bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flooding and planting density shape forests in an experimental Everglades landscape: Lessons for forest restoration
Authors: Stoffella Susana L. , Ross Michael S. , Sah Jay P. , Price René M. , Scinto Leonard J. , Cline Eric A. , Sklar Fred H.
Published: September 2022

Tree islands, a prominent feature of wetland landscapes worldwide, are patches of forest scattered throughout a matrix of herbaceous marsh. In the Florida Everglades, their development over millennia as elevated, relatively well‐drained features above the wetland surface has made them cultural centers for indigenous people and refugia for a rich assortment of plants and animals. However, since the early years of the twentieth century, the number and area of tree islands have been roughly halved in Everglades National Park and Water Conservation Areas due to scarce or excessive water levels, leading to fires or persistent flooding, respectively. This loss has prompted a need for tree island rehabilitation or reconstruction within the ongoing state–federal partnership to bring about Everglades restoration. In this paper, we present results of a field‐scale experiment that examined the effects of flooding, planting density, and the size and proximity of neighbors on the performance of native tree species on constructed tree islands. Hypotheses derived using the stress‐gradient hypothesis as a framework were tested at the neighborhood level. Flooding reduced survival and mean tree size 7–8 years after initial planting, while planting seedlings at spacings as close as 1 m apart resulted in higher total biomass, with no significant cost in tree survival. Flood‐tolerant species increased in relative abundance during the study period along the entire hydrologic gradient, while flood‐intolerant species were able to survive only at higher elevations. Crowding effects within neighborhoods varied across the flooding gradient. Survival increased or remained stable as neighbor effects increased in high‐flooding zones, while declining sharply as crowding increased under low‐flooding conditions. Similar results were obtained for the growth of flood‐tolerant species under close spacing, with most showing an increment in growth where flooding was high. These data suggest that tree island restoration can benefit from targeted mixed‐species plantings at variable densities, as the compositional and structural heterogeneity promoted by these measures may increase adaptability and resilience to future uncertainties.
Synthesis and Characterization of New Multinary Selenides A10B18Se37 (A=Sn/Pb; B=In/Sb/Bi)
Authors: Chen Guan‐Ruei , Lin Gang , Chen Kuei‐Bo , Wang Ming‐Fang , Lee Chi‐Shen
Published: September 2022

New multinary selenides with general formula A10B18Se37 (A=Sn/Pb; B=In/Sb or Sb/Bi) were synthesized with a new structure type in the monoclinic space group C2/m (No. 12), including Sn10In7Sb11Se37, Sn10Bi18Se37, Sn8.21Pb1.79Bi18Se37, and Sn3.84Pb6.16Sb5.68Bi12.32Se37. The crystal structure is related to Proudite‐Felbertalite homologous series and is made up of layered units
derived from the octahedrally coordinated MSe6 with stepped layers of 16 octahedra overlapped by 8 octahedra units, and 1D ribbons
with metal centers coordinated by 3 or 5 Se2− anions. Structural anisotropy leads to their layered shape and strong preferred orientation. The quinary selenide Sn3.84Pb6.16Sb5.68Bi12.32Se37 exhibits n‐type semiconducting behavior and thermoelectric properties with an optimized thermoelectric figure of merit (zT) reaching ∼0.09 at 440 K. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation on a charge‐balanced model with a triple supercell indicates its indirect band gap.
Radical‐Mediated C−H Alkylation of Glycine Derivatives: A Straightforward Strategy for Diverse α‐Unnatural Amino Acids
Authors: Hari Babu Madala , Sim Jaehoon
Published: September 2022

Unnatural amino acids are important scaffolds for novel drug candidates, and especially α‐alkyl amino acids have emerged as a valuable variant. This is due to the ubiquity of alkyl groups, which are pervasive as key motifs in natural products, biological and pharmaceutical molecules. The development of radical‐based approaches in organic synthesis has expanded dramatically in recent years. It has enabled site‐ and region‐specific installation of a variety of functionalities in small molecules, which has been spontaneously applied in the preparation of versatile amino acid building blocks. The glycine motif in the backbone of amino acids has gained significant attention for allowing access to a variety of complex α‐unnatural amino acids via radical‐mediated α‐C−H alkylation. This review summarizes the last decade's development of radical‐based α‐C−H alkylation of glycine derivatives to provide unnatural α‐amino acids. The advantages, current limitations, and perspectives of glycine‐based unnatural amino acid synthesis are also discussed.
Tailoring the Void Space of a Silicon Anode for High‐Capacity and Low‐Expansion Lithium Storage
Authors: Nakano Hideyuki , Oh-ishi Keiichiro , Matsubara Masato
Published: September 2022

Si anodes have been attracting attention because they offer the critical advantages of being derived from abundant sources and exhibiting a high theoretical capacity. However, Si anodes have not been used in practical applications of Li‐ion batteries because of the unavoidable large volume changes that occur during charging and discharging. Herein, rather than considering the active material, the structural design of the Si anode is focused, developing a material whose volume does not expand even after the Li insertion process. The Si anode is fabricated by leaching Al from a rapidly solidified Al–Si alloy ribbon using a single‐roller melt‐spinning process. Si anode ribbons derived from 50Al–50Si alloy consisting of microscale primary Si and nanoscale eutectic Si show a low‐volume expansion when Li is inserted to a capacity of 3000 mAh g−1. Scanning electron microscopy observations show that the formed pores suppress the expansion of the electrode. At a rate of C/10, the electrode alone, without a binder or conductive carbon additive, exhibits good cycling stability; the initial capacity of 2070 mAh g−1 slightly decreases to 1970 mAh g−1 after 10 cycles. These results open a new platform for designing low‐expansion Si anodes for high‐capacity energy‐storage devices.
Critical review of multigeneration system powered by geothermal energy resource from the energy, exergy, and economic point of views
Authors: Azizi Narjes , Esmaeilion Farbod , Moosavian Seyed Farhan , Yaghoubirad Maryam , Ahmadi Abolfazl , Aliehyaei Mehdi , Soltani Majid
Published: September 2022

Concerns about greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels have made the use of renewable sources the world's most important energy challenge. Among renewable energies, geothermal energy has a special place due to its sustainable resources and shallow environmental impacts. These energy sources are classified as low‐grade thermal energy sources, so they cannot independently provide a high amount of thermal energy. Therefore, extensive studies have been conducted on practical methods of using geothermal energy for multigeneration productions. Studies on geothermal energy‐based systems to supply energy to various systems such as chillers, electrolyzers, turbines, and desalination units are reviewed in this study. As the methods, scenarios, and practical possibilities of multigenerational system (MGS) are limited, in this study, while expressing the limitations and problems of these systems, the most critical issues raised in this issue are examined and analyzed, and compatibility, products, Levelized cost of energy, energy and exergy efficiencies, and technical issues are summarized. Also, due to the limitations of geothermal energy sources in recent studies, their combination with other renewable energy sources has been evaluated. Therefore, the classification of studies conducted to combine renewable energy sources with the geothermal system to achieve multigeneration productions is thrown in the last part of this study. The results of the studies show that the combination of geothermal energy with other renewable energy sources is used in 90% of cases to provide heat and cold load and in 10% of cases to generate electrical power. These systems also improve energy and exergy efficiency and economic viability by increasing stability.
Deglaciation history and subsequent lake dynamics in the Siljan region, south‐central Sweden, based on new LiDAR evidence and sediment records
Authors: Möller Per , Björck Svante , Dowling Thomas P. F. , Hammarlund Dan , Jakobsson Martin , Ljung Karl , Lund Martin , Paradeisis‐Stathis Savvas
Published: September 2022

The Siljan region hosts Europe's largest impact structure. The high‐relief landscape, with a central granite dome bordered by lake basins, contains an array of glacial and shore‐level landforms. We investigated its deglaciation history by mapping and analysing landforms on high resolution LiDAR (light detection and ranging)‐based digital surface models coupled with well‐dated sediment successions from peat and lake sediment cores. The granite dome and bordering areas are characterized by streamlined terrain and ribbed moraine with a streamlined overprint. These suggest an ice‐flow direction from north‐northwest (NNW) with wet‐based thermal conditions prior to deglaciation. During its retreat, the ice sheet was split into thinner plateau ice and thicker basin ice. Sets of low‐gradient glaciofluvial erosion channels suggest intense ice‐lateral meltwater drainage across gradually ice‐freed slopes, while ‘down‐the‐slope’ erosion channels and eskers show meltwater drainage from stagnated plateau ice. Thick basin ice receded with a subaqueous margin across the deep Siljan–Orsasjön Basin c. 10,700–10,500 cal. bp. During ice recession the ingression of the Baltic Ancylus Lake led to diachronous formation of highest shoreline marks, from ~207 m in the south to ~220 m above sea level (a.s.l.) in the north. Differential uplift resulted in shallowing of the water body, which led to the isolation of the Siljan–Orsasjön Basin from the Baltic Basin at c. 9800 cal. bp. The post‐isolation water body – the ‘Ancient Lake Siljan’ – was drained through the ancient Åkerö Channel with a water level at 168–169 m a.s.l. during c. 1000 years. A later rerouting of the outlet to the present course was initiated at c. 8800 cal. bp, which led to a lake‐level lowering of 6–7 m to today's level of Lake Siljan (~162 m a.s.l.). This study shows the strength of an integrated methodological approach for deciphering the evolution of a complex landscape, combining highly resolved geomorphological analysis with well‐dated sediment successions.
Community health literacy outcome measurement practices: A scoping review of recent interventions
Authors: Sawyers Luke , Anderson Claire , Aslani Parisa , Duncan Gregory , Janjua Sobia S. , Toh Li Shean
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Evidence suggests that, while a preference for functional Health Literacy (HL) outcome measurement exists, researchers are converging towards more all‐encompassing instruments. While this claim is present in the HL field, minimal research has comprehensively explored the state of community HL measurement practices at the direct and proxy level. The almost exclusive focus on direct, as opposed to proxy, community HL measurement indicates a review of progress is needed.

Objective

To identify HL outcome measurement practices for community HL interventions at the direct and proxy level of measurement.

Search Strategy

Medline, PsycINFO, Web of Science, ERIC, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, Google Scholar and targeted websites were searched.

Inclusion Criteria

Studies were sampled from the general population, included HL as an outcome of interest, involved an intervention aiming to improve HL, were English‐text publications and were published ≥2010.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

Study author(s) and publication years, sample characteristics, intervention profiles and direct and proxy instrument and outcome measurement information were extracted. Full‐text review retrieved 25 eligible studies.

Main Results

In total, 21 unique direct and 38 unique proxy instruments were extracted. The majority of interventions assessed functional compared to communicative, critical, and other HL domains, with objective instruments more frequently used than subjective or combined objective‐subjective types, though more unique subjective HL instruments were extracted overall. The Test of Functional HL in Adults was the most popular instrument, and perceived health, knowledge, behaviors and health intentions were the most frequent proxy outcome measures, with only the Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Scale‐II and Patient Activation Measure used across multiple interventions.

Discussion and Conclusions

Direct HL outcome practices endured a unidimensional profile, despite previous suggestions of a convergence towards holistic instruments. This review provides the first overview of proxy HL measurement across community HL interventions, identifying substantial variation in proxy outcome practices.

Patient or Public Contribution

A University‐based senior librarian contributed to the development of the search strategy, and reviewed iterations of the strategy until refinement was complete. No further public or patient contribution was made given the review‐based nature of the research.
Taxes and trade credit: Evidence from the 2017 tax cuts and jobs act
Authors: Nguyen Duong , Xu Hongkang , Kalelkar Rachana
Published: September 2022

In this study, we examine the effect of taxes on the use of trade credit and on the relation between trade credit financing and managerial inside debt using the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 TCJA (TCJA). We find that firms are likely to use more trade credit after the enactment of the TCJA, supporting the tax‐based hypothesis for the existence of trade credit. Furthermore, firms with higher CEO inside debt tend to use less trade credit than those with lower CEO inside debt. The negative relation between inside debt and trade credit is less pronounced after the TCJA enactment. These results are consistent with our conjecture that CEOs with high inside debt are less inclined to use trade credit, which is an expensive source of external financing, and firms use trade credit to reallocate capital for more efficient uses in response to lower tax rates. Our findings suggest that taxes and managerial debt‐based compensation might be relevant factors influencing firms’ trade credit policy.
Impact of saline valorization in contaminated municipal wastewater on the treatment performance and bacterial community dynamics of a membrane bioreactor
Authors: Ittisupornrat Suda , Theepharaksapan Suthida , Krasaesueb Nattawut , Phetrak Athit
Published: September 2022

Background

Due to salt intrusion and the improper use of seawater for cleaning and flushing in food shops along coastal regions, the aerobic biological wastewater treatment process may have an adverse effect on treatment performance. This study demonstrates membrane bioreactor (MBR) performance for treating saline‐contaminated municipal wastewater. The aim of this study is to determine how much salt affects the efficiency of the process and how the functional bacterial community evolves in an MBR for treating actual municipal wastewater.

Results

An MBR was applied for actual municipal wastewater treatment by increasing the NaCl concentration from 0 to 20 g L−1 with a hydraulic retention time of 12 h and complete sludge retention. High removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand (COD) (ranging from 80.3 to 82.8 mgL−1) and ammonium‐N (ranging from 40.8 to 44.4 mgL−1) were found at salinity concentrations of up to 7.8 ± 0.8 g L−1. However, the removal efficiency of COD was below 50% at high salinity concentrations of 17.9 ± 1.3 g L−1, whereas the removal rate of ammonium‐N had slightly changed with the value of 90%. In terms of bacterial composition, the largest dominant bacterial communities were Proteobacteria and Planctomycetota, both of which may be the predominant halotolerant/halophilic bacteria group. Additionally, Rhizobiales, Planctomycetales, Pirellulales, and Gemmatales (all of which are members of these phyla) were increased, suggesting that they played an important role in the biodegradation process.

Conclusion

The MBR operation showed a good performance for treating municipal wastewater with high salinity concentrations, with a salt tolerance threshold of 7.8 g L−1. The experimental results indicate that the MBR system can be applied for treating municipal wastewater that is occasionally contaminated with seawater. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Dectin-1 signaling in neutrophils up-regulates PD-L1 and triggers ROS-mediated suppression of CD4+ T cells
Authors: Deerhake M Elizabeth , Cardakli Emre D , Shinohara Mari L
Published: September 2022

Dectin-1 is known to drive proinflammatory cytokine production by macrophages and dendritic cells which promotes Th17 CD4+ T cell responses in the setting of fungal infection. However, the role of Dectin-1 signaling in neutrophils and its impact on CD4+ T cells is not well understood. In this study, we found that neutrophils stimulated with a Dectin-1 agonist diminish CD4+ T cell viability in a rapid and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent manner. Furthermore, Dectin-1 promoted neutrophil PD-L1 expression via Syk and Card9 signaling, along with other immune-checkpoint factors in a neutrophil-biased manner. Although neutrophil PD-L1 did not significantly impact disease severity in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), we found that CNS-infiltrated neutrophils potently up-regulate PD-L1 expression. Furthermore, a subset of PD-L1+ neutrophils was also found to express MHC-II during EAE. In summary, we found that Dectin-1 elicits a biphasic neutrophil response in which (1) T-cell suppressive ROS is followed by (2) up-regulation of PD-L1 expression. This response may serve to limit excess CD4+ T cell-driven inflammation in infection or autoimmunity while preserving host-defense functions of neutrophils.

Summary sentence: Mechanisms by which Dectin-1 signaling in neutrophils promotes a cellular phenotype with T cell-suppressive properties.
Auxiliary antenna design for anti‐interference of satellite communication earth station
Authors: Li ZheYu , Meng Jin , Luo Kang , Wang Qing , Yang Kai , He FangMin
Published: September 2022

In this study, a novel elliptical widebeam auxiliary antenna is proposed for anti‐interference of satellite communication earth station. The wide beam width of about 180° in horizontal plane (H‐plane) is achieved by increasing the width of the substrate, reducing the size of the ground plane and adding a V‐shaped aluminum frame. And the narrow beam width of about 30° in elevational plane (E‐plane) is achieved by designing a binary element array. Only two auxiliary antennas are needed for sampling to cover interference from any azimuth direction in H‐plane. The antenna is fabricated and measured, and the results are in good agreement with simulation. The corresponding −10 dB impedance bandwidth is about 17% with maximum gain of 6.5 dBi. The 3 dB beam widths are respectively 33° and 178° in E‐plane and H‐plane. Furthermore, simulation and experiment of the proposed auxiliary antenna in interference cancelation system verify its anti‐interference performance. According to sidelobe canceler, an average interference cancelation ratio of about 27 dB is achieved.
Preparation and properties of a fast‐cross‐linking α‐cyanoacryloyloxyethyloxypropyl‐functionalized polydimethylsiloxane
Authors: Liu Qingyue , Dong Hong , Guo Shiping , Zhang Yipin , Wang Erlei , Qu Zhirong , Chen Daowei , Huang Liangbing , Hou Jianchao , Zheng Yunfeng , Wu Chuan
Published: September 2022

α‐cyanoacryloyloxyethyloxypropyl‐functionalized polysiloxanes were prepared using a condensation reaction between the adduct of anthracene/α‐cyanoacryloyl chloride and hydroxyethyloxypropyl‐modified polydimethylsiloxanes, followed by a retro‐Diels–Alder reaction to deprotect the anthracene. Structures of the obtained polymers and their intermediates were characterized using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and FT‐IR spectroscopies. Under mild conditions such as at room temperature with a relative humidity of 60%, the α‐cyanoacryloyloxyethyloxypropyl‐functionalized polysiloxanes could be completely cured within 3 minutes. With a small amount of N,N‐dimethyl‐p‐toluidine as the initiator, the curing time could be further shortened to 3–5 seconds. Various factors affected on the cross‐linking density and the average molecular weight between two adjacent cross‐linking points were investigated. The results indicated that with the introduction of the α‐cyanoacryloyloxyethyloxypropyl group, α‐cyanoacryloyloxyethyloxypropyl‐functionalized PDMS exhibited much better thermal stabilities than that of pure poly(ethyl α‐cyanoacrylate). Besides, the introduction of an α‐cyanoacryloyloxyethyloxypropyl group in the PDMS molecule also eliminated the crystallization behavior and glass transition temperature of PDMS. The results of the water contact angle test showed the interfacial characteristics of the prepared material changed significantly relative to pure PDMS. With the increase in the content of the functional group, the water contact angle of the material showed an overall increasing trend.
An efficient method for estimating failure probability bounds under random‐interval mixed uncertainties by combining line sampling with adaptive Kriging
Authors: Wang Jiaqi , Lu Zhenzhou , Wang Lu
Published: September 2022

For addressing the low efficiency of structural reliability analysis under the random‐interval mixed uncertainties (RIMU), this paper establishes the line sampling method (LS) under the RIMU. The proposed LS divides the reliability analysis under RIMU into two stages. The Markov chain simulation is used to efficiently search the design point under RIMU in the first stage, then the upper and lower bounds of failure probability are estimated by LS in the second stage. To improve the computational efficiency of the proposed LS under RIMU, the Kriging model is employed to reduce the model evaluation numbers in the two stages. For efficiently searching the design point, the Kriging model is constructed and adaptively updated in the first stage to accurately recognize the Markov chain candidate state, and then it is sequentially updated by the improved U learning function in the second stage to accurately estimate the failure probability bounds. The proposed LS under RIMU with Kriging model can not only reduce the model evaluation numbers but also decrease the candidate sample pool size for constructing the Kriging model in two stages. The presented examples demonstrate the superior computational efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method by comparison with some existing methods.
Respiratory infections in children born preterm in low and middle‐income countries: A systematic review
Authors: Diggikar Shivashankar , Paul Abhishek , Razak Abdul , Chandrasekaran Manigandan , Swamy Ravi Shankar
Published: September 2022

Context

Studies from high‐income countries indicates that infants born preterm are at increased risk of respiratory infections; however in the low and middle‐income countries (LMICs) data are limited. Our aim was to systematically review the studies evaluating the risk of respiratory infections in preterm children born in LMICs.

Methods

We searched Medline, PubMed, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, and Psych‐INFO databases for studies reporting respiratory outcomes in children born preterm in LMICs. Two authors extracted the data and evaluated the risk of bias with appropriate assessment methods independently.

Results

Twelve observational studies evaluating 5969 children were included in the review. The risk of lower respiratory tract infection varied from 5% to 73.9%. Similarly, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection risk ranged from 4.4% to 22.7%. The unadjusted relative risk for any respiratory tract infection or lower respiratory tract infection was significantly higher in the children born preterm than in children born at term (1.52 [95% confidence interval 1.25–1.85]). We also noted wide‐ranging risk of respiratory infections requiring in‐hospital or emergency care (range: 0.5%–27.7%) and hospital stay in children born preterm (range: 6–14.3 days).

Conclusions

Preterm‐born children in LMICs are at risk of increased respiratory infections compared to term‐born children; however, the baseline risk is variable, although substantial; This highlights the need for preventive strategies, including RSV immunoprophylaxis.
Toward precision nutrition: A cross‐sectional study on the genetic risks of nutrients deficiencies and eating behaviors among the Orang Asli and Malays
Authors: Khoruddin Nurul Ain , Lim Wai Feng , Teh Lay Kek , Noorizhab Mohd Nur Fakhruzzaman , Mohd Yusof Farida Zuraina , Salleh Mohd Zaki
Published: September 2022

This cross‐sectional study aimed to profile 15 genetic markers associated with the risks of nutrient deficiencies and eating disinhibition behaviors that could lead to obesity among the Orang Asli (OA) and the Malays. The whole‐genome sequences of 98 OA and 96 Malay individuals were mined for these 15 genetic variants. The distributions of risk allele frequencies were then compared with other world populations to determine the impact of these genetic variations on the wellness of the two cohorts. The risk alleles include rs2025804 G, rs1800497 T, rs4680 G, rs602662 G, rs174547 C, and rs4654748 C, were commonly found among the OA and Malays and are likely to be pathogenic genetics variants for obesity. The risk allele frequencies differed significantly between the studied and the other five populations (p < .05). We believe that this is the first reported study on the genetic variants associated with nutrient deficiencies and eating disinhibition behaviors that are likely to increase risks of obesity among the OA and Malays.
C${\cal C}$osmological G${\cal G}$eometric P${\cal P}$hase F${\cal F}$rom P${\cal P}$ure Q${\cal Q}$uantum S${\cal S}$tates: A Study without/ with having Bell's Inequality Violation
Authors: Choudhury Sayantan
Published: September 2022

In this paper, using the concept of Lewis Riesenfeld invariant quantum operator method for finding continuous eigenvalues of quantum mechanical wave functions we derive the analytical expressions for the cosmological geometric phase, which is commonly identified to be the Pancharatnam Berry phase from primordial cosmological perturbation scenario. We compute this cosmological geometric phase from two possible physical situations, (1) In the absence of Bell's inequality violation and (2) In the presence of Bell's inequality violation having the contributions in the sub Hubble region (), super Hubble region () and at the horizon crossing point () for massless field (), partially massless field () and massive/heavy field (), in the background of quantum field theory of spatially flat quasi De Sitter geometry. The prime motivation for this work is to investigate the various unknown quantum mechanical features of primordial universe. To give the realistic interpretation of the derived theoretical results we express everything initially in terms of slowly varying conformal time dependent parameters, and then to connect with cosmological observation we further express the results in terms of cosmological observables, which are spectral index/tilt of scalar mode power spectrum () and tensor‐to‐scalar ratio (r). Finally, this identification helps us to provide the stringent numerical constraints on the Pancharatnam Berry phase, which confronts well with recent cosmological observation.
Therapy decisions after diagnosis of prostate cancer in men with negative prostate MRI
Authors: Schmid Florian A. , Lieger Laura , Saba Karim , Sigg Silvan , Lehner Fabienne , Waisbrod Sharon , Müller Alexander , Sulser Tullio , Eberli Daniel , Mortezavi Ashkan
Published: September 2022

Background

To investigate the clinical implications of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) negative prostate cancer (PCa) in a cohort of men undergoing transperineal prostate biopsy.

Methods

We included all men without prior diagnosis of PCa undergoing transperineal template saturation ± fusion‐guided targeted biopsy of the prostate between November 2014 and March 2018. Before biopsy, all patients underwent MRI and biopsies were performed irrespective of imaging results. Baseline characteristics, imaging, biopsy results, and follow‐up information were retrieved from the patient charts. Patients were classified as either MRI negative (Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System [PIRADS] ≤ 2) or positive (PIRADS ≥ 3). ISUP grade group 1 was defined as clinically nonsignificant (nsPCa) and ≥2 as clinically significant PCa (csPCa). Primary outcome was the individual therapeutic decision after diagnosis of PCa stratified according to MRI visibility. Secondary outcomes were the sensitivity and specificity of MRI, and the urooncological outcomes after radical prostatectomy (RP).

Results

From 515 patients undergoing prostate biopsy, 171 (33.2%) patients had a negative and 344 (66.8%) a positive MRI. Pathology review stratified for MRI negative and positive cases revealed nsPCa in 27 (15.8%) and 32 (9.3%) and csPCa in 26 (15.2%) and 194 (56.4%) of the patients, respectively. The rate of active treatment in the MRI negative was lower compared with the MRI positive cohort (12.3% vs. 53.2%; odd ratio [OR] = 0.12; p < 0.001). While men with negative MRI were more likely to undergo active surveillance (AS) than MRI positive patients (18.1% vs. 10.8%; OR = 1.84; p = 0.027), they rarely underwent RP (6.4% vs. 40.7%, OR = 0.10; p < 0.001). Logistic regression revealed that a negative MRI was independently protective for active treatment (OR = 0.32, p = 0.014). The specificity, sensitivity, negative, and positive predictive value of MRI for detection of csPCa were 49.2%, 88.2%, 56.4%, and 84.8%, respectively. The rate of adverse clinicopathological outcome features (pT3/4, ISUP ≥4, or prostate‐specific antigen [PSA]‐persistence) following RP was 4.7% for men with MRI negative compared to 17.4% for men with MRI positive PCa (OR = 3.1, p = 0.19).

Conclusion

Only few men with MRI negative PCa need active cancer treatment at the time of diagnosis, while the majority opts for AS. Omitting prostate biopsies and performing a follow‐up MRI may be a safe alternative to reduce the number of unnecessary interventions.
Impact of COVID‐19 on the progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia and aggravation of related symptoms: A prospective study
Authors: Sevim Mehmet , Alkiş Okan , Kartal İbrahim Güven , Coşer Şeref , Akman Hüseyin , Aras Bekir
Published: September 2022

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) of the patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) who were admitted due to coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) and to show the effect of COVID‐19 on BPH.

Methods

This prospective study included patients over the age of 45 admitted due to COVID‐19 between June 2021 and December 2021 and treated with alpha‐blockers for BPH. During admission, the patients were evaluated by prostate volumes, prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) values, and International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS). Furthermore, treatment duration due to COVID‐19, frequency, nocturia, and voided volumes obtained from the voiding diary was recorded. Finally, the sequent IPSS values were compared by inviting the patients to the urology polyclinic in the first month.

Results

The mean age of 142 patients was 72.42 ± 10.21 years. The IPSS scores of the patients increased from 10.66 ± 4.46 to 12.99 ± 3.58 1 month after the diagnosis (p < 0.01). Moreover, the IPSS quality of life (QoL) scores were 2.44 ± 0.58 and 2.75 ± 0.51, respectively (p < 0.01). The mean frequency obtained from the voiding diary data increased from 5.10 ± 1.5 to 5.65 ± 1.36 (p < 0.01), mean nocturia count increased from 1.13 ± 0.05 to 1.39 ± 0.66 per day (p < 0.01), and the mean voiding volume decreased from 320.56 ± 46.76 ml to 298.84 ± 39.74 ml (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

In this study, we detected an increase in LUTS during COVID‐19 treatment. Therefore, it should be noted that symptomatic or asymptomatic COVID‐19 patients may refer to urology polyclinics due to aggravation of LUTS.
Synthesis of α,β‐Unsaturated Ketones with Secondary Alcohols and Aldehydes Catalyzed by Fe(acac)3
Authors: Zhao Zhengjia , Yu Xiangzhu , Zhu Lina , Tan Shangzhi , Fu Weiru , Wang Lianyue , An Yue
Published: September 2022

An efficient and environmentally friendly methodology for the direct synthesis of α,β‐unsaturated ketones by cross‐coupling of secondary alcohols and aldehydes is developed. The transformation is based on Fe(acac)3‐catalyzed Oppenauer oxidation and Claisen‐Schmidt reaction, in which aldehydes are used as oxidants to oxidize secondary alcohols to ketones, and then in situ condensation with aldehydes to form α,β‐unsaturated ketones. The reaction proceeds under base‐free conditions with a wide range of substrates and good compatibility of functional groups. Gram‐scale experiments show the good applicability of this method.
Covalent Modification of Nucleobases using Water‐Soluble Palladium Catalysts
Authors: Shaughnessy Kevin H.
Published: September 2022

Nucleosides represent one of the key building blocks of biochemistry. There is significant interest in the synthesis of nucleoside‐derived materials for applications as probes, biochemical models, and pharmaceuticals. Palladium‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions are effective methods for making covalent modification of carbon and nitrogen sites on nucleobases under mild conditions. Water‐soluble catalysts derived from palladium and hydrophilic ligands, such as tris(3‐sulfonatophenyl)phosphine trisodium (TPPTS), are efficient catalysts for a range of coupling reactions of unprotected halonucleosides. Over the past two decades, these methods have been extended to direct functionalization of halonucleotides, as well as RNA and DNA oligonucleotides (ONs) containing halogenated bases. These methods can be run under biocompatible conditions, including examples of Suzuki coupling of modified DNA in whole cells and tissue samples. In this account, development of this methodology by our group and others is highlighted along with the extension of these catalyst systems to modification of nucleotides and ONs.
Changes to water management and declining pastoral resilience in Marsabit County, northern Kenya: The example of Gabra wells
Authors: M'Mbogori Freda Nkirote , Kinyua Mercy Gakii , Ibrae Ali Gufu , Lane Paul Jeremy
Published: September 2022

In this article, we provide a review of research on the existing and abandoned wells in Marsabit County, Northern Kenya, and associated Indigenous Knowledge concerning water governance, institutions of leadership, and how these have contributed to sustaining a resilient pastoral economy in these harsh landscapes. The article discusses the socio‐ecological systems that have been maintained by pastoralists for generations, linking their sustainability to leadership structures and institutional memory, with a particular focus on the Gabra. It further highlights internal and external interventions by governmental and nongovernmental organizations that are expected to improve the livelihoods of the Gabra and other pastoralists inhabiting the area, but have sometimes had a negative effect on the traditional strategies of water governance and socio‐ecological systems, undermining the long‐term viability of the pastoral economy in Marsabit.

This article is categorized under:

Human Water > Water Governance

Human Water > Value of Water

Human Water > Rights to Water
A 2D layered Cd(II) coordination polymer supported by in situ generated tetracarboxylate ligand: luminescence sensing for Co2+ ions
Authors: Li Wen‐Hong , Cao Jin‐Jin , Li Yan‐Peng , Sun Jun‐Ru , Liu Jin‐Ze , Liu Jia‐Miao , Yao Jie , Li Ting‐Ting , Xu Dong‐Mei , Guo Li‐Da
Published: September 2022

A new Cd(II) coordination polymer of [Cd(H2L)(4,4’‐bipy)(H2O)]n (1, H4L=4‐[(3,4‐dicarboxyphenyl)disulfanyl]benzene‐1,2‐dicarboxylic acid, 4,4’‐bipy=4,4’‐bipyridine) was hydrothermally synthesized. The H4L ligand was in situ generated via the formation of disulfide bond between two 4‐sulfanylbenzene‐1,2‐dicarboxylic acid molecular. The in situ generated H4L ligand deprotonated two protons into H2L2−, which acts as a bidentate ligand to connected Cd(II) ions into a 2D layered structure with the assistance of 4,4’‐bipy ligands. The solids of 1 emits strong blue luminescence, and can be used as a luminescence probe for the detection of Co2+ ions. The limit of detection (LOD) of Co(II) ions by 1 was calculated to be 5.4 μM.
The historical development of zoo elephant survivorship
Authors: Scherer Lara , Bingaman Lackey Laurie , Clauss Marcus , Gries Katrin , Hagan David , Lawrenz Arne , Müller Dennis W. H. , Roller Marco , Schiffmann Christian , Oerke Ann‐Kathrin
Published: September 2022

In the discussion about zoo elephant husbandry, the report of Clubb et al. (2008, Science 322: 1649) that zoo elephants had a “compromised survivorship” compared to certain non‐zoo populations is a grave argument, and was possibly one of the triggers of a large variety of investigations into zoo elephant welfare, and changes in zoo elephant management. A side observation of that report was that whereas survivorship in African elephants (Loxodonta africana) improved since 1960, this was not the case in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). We used historical data (based on the Species360 database) to revisit this aspect, including recent developments since 2008. Assessing the North American and European populations from 1910 until today, there were significant improvements of adult (≥10 years) survivorship in both species. For the period from 1960 until today, survivorship improvement was significant for African elephants and close to a significant improvement in Asian elephants; Asian elephants generally had a higher survivorship than Africans. Juvenile (<10 years) survivorship did not change significantly since 1960 and was higher in African elephants, most likely due to the effect of elephant herpes virus on Asian elephants. Current zoo elephant survivorship is higher than some, and lower than some other non‐zoo populations. We discuss that in our view, the shape of the survivorship curve, and its change over time, are more relevant than comparisons with specific populations. Zoo elephant survivorship should be monitored continuously, and the expectation of a continuous trend towards improvement should be met.
Dilution of Precision (DOP) Factors for Evaluating Observations to Galileo Satellites with VLBI
Authors: Wolf Helene , Böhm Johannes , Schartner Matthias , Hugentobler Urs , Soja Benedikt , Nothnagel Axel
Published: September 2022

Installing a VLBI transmitter on Galileo satellites will allow observing satellites in parallel to quasars with Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) telescopes. This offers a variety of new applications such as the direct determination of the absolute orientation of the satellite constellation with respect to the International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF) and the improvement of the Terrestrial Reference Frame (TRF) exploiting the possibilities of direct high precision tying of the different space geodetic equipment. In preparation of these observations by enhancing the capabilities of the VLBI scheduling program VieSched++, we perform an evaluation study of observations of a Galileo satellite employing Dilution of Precision (DOP) factors. The idea is to introduce DOP factors in the decision process of VieSched++ after a thorough assessment of DOP factors for individual parameters. In our study, we choose an existing network of VLBI Global Observing System (VGOS) type telescopes for observing Galileo satellite GSAT0212 within a 24 h arbitrary session. Preparing the DOP factor analysis, we first carry out a theoretical study to investigate the VLBI sensitivity to satellite orbit displacements in the local orbital frame with normal (radial), tangential and cross-track direction. This analysis shows that the highest sensitivity of a satellite observation is that of the tangential component if the direction of the satellite track is parallel to the direction of the observing baseline. A satellite observation is most sensitive towards the cross-track component if these two directions are orthogonal to each other. The DOP factor analysis itself is performed separating the satellite position again into its three components and adding a separate DOP factor for the UT1-UTC (dUT1) parameter. The periods, where satellite observations are possible, were determined using VieSched++. At a later stage, these DOP factors will be used as an optimization criterion for the scheduling process. The DOP factors of potential observations from the chosen VGOS network to GSAT0212 reach minimum DOP values of 27.13 in normal, 1.49 in tangential, and 1.67 in cross-track direction and 0.45 for determining dUT1. With these results, which have confirmed intuitive considerations on the relative magnitudes, we have laid the groundwork for using DOP factors as driving criteria in the scheduling process of Galileo satellites embedded in regular VLBI observations of quasars.
Fintech for Rural Markets in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Aker Jenny C.
Published: September 2022

This case study looks at how the use of mobiles for transferring cash can make access to government subsidies more effective. The technological innovation of money transfer using mobile phones is made in the context of Niger, one of the lowest-ranked countries on the UN’s Human Development Index. Through the process of iterative implementation and collaboration across multiple stakeholders, the case study demonstrates how mobile money technology can reach the poor and help improve well-being.
Protecting Electoral Integrity in Emerging Democracies
Authors: Long James D.
Published: September 2022

A lack of electoral integrity in developing democracies undermines political accountability and the public good by yielding leaders who lack a governing mandate. Despite citizen activism and resources from donors to improve transparency, poor administrative functioning, corruption, and barriers to participation persistently degrade elections. This chapter presents “photo quick count” election technology and an ICT-enabled citizen adaption platform “VIP:Voice.” Photo quick count is a low-cost, ICT-capable, independently managed monitoring system of election results that provides polling station level photographic records of tally sheets to audit alongside certified results. The audit detects procedural failures by election officials and aggregation fraud (rigging that occurs in results transmission), and can deter administrative problems and corruption by announcing the audit to polling officials. First deployed in Afghanistan, iterations in Uganda and Kenya helped develop usage across national coverage and new mobile devices. This pivoted to broadening adoption and functionality using a crowdsourced platform in South Africa, VIP:Voice, that recruited citizen users through ICT channels with no pre-existing infrastructure and incorporates volunteers for photo quick count. This case furthers evidence on instruments for policy guidance on the mechanisms and cost-effective tools to bolster institutional performance and elections at scale.
Monitoring the Monitors in Punjab, Pakistan
Authors: Rezaee Arman
Published: September 2022

Absenteeism of government frontline health workers can prevent access to primary care, including outpatient care, pre- and postnatal care, deliveries, and vaccinations. As rates of absenteeism tend to be higher in lower-income areas, this issue has the potential to exacerbate the socioeconomic divide. Specifically in Punjab, Pakistan, government doctors posted to rural health clinics, called Basic Health Units (BHUs), were found to be absent two-thirds of the time. Health inspectors are employed to visit BHUs at least once a month to collect data from a paper-based register located at each BHU and ensure doctors are present. However, absenteeism of the government inspectors causes this system to break down. This case study follows the implementation of the “Monitoring the Monitors” program, which aimed to replace the paper-based record-keeping system with an app-based system that feeds an online dashboard system (for real-time aggregation and presentation of data). Conducting a large-scale randomized controlled trial, inspection rates increased from 25.5% to 51.9% after 6 months. After a year of operation, inspection rates were 33.8% in the treatment districts and 23.5% in control districts. An A/B test was used to measure the effect of a simple flagging system that notified senior health officials when health workers were absent during an inspection and showed an increase in doctor attendance from 23.6% to 41.3%. The government eventually adopted this system (rebranded as HealthWatch), and it is now one of the many apps being used to monitor frontline service providers.
Digital Public Services: The Development of Biometric Authentication in India
Authors: Nair Ashwin , Eskici Burak
Published: September 2022

Low state capacity makes it difficult for governments in developing countries to deliver resources to the poor. In this chapter, we highlight the role that biometric authentication can play in delivering payments and subsidized food to the poor. We describe the implementation and evaluation of two different biometric authentication systems in Andhra Pradesh (“AP Smartcards”) and Jharkhand (“Aadhaar”), India. Results from two large-scale RCTs (Muralidharan et al., 2016 and Muralidharan et al., 2020b) showed that more accurate biometric ID systems, coupled with payments and policy reforms, reduced leakages in welfare schemes in both Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand. However, there were varying results on beneficiary welfare. In Jharkhand, reduced fiscal leakage came at the expense of excluding genuine beneficiaries who were unable to meet new standards for identification. Exclusion of beneficiaries was low in Andhra Pradesh, where the government was more focused on improving beneficiary experience with welfare programs. The studies discussed in this chapter highlight how differences in policy priorities and the details of solution design influence the extent to which beneficiaries benefit from biometric authentication and accompanying reforms.
Voice Interfaces for Underserved Communities
Authors: Vashistha Aditya , Raza Agha Ali
Published: September 2022

Internet technologies – like social media platforms and discussion forums – have transformed how people communicate with each other. In addition to improving access to information, news, and entertainment, they have impacted governance, politics, civil society movements, crisis response, marketplaces, and healthcare, among other parts of our lives. Although concerns regarding data misuse, privacy breaches, and overuse have grown recently, these technologies are continuing to soar, mostly among literate, urban, and connected communities, all across the world. However, despite their promises (and pitfalls), these technologies currently exclude billions of people worldwide who are too remote to access the Internet, too low-literate to navigate the mostly text-driven Internet, or too poor to afford Internet-enabled devices. This chapter presents the innovation, implementation, and adaptation of voice forums that have evolved over the last two decades, discusses challenges that plagued their growth, and highlights ingenious solutions that were used to address their pain points.