bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
[(Me6TREN)MgOCHPh2][B(C6F5)4]: A Model Complex to Explore the Catalytic Activity of Magnesium Alkoxides in Ketone Hydroboration
Authors: Ankur  , Kannan Ramkumar , Chambenahalli Raju , Banerjee Sumanta , Yang Yan , Maron Laurent , Venugopal Ajay
Published: September 2021

The sterically hindered monomeric alkoxomagnesium compound [(Me6TREN)MgOCHPh2][B(C6F5)4] (1) has been used to explore the role of magnesium alkoxides in ketone hydroboration. Experiments and DFT calculations are suggestive of a concerted reaction pathway traversing through a six‐membered transition state involving Mg−OCHPh2, B−H, and C=O bonds. Prompted by this hypothesis, we investigated the activity of [Mg(OCHPh2)2] (3), which exhibits turn‐over frequency reaching up to 59,400 h−1 under solvent‐free conditions and stability towards C=C, −OH, −NH2 and −NO2. Due to the non‐existence of a metal hydride intermediate, such catalytic reactions will not get hindered in the presence of additional reactive functional groups.
A Dirichlet process model for change‐point detection with multivariate bioclimatic data
Authors: Mastrantonio Gianluca , Jona Lasinio Giovanna , Pollice Alessio , Teodonio Lorenzo , Capotorti Giulia
Published: September 2021

Motivated by real‐world data of monthly values of precipitation, minimum, and maximum temperature recorded at 360 monitoring stations covering the Italian territory for 60 years ( months), in this work we propose a change‐point model for multiple multivariate time series, inspired by the hierarchical Dirichlet process. We assume that each station has its change‐point structure and, as main novelties, we allow unknown subsets of the parameters in the data likelihood to stay unchanged before and after a change‐point, that stations possibly share values of the same parameters and that the unknown number of weather regimes is estimated as a random quantity. Owing to the richness of the formalization, our proposal enables us to identify clusters of spatial units for each parameter, evaluate which parameters are more likely to change simultaneously, and distinguish between abrupt changes and smooth ones. The proposed model provides useful benchmarks to focus monitoring programs regarding ecosystem responses. Results are shown for the whole data, and a detailed description is given for three monitoring stations. Evidence of local behaviors includes highlighting differences in the potential vulnerability to climate change of the Mediterranean ecosystems from the Temperate ones and locating change trends distinguishing between continental plains and mountain ranges.
Generalist carnivores can be effective biodiversity samplers of terrestrial vertebrates
Authors: Shao Xinning , Lu Qi , Liu Mingzhang , Xiong Mengyin , Bu Hongliang , Wang Dajun , Liu Shaoying , Zhao Jindong , Li Sheng , Yao Meng
Published: September 2021

Biodiversity conservation relies on effective practical methods for assessing species occurrences and distributions, particularly for elusive species. Generalist carnivores are widely distributed and relatively abundant predators with broad dietary ranges, and as such could potentially serve as “biodiversity samplers” of sympatric prey communities. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) diets to survey local vertebrate communities in several mountainous areas in China. Fecal DNA metabarcoding analysis revealed that leopard cat prey from five mountain ranges across China included 99 vertebrate taxa representing 12 taxonomic orders and red fox prey from two of those mountain ranges displayed a similar degree of diversity, which was highly correlated with local species records accrued by traditional survey methods. Our results show that diet metabarcoding analysis of generalist carnivores can be an effective, noninvasive, and economically viable tool for biodiversity monitoring to inform management decisions. In addition, we explored selection criteria and potential candidate species for carnivore sampler‐based biodiversity studies in other parts of the world.
Pilot trial of a media intervention with journalism students on news reporting of mental illness in the context of violence and crime
Authors: Ross Anna M. , Morgan Amy J. , Wake Alexandra , Jorm Anthony F. , Reavley Nicola J.
Published: September 2021

Issue addressed

News reports linking mental illness to violent crime are among the most stigmatising portrayals. These portrayals can perpetuate stereotypes of dangerousness, negatively influencing public attitudes and having a harmful impact on people with lived experience of mental illness. With the aim of improving the quality of news portrayals and mitigating harm, best‐practice guidelines for media reporting on mental illness, violence and crime have been developed. To increase understanding of the guidelines’ content, a 1‐hour workshop based on the main principles was developed for journalism students.

Methods

In this study, the workshop was piloted with a pre and 3‐week follow‐up evaluation with a cohort of journalism students (n = 29).

Results

Three weeks after the workshop, there were significant improvements in attitudes towards severe mental illness, knowledge of best‐practice reporting, intentions and confidence to report consistently with the best‐practice guidelines and performance on an editing task designed to assess adherence to the guidelines. Belief in dangerousness/unpredictability reduced markedly, demonstrating that the workshop effectively addressed misinformation about people with severe mental illness being a risk to the public.

Conclusions

This pilot trial provides promising initial results and provides a basis for wider implementation and evaluation of media training on this topic.

So what

Improved understanding of best‐practice media guidelines, as generated through this workshop, has potential to reduce stigmatising news reporting on people with mental illness, and consequently reduce public stigma.
Lean management for improving hospital waiting times—Case study of a Vietnamese public/general hospital emergency department
Authors: Le Duong X. , Do Hoa T. , Bui Khoa T. , Hoang Truong Q. , Nguyen Ghi H. , Nguyen Anh V. , Nguyen Quynh T. , Gorgui‐Naguib Hannah , Naguib Raouf N. G.
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Emergency departments (EDs) at public hospitals in Vietnam typically face problems with overcrowding, as well as being populated by a wide variety of illnesses, resulting in increasing dissatisfaction from patients. To alleviate these problems, we used the increasingly popular value‐stream mapping (VSM) and lean strategy approaches to (1) evaluate the current patient flow in EDs; (2) identify and eliminate the non‐valued‐added components; and (3) modify the existing process in order to improve waiting times.

Methods: Data from a total of 742 patients who presented at the ED of 108 Military Central Hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam, were collected. A VSM was developed where improvement possibilities were identified and attempts to eliminate non‐value‐added activities were made. A range of issues that were considered as a resource waste were highlighted, which led to a re‐design process focusing on prioritizing blood tests and ultrasound procedures. On the administrative side, various measures were considered, including streamlining communication with medical departments, using QR codes for healthcare insurance payments, and efficient management of X‐ray and CT scan online results.

Results: By implementing a lean approach, the following reductions in delay and waiting time were incurred: (1) pre‐operative test results (for patients requiring medical procedures/operations) by 33.3% (from 134.4 to 89.4 min); (2) vascular interventions by 10.4% (from 54.6 to 48.9 min); and (3) admission to other hospital departments by 49.5% (from 118.3 to 59.8 min). Additionally, prior to the implementation of the lean strategy approach, only 22.9% of patients or their proxies (family members or friends), who responded to the survey, expressed satisfaction with the ED services. This percentage increased to 76.5% following the curtailment of non‐value‐added activities. Through statistical inferential test analyses, it can be confidently concluded that applying lean strategy and tools can improve patient flow in public/general hospital EDs and achieve better staff coordination within the various clinical and administrative hospital departments. To the authors' knowledge, such analysis in a Vietnamese hospital's ED context has not been previously undertaken.
Air‐stable inorganic solid‐state electrolytes for high energy density lithium batteries: Challenges, strategies, and prospects
Authors: Chen Xuanfeng , Guan Zengqiang , Chu Fulu , Xue Zhichen , Wu Feixiang , Yu Yan
Published: September 2021

Solid‐state batteries have been considered as promising next‐generation energy storage devices for potentially higher energy density and better safety compared with commercial lithium‐ion batteries that are based on organic liquid electrolytes. However, in terms of indispensable solid‐state electrolytes, there are remaining issues to be solved before entering the market. Most solid‐state electrolytes are air‐sensitive, which causes a complex and expensive cell assembly and impressible interface. Therefore, the solid‐state electrolytes are expected to be atmosphere‐stable, which will undoubtedly bring significant benefits to solid‐state battery manufacturing. This review covers air‐stability‐related issues of different types of inorganic solid‐state electrolytes and the corresponding strategies. First, we provide an overview of solid‐state electrolytes and solid‐state batteries, including their history and advantages/disadvantages. Then, different types of solid‐state electrolytes are selected as examples to illustrate the unfavorable interactions in air and the corresponding adverse effects. Next, according to recent advances, we summarize the effective strategies of constructing different types of air‐stable inorganic solid‐state electrolytes. Finally, perspectives on designing accessible air‐stable solid‐state electrolytes are provided, aiming to achieve the assembly of high‐performance solid‐state batteries in the atmosphere.

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Prediction of an Imminent Fracture After an Index Fracture – Models Derived From the Frisbee Cohort
Authors: Iconaru Laura , Charles Alexia , Baleanu Felicia , Surquin Murielle , Benoit Florence , Mugisha Aude , Moreau Michel , Paesmans Mairanne , Karmali Rafix , Rubinstein Michel , Rozenberg Serge , Body Jean-Jacques , Bergmann Pierre
Published: September 2021

Patients who sustain a fracture are at greatest risk of recurrent fracture during the next 2 years. We propose three models to identify subjects most at risk of an imminent fracture, according to fracture site (any fracture, major osteoporotic fracture [MOF] or central). They were constructed using data of the prospective Frisbee cohort, which includes 3560 postmenopausal women aged 60 to 85 years who were followed for at least 5 years. A total of 881 subjects had a first incident validated fragility fracture before December 2018. Among these, we validated 130 imminent fractures occurring within the next 2 years; 79 were MOFs, and 88 were central fractures. Clinical risk factors were re-evaluated at the time of the index fracture. Fine and Gray proportional hazard models were derived separately for each group of fractures. The following risk factors were significantly associated with the risk of any imminent fracture: total hip bone mineral density (BMD) (p < 0.001), a fall history (p < 0.001), and comorbidities (p = 0.03). Age (p = 0.05 and p = 0.03, respectively) and a central fracture as the index fracture (p = 0.04 and p = 0.005, respectively) were additional predictors of MOFs and central fractures. The three prediction models are presented as nomograms. The calibration curves and the Brier scores based on bootstrap resampling showed calibration scores of 0.089 for MOF, 0.094 for central fractures, and 0.132 for any fractures. The predictive accuracy of the models expressed as area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve (AUC) were 0.74 for central fractures, 0.72 for MOFs, and 0.66 for all fractures, respectively. These AUCs compare well with those of FRAX and Garvan to predict the 5- or 10-year fracture probability. In summary, five predictors (BMD, age, comorbidities, falls, and central fracture as the incident fracture) allow the calculation with a reasonable accuracy of the imminent risk of fracture at different sites (MOF, central fracture, and any fracture) after a recent sentinel fracture. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Validation of the Surrogate Threshold Effect for Change in Bone Mineral Density as a Surrogate Endpoint for Fracture Outcomes: The FNIH-ASBMR SABRE Project
Authors: Eastell Richard , Vittinghoff Eric , Lui Li-Yung , McCulloch Charles E. , Pavo Imre , Chines Arkadi , Khosla Sundeep , Cauley Jane A. , Mitlak Bruce , Bauer Douglas C. , Bouxsein Mary , Black Dennis M.
Published: September 2021

The surrogate threshold effect (STE) is defined as the minimum treatment effect on a surrogate that is reliably predictive of a treatment effect on the clinical outcome. It provides a framework for implementing a clinical trial with a surrogate endpoint. The aim of this study was to update our previous analysis by validating the STE for change in total hip (TH) BMD as a surrogate for fracture risk reduction; the novelty of this study was this validation. To do so, we used individual patient data from 61,415 participants in 16 RCTs that evaluated bisphosphonates (nine trials), selective estrogen receptor modulators (four trials), denosumab (one trial), odanacatib (one trial), and teriparatide (one trial) to estimate trial-specific treatment effects on TH BMD and all, vertebral, hip, and nonvertebral fractures. We then conducted a random effects meta-regression of the log relative fracture risk reduction against 24-month change in TH BMD, and computed the STE as the intersection of the upper 95% prediction limit of this regression with the line of no fracture reduction. We validated the STE by checking whether the number of fractures in each trial provided 80% power and determining what proportion of trials with BMD changes ≥ STE reported significant reductions in fracture risk. We applied this analysis to (i) the trials on which we estimated the STE; and (ii) trials on which we did not estimate the STE. We found that the STEs for all, vertebral, hip, and nonvertebral fractures were 1.83%, 1.42%, 3.18%, and 2.13%, respectively. Among trials used to estimate STE, 27 of 28 were adequately powered, showed BMD effects exceeding the STE, and showed significant reductions in fracture risk. Among the validation set of 11 trials, 10 met these criteria. Thus STE differs by fracture type and has been validated in trials not used to develop the approach. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Alteration of Bone Density, Microarchitecture, and Strength in Patients with Camurati–Engelmann Disease: Assessed by HR-pQCT
Authors: Li Qian , Zhao Zhen , Wu Bo , Pang Qianqian , Cui Lijia , Zhang Li , Jiang Yan , Wang Ou , Li Mei , Xing Xiaoping , Hu Yingying , Yu Wei , Meng Xunwu , Jiajue Ruizhi , Xia Weibo
Published: September 2021

Camurati-Engelmann disease (CED) is a rare autosomal-dominant skeletal dysplasia caused by mutations in the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFB1) gene. In this study, a retrospective review of patients with CED evaluated at Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Beijing, China, between November 30, 2000 and November 30, 2020 was conducted. Data including demographic data, manifestations, and examination results were characterized. Furthermore, bone geometry, density, and microarchitecture were assessed and bone strength was estimated by HR-pQCT. Results showed the median age at onset was 2.5 years. Common manifestations included pain in the lower limbs (94%, 17/18), abnormal gait (89%, 16/18), genu valgum (89%, 16/18), reduced subcutaneous fat (78%, 14/18), delayed puberty (73%, 8/11), muscle weakness (67%, 12/18), hearing loss (39%, 7/18), hepatosplenomegaly (39%, 7/18), exophthalmos or impaired vision or visual field defect (33%, 6/18), and anemia (33%, 7/18). Twenty-five percent (4/16) of patients had short stature. Serum level of alkaline phosphatase was elevated in 41% (7/17) of patients whereas beta-C-terminal telopeptide was elevated in 91% of patients (10/11). Among 12 patients, the Z-scores of two patients were greater than 2.5 at the femur neck and the Z-scores of five patients were lower than −2.5 at the femur neck and/or lumbar spine. HR-pQCT results showed lower volumetric BMD (vBMD), altered bone microstructure and lower estimated bone strength at the distal radius and tibia in patients with CED compared with controls. In addition, total volume bone mineral density and cortical volumetric bone mineral density at the radius were negatively correlated with age in patients with CED, but positively correlated with age in controls. In conclusion, the largest case series of CED with characterized clinical features in a Chinese population was reported here. In addition, HR-pQCT was used to investigate bone microstructure at the distal radius and tibia in nine patients with CED, and the alteration of bone density, microstructure, and strength was shown for the first time. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Evaluation of intervention strategy of thalassemia for couples of childbearing ages in Centre of Southern China
Authors: Jiang Fan , Zuo Liandong , Li Jian , Chen Guilan , Tang Xuewei , Zhou Jianying , Qu Yanxia , Li Dongzhi , Liao Can
Published: September 2021

Background

To describe the free intervention strategy of thalassemia for childbearing couples in Guangzhou.

Methods

Routine hematology examinations were conducted for 137,222 couples. Among them, 37,501 couples who had mean corpuscular volume (MCV) <82 fL or mean corpuscular hemoglobin <27 pg were elected for Hb analysis and the deletions of four common α‐thalassemia mutation. Reverse dot blot for common nondeletional α‐thalassemia and β‐thalassemia was selectively used. Three thousand twenty‐two couples randomly selected were offered all those tests as a control group. Sanger sequencing, multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification and next‐generation sequencing were used for rare thalassemia. High‐risk couples were offered prenatal diagnosis at 10–13 weeks’ gestation based on informed consent.

Results

The carrier rates of α‐, β‐, and αβ‐thalassemia and δβ thalassemia/deletional HPFH were 7.7%, 3.02%, 0.5% and 0.059% respectively. Of them, 1.37% were identified as at‐risk couples and 345 couples terminated the pregnancy. No severe α‐ and β‐thalassemia births were observed. In the control group, two β‐ thalassemia carriers and one case with −α3.7/ααQS were misdiagnosed, but all at‐risk couples were found, and we could save 1,523,774 ¥ using our strategy. The cut‐off points of 73.46 fL and 23.25 pg would be useful to find −α+/αT thalassemia.

Conclusion

The intervention strategy was cost‐effective and offered reference in population thalassemia screening.
Defend, disrupt, and build: Guerrilla urbanist interventions and fighting gentrification in the barrio
Authors: Sarmiento Carolina S.
Published: September 2021

This study proposes guerrilla urbanist interventions (GUIs) as a domain to analyze some seemingly more conflictual and confrontational anti‐gentrification efforts in the barrio. The historic and theoretical foundation of guerrillas informs the spatial and political conceptualization of these more confrontational urban interventions. The research examines anti‐gentrification efforts in Boyle Heights and Santa Ana, California through this guerrilla urbanist intervention framework and analyses data collected through interviews and participant observation, and archival data comprised of public videos, writings, and manifestos. The analysis surfaces themes of “Defense,” “Disruption,” and “Building” to explain GUI's mode of establishing a new sociopolitical terrain in the neighborhood. GUIs use disruptions to delegitimize processes of community engagement in planning and development and create political spaces to voice complaints against displacement through criminalization, deportation, and gentrification. GUIs also ignite their own public process to try and remove certain actors from the neighborhood. Although GUIs are small and temporary, they help surface the complex political and economic structures that gentrification easily masks through art, culture, and community‐based organizations. Political and economic interests become visible enough for individuals to at least reevaluate longstanding alliances and call to question the specific interests of certain actors and processes.
Deletion of TrkB in parvalbumin interneurons alters cortical neural dynamics
Authors: Lau Chunyue Geoffrey , Zhang Huiqi , Murthy Venkatesh N.
Published: September 2021

Signaling by neurotrophins such as the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is known to modulate development of interneurons, but the circuit effects of this modulation remain unclear. Here, we examined the impact of deleting TrkB, a BDNF receptor, in parvalbumin‐expressing (PV) interneurons on the balance of excitation and inhibition (E‐I) in cortical circuits. In the mouse olfactory cortex, TrkB deletion impairs multiple aspects of PV neuronal function including synaptic excitation, intrinsic excitability, and the innervation pattern of principal neurons. Impaired PV cell function resulted in aberrant spiking patterns in principal neurons in response to stimulation of sensory inputs. Surprisingly, dampened PV neuronal function leads to a paradoxical decrease in overall excitability in cortical circuits. Our study demonstrates that, by modulating PV circuit plasticity and development, TrkB plays a critical role in shaping the evoked pattern of activity in a cortical network.
Synthesis and formation mechanism analysis of meso‐microporous ZSM‐5 with controllable mesoporous volume
Authors: Liu Chengxian , Zhao Cheng , Hu Xiaomei , Zou Yun , Yun Junge , Jiang Xueying , Wei Ninghan , Tong Zhangfa , Chen Zhihang
Published: September 2021

BACKGROUND

ZSM‐5 molecular sieve has an important application value in industrial adsorption. Due to the existence of micropores, it is hard for larger molecules to enter the ZSM‐5 molecular sieve. Meso‐microporous MFI zeolite was prepared by hydrothermal crystallization regarding the organosilane as the structure‐directing agent. Then the samples were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy and so on. The effect of organosilane on mesoporous volume and the mechanism of mesoporous formation were further investigated. Finally the performance of adsorption for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on meso‐microporous ZSM‐5 were analyzed by static adsorption and dynamic adsorption experiments.

RESULTS

The meso‐microporous ZSM‐5, which were prepared with the organosilanes, contained not only large and uniform mesopores but also certain amounts of micropores. The results of N2 physisorption showed that the meso‐microporous ZSM‐5 obtained by propyl trimethoxy silane had the highest specific surface area (438.19 m2 g−1) and mesoporous volume (0.15 cm3 g−1). When the molar ratio of SiO2: octyl trimethoxy silane was 1: 0.1, the specific surface area (508.03 m2 g−1) and mesoporous volume (0.23 cm3 g−1) of the O‐ZSM‐5 were maximum. Compared with traditional ZSM‐5, the toluene adsorption performance of meso‐microporous ZSM‐5 had been effectively improved.

CONCLUSION

This research focused on offering the simple and high efficiency meso‐ microporous ZSM‐5 synthetic routes. The newly intercrystalline mesoporosity in ZSM‐5 zeolite showed a controllable mesoporous channel, which was better than traditional ZSM‐5. The prepared molecular sieve was a promising adsorption material for the volatile organic compounds. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Fewer non‐COVID‐19 respiratory tract infections and gastrointestinal infections during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Tanislav Christian , Kostev Karel
Published: September 2021

For preventing the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, measures like wearing masks, social distancing, and hand hygiene played crucial roles. These measures may also have affected the expansion of other infectious diseases like respiratory tract infections (RTI) and gastro‐intestinal infections (GII). Therefore, we aimed to investigate non‐COVID‐19 related RTI and GII during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Patients with a diagnosis of an acute RTI (different locations) or acute GII documented anonymously in 994 general practitioner (GP) or 192 pediatrician practices in Germany were included. We compared the prevalence of acute RTI and GII between April 2019–March 2020 and April 2020–March 2021. In GP practices, 715,440 patients were diagnosed with RTI or GII in the nonpandemic period versus 468,753 in the pandemic period; the same trend was observed by pediatricians (275,033 vs. 165,127). By GPs, the strongest decrease was observed for the diagnosis of influenza (−71%, p < 0.001), followed by acute laryngitis (−64%, p < 0.001), acute lower respiratory infections (bronchitis) (−62%, p < 0.001), and intestinal infections (−40%, p < 0.001). In contrast, the relatively rare viral pneumonia strongly increased by 229% (p < 0.001). In pediatrician practices, there was a strong decrease in infection diagnoses, especially influenza (−90%, p < 0.001), pneumonia (−73%, p < 0.001 viral; −76%, p < 0.001 other pneumonias), and acute sinusitis (−66%, p < 0.001). No increase was observed for viral pneumonia in children. The considerable limitations concerning social life implemented during the COVID‐19 pandemic to combat the spread of SARS‐CoV‐2 also resulted in an inadvertent but welcome reduction in other non‐Covid‐19 respiratory tract and gastro‐intestinal infections.
Evaluation of growth and carotenoid production by a green microalga Scenedesmus quadricauda PUMCC 4.1.40. under optimized culture conditions
Authors: Rajput Alka , Singh Davinder P. , Khattar Jasvirinder S. , Swatch Gurdeep K. , Singh Yadvinder
Published: September 2021

Microalgae are a potential source of a wide range of food and novel value‐added products. The versatility of microalgae to produce different kind of pigments is gaining interest as a sustainable source of natural carotenoids. Currently, commercial production of carotenoids from selected microalgae requires special culture conditions which are difficult to maintain. The present study has been undertaken to optimize culture conditions for growth and carotenoid production by a new isolate Scenedesmus quadricauda PUMCC 4.1.40. The results revealed that test organism produced 1.54 mg dry biomass/ml with a content of 40 μg carotenoids/mg dry biomass during stationary phase. The growth and carotenoid production was increased by 2.4‐fold under combined optimized culture conditions. The optimized conditions were growth medium, Chu‐10; pH 8.5; temperature, 30°C; nitrogen, 20 mM nitrate; phosphate, 0.22 mM; NaCl, 0.42 mM and blue light. Separation and identification of four important carotenoids through high‐performance thin‐layer chromatography (HPTLC) followed by purification using flash chromatography and quantification by HPLC revealed 23.8, 19.0, 6.5, and 4.0 μg astaxanthin, β‐carotene, lutein, and canthaxanthin /mg dry biomass, respectively. The amount of total carotenoids (98 μg/mg dry biomass) containing 40% valuable astaxanthin and β‐carotene produced under optimized conditions was significantly higher than control cultures. This justifies that S. quadricauda is a promising candidate for scale‐up production of carotenoid.
Toward quantitative SERS detection in low analyte concentration by investigating the immersion volume and time of SERS substrate in analyte solution
Authors: Chen Wei‐Liang , Lo Chao‐Yuan , Huang Yu‐Chun , Wang Yu‐Chi , Chen Wei‐Hung , Lin Kuan‐Jiuh , Chang Yu‐Ming
Published: September 2021

The strength of SERS signal depends on the amount of analyte adsorbed onto the hotspots of a SERS substrate immersed in solution. This adsorption is a dynamic process and can be described by the Langmuir adsorption model, in which the adsorption is influenced by several factors such as the temperature and the immersion time. By varying the immersion time and immersion volume of a gold nanostructure array SERS substrate in malachite green solution, we find that the required immersion time to reach the equilibrium adsorption coverage increases with decreasing analyte concentration and volume. For a 6.5 mm × 6.5 mm SERS substrate immersed in 15 ml of 1.5 ppb malachite solution, it takes more than 7 days of immersion time for it to reach 63% of the equilibrium coverage in ambient environment. Furthermore, at low concentration and immersion volume, the solution concentration decreases during the adsorption process and causes deviation from the prediction of Langmuir isotherm. In this work, we demonstrate that for quantitative SERS measurement in low analyte concentration, it is critical to take the immersion volume and time into consideration and ensure the equilibrium adsorption coverage or SERS intensity is reached for accurate concentration determination.
Health‐Related Quality of Life, Dysphagia, Voice Problems, Depression, and Anxiety After Total Laryngectomy
Authors: Wulff Nille B. , Dalton Susanne O. , Wessel Irene , Arenaz Búa Beatriz , Löfhede Helena , Hammerlid Eva , Kjaer Trille K. , Godballe Christian , Kjærgaard Thomas , Homøe Preben
Published: September 2021

Objectives/Hypothesis

The aims were to determine health‐related quality of life (HRQoL), including voice problems, dysphagia, depression, and anxiety after total laryngectomy (TL), and investigate the associations between HRQoL and the late effects.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Methods

172 participants having received a TL 1.6 to 18.1 years ago for laryngeal/hypopharyngeal cancer filled in the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, Core and Head and Neck module (EORTC QLQ‐C30, EORTC QLQ‐H&N35), Voice‐Related Quality of Life questionnaire (V‐RQOL), M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaires.

Results

Participants scored worse than normative reference populations on all scales/items of the EORTC questionnaires, except one, and almost half of the scales/items showed a clinically relevant difference. Moderate/severe dysphagia was present in 46%, moderate/severe voice problems in 57%, depression in 16%, and anxiety in 20%. Decreasing age, increasing numbers of comorbidities, increasing voice problems, increasing dysphagia, and increasing depression symptoms, were associated with a lowered EORTC QLQ‐C30 summary score.

Conclusion

A substantial proportion of participants experienced clinically significant late effects and increasing levels of these were associated with a lowered HRQoL.

Level of Evidence

3 Laryngoscope, 132:980–988, 2022
Malnutrition at diagnosis and throughout therapy in pediatric patients with solid tumors: A single‐institution study in a developing country
Authors: Sasse Patricia , Bergmann Anke , Afonso Wanelia , Ladas Elena J. , Ferman Sima
Published: September 2021

Background

Changesin nutritional status can constitute a risk factor for reduced tolerance and effectiveness of antineoplastic treatment. Knowledge of the nutritional status of pediatric patients is important for implementing interventions to improve outcomes. We aimed to evaluate nutritional status at diagnosis and throughout therapy in pediatric patients with solid tumors.

Objectives

To study the prevalence of malnutrition at diagnosis, compare different assessment tools, and examine longitudinal changes in nutritional status during the treatment of pediatric patients with solid tumors in a Brazilian institution.

Methods

This prospective single‐center study enrolled patients with solid tumors (age <19 years) from June 2017 to May 2018. Nutritional evaluations were performed at diagnosis and after 3 and 6 months of treatment. z‐Scores for height for age (H/A) and body mass index for age (BMI/A) were calculated using the Anthro/AnthroPlus software and mid‐upper arm circumference (MUAC) percentile was used for nutritional classification.

Results

The prevalence of nutritional status at diagnosis was 29.3% malnourished, 49.5% adequate, and 21.2% overweight/obese. Nutritional status improved during the first 3 months of treatment, with a reduction in the proportion of malnourished patients and an increased number of patients with adequate nutritional status.

Conclusions

The two combined indices, BMI/A and MUAC, facilitated the diagnosis of a greater number of patients with solid tumors who had nutritional alterations. A high prevalence of malnutrition was present at diagnosis. Nutritional status improved in the first 3 months of treatment and could be related to the multidisciplinary institutional approach following the diagnosis.
Sesamum indicum Oleosin L improves oil packaging in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves
Authors: Yee Suyan , Rolland Vivien , Reynolds Kyle B. , Shrestha Pushkar , Ma Lina , Singh Surinder P. , Vanhercke Thomas , Petrie James R. , El Tahchy Anna
Published: September 2021

Plant oil production has been increasing continuously in the past decade. There has been significant investment in the production of high biomass plants with elevated oil content. We recently showed that the expression of Arabidopsis thaliana WRI1 and DGAT1 genes increase oil content by up to 15% in leaf dry weight tissue. However, triacylglycerols in leaf tissue are subject to degradation during senescence. In order to better package the oil, we expressed a series of lipid droplet proteins isolated from bacterial and plant sources in Nicotiana benthamiana leaf tissue. We observed further increases in leaf oil content of up to 2.3‐fold when we co‐expressed Sesamum indicum Oleosin L with AtWRI1 and AtDGAT1. Biochemical assays and lipid droplet visualization with confocal microscopy confirmed the increase in oil content and revealed a significant change in the size and abundance of lipid droplets.
Depyrogenation using plasmas: A novel approach for endotoxin deactivation using a dielectric barrier discharge at atmospheric pressure
Authors: Bhatt Naman , Brier‐Jones Justin , Trosan Duncan , Brinkley Cade , Pecoraro Joshua , Smallwood Jann , Crofton Andrew , Hudson Samuel , Kirsch Wolff , Stapelmann Katharina , Shannon Steven
Published: September 2021

Developing a low‐cost depyrogenation process is vital in extending the medical applicability of polymers that can be used in medicine. We present an overview of the plasma‐based depyrogenation literature and address the need to develop a nonthermal plasma‐based depyrogenation process for delicate materials such as chitosan. We present a low‐cost plasma apparatus to treat chitosan powder in hermetically sealed bags. We decouple the experiments into two parts: depyrogenation experiments for dried standard endotoxin on glass slides and analysis of chitosan modifications through Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. We demonstrate depyrogenation efficacy with up to a 4‐log reduction in endotoxin levels and discuss minor changes observed in plasma‐treated chitosan.
Growth and Helicity of Noncentrosymmetric Cu2OSeO3 Crystals
Authors: Aqeel Aisha , Sahliger Jan , Li Guowei , Baas Jacob , Blake Graeme R. , Palstra Thomas T. M. , Back Christian H.
Published: September 2021

single crystals are grown with an optimized chemical vapor transport technique using as a transport agent (TA). The optimized growth method allows to selectively produce large high‐quality single crystals. The method is shown to consistently produce crystals of maximum size 8 × 7 × 4 mm with a transport duration of around three weeks. It is found that this method, with as TA, is more efficient and simple compared with the commonly used growth techniques reported in literature with HCl gas as TA. The crystals have very high quality and their absolute structures are fully determined by simple single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Enantiomeric crystals with either left‐ or right‐handed chiralities are observed. The magnetization and ferromagnetic resonance data show the same magnetic phase diagram as reported earlier.
First‐Principles Study of the Electronic and Optical Properties of Bi2Se3/MoSe2 Heterojunction
Authors: Du Yuxuan , Liu Huan , Hu Jiaxin , Deng Lier , Bai Yang , Bai Minyu , Xie Fei
Published: September 2021

MoSe2 and Bi2Se3 are two kinds of 2D materials that are gradually receiving more attention because of their unique electronic and optical properties. Herein, a Bi2Se3/MoSe2 van der Waals heterojunction (vdWH) is constructed and the electronic and optical properties of the heterojunction are calculated using first‐principles calculations. The effects of the external electric field and the interlayer distance on the electronic properties of the heterojunction are also studied. The calculated results show that the inherent Bi2Se3/MoSe2 vdWH has a type‐2 band alignment with a very small indirect bandgap (28 meV). It also has strong spin–orbit coupling effects, and the characteristics of Zeeman splitting and Rashba splitting are observed at the same time. Both applying an external electric field and changing the interlayer distance can effectively modulate the band structure of the heterojunction; these modulation methods can change the band alignment of the vdWH from type‐2 to type‐3 or even type‐1, and the bandgap type can be changed from indirect to direct. The infrared absorption of the heterojunction is much higher than that of Bi2Se3 and MoSe2. All the calculation results show that the Bi2Se3/MoSe2 vdWH has good application prospects in optoelectronic and spintronic devices.
Chinook salmon rearing habitat–discharge relationships change as a result of morphodynamic processes
Authors: Moniz Peter J. , Pasternack Gregory B.
Published: September 2021

Relationships between fluvial aquatic habitat availability and discharge are often assumed to remain static when used with hydrologic datasets to analyze changes in habitat availability over time. Despite this assumption, studies have observed significant changes in aquatic habitat availability before and after restoration projects, dam removals, and extreme flood events. However, research is lacking on how aquatic habitat changes as a result of morphodynamic processes during more commonly occurring hydrologic conditions. This study compared Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) rearing habitat availability at 19 discharges before and after a relatively mild 8‐year hydrologic period punctuated with modest floods on the lower Yuba River in California, USA. During this time, the total area of rearing habitat remained relatively consistent at discharges <2× bankfull but decreased by up to 25% at discharges >2× bankfull. Significant decreases in rearing habitat area appeared to be the result of widespread erosion on floodplains, terraces, and lateral bars, even after only modest floods. As a result, spatially delineated areas of lost habitat tended to increase in water depth and velocity at baseflow, bankfull, and floodplain‐filling discharges, while areas of gained habitat decreased in depth and velocity. Although these specific results may not apply to all rivers around the world, the finding that habitat–discharge relationships change as a result of morphodynamic processes likely does transfer globally and should be considered when making long‐term regulatory and management decisions, such as instream flow requirements and habitat restoration plans.
When Treatment Adherence Matters: Interactions Among Treatment Adherence, Instructional Quality, and Student Characteristics on Reading Outcomes
Authors: Capin Philip , Roberts Greg , Clemens Nathan H. , Vaughn Sharon
Published: September 2021

In this study, we examined the extent to which teachers’ treatment adherence, instructional quality, and the interaction of these variables influenced eighth‐grade students’ content knowledge and reading comprehension. We examined treatment fidelity for students (n = 775) in classes randomly assigned to receive an evidence‐based content area reading program called Promoting Adolescents’ Comprehension of Text. Results indicate that teachers’ instructional quality was a statistically significant, positive predictor of student content knowledge and reading comprehension performance, whereas teachers’ treatment adherence was not. Statistically significant interactions between treatment adherence and instructional quality were present, such that teachers’ treatment adherence had a stronger impact on student learning outcomes when their overall instructional quality was low. Moderator analyses also revealed that students’ pretest performance and English learner status influenced the effects of treatment adherence and instructional quality on student outcomes. These findings help elucidate the conditions under which Promoting Adolescents’ Comprehension of Text leads to improved outcomes, and more broadly, underscore the importance of carefully examining dimensions of treatment fidelity when testing the effects of treatment programs.
The rapidly changing Arctic and its societal implications
Authors: Ford James D. , Pearce Tristan , Canosa Ivan Villaverde , Harper Sherilee
Published: September 2021

The Arctic is undergoing rapid climate change and is projected to experience the most warming this century of any world region. We review the societal aspects of these current and projected changes. Indigenous knowledge and local knowledge holders living in communities across the Arctic have detected unprecedented increases in temperature, altered precipitation regimes, and changing weather patterns, documenting impacts on terrestrial and marine environments. These local observations situate climate change as one of multiple interacting stressors. Arctic societies have exhibited resilience to climate change, but vulnerabilities are emerging at the nexus of changing environmental conditions and socioeconomic pressures. Infrastructure is highly susceptible to permafrost thaw, coastal erosion, and sea level rise, compounded by the age of infrastructure, maintenance challenges, and cost of adapting. Livelihoods and cultural activities linked to subsistence harvesting have been affected by changes to wildlife, with coping mechanisms undermined by long‐term processes of land dispossession and landscape fragmentation. Reduced sea ice coverage and changing ice dynamics are creating opportunities for enhanced shipping, oil and gas production, and deep‐water fisheries. Legal, infrastructural, economic, and climatic challenges are expected to constrain such developments, with concerns over the distribution of potential benefits. Adaptation is already taking place in some sectors and regions, with efforts directly targeting climate impacts and also addressing underlying determinants of vulnerability. Barriers and limits to adapting are evident. Research that develops projections of future climate impacts is advancing, but studies examining the implications of such changes for communities or economies remain in their infancy.

This article is categorized under:

Trans‐Disciplinary Perspectives > Regional Reviews
Impossible Standards and Unlikely Trade-Offs: Can Fathers be Competent Parents and Professionals?
Authors: Ladge Jamie J. , Humberd Beth K.
Published: September 2021

Many questions remain with respect to what it actually means to be an involved father today and the ways in which organizations can encourage a more holistic view of men as ideal parentsandprofessionals. In this chapter, we reflect on these considerations by drawing from prior research and set an agenda for further examining fatherhood in an organizational context.
The New Dad: The Career-Caregiving Conundrum
Authors: Harrington Brad
Published: September 2021

This chapter draws mainly from “The New Dad” studies, a decade long research series done by the Boston College Center for Work & Family which studied the changing role of primarily college-educated, white-collar fathers working in large US-based corporate settings. The series explored the experiences of these fathers on a wide range of issues including their transition to fatherhood, work roles, definitions of success, attitudes on paternity leave and caregiving, and work-family issues.
French Fathers in Work Organizations: Navigating Work-Life Balance Challenges
Authors: Tanquerel Sabrina
Published: September 2021

This chapter aims at contributing to a better understanding of the challenges and tensions that French working fathers experience at work in trying to achieve work-life balance. Drawing on a sample of 20 fathers, aged 27–51, working in different work organizations, in-depth interviews were conducted to investigate how these fathers navigate tensions between the simultaneous pressure for having a successful career and for embodying an involved fatherhood. The findings show that the fathers’ perceptions and expectations towards work-life balance are different from women, fathers often associating their needs for work-life balance with occasional and informal flexibility and not always viewing the organization as a source of solutions. Heterogeneously influenced by their cultural ideals of work and fatherhood, they expect now more proactivity, recognition and support on the part of their organization and supervisor to fully carry out their fatherhood. A typology of three profiles with different ways of combining fatherhood and work is derived: the ‘breadwinner’ father, the ‘caring father’ and the ‘want to have it all’ father. These categories are further developed highlighting the practices and strategies French fathers mobilize to solve their work-life equation.
Reducing Barriers to Engaged Fatherhood: Three Principles for Promoting Gender Equity in Parenting
Authors: Bowles Hannah Riley , Kotelchuck Milton , Grau Marc Grau
Published: September 2021

The purpose of this concluding chapter is to offer scholars, policy makers, and organizational leaders a preliminary framework for diagnosing barriers to engaged fatherhood and for generating policies, programs, and behavioral interventions to promote gender equity in parenting. We start by reviewing the case for engaged fatherhood to support the health and welfare of men and their families and to regain momentum in the stalled revolution toward gender equality. Building from the cross-disciplinary and cross-national collaboration that led to the construction of this edited volume, we propose three working principles for reducing the barriers to engaged fatherhood: (1) create individual, non-transferable parenting resources explicitly for fathers, (2) reduce economic conflicts between breadwinning and caregiving, and (3) build supportive social networks for engaged fatherhood. We explain how these principles apply to social policy, as well as to work and healthcare practices—the three fields of scholarship and practice represented at our original Fatherhood Experts Meeting. We conclude with suggestions for further cross-disciplinary, cross-cultural collaboration to enhance engaged fatherhood.