bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
HS‐SPME coupled with GC–MS for elucidating differences between the volatile components in wild and cultivated Atractylodes chinensis
Authors: Lei Hui , Yue Jiao , Yin Xin‐yu , Fan Wei , Tan Song‐hui , Qin Li , Zhao Yi‐nian , Bai Jian‐hua
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Atractylodes chinensis is a Chinese herb that is used in traditional medicine; it contains volatile components that have enormous potential for pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic applications. The destruction of wild resources demands significant improvement in the quality of artificial cultivation of Atractylodes chinensis. However, little is known about the compositional differences in the volatile substances derived from the wild and cultivated varieties of Atractylodes chinensis.

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the specific components of Atractylodes chinensis and analyse the similarities and differences between the volatile components and metabolic pathways in the wild and cultivated varieties.

Material and methods

Metabolomic analysis using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was employed following the extraction of volatile components from Atractylodes chinensis using headspace solid‐phase microextraction (HS‐SPME).

Results

A total of 167 volatile metabolites were extracted, and 137 substances were matched with NIST and Wiley databases. Among them, 76 compounds exhibited significant differences between the two sources; these mainly included terpenes, aromatics, and esters. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that the differential metabolites were primarily involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, terpene biosynthesis, and limonene and pinene degradation; all these pathways have geranyl diphosphate (GDP) as the common link.

Conclusion

The total content of volatile substances extracted from wild Atractylodes chinensis was 2.5 times higher than that from the cultured variety; however, each source had different dominant metabolites. This study underscores the necessity for protecting wild Atractylodes chinensis resources, while enhancing the quality of cultivated Atractylodes chinensis.
Structural relationship among academic motivation, academic self‐efficacy, problem solving skills, creative thinking skills, and critical thinking skills
Authors: Orakci Şenol
Published: January 2023

This study investigates the structural relationship among academic motivation, academic self‐efficacy (ASE), problem solving skills (PSS), creative thinking skills (CRTS), and critical thinking skills (CTS). Structural Equation Model was utilized to compute the relationships between these variables. The sample of the study was comprised of 575 student teachers studying in Faculties of Education in Turkey in the academic year 2021–2022. The findings underline that academic motivation had a significant direct effect on CRTS and self‐efficacy had a significant direct effect on CRTS. In addition, the present study revealed that PSS had a significant direct effect on both creative thinking and CTS as well as revealing that creative thinking had a significant direct effect on CTS. Finally, in the present study, creative thinking significantly partially mediated the relationships between academic motivation, ASE, PSS, and CTS. These findings suggest implications for teacher training within the context of raising qualified teachers because the quality in the learning‐teaching process is positively expected to be influenced by the variables explored in the current study.
Initiation of distress screening in oral cancer clinics in Sri Lanka
Authors: Ratnasekera Nadisha , Perera Irosha , Kandapola Arachchige Pushpakumara , Jayasekara Prasanna
Published: January 2023

Objective

This paper describes the initiation of distress screening in oral cancer clinics, among patients with oral cancer in Sri Lanka, addressing the service gap of lack of psychosocial oncology services. This involved validation of the Sinhala version of the Distress Thermometer (DT) and Problem List (PL) as an adjustment disorder (AD) screening tool.

Methods

The DT and PL were translated into the Sinhala language and cross‐culturally adopted by the “modified Delphi” technique. The judgment validity was obtained through face, content, and consensual validation. The criterion validation of DT was performed among 95 oral cancer patients from two oro‐maxillofacial‐oncological hospitals in Sri Lanka, against the AD diagnosis of two consultant psychiatrists.

Results

The DT and the PL revealed good judgment validity. The optimal cut‐off point of DT was 4 with a sensitivity of 91.8% (95% CI = 80.8%–96.8%), specificity of 78.3% (95% CI = 64.4%–87.7%), positive predictive value of 0.81 (95% CI = 0.53%–1.1%) and negative predictive value of 0.90 (95% CI = 0.2%–1.7%). The test re‐test reliability of DT was excellent (Kappa coefficient 0.894). The area under the curve was 0.843. The PL demonstrated poor internal consistency in practical problems (KD‐20 = 0.4), social problems (KD‐20 = 0.3) and spiritual problems (KD‐20 = 0.6).

Conclusions

The Sinhala version of DT and PL were deemed a valid AD screening tool for patients with oral cancer in Sri Lanka to initiate distress screening in busy oral cancer clinics. However, further validation for the full spectrum of distress is needed, preferably with improvements to PL.
Unmanned aerial system‐based high‐throughput phenotyping for plant breeding
Authors: Bhandari Mahendra , Chang Anjin , Jung Jinha , Ibrahim Amir M. H. , Rudd Jackie C. , Baker Shannon , Landivar Jose , Liu Shuyu , Landivar Juan
Published: January 2023

Unmanned aerial systems (UASs) have increased our capacity for collecting finer spatiotemporal resolution data that were previously unobtainable through conventional methods. The use of UAS for obtaining high‐throughput phenotyping (HTP) data in plant breeding programs has gained popularity in recent years. The integrity and quality of the raw data are essential for ensuring the accuracy of predictive tools and proper interpretation of the data. This paper summarizes the standard operation procedures for high‐quality UAS data collection, processing, and analysis for UAS‐based HTP (UAS‐HTP). Plant breeders can follow these procedures to implement a UAS‐HTP system in their germplasm enhancement and cultivar development programs.
Creep behaviors of HTPE propellants
Authors: Zhu Guocui , Liu Shuang , Liu Wenhao , Zheng Mengze , Luo Yunjun
Published: January 2023

In this paper, creep tests were carried out on HTPE/AP/Al/RDX propellant specimens to investigate the effects of stress level and temperature on their creep behavior and to investigate the creep mechanism. Higher stresses and temperature can cause greater creep strain in the propellant, ultimately leading to its destruction. On this basis, the creep master curve was further obtained based on the Time‐Temperature Superposition Principle (TTSP), extending the creep investigation time range to 1010 s. Based on previous experience, some explorations have been made on constitutive equations. The burgers model fits the creep behavior under different conditions more closely, while the Norton model has higher stress sensitivity.
A comparison between the da Vinci Xi EndoWrist Stapler and a conventional laparoscopic stapler in rectal transection: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Teo Nan Zun , Ngu James Chi‐Yong
Published: January 2023

Background

Distal rectal transection following robotic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer is challenging. This can be performed with either a robotic stapler (RS) or laparoscopic stapler (LS). We compared the operative outcomes and ergonomic differences between RS and LS.

Methods

Forty patients with rectal cancer who were planned for robotic rectal surgery were randomized to either RS or LS.

Results

The mean number of stapler cartridges expended was similar between RS and LS (1.75 vs. 2.05, p = 0.082). Significantly less stapler adjustments were required in the RS group (1.55 vs. 2.75, p = 0.014). Results from the user experience survey showed that RS scored better.

Conclusion

The RS required less adjustments and resulted in a better user experience. While this complemented the use of robotics in rectal surgery, it did not result in a significant reduction in the number of stapler cartridges required for rectal transection.
A systematic literature review of flying ad hoc networks: State‐of‐the‐art, challenges, and perspectives
Authors: Pasandideh Faezeh , Costa João Paulo J. da , Kunst Rafael , Hardjawana Wibowo , de Freitas Edison Pignaton
Published: January 2023

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, communicate, collaborate, and form flying ad hoc networks (FANETs) to perform many different missions, ranging from delivery tasks to agriculture applications. Recently, FANETs have been integrated with different technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality, and Internet of Things. Such new avenues for the use of UAVs directly impact the research on FANETs and cause some major challenges, such as security and physical layer issues, resource management, and UAV positioning issues that need to be addressed. Several researchers have been working for the last few years to propose AI and machine learning (ML)‐based solutions for different use cases in UAV‐based networks. They present the limitations of the existing research work and highlight some possible future works on FANETs. However, exhibiting the trends in the UAV research papers in a quantitative manner is still required to motivate researchers to rethink the research on FANETs. Therefore, this study covers more than 170 scientific publications extracted from five trusted academic databases published from 2013 to 2021 to provide a thorough overview of the main research and development statistics in the area of FANETs, the open challenges existing in this area and the ML‐based solutions to solve these challenges. In addition, the investigation of emerging technologies integrated with FANETs, as well as the simulation tools employed for evaluating FANETs' performance are discussed. Moreover, the future research directions in the area of FANETs are considered within a prospective vision discussion.
TiO2 Decorated SiO2 Nanoparticles as Efficient Antibacterial Materials: Enhanced Activity under Low Power UV Light
Authors: Mahanta Urbashi , Deshpande Atul S. , Khandelwal Mudrika
Published: January 2023

TiO2 based photocatalytic materials show effective antibacterial activity typically under a high‐power UV light. However, exposure to high‐intensity radiation may be detrimental to biological as well as non‐biological materials. In this work, we demonstrate a significantly higher antibacterial activity at even low power UV where TiO2 nanoparticles are decorated on silica nanoparticles. The antibacterial activity of the nanoparticles with varying Si : Ti molar compositions were explored against E. coli to obtain effective antibacterial activity with minimal power of UV radiation (8 W). The nanoparticles with a molar ratio of SiO2 : TiO2=2 : 1 (Si2Ti) showed the best antibacterial activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the Si2Ti catalyst was also determined for varying duration of exposure to 8 W UV radiation. Even at a very low concentration of 5 mg/mL Si2Ti sample, where the active catalyst amount was only 1.66 mg/mL, 100 % killing of E. coli was observed after 90 minutes of UV exposure. For the exposure time of 120 minutes, MIC was reduced even further to 3 mg/mL with an active catalyst amount of 1 mg/mL. The excellent antibacterial activity is attributed to the small crystallite size of TiO2 along with enhanced interaction with bacteria owing to the presence of SiO2. In addition, Si2Ti showed good biocompatibility with more than 87 % cell viability with fibroblast cells for 500 μg/mL of the sample.
Facile Multicomponent Mannich Reaction towards Biologically Active Compounds
Authors: Borah Preetismita , Borah Gongutri , Nath Arabinda C. , Latif Wajid , Banik Bimal Krishna
Published: January 2023

The Mannich reaction is one of the most broadly used organic reactions for constructing C−N and C−C bonds in synthetic chemistry. This review focuses on the multicomponent Mannich reaction and its variants for the synthesis of biologically active moieties such as anticancer, antimicrobial, antimalarial, antitubercular, anti‐inflammatory and anticonvulsant molecules. A few organocatalyzed asymmetric Mannich reactions are also incorporated.
Evidence of Surface Properties by Isopropanol Decomposition Reaction and NH3‐TPD over Ni−Fe Spinel Nanoparticles Prepared via Hydrothermal Route
Authors: Benrabaa Rafik , Rubbens Annick , Löfberg Axel , Vannier Rose‐Noëlle
Published: January 2023

In this work, surface properties evaluated by catalytic conversion of isopropanol and by ammonia Temperature Programmed Reduction (NH3‐TPD) over ferrite spinel nanoparticles was investigated. Bulk NiFe2O4 with specific surface area 114 m2/g and crystallites size 6 nm was prepared by hydrothermal synthesis using nitrates as precursors. X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, specific surface area by B.E.T, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X‐ray energy dispersive microanalysis (EDS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) techniques were used for their structural and textural characterizations. The reducibility by hydrogen at variable temperatures was investigated by Temperature Programmed reduction (H2‐TPR) and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis‐ Differential Scanning Calorimetry (TGA‐DSC). The total acidity and acid strength distribution was determined by NH3‐TPD. The synthesized oxide showed the presence of mixed phases containing the inverse spinel structure NiFe2O4 as the major phase and iron oxide α‐Fe2O3 as an additional phase. It was shown that the surface of the powder was richer in Ni2+ species. The surface acidity (Brönsted and Lewis) determined by NH3‐TPD showed that the number of acidic sites increased dramatically with the temperature. The catalytic conversion of isopropanol yields both acidic and redox/basic sites were available. A good correlation between textural, structural, redox and acid‐base properties of catalyst is established.
Carbon‐Carbon Bond Formation “Catalyzed” by Ion‐Pair Constituents
Authors: Giammarco Massimo , Naumkin Fedor Y.
Published: January 2023

Reported here is an ab initio modelling of C−C bonding in halocarbon molecules, with alkali‐metal atoms attached. The studied systems feature metal‐halide counterion pairs appearing along the way. Their electric field leads to a mutual attraction, as well as influences the process directly. Such a combination favours bonding of reactants over significantly reduced potential energy barriers. The process involves uncommon species including a counterintuitive isomer of a metal‐halocarbon system bound via “collective” ionic bonds, an intermediate charge‐transfer complex exhibiting an unusual hyper‐coordinated carbon, and possible another (also uncommon) intermediate insertion complex with a molecule trapped between counterions. The overall reaction involves an “umbrella”‐type inversion of bonds and recombination of framing metal‐halide ion‐pair around insert. The process could be tracked via IR spectra at all stages, from reactants through intermediates to products. This could enable experimental detection of relevant species formation, their differentiation, and monitoring overall system evolution.
Room Temperature Operation of a Quantum Ratchet Intermediate Band Solar Cell
Authors: Hughes Kenneth M. , Ito Megumi , Vaquero-Stainer Anthony , Ekins Daukes Nicholas J. , Phillips Chris C.
Published: January 2023

An intermediate band solar cell which generates photocurrent due to sequential absorption of two sub‐bandgap photons at temperatures up to 300 K was realized. The intermediate band is comprised of a “quantum ratchet” semiconductor nanostructure which is designed to store the photoelectron in a long‐lived state that allows for efficient optical re‐absorption; it incorporates a potential barrier designed to both increase the confinement of electrons and reduce thermal escape. This leads to extended electron lifetimes in the ratchet state and room temperature operation. At low temperature (≈12 K), electrons exhibit a ratchet state lifetime of τRB > 100 s, representing an increase by a factor of ≈107 over a device without the barrier.
An attack volume metric
Authors: Iganibo Ibifubara , Albanese Massimiliano , Mosko Marc , Bier Eric , Brito Alejandro E.
Published: January 2023

For more than a decade, the notion of attack surface has been used to define the set of vulnerable assets that an adversary may exploit to penetrate a system, and various metrics have been developed to quantify the extent of a system's attack surface. However, most approaches to tackle this problem have failed to consider the complex interdependencies that exist between the many components of a distributed system, its vulnerabilities, and its configuration parameters. In our work, building upon previous research on vulnerability metrics and on graphical models to capture such interdependencies, we propose a novel approach to evaluate the potential risk associated with exposed vulnerabilities by studying how the effect of each vulnerability exploit propagates through chains of dependencies. Our analysis goes beyond the scope of traditional attack surface metrics, and considers the depth and implications of potential attacks, leading to the definition of a new family of metrics, which we refer to as attack volume metrics. We present experimental results illustrating how the proposed metric scales for graphs of realistic sizes, and illustrate its application to real‐world testbeds.
Analysis and Design of a Novel Doubly SalientPMMotor Based on Parallel Path Magnetic Technology
Authors: Yang Yang , Ju Hehua , Wang Kaimeng , Guo Zhenhao
Published: January 2023

In this paper, a novel doubly salient PM motor based on parallel path magnetic technology (PPMT) is presented. PPMT is an advanced magnetic control technology, which can be applied to linear and rotary actuators. First, the fundamental principle of the PPMT prototype is elaborated, and then a comprehensive research and analysis of PPMT motor is carried out, with particular emphasis on machine topology, operation principle and electromagnetic performance. The equivalent no‐load PM magnetic circuit model is established and equations for calculating the main PM flux are derived. Besides, a dual‐stator 6‐pole PPMT motor prototype has been developed to valid the analysis. According to the similarity of topology and operation principle, comparison between the FSPM machine and PPMT machine is conducted, which leads to the conclusion that the PPMT motor has lower cogging torque, lower torque ripple and better sine back EMF waveform, the PPMT motor is more suitable for servo applications compared to FSPM motor. Finally, to improve the power density of PPMT motor, FE parametric modeling method for designing the three coupled stator parameters, which are the PM width, the stator yoke width and the second airgap length is given out. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Age estimation of puppies based on the radiographically assessed development of ossification centres in the carpal and metacarpal regions
Authors: Van den Broeck Martine , Chen Yao , Cornillie Pieter
Published: January 2023

Background

The need for proper age determination in puppies has increased enormously due to the growing illegal trade in puppies that are too young to be removed from the litter or too young to have been properly vaccinated against rabies.

Methods

Dorsopalmar and mediolateral radiographs of the (meta)carpal region, either taken from puppy cadavers or from the Faculty's patient database, were studied in a cross‐sectional study of 252 puppies of various sizes, aged 6–212 days. The appearance and development of ossification centres as a function of age in five regions of interest in the (meta)carpal region were scored using a two‐ to six‐step scoring system based on shape and delineation.

Results

A positive correlation with age was found for all investigated regions. Intra‐ and interrater agreement between two observers was excellent, except for the distal epiphyses of the metacarpal bones. Postnatal ossification started after the second week of life with the carpal bones, closely followed by the radial trochlea. All ossification centres were present in all puppies from 84 days, except for the sesamoid bone in the tendon of the long abductor muscle of the first digit. Timing of appearance differed significantly between different sized breeds. There were no significant differences between the sexes.

Limitations

Age distribution was not balanced for all breed size classes.

Conclusions

The radiographic timing of the appearance and development of ossification centres in the carpal region is a promising method for age estimation in puppies.
Attitudes of The Wildlife Society members toward uses of wildlife
Authors: Menale Rachel , Riley Shawn J. , Organ John F.
Published: January 2023

Large‐scale sociological, geographic, and demographic changes affect the way people interact with and value wildlife. Beliefs and attitudes of stakeholders towards wildlife and uses of wildlife are also shifting along with these geographical and demographic changes. Changes in societal or professional attitudes toward uses of wildlife has potential to create alignment issues between wildlife professionals and society. To inform deliberations within The Wildlife Society (TWS) and the larger population of conservation professionals, we assessed and compared the change over time between 1998 and 2020 in value orientations, beliefs, and attitudes toward uses of wildlife and wildlife management practices of members of TWS as a proxy for practicing wildlife professionals. We administered a Qualtrics web‐based survey (n = 3,247), January–March 2020. Respondents closely approximated TWS membership demographically, who identified as male (59.7%) and female (37.7%), and geographically within 50 U.S. states at the time of the survey. Results indicated wildlife conservation professionals express as broad of a spectrum of beliefs, albeit shifting, about consumptive uses of wildlife in hunting and trapping much as they did 2 decades ago. Change in attitudes and beliefs was modest but mutualistic or protectionist beliefs and attitudes increased, especially among younger professionals, toward the ethical acceptability of harvested animals involving fair chase and sportsmanship (72% in 1998; 93.2% in 2020), and in expressed acceptance of regulated hunting and trapping. Our work provides insights into potential focus areas of training and education, such as Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow and Trapping Matters.
Free‐ranging Southern anteater mating behavior: Contribution to Tamandua natural history
Authors: Bertassoni Alessandra , Catapani Mariana L. , Landis Mariana
Published: January 2023

Observing behavior in wild Southern Anteaters (Tamandua tetradactyla) allows Xenarthran researchers to gain perspective on natural history of this neotropical scansorial species. We describe the use of the prehensile tail to facilitate copulation for a pair in southeastern Brazil, a novel observation for this species. This detailed account of mating behavior in lesser anteaters is one of very few in the literature and contributes to basic knowledge of this group.
The gaugino condensate from asymmetric four-torus with twists
Authors: Anber Mohamed M. , Poppitz Erich
Published: January 2023

Abstract

We calculate the gaugino condensate in SU(2) super Yang-Mills theory on an asymmetric four-torus 𝕋4 with ’t Hooft’s twisted boundary conditions. The 𝕋4 asymmetry is controlled by a dimensionless detuning parameter ∆, proportional to L3L4 − L1L2, with Li denoting the 𝕋4 periods. We perform our calculations via a path integral on a 𝕋4. Its size is taken much smaller than the inverse strong scale Λ and the theory is well inside the semi-classical weak-coupling regime. The instanton background, constructed for ∆ ≪ 1 in [1], has fractional topological charge $$ Q=\frac{1}{2} $$
Q
=

1
2

and supports two gaugino zero modes, yielding a non-vanishing bilinear condensate, which we find to be ∆-independent. Further, the theory has a mixed discrete chiral/1-form center anomaly leading to double degeneracy of the energy eigenstates on any size torus with ’t Hooft twists. In particular, there are two vacua, ∣0〉 and ∣1〉, that are exchanged under chiral transformation. Using this information, the ∆-independence of the condensate, and assuming further that the semi-classical theory is continuously connected to the strongly-coupled large-𝕋4 regime, we determine the numerical coefficient of the gaugino condensate: 〈0|trλλ|0〉 = ∣〈1|trλλ|1〉∣ = 32π2Λ3, a result equal to twice the known ℝ4 value. We discuss possible loopholes in the continuity approach that may lead to this discrepancy.
Webs of 3d 𝒩 = 2 dualities with D-type superpotentials
Authors: Amariti Antonio , Rota Simone
Published: January 2023

Abstract

We study 3d 𝒩 = 2 dualities arising from the compactification of 4d 𝒩 = 1 Usp(2n) SQCD with two antisymmetric rank-two tensors and Dk+2-type superpotential, with odd k. The analysis is carried out by using field theory methods and by checking the various steps on the three sphere partition function. Most of the results are based on a conjectural confining duality that we do not prove but that fits consistently with the web of dualities that we obtain. Along the analysis we recover dualities already claimed in the literature and we propose new ones. The final picture that emerges fits with the general scheme worked out for ordinary SQCD and for adjoint SQCD with Ak-type superpotentials.
On the classical integrability of Poisson-Lie T-dual WZW models
Authors: Bascone Francesco , Pezzella Franco , Vitale Patrizia
Published: January 2023

Abstract

We consider the integrability of a two-parameter deformation of the Wess-Zumino-Witten model, previously introduced in relation with Poisson-Lie T-duality. The resulting family of Poisson-Lie dual models is shown to be integrable by using the Maillet r/s formalism.
Freezing-in hadrophilic dark matter at low reheating temperatures
Authors: Bhattiprolu Prudhvi N. , Elor Gilly , McGehee Robert , Pierce Aaron
Published: January 2023

Abstract

If the reheating temperature at the end of inflation is low, of order 10 MeV, then dark matter produced through ultraviolet freeze-in has a large direct detection cross section. We study such a scenario in which dark matter is hadrophilic. This leads to dark matter-nucleon scattering cross sections of interest for near-future experiments for dark matter masses in the range of 100 keV–100 MeV. We explore how these predictions vary if reheating is non-instantaneous.
An outsider’s perspective on information recovery in de Sitter space
Authors: Aalsma Lars , Aguilar-Gutierrez Sergio E. , Sybesma Watse
Published: January 2023

Abstract

Entanglement islands play a crucial role in our understanding of how Hawking radiation encodes information in a black hole, but their relevance in cosmological spacetimes is less clear. In this paper, we continue our investigation of information recovery in de Sitter space and construct a two-dimensional model of gravity containing a domain wall that interpolates between de Sitter space and Rindler space. The Rindler wedges introduce weakly-gravitating asymptotic regions from which de Sitter space can be probed, yielding an outside perspective of the cosmological horizon. In contrast to earlier works, backreaction effects are under control by considering a quantum state that only breaks the thermal equilibrium of the Bunch-Davies state for a finite time. This allows information to be decoded from the Gibbons-Hawking radiation in a controlled fashion.
Molecular dynamics study of Cl− permeation through cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)
Authors: Zeng Zhi Wei , Linsdell Paul , Pomès Régis
Published: January 2023

The recent elucidation of atomistic structures of Cl− channel CFTR provides opportunities for understanding the molecular basis of cystic fibrosis. Despite having been activated through phosphorylation and provided with ATP ligands, several near-atomistic cryo-EM structures of CFTR are in a closed state, as inferred from the lack of a continuous passage through a hydrophobic bottleneck region located in the extracellular portion of the pore. Here, we present repeated, microsecond-long molecular dynamics simulations of human CFTR solvated in a lipid bilayer and aqueous NaCl. At equilibrium, Cl− ions enter the channel through a lateral intracellular portal and bind to two distinct cationic sites inside the channel pore but do not traverse the narrow, de-wetted bottleneck. Simulations conducted in the presence of a strong hyperpolarizing electric field led to spontaneous Cl− translocation events through the bottleneck region of the channel, suggesting that the protein relaxed to a functionally open state. Conformational changes of small magnitude involving transmembrane helices 1 and 6 preceded ion permeation through diverging exit routes at the extracellular end of the pore. The pore bottleneck undergoes wetting prior to Cl− translocation, suggesting that it acts as a hydrophobic gate. Although permeating Cl− ions remain mostly hydrated, partial dehydration occurs at the binding sites and in the bottleneck. The observed Cl− pathway is largely consistent with the loci of mutations that alter channel conductance, anion binding, and ion selectivity, supporting the model of the open state of CFTR obtained in the present study.
A quantitative approach to the intersectional study of mental health inequalities during the COVID-19 pandemic in UK young adults
Authors: Moreno-Agostino Darío , Woodhead Charlotte , Ploubidis George B. , Das-Munshi Jayati
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Mental health inequalities across social identities/positions during the COVID-19 pandemic have been mostly reported independently from each other or in a limited way (e.g., at the intersection between age and sex or gender). We aim to provide an inclusive socio-demographic mapping of different mental health measures in the population using quantitative methods that are consistent with an intersectional perspective.

Methods

Data included 8,588 participants from two British cohorts (born in 1990 and 2000–2002, respectively), collected in February/March 2021 (during the third UK nationwide lockdown). Measures of anxiety and depressive symptomatology, loneliness, and life satisfaction were analysed using Multilevel Analysis of Individual Heterogeneity and Discriminatory Accuracy (MAIHDA) models.

Results

We found evidence of large mental health inequalities across intersectional strata. Large proportions of those inequalities were accounted for by the additive effects of the variables used to define the intersections, with some of the largest gaps associated with sexual orientation (with sexual minority groups showing substantially worse outcomes). Additional inequalities were found by cohort/generation, birth sex, racial/ethnic groups, and socioeconomic position. Intersectional effects were observed mostly in intersections defined by combinations of privileged and marginalised social identities/positions (e.g., lower-than-expected life satisfaction in South Asian men in their thirties from a sexual minority and a disadvantaged childhood social class).

Conclusion

We found substantial inequalities largely cutting across intersectional strata defined by multiple co-constituting social identities/positions. The large gaps found by sexual orientation extend the existing evidence that sexual minority groups were disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Study implications and limitations are discussed.
Incidence of mental disorders in the general population aged 1–30 years disaggregated by gender and socioeconomic status
Authors: Mar Javier , Larrañaga Igor , Ibarrondo Oliver , González-Pinto Ana , las Hayas Carlota , Fullaondo Ane , Izco-Basurko Irantzu , Alonso Jordi , Zorrilla Iñaki , Vilagut Gemma , Mateo-Abad Maider , de Manuel Esteban ,   the UPRIGHT Consortium, González Nerea , Martínez Patricia Pérez , Vergara Itziar , Fernández-Sevillano Jessica , Gabrielli Silvia , Rizzi Silvia , Zwiefka Antoni , Krzyżanowski Dominik , Mazur Iwona , Jakubowska Luba , Poteralska Renata , Czyż Piotr , Andruszko Urszula , Błasiak Paweł , Krajewska Katarzyna , Pytlarz Grzegorz , Szczygieł-Grüdl Ilona , Hjemdal Odin , Morote Roxanna , Anyan Frederick , Gudmundsdottir Dora Gudrun , Karlsdottir Solveig , Knoop Hans Henrik , Ledertoug Mette Marie , Tidmand Louise , Olafsdottir Anna Sigridur , Arnfjord Unnur B , Jonsdottir Bryndis Jona
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence and age of onset of mental disorders diagnosed by gender and socioeconomic status (SES) in children, adolescents, and young adults up to 30 years of age in the whole population of the Basque Country (Spain).

Methods

All mental health diagnoses documented in Basque Health Service records from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2018, were classified into eight clusters: anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorders, depression, psychosis/personality disorders, substance use, eating disorders, and self-harm. We calculated incidence and cumulative incidence for each cluster, disaggregated by gender, and socioeconomic status (SES). Poisson regression analyses were performed.

Results

Overall, 9,486,853 person-years of observation were available for the 609,281 individuals included. ADHD and conduct disorders were diagnosed in the first decade, anxiety and depression disorders in the second and third decades, and psychosis/personality and substance use in the third. The cumulative incidence at 18 years of age for any type of disorder was 15.5%. The group with low SES had a statistically significantly higher incidence of all eight clusters. The incidence of ADHD, conduct disorders, depression, psychosis/personality disorders, and substance use was higher in males and that of anxiety, eating disorders and self-harm was higher in females.

Conclusions

The incidence of mental disorders is high among children, adolescents, and young adults in the Basque Country underlining the need for preventive interventions. Marked differences by gender and SES highlight mental health inequalities, especially for depression and psychosis in low SES males.
Cephalopods, a gap in the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive and their future integration
Authors: Bobowski Bianca T. C. , Power Anne Marie , Pierce Graham J. , Moreno Ana , Iriondo Ane , Valeiras Julio , Sokolova Inna M. , Oesterwind Daniel
Published: January 2023

With the aim of maintaining or obtaining good environmental status in the Northeast Atlantic and northern Mediterranean Sea, the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (EU-MSFD) came into force in 2008. All EU Member States (MS) have the task of assessing the current state of their adjacent waters to guarantee sustainable use of marine resources and healthy ecosystems for the current and future generations. Although the MSFD has been implemented for over a decade, there are still gaps in the assessment of various ecologically and commercially important marine species, such as cephalopods. Here we describe the status of cephalopods, a key component of marine ecosystems and a valuable fishing resource, within the MSFD. To do so, we review how MS deal with this group in their reporting and identify and explain the gaps in the cephalopod assessment. We describe the main challenges including the limited data and the rarity of dedicated surveys on cephalopods. However, we argue that cephalopods can be partially integrated into the EU-MSFD assessment, illustrating the current opportunities and future possibilities of their integration into the MSFD, mainly using Descriptors 1–4.

Graphical abstract
King penguins adjust their fine-scale travelling and foraging behaviours to spatial and diel changes in feeding opportunities
Authors: Watanabe Hina , Shiomi Kozue , Sato Katsufumi , Takahashi Akinori , Handrich Yves , Bost Charles-André
Published: January 2023

Central place foragers such as pelagic seabirds often travel large distances to reach profitable foraging areas. King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) are well known for their large-scale foraging movements to the productive Antarctic Polar Front, though their fine-scale travelling and foraging characteristics remain unclear. Here, we investigated the horizontal movements and foraging patterns of king penguins to understand their fine-scale movement decisions during distant foraging trips. We attached multi-channel data loggers that can record depth, speed, tri-axis acceleration, tri-axis magnetism, and environmental temperature of the penguins and obtained data (n = 8 birds) on their horizontal movement rates from reconstructed dive paths and their feeding attempts estimated from rapid changes in swim speed. During transit toward main foraging areas, penguins increased the time spent on shallow travelling dives (< 50 m) at night and around midday, and increased the time spent on deep foraging dives (≥ 50 m) during crepuscular hours. The horizontal movement rates during deep dives were negatively correlated with maximum dive depths, suggesting that foraging at greater depths is associated with a decreased horizontal travelling speed. Penguins concentrated their foraging efforts (more deep dives and higher rates of feeding attempts) at twilight during transit, when prey may be more accessible due to diel vertical migration, while they travelled rapidly at night and midday when prey may be difficult to detect and access. Such behavioural adjustments correspond to a movement strategy adopted by avian deep divers to travel long distances while feeding on prey exhibiting diel vertical migration.
Usefulness of nerve-sparing pedicled segmental latissimus dorsi muscle flap combined with lateral thoracic skin flap for partial volume reconstruction in laterally located breast cancer
Authors: Abdelmofeed Ayman M. , Fadey Mohammed A. , Seif Ola , Abdelhalim Mohamed H. , Younes Mohamed T.
Published: January 2023

Background

The latissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) is a flexible muscle that is frequently employed in various reconstructive operations. Breast-conserving surgery is widely acknowledged as an effective treatment for breast cancer, and the latissimus dorsi muscle flap is a straightforward, dependable technique for partial breast reconstruction.

Methods

A pedicled segmental latissimus dorsi muscle flap was employed in 20 patients with laterally situated breast cancer treated at our institution from January 2018 to December 2021. During a 6-month postoperative follow-up period, patients were polled on their overall satisfaction and cosmetic satisfaction. Plastic surgeons assessed the aesthetic and functional outcomes in terms of breast shape and symmetry, as well as muscular function.

Results

The mean operative time was 120 ± 35.2 min while the mean postoperative hospital stay was 2.5 days (range, 1.5–3 days). There were no donor site complications such as intraoperative bleeding, postoperative hematoma, or infection, and postoperative drain removal was done on average after 5 days. The average weight of specimens was 50–160 gm with a mean of 100 gm, and the locations of the masses were the upper lateral quadrant (n = 15), the lower lateral quadrant (n = 2), and the central lateral area (n = 3). Complications developed in 6 of the cases, hematoma in 2 cases, wound seroma developed in the donor site in 2 cases, and weakness in shoulder movement in 2 cases, and the majority of the patients were satisfied with their cosmetic outcomes. No tumor recurrence was reported.

Conclusion

Replacement of 20 to 40% of breast volume in the upper and the lower outer quadrants with a latissimus dorsi muscle flap as nerve-sparing pedicled segmental flap that can be harvested from the same axillary incision of lymphadenectomy is a good alternative reconstruction technique after partial mastectomy. This resulted in an acceptable postoperative scar, less pain, and early upper extremity movement, so this technique is considered a useful and reliable technique in correcting breast deformity after breast-conserving surgery, especially in laterally located breast cancer.

Level of evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study.
Biomarkers in osteoarthritis: current status and outlook — the FNIH Biomarkers Consortium PROGRESS OA study
Authors: Hunter David J. , Collins Jamie E. , Deveza Leticia , Hoffmann Steven C. , Kraus Virginia B.
Published: January 2023

Currently, no disease-modifying therapies are approved for osteoarthritis (OA) use. One obstacle to trial success in this field has been our existing endpoints’ limited validity and responsiveness. To overcome this impasse, the Foundation for the NIH OA Biomarkers Consortium is focused on investigating biomarkers for a prognostic context of use for subsequent qualification through regulatory agencies. This narrative review describes this activity and the work underway, focusing on the PROGRESS OA study.
Real-world multicentre cohort of first-line pembrolizumab alone or in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer PD-L1 ≥ 50%
Authors: Pons-Tostivint E. , Hulo P. , Guardiolle V. , Bodot L. , Rabeau A. , Porte M. , Hiret S. , Demontrond P. , Curcio H. , Boudoussier A. , Veillon R. , Mayenga M. , Dumenil C. , Chatellier T. , Gourraud P. A. , Mazieres J. , Bennouna J.
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Pembrolizumab alone (IO-mono) or in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy (CT-IO) is first-line standard of care for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with PD-L1 ≥ 50%. This retrospective multicentre study assessed real-world use and efficacy of both strategies.

Methods

Patients with advanced NSCLC PD-L1 ≥ 50% from eight hospitals who had received at least one cycle of IO-mono or CT-IO were included. Overall survival (OS) and real-word progression-free-survival were estimated using Kaplan–Meier methodology. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs, and a Cox model with inverse propensity treatment weighting was carried out.

Results

Among the 243 patients included, 141 (58%) received IO-mono and 102 (42%) CT-IO. Younger patients, those with symptomatic disease and brain metastases were more likely to be proposed CT-IO. With a median follow-up of 11.5 months (95% CI 10.4–13.3), median OS was not reached, but no difference was observed between groups (p = 0.51). Early deaths at 12 weeks were 11% (95% CI 4.6–16.9) and 15.2% (95% CI 9.0–20.9) in CT-IO and IO groups (p = 0.32). After adjustment for age, gender, performance status, histology, brain metastases, liver metastases and tobacco status, no statistically significant difference was found for OS between groups, neither in the multivariate adjusted model [HR 1.07 (95% CI 0.61–1.86), p = 0.8] nor in propensity adjusted analysis [HR 0.99 (95% CI 0.60–1.65), p = 0.99]. Male gender (HR 2.01, p = 0.01) and PS ≥ 2 (HR 3.28, p < 0.001) were found to be negative independent predictive factors for OS.

Conclusion

Younger patients, those with symptomatic disease and brain metastases were more likely to be proposed CT-IO. However, sparing the chemotherapy in first-line does not appear to impact survival outcomes, even regarding early deaths.
FAIRagro: Ein Konsortium in der Nationalen Forschungsdateninfrastruktur (NFDI) für Forschungsdaten in der Agrosystemforschung
Authors: Specka Xenia , Martini Daniel , Weiland Claus , Arend Daniel , Asseng Senthold , Boehm Franziska , Feike Til , Fluck Juliane , Gackstetter David , Gonzales-Mellado Aida , Hartmann Thomas , Haunert Jan-Henrik , Hoedt Florian , Hoffmann Carsten , König Patrick , Lange Matthias , Lesch Stephan , Lindstädt Birte , Lischeid Gunnar , Möller Markus , Rascher Uwe , Reif Jochen Christoph , Schmalzl Markus , Senft Matthias , Stahl Ulrike , Svoboda Nikolai , Usadel Björn , Webber Heidi , Ewert Frank
Published: January 2023

FAIRagro ist ein Konsortium in der Nationalen Forschungsdateninfrastruktur (NFDI) in Deutschland um Forschungsdaten der Agrosystemforschung FAIR – d. h. auffindbar (F), zugänglich (A), interoperabel (I) und für andere Forschende domänenübergreifend nachnutzbar (R) zu machen. In der deutschen Forschungslandschaft rund um nachhaltige Agrosysteme werden heterogene Forschungsdaten erhoben und nur zum Teil in existierenden Forschungsdatenrepositorien veröffentlicht. Das Spektrum der Datenformate erstreckt sich beispielsweise von Laborergebnissen, über Satellitenbilder bis hin zu qualitativen Interviews mit Landwirt:innen. Um diese Daten zukünftig für Forschende verschiedener Disziplinen besser auffindbar und nachnutzbar zu machen, wird FAIRagro eine Forschungsdateninfrastruktur (FDI) für die Agrosystemforschung einrichten, in der disziplinäre Dateninfrastrukturen miteinander verknüpft werden. Spezifische Herausforderungen im Forschungsdatenmanagement (FDM) fachlicher Disziplinen wie Pflanzenzüchtung, integrierter Pflanzenschutz oder Agrarrobotik werden als Use Cases in FAIRagro adressiert und für diese Lösungen entwickelt. Darüber hinaus wird FAIRagro ein Netzwerk aus direkten Ansprechpersonen für Fragen zum Forschungsdatenmanagement in der Agrosystem-Community bereitstellen. In Übereinstimmung mit den Zielsetzungen der NFDI und der European Open Science Cloud ist FAIRagro aktiv an der konzeptionellen Implementierung eines interoperablen Datenraums beteiligt.
Dark papillary muscles sign: a novel prognostic marker for cardiac magnetic resonance
Authors: Aquaro Giovanni Donato , De Gori Carmelo , Grilli Giulia , Licordari Roberto , Barison Andrea , Todiere Giancarlo , Ianni Umberto , Parollo Matteo , Grigoratos Crysanthos , Restivo Luca , De Luca Antonio , Faggioni Lorenzo , Cioni Dania , Sinagra Gianfranco , Di Bella Gianluca , Neri Emanuele
Published: January 2023

Objectives

The prognostic role of left ventricular (LV) papillary muscle abnormalities in patients with preserved LV systolic ejection fraction (LVEF) is unknown. We sought to evaluate the prognosis role of LV papillary muscle abnormalities by CMR in patients with ventricular arrhythmias, preserved LVEF with no cardiac disease.

Methods

A total of 391 patients with > 500/24 h premature ventricular complexes and/or with non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT), preserved LVEF, and no cardiac disease were enrolled. Different features of LV papillary muscles were considered: supernumerary muscles, papillary thickness, the attachment, late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). Dark-Paps was defined as end-systolic signal hypointensity of both papillary muscles in early post-contrast cine CMR images. Mitral valve prolapse, mitral annular disjunction (MAD), and myocardial LGE were considered.

Results

Dark-Paps was found in 79 (20%) patients and was more frequent in females. It was associated with higher prevalence of mitral valve prolapse and MAD. During a median follow-up of 2534 days, 22 hard cardiac events occurred. At Kaplan-Meier curve analysis, patients with Dark-Paps were at higher risk of events than those without (p < 0.0001). Dark-Paps was significantly associated with hard cardiac events in all the multivariate models. Dark-Paps improved prognostic estimation when added to NSVT (p = 0.0006), to LGE (p = 0.005) and to a model including NSVT+LGE (p = 0.014). Dark-Paps allowed a significant net reclassification when added to NSVT (NRI 0.30, p = 0.03), to LGE (NRI 0.25, p = 0.04), and to NSVT + LGE (NRI 0.32, p  = 0.02).

Conclusions

In LV papillary muscles, Dark-Paps is a novel prognostic marker in patients with ventricular arrhythmias and preserved ejection fraction.

Key Points

• Papillary muscle abnormalities are seen in patients with ventricular arrhythmias and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.

• Early post-contrast hypointensity of papillary muscles in end-systolic cine images (Dark-Paps) is a novel prognostic marker in patients with ventricular arrhythmias and preserved ejection fraction.

• Dark-Paps had an additive prognostic role over late gadolinium enhancement and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia.