Pd Samples Research Articles

KeyGAN: Synthetic keystroke data generation in the context of digital phenotyping

Objective:This paper aims to introduce and assess KeyGAN, a generative modeling-based keystroke data synthesizer. The synthesizer is designed to generate realistic synthetic keystroke data capturing the nuances of fine motor control and cognitive processes that govern finger-keyboard kinematics, thereby paving the way to support biomarker development for psychomotor impairment due to neurodegeneration. Methods:KeyGAN is designed with two primary objectives: (i) to ensure high realism in the synthetic distributions of the keystroke features and (ii) to analyze its ability to replicate the subtleties of natural typing for enhancing biomarker development. The quality of synthetic keystroke data produced by KeyGAN is evaluated against two keystroke-based applications, TypeNet and nQiMechPD, employed as’referee’ controls. The performance of KeyGAN is compared with a reference random Gaussian generator, testing its ability to fool the biometric authentication method TypeNet, and its ability to characterize fine motor impairment in Parkinson’s Disease using nQiMechPD. Results:KeyGAN outperformed the reference comparator in fooling the biometric authentication method TypeNet. It also exhibited a superior approximation to real data than the reference comparator when using nQiMechPD, showcasing its adaptability and versatility in mimicking early signs of Parkinson’s Disease in natural typing. KeyGAN’s synthetic data demonstrated that almost 20% of real PD samples could be replaced in the training set without a decline in classification performance on the real test set. Low Fréchet Distance (<0.03) and Kullback–Leibler Divergence (<700) between KeyGAN outputs and real data distributions underline the high performance of KeyGAN. Conclusion:KeyGAN presents strong potential as a realistic keystroke data synthesizer, displaying impressive capability to reproduce complex typing patterns relevant to biomarkers for neurological disorders, like Parkinson’s Disease. The ability of its synthetic data to effectively supplement real data for training algorithms without affecting performance implies significant promise for advancing research in digital biomarkers for neurodegenerative and psychomotor disorders.

Nutation Spectroscopy of a Weakly Interacting Heterobimetallic Spin System.

The use of VIV and CuII spins to design weakly coupled and dissymmetric spin systems has been examined. Such systems were synthesized using porphyrin-based complexes, with external coordination sites allowing for the formation of dimers via a PdII linker ion. Continuous-wave (CW) Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy allowed the unequivocal magnetic characterization of the mononuclear precursors VO and Cu. The porphyrin dimer (VO)PdCu presented a broad and overlapped spectrum that was more pronounced than for the previously reported (VO)Pd(VO), hinting at the effect of weak interspin interactions between dissimilar spins. Pulsed EPR experiments on VO, (VO)Pd(VO) and (VO)PdCu samples diluted in a diamagnetic matrix confirmed that this complication is also present in the Field-Swept Echo-Detected (FSED) spectra of the heterometallic (VO)PdCu system. Despite the strongly overlapped field-swept spectra, spin nutation experiments revealed two distinct oscillations in the case of (VO)PdCu, which are assigned to transitions with different spin characters. Remarkably, coherence is retained above liquid nitrogen temperatures for all complexes, in particular up to 295 K for VO and (VO)Pd(VO) and 150 K for (VO)PdCu.

A very simple synthesis of defect-rich PdAg nanosponges for highly selective hydrogenation of furfural

Furfuryl alcohol (FA) is an important chemical and has extensive applications in varied fields. To realize the highly selective hydrogenation of furfural (FF) to produce FA, the key is the preparation of the catalysts with excellent performance. Herein, a very simple wet chemical method is developed for the one-step preparation of PdAg nanosponges (NSs). Specifically, with Pd(OAc)2 and AgNO3 as precursors, and ethylene glycol (EG) as both solvent and reducing agent, PdAg NSs can be grown and assembled at mild temperature of 40 °C. Throughout the reaction, no any surfactants and additional reducing agents are applied. The as-prepared PdAg NSs possess 3D self-supported alloy structures, “clean” surface, abundant pores, high specific surface area and rich defects. In the FF hydrogenation reaction at 60 °C under 1.5 MPa H2 pressure in the mixed solvent of ethanol and water (1 : 4 in volume ratio), the self-supported PdAg-1 NSs (1 : 1 in Pd/Ag molar ratio) exhibit superior catalytic performance than other PdAg NSs, pure Pd sample and commercial Pd/C (10%). With PdAg-1 NSs as catalyst in the absence of support, 100% FF can be converted and the selectivity toward FA is as high as 97.1% at 36.0 h of reaction. After 4 cycles, PdAg-1 NSs still maintain the high catalytic activity in FF hydrogenation and high selectivity toward FA, which may originate from the 3D self-supported structures, high specific surface area, “clean” surface, rich defects and electronic synergistic effect between Pd and Ag. This simple fabrication of PdAg NSs introduces new ideas for the synthesis of other nanostructured bi- and multi-metallic catalysts for highly selective FF hydrogenation to FA and other advanced applications.

Impact of Harmonic Voltage on the Partial Discharge Properties of Eco-Friendly Nanofluid

The Insulation is crucial in transformers to maintain electrical isolation between components and windings, ensuring safe and efficient operation. Mineral oil acts as both insulation and coolant in transformers. It is a substance that does not naturally degrade and can persist in the environment for an extended period if accidentally released. Therefore, Sunflower oil is used as a substitute for mineral oil. However, harmonic distortion is a common issue in power systems, leading to increased dielectric loss and partial discharge activity, ultimately causing insulation failure and equipment damage. Hence, it is vital to analyze the partial discharge performance of pure Sunflower oil under varying harmonic AC voltages to ensure the reliable operation of electrical devices. The study examines the partial discharge characteristics of a sunflower oil-based nanofluid under harmonic AC voltages, which is a blend of pure sunflower oil and SiO2 nanoparticles. Two nanofluid mixtures were created, one with a 0.01% mass ratio and the other with 0.05% sunflower oil. Various PD characteristics were evaluated, including Partial Discharge significance, starting voltage, duration of increase, maximum amplitude, Phase-Resolved PD sample, and frequency and time graphs of the Partial Discharge signal. All tests were carried out under IEC regulations. A comparison was made between the outcomes of Nano blended sunflower oil and natural sunflower edible oil. Experiments were conducted on partial discharges in Sunflower oil using specific harmonic superimposed AC Voltages, utilizing the third and fifth harmonics. The findings reveal that: a) PDIV value decreases with increasing harmonic order when using AC voltage with superimposed harmonics, b) PD characteristics are closely related to the voltage waveform, and the addition of Silica to sunflower oil results in reduced PD amplitude, pulse duration, and time duration compared to pure sunflower oil.

Investigating miR-6880-5p in extracellular vesicle from plasma as a prognostic biomarker in endocrine therapy-treated castration-resistant prostate cancer

BackgroundAdvancements in the diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) have progressed considerably, but a new biomarker that combines existing clinical and pathological data could be useful for a more precise diagnosis and prognosis. Some investigations have found that extracellular vesicle (EV)-derived miRNAs play crucial roles in various types of malignant tumors. The objective of this study was to explore EV miRNA and identify its biologic function as a biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of CRPC.MethodsPlasma samples were collected from five healthy donors (Control, CT) and 17 CRPC patients, categorizing into two groups based on their endocrine treatment response: partial response (PR; n = 10) and progressive disease (PD; n = 7). Candidate extracellular vesicle (EV) miRNAs were identified using miRNA microarray and RT-qPCR. The biological functions of the selected miRNAs were evaluated using the MTT assay, wound healing assay, trans-well assay, and RNA sequencing in CRPC cells after transient miRNA expression.ResultsMicroarray analysis revealed a significant downregulation of EV-miR-6880-5p in the PD samples compared to both CT and PR samples (p < 0.01). The expression of EV-miR-6880-5p in CRPC patients was decreased compared with that CT group (p = 0.0336) using RT-qPCR. In the PR group, EV-miR-6880-5p was increased at follow-up compared with the baseline (p = 0.2803), while in the PD group, it decreased at follow-up compared with the baseline samples (p = 0.4356). Furthermore, overexpression of miR-6880-5p hampered cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, downregulated pathways associated with tumor progression, and simultaneously upregulated pathways associated with cell growth and apoptosis in CRPC cells.ConclusionsEV-miR-6880-5p shows promise as a prognostic biomarker in patients with CRPC. Further, prospective validations are necessary to evaluate the potential of these candidate miRNAs.

Results and exploratory biomarker analyses of a phase II study CHANGEABLE: Combination of HX008 and niraparib in germ-line-mutated metastatic breast cancer.

1084 Background: The combination of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors and immune-checkpoint inhibitors demonstrated synergistic antitumor activity in preclinical studies. Here we report the efficacy, safety, and biomarker analyses of the combination of niraparib and PD-1 inhibitor HX008 in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients with germline DDR gene mutations in a phase II trial (CHANGEABLE). Methods: Eligible patients had histologically confirmed MBC with at least one measurable disease and germline pathogenic/suspected pathogenic mutations in DDR genes. Patients were enrolled into two cohorts: the main cohort (HER2-negative MBC patients with gBRCA1/2, gPALB2, gCHEK2) and the exploration cohort (MBC patients with gDDR gene mutations and brain metastases). Simon's Two-Stage design was used for recruiting patients in the main cohort. Patients with HER2-negative MBC received niraparib 200 mg qd combined with HX008 200 mg q3w, while HER2-positive patients received additional anti-HER2 TKI pyrotinib 400mg qd if having brain metastases, until disease progression. The primary endpoint was ORR. NGS of tissue and ctDNA were performed for exploratory biomarker analyses. Results: As of January 12, 2024, 37 patients were enrolled. In the main cohort with gBRCA1/2 mutations (n = 28), ORR was 78.6% (22/28), with 3 patients having complete response. DCR was 96.4% (27/28). Median PFS was 7.3 months (95%CI 4.2 to 10.4). According to Simon's Two-Stage design, since two patients with gCHEK2 mutations in the first stage had only stable disease, the recruitment was terminated. One patient with gPALB2 mutation had stable disease and the remaining one is in the screening process. In the patients having brain metastases (exploration cohort), ORR was 40% (2/5) and DCR was 80% (4/5). The most common treatment-related adverse events of grade 3 or higher were anemia (13 [35.1%]), thrombocytopenia (4 [10.8%]), and neutropenia (3 [8.1%]). No treatment-related deaths were reported. In the biomarker analysis, NGS of 700 genes was performed on 24 patients with gBRCA1/2 mutations in the main cohort. No significant difference was found in ORR or PFS between gBRCA1 and gBRCA2 mutations. Somatic mutations in XPO1 (16 patients (73%), 15/18 PR+CR, 1/4 SD+PD) showed significant correlation with response. Somatic TP53 mutations are significantly correlated with shorter PFS, while ASXL1 mutations are significantly correlated with longer PFS. Four somatic mutations (AR_c.1418_1420del, AR_c.231_239dup, 2 DUSP22 mutations) showed a consistent trend of decreasing in PD samples, while NF1_c.3198-4dup showed a consistent trend of increasing in PD samples. Conclusions: The combination of niraparib and HX008 demonstrated promising clinical benefits with a tolerable safety profile in MBC patients with germline BRCA1/2 mutations, even in patients with brain metastases. Clinical trial information: NCT04508803 .

Immune infiltrate characterization and differential gene expression by RNA-sequencing analysis in patients with oncogene-addicted NSCLC with early progression under targeted therapy.

8535 Background: Despite remarkable advances with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), patients (pts) with oncogene addicted advanced non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) eventually face resistance. Moreover, some pts exhibit early TKI resistance, often linked to a reduced response subsequent TKIs. These pts might have unique biology, and identifying post-resistance treatments for them is an unmet need. Here, we explore the transcriptomic profile of pts with aNSCLC and early TKI progression, as compared to long responders. Methods: We included pts with aNSCLC harboring EGFR mutations or oncogenic fusions ( ALK, ROS1, RET, NTRK), treated with TKI at Gustave Roussy and enrolled in the prospective MATCH R trial (NCT02517892). Clinical data on treatment outcomes and survival were collected. Pts with PFS &lt; 6 months were considered as having early progression (EP), pts with PFS &gt; 18 months as long responders (LR). At least one tissue biopsy was performed at PD, on which bulk RNA sequencing was carried out. We explored the transcriptomic differences between pts with EP and LR. Differential gene expression (DESeq2), pathway enrichment studies and identification with MSigDb were performed and compared between groups. Immune cell type contents were evaluated by CIBERSORT deconvolution method. Results: From 2015 to 2022, 37 pts were included. 68% were females, median age was 55 (IQR43-83). 18 carried EGFR mutations (EP N=5, 28%; LR N=13, 72%), 19 had fusions (EP N=10, 52%; LR N=9, 48%). All pts had progressed to targeted TKI (7 first generation EGFR-TKI, 11 osimertinib, 8 crizotinib, 7 second generation ALK-TKI, 2 lorlatinib, 2 pralsetinib, 1 repotrectinib). Immune suppressive macrophages were the most represented immune cells in EGFR+ and fusion+ PD samples (33.5% and 33.2% of immune cells). The composition of the immune infiltrate was not significantly different between EP and LR in EGFR+ and fusion+ pts. DESeq2 showed that EGFR+ EP had significantly lower EPCAM(log2FC: 1.60, padj=0.01), higher SOS1 (log2FC: -1.18, padj=0.01), higher JAK2(log2FC: -1.56, padj=0.02) expression, as compared to EGFR+ LR. In the fusion+ group, EP had higher FGFR3/4 (log2FC: -3.5, padj=0.02) and lower MTAP expression (log2FC: 1.75, padj=0.03). Hallmark analysis in the EGFR+ showed higher activation of TNFα, IFNγ response, and KRAS pathways in EP (NES: -1.72, p=0.03; NES=-1.78,p=0.02; NES:-2.07, p=0.01) versus LR. No differential activation was observed in the fusion+ group. Conclusions: Immune suppressive macrophages are the most represented immune cells at PD to TKI, irrespective of the treatment duration. Pts with EP seem to have a different biology, with transcriptomic features of stemness and immune suppression in the EGFR+ pts, and lower MTAP expression in the fusion+ group. This should be further explored for the development of novel therapeutics.

Abstract 3700: Genomic alterations on first-line panitumumab plus FOLFIRI in metastatic colorectal cancer

Abstract Background: IMPROVE is a randomized, non-comparative multicenter, phase 2 study evaluating continuous or intermittent FOLFIRI/PANI, in first-line in patients (pts) with unresectable RAS/BRAF wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). In this trial intermittent FOLFIRI/PANI strategy produced a longer progression-free survival (PFS) on treatment, 17.6 months (mts) vs 11.3 mts, a reduced skin severe toxicity, 18% vs 30%, without any detrimental effect on overall survival (OS), 36.2 mts vs 36.2 mts. The trial also included a prospective genomic alterations (GAs) analysis on circulating tumor DNA with the aim to explore emergence of GAs under the selective pressure of FOLFIRI/PANI. Methods: We analyzed paired plasma samples (basal and PD) by a commercially available NGS panel enabled to simultaneously analyze KRAS, NRAS, BRAF and PIK3CA hotspot mutations from blood samples. Among them, inspecting default calling parameters on proprietary analysis software (Ion Reporter software 5.2.0), only variants with ⩾5X allele coverage and a quality score ⩾20, within an amplicon that covered at least 1000X alleles was considered. As clonality, the threshold of 0.5% of variant allele frequency (VAF) was established to classify mutations as clonal (VAF⩾0.5%) or subclonal (VAF&amp;lt;0.5%). Results: Of the 137 pts enrolled in the trial, GAs basal analyses were available for 84 pts. Among these, in 55 (65.5%) no GAs were detected (ND). In the remaining cases, the analysis relieved the presence of mutations for PIK3CA (N=14), KRAS (N=12), NRAS (N=2) and BRAF (N=1). According to the clonality threshold, these GAs were classified as subclonal (SC) in 12 cases (14.3%) and clonal (CL) in 17 (20.2%) cases. Survival analysis according to basal GAs clonality showed a median PFS of 16.6 mts (95% IC 13.0-20.2), 12 mts (95% IC 9.1-14.9) and 25.8 mts (95% IC 17.2-34.5) for ND, CL and SC group, respectively. Median OS was 47.7 mts for ND group (95% IC 34.9-60.5), 26.8 mts for CL (95% IC 25.8-27.8) and not reached for SC group. Moreover, we performed GAs analysis on 61 cases of which basal and PD samples were available. Forty-two cases (68.9%) resulted ND, 7 (11.5%) with SC and 12 (19.7%) with CL GAs.At PD, among 42 ND basal cases, 29 remained ND (69%), 8 (19%) and 5 cases (11.9%) developed SC and CL GAs, respectively. In the SC group, 1 kept SC (14.3%), 4 (57.1%) and 2 (28.6%) cases became ND and CL GAs, respectively. In the CL group, 10 (83.3%) kept CL GAs, 1 (8.3%) case became ND and 1 (8.3%) CL. Conclusions: These findings suggest that classical GAs associated with anti-EGFR resistance are infrequent with up-front use of anti-EGFR/chemotherapy. Moreover, our data show that basal SC GAs rarely evolve to CL GAs at progression disease and do not affect survival of pts with anti-EGFR/chemotherapy treatment. An update will be provided at the congress. NCT04425239 Citation Format: Antonio Avallone, Francesco Giuliani, Guglielmo Nasti, Vincenzo Montesarchio, Giuseppe Santabarbara, Silvana Leo, Umberto Malapelle, Gerardo Rosati, Claudio Lotesoriere, Emiliano Tamburini, Alfredo Colombo, Francesco Pepe, Claudia Cardone, Alessandra Leone, Carlo Vitagliano, Gianluca Russo, Giancarlo Troncone, Diana Giannarelli, Alfonso De Stefano, Alfredo Budillon. Genomic alterations on first-line panitumumab plus FOLFIRI in metastatic colorectal cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3700.

Low detection based on Pd Pt /In2O3 nanospheres for rapid hydrogen detection

Semiconductor gas sensors still have limitations in realizing rapid hydrogen measurement in lower hydrogen concentration environments. Therefore, in this paper, In2O3 cloud-like spherical hydrogen detection sensing materials with different Pd and Pt ratio loading were successfully prepared using the water bath method. The In2O3 sensing materials modified with noble metals Pd and Pt were designed for the rapid detection of hydrogen at 400 ppb with good selectivity under mixed gas components. The crystalline phase, morphology, and chemical composition of the prepared Pd and Pt-loaded In2O3 samples were analyzed using characterization techniques. The gas-sensing results showed that the In2O3 gas-sensing sensor with a Pd and Pt ratio loading of 1–2 had stronger H2 sensing performance at the optimum operating temperature (350°C). The response time and recovery time of In2O3 loaded with the opinion ratio at 350℃ and 400 ppb were 1 s and 15 s. The low detection limit was 400 ppb, with good repeatability and long-term stability. Finally, the enhanced gas sensitization mechanism of the In2O3 gas sensor loaded with Pd and Pt for H2 was discussed.

Wetting of L10 twin and antiphase boundaries by nanometer-scale L12 in Fe-Pd alloys

This paper reports microstructure associated with the L10 and L12 two-phase coexistence region in magnetic Fe-Pd alloys and analyzes the observed complex nanometer scale wetting layer structures. Fe - 61.8 at% Pd samples were continuously cooled from the disordered A1 phase through the eutectoid isotherm and aged at 650 °C for various times. X-ray diffraction reveals that the samples first order to L12 then transform to L10-dominant L10 + L12 two-phase mixture. It is shown that L10 forms {110} polytwin microstructure with straight {11¯0} antiphase boundaries (APBs), where L12 exists as nanometer-scale wetting layers along the twin boundaries and APBs. The variant selection for L12/L10 wetting layers is discussed, and evidence of closed/open APB structures is shown with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy.

Challenges in quantifying Pt concentrations in Pd alloys by using secondary ion mass spectrometry: Strong grain orientation effects

Palladium–platinum alloys were analysed by dynamic secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) to investigate grain orientation effects that gave differences of up to 400% in the Pt/Pd count rate ratios, even within the same grain upon small rotations of a Pd sample with 1 wt% Pt. The sample had been homogenized by annealing, and the homogeneity was confirmed by X‐ray analysis in scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Grain orientations were determined by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Crater depths were measured by white light interferometry (WLI). SEM images from the bottom of SIMS craters made in the same grain after small rotations around the sample surface normally showed different patterns of microfaceting for some rotation angles, probably exposing low‐index crystallographic planes. A complete understanding of the observed grain orientation effect is still lacking. However, factors such as ion mass, sputter rate, ion channelling, ion focusing, preferential sputtering, surface height, crater microfaceting and/or angle‐dependent sputtering seem to play a role. For these Pd–Pt alloys, the strong grain orientation effect adds another level of complexity when attempting to quantify concentrations and obtain depth profiles by SIMS. Without proper sampling and/or averaging, one could reach very wrong conclusions when comparing results from different samples.

(060) Epigenetic and Gene Expression Profiles in Non-Plaque Tissues from Men with Peyronie’s Disease

Abstract Introduction Peyronie’s Disease (PD) can significantly impact sexual function. A hereditary predisposition to PD suggests that genetic variants may exist, and gene expression may modulate the penetrance of the disease. Identification of changes in epigenetic and gene expression profiles will facilitate a deeper understanding of the disease and provide insight for more targeted therapies. Objective Our objective is to determine if PD is correlated with epigenetic variations and/or gene expression changes, as indicated by DNA methylation assessment and RNA sequencing. Methods Penile tunica albuginea samples (not from fibrotic plaques) were obtained from men with PD undergoing penile prosthesis placement. Control samples were collected from men with erectile dysfunction (ED) without PD undergoing penile prosthesis placement. DNA methylation analyses were performed on homogenized penile tissue samples via an Illumina Human MethylationEPIC BeadChip v2 array. Using the minfi package in R, beta values were produced for all 936,990 CpG sites for each sample and SWAN normalization was applied. Differentially methylated regions (DMR) were found via USEQ with a threshold Wilcoxon FDR score of 40. Gene expression levels were examined in PD and ED samples via RNA-sequencing. Gene expression data was compared against epigenetic data to determine if any epigenetics changes identified affected gene expression profiles. Results A total of 24 tissue samples were collected: 12 ED and 12 PD. USEQ yielded 36 total DMRs with an FDR score of 40 or greater (p-value&amp;lt;0.0001). Of these 36 DMRs, a Stanford GREAT analysis revealed 60 total gene-region associations and five implicated biological processes: anterior/posterior pattern specification, chordate embryonic development, embryo development (ending in birth or egg hatching), somitogenesis, and pattern specification process. Furthermore, differential gene expression analysis identified 76 genes with significant expression changes between PD and ED groups, of which 17 genes were upregulated while 59 were downregulated. Long noncoding RNAs and the keratocan gene showed notable expression differences between PD and ED groups. GO enrichment analysis revealed significant terms related to DNA binding and protein binding. None of the differentially regulated genes overlapped with identified DMRs. Conclusions This study identified distinct gene expression and DNA methylation patterns between PD and ED groups, despite PD samples not being taken from plaque regions, suggesting that more systemic changes may be present. Upregulated genes in PD included long noncoding RNAs and the keratocan gene, suggesting their involvement in disease pathogenesis. Long noncoding RNA overexpression may serve a regulatory function in gene expression or cell processes while overexpression of the keratocan gene may promote collagen accumulation and remodeling, leading to fibrous plaque formation. Likewise, DMRs and their region-gene associations suggest a role in early embryonic development for pathogenesis. Although RNA-seq did not indicate any significant differentially expressed genes that matched with gene-region associations correlated with DMRs, the significance and quantity of DMRs between ED and PD sample groups is indicative of affected biological processes that manifest in distinct pathophysiologies. Further research is needed to investigate if differentially regulated genes exist in DMRs that exhibited changes but did not meet the criteria threshold for inclusion here. Disclosure Any of the authors act as a consultant, employee or shareholder of an industry for: Contraline, Techfields Inc, Alto Neurosciences, Curebase.

(059) Epigenetic Profiles of Men with Peyronie’s Disease

Abstract Introduction Peyronie’s Disease (PD) can significantly impact sexual function. A hereditary predisposition to PD suggests that genetic variants may exist, and gene expression may modulate the penetrance of the disease. Identification of changes in epigenetic or gene expression profiles would facilitate a deeper understanding of the disease and provide insight for more targeted therapies. Objective Our objective is to determine if predisposition to PD is correlated with epigenetic variations and/or gene expression changes, as indicated by DNA methylation assessment and RNA sequencing. Methods Penile tunica albuginea samples were obtained from men with PD undergoing penile prosthesis placement. Penile sample from these men were not from fibrotic plaques. Control samples were collected from men with erectile dysfunction (ED) without PD undergoing penile prosthesis placement. DNA methylation analyses were performed on homogenized penile tissue samples via an Illumina Human MethylationEPIC BeadChip v2 array. Using the minfi package in R, beta values were produced for all 936,990 CpG sites for each sample and SWAN normalization was applied. Differentially methylated regions (DMR) were found via USEQ with a threshold Wilcoxon FDR score of 40. Gene expression levels were examined in PD and ED samples via RNA-sequencing. Gene expression data was compared against epigenetic data to determine if any epigenetics changes identified affected gene expression profiles. Results A total of 24 tissue samples were collected: 12 ED and 12 PD. USEQ yielded 36 total DMRs with a FDR score of 40 or greater (p-value&amp;lt;0.0001). Of these 36 DMRs, a Stanford GREAT analysis revealed 60 total gene-region associations and five implicated biological processes: anterior/posterior pattern specification, chordate embryonic development, embryo development (ending in birth or egg hatching), somitogenesis, and pattern specification process. Furthermore, differential gene expression analysis identified 76 genes with significant expression changes between PD and ED groups, of which 17 genes were upregulated while 59 were downregulated. Long noncoding RNAs and the keratocan gene showed notable expression differences between PD and ED groups. GO enrichment analysis revealed significant terms related to DNA binding and protein binding. None of the differentially regulated genes overlapped with identified DMRs. Conclusions This study identified distinct gene expression and DNA methylation patterns between PD and ED groups, despite PD samples not being taken from plaque regions. Upregulated genes in PD included long noncoding RNAs and the keratocan gene, suggesting their involvement in disease pathogenesis. Long noncoding RNA overexpression may serve a regulatory function in gene expression or cell processes while overexpression of the keratocan gene may promote collagen accumulation and remodeling, leading to fibrous plaque formation in the affected area. Likewise, DMRs and their region-gene associations suggest a role in early embryonic development for pathogenesis. Although RNA-seq did not indicate any significant differentially expressed genes that matched with gene-region associations correlated with DMRs, the significance and quantity of DMRs between ED and PD sample groups is indicative of affected biological processes that manifest in distinct pathophysiologies. Further research is needed to investigate if differentially regulated genes exist in DMRs that exhibited changes but did not meet the criteria threshold for inclusion here. Disclosure Any of the authors act as a consultant, employee or shareholder of an industry for: Paterna bio, Firmtech, Turtle health, Maximus, Carrot, Contraline, endo pharmaceuticals, inherent biosciences, techfields inc, macro trials, alto neurosciences, curebase, vivify medical.

Synergistic effect of Pd single atoms and clusters on the de/re-hydrogenation performance of MgH2

Hydrogen storage plays a pivotal role in the hydrogen industry, yet its current status presents a bottleneck. Diverse strategies have emerged in recent years to address this challenge. MgH2 has stood out as a promising solid-state hydrogen storage material due to its impressive gravimetric and volumetric hydrogen density, but its practical application is hampered by elevated thermal stability and sluggish kinetics. In this study, we introduce a solution by synthesizing Pd metallene through a one-pot solvothermal method, revealing a distinctive highly curved lamellar structure with a thickness of around 1.6 nm. Incorporating this Pd metallene into MgH2 results in a composite system wherein the starting dehydrogenation temperature is significantly lowered to 439 K and complete dehydrogenation occurs at 583 K, releasing 6.14 wt.% hydrogen. The activation energy of dehydrogenation for MgH2 was reduced from 170.4 kJ mol–1 to 79.85 kJ mol–1 after Pd metallene decoration. The enthalpy of dehydrogenation of the MgH2–10 wt.% Pd sample was calculated to be 73 kJ mol–1 H2–1 and decreased by 4.4 kJ mol–1 H2–1 from that of dehydrogenation of pure MgH2 (77.4 kJ mol–1 H2–1). Theoretical calculations show that the average formation energy and average adsorption energy of hydrogen vacancies can be significantly reduced in the presence of both Pd clusters and Pd single atoms on the surface of MgH2/Mg, respectively. It suggests that the synergistic effect of in situ formed Pd single atoms and clusters significantly improves the hydrogenation and dehydrogenation kinetics. The identified active sites in this study hold potential as references for forthcoming multi-sized active site catalysts, underscoring a significant advancement toward resolving hydrogen storage limitations.

Pd-Bi-Based Catalysts for Selective Oxidation of Glucose into Gluconic Acid: The Role of Local Environment of Nanoparticles in Dependence of Their Composition

Palladium–bismuth nanomaterials are used in various chemical applications such detectors, electrodes, and catalysts. Pd-Bi catalysts are attracting widespread interest because these catalysts enable the production of valuable products quickly and efficiently, and are environmentally friendly. However, the composition of the catalyst can have a significant impact on its catalytic performance. In this work, we identified a correlation between the composition of the catalyst and its efficiency in converting glucose into sodium gluconate. It was found that the conversion decreases with increasing bismuth content. The most active catalyst was the 0.35Bi:Pd sample with a lower bismuth content (glucose conversion of 57%). TEM, SEM, EXAFS, and XANES methods were used to describe, in detail, the surface properties of the xBi:Pd/Al2O3 catalyst samples. The increase in particle size with increasing bismuth content, observed in the TEM micrographs, was associated with the low melting point of bismuth (271 °C). The SEM method showed that palladium and bismuth particles were uniformly distributed over the surface of the support in close proximity to each other, which allowed us to conclude that an alloy of non-stoichiometric composition was formed. The EXAFS and XANES methods established that bismuth was located on the surface of the nanoparticle predominantly in an oxidized state.

Contribution of the alternative model for DSM-5 personality disorders to relationship satisfaction.

Personality is a central factor associated with relationship discord, conflicts, and separation, as well as with dyadic adjustment and relationship stability. The Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD) of the DSM-5 offers a hybrid model for understanding personality based on personality dysfunction (Criterion A) and pathological domains and facets (Criterion B). So far, few studies have integrated this model into the understanding of relationship quality. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the contribution of Criterion B to relationship satisfaction in individuals involved in an intimate relationship. We also explored the joint contribution of Criteria A and B, as well as their interaction effects, to relationship satisfaction. Participants were drawn from two clinical samples: patients with personality disorders (PD; N = 101) and clients consulting in private practice clinics (PPC; N = 350). They completed self-report questionnaires assessing relationship satisfaction and AMPD Criteria A (only for PPC sample) and B. Hierarchical regressions showed that, for the PD sample, the Detachment and Negative Affectivity domains, especially the pathological facets of Intimacy Avoidance and Separation Insecurity, explained 22.5% of relationship satisfaction's variance. For PPC clients, Detachment, Negative Affectivity, and Antagonism domains, and especially the pathological facets of Intimacy Avoidance, Anxiousness, and Grandiosity, contribute significantly to relationship satisfaction, explaining 14.8% of its variance. Criterion A elements did not evince incremental value to the regression models in the PPC sample, and no Criteria A and B interaction effects were found. Clinical implications as well as limitations of the study are discussed.

Advanced Preliminary Screening for PD Detection for Overhead Distribution Lines with Covered Conductors

This study proposes a novel approach to optimize partial discharge detection in overhead lines with covered conductors. The approach uses 2D Convolutional Neural Networks and HW neural network accelerator Edge TPU. The critical advancement of this research lies in exploring two distinct 2D classification methods - 2D histograms and spectrogram - and adjusting neural network thresholds to selectively identify potential positive PD samples with enhanced accuracy. The proposed approach addresses the prevalent challenge of costly and limited remote data transmission in PD detection. It significantly reduces the need for extensive data transfer by focusing on potentially positive samples. This evaluation of two approaches for detection of partial discharges, coupled with the strategic threshold adjustment, presents a novel solution in the realm of PD detection, offering increased efficiency and cost-effectiveness. By evaluating and comparing these strategies of 2D classification and threshold optimization, this research contributes to the field of partial discharges detection. It proposes a method that not only minimizes operational costs but also aligns with environmental sustainability goals, paving the way for more advanced maintenance practices in power transmission systems.

Pore-Scale Investigation of Decomposition-Methods-Dependent Fluid Flow Properties in Hydrate-Bearing Sediments

Summary Depressurization (PD) and thermal stimulation (TS) are the primary methods for producing gas from natural gas hydrate (NGH) sediments. Fluid flow properties of the hydrate sediment, such as permeability, are fundamental parameters for simulating both processes. Most of the existing formulated permeability models are based on the numerical or experimental investigation of hydrate morphology evolution without considering the decomposition methods. In this study, we investigate the hydrate-decomposition-methods (PD and TS processes)-dependent fluid flow properties of hydrate sediments, which is achieved by microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) scanning of hydrate morphology evolution during PD- and TS-induced decomposition, as well as pore-scale modeling of fluid flow in the extracted 3D fluid-rock-hydrate images. We find that the decomposition behavior during TS is much more complicated than that during PD. The retardation zone in the PD sample increases the heterogeneity of the pore structure, while the secondary hydrates generated during TS cause even more heterogeneity in the pore space. The better facilitation of the TS method on hydrate split is favorable for the continuity of the gas phase. The pore-scale fluid flow simulation shows that the modified Kozeny-Carman (K-C) model is the best to describe the evolution of the normalized permeability with hydrate saturation during PD. However, a single model is not sufficient to describe the normalized permeability during TS decomposition due to the stronger heterogeneous porous structure reformed by the local accumulation of secondary hydrates. The two-phase flow capability is best at the initial stage of PD decomposition, while the two-phase flow region becomes wider as TS decomposition progresses. These results provide significant references for the simulation of the natural hydrate extraction process using different decomposition methods.

Pd-M (M = Ni, Co) Bimetallic Catalysts with Tunable Composition for Highly Efficient Electrochemical Formic Acid Oxidation

Bimetallic Pd-based catalysts for formic acid oxidation (FAO) are one of the most promising anode materials for the next generation of direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFC). It is imperative to develop a simple strategy for preparing efficient, stable, and clean nanoparticle catalysts. Herein, we prepared a series of Pd, PdNi, and PdCo nanoparticle catalysts using the nanoparticle beam composite deposition system, which revealed good catalytic activity and stability in the process of FAO. The incorporation of Ni or Co prevents the adsorption of active intermediates and the accumulation of toxic intermediates in the process of FAO. Therefore, more Pd active centers can be used to decompose formic acid directly by dehydrogenation. The results indicate that PdNi-2 (Pd0.9Ni0.1) and PdCo-3 (Pd0.89Co0.11) catalysts exhibit the optimal catalytic performance, with the mass activity of 1491.5 A g−1Pd and 1401.7 A g−1Pd, respectively, which is 2.1 and 2 times that of the pure Pd sample. By optimizing the rate of Pd to transition metal M (Ni, Co), a high-performance Pd-based catalyst was obtained through their synergistic effect, which provides a new approach for designing efficient anode catalysts for DFAFCs.

HAXPES reference spectra of Pd with Cr Kα excitation

Monochromatic Cr Kα radiation (5414.8 eV) has been used to acquire XPS and Auger data on a sputtered Pd sample. Survey data, high-resolution scans of all observed photoelectron peaks, and high-resolution scans of Auger lines are presented herein.