surgery and thus do not require treatment and may not influence outcomes.

Purpose

  We sought to evaluate the change in TR (ΔTR) and its association with outcomes after transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) compared with guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) in the COAPT trial.

Methods

Patients from the COAPT trial with echo core lab TR assessment at baseline and 30-day follow-up (n = 504) were included and divided into 2 groups: those whose TR worsened (ΔTR-INC) and those with no change or improvement in TR (ΔTR-SAME/DEC).  Two-year composite endpoints of death or heart failure hospitalization (HFH) and the individual components were analyzed, after excluding events occurring within the first 30 days.

Results

ΔTR-SAME/DEC occurred in 430 pts (228 TEER, 202 GDMT) while ΔTR-INC was noted in 74 pts (38 TEER, 36 GDMT) (Figure 1A). From 30 days to 2 years, ΔTR-INC pts had a higher rate of the composite outcome of death or HFH compared with ΔTR-SAME/DEC (p = 0.006, Figure 1B). Both 2-year death (HR 1.52, 95% CI 1.01-2.27; p = 0.04) and HFH (HR 1.52, 95% CI 1.04-2.22; p = 0.03) were associated with ΔTR-INC. Assessed by treatment group (Figure 1C and 1D), the relationship between ΔTR-INC and composite death or HFH was significant in GDMT alone pts (HR 1.86, 95% CI 1.21-2.86) but not in TEER pts (HR 1.33, 95% CI 0.79-2.23), although interaction testing demonstrated consistency between the two treatments  (Pint = 0.31). 

Conclusions

Worsening TR at 30 days occurred in ∼15% of pts in the COAPT trial whether they were treated with TEER or GDMT alone. DTRINC was associated with increased death and HFH during 2-year follow-up. Abstract Figure 1

Measurement of Prompt D^{0}, Λ_{c}^{+}, and Σ_{c}^{0,++}(2455) Production in Proton-Proton Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

The p_{T}-differential production cross sections of prompt D^{0}, Λ_{c}^{+}, and Σ_{c}^{0,++}(2455) charmed hadrons are measured at midrapidity (|y|<0.5) in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV. This is the first measurement of Σ_{c}^{0,++} production in hadronic collisions. Assuming the same production yield for the three Σ_{c}^{0,+,++} isospin states, the baryon-to-meson cross section ratios Σ_{c}^{0,+,++}/D^{0} and Λ_{c}^{+}/D^{0} are calculated in the transverse momentum (p_{T}) intervals 2<p_{T}<12 and 1<p_{T}<24  GeV/c. Values significantly larger than in e^{+}e^{-} collisions are observed, indicating for the first time that baryon enhancement in hadronic collisions also extends to the Σ_{c}. The feed-down contribution to Λ_{c}^{+} production from Σ_{c}^{0,+,++} is also reported and is found to be larger than in e^{+}e^{-} collisions. The data are compared with predictions from event generators and other phenomenological models, providing a sensitive test of the different charm-hadronization mechanisms implemented in the models.

Post COVID-19 Pedal Oedema: An Unusual Residual Feature

Severe Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a multi-systemic disease which presents with respiratory, gastrointestinal or musculoskeletal symptoms. Patients also display myriad post-COVID19 symptoms which range from myalgia to depression. We present case series of unusual and unreported post-COVID19 feature in nine cases who had recovered completely but developed pedal oedema which could not be attributed to any other organic cause. These COVID-19 cases were examined in out-patient department for various post-COVID-19 symptoms at tertiary care centers in North India and Bangladesh from July 2020 to February 2021. Ethical clearance was taken and consent obtained from each patient included in this case series.

Measurement of the Cross Sections of Ξ_{c}^{0} and Ξ_{c}^{+} Baryons and of the Branching-Fraction Ratio BR(Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}e^{+}ν_{e})/BR(Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}π^{+}) in pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

The p_{T}-differential cross sections of prompt charm-strange baryons Ξ_{c}^{0} and Ξ_{c}^{+} were measured at midrapidity (|y|<0.5) in proton-proton (pp) collisions at a center-of-mass energy sqrt[s]=13  TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The Ξ_{c}^{0} baryon was reconstructed via both the semileptonic decay (Ξ^{-}e^{+}ν_{e}) and the hadronic decay (Ξ^{-}π^{+}) channels. The Ξ_{c}^{+} baryon was reconstructed via the hadronic decay (Ξ^{-}π^{+}π^{+}) channel. The branching-fraction ratio BR(Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}e^{+}ν_{e})/BR(Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}π^{+})=1.38±0.14(stat)±0.22(syst) was measured with a total uncertainty reduced by a factor of about 3 with respect to the current world average reported by the Particle Data Group. The transverse momentum (p_{T}) dependence of the Ξ_{c}^{0}- and Ξ_{c}^{+}-baryon production relative to the D^{0} meson and to the Σ_{c}^{0,+,++}- and Λ_{c}^{+}-baryon production are reported. The baryon-to-meson ratio increases toward low p_{T} up to a value of approximately 0.3. The measurements are compared with various models that take different hadronization mechanisms into consideration. The results provide stringent constraints to these theoretical calculations and additional evidence that different processes are involved in charm hadronization in electron-positron (e^{+}e^{-}) and hadronic collisions.

Λ_{c}^{+} Production and Baryon-to-Meson Ratios in pp and p-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV at the LHC

The prompt production of the charm baryon Λ_{c}^{+} and the Λ_{c}^{+}/D^{0} production ratios were measured at midrapidity with the ALICE detector in pp and p-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV. These new measurements show a clear decrease of the Λ_{c}^{+}/D^{0} ratio with increasing transverse momentum (p_{T}) in both collision systems in the range 2<p_{T}<12  GeV/c, exhibiting similarities with the light-flavor baryon-to-meson ratios p/π and Λ/K_{S}^{0}. At low p_{T}, predictions that include additional color-reconnection mechanisms beyond the leading-color approximation, assume the existence of additional higher-mass charm-baryon states, or include hadronization via coalescence can describe the data, while predictions driven by charm-quark fragmentation processes measured in e^{+}e^{-} and e^{-}p collisions significantly underestimate the data. The results presented in this Letter provide significant evidence that the established assumption of universality (colliding-system independence) of parton-to-hadron fragmentation is not sufficient to describe charm-baryon production in hadronic collisions at LHC energies.